"Promise you'll write and visit more often?" Christine asked as she hugged Paris outside by the rented carriage.
"I promise. I'll definitely write but the visiting may not be as easy. We still need to keep a low profile for a while," Paris answered with tears in her eyes.
"I understand. Raoul is taking me back to Sweden for our honeymoon. I'll write when we get back and tell you all the details, well the details that are deemed tellable," Christine grinned as a blush colored her cheeks when she glanced shyly over at her husband.
"Of course," Paris laughed.
After one more hug between the two girls, a kiss on the hands of the women by the men and a handshake between Erik and Raoul, Paris was helped into the carriage followed by Erik and with a wave they set off on their way home. Paris placed a hand upon her stomach as soon as the carriage pulled out into the main road. Erik eyed her with concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I don't think my eggs are agreeing with me this morning. Give me a few minutes and I believe I'll be fine," Paris smiled weakly as she felt her stomach lurch slightly after the carriage hit a bump.
Erik eyed Paris for a few moments longer before nodding and looking out the window. He hoped she hadn't caught something while at the de Chagnys. He had noticed that she had seemed rather tired during their stay. She had been restless as well. However, he didn't think she would be sick if she was both restless and tired at the same time. Frowning, Erik decided to send Paris to the doctor if she wasn't feeling better upon their return home. He didn't want to ignore the situation and then find out later that it was something serious.
"Stop worrying about it Erik, I'm fine. If I'm still not feeling well tomorrow I'll see the doctor. I may have just caught a cold," Paris reassured her husband when she saw that he was still brooding about her upset stomach.
"I pray that that is all it is if you do have something. I can help you get rid of that if it is all you have," Erik said looking over at Paris. Paris smiled and slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers tightly together. Erik knew a great deal about medicine and Paris trusted him to know what to do whenever she got sick, even if he was a mother hen with one chick about it the whole time.
"I can't wait to see all my students again. I hope they've been practicing while I've been gone."
"With you for a teacher I'm sure they practiced so much that their fingers are now curved permanently and are playing the notes in the air on their own," Erik chuckled.
"Well, then they'll know their pieces really well won't they?" Paris grinned up at Erik.
"I daresay they will and they'll be ready for new pieces to play. I'm sure they're parents will be too."
"Yes, I'm sure they will be. After all, one can only stand to listen to one song being played over and over again for so long, especially when the pianist doesn't know the song completely yet and so he pounds the same notes over and over again," Paris said with a teasing glimmer in her eyes.
"I take it you don't approve of my composing?" Erik demanded, a glimmer in his eyes as well making the gold swirls glow.
"Maybe, compose when we get home and find out," Paris grinned.
"Maybe I will."
Paris laughed and hugged Erik's arm tightly before leaning up to kiss the lower part of his chin that was left bare by the mask. Erik turned his head and captured her lips before she could retreat back to her seat. Paris smiled as his lips pressed firmer against hers before he lifted his head and gave a satisfied smirk at her dreamy expression. He then settled back and looked out the window while Paris succumbed to the sleep that had been pulling at her for a while.
They arrived at their home late in the afternoon. Paris stumbled out of the carriage with help from a concerned Erik. After he had paid the driver, Erik gathered his and Paris' luggage and followed his wife towards the front door. There were times when he wished that their door was not quite so deep in the woods now that he was pretty much accepted by the villagers and distance was not needed as much anymore. However, as he glanced at Paris he had to smile when he realized all the good things about having their house secluded like it was.
Paris unlocked the front door and stepped inside with a deep breath. Stepping aside so that Erik could enter with the luggage she smiled happily.
"We're home, Erik! Doesn't if feel great?"
Erik straightened up from setting the luggage down and looked around before smiling softly. "Yes, it does. However, I don't think it would feel quite like home if you weren't here with me."
Paris smiled back at Erik before grabbing her bags and heading up the stairs. Erik picked up his bags as well and followed close behind. Once all their clothes were put away Paris went into the bathroom and started a bath. She was dirty from the journey and in desperate need of a bath and a change of clothes. She wondered if Erik would join her again but after she stepped out from behind the changing screen she saw that he wouldn't be. He had already changed his clothes and was now washing his face from the wash basin on the dresser.
"I'll go get dinner started while you bathe. When you're done we'll eat," Erik stated as he dried his face and tied his hair back again. Paris nodded and smiled when Erik left the room without his mask on. He was doing that more and more often whenever he was home with just her. With that thought she turned and entered the bathroom to bathe.
Once Paris was dressed she made her way downstairs. Erik had dinner all prepared and set upon the table waiting for her. Erik turned from the sink where he had been washing some of the used dishes and smiled at her when she entered the kitchen.
"Dinner's on the table, I'll be there in just a minute," he said.
"Don't hurry on my account," Paris said with a smile as she sat down.
Erik just chuckled and finished what he was doing. Then he dried his hands, rolled his sleeves back down and joined her at the table to eat. They ate in silence for a few minutes before Paris spoke.
"When will you go back to work on the church?"
"Tomorrow, they're expecting me to be back then," Erik answered.
"I'll probably go to all my students to let them know that we'll begin lessons next Monday. I'll also need to let Father Michaels know that I'm back. He was rather upset that I wasn't able to play the organ on that Sunday we were gone but he understood that I wished to go to Christine's wedding."
"Father Michaels has always been very understanding," Erik commented.
"Yes, that's one of the things I like about him," Paris smiled. Erik nodded and drained the rest of his wine. He then stood up and began to clear the table. Paris sighed and just sat there for a moment before she too stood up and began to help clear the table.
