Chapter Twenty-Three
Christine gasped and clutched Erik's hand tightly, her eyes screwed shut as she pushed harder than she had ever pushed before. "Get it out get it out get it out!" She cried, and took another deep breath before she pushed once more. She heard crying and a faint smile came to her face, and she pushed harder, knowing she would see her newborn child soon.
Erik kissed Christine's forehead excitedly, watching his third child being born. The midwife was grinning broadly as she knelt between Christine's legs. "Good! Just another push, Christine... just one more..." She encouraged, patting her leg.
Christine ground her teeth together and shook slightly as she pushed out her third child. She grunted and frowned and squeezed Erik's hand so hard she heard a crunch, and then let her head fall back as she felt relief wash over her.
Erik winced and withdrew his hand, shaking it a bit and looking curiously at the child. The midwife cut the cord and washed off the baby, handing it to Erik, who grinned. "I was right." He said softly, placing the child into Christine's arms.
Christine grinned down at her little son, who accepted her breast eagerly. She ran her hand over his head and marveled at how his hair resembled Erik and Maddy's. Suddenly, another great bout of pain came over her, and she nearly dropped the baby. She looked down at herself incredulously, and practically threw the baby at Erik, and grabbed the sheets as she felt the pain wash back over her.
Erik held his son close, and looked with confusion at the midwife. "Is she okay?!" He cried, eyes wide.
The midwife nodded with a grin. "There is another child." She stated simply, before grasping Christine's leg. "Now Christine, this is a little dangerous... a second child does not always survive." She stated seriously. "Push now!"
Christine did not hesitate. She pushed madly and tried her best not to push her lower body up. The pain was almost unbearable and she grabbed the pillow underneath her head as she pushed with incredible forced behind it, crying out in pain.
Erik looked on with fear and pride both as he held the little boy in his arms, quirking an eyebrow at how he kept bumping his face against Erik's chest, trying to find a breast to feed at.
The midwife smiled broadly. "Good! Wonderful, I can see the head, just a bit more."
Christine whimpered and cursed loudly as she pushed the remaining child out, her knuckles turning white and the curls that had slipped from her tie sticking to her perspirated skin. She groaned and panted as she felt the child leave her body, and sighed with relief. She immediately tried to sit up, peering down. "Did it survive? Please tell me it did!"
The midwife grinned, doing the easy task of preparing the child for the parents, and looking up at Christine with sparkling eyes. "Congratulations... you now have two beautiful children." She whispered, tears in her eyes as she handed the bundle to Christine.
Christine gasped with joy as she saw the little baby girl in her arms, and she fumbled with her chemise as she fought to open it. She smiled at the girl and held her close, allowing her her first meal. She looked up at Erik as a tear fell from her eye. "Two.." She whispered, and then bit her lip as she looked to the midwife. "Thank you so much... Will you tell the children they can come in now?"
Erik sobbed softly, tears falling from his eyes as he sat beside Christine and placed the boy in her other arm. Pressing his face against Christine's breast several times, before Erik reached out and gently guided his son's lips to Christine's nipple. Eagerly he fed, and kicked his little feet playfully against his sister's.
The midwife nodded slowly, walking from the room and smiling at the children who were sitting at the foot of the stairs. "Your mother and father would like you to come to the room now." She said gently.
Charles jumped up eagerly and stumbled as he tried to run up the stairs too fast. "Maddy, carry me! I want to see my brother!!"
Maddy grinned and picked up her little brother, and ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She ran through the door and to the side of the bed, and gasped and she saw her mother holding two babies. "Papa!" She cried, and set Charles in his lap before climbing on herself. She peered at them. "A brother and a sister, Papa? How can that happen?!"
Erik grinned. "Well, I'm not sure... but it is very special..." He whispered, wiping his tears and reaching out to brush his fingers over the boys cheek and looking into his eyes, so light blue they appeared almost gray. He then looked at his daughter and tweaked her nose.
Christine could not wipe the grin from her face, and she looked over to her eldest son. "What do you think of your brother and sister, Charles?" She asked, her eyebrows raised a tad.
