Phantomsmelody1970: Don't worry, he doesn't, besides, I can't have you drowning can I?

Katdancer: Thank goodness, I was getting a little worried. This one's for you.

Phantom Serenity: You can climb up the cliff, you've reached the peak.

Trrmo77: Thank you for pointing that out and I fixed my blooper. Thank you, 14 is pretty impressive and I thought 12 was difficult! Well, all 12 of us are adopted, including myself, and 6 are from Russia! Thanksgiving is the best day of my cooking and the worst of my life! Mother gave me a week off of cooking and dishes because I made everyone 25 dishes from scratch! Minus the turkey, I don't have the stomach for it!

Here's the final chapter, there will be an epiloge after this one. As I mentioned before, this will be a short story. Check me in a few days and I probably will have another one up. Enjoy!


Chapter twelve

Christine sat by her husband's bedside, anxiously waking for him to wake up.

"Christine?" her mother said, walking into the room. "Has he awoken yet?"

She shook her head, "no." she groaned and clutched her stomach.

"Are you all right?" her mother asked. "you haven't been eating well since you were kidnapped."

"I know." She shook her head, "I haven't been hungry lately and I've been putting on weight. It won't hurt me to try to loose weight."

Her mother rolled her eyes, "nonsense. You're fine." She cleared her throat. "dear, Hadley and I've talked last night and…he's going to resume the throne." At Christine's frown, she added. "and we're going to get married, God willing, next year."

Christine stared, "what? But mother….it's so soon."

Her mother stood up, a frown etched on her face. "I should think, you of all people should know better than to judge in cases like this. I never loved your father and I hated him by the time you were born. I definitely let my hate consume me and took it out on you at times, especially when I could see Hadley in you." she straightened. "I guess…we can't really reconcile. I've hurt you too much."

She shook her head, "no mother. I never hated you or father, though I wanted to. You're my parents, and that love will always fight inside me."

Her mother smiled and kissed her forehead. "thank you Christina. I'll leave you now."

She smiled and watched as her mother closed the hospital door.

Erik let out a moan. Christine gasped and jumped onto the side of his bed. "Erik? Erik, please wake up?"

Erik's eyes blinked open, "Christine?" She leaned forward and kissed him. he groaned and she felt his arms creep up her neck. "mmmhhh." He broke the kiss and traced her chin. "what a way to wake up."

He groaned and she gasped. "Erik. Please, don't move. You've been shot. Please rest."

"I will." He nodded, "but….tell me. what happened after I passed out."

She traced his face with a finger, "Raoul's dead. You shot him right in the heart."

Erik groaned, "great. I've never killed a man in my life before. But…I guess it was a good cause."

"mother made sure you declared innocent and of self defense." She cleared her throat. "in the last two days we've become very close."

"two days?"

"your wounds and the doctor said stress attributed to your sleep."

"that figures." He said. "I'm glad you're getting things worked out with your mother. I think….your uncle…was rubbing off on her in a bad way." She nodded in agreement. "how about your father? I remembered you shooting him."

she nodded. "my father….well, he lived, but took his life. I think…his pride was….too much to face the world. Hadley will take over the throne and," she groaned. "he's marrying my mother next year."

Erik nodded, "it figures. Does that hurt you?"

"confuses me." she said. "A year, it seems so soon."

"well, they were engaged." Erik said. "and they were supposed to be married. Tell me, if I were Hadley and you were your mother….what would you do?"

she blinked, "I'd marry you tomorrow."

Erik smiled, "that's my girl." He frowned at her and studied her carefully. "you rest and get something to eat. You look beautifully tired."

She frowned, "I'm not hungry."

He frowned, "humor me?"

She blushed, "I'm getting fat."

His brows rose, "you? getting fat? That'll be the day." He studied her and glanced around. "can you get me something to write on?"

She frowned but did as she asked. Fortunately there was paper and a pencil in his nightstand. She handed it to him and she watched as he sketched two candles. A small, short, stout candle and a tall, thin, candle. Both were 'lit' and Erik handed her the sketch.

"you're going to have to pretend with me for a bit. Pretend these are real candles and tell me," he asked. "which candle gives the most light?"

she frowned, "what?"

"which one?" he pressed her softly.

"neither. It doesn't make any difference."

Exactly." He said squeezing her hand tightly. "Christine, you've got a wonderful, tender heart and you like these candles, you let that light shine inside of you, no matter the size of your waist." He frowned. "Christine, if your waist was thirteen or thirty inches, do you think that would make me love you any less?"

she shook her head. "now, it's the voice of evil that's making you feel this way, don't listen to it. Christine, you're the most beautiful girl I've ever known. I love it when your eye light up when you're happy and how they shoot sparks when you're angry. I love your hair, and I'll love it when it's gone silver with age." He ran his hands down to her waist. It was almost fifteen inches now, but she didn't feel proud about it this time.

"Christine, I love your body. Every inch of it." his eyes sparked mischievously. "especially that night when we got married and I held you in my arms." He groaned. "oh, you were the closest thing to heaven I'll ever see. Not only because you're beautiful on the outside but because you are also beautiful inside." he swiped at a tear that was dribbling down her eye that she hadn't noticed. "I know I'll be blessed every night coming home to your arms. Your body was made to cuddle close to mine and to nurse our babies. So don't change a hair, ounce or a pound for me. promise?"

"Yes Erik."

"Good. Because what counts is the beauty underneath." His hand ran down her chest and she winced slightly. "your breasts sensitive?"

She nodded, "a little."

Erik frowned and his hands resumed touching her, testing, pinching her before feeling her stomach. He then grinned, "well, you better put on some weight soon honey. You know that baby you wanted, I guess it's been brewing since our first night together."

She rolled her eyes, "that's preposterous."

The doctor and the nurse came in. Erik smelled the nurse's strong perfume before she even approached him. still, he watched as his wife's face grew pale and she raced for the basin and retched in it. he shook his head, "my wife needs an examination doctor." He grinned. "she might be expecting."


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