Chapter 66

Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera

Well this is it. The last chapter to Love is Blind.

In the months that followed, Poppy began to have a hard time. Erik was thrilled at another child, but was worried about Poppy. Her temper was even shorter, her white eyes dulled, and she became tired quicker. In her fifth month, she was big. When she had carried Amée she had been small, but now she was bigger then most women at five. He had her to stay home, and asked Antoinette to stay with her and help with Amée. Amée was exited to help her mother, at the fact that she might get ether a little sister or baby brother. She would take Poppy water or play music for her.

When Poppy was eight months, she began having trouble breathing. She would have to stop after only a few steps and have to suck in air. It was then Erik moved her to the bed and made her stay there. As much as she hated it, she was glad to stay still. Amée would come in, sing, and play the violin. She also would talk and read to the baby by sitting by Poppy's stomach. Amée would also press gently on her mother's belly, feeling the baby move. She would clap her hands and lay her head on Poppy's swollen belly and fall asleep. Poppy thought it was the cutest thing and having Amée there helped her. She would cry as Amée slept with her head resting on her belly. She would hug her close and wait for Erik come home in the evenings.

Maierline visited every day to see if Poppy and the baby were ready, but day after day, nothing. Finally, a week after Poppy was due, Maierline brought with her bag. Erik met her at the door. He eyed the bag then her.

"She is not ready. Why do you need the bag?" he inquired.

Maierline stared him straight in the eye, "Poppy is over-do. If she does not go into labor and have this child, the baby could die in the womb and kill Poppy. I'm going to induce labor today. I will need all the help I can get. Where is Antoinette?"

Erik bid her come in, "She is upstairs with Poppy."

"Good. And Amée?"

"Poppy was not feeling well, so Meg is watching her." Erik paused, "What can I do?"

Maierline had started up the stairs. She glanced back at Erik, "Boil water. Fetch clean sheets and towels. And bring a kettle of hot water up." She shot him a wry smile, her leathery face wrinkled, "Can you handle that?"

Erik glared at her, "Of course I can Madame," he replied in a cold voice.

Maierline laughed and continued up the stairs. While she heard Erik gathering the supplies, she knocked on the bedroom door.

Antoinette answered it, "Maierline? What is it?"

"How is Poppy?"

Antoinette glanced behind her, and then back at Maierline, "She's very big and uncomfortable."

"I figured as much. May I?"

Antoinette opened the door wider. Maierline walked into the room. Poppy was propped up in the bed. She looked tired and uncomfortable. She was fiddling with an embroidery set half heartedly. She looked up at the sound of Maierline.

"Maierline?"

"Yes. How are you today?" Maierline asked as she set down her bag and walked over to her.

"Wishing that the baby was ready."

Maierline laughed, "He's ready, just being stubborn. How would you like to met him today?"

Poppy set up further in bed, "You are going to induce the labor?"

"Yes. As soon as Monsieur Leroux brings the hot water I asked for, we'll get started."

She spoke too soon for there was a knock and the door opened. Erik walked in caring a hot kettle.

"Good. Monsieur Leroux, can you place it over on the end table?"

Erik did so and watched intently as Maierline took some brown paper pouches out of the bag. She poured the water in a mug. As she did, Erik took the paper pouches and opened them. Instantly he recognized the herbs.

"Didn't think that midwives used these." He told her.

"You have used these before?"

"Many times."

"Well, Monsieur Leroux, they are very helpful and are quick to help the mother and soothe the baby. You have used them. Good. Then you know how to crush them. Can you do so?"

Erik nodded and began to crush the leaves into a powder. Then mixing the black power with the other crushed leaves. He mixed the power into the hot water. Maierline took the mug and gave it to Poppy.

Poppy sniffed it and made a face, "What is it?"

"It will help induce the labor. They are herbs that I only use once in awhile. It is Juniper, sage, and black cohosh. Drink it. About three to five hours after you drink it."

Poppy made a face but quickly drank it.

Maierline was right. Five hours after she drank it, she began to have contractions. These were more painful then when she had Amée. Every time a contraction rolled though her she cried out. Finally, she found that if she laid on her right side they didn't hurt as bad. This time Erik absolutely refused to leave the room. He set on the bed rubbing her back, feeling her muscles tighten every time she had the contractions. She leaned back into his rubs, calming down as he hummed. Finally, ten hours later Maierline had Poppy to turn back over. Erik was setting behind her, her back against his chest. He held her tight as Poppy clenched her teeth. Suddenly Maierline yelled at Antoinette.