"You know, even though it was nice having servants doing everything for us at the de Chagny estate, I don't think I would like having them there all the time. I like doing things on my own like this, keeps me busy," Paris commented as she placed a stack of plates next to the sink.
"Yes, when you're bored you make sure everyone knows," Erik chuckled as he filled the sink with water and began to wash the plates.
"I'm not that bad," Paris pouted as she grabbed a dish towel and began to dry the dishes that Erik handed her.
"Believe me, my dear, you are."
Paris just gave a sound of annoyance and said nothing more while she dried.
The next couple of days passed and Erik and Paris returned to their normal routines. However, every morning Paris would wake up feeling sick to her stomach and would some times have to grab the chamber pot next to the bed. Erik would awaken to the sounds of Paris retching into the pot and he became concerned. However, Paris would always be well by the time he left for the construction site and she was still fine when he returned home.
"Are you sure you're okay, Paris?" Erik asked on the morning of the fifth day of her morning sickness.
"Yes, I'm fine, Erik. If I'm still not well tomorrow morning then I'll go see the doctor," Paris insisted as she wiped her mouth with a wet cloth.
Erik was silent as he watched his wife throw up again. "Alright, but you had better keep your promise about this. It could be serious." Paris just nodded and leaned her head back against the wall with a sigh.
Erik left the house soon afterwards leaving Paris to her thoughts. She had a feeling she knew what was wrong with her but she didn't know what she would do if her suspicions were true. After cleaning her mess up, Paris dressed and headed downstairs. She had a piano lesson today and she needed to be ready for it. She couldn't let a little stomach problem keep her from her job.
Paris was surprised when she felt fine the next morning and Erik seemed pleased that she wasn't throwing up as well. However, Paris knew that the best thing to do would be to go visit the doctor any way. She had a feeling that the morning sickness wouldn't stay away for long and she needed to make sure that her suspicions were true.
So after Erik left and Paris had given her only piano lesson that day she left for Doctor Murphy's office. The office was a small building but it was cozy and all of Paris' fears disappeared. Doctor Murphy was a kind man in his mid-fifties with a warm smile and twinkling blue eyes hidden behind a pair of spectacles. Paris was ushered into his examining room and asked to sit upon the table.
"Now, Madame Desslar what seems to be the problem?"
"I've been sick in the mornings but it goes away by noon. I have a feeling I know what's wrong but I want a doctor's diagnosis first," Paris answered nervously as she toyed with her skirt.
"Well, let's see what we can find, shall we?" Doctor Murphy smiled warmly.
Paris lay down on the table and waited silently and nervously while the doctor examined her. She prayed that she was right but she wished she knew what Erik would say.
A short while later Doctor Murphy re-entered the room, a smile on his face. Paris looked at him hopefully. Doctor Murphy motioned for Paris to sit down on the chair next to the table before he spoke.
"Well, Madame Desslar, it seems you are pregnant. Congratulations," Doctor Murphy smiled.
Paris sat frozen for a long moment before a smile spread upon her face and tears of happiness filled her eyes. "Are…are you sure?" she breathed.
"Yep, you are a healthy mother-to-be," Doctor Murphy laughed.
"Oh, God, this is wonderful…I have to tell my husband!"
"Do you think he'll be pleased?"
"I…" Paris froze. "I don't know. We've never really discussed having children before. I'd like to think that Erik wants a child but with the life he's led I don't know if he'll feel comfortable having one."
"From what I've heard of Monsieur Desslar he seems to be very kind to the village children whenever he encounters them. I'm sure he'll be fine with having a child. Tell him the news and see what his reaction is, I'm sure it'll be one of excitement," Doctor Murphy reassured her.
Paris nodded and gathered her things together. Then she paid the doctor for his services and slowly made her way out of his office. She walked in a daze around the village before she found herself near the construction site for the new church. She stared at the building. It was coming along quite nicely. She knew that it would be finished in another year or so with as fast as it was going up. Looking around she spotted Erik up on one of the higher beams, balancing like an acrobat. She grinned when she saw him. She was reminded of all the times he had balanced on ropes in the Opera House whenever he was escaping to somewhere. Knowing she couldn't keep her news to herself for much longer she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted up towards her husband.
The sounds of construction filled the air and Paris didn't know if Erik would even be able to hear her over the din. However, a nearby worker saw her and after hearing her shout at Erik he turned and began to shout along with her. Soon a group of the workers were shouting up towards the man working up on one of the highest beams.
"Hey, Desslar, you're being called," one of the men a couple of beams below Erik's called up.
"What?" Erik frowned and looked down to where the man was pointing.
Shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand, Erik looked down at the ground. He stood up and scanned the area for whoever was trying to get his attention. Then he saw her. Paris was waving frantically at him. Erik felt his heart constrict. From way up here he couldn't tell if she was happy or not but whatever it was that she had to say if had to be important if she was coming all the way to the site to tell him.
Erik quickly began making his way down to the ground. As soon as his feet hit the ground he began running towards his wife. She darted into the clearing and began running towards him as well, a big smile on her face. Erik felt his breathing lighten when he saw her smile for he knew nothing terrible had happened.
"Erik! Erik, I'm pregnant! We're going to have a baby!" Paris shouted as she ran. Erik stumbled at her announcement and then picked up his pace. He wasn't sure he had heard her correctly.
"What? What did you say?" he gasped once he reached her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm going to have a baby! You're going to be father!" Paris said again, tears of happiness in her eyes.
Erik stared at her, stunned before he gave a shout of joy and scooped Paris up into his arms and spun her around. They laughed while the construction workers cheered and clapped for the happy couple. Erik then pulled Paris against him and kissed her hard in front of everyone. Paris knew Erik was happy about the baby, her fears were unfounded.