The Pain of Love

Gabrielle's Eyes:

I sat on the edge of the bed and looked out the window thoughtfully. Through the heavy rain, I could see the silhouette of the lighted barn where I knew Erik was placing Raoul's unconscious body. I was unsure as to how I felt about Raoul being outside all night, but it seemed an appropriate way to remind him that violence mixed with liquor would not be tolerated around us, especially after his outburst the night before. I raised my own fingers to my bruise, sensing that it had grown tender where the lump was.

I could almost feel Erik's fingers caressing my temple as I tested it myself. He had shown me so much doctoring compassion today that I felt as if he might have actually been a doctor at one point in his life. Knowing how preposterous that sounded kept my mind in reality. My eyes wandered to the mirror on the wall that was there only for my use. Erik hardly ever looked in any mirror, regardless of whether he had his mask on or not. I looked exceptionally drained and ill that night, most likely from the past two days' events, however I still felt as if through all of that, nothing should have changed, minus the bruise.

Through the corner of my eye, I saw a light disappear and I looked out the window again to see a dark figure hustling back to the house. Knowing that Erik was on his way both put my mind at ease and made me anxious. I wanted him to be with me more than anything, but after having just noticed how terrible I looked in the mirror, I felt as if perhaps I should hide from him. I thought for a moment about going to the bathroom and drawing myself a bath, but then changed my mind when I heard his footsteps approaching.

He opened the door and elegantly walked through, taking his dripping black cape off as he walked. My eyes were instantly drawn to him as he smoothed his hair with his fingers and adjusted his mask. He turned to me slowly, the elegance in his movement making my heart melt on the spot. My body seemed drawn to him too as I got up and walked over to where he stood. As my body got nearer to his, I watched his mouth open on a breath and then close, his eyes dropping to my mouth as he did so.

I felt my mouth form a smirk as I looked into his eyes and watched their color change to a more darkened gold. I marveled at the effect I had upon him. Even though we both had so many things on our minds, I could make his thoughts change to only those of me in a mere moment.

"Gabrielle…" He whispered, covering my shoulders with his hands. "If you wish to speak about what happened, I suggest you quit this sweet torment of yours so I am not distracted…"

"Erik," I purred back at him, grabbing his arm with my hand and pulling it around my back, resting his hand on my waist, "Last night was one of the most frightening nights of my life…and then again, tonight when I saw that oh so familiar look in Raoul's eyes…a look that was reminiscent of Christophe…I felt so vulnerable…so helpless…" I said, trailing my fingers down Erik's fully clothed chest, only occasionally looking him in the eyes. When I did indeed meet his eyes, I saw a longing within his them that I knew all too well. I smiled at him before continuing, "I do not want to talk about it because I do not want to remember how it felt without you there to protect me…I do not know how I lived up until I met you…all I want now is to feel your arms around me…feel the strength of your body, just so I know that you are here…"

"I am here, never forget that." he said, his voice smooth and low. Absently, his hand moved to my forehead and I cringed as he accidentally encountered the bruise. He pulled his hand back immediately, as if my skin had burned him. "I swear, I will kill Raoul if he ever harms you again…and if he even comes near our children…" His entire expression turned hard, like the face of a marble statue.

"Hush now…I said I do not wish to talk about it…and you shouldn't either."

"I know…but it's my job to care for you all…"

"And so you have…I admire your bravery…when Raoul came after us tonight, you met him head on and without fear. You acted sensibly and I cannot help but feel proud of your ability to protect us all so effectively."

He raised his hands to my face once more, this time being careful of the bruise. "I love you…" he murmured, a dazed look overcoming his features.

I smiled, "I love you too…" His lips met mine within a second. The kiss was hot and heavy, all the emotion of the last two days had built up to this moment. He pulled his mouth off of mine but instead began kissing my neck and shoulders.

"Gabrielle…" The name was a soft moan against my skin.

"Erik…" I responded, losing myself within the hot coiling feeling that was beginning to form in my stomach. He drew back gently, looking me in the eyes. "Need any more proof that I am not going anywhere?" he teased.