Charles grinned softly, touching the girl�s cheek and leaning in to kiss her cheek. "She's pretty." He whispered, looking into her eyes and smiling when she grabbed his finger. He looked up at Christine in wonder. "Maman... she likes me!"
Christine laughed slightly and nodded. "Yes she does..." She looked over to her husband, and reached out for his hand. "What shall we name them?" She whispered, still flabbergasted at how this miracle had happened.
Erik shook his head, completely at a loss for words. "I don't know... perhaps Phillip for this fellow..." He said, touching the boy's tiny bit of hair and smiling at him. "After all... these two here," He motioned to Charles and Maddy, "are named for my parents... perhaps it is time for one of our children to be named for your father. I didn't know him, but I think he would like it..."
Charles clutched tightly to the girls hand and looked at his parents. "Can I name her? Can I? I want to call her Bella! Maman she's so pretty, can we call her Bella, can we?"
Christine grinned and nodded, ecstatic. "Phillip and Bella." She nodded again. "I cannot believe I am the mother of four beautiful children. I'm so lucky." She reached for Erik's hand and gripped it tightly, tears forming in her eyes from happiness.
Erik nodded, tears in his own eyes as he leaned forward and kissed Christine's cheek, then the foreheads of both his new children. "Oh Christine..." He breathed, looking at them with awe in his eyes. "They're absolutely perfect."
Maddy watched with a frown, and she jumped off the bed and walked out of the door, and down the stairs, to her bedroom. She slammed the door and fell onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow. Jealousy was her only emotion. She hadn't felt jealous with Charles... But now she did feel jealous. Perhaps they would never love her the same again, since they had two new beautiful children to love. She frowned and pounded her little fist into the bed.
Erik frowned, unable to understand what had just happened. "What on earth..?"
Charles sighed. "Maddy thinks you don't love her now I bet." He said, frowning a bit himself. "But you love me, right?"
Christine's grin faded and she blinked a few times. "Charles, just because you're a genius does not mean you have to be fresh. Aren't you worried about your sister?" She wished she could get up and go to her first born, but in her state she knew she could not.
Charles nodded with a little smile, and hopped up. "Yes but I don't think I can do anything... Papa maybe you should talk to her." He said simply, still fascinated by his little sister. "I wanna stay by Bella." He stated firmly, still peering down at her cute little face.
Erik couldn't help but chuckle, ruffling Charles' hair. "He takes after me, all right." He stated, before dropping a quick kiss to Christine's cheek and smiling reassuringly at her. "I'll be right back, my dear."
He hurried down the stairs then, and knocked at Maddy's door. "Darling, may I come in?" He called.
Maddy's head shot up and she thought for a moment, before letting her head drop back down to her pillow. "No," she said, her voice muffled, "You have Phillip and Bella to attend to. You should go."
Erik sighed and opened the door slowly, peeking his head in. "Your mother can handle that lot, I want to talk with you."
"You can't have everything you want," she announced haughtily, and clutched her pillow as if that would help her anger go away.
Erik rubbed his face for a moment, before letting himself in and sitting next to Maddy. Wanting so badly to draw her into his arms, but knowing to bide his time, Erik folded his hands in his lap. "You know, Maddy... you were my first child. You don't know much about my past... but before I met your mother, I was alone. My own mother hated me. We never celebrated my birthday, she never told me she loved me... when I was nine years old I ran away. Madeleine, I lived all alone, with no friends, no one who cared for me for over forty years before I met your mother, and she came to care for me despite what everyone else thought. And when you came into our lives.. Oh Maddy, you gave me such hope. Dearest, you are the best thing that has ever happened in my life, and for you to think that I, that your mother, could ever care for the new children more than you..."
He sighed, giving into his need to touch his child, and he combed his fingers through Maddy's hair gently. "I could never love anyone more than you, you are my first daughter, and don't tell the others this, but you'll always be my favorite child." He whispered, rubbing her back. "Your mother feels the same way. When she realized she was pregnant with you, Madeleine, we danced all around, we laughed and cheered in the middle of the night and woke your uncle Nadir... now, did you ever see us celebrate like that when your mother became pregnant with Charles, or with Phillip and Bella?" He lifted Maddy into his arms carefully, and kissed her forehead. "We love you very much."
