Thirteen

Little Dream

A ripening, blossoming orchard. The scent of apple blossoms fill the air as Christine moves through the tall grass, her hair casually strewn across her shoulders and back, and she was thin again. She gazed curiously at the way the grass moved ahead of her and gasped as a small child ran past. They were so fast that she couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl, and so she was sure it was hers and Erik's child.

She followed it, taking in the fragrance, feeling the itchy grass against her legs and suddenly she was on a boat. A yacht if you will. The wind blew through her hair, which was neatly wrapped up by a hat with a sash like fabric coming down the sides.

She looked around and smiled as she noticed her husband by the railing, his arms crossed behind his back, facing the water. She moved closer and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Erik?" she called. "Are you all right?"

He turned to her and she gasped, caught off guard to see that the man was Raoul.

Christine woke with a jolt, and it took her a couple of minutes to recognize the sound coming from down the hall. She stood and smiled, draped herself in her robe and went to the library music room, smiled as she saw Erik at the piano. He didn't look up before he spoke, as he often didn't need to. "Bad dream?"

She shrugged and sat by him. "Yes, I suppose I'm worked up a bit. The baby could come any day and well," she blushed and lowered her gaze. "I'm frightened."

He looked up to her but didn't stop playing, rather the song shifted into something more light. "Oh but that is natural my love, it is your first baby!"

She smiled and slid her fingers onto his. "Non mon chou, OUR first baby."

He chuckled. "In that case I do admit being a bit scared myself, but I am sure it will pass, I'm more excited than scared."

She sighed as he stopped playing and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Moi aussi, but I still am not sure if I can do this, Erik. Be a mother, I am but a child myself."

He smiled. "Everyone is a child until they have their own, children truly raise their parents, and then are raised by their children."

She laughed. "Always the one to be sensible yet humorous."

He kissed her forehead. "Always the one to panic."

She grinned wickedly and gazed up into his eyes innocently. "But of course, j'adore! Et toi, Erik?"

"Me? No, I don't love panicking," He smiled as she playfully glared at him. "I do love you though."

Her playfulness melted away and she sighed, burying herself further into his arms. "I love you too."

As he held her his eyes were distant, and finally he looked at her sweet, bulging form and asked, "Christine, have you.. Ever imagined choosing differently?"

She paused a moment, collecting her answer, then whispered. "I've imagined the outcome but it is almost impossible to imagine my life without you."

He smiled. "What did you dream?"

She was silent momentarily. "I was in a field, it seemed like a farm, and our baby ran past me, I tried to follow it, but it was too quick and suddenly I was on a ship. I thought I saw you standing, but when I spoke, you turned around and... And you were Raoul!"

He smiled softly. "You miss him."

"I'm worried for him."

Erik took a steady breath. "Darling, you of all people know I no longer hold any grudges against M. Le Vicomte, but I really don't think it is wise you let your worries for him and your pregnancy mingle, perhaps your dream was warning you. Please my dear, I don't think Raoul would want you to worry about him to the point of you endangering your health either."

She sighed. "You're probably right, as usual. Mais c'est difficile, I don't want him to beat himself up too badly."

He squeezed her hand. "I think you too will find that Raoul is much stronger than he appears."

She sighed again, more softly than the previous. "I do hope you're right Erik, I do hope so."

(Piano Interlude)

What is this dream I see?

Why does it seem so real to me?

What if this dream turns out to be,

more than a dream?

(Piano)

Come little dream and play, don't be afraid

Don't fade away

Quick little dream before you're gone

Let's get it done

(Some piano then fade into strings, winds and brasses)

Christine sighed and set her pen down, shoving the music aside. Since her time with Erik had begun, she often found herself writing little songs that she abandoned just as often. But this one she wanted to keep short and sweet, and she had. Little Dream was just over 3 minutes long, which was hardly the intro of many of Erik's songs.

She chuckled to herself and sighed, resting her hand on her bulk, feeling her child move a bit under her palm, she smiled. She often of late pictured life after this baby's birth, just her, Erik and the baby, growing up slowly and eventually Raoul coming back and being a bit of an Uncle to the child.

Suddenly the baby stilled, so suddenly that she blinked and gazed at herself...

And then there was the pain.