Everything was finally prepared for the celebration. Raoul looked at his watch. "What is taking them so long?" Joseph nudged him. "You know. Ladies." Raoul glared at him. "Says the one who's wearing a gay coat." Ché fixed his bow tie for the one hundredth time. "Wretch in elegant clothes is still a wretch." Erik mocked him. "Says a monster who calls himself an angel." Ché stroke back. Joseph sighed, but finally heard chuckles from upstairs. "Girls, hurry up, they are impatient!" shouted Madame Giry while walking down the stairs. Antoinette for once didn't wear black, but a modest, yet elegant dark purple gown. Her hair was for once in a slightly looser bun than usually. And for once, she was actually smiling. Right behind her Ms Desmond appeared, in one of her countless outfits, this one made from a green satin with gold ornaments, and a dark boa around her shoulders. Raoul ran forward, as he wanted to be the first to see Christine, and Erik followed him. "Oh I know, gentlemen, it must be hard to bear the flawless sight of me." Norma joked. Joseph kissed both of her and Madame's hands as he noticed that the others are... busy. "Both of you, my ladies, look very delightful." Antoinette grinned. "Thank you, Joe, now let's watch this show." She said as she heard the footsteps.

Norma's outfit

Mme Giry's outfit

"Oh, Christine..." Raoul has seen his fiancée in this dress already, but now she somehow looked...different. The light rose gown with lace perfectly illuminated her lovely face, with half of her hair up in a bun and the other cascading down her back in flawless curls, the glowing eyes smiling as she gracefully ran down to meet the vicomte.  Erik gasped as Raoul went to kiss Christine's hand. "My God... she's..."

"...perfect." Ché finished his sentence. Before Erik could think he's talking about Christine, Joseph joked: "Must be easy to say when she can't hear you right?" Ché ignored him, meeting the gaze of a young lady in long red satin dress, which could only show off her slim waist and just perfect curves. Her platinum blonde hair in curls ending just below her shoulders were brushed to one side, as her lips in the same colour as her dress laughed at a joke told by Meg.

I couldn't decide for the dress, first would be the shape, second the material... and voulezvousabba here's to you finally Eva doesn't have an updo

"Christine, you are so beautiful tonight... I mean you are always beautiful, I...I..." the future countess laughed at Raoul's clumsy flattering. "Thank you, Raoul." She rewarded him with a warm smile. As Erik tried to get attention from the soprano, the path between Eva and Ché cleared. Joseph pushed the latter forward to his lover. "Well, aren't you going to tell me something, hermoso?" she said with a flirtatious smile. Eva was too confident not to know that she looks great, but his silence made her nervous. Ché studied her face, opened his mouth to say something, but nothing went out. Then he looked down, face all red. "You...don't like me like this...?"She whispered with a sad undertone, and then went to the main hall as to save the young singer from her two admirers.

"So how did it go? Let me guess... you screwed up, didn't you." Joseph appeared next to Ché. "I don't know... she came to me and I..." "You were speechless." Joseph finished the sentence for him. Then turned his attention to the little ballet girl, the only one of the without an escort (except for her mother and Norma) at this party.

Meg, being the most innocent, but perhaps the loveliest one, in a baby blue dress with round skirt and flower ornaments in dark blue and white, her hair in an elegant long braid with a few streaks curled, framing her face, and white shoes with small heels, would deserve flatters from all sides, if there was anyone who cared. Joseph noticed her expression being sad and approached her. "Miss Giry, I hope this doesn't sound strange, but you look absolutely flawless tonight. The man you will one day call yours, will be a lucky one." He said and kissed her hand. Her face suddenly brightened as she chuckled. She wasn't used to compliments at all. Then she ran forward and hugged him, her childish side showing. "Thank you, Joseph. And call me Meg, please." He smiled. "You're welcome, Meg." He patted her back. At that moment, music started playing in the main hall.

I really could not find anything that would fit my idea for Meg's dress. I imagined light blue with dark blue and white roses on it... eh, here's the best I could find lol.

AN: You can notice, with Christine and Meg, I never mention their hair color. So you can imagine whatever combination of Leroux or Webber you'd like, and cast any actresses you want. :D Personally, with this dress, I'd almost prefer the Leroux-blackhaired Meg, but the blonde one works as well.