Maddy began to sob helplessly into her father's shoulder and hugged him tightly, his shirt becoming wet with her tears. "Oh Daddy I'm so sorry. I just love it when you teach me and hold me and I don't want to be forgotten! And when Charles seemed so happy with Bella I became jealous Papa because he used to love me so very much." She hugged him tighter as her sobs quieted. "Never leave me alone, Papa, please. I want to be smart and know everything you do, about science and music! I want you and Mamma to always be proud of me, and I know that you will be, I just feel don't want to feel that way ever again."
"Oh Maddy.. he still loves you, you're his big sister!" Erik exclaimed, cuddling his daughter close. "I will always be here to teach you and hold you and be your papa... I will never leave you, I'll stick around so long that you'll become tired of me." He stated with a smile, and he kissed her cheeks gently, before standing with her in his arms. "Would you like to go back upstairs now and show your mother that you are okay? She was very worried about you..."
She was?" Maddy rubbed at her eyes and nodded. "I'd like to see my new siblings now." She wrapped her arms around her father's neck and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked towards the stairs.
X
Maddy raised an eyebrow as she watched three-month-old Phillip stare around into space. Bella was playing happily with Charles on the floor, and crawling slightly with her elder brother's help. Madeleine had just happened to look up from her music to see her youngest brother seemingly lost. She stood and picked him up, and left the children's play room to walk to the music room, and in to see her father and mother embracing on the bench. She winced and cleared her throat.
Erik turned his head with curiosity, breaking away from Christine and looking at Maddy. "Yes, dear?"
"Composing my rear end," she muttered, and then walked forward, and placed Phillip in her mother's arms. "There's something wrong with him, Mamma. He just stares. He claps and makes sounds but he doesn't do anything else, doesn't try to move like Bella. At least he doesn't make a fool out of himself like Bella does..." She shrugged and waved her hand around in her brother's face. "Do you see that?"
Christine raised an eyebrow and looked to Erik. She held the child close and watched him curiously, frowning. "Erik..." She murmured, her eyes sparkling with worry.
"Hmmm...." He intoned softly, looking into his son's eyes. "Phillip." He said softly, and the boy smiled, but continued to stare as if he was looking past Erik. He reached a hand over to the left on his son and snapped his fingers, and Phillip jumped, giving a little squeak and whipping his head around as if he was trying to find the source of the sound. Erik met Christine's eyes with fear. "My dear... he's blind."
Christine's mouth fell open and she shook her head. "No he's not!" She ran a hand over the boy's hair and stroked his cheek. "That's nonsense! How can he be blind?!"
Erik sighed. "Quite easily he can be blind, Christine. Look at him!" He exclaimed, waving his hand back and forth in front of Phillip's face. "He doesn't react to anything. Watch." Moving his finger slowly forward, he was able to put it only a centimeter away from Phillip's right eye, and the child didn't even blink.
Christine's eyes filled with tears and she held the child close, and removed herself from Erik's lap. She paced back and forth with the child in her arms, and finally turned back to her husband. "I'm taking the twins to the doctor," she announced, before leaving the room and jogging up the stairs easily now that she was back to her normal weight. She entered her bedroom and lay on the bed with her son, and stroked his face. "Phillip," she whispered sadly. Knowing he must be hungry because of the throb in her breasts, she untied her dress and pulled it down to her hips and opened the front of her chemise, and guided him to her breast. Of course, she thought, the others didn't have to be led to their meal... She sighed sadly and stroked his dark hair. "I still love you, do not worry."
Erik sighed, and patted the top of Madeleine's head as he moved to the door. "You, my dear, will make a fantastic mother some day... you are very observant." He stated with a sad smile, before rushing to the bedroom he and Christine shared and watching her feed their son from the doorway. "Christine.."
Christine sighed and hugged her son closer to her. "What is it? Is Bella deaf?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I should've known something was wrong. How can I be a mother and not know?" She frowned and fought her oncoming tears.
