Sorry to upset everyone with my last chapter, but hey I needed a good reason to kill off Raoul. For those who are curious instructions for joining the Raoul Haters United Club will be at the end of the chapter. I've hit the chapter 40 mark and there is a ray of hope for everyone so wipe those tears from your eyes and read.
Chapter 40: The Miracle
"Don't worry Lotte we'll get you help. There may be hope in saving the baby," Erik said not sure himself if the baby was still alive. Lotte's face had grown awfully pale and her eyes were beginning to close. "Wait no, don't go to sleep. Stay with me Lotte. I need you to stay awake."
"Just let me sleep, Father," she said her eyelids becoming heavy. "You always said sleep helped make all the hurt go away." Her head rested against the floor as her eyes closed. For a second Erik thought she was truly dead when he saw a kick from her stomach.
Running to his room he grabbed a shirt and balled it up and then tied the arms around her to put pressure on the wound. Then gently he lifted her into his arms and was just about to leave when a voice stopped him.
"Erik, wait. Don't leave me behind," Pierre groaned as he limped up to them and grabbed Erik's arm for support. "Lotte, is she dead?"
"No, but she's barely alive. We have to get the both of you to a doctor immediately. There may still be some hope."
Going as quickly as they could without causing Pierre more pain they emerged into Mme. Giry's room. Right away Christine stood with fear written in her eyes. "Oh my god, what has happened?"
"There's no time to explain. We have to get them to the doctor immediately. Mme. Giry, stay with them I'll get a carriage ready," he said placing Lotte down on the bed. Mme. Giry nodded and began tending to Pierre's head.
Erik ran to the stables his footsteps echoing down the empty hallways. When he came into the stables Cesar reared and whinnied at him. Working quickly Erik pulled up one of the carriages and hitched Cesar up to it. Tying the horse up securely Erik ran back to the room.
Mme. Giry had wrapped some gauze around Pierre's head to cease the bleeding. Lotte was still asleep with Christine sitting by her side. She looked up as he entered. He said nothing as he came and lifted Lotte off the bed and disappeared into the hallway again. Mme. Giry and Christine followed with Pierre using them as a support.
When everyone was assembled Erik waited for Christine to climb into the carriage before laying Lotte across the seat resting the girl's head across her mother's lap. Pierre sat down next to Mme. Giry looking sadly at his fallen wife.
"Hold tight everyone. I want to try and get us there quickly," Erik warned them before closing the carriage door and untying the rope from the peg. He climbed up into the driver's seat and slapped the reins across Cesar's back sending the carriage out into the Paris streets. He gave another slap making the horse quicken in his pace and felt they were making perfect time.
He turned the carriage up a side street and pulled it to a stop outside of a red brick building. Jumping out of the driver's seat he ran up to the door and began pounding on it. He could hear movement inside and he gave one last pound for good measure.
The door opened and the doctor looked up at him. "Do you have any idea how late it is Monsieur. I'm not open now."
"Please I have 3 injured people within that carriage. One is my daughter and she is heavy with child yet there is a chance it could be to late to save it. Please you must take a look. I can pay you well sir," Erik said his hands clutched tightly together.
"Well that's different. Bring them inside and I'll wake my wife. Put the girl in that room there and I'll be right in."
Erik nodded and went to the carriage opening the door. "Here let me take Lotte. The doctor agreed to take a look at her. There may be a chance," he said as he climbed into the carriage and took Lotte into his arms.
Christine had tears falling from her chin. "Erik I don't want to lose her."
He looked at her before kissing her. "Christine I'll do everything in my power to help her and the doctor will do his best. I think it would help if you pray for her. We've already made it through part of this nightmare, but it's not over yet."
She nodded and Erik carried Lotte into the house. Mme. Giry climbed out of the carriage and offered a hand to Pierre, who took it and stepped out of the carriage. Christine followed, but held back for a moment almost afraid to leave the safety of the carriage. Something told her that events beyond her wildest dreams had gone on within the Opera House and death had been a part of it.
