XXXVIII.
A Week Later
Malika's eyes fluttered open, her body immediately informed her that she was in
pain. She groaned loudly as she urged a hand to lay protectively over her abdomen.
Tears sprang to her eyes when she could not remember what had happened. She looked
around and saw that she was in Erik's bedroom. How long had it been? Where was Erik?
She burst out into tears when she did not see him anywhere. What if he had been
killed? She could bear the thought of losing him to those bastards. "Erik." She
whimpered as tears continued to fall down her cheeks.
The door suddenly opened and she turned her head to see Erik standing in the
doorway. He looked as if he had not slept in a week, and with only a few hours sleep
here and there, it was the truth. "Malika." He gasped as he closed the door behind
him.
"I thought you were dead." She explained while wiping away tears from her eyes.
Erik went to her immediately and wrapped his arms around her gently. "I thought I
was going to lose you cherie."
"What happened?" Malika questioned him.
"Chagny is in jail waiting to charged for assaulting you and plotting death.
Christine renounced her title and has gone to live with a friend of mine. You..." He
paused, wanting to tell her exactly what had happened, but feared that she would be
terrified to hear what the doctor had said. "You were stabbed in the abdomen cherie.
The doctor operated on you."
"And? What did he say?"
"I do not know if you should hear what he said in your state."
"Erik, I need to know!" Malika shouted as she grasped his forearm and looked up at
him with pleading eyes.
"Cherie, I do not know how to lessen the impact of this. Malika, we may never have
children again because of those bastards."
Malika's eyes widened in horror and her jaw dropped from the shock. "You cannot be
serious! I want another opinion. I want two! He is lying! I can bear children." She
burst out into tears. Erik watched helplessly as she cried. He climbed onto the bed
and pulled her into his arms carefully, the need to embrace and comfort her was too
strong to ignore. Malika buried her face in the crook of his neck and wrapped her
arms around his neck as she continued to cry.
"Shh." He repeated over and over. He could not bear for her to be in any pain of any
kind. "Please cherie. I can't stand it. I can't stand for you to cry. Stop crying
for me."
"Tell me you are lying. Tell me the doctor is lying. Please!" Malika shouted at him
while staring into his eyes, her pain reflecting in her own.
"I'm sorry cherie. I am not lying neither is the doctor."
"NO!" She screamed at him, she beat her tiny fists against his chest.
Erik watched her vent her frustration, pain, and anger for a few moments before
catching her hands then taking her lips in a gentle kiss. Malika struggled only a
moment before relaxing against his embrace and kiss. He parted lips with her then
said, "Rest cherie. We will talk more about this later." He whispered in her ear.
She leaned her head against his shoulder as he stroked her hair and kissed the top
of her head. "I love you."
"I love you too." She whispered back.
xxxx
Erik realized that he should have not told Malika the things that the doctor had
told him. It had only upset her and he wanted nothing more to make her happy. Erik
sighed as he directed what was left of his staff to clean up and start packing for
their move to Marseille. He had immediately had his attorney travel and purchase a
manor big enough for their things.
Over the past week he had been planning for the move. A move would do good for
Malika's disposition. Marseilles would be the place to go to help her heal. He
sighed softly as he thought of her ordeal and the possible future. Erik could not
bear if she couldn't have any more children.
"Monsieur Garnier." Charles interrupted his thoughts. "The doctor is here to check
on Madame's progress."
"Very well." Erik replied then walked to the foyer and met the doctor.
"Greetings Monsieur Garnier. I have come to give the Madame some pain reliever and see how she is doing." The doctor announced.
"Good, she is in a lot of pain as of late." He paused, "Doctor, are you sure that she will not be able to bear children?"
"I was as careful as possible when I pulled out that knife. I would not get my hopes up, it was plunged in too low that it surely caused damage."
"When will she be able to resume sex?"
The doctor eyed him in a confused manner, "You surely do not want to have sex. Not this soon."
"No. However, it is important to both of us that we are able to be intimate."
"In other words, you want to prove me wrong." The doctor said humorously.
Erik smiled, "Yes. She truly won't be better till she can bear another child."
"There is a small chance, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. She will need at least a month and a half to heal. Then she can resume regular activities."
They entered the darkened bedroom and the doctor tsked. "She needs more light when the sun is out." He set his things on a table and took out a vial of medicine and a needle. Erik drew the curtains open and sunlight immediately filled the room. Malika moaned softly as she sat up. "Good morning Madame. I am here to check up on you."
Malika sighed as she watched him draw the medicine into the needle. "I will also check to see how your wound is healing Madame." He took her arm in his hand and looked for a vein. He then stuck her and injected her with the medicine. Malika bit her lip as he drew the needle back out and placed a cloth over where the needle previously had been. Malika watched as he now prepared to check her wound. "Please pull up your gown Madame."
Erik took her hand as he helped her pull her gown up beneath her breasts. "Have you had any problems beside pain?"
"No." Malika replied, she clenched her hands in pain as he pressed lightly against her wound.
"You are healing quite nicely Madame. You should be able to resume light activity in a week. Until then, keep to the bed." He ordered.
Malika sighed, "Yes doctor."
The doctor turned to Erik then said, "I will take my leave."
Erik watched as the doctor left then turned to Malika. "Shall I have some food brought up cherie?"
"Yes. No eggs please. Maybe some crepes."
"Very well then." He paused as he looked at her wound. "Cherie, don't give up on having more children."
"Erik, it will never be the same until I know I can have more babies."
He sighed, "I know cherie." Erik then left to have her breakfast fixed.
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! I am on a roll. The story will soon be coming to an end. So I hope you have enjoyed it!