Erik gave a heavy sigh and walked to the bed, sitting next to Christine and touching her cheek. "Christine... we didn't know, that's the bottom line... we're both only human, and I'll admit I'm surprised we didn't notice, but we know now, and that is all that matters." He kissed her cheek gently, pulling her a bit closer. "We will get through this, I promise you."
Christine bit her lip and shook softly with her silent sobs. "But how will he see the music you write? How will he come to learn that music, and play the music, or even sing that music?! Erik, how will he ever learn to play with the other children?"
Erik began to cry slightly himself. "Oh Christine... we can teach him, he can still hear the music!" He exclaimed, pulling her a bit closer and placing desperate kisses all over her face. "It will all be well, he can still hear, he will still be able to speak... we can help him... in my travels I saw people who had animals trained to lead the blind, we shall find some way to do that for him... do not despair, we will find a way!"
Christine nodded and smiled slightly, knowing that if they had gotten through the ordeal with Charles that they could get through whatever else Fate threw their way. She noticed their son had fallen asleep and she carefully lay him to the side with a smile because she realized how beautiful and angelic he looked, and began to button up her chemise.
Erik reached out, stilling his wife's hands and looking lovingly into her eyes. "Wait. You did not ask me if I was hungry as well." He said, his voice low and sensual. Leaning forward, he kissed her gently, then moved his mouth over her breast and very gently began to draw her milk into his mouth, groaning softly and threading his fingers with Christine's.
Christine sighed softly and brought her other hand up to the back of his head, pushing him forward slightly. She closed her eyes and smiled, pleased with his actions and wanting so much more. She moved her lower body closer to his and tangled their legs together, her body arching.
Erik groaned when she moved against him, and he pressed his hips against Christine's, suckling a bit more firmly as he whimpered. Drawing his mouth from her breast for only a moment, he kissed her passionately. "I want you now..." He whispered, nipping her lower lip, then fitting his lips over her nipple again.
Christine could only moan in response, and she placed her hands at his shirtfront as she rolled her hips against his. "What if I become pregnant again?" She mumbled as her hands worked quickly and pushed the garment off his shoulders. "You just want me to have children so that you can..." She gasped as desire shot through her and made her tremble. "Have a good meal," she finished, and arched even more, grasping his shoulders.
Erik gave a cry of need, grasping her sides and trailing his hands over her stomach and down her legs. "The more children the merrier." He mumbled against her flesh, reaching between them and drawing her skirts up around her waist. Gently his fingers moved between her legs and he groaned, abandoning his wife's breast and instead taking her lips in his own.
Christine's hips lifted against his hand and she groaned, clutching his shoulders. She rode his fingers and moved her lips to his neck, and nibbled at the flesh there. Moving her own hand down to his pants, she unbuttoned them and caressed his flesh and thighs as she moved the pants off him, still thrusting her hips against his hand.
Erik whimpered, moving his hand from her and replacing it swiftly as he thrust his hips forward and buried himself deeply within his wife. A choked cry fled his lips as he rested within her for just a moment, looking into her eyes and touching her cheek. "Christine... I love you..." He whispered softly, before kissing her with unbridled passion and thrusting into her slowly.
Christine gasped and threw her head back, her mouth agape as she beheld this complete pleasure. She clutched at his neck and shoulders, and moved with his slow pace at first, and then tried to speed it up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and whispered in his ear, "Erik.. a little faster, please?" She whimpered and thrust her hips up.
Erik shook his head, continuing the slow pace and running his hands up her body, cupping her breasts, then sliding his fingertips over her stomach and down her legs. "Let us see how long we can maintain this pace." He whispered into her ear softly, before tracing the edge with his tongue playfully.
Christine groaned and her mouth suddenly felt very dry. She clutched at Erik's back, her nails digging into his shoulder blades. She tried to take her mind off of how badly she needed release, and instead decided she would drive him crazy. She licked his lips and traced them with her tongue, and nipped at them fiercely before moving her mouth down his neck and to his shoulder. She bit the flesh there, as one of her hands slid down in between them to stroke his abdomen teasingly. Her legs were firm around his waist, for that was the only thing giving her control from bucking wildly beneath him.