"Christine, come on child. It's all right," Mme. Giry reassured her as she turned to face her. "Lotte needs you inside. Don't back out on her now. Be strong Christine."
Christine knew that Mme. Giry was right. Slowly she stepped out of the carriage and went inside. Mme. Giry smiled and continued to help Pierre inside.
xxxxx
Erik had laid Lotte down on the table like the doctor had instructed and soon the doctor came in with his wife following him. She smiled at Erik and took a look at Lotte. "Oh, the poor dear, don't worry Monsieur we'll do our best to help her."
"I know you will. But I ask that you let me help. I dare not leave her side."
"Do you know how to do a caesarian section?"
"I've read up on them."
The doctor gave him an awkward stare then sighed. "You can stay in the room to comfort her if she wakes up. I would hate to have her go in shock at what's happening. A familiar face may calm her."
"I can at least do that then," Erik said as he stood down by Lotte's head. Her eyes were still closed and it made her look as if she had really left him. "I can't think that. She can't be gone. I won't allow her to give up and stop living. Not yet."
The doctor worked quickly first removing the stained shirt. Throwing it into the waste basket he inspected the wound. "It's deep, but at least we have a starting point." He went to the sink and washed his hands before putting on a pair of gloves. With his wife's help the doctor made a larger cut in Lotte's stomach making Erik wince. "Do you wish to leave Monsieur?"
"No, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The doctor continued and asked for Erik to pick up one of the towels off the chair behind him and hold it out in front of him. Erik did so and soon the doctor placed a baby into his arms. "Clean her off. She'll get cold."
The baby let out a stifled cry as Erik began to dry the blood and fluid off her. "But how is it possible that she survived? With how far along she was it wouldn't have been hard to miss her."
"Ah, but this child should be grateful. Something had protected her tonight." The doctor held up the placenta which had been pierced and pretty much empty of blood. "This was in front of her as the dagger was pushed in. Because the placenta was so thick with blood the baby was never touched; though from the bruises on Lotte's stomach it looks like she was kicked too. Are there are any marks on the baby?"
Erik looked her over, but as he checked her back the baby let out an angry cry protesting that she didn't like being turned over. Erik turned her back over and cradled her gently in his arms. "No, she's normal. No scratch anywhere."
The doctor's wife gave a sigh of relief. "Here let me cut the umbilical cord for you and then we'll get her in some proper clothes. We don't want the little one to freeze to death."
Before handing the baby over to her Erik kissed her forehead. "You're in good hands little one."
Upon leaving his arms the baby began to cry. A lump caught in Erik's throat as the doctor's wife carried her out of the room. She had just been born and already she enjoyed his company. Lotte let out a groan from the table and Erik was immediately at her side.
"Let's finish up the procedure and get her to the recovery room," the doctor suggested taking up a needle and some thick black thread. Erik took Lotte's hand as the doctor began and throughout the entire procedure he could feel Lotte squeezing his hand tightly.
xxxxx
Soon the procedure was finished and the doctor had Erik carry Lotte into the recovery room and lay her on one of the beds. Drawing the covers up around Lotte's chin he heard Christine walk in behind him.
"Erik is she…"
"She's fine. The procedure was a success. She just needs to rest now." He brought her close and smiled at her. "And Christine we're grandparents."
"You mean the baby made it?"
"Yes, she was protected by the placenta. It blocked the dagger from harming her. Yet if we hadn't gotten here in time there could have been problems with the amount of blood she was receiving."
"Where is she? I want to see her."
"The doctor's wife is cleaning her off and dressing her for us. Where are Pierre and Mme. Giry?"
"A nurse is taking care of him now. But I heard the cry and just had to come see for myself. How did she turn out? Are there any…"
"Marks, no she is a healthy baby just like her parents. And I was the first to find out that she hates being held on her stomach."
"It's good to know what a baby likes and dislikes. Oh, Erik this is wonderful having another child in our lives, but I can't help, but wonder. What happened to Raoul?"
