Chapter Eight-

You Take My Breath Away


Erik paced frantically outside the sick-bay, arms behind back, head faced downward. When the door opened and the doctor emerged he froze and turned to him. "Well? Is she all right?"

The doctor smiled, just slightly, then relaxed his facial muscles. "Sir, I'm afraid what you mistook for seasickness is really something else." Upon Erik's expression of horror and disbelief, the doctor remained calm. "Yes, it is serious. Nothing that wont go away in, oh," he pretended to ponder. "I'd say around nine months."

"So exact an amount of time? Medicine has improved. Tell me doctor, what exactly is it she needs to be treated for?"

The doctor shrugged lightly, surprised the husband of this woman still had not figured it out. "A... Minor case of... pregnancy."

Erik nodded, trying to clear his mind and once it had and the truth hit him he doubled back. "Monsieur! That is.... oh, you doctors! May I see her?"

The doctor finally released his controlled laugh. "Yes, yes, of course!" He stepped aside and allowed Erik in. The former phantom took a big breath, sighed and sought to find words ahead of time, hoping not to frighten or overexcite his young wife.. Oh hell who gave a damn! Certainly not her in this time of all times. And so he pushed the door open and took a quick step inside, nearly awed by her appearance.

She was glowing, her eyes closed, dark rings under them, indicating her loss of sleep of late. She was smiling softly and her hair cascaded around her ashen face like the night's sky surrounding the moon, he smiled to himself and made his way near, who would have thought he would be here, when he had expected to be mourning her absence in the cellars! As he sat and took her hand her smile grew more, and her whisper tickled him like a soft, white feather.

"A baby Erik, we're going to have a baby!" She sighed, her eyes opening, and suddenly before him he saw the woman in her, not a young chorus girl, gullible to stories of ghosts and afraid of ugliness, no she was a woman. Her eyes were clear and incredibly warm, her cheeks pink and wonderfully sculpted into her facial mold. She reminded him of his own mother, long deceased but he had to thank her, if she had treated him better he probably wouldn't be here now.

"I know," he whispered, reaching forward and stroking a few stray curls from her beautiful face. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"

She smiled widely, her pearly teeth revealed and then hidden again. "Yes many times." Her eyes softened as she met his gaze, the intensity of his own eyes nearly frightening her, but no, he could never frighten her again.

"Yes, I told you when you were a girl, but not now. Not now that you're a woman." He leaned forward, kissing her cheek, then her nose, eyelids and forehead. Finally, his lips rested on hers a moment. "You're beautiful."

She grinned wickedly, sitting up and resting on an elbow. "How beautiful?" Her eyes searched his for an early answer, and when he leaned in to kiss her fully she gasped, returning his kiss until she couldn't breathe. After pulling away he met her gaze once more.

"You take my breath away."

She smiled, resting her forehead against his clean white shirt. "I love you, Erik."

"I love you, cherie."


It's short, but hopefully good. Trying to work on my detail a bit. Well, as you can tell the votes are in. It was around 8 or 9 votes so if you know you voted, thanks! Give yourself a pat on the back, tres, bien! (Very good) If you wanted to see her barren I would be happy to work on an alternate path for the story, just lemme know, I don't care where, no tallying now.

Love you all

CD

(P.S) Special thanks to Phantom Aria, for continual support and encouragement)

(P.S.S) Thanks to all my loyal readers and readers reviewers, always let me know if you have ideas! I am totally open, you all make the stories happen.