Author's Note: Should I even bother apologizing and listing excuses? I'm afraid that that will only degrade me more... but I am terribly sorry for the long wait. However, school is done for the summer, so I have a tremendous amount of more time to write. Problem is, I am going to be lounging throughout Europe until August, so my computer access will be limited.
Now, about Chapter Four. I gave up on it... Writing undeserved C\R-ness has uninspired me. It is horribly written, but I can't force myself to come up with edits that I fit suitable. However, the next chapter (which is all written out already:-) Just have to type it up and edit) is more to my liking. And I still can't figure out how to use the cursed horizontal line tool TT
Days passed and a change was evident in the young Vicomtesse. After her mysterious night of storm, she adopted a mood that Raoul had not seen since their childhood get-togethers. The shield around her fell apart, revealing a devoted wife. More smiles blossomed on her face and a new type of open air generally surrounded her. Raoul decided that he must send his wife out for lunch more often.
At first, Christine moved into her new routine with slight hesitation, but eventually joined the promising flow. Now that she felt the chain no longer binding her to Erik, she forced herself to ignore all traces of guilt. Obviously, he didn't seem to care tremendously much about her anymore, as his eyes portrayed no anguish, his smirk was not wrapped in a cocoon of sorrow, and his voice did not containan edge of helplessness. She could not seem to detect any hint of corrupted emotions that might reveal themselves through his stony shield. If such a man as Erik could learn to bid good-bye to his past and cut all bonds of obsession, surely Christine could somehow extinguish the flame of shame and twisted craving. Indeed… now there was only Raoul.
It was in September that Christine found out that she was pregnant. Missing her monthly companion, she requested a visit from the family doctor, Monsieur Lévesque. Her suspicions were confirmed. Stepping out to Raoul, who had excused himself and proceeded to wait in the living room, she passed along the news.
The handkerchief that was brutally being twisted in his suddenly clumsy hands stopped.
The look of priceless shock disappeared when Raoul managed to completely absorb the simple announcement. Instead, an abnormally large grin erupted across his face, its warm color mirroring the lights of exquisite happiness dancing freely in his eyes.
He picked up his wife and spun her through the air, careful to avoid hitting any limbs against the assortment of furniture that stood in the room. He released a triumphant laugh. "A child Christine! Our child!"
He replaced the Vicomtesse feet safely on the ground and planted several kisses on her face, his aim for the tip of her nose soon discarded.
"You, a mother!" he added with a proud look.
Giggling at his giddy behavior, Christine returned a kiss before pulling away from the embrace. Walking toward the patio, she was bathed by the sun's bright smile, painted with vibrant hues of gold. Leaning over a wooden railing, she let out a content sigh.
"Yes, me a mother. I only hope that I will provide him with enough shelter and affection. Motherhood is an absorbing job, after all…" her voice trailed off.
Raoul joined her at the edge of the patio. "Don't worry, my darling. You'll be a perfect mother. Caring, patient, gentle… you have all of the skills required. And in case there will be any problems, I'll be here. Me, the baby's father."
"Perhaps that's what worries me the most," she replied with a teasing smile.
This remark only earned a short laugh and another shower of kisses. Raoul was the first to pull away this time, a new energy surrounding him.
"We willll need to build a nursery! The spare bedroom upstairs… it's perfect! It overlooks the park, and a sunset will always lull him to sleep. We will have to decorate it, of course. Blues and reds? That is, if he will be a boy. I honestly do hope so, a strong little lad to follow in his father's footsteps. Not that I would mind a girl," he quickly added after receiving a questioning glance from his wife. "Another beautiful lady in my household! We have so much to do. We shall have to find some suitable furniture first, of course-"
Raoul was cut off by the clear laughter of Christine. His face dropped, afraid that he had said something wrong.
After Christine regained her breath, she innocently apologized. "I'm sorry, it's just that I have never seen you so excited before. Frantically fretting and planning minute additions to the nursery is usually the mother's job."
Raoul grinned sheepishly and remarked something about new traditional preparations.
"I do wish that the child will arrive peacefully. No illnesses or anything. Oh, that would be simply dreadful," Christine absent-mindedly stated her thoughts.
She automatically cursed herself for the careless comment as she saw a new expression come over Raoul. "I'm just being silly. It'll be all right. Now, about the nursery… do you think that blue curtains would work well with the landscape seen through the window?"
A fresh smile blossomed on her husband's face. "That will be wonderful! In addition, we can paint a mural on the west wall… perhaps of the sea? I'm sure that we can incorporate a red scarf in there somewhere. For the trimmings…"
The couple made their way upstairs, Raoul's ideas becoming more and more extravagant.
Over the next few months, a daily routine was acquired. Raoul's excitement proved to be contagious, quickly turning Christine into an extremely eager woman. The Vicomte would leave for work each morning, return in the evening for dinner, then spend the remainder of the day bouncing off ideas regarding the baby with his wife.
The nursery ended up receiving a sea-oriented theme. Professional painters were hired to produce the desired image on the wall, and Christine persuaded Raoul to paint the remaining colors pale blue. Raoul argued that if the baby would be a girl, the walls would overwhelm her, but the Vicomtesse stood her ground, patiently explaining that blue was a soothing color, perfectly fitting for a girl. Plus, pink didn't quite compile well with the ocean tones portrayed in the painting. Curtains were hung, baseboard were sanded, trimmings decorated, a pale carpet installed (although Christine had doubts regarding how long the material would remain in its whitish state), and furniture ordered from the most talented carpenter in France.
Preparations were truly boiling.
Now, all that was left to do was to wait and choose an appealing name from the endless list of possibilities. Raoul suggested that Raoul the Second was a suiting name, but Christine quickly banished that that.
"One Raoul is all that I need," she finished her reasons with a smile.
Finally, on March 21, 1869, Matthieu was born. Nothing unusual happened during the birth, and a new heir to Raoul de Chagny was successfully introduced to the world.
Many kisses and fond looks were exchanged that night, as the couple bid restful nights farewell. The cries that broke the silence, that once contracted their hearts with pride and send them running to the newborn, now invited tiredness to fill their bodies. Over the days, they stoppedlounging at his crib at the slightest whimper, but playfully bribed each other to go consult his fretful cries. Yet, Matthieu was shown nothing short of fierce love as he developed into a toddler. All of his needs were met, all of his main desires fulfilled, and all of his problems eliminated. The Chagny household proved to be a cherished haven for the family as Matthieu grew.