Christine's eyes widened as she felt the need to vomit. Frowning as she stood over the dinner she'd prepared for her family, she moved away from the kitchen and into the bathroom, shutting the door silently as to not alert Erik in the sitting room with Madeleine. She comprehended much more now, becoming smarter every day. She needed her time to think now and not be interrupted. She leant over the toilet, but nothing came, and she sighed. False alarm. She shrugged and moved for the bathroom door.
Erik sat on the sofa with Madeleine, telling her a Persian children's story, and he frowned and faltered when he heard the bathroom door open and saw his wife move from the room. There was something about the look on her face that worried him, and he stood, setting Maddy in her play pen, and moved to his wife. Gently he pulled her against his body, and kissed her forehead. "Is anything the matter, my dear?�
Erik looked curiously at his wife then, tilting his head and reaching out to grasp her shoulder. "Christine...? You're miles away, my dear."
Christine looked up at him and smiled, placing a hand on his chest. "What are you talking about?" She moved away from the bathroom and towards the kitchen, prepared to finish dinner for her husband and her daughter, and Nadir, who had asked to join them.
Erik sighed, walking back to the living room and drawing Maddy up into his arms. Looking down at her, he smiled. "I have something for you, little angel." He said gently as he carried her to his room that was dedicated entirely to his sciences. Setting her down on the armchair, he went to the shelf full of inventions, and plucked down a small stuffed doll.
Gently he set it into his daughter's hands, and spoke gently to the dark haired dolly. "Sing." He purred, and a beautiful sound began to flow from the doll. He grinned then, and when the doll finished her aria, Erik clapped enthusiastically. "When she has finished, Maddy, you must always clap for her, or she will never sing for you again."
Maddy stared, entranced at the small doll. She imitated her father, understanding what she must do. Her little hands clapped endlessly, and she grinned michievously. When the doll began to sing again, she squealed in delight and tried to sing like the doll was.
Erik smiled then, lifting Maddy into his arms and carrying her back to the playpen. Setting her down, he lowered himself into the armchair near the fire, and let his eyes slide closed. The doll had been a surprise for his daughter, and while he was very proud of the workmanship, it had brought back waves of memories from his days in Persia. Memories he wasn't sure he wanted to feel.
Maddy continued to play with the doll, trying to match it's pitch as it sang the difficult arias, and she began to cry when the doll stopped, not remembering what she must do. She banged it against her playpen, and glared up at her father. "Mamma!" She belted out. When Christine didn't come to her, she frowned and picked up the doll, and, suddenly remembering, she began to clap vigorously. She grinned and called, "Papa, papa!" And clapped harder.
Erik frowned when Maddy began beating the doll against the playpen, but when she realized how she was supposed to make the doll sing again, all was well. Erik was now only concerned that Christine had not answered the call of her daughter... that was very unlike his wife. Standing, he gave Maddy a pat to the head, then went toward the kitchen and opened the door. "Christine?"
Christine jumped and placed a hand at her heart, bumping her hip against the counter as she did so. She cursed softly and frowned at Erik. "What gave you need to startle me like that?! I could have had a heart attack and died!" She took a deep breath and turned to the plates she had made, almost finished with the last one. "I'll be setting dinner out soon," she announced.
"Christine... did you not hear Maddy call for you..?" He asked with mounting concern, moving forward and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Your face is flushed, are you ill?" He demanded, cupping her cheek.
Christine gazed at him incredulously. "Erik, I've been working through the house all day. You know how when we make love, you turn this delightful shade of red? Surprise, when I do work, I turn red. Don't be so concerned!" She moved past him with two dinner plates, and into the dining room to set them down. She returned to get the next two plates, rolling her eyes at him as she left the second time. "You better go find Nadir," she called out in warning, "Because if he doesn't arrive soon I'm eating his food!"
Erik reached out then, taking Christine's arm in his and pulling her roughly to swing around and face him. Hurt and anger both clouded in his eyes at the tone she had spoken to him with. "Christine, there is no need to speak to me in such a manner!" He exclaimed, tears unwillingly filling his eyes. "I was only worried for you, what have I done to upset you so?!" He asked, voice rising slightly.
