Chapter Sixty-Two: Happy Endings?
A/N: All right, this chapter is not that long, it is five and a half pages about, but it is the last chapter! There will be an epilogue most likely posted today, so please read and review! DJT
"Have they come back yet?" Anthony asked Nadir. The Persian nodded with a sigh of relief.
"Yes, they went to their room, I can assume that it is safe to say not to bother them for the rest of the evening," Nadir replied. Anthony nodded and sat down. He had been worried about his sister and her relationship with her husband. They had something special and Anthony did not want to see that ruined for either of them. Nadir was studying him silently and Anthony decided that now probably was the best time to have a talk with this man about everything.
"How is it that I look nothing like you?" Anthony wondered softly. Nadir caught the younger mans eyes. He was glad Anthony was the first one to bring this up because he knew that if it had been left to him he might never have mentioned it.
"You should be thankful you turned out so handsome with me as a father," Nadir said dryly. Anthony could not keep in his smile at this mans dry humor. The Persian was a very attractive man, and he was sure that that was what had drawn his mother to him in the first place.
"You must know, Monsieur, that I denied what was told to me about you at first," Anthony said. Nadir nodded. He had not wanted to believe it himself. The fact that this man was his son still hurt deeply because Nadir had not been there to watch him grow up.
"I know, it is a little hard to believe," the Persian said. Anthony nodded.
"Are you...are you disappointed?" Anthony wondered softly. Nadir could not believe his ears! How could Anthony believe that he was disappointed about having a son? It was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him in his entire life.
"Anthony, finding out that you were my son brought tears to my eyes. I cried, a grown man who had seen many hardships in his life, but nothing has ever made me as happy as I was when I found out...you are the kind of son any man would be proud to call his own, and it is an honor to be your father," Nadir said, with all of the sincerity in the world. Anthony smiled and stood up, Nadir did the same. The two embraced and the Persian had to keep his tears at bay. Emma had always been the reason that he believed in life, even after what he had thought she did to him he believed in everything. She had given him a precious gift in their son and he would always love her for that, always.
"You and Sienna are going to be married?" Nadir asked as they sat back down. Anthony nodded, a small smile coming to his lips as he thought about her. He hoped she was alright and not worrying about him to much, he did not want her to worry, especially since he was fine, there was nothing to worry about. He was sure that he was going to hear some sort of reprimand for sneaking away in the middle of the night but there was little that he could do to change that.
"Yes..."
"Do you love her?"
"More than anything," Anthony answered truthfully. Nadir smiled, hearing the sincerity in his son's voice.
"Do you plan on children?" Nadir asked. He was interested in all aspects of his son's life, and Sienna appeared to be the most important thing to Anthony. Anthony stared into the fire for several long moments. Children? He had never really thought about children. Although the idea was completely welcomed. He wondered how Sienna would feel about such a thing.
"Children would be wonderful," Anthony said after a moment.
"I hope that I might be able to be a part of their lives?" Nadir wondered softly. Anthony nodded without hesitation. This man had missed out on his own child's life and Anthony would try and give that back to him with his own children.
"Of course, I would not have it any other way."
Nadir, for the first time in a long time, was truly happy.
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"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" Erik whispered, running his hand down his wife's bare side. She smiled and shook her head.
"No, but you could remind me," Christine murmured against his mouth. Erik growled and pinned her beneath him on the soft mattress. She looked up at him with a tender smile. Her slim hand reached out and smoothed over the mangled side of her husbands face, the love never once wavering from her eyes. It had been several hours since they had returned from outside and Erik had spent that time productively, showing her just how much he really loved her, leaving little doubt in Christine's mind.
"Christine?"
"Mmmmm?" She was becoming distracted with the feel of Erik's mouth as it slowly moved down the skin of her neck and collarbone.
"Perhaps once we are settled back into our home you might do me a favor?" he wondered. Christine's eyes opened to look at him with a small smile, only imagining what he would ask of her and if she would be able to do it.
"Anything, Erik," she whispered. He grinned mischievously and Christine waited.
"I would like another performance," he murmured against her mouth, kissing her. When he pulled away Christine was frowning, not quite knowing what he meant. Performance? What performance would that be? Erik put his mouth against her ear.
"I want to see you pleasure yourself again..."
Christine smiled provocatively at him. She knew he had enjoyed watching that, and she had enjoyed doing it for him. But she was not going to let him have all the fun, oh no. She ran a hand down his stomach.
"On one condition," she murmured. Erik frowned. He did not like conditions, he never did, and he did not want any now!