I couldn't help but laugh. "And if I said I did?" I teased back, hoping that he would take the hint and kiss me again.

"Ah…well then…I suppose I would have to show you once more, just how much I love you…" My body shuddered slightly as I remembered him saying the same phrase on our wedding night. I closed my eyes and remembered how simple and carefree that night had been. Everything had been perfect and although I did not regret any of our own actions taken since that day, I did miss the simplicity of that night. Erik must have sensed the change in me, and he stopped to give me a concerned look. "Is everything alright?"

"I was just remembering our wedding night…and how simple and carefree it was back then…"

"Nothing in our lives has ever been simple or carefree…" He grumbled.

"That night was…"

"Yes well…that is because the entire world had stopped for one moment, to allow us one blissful evening together…without worry or regret…"

"And do you think the world will grant us such an evening ever again?"

"I should hope so…" He said thoughtfully, as he took my hand and led me over to the bed. "I think that perhaps when the entire ordeal with Raoul is solved we may live in peace…"

"You really think so?" I said skeptically as I stood next to him. He raised his hands to my face, softly running his fingers along my cheek.

"When I am with you…anything is possible…you taught me that long ago…"

Without warning his arms came around my back and he began unbuttoning my dress. The sensation of his long elegant fingers and strong hands working down the hooks on my back at that slow, drugging pace, made my body shiver with delight before relaxing. I held my breath as his hands followed the dress down off my shoulders and around my waist, until it pooled around my ankles. He stilled for a moment and looked me in the eyes before his hands came up to the bottom of my corset. His hands were slow and steady as he worked on pulling the laces out of their slits, one by one. The corset soon fell to the floor, landing on top of the dress, leaving me only in my chemise and pantalets. I was suddenly very aware of his hot gaze upon my flesh, searing through the thin material of my chemise. A primal thrill coiled within my stomach, making my mouth go dry. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard as he ran the back of his fingers along my stomach and around to rest on my back. He turned his hands so that the palms were against my lower back and pulled me flush against him. There was a sudden shot of pain in my lower stomach, but I ignored it as I smiled up at him, ignoring the pain so that I could continue to concentrate on Erik. He grinned back down before I felt his hands wander to the bottom of my chemise and gather it up, ready to pull it over my head.

It was then that I took hold of his wrists with my hands. He stilled on command and allowed me to begin removing his many layers of clothes. I began by unbuttoning his black waistcoat, which was still soaking wet. Funny that I hadn't noticed that before when I was leaning up against him. I took the coat off of him as he had taken my dress of off me, taking to heart the tempo he had previously set. I left his side for a moment to place the coat on a chair in front of the small woodstove that sat in the corner of our room. Walking seemed extremely painful, but I didn't want to let him know I was hurt and so I ignored it and continued to pretend all was well. I turned to go back to him only to find him a step away from me, looking at me as if I were the last woman on earth. I laughed, my teeth grinding away the pain secretively. He then took my wrist and pulled me against him once more.

"Now now…You had your turn…plus, if I don't get you out of these soaking clothes soon, you could catch your death!" I said, attempting to sound as serious and composed as possible, but given how he was looking at me, I had no idea if composure was something I could forge.

He moved in even closer, his mouth no more than an inch from mine. "Well then," he whispered against my mouth, "You better move quickly…I would hate to die and leave you behind…" I stilled as the mist created by our intimacy vanished like a morning fog.

"Don't say that…" I said, my voice shaking, as I pushed him back from me. The image of him being consumed by flames replayed itself before my very eyes. I shuddered and brought my arms up to embrace my suddenly cold as well as pained stomach.

"What?" He looked at me with concern.

