Chapter 34 –

Elizabeth went back to the door and opened it to be nearly run over as the students rushed in. Erik was sitting up silently his face was expressionless. The students were unsure if they wanted to approach him but when no one else moved Caroline sprung forward and pulled him into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're alright Mr. Erik. We were all very worried for you!" One by one each of the students gave him a hug. Andrew stood back, and Erik noticed.

"Come here Andrew." He said calmly but Andrew knew he was serious. The boy edged forward, his father stiffened but he saw the look on Elizabeth's face and kept quiet.

"Sir, I'm sorry I didn't mean to go that close! I never would have wanted anything to happen to you or anyone else, it was all my fault and I promise I'll be more careful next time."

"Shhh." Erik smiled. "I'm fine, and it isn't your fault. The bank was just very unstable. I am fine and don't you ever blame yourself, it was not your fault. Whatever happened down at the river was nobody's fault and we should all just be grateful that nobody was seriously hurt. I'll be better in a few days and you are unharmed. We were lucky."

Andrew nodded. "But I'm still so…" Erik shook his head.

"No, not another apology." The boy nodded again.

A silence fell over the room and finally Christine got up the courage to approach the man in the bed. She stepped toward him and knelt down in front of his bed, her skirt falling gracefully around her. "I know that I'm sure you don't want to hear this from me, but thank you." She said barely over a whisper. "I have caused you so many troubles in your life and I cannot express how much I owe you for saving the most important thing in my life. You have no idea how much it means to me, thank you for saving him. Thank you….Erik." his name came out barely as a breath. He was the only one in the room who heard it.

Erik didn't reply for a second. "I know exactly what it means to you. I love my students as if they were my own. No matter whom their parents are I would give my life for them in a second." He didn't say it rudely, but Elizabeth knew how he felt. So many parents always assumed they were the only ones who loved their children. Elizabeth had always thought it, but never said it, she loved them more than life itself and she, just like Erik would do anything for them. She would never have said it, but she was glad he did. Christine didn't know how to reply to that, she knew he was not being kind, but she was too much a lady to call him on it. The room was silent for what seemed like hours.

Finally Elizabeth broke the silence, "As much as I'm sure you all want to stay, I need to send for the doctor and Erik needs his rest. You can all visit tomorrow when he is feeling better.

After twenty minutes the students were being accompanied by the de Changy's and David Bennet back to the school. David planned to see the doctor right afterward and bring him to see the patient.

"I am not your child to take care of Elizabeth." Erik said as soon as she returned to his room. "I assure you that I am able to tell when I can and cannot handle company."

"I know you are, and even when you aren't I know that you'd never admit it. Besides, I'd like to sit with you alone for a few minutes without being yelled at."

"I'm sorry about this morning, but you have to understand."

"I don't really understand but I accept that you need it. Is it uncomfortable right now, you can take it off when it is just you and I."

"I know, but I feel much more comfortable with it on." She smiled and approached his bed. She sat lightly next to him and he reached out to her and pulled her closer. She laid her head down on the pillow beside him. Her body molded perfectly up to his, she felt more comfortable and at home than she had in a long time. "I love you." He whispered into her ear as if reading her thoughts

"I love you too." She replied.

"Marry me." He added.

"I told you I would marry you before the accident." She smiled and snuggled as close to him as she could.

"Marry me as soon as I can get out of this bed."

"Really?" Her voice was barely over a whisper.

"Yes." He said simply smiling against the back of her neck. "Do you really think that my opinion of you would change just because of an accident."

"No….Well….I don't know….It's so hard to understand. Sometimes I just feel like I'm walking on eggshells and that everything is going to fall apart and you're going to realize you're making a mistake and that you won't want me anymore."

"Elizabeth, do you really think that I of all people would choose to leave you?"

"I know you wouldn't, but what if one day you woke up and finally noticed that you can do so much better than the life you have chosen for yourself. I know you love me and I know that you'd never intentionally hurt me, but I am just a small town schoolteacher who should be destined for spinsterhood, and I just am afraid that you will know that someday, and..."

"Shhh! You be quiet. You have never been destined for spinsterhood, you are a very beautiful..." He kissed the side of her neck. "Talented..." He kissed her jawline. "Amazing woman." He turned her head and kissed her on the lips. He could feel her smile under his lips and he took the chance to slip his tongue between her lips and she rolled to face him giving him better access.

"I've missed you." She whispered as he began to kiss down her neck.

As he got to the edge of her dress and began to pull the material back a little farther there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth jumped back as fast as possible and tried to fix her dress and her hair. "Come..." Her voice faltered slightly.

"Come in." Erik said in a much calmer voice, Elizabeth could hardly believe that he was so composed after that moment.

"Hello Sir, good to see you awake." It was the doctor followed by Elizabeth's sister-in-law.

"Hello doctor." Elizabeth said smiling, and Erik just nodded at the man. "I'll go outside while you work." She went to the door and followed Jane outside.

"Are you alright Elizabeth?" Jane asked. "You look...flushed."

"uhh, well I'm fine..."

"I'm sure you are." The older woman smiled and turned in the other direction and headed down the hallway.

Elizabeth paced the hall as she waited for the doctor to leave. When he did he shook his head at Elizabeth. "That is the most unreasonable..."

"Believe me, he's the worst." Elizabeth replied. "Is he alright though?"

"I am pretty sure your..uh...your friend, he'll be fine." The doctor replied.

"Thank you for everything. Can I go in to see him?"

"Go ahead Miss Bennet." She went into the room as the doctor went down the staircase.

"I despise doctors." Erik said as soon as she closed the door behind her.

"I know, but I wanted the best care for you." She replied as she sat down and put her hand on Erik's stomach. She began to run her fingers over the muscles beneath his nightclothes.

"Elizabeth you are amazing." He watched the smile spread across her face. "The doctor says I can get out of bed tonight if I'd like."

"We are not getting married tonight Erik." Elizabeth replied.

"You are terrible woman."

"I go from amazing to terrible?"

"Yes, because you are going to make me wait to have you."

"Have me? You could have had me that night back in..."

"Don't remind me of that night, I'm fairly positive that I made a serious lack of judgment that night." Elizabeth laughed.

"That is terrible on your part is it not monsieur?" Elizabeth teased. She got up from the bed and locked the door. "We would not want to make the same mistake today though, would we?"

"No, we wouldn't." Erik replied as his fiance approached him again.