Nadir chose that moment to enter the house, and winced when he heard Erik's near-shouts. Walking to look down at Maddy, his eyes widened when he noticed an all too familiar looking toy in the young girls hands.
Christine's eyes widened and she looked up at him in fear. "I'm sorry," she said softly, "You just... I'm just..." She heard Nadir come in, and she looked away. "Nadir's here," she continued carefully, "You should go greet him." She turned away, pushing her hair behind her ear and trying to stop the pounding of her heart.
Sighing heavily, Erik reached out as if to touch her shoulder, then pulled back and instead strode from the room. Seeing Nadir, he smiled weakly, then flopped onto the settee, laying on his back and running a hand over his masked face.
Nadir frowned in concern, forgetting the toy for the time being and sitting on the chair next to the settee. "What happened in there?" He asked, eyes wide.
Erik groaned. "She snapped at me. She hasn't done that in almost two years, Nadir... and I was just so shocked I lashed out." Shaking his head, Erik threw an arm over his eyes and sighed again.
Nadir nodded to himself, patted Erik on the shoulder, and moved to the kitchen. Stepping inside, he walked toward Christine carefully. "Christine, may I speak to you?"
Christine looked at him warily and smiled faintly. "Not if you're upset with me because I was tempted to eat your dinner." She wiped her hands on a towel and nodded. "Of course you may speak with me, Nadir, what can I do for you?"
Nadir chuckled, and leaned against the counters with a sigh. "I'm going to be frank with you, Christine. Are you growing weary of Erik?"
Christine's eyes widened. "What?!" She stomped her foot. "The two of you are plotting to drive me insane, aren't you?!" She placed her hands on her hips. "Why would you ever ask such a thing, Nadir?!"
Shaking his head slowly, Nadir shrugged. "Erik just seems to be a little disheartened right now... said you snapped at him... and the Christine I know wouldn't do such a thing unless someone really deserved it..." He moved from the counter then, running a hand through his hair.
Christine groaned and sighed heavily. She lowered her voice and spoke, "It's because... I'm pregnant." She frowned. "Or at least I think I am." She shook her head. "No, I know I am. I have the same symptoms I had when I was pregnant with Madeleine." She moved from the kitchen, and into the sitting room. "Erik," she called softly, "Bring Maddy. Dinner is served."
Nadir smiled broadly for a moment, then frowned. "Why haven't you told him? He's in the sitting room beating himself up for upsetting you..." Nadir rubbed his face for a moment, and sighed. "I think the two of you need to talk." He said, before walking to the dining area.
Erik stood and scooped his daughter into his arms with a sigh. "Here we go to the trenches, Maddy-dear." He said softly to his daughter as he carried her into the kitchen. Keeping his head lowered and slightly to the side, he began to walk to the dining area, clutching tightly to his daughter like a life preserver.
Christine sighed and decided she didn't give a damn about saying the prayer. She was so hungry and she wanted to take her mind off the probability that Nadir was here to take care of Maddy and yet Christine and Erik would not be having any love interludes tonight. She frowned and dug into her food, finishing her meat before anyone had even started, and starting on her bread ravenously.
Erik looked to his wife with curiosity at her actions, and slowly began to eat, looking to Nadir and sighing heavily. After a few minutes of tense silence, Erik stopped eating, and pushed his plate away from him. Staring down at it and rubbing his face. "I'm going to go lay down. If you need me, you'll know where I am." He stated simply, before striding from the room and up the stairs. His heart felt heavy in his chest, and he only knew he had done something terrible to upset his wife, but he couldn't for the life of him recall what it was. They had woke that morning, cuddled until Maddy's cries woke them, fed their daughter, played chess... then Christine went to cook. It can't have been the chess game... I let her win today...
Taking off his suit jacket and tossing it to the floor, Erik lay down atop the perfectly made bed, and turned on his side away from the door, pulling off his mask and tossing it aside. Closing his eyes, Erik let the waves of guilt wash over him, and a tear slid down his cheek.
When Christine looked up from her meal, she saw Maddy glaring at her as if she knew that her mother had upset her father. She sighed guiltily and stood, going to Erik's plate. "I'll... take this up to him... and eat it on the way." She turned with Erik's bread in hand and made her way up the stairs, nibbling at his bread. She closed the door behind her as she entered, and went immediately over to the side he was facing. "Do you want any of this?" she questioned, softly, holding it towards him as she knelt beside the bed.
