Chapter 13

December 1875

A few weeks later and the bindings were finally coming off Erik's ribs. His face still sported a variety of colors ranging from purple to green to yellow, but they were finally starting to fade. He was still quite a remarkable sight. It would l be a couple of weeks yet before his arm could be unbound however and the inability to pursue his craft had him frustrated. He stalked around like a caged panther but he was making a monumental effort at controlling his frustration. He still gave the children their music lessons to the best of his ability with just one useable arm. He went back to supervising the completion of the stable, never failing to inquire as to whether there was any news of Henri. I feared what he might do if Henri was found.

The first time that he returned from the stable, he was in a black mood but wouldn't talk about what had put him in such a mood. I assumed that it was the thought of what could have happened to Sylvie if he hadn't reached her in time. In time his mood lightened somewhat.

Christmas was coming soon and we had a lot to do. We were going to have a tree for the first time and Madeline, the children and I had a lot of ornaments and decorations to make.

Christmas morning broke crisp and clear. Erik was just getting up, scratching furiously at his arm.

"I can't take this a moment longer Jenny. Get it off me. Surely it's healed by now." He said in irritation. I suppressed a smile.

"Very well, come here." I said. He sat in the chair in front of me and I carefully unbound his arm. When the last of the bindings came, off I ran my hand down it checking it to make sure it was healed. When I was done, he cautiously straightened it rubbing it. Then with a grin, he reached up and pulled me into his lap.

"Ah, now I can hold you properly." he said as rubbed his cheek against my hair. "I missed being able to hold you." He laughed and he wrapped his arms around me.

"Uh, Erik the babies need to be fed and the children are probably waiting impatiently to open their gifts." I laughed as he nuzzled my neck sending shivers up my spine.

"You did promise me there would be many children right? At this rate there won't be any more children." He laughed as he released me from his lap. His humor was definitely returning.

When we left our room, we caught the children trying to sneak downstairs.

"No sneaking and peeking at gifts till after breakfast." Erik said smiling at Mouse and Sylvie.

"But Papa Erik..."Sylvie started to say but realized that though he was smiling, he meant it. Sighing, she and Mouse exchanged resigned looks and proceeded to go downstairs to the kitchen.

"I'll go and make sure that they stay in the kitchen." Madeline said as she came from her room. "They can help me get breakfast started. I see that your arm is finally free Erik, maybe there will be some peace in the house now." She said with a grin as she followed the children. Erik followed me into the nursery and while I changed and fed one baby, he changed and then cradled the other in his arms. He had really missed being able to hold his babes. After we had taken care of the babies, we carried them downstairs and put them in the cradles we had placed in the music room. We then went to breakfast and two impatient children who just toyed with their food fidgeting in their seats, to excited to eat. Finally, we relented and the children hurried to the music room.

We had sat the tree up next to the piano in the music room. It looked quite festive festooned with strands of popcorn, papier-mâché and painted wooden ornaments, and paper snowflakes. Underneath was an assortment of presents of varying sizes even the babies had gifts. Erik waited until everyone had chosen a place to sit and then proceeded to pass out the presents. Our gifts to each other were last. He handed me a long thin box and I handed him a smaller box. He watched me anxiously as I untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful necklace of crystal butterflies alternating blue and white, with matching earrings.

"Oh Erik they're beautiful," I said holding them up.

"Are you sure you like them angel?" he asked as he took the necklace and placed it around my neck. "I couldn't make you anything this time."

"Erik these are perfect and I would love anything you gave me." I said as I turned and kissed him. "Now, your turn, open yours." I said and he untied the ribbon on the gift I had given him. He opened it and pulled out the pocket watch that lay inside. "Open it, it's inscribed." I said.

He opened it and read the inscription "To my man of the shadows, my love, and my life. Though the hands on the watch may slow then stop our love never shall. Love, your wife, Jenny."

"I shall cherish it angel." He said and hugged me to him kissing me softly. We broke apart at the sound of giggling. Sylvie was giggling and Mouse was holding his hand over his mouth, covering his silent laughter, then they hugged us thanking us for the gifts we had given them and went off to play. Madeline and I went to work on Christmas supper and Erik went to work the stiffness from his fingers by running through scales on the piano. I had not realized how much I had missed his playing.

Later after supper, we all gathered in the music room. I was holding Carrie, and Madeline was holding Nathaniel while Erik and the children were playing Christmas carols. We were all singing and even the babes seemed to enjoy the music. It had been a lovely day. Finally, it was time for the children to go to bed. Erik went to tuck them in and Madeline and I carried the twins upstairs. It was time for their evening feed and a diaper change.

I had just finished feeding the babies and was putting Carrie in her bassinet when Erik came in.

"Sylvie and Mouse are waiting for you to kiss them goodnight." He said as he came to stand next to me looking down at the babes.

"I'm headed that way now." I said as I turned for the door. Erik reached out, grabbed my arm, and pulling me against him, crushed his lips against mine. I was breathless when he released me.

"I'll be waiting for you." He whispered as he released me, hunger in his eyes. I smiled up at him, a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach and spreading in anticipation.

"I won't be long." I whispered back. When I returned to our room, Erik had just finished undressing, he stood watching me as I slowly undressed, his attraction readily apparent. He came behind me and began massaging my neck and shoulders.

"I promised that we would make up properly when I was free from my bindings." He said huskily as he lifted my hair and placed his lips to the base of my neck sending shivers through my body. He nipped my earlobe and brushed my cheek with his lips. "I missed holding you my angel." he whispered and turned me to him crushing his lips to mine, his tongue demanding entrance. Flame engulfed my body at his touch, my need matching his. I took his throbbing length in my hand stroking, massaging. Erik led me to the bed; we climbed in together and again reached for each other. His hand strayed down to my breasts, lightly brushing them, teasing them into rigid peaks. His hands continued down, running lightly along the inside of my thigh on up to my center. His fingers found entrance and under their ministrations, he soon had me gasping. He turned his attention back to my breast, kissing, sucking and licking. Erik then groaned and grabbing my thighs, he drove himself into me, pumping slowly, deeply. Flame threatened to consume me but then he eased his way back out. My body was screaming for the release that he withheld from me. He kissed me, inhaling my breath, nipping my lips, his hands caressing my breasts.

"Erik, please." I begged. "Now please."

"Not yet." he whispered. His lips gently nibbled and sucked at my neck, then my breasts and then down to the center of my longing. His tongue again brought me to the point of release and again abandoned me for my lips. Finally, he relented from his torturing me and slid deep within me plunging harder and deeper until at last wave after wave of fire burst forth. Looking deep into my eyes when my shudders slowed he renewed his efforts until with one last deep thrust he reached his peak, holding me close as he pulsed within me until he finally slipped gently from me. At last, exhausted he rolled to the side, pulling me against him and wrapping his arms around me, the flames momentarily quenched.

"Maybe we should fight more often angel." Erik said softly, pushing a sweat soaked lock of hair behind my ear.

"We don't really need any excuse love. Erik, when I thought I might have lost you…" I bit my lip as tears threatened.

"Sssh, love, I'm fine." He said and kissed my forehead, temple and then my mouth. Slowly he gently caressed me, murmuring soft endearments, and gentle kisses until I felt an unmistakable movement against my thigh. "Ready to do some more making up, angel? You promised there would be many more babies." He said a devilish glint in his eye. Already his length pushing against me in eagerness.