Erik breathed heavily as he tried his best to keep himself from speeding up, and he gave Christine a playful glare as he trembled. "You minx." He whispered, his voice hoarse with passion. "Christine..." He moaned, reaching between their bodies and pressing his fingers against her firmly while winking up at her. "Two can play..." He said softly as he moved his fingers in slow and lazy circles, keeping up his laid back pace even as he felt his body begin shaking a bit more.
Christine gasped as her eyelids fluttered, and she dug her nails into his lower back. "Don't play with me," she whispered breathlessly. "I'll lose my mind." She thrust her hips up, off the rhythm they had created. She did it again and trailed her hands down his back to the swell of his rear, and massaged him as she continued to move in the new pace she had created.
Erik whimpered, allowing Christine's new pace to take the fore, and he sped things up just a bit, unable to help himself. Seeking out her lips, Erik kissed her deeply, moving his hips a bit faster and groaning low in his throat as he felt himself nearing his release more and more. "Yesss..."
Christine slowed then, an arrogant smirk coming to her face, and she gripped his shoulders as she moaned deeply. "Mmm..." She moved against him even more slowly than before, and placed light kisses along his jaw and she raked her nails down his back.
Giving a cry of frustration, Erik reached down and grasped her hips in both hands, holding her still and throwing his head back as he moved quickly within his wife. "I can't...stand it... any more.." He gasped out, squeezing his eyes shut and gasping for breath.
Christine ghosted her lips across his earlobe and whispered his name hoarsely, and squeezed her legs around his waist and she moved as best she could with his frantic pace. She groaned and clutched him tightly as she felt herself nearly to the edge, and she cried out softly, his name echoing slightly in the room.
Erik gave an impassioned cry, reaching his release and gasping in the brilliance of it. He continued to move within Christine, drawing out his pleasure as long as he could, and he kissed her swiftly, begging her with his lips and tongue to join him in the sweet bliss he was feeling.
Christine held one hand at the back of his head and gripped his neck tightly as she screamed into his mouth, her climax powerful and leaving her trembling in his arms. His continued movement made her shudder even more violently, and she gasped as she pulled away from his lips, and held him tightly as if someone was trying to take him away. "Erik..." She whispered. "Oh, my love."
Erik burrowed his face into Christine's neck, cuddling close and gently slipping from within her. Rolling from atop Christine's body, he lay at her side and pulled her to rest slightly atop him. "Christine, I love you so..." He breathed, kissing her forehead and trembling yet from the pleasure they had just shared.
Christine smiled and cuddled into him, nuzzling her face into his chest. "Erik... You're amazing..." She combed through his hair with her fingers and kissed his shoulder. "I could never get enough of this."
Grinning, Erik stroked his fingers up and down her back lovingly. "Neither could I, my dear... neither could I."
X
Maddy held her small brother in her arms protectively in the hansom, and cooed down at him. She began to sing lightly, and smiled up at her father, as she loved to sing for him. She gazed back down at her little brother and stroked his face, and rocked him slightly. As the hansom came to a halt, she looked over expectantly at her parents and bit her lip, determined to protect Phillip and hold him until the doctor had to look him over.
Erik smiled at his daughter and climbed from the hansom, helping his wife down and smiling at Bella, who was curled in Christine's arms. Next he lifted down Charles, then pulled Maddy down and kissed the top of her head. Paying the driver, he led his family through the doors of the hospital, then looked to Christine.
Christine smiled as she led them through the hospital, and waved at the familiar nurse she always talked to before her check ups. "I'm sorry to drop in again suddenly, but I need the Dr. Auclair to look at my son... There is a possibility he may be blind."
The nurse nodded kindly, and led the family through a nearby hall and into a small room. "I shall fetch the doctor." She said, and she rushed from the room.
Erik shifted about a bit, and finally leaned against a wall, looking around a bit nervously and wrapping his arms around himself.
Erik nodded just as the door swung open, and Dr. Auclair ws greeted by a very large family. "Why, Madame Destler.. the last time I was here, I believe you had only one child, and one on the way... I count four now..." His eyes passed over the faces of the children, and widened only momentarily as they passed over Charles' face.
