Little Lotte- thanks for the help. Obviously I had to work that quote into this smiles happily, Love ya!

Chapter 35

Those two weeks have long since past. Despite my jealousy towards Scarlett, she has proven herself more than worthy of my position. Actually, she is better than I was, although Meg disagrees with me. In these months that Scarlett has been dancing in my place, I have adopted many of my husband's habits. No longer do I venture up into the world above, and when I do, it is in the cover of night. Since my pregnancy has made itself apparent, I have avoided any sort of gaze from those I used to live among, for I don't want any of their questions. I have taken to hiding in his box, watching the ballet with jealous, longing eyes. I know the dance by heart, if only I could preform it, but this little one has prevented me.

In the later months, I have found myself sitting here, at the edge of the stage, watching the shadows dance across the polished hard wood of the stage, longing dance with them. I lay my hand over my protruding midriff, silently cursing the child that grew inside of me. As if he knew what I was saying, he kicked at my hand, causing a smile to spread across my face.

It won't be long now, just another few weeks.

"What are you doing up here?" His familiar voice called from behind me. I turned my head to see Erik sit beside me, wrapping his arm over my shoulder.

"Just thinking." I turned to look at him, those blue green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness.

"About what Mon Ange?"

"I've been thinking of what to name him." A smile spread across his face, as he placed his hand over the child, feeling his restlessness.

"Are you so sure it will be a boy?" He teased.

"Yes I am." I let my head rest upon his shoulder, as images of what I once was danced over the bare stage.

"What what names where you thinking?"

"Well, Erik of course, but maybe Ryan, or Sean." Erik shook his head slightly.

"Ryan, Sean? Aren't those Celtic?"

"Yes, what's wrong with them?" I protest.

"I like those names!"

"I'm not saying anything against them. It's just, I thought maybe his name could have some meaning, like named after someone."

His words make sense, but who could we name him for?

"What about Henrik?" A small laugh escaped Erik's lips.

"Henry! I shrink from you!" Erik mimicked. I laughed slightly, before gently slapping his shoulder.

"I was being serious Erik! That is my father's name!"

"It's a fine name." He smiled down at me, before kissing my cheek.

"And what if it is a girl?"

"It won't be." I answered plainly.

"How can you possibly know that?"

"I just do. Would a girl do such damage to my body?" I joked, letting my hands fall on top of my Bulbous stomach, only inches below my breasts.

"Your beautiful." He said, kissing the tops of my hands.

"Especially with the child."

"To you maybe, but not others. It's this little one that has stopped me from dancing." I gazed over the stage. The Figures of us completing the complicated dance in my mind.

"Would you like to dance?" He whispered tenderly in my ear.

"If only I could." A long full sigh escaped my lips.

"Then lets dance." He took my hands in his, helping me up off the ground.

"Erik, I am eight and half months pregnant, how do you expect me to dance?" His smile widened, a hint of lust hung in that grin.

"You miss dancing, why not dance with me now?" He lead me out into the middle of the stage.

"But Erik, I can't." My gaze dropped to the floor, well, What would have been the floor, had I not been so large. Erik pulled me into him, pressing my as close as our child would allow.

"Why not?" His seductive voice range in my ear, as he began to lead me through what might have been called a dance, but rather was a slow twirl.

"For one thing, there is no music." I tried to point out, but the look in those eyes silenced me.

Softly, Erik began to hum my favorite song into my ear, letting our steps match the rhythm of the slow song. I could almost laugh at the simplicity of this dance, but any dance is better than non.

I can't recall how long we danced, around and around, Erik's hypnotizing voice ringing in my ear. Something about the simplistic dance took my energy away, and caused my head to feel as if it too was spinning, only in the opposite direction. The movement was too much for me, Causing me to collapse on the ground, the sudden drop creating it's own nausea. Erik followed me to the floor, lifting my head onto his lap.

"Mon Ange, Forgive me." He whimpered, taking me up into his arms.

"I only wanted to make you happy." He stroked my head tenderly, both guilt and fear in those eyes.

"It's alright Erik." I tried to comfort him, but my mind felt dazed, and words came out in a faint whisper.

"Lets just go home." Holding back tears, Erik nodded his head, and carried me off towards our home.

As we were descending down the main staircase, the world around me seemed to spin faster, and faster,

increasing the nausea, as a throbbing pain seemed to fill my head.

"Mon Ange." Erik whimpered, although he sounded miles away. I looked up at my husband, only his brilliant eyes visible, then the comforting darkness of nothing.

A/N- I realized after re-reading this, is sort of sounds like an ending, which it is nothing of the sort. Normally I don't give away the plot, but I must say that this isn't an ending, there is still more to come.