Here's the next chapter ;)

Chapter 21- Questions of Children

Olivia woke up the next morning stretching a giving out a low moan as she felt her body stretch in place. Her eyes opened as she lay in the bed of Erik's house for a split second before realizing that Erik was still in the tunnels. "Oh dear," Olivia said as she got up and wrapped her silk white robe around her and went out into the tunnels with a lantern in her hand. "Erik? Darling are you up yet?" Olivia called out.

Erik had been half-awake for some time, simply dozing; but at the sound of Olivia's voice he awoke fully, his whole body tensing. Without knowing it he was smiling, vital, alive, simply at the sound of her voice.
"I'm here, love," he called back; "I'm awake." He could see the light of the lantern, sitting up as it drew closer. To his surprise and pleasure he found his strength returning.

"Good. How are you feeling today? Any better?" she asked as she set the lantern down beside her and knelt down to be face to face with him. She was smiling slightly glad that he wasn't dead a looked to be all right.

He took her hands and kissed her gently, smiling. "I'm feeling much better, and if I get back to the house and just rest for a little longer I should be fine in a day or so. Did you sleep well, my angel?" He touched her ring gently; infinitely glad she was still wearing it.

"I slept very good last night Erik. Thank you for asking," Olivia said her smile broadening when he said that, "Though it felt kind-of different without your arms wrapped around me as I went to sleep."And yes hopefully you get to the house. You'll be much more comfortable and it'll help you more." She cared greatly for Erik and his health. He did look strong but still she worried about him.

"It was different for me too ... I suppose I've gotten used to sleeping with you there, and I feel almost ... unsafe without you." He stood slowly, his arm against the wall to balance him. "I shouldn't have any problems getting there, as long as we take it slowly. Darling, I'm so glad you can make Russian tea!" he added, winking. With that he held out his arm for her to take - not for support, but so he could be in contact with her.

"Yeah I'm glad too," she said with a laugh remembering the first time this happened to him and she had made him tea after telling him she wouldn't leave until she knew he was somewhat fine. When he held out his arm for her she wrapped hers around his and leaned close to him; making sure not a lot weight though was pressed against him. "Married in a month," she said happily, "I might be busy though making sure that everything goes right and I talk to the Pastor about it. Plus I have to make sure my dress fits me perfectly, and the day before the wedding I have to stay out of your sight! Its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

"Oh, my darling," he whispered, and kissed her forehead gently as he picked up the pillow and blanket and started slowly towards the house. "Only a month until we're really married ... a month until I have a wife! God, I never, ever imagined ..." Quite overcome, he let the tears slip down his face slowly. "Oh, if the wedding dress doesn't fit, we'll have it altered, of course. My darling, my angel, you've made me the happiest man alive ... you know that, right?" He loosened his arm from hers and wrapped it around her waist instead, cherishing the feel of her so close to him.

"And you have made me the happiest woman alive Erik," Olivia said with a sigh, "If you want to when I try on the dress you can come too. It's at the manor but I don't think Raoul would mind much and maybe you won't either." She though wasn't sure if that was right or not allowing the groom to see her in the dress but still she didn't care much for any superstition except for the one about a groom can't see the bride before the wedding. "You don't have to imagine anymore Erik about having a wife because soon you'll have one." Yes and Olivia was glad it was her he was marrying.

"Perhaps it wouldn't be a very good idea for me to come along," he said gently. "Just because - well, Christine lives there. I would love to accompany you but it might be a bit stressful ... for all of us. Besides, I want it to be a surprise." He kissed her cheek, smiling. "I know, my dear. It's simply amazing; you know that I'm marrying you. I love you so much." For a moment he simply drifted, forgetting the effort it took to walk and to carry his pillow and blanket.

"Ah, yes forgot for a moment about Christine," she said biting her lip nervously. Maybe it should be a surprise. Erik would love her in the wedding dress Olivia knew it. "I love you too, Erik. I love you soooo much." When she saw him drift for a moment she frowned a bit. "You're all right, right Erik?"

"Perfectly fine, darling," he assured her, "just dreaming." He gave a slight smile, pausing for a moment, and adjusted the pillow and blanket before starting again. He could see better now, and took surer steps. "I know you'll look like a goddess in that dress, darling. I can't wait to see it on you."

"Oh Erik...A goddess really? I don't think so. Maybe pretty but surely not a goddess," she said her cheeks going red. Erik was sweet and she liked it, but still she didn't think she was that beautiful to be compared to a goddess. "You sure you don't want me to carry those?" she asked nodding to the blanket and pillow.