"What would that be?" he wondered, hoping it was something he could do because he would give anything to see Christine do that for him again. The fact that she was comfortable enough with him meant more to him than he could ever tell her. Christine smiled wickedly and Erik was given hope that he might like these 'conditions'.
"I want you to do the same for me," she whispered. Erik groaned in embarrassment. He did not think he could do such a thing! His body was a lot less refined than hers and he was sure that she would receive no pleasure from watching him.
"When the time comes, Erik...for right now I want you to make love to me," she murmured, pressing one of her fingers to his lips. Erik grinned as his mouth began to trail down Christine's body. Now that he could give her! Christine smiled down at him when he spread her thighs with his hands, his head settling itself at the secret place of pleasure. As his tongue began to lave at the folds of her womanhood Christine looked up at the ceiling, her hands clutching the sheets on either side of her. She had known that Erik would be embarrassed at the idea of touching himself in front of her, but she found it rather erotic and she was sure that with some persuasion she might be able to get him to do that for her.
Erik continued to give her pleasure until he heard her begin to reach her climax. He always knew when it was coming. Her body would flush crimson, her mouth would part and her eyes would roll back in her head. He thrust his fingers into her and her back arched and she moaned loudly. She settled back onto the bed after a moment and Erik raised his head, grinning down at her. Christine smiled and shook her head as he looked at her.
"What is that look for?" she wondered softly. Erik smiled.
"I like to know that I can give you pleasure," he murmured, kissing her thigh. Christine propped herself onto her elbow, her hair cascading down her shoulders. Erik felt his already hard body harden further. She beckoned him closer with one of her elegant fingers and Erik moved his body onto hers.
"You want to know what would give me even more pleasure?" she murmured against his mouth, her breath mingling with his. His eyes searched hers.
"Christine..."
His groan of pleasure caused a smile to come to Christine lips after she had wrapped her hand around his straining arousal. She squeezed him gently, drawing him towards her entrance.
"I want you inside of me..."
Erik wondered if the two of them would ever tire of making love with each other. It seemed so impossible because they always loved what they shared in their bed. Erik was always trying something new with her and she was never telling him to stop or she was not comfortable, because she always was. Thinking about new and exciting ways to please her Erik grinned, and instead of slipping into her like Christine wanted he sat up. Christine frowned and gave a little pout.
"Erik..." she complained. He put a finger to her lips and shook his head. He leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"Get on your hands and knees..." he whispered. Christine looked at him in question. "Do this for me, my love," he whispered, pleading. Christine nodded and he helped her to get on her hands and knees in the bed. He got onto his knees behind her and touched her ever so gently, hearing her moan.
"Erik..."
Christine nearly collapsed when her husband gently entered her from behind. It was definitely different, and he seemed a lot larger pushing into her at that angle. But despite the slight discomfort at first penetration Christine actually found it more stimulating. She gasped and pushed back against him, more than willing to make love to him like this. The fact that he wanted to try new and different positions caused Christine to become wet with excitement. He felt the new surge of wetness and he groaned, moving just a little faster inside of her. When she came she was moaning his name and Erik followed almost immediately after, being careful not to collapse on her, given her condition. Erik lay down on his back and Christine cuddled up against his side.
"If you keep coming up with so many wonderful ideas for our bedroom, we are going to have more children than we can manage," Christine murmured, kissing the warm skin of his neck. Erik grinned. He liked hearing how good he was when it came to pleasing his wife. Talk about an ego booster. It remained silent for quite some time.
"Erik...?"
"Hmmm?" He had just begun to fall asleep. Christine's fingers were playing over his chest and for some reason it was making him feel very drowsy.
"You know why I went after you that night in the cottage?" she whispered. Erik found his eyes opening so he could look at her in the dim light. She was biting her lip and he knew they would not get any sleep before Christine spoke her mind.
"Why is that?"
"You saw what nearly happened to me when I had thought you had died...I saw that far to many times in my dreams...when you went to that cottage I had to go after you...it was my love for you and the baby that made me go after you," she whispered.
"You almost lost the baby, my love," he whispered, wanting her to realize why he had been so upset about all of this. He had thought that they were done with this conversation but apparently there was more Christine still had to say.
"Erik, I would have lost the baby if you would have died that night... I would have, too...I would not be able to bear living here without you-"
"Our baby, Christine..."
"I love our baby, Erik, more than anything...but my grief from losing you would surely kill me," she whispered. Erik remained silent. Could he blame her for wanting to help him? She had not known what would happen to her that night, although she should have realized that it would not be good. But he admitted that if their places had been reversed he would have done everything to help her, even if she had insisted that he didn't.
"I understand..." he whispered. He watched as the relief practically made her body go limp. She had desperately wanted to hear him say that, and him doing so meant more to her than she could ever express.
