Chapter 15.
Return of the princesses and the duke awakes
Elijah groaned and slowly opened his eyes to the darkened room around him. He felt weak and as though his arm was trapped. He raised his head a little and a weak smile crossed his face as he saw that his arm was indeed trapped, under the body of Alana. His hand pressed against her rounding stomach. He stroked his thumb against her bump and he felt her stir. She rolled over and snuggled once more into him, her cheek laying gently against his chest.
"Alana?" He asked her softly, his voice hoarse from lack of hydration.
She stirred once more and this time opened her eyes. She smiled at him. "You're awake."
"I am. How long..." He didn't want to ask it, but she smiled anyway and answered the unspoken question.
"3 weeks." Elijah groaned and closed his eyes briefly. Then opened them and looked her in the eye. His hand returned to her stomach.
"3 months, in case you wonder, cheri." Alana laughed gently and placed her hand against his cheek. "J'adore toi, Elijah."
"I love you too." He said and kissed her tenderly. When they broke apart, Alana handed him a blood bag and he looked at her.
"You need it. Drink." Elijah paused and Alana shot him, "what now?" Look. "What?"
"I don't like drinking in front of you..." He began and Alana huffed.
"I have never been bothered by it, Elijah. Nor do I intend to be now. Drink." Elijah sighed and put the bag to his fangs. He drank, but only because his wife had insisted he did. He continued to feed every hour on the hour for three more days, before he was once more himself. On the third day he received a phone call and he rushed to aid the caller.
Rebekah met Elijah with Hope at the roadside Cafe. She tensed when she saw the young woman with him, that wasn't Hayley. Definitely not. She hugged Hope closer to her. Elijah spotted her and rose from his seat. The young woman followed.
"Elijah." Rebekah said and hugged him as he wrapped his arms around them both.
"Rebekah, my dear sister. Hello, young lady. Come to uncle Elijah." He gestured to Hope who had opened her eyes and was reaching for him. Rebekah handed him the child. He held her close, protectively she noticed.
"She's lovely, Elijah." The young woman said in accented English from behind Elijah and Rebekah readied herself to jump between them. Elijah noticed.
"Sister, this is my wife, Alana. Alana, my little sister Rebekah... And this little angel, is Hope." He turned Hope to look at Alana and nodded. Alana moved forward and stroked the head of the child, subconsciously placing a hand against her own stomach, thinking of her own child. She was amazed by how much Hope looked like both Hayley and Niklaus.
The princesses had returned to the royal court.