Alright! Chapter 8…… So chappy #7 was pretty depressing… why stop there?!? This chappy is sort of a filler. I needed to move on from Death's warning and get the story where it needs to be. It's a shorter chappy but don't worry-- #9 will get us back in the swing of things!

Enjoy!!

Chapter 8

Passing Time

After Elisabeth's encounter with Death in the cemetery, her world began to slowly and chaotically unravel. Several weeks after the death of their little girl, Elisabeth's father passed away. Even though he hadn't been an influential part of her life for over ten years, Elisabeth was shattered. First her child and then her father? Was Death trying to kill her through a broken heart? She would not allow those around her to see her cry. She would not show any weakness. She would be strong for her mother and her sister. And she would certainly not let Death control her and her life.

A year passed without any tragic events. Sophie was still as disapproving of Elisabeth as ever. Joseph was still engrossed in his work. And Elisabeth was still trying to find her way. The only change was that Elisabeth stopped all attempts in trying and improve her and Joseph's marriage. After the death of their child, they grew apart and never tried to reconnect. Fearing for her husband's safety, Elisabeth had begun to alienate herself from him and his mother. She spent all her time alone in her room or outside in the woods- always adhering to Death's warning. Joseph, swamped with work, was unaware of the true reasoning behind his wife's actions.

When Elisabeth was 23 years old, violence began to break out in the city streets of Munich. Young rebels thinking that they knew how to run the city were trying with all their might and pathetic resources to overthrow the government. Being a man of the government, Joseph withdrew from his job in the city and spent several weeks safe in the countryside with Elisabeth. And soon after, Elisabeth discovered that she was, once again, pregnant.

When Joseph discovered that his wife was once again carrying his child, he began to make quick plans to leave the country.

"Leave?" Elisabeth said, placing her hand on her round belly. "But everything is here. Our families, your work!"

"Elisabeth," Joseph began. "You're pregnant," he said motioning to her. "There is a war going on just down the road," he continued pointing to the window. "We're not staying here just so we can lose another…" He trailed off, not willing to finish his thought. They both knew what he had wanted to say. 'Lose another child.' He hadn't said it, but it had hurt nonetheless.

She waited a moment to collect herself, then Elisabeth asked, looking up:

"But where will we go?"

"I've already bought a house in Austria. We're moving in in two weeks."

"Two weeks?!" Elisabeth cried. That left her hardly any time to prepare, to pack, to say goodbye to her mother and sister.

"Yes," her husband said as he looked up from packing his things. "My friend Max, found me a job in Vienna's City Hall." Seeing the doubt on his wife's face, he walked over to her and gave her a loving hug. They hadn't had physical contact for months- this felt… good. "It'll be as if we are starting all over. Everything is going to be great!" he reassured her.

But something deep inside Elisabeth told her that it was not going to be that simple.

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In a month, the married couple was moved and settled in their new home in Austria. Joseph's job in Vienna's government was better than the one he had in Munich. Their home was more beautiful and spacious with much more property than their old house. Elisabeth would've thought that Joseph was right; they might just get a new start- if Sophie hadn't come along with them. Elisabeth's unpleasant mother- in- law claimed that she wanted to be present when her grandchild was born.

During her pregnancy, Elisabeth was allowed to wander around. The doctor believed that the child had died due to Elisabeth's lack of intake of vitamin D found in sunlight. As a result, Elisabeth was ordered to spend time in the outdoors- either in the field behind the estate or walking the streets of Vienna. Elisabeth was determined to defy Death and make sure her child would make it. Her child would survive, live a full life, become something great, make a change in the world. This she was sure of.

The only damper on her plan was that Death followed her wherever she went. Whether it was to remind her of his warning or to simply watch over her, she didn't know. Every time she would see her Dark Prince, she would place a protective hand on her stomach in fear for her unborn child. But he never showed any signs of taking the baby or causing anymore catastrophes (for she knew he was behind her father's death and the coup in Germany).

And once again, before she knew it, the baby came.

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To try and avoid a second stillborn, Joseph had everything done entirely different regarding the birth of his child. The moment Elisabeth showed signs of having contractions, he brought her to the city hospital. Elisabeth was given the proper drugs to numb the pain, making it much easier on her.

After hours of painless labor and being told when to push, Elisabeth's baby boy was born.

Elisabeth, eyes wide and holding her breath, waited to hear the baby's cries. The minute the high pitched cries filled the room, Elisabeth felt her heart race. The doctor placed him on her breast and she had her first chance to look at her little boy with loving eyes. He was alive. Beautiful. Strong. Healthy. Alive. They had beaten Death, together.

"So what's his name?" one of the young nurses asked as Elisabeth held onto her child.

"Rudolph," Joseph said as he stood next to his wife, beside himself with joy. Upon seeing the nurses perplexed look, he added, "It was my father's name."

"Oh!" the nurse said with a smile. "Well, congratulations!"

"Oh, Sisi!" Joseph said with a smile on his tear stained face. He kissed her cheek, as giddy as a schoolboy.

"Oh," Elisabeth whispered, with a smile, to Rudolph. Her baby boy. "We did it…"

"I'm going to tell my mother the news," Joseph said as he left the room with a smile lighting up his face.

The moment he passed through the doorway, Death appeared surrounded by his cold, dark persona. He simply stared at the woman lying on the hospital bed holding her baby. She had known that he would come. Staring straight into his cold eyes, she said in a deadly tone:

"You stay away from my baby."

Death simply nodded and smiled wickedly. Oh he would stay away from the baby… but he wouldn't be a baby forever.

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