Christine smiled proudly and nodded. "These two are twins." She motioned to Bella and Phillip, and then rose to place Bella in Erik's arms. She turned to Maddy and took Phillip from her, and stood in front of Dr. Auclair. "This is the first that came out." She passed her hand over his face and frowned. "We believe he might be blind."
Dr. Auclair frowned, motioning for Christine to sit on the examining table with the boy, and he quickly found his tools. Placing the instrument before Phillips' eye, he looked through it, then check the other one. Passing his hand before the boy's face, he looked up at Christine with sad eyes. "He may be able to see sudden flashes of light, once and a while a blurry image... but nothing more. I apologize, really I do.. it seems I only tell your family unfortunate news."
Maddy raised an eyebrow and stood, reaching to take Phillip into her arms. "What do you mean?" She questioned, her eyes narrowed. She'd not heard of any bad news... she was sure this doctor had not seen Charles before...
Erik sighed. "Nothing Maddy, I was ill, that is all." He said simply, blowing her a kiss and looking then to his wife, eyes full of sadness.
Dr. Auclair smiled at the little girl, shocked that she spoke so well. Crouching down, he looked into her eyes. "And how old are you, little one?" He asked in a kind voice.
Maddy curtsied slightly and spoke softly, "I will be five very soon." She stuck her nose in the air proudly.
The doctor smiled broadly, reaching out to touch Phillip's cheek sadly. "That is very good." He said to Maddy with a wink, before standing again. He looked at Erik curiously. "Monsieur, I know this is not why you have come here today, but I would like very much to see if the medication I gave you before has begun its affects..." He said, wringing his hands.
Erik shrugged. "I see no trouble in that... what must I do?"
The doctor flushed, going to the small sink and grasping a paper cup. "I will... well, I will require a sample." He stated, averting his gaze and hoping that Erik understood what he was being asked.
Erik blinked, face warming slightly as he nodded. "I see..."
The doctor lead him to the door and opened it, pointing down the hall. "There is a bathroom there, you may go inside and... well, just bring the sample back here."
Looking to Christine helplessly, he gave a short wave and slipped from the room. Reaching the bathroom, he sighed and set the cup aside. How on Earth am I supposed to manage this?!
Maddy frowned and she looked seriously at her mother. "Mamma, what is going on here? Papa was never ill..." She rocked Phillip gently and hummed softly to him.
Christine didn't answer. She began to wring her hands and become antsy, and she rushed swiftly to the door. "I'll be right back. Erm... Dr. Auclair, can you check Bella and make sure she's not Phillip's exact twin?" She slipped out the door and rushed down to the bathrooms, and knocked softly upon the door.
Erik was leaned against the wall, lost in thought, and he moved to the door then, opening it a bit and sticking his head out. "Christine?"
She pushed the door open and stepped in, locking it behind her. "Do you have your sample yet?" She questioned in a hushed voice, glancing to the cup.
Shaking his head, Erik sighed. "I.. well I don't understand how.."
Christine raised an eyebrow and made a motion for him to continue. "You don't understand what?" She shrugged and held out her hands expectantly.
His face flushed brightly as he looked away. "I don't understand how to acquire the sample." He said in a rushed voice, running a hand through his hair.
Christine grinned and stepped forward with a seductive smile. "Really? Well let me help you..." She grasped his waistband and pulled him close to her, and slowly began to unbutton his trousers. "It's very easy, you see..." She murmured.
Erik's eyes widened as he looked down at his wife, and he reached down mechanically, pulling his pants down the rest of the way and swallowing hard. "Christine...?"
Christine kneeled before him and slid her hands down his thighs, her eyes on his the entire time. She caressed his abdomen before sliding a fingertip up the length of him, and she let her thumb circle the head of his manhood. "Now do you understand how you acquire the sample?" She asked, an eyebrow raised and she continued her strokes.
Erik gasped, his knees going weak as Christine touched him, and he reached down to stroke his fingers though her hair. "Yes, I believe I understand... but don't stop..." He gasped out, letting his head tilt back and breathing deeply.
Christine obeyed, and ran her fingertips lightly over the underside of his flesh before rubbing more firmly over the top. "How long does it take for one to acquire a sample, I wonder?" Slowly, she brought her mouth forward, and let her tongue snake out to trace the tip of him.
