XXVI. Adding to the Family
Zuri panted softly as Erik put a wet clothe over her sweat-soaked forehead. "I hope the doctor hurries."
"I know sweetheart." Erik said then noticed her breathing begin to quicken. "Calm down."
"I can't help that our child wants to come out. Oh God!"
"Where the hell is the doctor?"
For the birthing of their child Erik had brought her up to the main part of the opera house. He decided that it would be better if she was up in the main part. "I don't know sweetheart." He could see that she was very uncomfortable. Every few minutes she winced in pain from the baby.
The door suddenly opened to reveal Antoinette and the doctor that they had been waiting for. Erik breathed a sigh of relief. "How far are her contractions?" The doctor asked Erik.
"A few minutes apart. Will she be alright?"
"Of course. This must be your first child." The doctor observed while helping Zuri sit up against several pillows. Erik nodded. The doctor smiled at him then proceeded to push apart her legs so that he could see if the child was ready to come out.
Erik took Zuri's hand in his as he noticed her nervousness. He knelt down on the floor then kissed her hand. "Sweetness, everything will be fine."
"I am nervous, so nervous."
"Everything will be fine."
"We might as well start." The doctor interrupted the two. She grasped his hand in a harsh grip then waited while the doctor returned with a bowl of water in his hands and towels. Antoinette stood beside him, waiting for him to tell her what she needed to do. "Madame, I want you to concentrate on breathing slowly. When I tell you to push then do as I say." Zuri nodded. Checking once more to make sure she was ready he muttered, "Fully dilated."
Erik let her squeeze his hand as harshly as she wished. He pressed a kiss to her temple when she began to breathe harshly. "Breathe slowly." He instructed quietly.
"It hurts."
"I wish I could take the pain away sweetness."
"Push." The doctor interrupted once more.
Erik watched his wife grit her teeth and close her eyes tightly while grasping his hand. She groaned loudly while trying to push out her child. "Stop."
Wiping her forehead, Erik watched her breathe harshly once more. He smiled despite the fact that she was in pain. He was finally going to be a father. The doctor told her to push once more. "Ow..." She ground out while pushing once more. Erik shushed her quietly while stroking her face with is other hand. "Do not tell me to be quiet! Damn it!"
"The child is crowning. One more push." The doctor told her.
She propped herself up on her elbows and with a mighty push, Zuri cried out in pain. Her cry turned into a scream when she felt her child come through then she fell back after feeling that she had pushed her child out. Erik waited nervously as the doctor checked their child. A wail greeted their ears. "Perfectly formed, responsive, a girl...She is doing very well."
"Thank you doctor." Erik thanked him as the doctor helped Antoinette clean up the child. Erik then turned to his wife and kissed her sweat-soaked forehead. "A girl. Can you believe it?"
"What does she look like?" Zuri questioned him as she tried to sit up.
"She has black hair. I haven't seen her eyes. She is perfectly formed." He replied. He wringed a washcloth free of excess water then began to wipe her forehead, neck, and chest. Then with a small towel he wiped the wetness from her body. "Do you want to change?"
Zuri nodded then groaned as she felt Erik pick her up and carry her to the bathroom then left her hunched against the sink to quickly get a gown and pantalets that he had brought up from their home beneath the opera house. After shutting the door he helped her out of her sweat-soaked dress and then helped her first into her pantalets. After lacing up her pantalets, he turned her around and had her raise her arms over her head. Pulling the gown over her head, he turned her back around to face him.
"How do you feel?"
"Weak and tired but happy nonetheless...Sorry about earlier."
"What is to apologize about?"
"My comment earlier."
He pulled her close to his body and wrapped his strong arms around her waist. "Childbirth must hurt. What did it feel like?"
"Imagine squeezing from your body a large ball."
Erik winced. "I can see why you were very uncomfortable."
"Erik, Zuri, are you finished in there? Your baby girl needs to be fed." Antoinette said through the door with an accompanying knock.
"Coming." Zuri replied after turning around in Erik's arms then led him outside into the bedroom.
"The doctor left. He said he will be by tomorrow."
"Good." Erik commented then watched Zuri sit on the bed and lower her right sleeve down her arm then pulled her arm out to reveal her breast. Antoinette gently gave her her baby girl. Zuri smiled happily at her husband as she cradled their baby to her breast. Erik smiled back as he took off his mask. He had to fulfill his promise to her.
"Come here." Zuri motioned for him to come and sit beside her.
Erik obeyed her and walked over to sit beside her. He watched his baby girl suckle his wife's breast while her tiny hands gripped the gown she wore. "What should we name her?"
"Aya." He said. "If that is alright with you."
"It is. It is a very beautiful name." Turning her attention back to their child she said, "I think Aya has had her fill. Do you want to hold her?"
"Yes." Erik replied then held out his arms.
"Be careful with her head." Zuri advised as she transferred their child over to his arms.
"I will." He said then watched his daughter reach for his finger. He smiled down at her and whispered soft words. She cooed and giggled at him which in turn made him swell with pride and joy. This precious little bundle was his and she recognized him. Zuri was right. Antoinette was right. If he had given her up then he would have missed out on a lot of things.
Antoinette watched from the distance as Erik played with his child. She smiled because of the situation. Who could think that the phantom could be so loving and gentle? Zuri had changed him drastically over the past ten months. She smiled once more then left the room silently.