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"Stop here!"
Christine opened her eyes drowsily when the carriage pulled to a stop and she heard her brother shout. She was lying in Erik's arms, who was looking out the carriage window, silent. She looked up at him with her question in her eyes.
"This is where your father and Sienna have been staying."
Christine scrambled out of the carriage and Erik smiled, shaking his head. He stepped out to watch as Christine threw herself into her father's arms. Gustave pulled his only child close and hugged her, not wanting to let her go now that she was safe from harm. Erik turned his eyes for a moment to watch Sienna begin to sob as Anthony ran towards her, nearly yanking her into his embrace for a very passionate kiss.
It seemed Daae had truly found someone to love, and Erik was happy for him. Raoul, too, had found love with Mademoiselle Giry and he would no longer have to worry about the boy trying to steal Christine from him. But as Erik thought about that he realized that he really did not have to worry about that anyways. He no longer doubted Christine's love for him, and he promised her and himself that he never would again.
They had been through so much in their short time of marriage together. They had both escaped death more times than Erik ever care to remember. Their love had been tested at least once every day, and the fact that they had made it through showed just how much their love could endure. And endure it would, for the rest of their lives.
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Christine turned back to Erik when Gustave went to embrace Anthony. Erik was leaning up against the carriage, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her. She smiled and was rewarded with a small lift of his mouth. They were finally going home. Christine went over to him and he pulled her against his chest, pressing a kiss to her temple. His hands strayed to her stomach and lightly caressed the bulge growing there. He pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered that he loved her. She smiled and leaned against him.
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"Anthony? May I speak with you in private before we leave?" Sienna wondered. Anthony nodded. He had yet to stop smiling since he had been reunited with her. They excused themselves from everyone and moved far enough away that no one would possibly be able to hear them. Before she could speak Anthony pressed a kiss to her mouth and she smiled. Nothing would explain the relief she had felt when she had seen him come out of that carriage. She would not ask him what happened with Delauney because she was sure that he would not wish to relive it.
"Is everything alright?" Anthony asked. Sienna nodded with a small smile.
"Yes...I just have some news for you," she replied. Anthony frowned, wondering what in the world the news could be.
"Oh, well what is it?" he wondered. Anthony felt something clench his heart when she took his hand and laid it gently on her stomach. His eyes grew round as realization dawned on him and his eyes found hers. She was smiling and nodding her head, tears coming to her eyes.
"I'm pregnant."
"You're pregnant...!"
Sienna waited silently for this all to sink in and she watched as disbelief turned to joy on Anthony's face. He shouted and grabbed her, spinning her about and causing Sienna to laugh. Everyone had come running, wondering what in the world was wrong that would cause Anthony to shout like that.
"I'm having a baby!" Anthony cried. Erik, Gustave, and Nadir all cocked an eyebrow and Christine and Sienna began to giggle.
"We are having a baby," Sienna confirmed. Christine clapped in delight and hugged her friend. Anthony could not seem to keep his hands off of Sienna and he hugged both her and Christine rather tightly, causing both women to laugh. Nadir and Anthony embraced.
"Congratulations, son," Nadir murmured. Anthony grinned.
"I'm having a baby!"
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A few weeks later...
"Erik?"
"Hmmmm?"
"When this baby is born, do you think we can have another?" Christine whispered. Erik's eyes opened and he turned to look at his wife. They had been home a total of seven days and Erik had finally allowed himself to relax. It felt good not to have to worry about something for once, and he was beginning to sleep just a little better, with fewer nightmares. He and Christine had retired early that night and had spent the night making love. Erik had almost been asleep when Christine had asked that question.
"You want more than one?" he wondered. He waited, his breath held, because he would never tell her how much he really wanted several children. Christine seemed to think about this for some time.
"Well, two would be nice," she said softly. She could just picture it. A little boy and a little girl. Erik was studying her intently. He wanted more than two, that was for sure, but he supposed that they would just have to take it in stride. He had strong, healthy seed, he was sure he could reproduce very well, and he wanted a family with this woman.
"No matter how many we have I will be happy, my love," he whispered. Christine smiled.
In the beginning she had been like a caged bird, trapped in a cage called marriage to a man she knew absolutely nothing about. She remembered those first few weeks with him. He had shown her no compassion and she had believed that she would never come to love him. Then as time progressed she realized that this was going to change. There was no way she could be around this man and not fall in love with him. There was just so much to love that it was impossible not to. His love had made her feel like a woman, desirable and strong. He was always there for her when she needed him and Christine knew he would be for the rest of their lives. Erik's love had opened her cage, and allowed her to soar.