Erik gave a tiny whimper, unable to hold himself up any longer, he slid down the wall and landed rather abruptly on his rear. Reaching out gently, he grasped Christine's hand in his own and squeezed it gently. "Not... too long if you continue with that..." He whispered with a wink, and his body began to tremble slightly.
Christine grinned and rubbed his thighs as she took just a tad of his flesh into her mouth, and sucked ever so gently. She caressed his lower belly and stroked the insides of his thighs, never losing eye contact with him as she did so.
Erik cried out, flushing when he realized that he must be quiet or they would be given away. He lifted his hips slightly and brought his free hand down, threading his fingers through Christine's hair and feeling a tightening in his lower stomach.
Christine inwardly grinned and stroked what she didn't have in her mouth, and she sucked more firmly as she grasped his thigh. She wondered where the cup was.
Gasping for breath, Erik shook more and more as he fumbled around, trying to reach the counter that the sink was on. "Christine.... oh yes... the cup...." He gestured wildly to the sink as he whimpered, eyes squeezing closed.
Christine lifted herself from between his legs and grabbed the cup, and handed it to him quickly. She licked her lips and flushed slightly, embarrassed at what she had actually just done in a hospital. She turned away from him and smoothed out her dress, and situated her hair in the mirror.
Reaching down, he put the cup in place and flushed as he moved his hand against his flesh for just a mere moment, then gasped and closed his eyes. For a few moments he leaned against the wall and focused on breathing properly, before he stood and pulled his pants back into place. Setting the cup aside, he grasped Christine and pulled her close, kissing her swiftly and rubbing her back. "Thank you..." He whispered, face flushing yet again.
Christine smiled and bit her lip to keep from giggling at the whole ordeal. "Somehow I think Maddy knows what we're up to."
Erik chuckled at Christine's words, placing his hand to the small of her back and guiding her to the door. "So that's it then?"
"Should be," she murmured in reply as she led him back down the hall. She entered the room and smiled brightly, though she caught Maddy's cool stare towards them. Christine motioned towards Bella, up on the table. "Is Bella alright, Doctor?"
Dr. Auclair gave a kind smile. "She's in perfect health." He assured her, smirking as he watched Erik walk in behind. He wasn't foolish, and he knew what must have happened.
Erik flushed just a bit as he handed the cup to the doctor, and leaned against the wall again with a sigh.
Maddy stood with Phillip in her arms and walked towards her father. She tugged on his suit as she tried to get his attention. "Papa? What is the matter with you? What medication did the doctor speak of?"
Erik looked down at his daughter and smiled. "Just some medicine, I was sick before, but it helped me and I'm better now. Nothing to worry about." He said, before glancing at the doctor with hope in his eyes.
Dr Auclair smiled kindly, motioning to the cup. "Would you two like me to test this now, or would you mind me waiting and giving you the results in a few days?"
Erik frowned. "I should like to know now..."
Maddy sighed and turned to Christine, a frown on her pretty features. Christine lifted Bella into her arms and sat down on a chair beside Maddy, and then looked up at the doctor. "It would be better if we knew as soon as possible," she said sadly, placing an arm around Maddy's shoulders.
Dr. Auclair nodded, and turned to the door. "Then I shall go test this now, and return as quickly as I can." He stated, before leaving the room.
Erik slumped down the wall and drew his legs up, resting his arms on them and sighing. "I hope I'm not... I mean... I hope we can still.."
Christine bit her lip and didn't make eye contact with him. Madeleine, knowing something was definitely wrong, cleared her throat and said exasperatedly, "I'm not an imbecile, you know. Whether you like it or not I am a genius and you," she pointed to Erik, "Made me that way. So tell me what the problem is." She looked sadly to her father. "I worry about you, Papa."
Erik rubbed his face a bit, his shoulders slumping even further as he avoided his daughter's gaze. "Ask your mother." Was all he said, unable to talk about it, not sure if he could keep from crying if he tried to.