Shaking his head, Erik kept his eyes closed, turning his face further into the pillows and mumbling, "You eat it."
Christine's shoulders sunk and she reached out to touch his arm, her forehead resting against the side of the bed. "I'm sorry, Erik," she murmured. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad... I've been going through a certain phase..." She paused and her hand fell to the sheets, and she stroked them softly.
Turning his head so his face was toward Christine again, he chanced opening his eyes and gave her a curious look. "Aha! So there is something wrong, then." He said, concern filling his features. "Why won't you just tell me?" He demanded, eyes filling with tears again.
Christine shrugged. "I guess I wasn't willing to accept it yet, and I supposed this would happen if I didn't accept it and I told you and you did, and we'd just hurt each other." She bit out of the bread again, and pushed her hair behind her ear.
Sitting up now and forgetting his previous hurt, Erik pulled Christine up onto the bed beside him, and curled against her body, burrowing his face into her neck. "Just tell me, my dear.. you know we can work through anything." He whispered, wrapping his arms tightly around her body and trembling slightly.
Christine bit the inside of her lip as she stroked her fingers softly through his hair. "I'm pregnant... again." She smirked, thinking of Maddy's competition. "Try working through that," she mumbled to him, raising a thin brow.
Erik eyes widened, and he smiled broadly. "Another baby...?" Reaching forward, he cupped Christine's cheek, then leaned forward to kiss her softly. "Oh Christine... how could this be a problem? Aren't you the one who wanted twenty children?"
Christine smirked and nodded. "Yes." She ran her thumb over his lips. "It's not a problem. It's just a sort of shock, I suppose." She snuggled closer. "But at the rate we work..." She grinned and kissed him chastely, and then pulled away to nibble on her bread again.
Smiling softly, Erik took the bread from her hand, setting it aside and kissing her again. "Boy or girl?"
Christine grinned. "What do you want it to be?" She reached for the bread and raised an eyebrow, trying to predict his answer.
Erik shook his head playfully, stealing a bite of her bread and stroking his fingers over her belly. "Like I told you before, I want it to be whatever it is, my dear. You know that."
Christine felt a surge of desire as his fingers glided across her belly, and she closed her eyes briefly. She opened them and moved as close as she could to Erik, yearning to feel his body against hers. "It'll be a boy, mon amour." She stroked her fingers over his neck. "And he will grow to be a handsome charming man, like his father," she whispered against his jaw, moving kisses over his face.
Erik sighed softly then, stroking his fingers over her face and down her sides, catching her questing lips in his own and purring into her mouth. He kissed her sweetly then, nuzzling her cheek and neck.
Christine pulled back suddenly, frowning. "Erik..." She began, but looked down shyly.
Erik frowned, cupping her cheek in his hand. "What is it, my dear?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.
Christine blushed and bit her lip. "Erik... Ever since... that night." She shivered. "You've been very sweet." She smiled reassuringly. "And I appreciate that!" She took a deep breath and looked away. "It's just... you excited me so much when you became very possessive and..." She closed her eyes, shaking her head. "Nevermind," she said simply, and grabbed the back of his head gently to bring her lips to his once more.
Erik smiled against his wife's lips as he kissed her. He had secretly enjoyed dominating his wife, but he had been afraid that he may have hurt her. Knowing now that she had enjoyed it as well, he was quick to roll her to her back and straddle her body, holding her legs with his own, and grasping her wrists above his head. Looking down dangerously at his wife then, he gave her a devious smile, then bent his head to claim her lips in a rough kiss, full of passion and possession both.
Christine gasped and smiled inwardly, shivers running up and down her spine. She was helpless in this position, to do anything, but she was completely fine with letting him do whatever he wanted. She trusted Erik, and she had a feeling he knew what he was doing. She moaned against his mouth, moving her hips up, but realizing she had not the power to do so. It made her desire flare even more.
Erik groaned as he ground his hips against hers, leaning down to bite at her neck, then released her hands to flip her over roughly and untie her dress. It was over her shoulders in a matter of moments, and he expelled a large breath at the sight of her body. Rolling her back beneath him then, he pressed his still-clothed hips against her roughly, sliding his hands up her sides and grasping her breasts firmly. His lips descended then, and he kissed her hard, biting her lips and rolling his hips over hers.