"A goddess," he insisted. "That's what you are to me, at any rate - in normal clothes," he added softly, and smiled. One hand reached out to brush her cheek. He so loved it when she blushed.
"No, no, it's all right," he insisted. "I'm not quite handicapped enough to need them carried for me, my dear, but thank you for the offer."

"I'm just worried that's all." she said with a shrug but soon her cheeks went darker when she remembered what he had said before that. "Erik you're a sweetheart really you are. And you're making blush sooo much right now," she let out a small laugh when she was saying that.

Grinning, he chuckled as well. "Is that really a bad thing?" he asked softly, glimpsing the shore of the underground lake to his immense delight. He forced himself to walk slightly faster. "I, for one, love making you blush; because I know what I'm saying means something to my goddess. It's all right, my dear, no need to worry about me. I can manage."

"No it's not a bad thing just no one but you has been able to get me to blush this much. And yes everything you say means a lot to me Erik, a whole lot," she said keeping her pace matched with his. Ah, almost home, she thought with delight. "I think its normal though to worry about someone you love especially if the person you love is going to be marrying you in a month." She loved hearing that it's a month till the wedding! A month till she is truly Erik's in the eyes of God. It made her excited, and gleam with happiness, and she was glad she made up with Erik about the whole Christine mess.

He couldn't speak. He simply smiled, eyes tearing, and as he fumbled his way towards the boat he stared at Olivia and took a deep breath. "Every time you say that I get chills," he managed, carelessly putting the pillow and blanket into the boat before putting his arms around his fiancé and holding her for a moment. "It makes my whole life worth it, just to know that I'll be marrying someone as wonderful as you!"
With that he pulled back, offering his hand to help her into the boat, as weak as he himself was.

"You're wonderful too Erik. To me you are the most wonderful person in my life and now that I think about it I probably couldn't live without you. Don't remind about how I might have to deal with it later...I don't want to think about the future I'm thinking about now," she said giving him her brightest and biggest smile yet. She took his hand gladly but made sure she didn't lean too much into him.

"All right, I won't remind you," he promised, climbing into the boat after her and somehow finding the strength to take them both across the lake. He smiled back, a true warm smile that reached his eyes. For a moment he paused, licking his lips, and then looked back at her with his smile returning. "Do you still want children?" he murmured, torn between hoping for them himself and not wanting any.

"I do yes...What are you thinking about? We don't have to have any Erik I'm fine. If you don't want any then we don't have to have any," she said with a sigh. She wanted children always has ever since she was a young girl. Still though marriage means sacrificing things and if Erik truly didn't want children she would give that up just to be with him no matter how hard it hurt her.

"No, no," he insisted. "I was just - well, I wanted to know what you'd think if they were to ... look like me." His smile faded, chief fear exposed. For a moment he glanced away and tried not to betray how terrified he was of this possibility, although he knew his voice had quavered when he voiced it.

"Erik...Erik I'd love them the same as I love you. I know what you look like behind the mask. Multiple times I had woken up before you to see your face. I don't mind really I don't. I love you Erik with or without your mask. And if they do look like you I'd love them. I won't shun them away at all," she said turning around as she sat in the boat looking up at him with a sigh

He nodded slowly, swallowing hard.
"We're worse as children, apparently," he murmured, under his breath. "Thank you. Olivia, thank you. I ..." He stopped, quite overcome, and instead focused his energy on polling the boat. Blinking back tears he tried a smile. "I really hope they look like you."

"It's all right Erik. I promise you it is," she said softly before turning back to facing in front of her. She wouldn't mind not at all if their children looked like Erik. She loved him for him and that was that nothing more and nothing less.

He nodded slowly, biting his lip sharply. The jolt as the boat hit the shore made him stumble onto his knees but he lifted himself up quickly, leaning heavily on the pole. "Sorry," he grunted, and lifted his pillow and blanket.

"It is fine," she said getting out herself and walking over to him. "We're home though and you can rest all you want and be much more comfortable." She gave him a gentle kiss on his lips before going over and opening the door for him.

He followed slowly, slipping through the door, and smiled, his hand going to his lips. It still never failed to thrill him whenever she kissed him.
He made his way to the bedroom, flopping into the bed and closing his eyes with a sigh.

When he fell asleep she looked at him through the doorway. She smiled before turning around and sat down at the desk beginning to write a letter. Her handwriting was nice and she seemed to stop every now and then thinking about what to put. It was a letter to the pastor at Notre Dame requesting a visit fin a week to talk about having a private wedding service there for only her, her soon-to-be husband and a few other people she will invite on her own. After writing the letter she signed it and kept it on the desk; beginning to clean and straighten up a bit of the house.

R&R