"Get more towels! She's bleeding too much!" she turned back to Poppy, "Poppy. Stop. Stop pushing. The baby is in trouble, and you are bleeding too much."

Antoinette came back with the towels Maierline padded them around Poppy. After a few minutes, Poppy let out a small whisper.

"Erik. I'm tired."

Before he could say anything, Maierline looked up. "No! Poppy, you stay awake. Erik, keep her awake."

"Poppy, listen to me. Maierline says you have to stay awake. You must stay awake. Think of me, think of Amée, think of our new baby. Bien-aime, you stay awake!"

"But I'm so tired, amoureux," calling him by a name she had never used before, "Let me close my eyes for a minute…."

Maierline looked up, "Erik…. Keep her awake, if she closes her eyes, she may never…"

Erik drew a sharp breath, "Jesus doux, non ma cherie! Stay awake!"

Poppy opened her dead white eyes. She let out a breath and held on.

"Ok! Now, Poppy, push!"

She drew a tired, panting breath, there was a flash of pain, and she let out a small sharp cry.

Erik felt her tense then heard her cry. Then there was another cry. The cry of a newborn. Like Amée's this one was also musical. Maierline took the newborn and cleaned it up. Erik heard a small gasp and a cold chill ran up his spine. When she was done, Maierline brought the baby over to him. "Here, Erik, hold your son while I finish attending to your wife." Placing the baby in his arms went to take care of Poppy. Erik looked down at his son and let out a small breath of relief. There was indeed a mark, but it was only small, a pinkish shot stretched across his nose. Like with Amée the baby stared up into his father's eyes. Where Amée had her mother's past green eyes, his son had his gray gold eyes.

"What does he look like?" Poppy's tried voice sounded up at him.

Erik leaned down so that the baby was level with her. "He has gray gold eyes. Reddish hair, like you, and a small pink birthmark across his nose."

"He? A son?"

"Yes."

"And you say a birthmark? Hmmm…what shape is it?"

Erik looked again at it, "I'll say…. Almost like a…teardrop."

Poppy let out a small laugh, "Like my mother. She had one like that. Only hers were on her left shoulder blade."

"Poppy, Monsieur Leroux. I have something to tell you." Maierline said.

Erik looked up, "Yes?"

"I believe, that where Poppy had a hard time here, I don't doubt she'll never be able to have any more children."

A stunned silence echoed thought the room. Erik looked down at Poppy. Sorrow passed though her, then she nodded, "I understand."

Erik sat down on the bed with Poppy. She leaned back against him and sighed, falling asleep. Erik sat there holding the now sleeping baby.

When Poppy woke back up, Erik was still holding the baby. "Erik?"

Erik had been dozing, holding his sleeping son close, "Yes?"

"What are we—"she didn't finish her sentence for Amée stuck her pretty head in.

"Mama? Daddy? Is my baby sister or brother here yet?"

Poppy let out a small laugh, "Yes. Your baby brother is here. Come see him!"

Amée let out a quite laugh and hurried to her father and mother and now her little brother. She leaned over him a touched the tiny birthmark. "It looks like a fairy kissed him! I want one too!"

Erik and Poppy laughed.

Amée kissed the spot and the baby open his eyes and blinked up at his sister. He waved his tiny fists, and Amée caught one gently, giggling as he took a hold of it a held on. "Baby…. what is your name?"

Without missing a beat, Erik told her. "Gaston."

"Baby Gaston," Amée said trying out the name. "I like it!" She hugged her mother and father. "We are a happy family."

Erik kissed his daughter, son, and wife, "So we are."

(Sob) that was so, so, so, beautiful! I surprise myself! That is still only part of the surprise! The true surprise will be out on Monday! So that was the end to this story…….or……is…..it?

I would like to thank all of you for the great reviews, and for staying with the story after it had been erased. I know I have said this before, but I'll say it again, I had not indeed this story to be this long. I didn't even think that it would catch the attention of so many great and loyal reviewers! And as many mistakes there was, no flames. I don't mind them. Everyone has a right to an option. The ones that I hate are the ones that berate your love for the story. And I don't mind someone pointing out grammar mistakes. I always go back and fix them.

I hope that the other stories that I put out in the very near future, you all will give them a try.

Bien-aime---beloved

Amoureux --sweetheart

Jesus doux, non ma cherie –Sweet Jesus, no my darling!

And a hint as to what the surprise is—"The fire which seems out often sleeps beneath the cinders." Pierre Comeille