Christine moaned deeply and arched her back, her eyes closing in the pure passion of the moment. She wanted him unclothed, and she finally realized that all those times she had teased him he had been in completely agony, as she was now. Sure pleasurable torture. She panted softly, thinking that they didn't this hardly as often as they should; of course, with Maddy not being able to stay detained for very long, they rarely had time to do anything anymore. She was thankful they were now, and that it was it the rare way she liked it... or rather, Erik liked it. She loved to see his possessive expressions. They made her shiver in delight, as she did now, and she uttered his name softly, breathing heavily.
Erik felt as if he could wait no more, and he quickly shed his clothing, then pounced on Christine again, and with almost no warning, plunged deeply within her. His cry of passion rang out through the room as he began to move within Christine hard, and his mouth lowered to take hers, then his lips slid down her neck and to her breasts. He bit at them sharply, thrusting hard as he could within his wife and groaning almost constantly, as his fingers dug into her hips.
Christine cried out and clutched at his neck, his shoulders, and then his upper arms. She threw her head back and groaned, her back arched as far as she could make it, which caused him to go even deeper inside her. She moaned as her nails dug into the flesh of his upper arms, and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, locking her ankles. She pressed her heels into his bottom, urging him faster as she sought his lips once more.
Erik responded to her urges, and thrust even faster within his wife, moaning deeply and possessing her lips with his own. Their teeth crashed together in the passion of his kiss, and he clawed frantically at her hips and sides, moaning and gasping out her name in short breaths. Never before had this felt so good, and he cried out sharply and bit her shoulder hard.
Christine whimpered, choking on her moans, and she found herself gasping his name as she struggled to keep moving her hips in time with his. She came fiercely, screaming his name as she shuddered so furiously her teeth chattered. Her whole body arched against him as she threw her head back, reaching a hand up to claw at the headboard, the other digging into his upper back.
Erik moaned low and deep when she began to tighten around him, and he thrust within her several more times, before he released powerfully, collapsing atop Christine and shaking uncontrollably as his lower body spasmed. He gasped for breath, panting hard and continuing to shake as he rested within her.
Christine smiled as she stroked his back and shoulders, placing kisses atop his head. "Oh, Erik," she sighed, unlocking her ankles and letting her legs fall to his sides. "How can I describe in words how perfect you are?" She let her head rest back on the pillow and threaded her fingers through his hair.
Erik sighed softly, withdrawing from within Christine and laying at her side instead. His body still trembled and he felt slightly numb. Reaching down, he tugged the blankets over them, and curled closer to his wife, kissing her cheek. "And to think.. Something so wonderful as that.. Creates such beautiful miracles" He whispered. Suddenly his eyes widened. If Christine was pregnant... couldn't it stand to reason that Raoul could be the father?! Erik�s body stiffened, and he looked down with wide eyes at Christine. "Raoul." He said sharply. "Is he the father?!"
Christine's eyes widened and she moved slightly away from her husband, pushing her hair off her shoulders. Pain flashed in her deep blue eyes, and she shivered at the remembrance of Raoul against her. "Don't you think that I would tell you if that were a possibility? Don't you know I have more love and respect for you then that?" She slid all the way over to where she was almost off the bed and grasped the sheets around her. She turned the opposite way and sighed shakily as a tear rolled down her cheek. "You prevented him from having the chance to get me pregnant," she spoke, and a sob escaped her lips as she added, "Thank God you did so."
Reaching out, Erik drew Christine across the bed and into his arms. "I'm sorry, mon ange... really... I just.." He sighed shakily, turning her so their chests pressed together, and he placed a gentle kiss to each of her cheeks, tasting her tears and feeling horrible. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me.." He whispered, cuddling her closer and wrapping his body with hers. "I just love you so much, Christine..."
Christine buried her face in his chest and held onto him tightly, feeling safe and protected. She lifted her face and kissed him softly, and then lowered her head to nuzzle his neck and squirm closer to him. She traced imaginary patterns down his arms, and gazed up into his eyes, sighing softly. "What will happen when we have two children to take care of? When we will have even less time to make love?" She shivered. "Being unable to touch you is pure torture."
