Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 32

(Jasmine)

My whole body was shaking and trembling. My breaths were coming out in staggered short breaths. I was beginning to panic and I couldn't stop it. My brother had sounded like he was on the point of death right now…and yet all I wanted was to be happy about my son's birth. But this overwhelming sense of panic was not letting up. I needed to get Alex out of my arms because I wasn't sure I had full control right now.

Finally I heard footsteps approach the room and I sat up recognizing them. "Erik," I said my voice lost somewhere between question and command. I heard his footsteps come to a halt in a doorway.

"What's wrong?" he said rushing to my side.

I was shaking so bad now and I felt like I could barely breath. "Alex," I said, "please take him."

Immediately he was out of my arms and I could barely hear Erik calling for Evelyn. He must have made sure he was being watched right now. I wrapped my arms around myself trying to calm down. But all these images of William dying and in pain were running through my head. And no amount of thinking about Alexander was helping.

I felt him get in the bed next to me and wrap his arms around me. "Jasmine darling," he said softly, but even the sound of his voice was not comforting to me right now.

(Erik)

She was having a panic attack and a pretty severe one at that. "Alright," I said softly in her ear so only she could hear me. "I need you to listen the best you can. We need to slow down your breathing. Do you understand?" She finally nodded her head and I noticed the shaking was already beginning to diminish. "Listen to my breathing and try to match it," I Sais softly. At first her hyperventilating continued, but finally after a few moments her breathing began to slow down to a comfortable rhythm. "Listen to my heartbeat," I said holding her close, "try match it. Try to calm down." Slowly but surely her heartbeat slowed to something calmer. But her body began to shake again and I looked down.

She had begun to cry in my arms and I held her close rocking her. "Its alright," I said softly putting head on top of hers. "Everything is going to be okay. I know it's scary about William but we need to also think about the good that happened. You are alright, and Alex is alright as well."

She nodded her head, "I want to be so happy right now. I want to be here with you holding Alex in my hands. Loving our son and the night of his birth. But instead I have allowed the darkness and sadness of our world to take a hold of me."

I sighed, "I know…I know what you mean."

We both jolted up as we heard a soft knock on the door. Jasmine's eyes were suddenly very hopeful as she recognized the footsteps coming in.

"I am sorry," Nadir said seeing the state we were in.

"No please," she said reaching hand out to him. "Please tell me what you know."

(Jasmine)

It was taking every effort I had to stay calm, and I was hoping that what Nadir had to say would help also. Nadir took my hand massaging it gently, "He's not out of the woods. But the doctor is impressed with the strength still in him. He will need a lot of rest if he makes it out of this. But the doctor doesn't think it's his time yet."

I closed my eyes relief coursing through me. I hadn't lost him yet. "Thank you Nadir," I said breathing a sigh of relief. "Truly," I said, "for everything you have done tonight."

He gently rubbed my hand, "It is my pleasure. And your Aunt has offered me a place to stay. I think I will stay and give my help in anyway I can."

"You don't have to," Erik said right away.

"My friend," he said laughing, "I have been spending more time here then at my own home. I don't mind at all." I heard him give Erik a kind pat on the back and a gentle squeeze of my hand. "Despite it all," he said kindly, "you both got a beautiful boy out of all of this tonight. Be happy about that." And finally we heard his footsteps fade away into the hallway. And quickly Evelyn's footsteps came right in.

"He just fell asleep a few minutes ago," she said softly. "He should be good for a couple of hours before he needs to be fed. Let me know if you need help with that when it comes up."

"We will," I said softly. And then just as quickly her footsteps were gone

(Erik)

She had calmed down quite a bit which gave me some relief finally. She had me worried there for a little while when I couldn't get her to calm down. Never had I seen her so distressed before in the time I had known her. "I'm sorry," she said softly, "I am sorry for my behavior tonight."

"Oh darling," I said holding her closer, "I could never fault you for that. Never." I paused gently running my fingers through her hair. "Besides you thought you were a mess? You didn't see me out in the hallway during the birth. William and Nadir were having to comfort me like a child during the whole thing."

She finally smiled at that and I was glad to see that. "I would have loved to have seen that," she said teasingly. But finally she began to relax in my arms and I could tell she was tired.

"Come now," I said softly cradling her, "lets get some rest finally." She only nodded her head as we both lay down on the bed. And after a few moments I felt her breathing slowly turn to that of sleep. After a while when I was sure she was completely asleep gently laid her down on the bed. I stroked her cheek gently kissing her on the forehead before I made my way to the crib.

I peered in on the small child lying there. His small body rising and falling with the normal breathes of sleep. He was so small…so delicate. I gently grabbed one of his little hands and couldn't believe how small it was in my own. I wondered if this was what I would have looked if…if I hadn't been scarred. My heart was a little sad at the thought considering from where I was standing this child was absolutely beautiful. And yet this child's mother had seen something beautiful in me and loved me. So I now began to understand what William had said earlier.

There was no chance in hell this child would have ever had anything close to the childhood I had…scarred or not. He stirred a little in his sleep making the gentle sounds a baby makes. I withdrew my hand hoping I hadn't disturbed him too early. I smiled thinking I had gawked at him enough for tonight.

Quietly I made my way back to the bed and laid beside Jasmine wrapping my arm around her protectively and hoping comfortingly as well. I was here and I wasn't going to leave anytime soon.