"Never say anything about dying and leaving me behind! It scares me more than anything…"

I heard his sharp intake of breath. "Gabby…" He cooed, his hand wrapping around my shoulder with slight pressure in an attempt to turn me to him. I complied after a moments hesitation, but would not meet his gaze. I continued to stare at a spot on the floor as I felt his hands grab hold of each of mine. He held them for a moment and I felt his regard as he noticed the fact that they were shaking uncontrollably. "Oh my love…" he sighed, placing a kiss on each of them before placing them on his undercoat. The feel of his heart beating steadily underneath his chest made me finally meet his gaze. He stepped closer, closing the gab between our bodies and my hands immediately clutched onto the edge of his coat. As his body hit mine, another jolt of pain stabbed at my stomach. I winced but the senstaion of his hand coming up to my neck and stroking my collarbone and jaw line allowed me to overlook the pain, which, I had to unfortunately admit, was growing at an astounding pace.

The only response I could manage with him so close to me was a gasp. Subconsciously I spoke aloud, "So many years together…and your touch still takes my very breath away…"

"I should hope so…I work quite hard at it…" he joked.

"Yes, I can see the labors you endure to be this attractive are quite tiring indeed…" I said sarcastically, immediately won over by his light and seductive tone. He smiled at me mischievously and I made to swat at his chin. Enjoying the beginnings of a game, he dodged my hand but instead gabbed hold of my hip. The minute his hand came into contact with the tender spot on my stomach, I let out a yelp and staggered backwards. He stopped and stared at me for a moment before quickly closing the distance between us. I swallowed hard, still clutching the sore spot on my lower stomach and watched as his hands gathered up the bottom of my chemise. He pulled it up to my belly button and placed his hand on the area where he had touched me a moment before. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction to the pathetic strip of gauze that I had used to wrap around my stomach, hoping to lessen the pain where Raoul had kicked me. I had nearly forgot about that injury because of both my headache and the stress that occurred because of Raoul's new habit, but when I dressed that morning and found I had to struggle to endure securing the corset I was immediately reminded of receiving Raoul's boot in my side.

Erik's nimble hands unwound the cloth in only a minute and he gasped my name as he saw the large bruise there as well.

"Gabrielle…what on earth happened?"

"It is only part of the injuries I received a night ago…"

"Gabrielle…This is no normal bruise…I think you may have broken a rib…"

"That's not possible…I wouldn't be able to endure moving if I had…"

"But you were wearing your corset…"

"So… what does that have to do with anything?"

"It was most likely holding your rib cage in a supportive way…can you move well now that it is off?"

"Of course I can…because…as I told you before, I haven't broken anyth-" I then made to go to the bed, but immediately doubled over with pain. I fell to my knees on the floor clutching my stomach, but even that movement made me feel ill. No position seemed to stop the horrific pain I felt roaring within me. My heart beat furiously in my ears, drowning out all other sounds within the room. I closed my eyes and found myself wondering if this is what death feels like. The pounding in my ears lessened somewhat and I could hear Erik's voice cutting through the fog in my head from the pain.

"Gabrielle…Lie still!"

"Erik…help me!" I managed to squeak out. I had just noticed as I said that, that he had kneeling beside me the entire time. "Erik…please…It hurts…It hurts so badly…"

"I know my love…Lie still…I have to figure out what to do…" he said, squeezing my hand firmly.

"Please…get help…I need help! ERIK!" I gasped in breath between each word.

"Alright…lie still…I will be right back." He began to get up but I wouldn't let go of his wrist. Holding on to him only added to my pain, but I was desperate.

"Erik! Don't leave me! Please, don't leave me!" I moaned.

"Gabrielle…I have to go get help…a surgeon or a doctor, or something! I cannot heal you myself…" he reasoned.

"Erik, we cannot bring doctors or surgeons into this household…but, dear lord…it hurts so badly…Erik…you must do something…Fix it Erik!" I was nearly screaming now.

He stared at me with horror in his eyes. "What are you asking of me?"

"Make this horrific pain end…I would rather have you cutting me open than any other man in this world! I trust no one but you…Make this pain end, Erik! I know you can!" I panted.

"Gabrielle…"

"No Erik! Now! I need you now more than ever!"