MADDIE

Erik Raoul was eight pounds when he was born and I began to cry the second he touched me. Charles would never let me live it down, but I didn't care because he was the sweetest thing I had ever held. The first few weeks were trying, to say the least. I believe I got maybe two hours of sleep per night. Charles however, woke right up with me as I fed him and rocked with him. He was so overjoyed to be a father he didn't know what to do with himself. Sometimes during the day, when he would be working on a design, he would call me into the room and pretend like he needed something. As soon as I walked in with the baby, he was cradling him and talking to him. I could only laugh at him, grateful that he was so thrilled. Everything about our baby was Charles. His eyes, his hair, his lips. He was beautiful.

One night when Erik Raoul was around one month old, I woke up in the middle of the night after a long day. The baby hadn't been feeling well and I was exhausted because I had been up all night the night before and all day long. Charles had been at the new office for C & E Associates with Erik all day pulling together the books and some new architects. Dad finally took the baby from me at around eight o'clock that night and told me to go to bed. Actually…he sort of ordered me to since I had begun to protest. I woke up alone in the bed and began to worry fiercely about Charles, thinking he wasn't home yet. Oh dear God…please let him be alright…I prayed, visions of Charles's grandfather dying running through my head. I got up and went to check in the cradle which was also empty.

I began to panic as I threw on my robe and ran down the stairs into the sitting room where I could see the faint glow of a dying fire illuminating the room. I walked in, trying to control the beating of my heart to find Charles asleep on the couch with the baby on his chest, also sleeping. He'd thrown his suit coat over the armchair and his tie was undone. He had a content little smile on his face, his wedding ring gleaming as he held the baby's back. I knelt beside the couch, calming down and sighing in relief as I kissed him on the cheek and smoothed my baby's wild black hair down. I ran my hand gently through Charles's dark curls and whispered,

"Charles…" His eyes fluttered open as he turned his head to look at me.

"Maddie…" He said, smiling when he realized it was me, "What time is it?" He asked and I looked back at the grandfather clock in the room.

"It's two o'clock in the morning…why don't you come to bed?" I asked, carefully taking Erik Raoul from him as he sat up.

"I walked in and Dad was trying to get him to stop crying so I took him. He said you were asleep thank God. He seems to be alright now though…" He said, kissing the baby's head as he slept soundly against my chest.

"He'll be fine… I said, adjusting him in my arms. Charles picked up his suit coat and put his arm around me, guiding me up the stairs tiredly. I set the baby in his cradle and crawled back into our bed sinking into the pillows. Charles quickly undressed and just as I was nearly asleep he kissed my shoulder.

"Maddie…" He said and my eyes opened as I turned to look at him.

"What is it?" I asked and he smiled, touching my hair.

"I want to have a little girl…" He said and I nearly choked.

"Now? Charles! I haven't even lost the weight I gained with little Erik yet!" I laughed and he shook his head, kissing my nose.

"No silly girl…when he's a little older." He said and I giggled.
"Why the sudden urge for a daughter?" I asked, laying my head on his bare chest. He held my hand.

"So I can spoil her the way I spoil you." He said and I laughed again. He did love to spoil me. I finally had my own wardrobe of mostly new dresses.

"Well, we can work on her after Erik turns one…" I said and he nodded.

"No rush love…I was just telling you that I am ready for a daughter…so it doesn't matter what the next one is." He chuckled, going between a sigh and a yawn.

"Your birthday is in a month Charles…we've known each other for almost a year." I said, draping my leg over his. He took a deep breath and I knew he was becoming aroused. It had been nearly a week since we had last made love with him so busy at the new office and me tied up with the baby. He pulled me up to him for a kiss and sighed against my lips.

"You know Maddie, I don't have to be at work tomorrow morning…it's Saturday…" He said sliding his hand to my hip. I smirked.

"Good darling, then you can get up with your son and I'll just go to sleep…" I said, teasingly pulling away from him, but he held my forearms and pulled me back to him, crushing his lips passionately to mine and soon I was panting right along with him.

"You're not going anywhere woman..." He said huskily, ripping the chemise off of me and flipping me under him.

"Oh my love...I have missed you this week." He said with his lips to my neck. I simply replied with a small squeak as he moved his hands gently.

"Charles..." I said softly and he silenced me with his lips, his beautiful full lips.

"I'm here Maddie..." He said and took me, sending us both into euphoric bliss. We pulled apart eventually about an hour later.

"Good God Charles...I'd hate to see you after a month without making love!" I gasped, pulling the covers over myself and his waist. He tiredly wrapped his arm around me and chuckled.

"I can never get enough of you Madeleine." He said, kissing my forehead as a shrill cry filled the room. I sighed, but Charles got up, pulling his robe on.

He picked the baby up as he cried angrily. I knew that cry, it was his hungry cry. I held my arms out.

"Come here..." I said softly, taking him from Charles. He fed eagerly falling asleep during the feeding. I handed him back to his father's waiting arms once he was done and laid down beside Charles, who held him securely on his chest as he had earlier. The baby slept easily on his sturdy chest, his little hands balled up into fists as he breathed slowly and evenly.