(Jasmine)

At first I wasn't even sure I had heard something crying I was so tired. But the more and more I laid there the louder it got. And then suddenly I jolted awake realizing what it was that was crying. I felt Erik's arm around me and gently I moved it aside. Poor man he must be exhausted if he hadn't woken up to hear that. Which was also unusual considering he was usually a light sleeper.

"Alright Alex," I said smiling and gently picking up my crying son. I had talked to Evelyn before about feeding him so I had an idea of what I needed to do. And thank goodness Alex made it very easy for him. I gently stroked his head, and I smiled agreeing with what Erik had said about him having a full head of hair.

Speaking of which, I began to hear the sound of somebody rustling in the bed behind me. Before he finally sat up from the sounds of it, "Are you alright?" he asked softly. I nodded my head.

"I'm fine I'm just giving him his first feeding," I said affectionately, "and he's doing very well." He chuckled softly slowing getting up. His arms wrapped around my waist and his head settled on my shoulder as I assumed he was looking down at our son.

"Well I was right about one thing," he said softly.

"And what would that be?" I said teasingly.

"He definitely has your eyes," he muttered kissing me on the cheek.

"His eyes are open," I said excitedly.

"Yes and he is looking at you with a lot of affection," he whispered with just as much as affection. "Then he again," he said teasingly, "you are his food so I guess he would look at you that way." I struck him lightly on the head for that.

"Oh very funny Monsieur," I said laughing. And for a moment I forgot about everything else that happened that night. I was absorbed in this moment with the man I loved and my son. My family. My future.

(Erik)

I found everything just slightly eerie. That child that had been in my hallucination when I as poisoned was right here. Of course he had been a full-grown child but it was still the same. The child looked like me with a whole face and he had Jasmines eyes but seeing eyes. And it had been a boy too on top of that. I hadn't spoken to Jasmine at all about that hallucination. Maybe someday when were at peaceful times I would say how some higher power had sent me an image of the future to save my life.

"You alright," she said breaking my silent reverie.

I gently kissed her neck, "Sorry darling…just daydreaming." She smiled as she gently finished up with Alex.

"I can just imagine the symphony spinning around in your head right now," she said teasingly. "If you need to get it out you may go do so." Seemed she still had our chat from the night before stuck in our head.

I started rocking her body back and forth in my arms. I gently hummed in her ear, her whole body relaxing as I did. Little Alex's eyes turned at the sound of my voice. His attention was now entirely on me. "Its all so beautiful," I sang softly. "Almost too beautiful."

Alexander gave a soft cooing sound at that. I smiled, "You like that do you?" He only smiled in return. "To him its beautiful," I continued. "My world is beautiful. How can this be what it seems? All of my most secret dreams….somehow set free." Truly this had always been a dream and nothing more for so long. And yet here it was in front of me alive and real. I gently bent forward kissing Alex on the head. "My son," I muttered, "my beautiful son."

Jasmine gently put him down in the cradle and then she turned to me smiling. "Well my love," she said softly, "it has been quite a night."

"More like morning," I said sarcastically.

"What do you mean?" she asked confused.

"Its been daylight for some time now," I said forgetting that she couldn't see that it was. I went over to the nearby window and withdrew the curtains. She rolled her eyes as she felt the warm rays on her skin.

"Alright morning," she said shrugging her shoulders. I walked forward pulling her in close and gently fingering the loose strands of raven hair that had fallen from her braid.

"Yes," I said softly, "it has been quite a morning." I leaned and kissed her as my arms now moved up and down her body. My body now longing for something it had been denied since Alex's conception. And just as everything began to grow deeper a little girl came bursting through the door.

"Jasmine!" Rebecca eyes wide as me and Jasmine hurriedly separated. I laughed irritably under my breath, "That little girl has the worst timing in the world."

She playfully hit me as she went over to address her sister. "Rebecca what have I said about knocking?"

"Sorry," she said quickly, "but I got excited when I heard he had born this morning!" Her voice reaching that excitement only a child could muster. And her eyes turned toward the cradle her question answered even before we could answer it for her. She went over peering through the bars her eyes wide in amazement. I came up behind her and lifted her so she could get a better look at her nephew.

She smiled brightly, "What's his name?"

"Alexander," Jasmine answered.

"Hello Alexander," she said smiling, "I am your Aunt Rebecca." Alexander gave a little bit of a bemused smile towards her. Yeah he probably couldn't believe this little girl was his Aunt either.

Jasmine smiled, "Well since we all seem to be up lets have breakfast."

"Alex too?" Rebecca said excitedly.

"Actually he's already been fed," Jasmine said laughing, "which means he'll probably just want to sleep now." Rebecca's look of disappointment was amusing to say the least. Jasmine gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, "don't worry he'll still be here when you're done." They started to walk towards the door and as Rebecca jolted ahead Jasmine paused for a moment turning to me.

"Are you coming?" she said hand extended.

I gently took it giving it a gentle squeeze, "I will be there in a little bit. I want to check on William first." She nodded her head.

"Let me know how he is," she said that little bit of worry coming back in her eyes.

I leaned forward gently kissing her on the forehead. "I will." And she made her way downstairs. I leaned against the wall and looked up.

"I know this is not my first time asking this," I said softly, "but please allow us some relief. In only brief in nature." Lets see if God actually listens after all.

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