The whole group has gathered under the shining tree in the main hall. Norma demanded attention with a melodramatic wave of her hand, as she rose a glass of champagne in the air. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you all once again to celebrate this wonderful time of the year together. Some of our friends, sadly, cannot be here with us." Christine whispered at this: "She's talking about Carlotta." Eva bit her lip. "She's talking about my ex-husband." Raoul shook his head. "I think she means that writer that was here last time..." Norma was finishing her speech. "I wish you all wonderful Christmas and hope you'll enjoy this party!" the small gathering applauded her, even though the speech wasn't so great. The music got louder and so did the chatter.
AN: Eh Yeah, apparently Eva survived her death and got divorced.

By this time, everybody got used to having a cat run beside them from time to time. The felines didn't bother them much, except for stealing food here and there. "Oh, we ran out of caviar. Maria, would you mind going for them?" Norma asked in the middle of talking with Madame Giry. Eva turned around. "Maria... me?" Norma nodded.  "Oh... of course." She took the plate and went to the kitchen. Norma, despite being the one organizing this evening, didn't do much around. Eva carefully took the caviar and put it onto the plate, backing away not to ruin her dress. Until she nearly did as she heard a voice from behind. "You were ignoring me all evening." She turned around. Ché was standing in the kitchen door with his arms crossed. "And you're surprised because...?" she asked him, slightly annoyed. He raised his eyebrows. "Why are you asking? Eva, we're partners now. I think I deserve more attention than your girlfriends or..."

"Well, first of all, I won't see them again for a long time since now. Second, well perhaps I would be paying attention to you if you firstly shown an interest in me." Ché frowned. "You're eyeing someone, aren't you?" Eva looked at him, trying to figure out if he's serious. "Whom exactly would I be eyeing here?! Joseph? Or that mad man that lives underground?!" she laughed, taking the plate back to the main hall. "Or... the vicomte." Ché said with not hidden jealousy, and switched to Spanish as they entered the room. Eva nearly dropped the plate. "What...??? Are you crazy? Raoul's with Christine. Besides, why would I ever want him?" she put the plate back on the table, talking in Spanish as well so no one could understand them. "You've always been a social climber... first, a famous politician, now, a vicomte!" Eva turned to him. "Ché, you're delusional!" they were staring daggers at each other. "Well then, why are you with me, if you think I'm such a slut?!" by that time, everyone's attention turned to the arguing couple, wondering what problem they could possibly have, since no one else spoke Spanish.

As Ché was about to say something, Madame Giry intervened. "Oh my God, can you two stop for once? It's Christmas! I have no idea what are you talking about, but I'm sure you can resolve it later." The two Argentinians stayed still for a second. "It's Christmas. Of course." Ché sighed, retreating. "Of course." Eva imitated his tone sarcastically, but turned away before he could react. Raoul turned to his fiancé. "Why do you think they argue so often?" Christine shrugged. "Maybe it's their way of showing affection towards each other." The couple laughed.

Erik heard that and of course had to draw Christine's attention towards him. „I don't understand Argentinian culture. I would never yell at you, Christine! "The latter bit her lip. „Ummm... okay? " Raoul glared at him. „Are you really so stupid to think this is a part of Argentinian culture? "Erik scoffed. „I don't care about some third world country's culture. Unlike you, who seems to be a very conflicting type..." Raoul's blood started to boil. „Seriously?! The only person I have conflicts with is you! "Christine stood between them, annoyed. „Them two stop and you two will start? Can we, for once, have a peaceful party?!" when the two wanted to protest something, the normally coy and sweet girl has stormed away from them, joining Eva and Meg who were just listening to another one of Norma's stories. Or more like pretending to be interested in it.

"It's your fault." Raoul said silently towards Erik. The Phantom retorted something, but the viscount ignored him, going towards Antoinette. "Madame, we haven't talked much yet tonight..."

"Those cats are actually very cute." Meg said inthe middle of Norma's talking, picking up a pure white, slightly grown kitten.This little queen cat seemed to follow her everywhere that night. "I mean, lookat her eyes." The ballerina said as the feline looked up at her, seeming to befascinated by the young dancer. "Aw, she likes you." Christine purred. Eva smiled."Is it just me or does she actually resemble Meg a bit?" finally relieved shedoesn't have to talk about serious topic for a second. "You're right. It's asif she was the cat version of Meg. She even seems to walk like dancing."Christine giggled. "Do you think mum would let me keep her?" Meg asked,stopping cuddling with the kitten for a second. Norma interrupted them,realizing no one is paying attention to her. "Alright, I think it's time forpresents!"  She announced, walkingtowards the centre of the room. "Oh, gifts!" Meg put the kitten gently on thefloor and followed her. "She's sometimes like a child, though she's 17."Christine said softly. "Sometimes it's for the better..." Eva replied on that.