Erik smiled, nipping her neck and sliding his hands up and down her back, delighting in the smooth warmth of her skin. "That is what Nadir is for, my dear. And Jean Claude. To take the children so we may have some time together." He said playfully, winking at his wife and giving her a quick kiss.
Christine grinned and rolled him over so that she was laying half on top of him. "What if I don't want some time, Erik?" She bent her head to place light kisses over his chest. "What if I want all the time?"
Erik grinned down at Christine then, grasping her hips in his hands and pulling her to lay fully atop him. "Well, we have all the time in the world right now, my dear..." He whispered sensually, possessing her lips swiftly and kissing her with a voracious passion.
"Do we?" She questioned, a thin eyebrow raised. She slid her hand down his chest, and rubbed his shins and calves with her feet, moving against him in just a way that he couldn't thrust up and enter her unless she allowed it. "Because I could use all the time in the world doing this..." She bent her head and kissed in the very middle of his chest, and then looked up at him as she licked the same spot. "Or this," she whispered, moving her hand down to caress his manhood softly, but firmly. "Or this," she continued, her other hand moving up to massage his neck.
Erik's eyes were wide as Christine spoke, and when her hand moved against him, he gave a small cry, lifting his hips and trembling slightly. His hand reached up to catch the one on his neck, and he kissed her knuckles gently as he looked into her eyes. "Christine..." He beckoned as he reached forward, grasping the back of her head in his hand. "Come here..." He breathed, drawing her up and kissing her lips lovingly. His head tilted as he deepened the contact, and as he did so, his other hand stole down to brush against her thighs, then against her womanhood teasingly. He nipped her lower lip then, and kissed her with a sweet, loving and subdued passion.
Christine moaned slightly and was about to move to situate herself on his awaiting flesh, when she heard a soft whine. She looked to the door to see little Madeleine, looking at them with a frown, holding her dolly limply by her side. She watched them intently, her little head tilted to the side. Christine bit her lip and moved to get off of Erik, sliding to his side and sitting up, bringing the covers around the both of them. "Maddy, what's wrong, my dearest?"
Erik frowned, looking to his daughter and taking Christine's hand beneath the blankets.
The little girl's lower lip trembled and she held up the dolly sadly, as if that told them all there was to say. She was deeply upset, and Christine wondered how she could've escaped from Nadir when he probably new what they were doing. She also refused to talk, which upset Christine at times, for Maddy knew how to say many things and yet she kept quiet mostly.
Erik understood almost immediately, and reached out for his daughter, also silent. The doll must have broke. He thought to himself.
The little girl went forward timidly, her wavy dark raven hair swaying as she crept up onto the bed, and in between her parents. Christine's arm went around her and she leaned against her mother, her blue eyes watery with tears. She handed the doll to Erik and asked quietly, "You fix, Papa?"
Erik nodded simply, and looked at the doll with confusion. Something must have gone wrong... Oh... there's the problem. She must have shaken it too much when she beat it against the wall of the playpen. Gently he prodded the middle section of the doll, pressing the bits and pieces inside to the correct position. Gently then, he set the little diva down, and very softly whispered to her, "Sing." The clear soprano voice rang out powerfully, in a new aria from the last one she had performed. Never would this doll repeat the same song, not even once.
Madeleine reached out and took her father's hand as she watched the doll, and Christine smiled over her head at Erik, an apologetic look it her eyes. "Where's your uncle Nadir, Maddy?" She questioned softly.
Maddy rubbed her eyes sleepily. "He asleep." She smiled mischievously at her father, and took out a little vile full of a clear colored potion. She handed it to Erik and then stared back at the dolly, beginning to clap loudly.
Erik gaped at the vial in his hand, and looked sternly down at Maddy. Tilting her chin up, he frowned. "Where did you get this?" He asked then, not willing to look at Christine for fear that she would be very angry...
Maddy turned away, ignoring him, and looked to her mother. "Mamma, why you scream?"
Christine narrowed her eyes at the two of them, wondering if Erik gave people sleeping potion at that age. "What do you mean, Darling?"
Maddy demonstrated what she'd heard her mother do, and Christine's eyes widened. "Papa hurt you?" She questioned Christine, shooting a glare at her father.