Erik's face went blank and he hung his head in shame. "I killed him. I drove my sword through his back right where his heart is. He can't harm either of you again."
Christine's face was covered with horror. "What? You promised me you would never kill again Erik. You promised."
"I know, but he was going to kill Lotte. I wasn't going to just stand back and watch as my daughter was murdered. Plus," he added running a hand over her shoulder. "I didn't want to see him harm you again. I couldn't stand the fact that I let you go with that cold hearted man. Any man that beats upon his wife is a coward and uses his power over her to appear tougher. I would never do that to you. Having you with me is more precious than life itself."
"Do you honestly mean that?"
"Have I ever been wrong about anything before Christine?"
"I believed you every time you said those three little words Erik. Those three little words opened the doors for me and I was swept into a much happier place; a place of music and song, a place that dwelled on your love for me. I'll never regret again for as long as I live," she said hugging him.
Suddenly the doctor's wife came hustling in with the baby. "If one of you can take her I'll get a crib for her to sleep in. I'm assuming one of you will be staying tonight."
"I will," Erik spoke up as he took the baby in his arms.
"I will also to keep an eye on the baby. We don't want to bother your sleep anymore than we have."
"Oh, dear it's no problem at all. We're just so glad that we were able to successfully deliver this little angel. You must be very proud."
Erik nodded. "I've never felt so overjoyed before. I almost thought this little one wasn't going to make it, but she proved us all wrong. God was smiling down on her tonight. He knew just how important she was to us."
"Well let me get that crib. There are extra beds if the two of you wish to get some sleep and we'll be bringing Pierre in soon. The poor boy is so exhausted that he fell asleep as we bandaged up his head. Give him a few days and he'll come round. The same goes for Lotte." She hustled off again to fetch the crib.
Christine leaned over Erik's arm to look upon the baby. The baby yawned and snuggled close to him. "Not even a day old and she already knows you. We're going to have a hard time getting her to like anyone else the way she seems to cling to you," Christine said leaning her head on his shoulder. "She's so beautiful."
"She's just as beautiful as the other two women in my life."
"Erik you do realize that with the death of Raoul I'm free. Free to love again."
"To be quite honest I forgot all about that. So whose the lucky man going to be?"
"Well he's tall and handsome, but he hides behind the cold porcelain of a mask. Living in darkness he has perfected his voice to be like that of the angels above and call to me. And if I'm not mistaken he is standing here now in front of me."
"Does this mean?"
"Yes, Erik, my darling, the man I chose to love is you. That is if you wish me to."
Erik could have gathered her in his arms, but he had the baby tucked under his arm. Supporting her carefully in one arm he reached for Christine and holding her around the waist kissed her. "That is what I wish Christine."
"Then it shall be done. Soon I will be back with my Angel of Music."
The doctor's wife returned pushing the crib in. Behind her Mme. Giry and the doctor were supporting Pierre, who they laid in a bed and pulled the covers up over him. When he was settled Mme. Giry came over and gazed upon the baby as Erik laid her down in the crib. "Well I must return to the Opera House. It seems we need to child proof it again."
Erik smiled and handed her to key. "Will you return tomorrow?"
"Yes, of course."
"Good, because tomorrow I have a lot of work I need to do." He looked at Christine before he continued. "I have a suicide scene I need to set up."
Mme. Giry only nodded. "I completely understand. I'm sure you'll have no trouble creating a believable scene. But I suggest the two of try for some sleep. Either way I have a feeling that tomorrow has a lot of surprises in store."
Yeah the baby has survived. Whew maybe all of you will be happy now. I hate seeing sad fans due to my stories. Now here are the instructions from above I promised. If you want to join the Raoul Haters United Club say so in your review and I'll post your name in the next chapter so CoolGirlEmily can collect the names and write them down in her profile. It's really rather simple. Well I hope you all can rest well tonight knowing that all our main characters are safe.