Back again, also correction to last chapter *Valerius not Valerium

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After another fifteen minutes of wrapping and maneuvering they were done. He had on a wire frame brace that held his neck completely still and straight. Around the wire frame they wrapped bandages to keep dirt out but allowing the stitching to breath as it had no contact with the fabric. The brace made a straight tube from his upturned chin to his chest.

"There, now. You are supposed to remove the wrappings before he bathes, but keep the frame on, he can never move his head until the stitches are all healed. Wash his neck very lightly and do not submerge it. And he is supposed to drink this soothing liquid daily. I don't think he will object to it, it is supposed to be rather refreshing. Only rice and soft to liquid food for a while. Nothing he has to chew. And absolutely no talking or usage of his throat of any kind that does not involve eating, drinking, or breathing. Any questions?" Nadir asked now slightly exhausted.

Christine thinking back to the previous night "What if he makes noise in his sleep?"

Nadir paused thinking.

Then he replied sighing a little "Then he needs the tonic every time he even looks drowsey. In a week and a half I will look at the stitches and see when they can come out. When they can, about two days after, he can begin to talk and remove that brace."

Christine grimaced. She knew Erik would not want the tonic because while it does give you dreamless sleep, you still feel drowsy after. But better drowsy than this whole thing be in vain.

Naadir paused waiting for questions then he smiled and said "Darius, pass around a shot of whisky, we need to toast, for the successful operation!" Darius laughed and did as told. Christine was now looking at Eriks face. They gave him a lot of pain medication when they had finished and so his face was a bit of a relaxed smile.

He didn't know half of what the Persian had said, but all he knew was his Christine looked happy, and he didn't hurt. He was confused why his neck was so stiff and numb, but the fact his angel was next to him made him not care at all. She smiled as she had a sip of whiskey.

Christine kissed Eriks hand and his smile widened, his pupils dilated with the effect of the drug. Darius laughed a little as he looked where Christine was "He is on the clouds right now Christine"

Meg snorted "I bet, I would be too if I just got shot with all that. Here's another cheers to the beautiful power of drugs" She said giggling raising her glass. Everyone did suite, laughing. "Now Nadir, I heard you had some opium…" Nadir grinned and led her away to the kitchen where the smoke would not bother Erik. Darius decided it best to put the lovers to bed as he was sure things were about to get a little too excited for them. Christine was still pale from the blood loss and Eriks sheets were covered in dried blood.

When he and Asal laid both down, he asked Asal to get a sleeping tonic and turned to the pale girl who was smiling at his skeletal friend "Now Christine" She turned to him. "You are to sleep and rest when he does. You've earned it. Rest please."

She sighed. Tonight perhaps, but when Erik stopped needing the tonic, she would follow suite. She did not want to rest while he presumably had so many night terrors. But for now, she would drink the medicine and sleep with her fiance.

"Cheers" She said as she drank hers and darius helped Erik drink his. He was asleep in seconds, and Christine watched him sleep in a haze. Vaguely she could hear laughter of the others as they celebrated, but it was the sound of his steady breaths, a gift from God she was sure, she finally fell asleep.

The next few days were busy to say the least. With the surgery out of the way and their friend finally on his way to health, Nadir and Darius decided to start looking for an apartment. For obvious reasons Darius was the one to go clean out the old one. They wanted one closer to the Opera house so to visit their friend more often, as their bond had strengthened over the past year.

It was meg who found the new apartment, right next to her second job at the bar. And within a week they were moved in. Erik had talked to Nadir before he left.

Nadir dropped a key onto Eriks nightstand "I am giving this to you for emergency. So please, spare me the heart attack to waking up to one of your pranks" Erik gave a small smile and replied

Me? Prank? Please. I do not prank. I perform. But Nadir I do have to say, and it is rare for me to do this, But.

Thank you. For everything that you have done. You have given me a chance for true happiness for the first time in my life. I will forever be in your debt

"As I will be forever in yours." they shared a small smile before Nadir went to move into his new apartment.

With Erik out of danger, Christine decided it high time to mail Abba and thank her for her service. Asal had been keeping up with her ever since her return. So a few days after the celebration Christine had Erik ask for her address. She was admit about being the one who writes to her because it was so rare she got to talk or write in her native language. Erik knew some, from listening to her, and he tried to incorporate it into his writing from time to time, because he knew it made her happy. But that was not the same as a full blown conversation in it.

So after getting her address she settled down next to Erik pad in hand. He looked up smiling at her ecstatic expression in the simple joy of writing in her native tongue. He knew she missed it there. Maybe perhaps…

He would have to see Asal about it.

Christine grinned as she began to write

Dear Abba,

How on Earth can I thank you enough. Because of your kind heart, my husband to be is finally on his way to recovery. Asal as you know now has a place in our homes and hearts. Her little boy is so precious too. He sits with my Fiance, (Erik is his name, if Asal has not told you) and watches him do small magic tricks, or plays with some small toy, keeping Erik company. He is finally healing, thank God. It has been an uphill battle, but the last surgery was a success and now soon hopefully, Erik may speak again. That sentence alone fills me with unbelievable joy. Speak again. A joy I could not have, if you had not been so kind as to let Darius and Asal in. I really can not thank you enough for this.

I hope to meet or hear from you soon

And thank you, with all my heart,

Christine D.

P.S. Left a little thank you from us.

P.P.S. Also I have to say, I love being able to write in my native language to someone.

And inside Erik had left quite a large amount, 50,000 Francs to be exact (which in modern U.S. dollars would be -inflation included- 1,341,854.56, and if you remember Erik gets the equivalent of over half a million quite frequently and has no taxes, or general monthly payment, this would be nothing to him)

Christine grinned as she knew the person who would receive this would probably faint from joy. She wish she could see it in person. She later told Erik, who only rolled his eyes in affection.

Ever since the surgery they had decided the best way to keep him from moving and hurting his recovery, was to dope him up on pain medication. No one was really complaining as their friend deserved a break after his ordeal, and now they got his breathing under control they could do so. So Erik spent most of his recovery clothey headed, half oblivious to the world, smiling a lot at Christine and little D. They of course would take him off such a heavy dose when they knew for sure he could move his neck. But for now, he spent most of his time in a daze of drugs.

Christine herself was sleeping with him as well, much to everyone's relief. She still took breakfast shifts for Asal, and they seemed to have a nice, but quiet relationship forming. She would often smile fondly at the kitchen table eating breakfast with them, as they talked and laughed in their home language. Erik was normally asleep so she usually took her breakfast with the two. It was nice to watch, a mother and her son. She wondered if maybe that was in her future as well… A little boy or girl lo-

She shook her head to keep from day dreaming. That was still a long ways away. But still the thought did bring her some joy.

She smiled. It was the night before Nadir was due for a visit to check on Erik. She knew from cleaning his neck that it was about healed, that tomorrow he would probably get to take them off, and then, a few days later.. Erik could speak.

She smiled at that, snuggling against Eriks warm side. One step closer. To the day she had been waiting for. Hoping for. 'I know that you would finally be completely happy, get everything you deserves, and I will finally have some peace and happiness too, when I hear you sing once more.' She thought nuzzled next to him, as she drifted off to sleep.

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Had to, that line has been on loop in my head all day.