Author's Note: I'm sorry for allowing this story to go for so long without updating…life has given me a lot of changes and challenges…one of the best changes was a I had a daughter 18 months ago, so that and being a full time cosmetologist and single mommy doesn't leave for much time to write or even think about it, but hey, hopefully now things will change and give me more time. I thought about my stories last night and started reading them and decided that I wanted to write more. So we'll see what turns up but all day today at work I kept thinking of ideas for this story and I think I found a good one to stick to. So…on to it!

Chapter 15- Truly A Woman

6 weeks had passed since Christine's escape. And even though she was back at home in Nice with her husband, she still waited each day for a letter from Raoul, but one never came. But at the same time, she did not anxiously wait for Erik to become more ill and die. She knew that if that happened, a part of her would die. Her thoughts were so conflicted as each day passed that it made her physically exhausted and ill.

For the third morning in a row, Christine sat in front of the toilet, ill as can be and she couldn't stand it. Something was definitely wrong and Erik was beginning to notice as she dragged herself off the floor and through the bathroom right back into bed.

"Ok, that's it, I have had enough, something is definitely wrong with you, I am going to send for the doctor to come out and have a look at you right away." Erik said standing over the bed looking down at his wife worriedly. Christine closed her eyes to block out the light and slowly nodded her head. At this point, she could care less if he told her that the house was burning down she felt so horrible. She rolled over on her side, pulled the blankets up over top of her and snuggled into the enormous pillows, drifting back to sleep.

Erik paced downstairs waiting for the doctor. He didn't know what was taking so long for the man to get there, Madeleine had been back for over an hour.

"Did you tell him it was urgent?" Erik asked her for the millionth time.

"Yes sir." Madeleine answered.

"What the hell is taking him so long? This is absolutely ridiculous!" Finally there was a knock on the door and Erik marched down the hall sending echoes off the walls with his heavy boots.

"Good afternoon, Monsieur, you called for me?" The doctor said cheerily standing on the front step. Erik clenched his fists to his sides, trying to resist his temper.

"Yes, it's my wife, she has been terribly ill the last few days and I can't even get her to get out of bed and eat something." Erik explained. The doctor stepped in and closed the door behind him.

"Well, please, take me to where I can examine her." Both men walked up the stairs and down the hall to Christine and Erik's bedroom. Erik politely knocked on the door softly and opened it up to see Christine sound asleep in bed.

"Christine…" Erik said softly trying to wake her up. She slowly stirred and looked up to see the doctor standing alongside her husband.

"What is going on?" She asked sleepily.

"My dear, I called for the doctor to come examine you. You have been terribly ill these last few days and I am very worried about you. Please just comply with the doctor and let him do what he needs to do to make you feel better." Christine stared at him for a moment and nodded her head.

"Sir, I'll have to ask you to leave." The doctor said looking at Erik. Erik nodded his head as well leaving the bedroom and shutting the door. He stood out in the hall, he was genuinely worried. What could be wrong with his dear, sweet Christine? He paced back and forth and even tried to listen through the door, but alas he was only human and if they were whispering or talking very low, he couldn't hear anything.

Finally the door opened and the doctor came out. Erik rushed down the hall at him and anxiously asked,

"What is it sir? Should I be worried? Is Christine ok?" The doctor chuckled and said,

"Do not worry, her illness is something very simple and will be treated in about 6 months."

"What do you mean 6 months? Is she going to be this ill for 6 months? My God she will die!"

"No, no, nothing like that and I hope she won't be like this for 6 months. It's very simple, he illness is a simple case of pregnancy." Erik stared at him in shock, mouth open and eyes wide. He was speechless, he didn't know what to say and the doctor smiled at him and said,

"Good day, see you in about 6 months." After the doctor walked down the stairs Erik finally answered

"Thank you." quietly, he opened the door to their bedroom to see his lovely wife. Christine was sitting up in bed, reclined on the pillows and reading a book. She looked radiant, not at all like she looked about a half hour ago.

"Erik, come sit next to me." She said patting the bed beside her. Erik came over and sat down beside her.

"Oh this is so overwhelming." He said quietly.

"I know, but I am so excited, this is the best day of my entire life. Erik, I am going to have a baby, our baby, that we made together." Erik sat surprised at what Christine was saying. For the first time since he had known her, she sounded like a grown woman. Not at all like the innocent child she once was, but a grown woman.

"I hate to sound horrible, but I didn't think that you would be excited because it was my baby growing inside of you." Erik said childishly. Christine feeling so motherly and lovely at this moment reached over and stroked his hair.

"You are my husband and I am meant to have children with you. I do love you Erik, now more than you will ever know. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have this baby that we are going to have." and with those words, like a child, Erik laid his head in Christine's lap, wrapping his arms around her waist while she sank her face into his hair. She kept quiet while he sobbed with joy.