Erik's face turned bright red, and he shook his head swiftly. "No! No, Maddy... when people are grown ups, and they find someone that... well, that they love very much... like I love your mother... they.. well.. to show that love..." He faltered then, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, they make each other scream." He finished weakly, looking to Christine for support.
Christine fought a smirk and touched the back of Maddy's head. "Enough of that. You're much too young for that talk, considering I just gave it to Meg." She grinned at Erik, and Madeleine frowned, her brow creasing. "The question is, where did you get that vial?" Madeleine made to run from them, but Christine caught her around the waist. "Now, Maddy, you got yourself into this."
Maddy grinned and pointed at Erik. "Papa gave to me!"
Erik shook his head rapidly. "No! No I didn't!" He exclaimed, wincing in fear of his wife's wrath.
Christine looked to Maddy. "Is that true, love?"
Maddy nodded. "Papa did it! Papa papa papa!" She sang, and jumped on the bed. She took a flying leap into her father's arms, pressing her forehead against his. "Make scream, Papa! You love mee!"
Erik winced, before flopping her down onto her back and tickling her swiftly. He grinned as he heard her shrieking giggles, and looked to Christine, eyes wide and begging her to believe that he didn't give her the vial.
Christine leant over Maddy, making sure the sheet was secure around her, and began to tickle her as well. "You're going to need the rest of that for when I get moody again," Christine informed Erik, and pounced on him, tickling him now. "Maddy help me get your Papa!" Maddy giggled and tickled under Erik's neck, squealing happily that they were getting him.
Erik rolled easily off of the bed, clutching the sheet around his waist and giving a triumphant cry, before he leapt back onto the bed, tackling Christine and tickling her with ease. After a moment or so of tickling her, he couldn't help himself, and leaned forward swiftly, kissing her gently.
Christine cradled his face in her hands, kissing him back, as Maddy watched and her little brows knitted together as she frowned. �You leave me out.� She crossed her arms across her chest and her rosebud lips formed a pout.
Erik pulled his lips from Christine's at Maddy's words, and chuckled as he leaned forward to put a quick kiss to his daughter's lips. "How's that?" He asked teasingly, before turning back to kiss Christine swiftly, then cuddle against her.
Christine stroked his hair and pulled Maddy towards them, and the small girl cuddled against her parents. Christine smiled at Erik and ran her hand repeatedly over Maddy's forehead softly. "Maddy," she began gently, "How would you like a sibling?"
Maddy looked up with innocent blue eyes, sparkling with curiosity. "Sebling?"
Erik chuckled. "A brother or sister, Maddy... what would you think of that?" He asked gently, running his finger down her nose and tweaking it, his eyes dancing.
Maddy scrunched her nose and giggled. "You buy one, Papa? It will serve food!" She giggled and looked to her mother, running her small still slightly chubby hands through her mother's dark brown curls.
Erik laughed then, leaning over to kiss Christine's cheek. "Maybe this is best left explained by you, my dear." He said gently, taking her hand and squeezing it tightly.
Christine smiled and stroked Maddy's cheek. "I'm going to have a baby, Maddy." She took her daughter's hand and placed it on top of Erik's on her belly. "He's in there. Your little brother." She kissed Maddy's forehead. "Like you once were."
Maddy tilted her head slightly. "I was in your tummy, Mamma? No no no!" She giggled and patted Christine's stomach, though she began to understand a tad more, even though she scarcely believed it.
"Yes you were." Christine smiled and looked loving at Erik. "You'll have someone to play with, Maddy. Won't you like that? A little brother to pester you!" She kissed Erik's cheek while smiling playfully at him, knowing that if the boy had curiosity from his mother like his sister did, he would indeed be a plague to Maddy.
Maddy touched Erik's cheek as she looked up at her parents sadly. "You still love me?�
Erik looked seriously at his daughter's face as he took her hand in his, kissing it gently. "Of course. Maddy, we will always love you!" He insisted, gathering her up into his arms and placing playful kisses all over her face.
Maddy giggled and wrapped her arms around her father's neck. She yawned and cuddled into him, and reached for her mother's hand. Christine scooted closer to Erik and wrapped an arm around his waist, and laid her head on his chest by Maddy's arm. She smiled up at him before she closed her eyes and drifted off.
Chapter Nineteen