A Simple Love: The Chronicles of Raoul and Christine

By Kchan88

Chapter 1: Christine, Gustav, and the Angel of Music

Seven year old Christine Daae sat on the shore, letting the waves run over her small feet. Her mane of dark brown curls was in one long plait down her back so as to keep it out of her face as the light breeze blew around her. She and her father Gustav Daae, had decided to take a holiday to the shores of Brittany in France. In truth this was mostly because Gustav could hardly stand Sweden anymore due to the fact that his wife had died there less than a year ago, when Christine was just six.

Christine of course, had no idea that this was the motive for her and her father's sudden departure from their homeland, because Gustav did his best to hide his grief from his beloved little girl. But Christine, being the intelligent child that she was, could sense her father's sadness. She too, often found herself missing her mother. A little chill went down her spine as the sun went down, so she wrapped her red scarf around her neck and got up to go inside the small cottage that she shared with her papa.

She was always very careful with the scarf, as it had been an heirloom from her mother. She walked across the sand, liking feeling it made under her feet. She opened the door and called out to her father.

"Papa, are you in here?" she asked.

"I'm in here little one," answered Gustav, his voice coming from the direction of his bedroom.

Christine walked towards his bedroom and found him sitting in his rocking chair, violin in hand. "Did you have fun at the shore today Christine?" he asked as he patted his knee, gesturing for her to sit down.

"It was nice," answered Christine, smiling. "But I thought about mama a lot today."

Gustav gave his daughter a sad smile. He often wished that his precious wife could still be here to watch their precious Christine grow up.

"I was missing her today too," he said softly. "What do you say we sing a song together? That always makes us feel better."

Little Christine nodded eagerly, her chocolate brown eyes lighting up as she leaped off her papa's lap. She loved to sing and had ever since she could remember.

"Stand up straight now, and don't forget to sing from your diaphragm, not your throat," prompted Gustav as he struck up the first cord on his violin.

"Yes papa," answered Christine, straightening up. They launched into an old Swedish folk song, one that had been used as a lullaby when Christine was a babe. The superbly played notes of Gustav's violin combined with Christine's sweet, childlike tones made for a wonderful sound. In order to keep money on the house Gustav often rendered his services playing his violin. He had been well known in Sweden for his talents, and was beginning to reap some of that here in France. Sometimes when he played he let Christine had an amazing voice for her age. He smiled as they reached the end of song, the final notes sounding slow and melodic. Father and daughter really did make quite a musical pair.

"That was very good Christine," remarked Gustav to his daughter, bending down to kiss the top of her curly head.

"Do you really think so papa?" she asked, excited. "Someday I want to be just as good a singer as you are a violin player."

Gustav chuckled. "Perhaps you will be little one. Never forget that you can do anything that you put your mind to. Perhaps if you practice hard enough, you shall receive a visit from the Angel of Music."

Christine's eyes widened. "The Angel of Music would come visit me?"

"If you continue to be the good girl you always are and practice your music often, perhaps he will. He only comes every once in a while," answered Gustav, his green eyes twinkling.

"Then I shall try very hard papa," said Christine seriously. "I should like to be visited by the Angel of Music."

"We shall see little one," said Gustav. "But now I believe that it is time to prepare some supper. I think I heard my stomach growl."

Christine agreed and the two headed into the small kitchen to fix a meal. Once they had begun eating, Gustav suddenly remembered something. "I saw a family move into that large house down the way today Christine. I think I saw a boy about nine years old or so there. Maybe you two can play together," suggested Gustav, knowing that Christine often wished there were more children her age around to play with.

Christine looked out the window, curious about the new arrivals. All but one of her playmates in Sweden had been girls, so she wasn't sure how she would get along with a boy. "Maybe," she responded. "If he comes down to the shore tomorrow I might meet him. It would be nice to make a new friend."

"That sounds like a very good idea darling," said Gustav, taking a bite of his potatoes. The two passed the rest of the night talking and looking at the stars, with Gustav teaching Christine the constellations. When Christine's bedtime came around, she pleaded with her father to tell a bedtime story about the Angel of Music. Gustav complied, and that night was the very first time that young Christine heard the story about Little Lotte and the Angel of Music. When the story was over, Christine's eyes lit up.

"That was the best story that you've ever told me papa," she said. "I want to be like Little Lotte."

Gustav chuckled. "Well, my Christine, one can never tell. But now you had best concentrate on getting some sleep. Sweet dreams," he said, kissing her on the forehead.

"You too papa," she responded, giving her father a hug.

With that Gustav blew out the candle and watched as Christine pulled the quilt up over her shoulders and closed her eyes. He closed the door with a soft thud, and walked back to his own room planning to start on his new book and praying to God that if anything were to ever happen to him that God would send one of his angels to watch over his beloved little daughter.

A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you liked this first little chapter. Future chapters will be longer, I promise. The next chapter features Raoul. Please read and review! To my new readers, welcome, and to those who have read my other works, welcome back and thank you! RC forever!