"What do you say Erik Raoul? Would you like a little sister too?" He asked and pretended to listen for a response.

"See? The decision is unanimous!" He said and I laughed.

"Not right now Charles...I'm just beginning to remember the way my body was." I said, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes. I could almost feel him grin.

"Whenever you are ready my sweet..." He said innocently.

"Oh but you are evil Charles Gerard..." I giggled.

The next morning, I left little Erik with his father and grandfathers, going out for my first day out since he was born. I was having lunch with Deirdre, Camille and Rosaline and Deirdre's house. Genevieve was a bit young and her mother said that she should stay home.

"I think Gabriel is going to propose soon." Camille said shyly and Rosaline laughed.

"Mother will shoot him in the foot...not to mention Daddy...they still say you're too young to marry." She said and Camille stuck her tongue out at her.

"I am seventeen years old. One year older than Mother was when she and Daddy married. And you are only nineteen Rosie and you are married!" She said defiantly. I looked over at Deirdre who shrugged, patting her six months pregnant belly. She suppressed a giggle.

"So, Maddie, how is the baby?" Rosaline asked me and I nodded.

"He's adorable...perfect really and Charles is just so wonderful with him...I would have never thought he would be such an attentive father." I said and Deirdre nodded.

"With any luck, Daniel will be the same way." She said and Camille nodded.

"Oh, he will...Dan waited to marry you since he was thirteen, God knows how long he has been thinking about you carrying his children." She said and Rosaline nodded knowingly.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" I asked my best friend who nodded.

"Well, we know for sure if it's a girl, she will be named Antoinette after Granny...but we aren't sure for a boy." She replied, sipping her tea. Camille giggled and piped up,

"Young Alex has been coming around our house a lot lately...I think he fancies Geni..." She said and Deirdre rolled her eyes.

"It's about time that idiot cared about something other than dirt and getting into trouble." She said thinking a moment before saying, "Or she laughs at his horrible jokes." Camille laughed.

"You're too hard on him Didi...he's a sweet boy and when he grows up your mother is going to have a real looker on her hands." I laughed out loud now, unable to imagine gangly Alex all grown up and handsome, but somehow I knew the day would come. I stood, seeing how fast the time had gone by.

"Well...I must get home. God knows what chaos those three men have caused!" I said laughed, pulling my cloak on. "Charles's birthday is soon...I can't believe a year went by so fast!" I said and Deirdre nodded.

"And to think, a year ago, you threw a bouquet of flowers in his face!" She said and I waved her off and said goodbye to my cousins before leaving.

I returned home to find Dad was in his study and Charles had run to the office. Erik was left alone with the baby, who was crying.

"Madeleine! Thank God you're home!" He said, looking up from the kitchen table. I laughed, he looked unkempt and disheveled, as if he had been to Hell and back.

"What seems to be the problem Erik?" I said, draping my cloak over a chair. He sighed.

"He's well...he's gone in his pants." He said and I threw my head back in amusement and laughed. Erik scowled.

"Well...it's not that funny..." He grumbled as I took the baby with one arm and his hand with the other.

"Come Grandpa...I am going to teach you how to change your grandson's diaper." I bit back a giggle.

I laid my baby on the changing table in my bedroom and removed his soiled cloth, wiping him down and pulling out a fresh one. I gently wrapped it on him and secured it with a pin.

"There," I said, sitting him up, "All better baby..." I kissed his dark curls and looked up at his grandfather, satisfied. He looked surprised and amused.

"That's all...?" He asked and I nodded, handing the baby back to him.

"Indeed...nothing to it..." I said, taking his arm and walking back down the stairs with him. "Tea?" I asked, moving to warm some water. He nodded as Charles came in the door.

"You're home already?" He asked, coming up behind me and kissing my neck. "Why don't we go upstairs and reprise last night my love?" He purred.

"Ahem." Erik cleared his throat and I laughed out loud.

"Later husband...patience is a virtue. Now sit and have some tea." I instructed as Charles flushed and took the baby from Erik, cuddling him gently.

"How is my baby boy?" He asked, kissing the baby's chubby cheeks. I smirked, looking at Erik.

"I just gave his grandfather a lesson in taking care of him..." I said and Charles laughed knowingly.

"It's a bit jarring at first I must admit. I remember the first time I fixed him about a day after he was born and I was mortified!" He cried as I set the tea in front of them.

"Yes darling...I remember." I said, sitting beside my husband. I leaned in for a kiss and Erik sighed, reaching and taking the baby back.

"You two...for the love of God go spend some time together!" He said and Charles looked surprised.

"What?" He asked and Erik chuckled.

"You've both hardly had time to steal a kiss much less spend a while together. Go...Erik Raoul and I will be fine. We'll go bother the crazy bastard upstairs!" He said looking at the baby, whose eyes were wide open. "Isn't that right Erik Raoul?" He asked and the baby yawned. I laughed.

"That's his way of saying yes I suppose..." I said as Charles took my hand and we headed for the stairs. He turned back to look at Erik.

"Thanks...Dad..." He said, looking confused and serious all at once, but still smiling. I may have imagined it, but I think I saw Erik smile too.

Sucks...I know...but there aren't many chapters left. I think there are four.

Syd