Christine rocked Bella gently as the young girl sucked on her finger. "Remember when your father was having those little attacks, and he could hardly breathe?" Maddy nodded, a frown on her face. "Dr. Auclair gave him some medicine for them, so that he would not die from those attacks." She sighed and raised a hand to stroke Maddy's hair. "The effect of the medicine is that your father will... Well, when we... Give the special hug," she glanced at Charles, "We cannot make any more children." Christine handed Bella to Charles and made sure he was holding her properly before stepping over to her husband and reaching down to trail her fingers over his head.
Erik looked up at Christine, tears filling his eyes as he opened his arms and beckoned her with his gaze to come to him.
Charles frowned, cuddling Bella close. "No more babies?"
Maddy lowered her eyes to the floor and said softly, "I would rather Papa live than have any more siblings." Christine sat down in Erik's lap and wrapped her arms around him tightly, kissing him across his forehead. "Don't be selfish, Charles," Maddy continued, becoming protective of her father, "You have your beautiful baby so be content."
Charles glared at Maddy then, holding Bella closer. "I'm not being selfish! Papa wants more babies, can't you tell?!"
Maddy glowered at Charles and held Phillip closer, as well. "You fool! He loves us, they wouldn't know what to do with more children! Mamma would slave away all day long in the kitchen and you wouldn't learn any music at all because Papa would be so busy working! I think I would know what Papa wants more than you!"
Christine sighed loudly. "Children, please!"
Maddy said harshly, "I'm not a child, Charles is!"
Charles huffed, walking over to the chair and setting Bella down on it carefully, kissing her forehead. Marching over to Maddy then, he stuck his tongue out, then hopped on Erik's lap along with Christine. "You want more babies, don't you, papa?"
Erik reached over to ruffle Charles's curls. "That doesn't matter... I can't have any more." He stated simply, looking away.
Charles sighed and poked Erik in the chest. "But you want more, right?"
"Yes." Erik stated simply, before a tear slid down his cheek and he buried his face into Christine's chest.
Christine stroked his back and neck gently, and kissed the top of his head. "Now, Erik, we're not sure yet." She could feel her emotions going haywire but she had to remain calm for her whole entire family. "And even if it were so, we have four wonderful children. If we had any more, Erik, we wouldn't be able to remember their names.
"Papa, maman and I can special hug and then you can have more babies!" Charles said with excited eyes. "Don't be sad!"
Maddy rocked Phillip as she glared down at the squirming Bella. "Charles, Bella is going to fall off the chair. Wouldn't want that for your precious, would you? And by the way, you don't give the special hug to your parents." She upset that she could do nothing for her parents, and she was upset that Charles seemed so brilliant at times and then dense at others. Of course, ever since the twins had been born they hadn't been as close. "Idiot," she murmured under her breath, not exactly sure who she'd called the name.
Charles jumped up, grabbing Bella and kissing her cheek. "Be quiet Maddy, you're mean!" He said, turning to face the wall and rocking Bella gently.
Erik had to chuckle at Charles' words, but when his two eldest children began to fight again, he groaned and cuddled closer to his wife. "I love you.." He whispered softly, kissing her collarbone. "I'm sorry..I just can't imagine not being able to have all twenty of our children." He said with a tiny smile.
"Erik," Christine began softly, "Twenty children is outrageous. I know you like nursing, as well, but if I had twenty children I'd surely die from all that pain. Do not be so depressed, my love. I am utterly pleased with our children now... When they don't fight." She glanced over at the two eldest and glared, and then turned back to kiss Erik's cheek. "I can't imagine living without you..."
Erik sighed and nodded, lifting his face and capturing Christine's lips in a tender kiss just as the door opened to reveal Dr. Auclair. The man flushed slightly at the sight of Erik and Christine, and cleared his throat.
Christine jumped and stood quickly, and smoothed out her dress. She bit her lip as she stared into the doctor's eyes, trying to read him, though she could see nothing. She'd never been good at deciphering what emotions lay in people's eyes. "Doctor?" She asked softly, an eyebrow rose.
Dr. Auclair sighed, lowering his gaze and rubbing his face. "I apologize... Monsieur Destler, you are infertile."
Chapter Twenty Four