The months passed slowly and Christine never tried to broach the subject again. She mostly focused on how she ballooned outwards. She went from having a small bump to a good sized one.
She was thankful they had enough to afford proper clothing for her.
But she still wasn't pleased by how they'd gained it. She was even less pleased by the affect it was having on Erik.
There was some comfort in the fact that he was still able to enjoy her pregnancy with her to some extent. But it wasn't enough of a comfort. She'd heard the things that he'd whispered to their unborn child at night.
They were things that broke her heart and warmed it all at once. Things that she dearly wished to comfort him about but couldn't because she wasn't supposed to know.
It was nearing the end of her pregnancy and even she could tell. There was no way that she would be pregnant much longer. She wished for Erik to at least by nearby when she finally went into labor- but she was beginning to doubt he would be.
How could he be when he was always rushing off first thing in the morning and coming home later in the day? Especially when he was usually exhausted to the bone when he returned. She wouldn't feel right bothering him with such Information when he was in that state.
She wouldn't feel right because he already had so much on his mind and to worry about. It was her only job at the moment, after all.
Giry had fluctuated between being somewhat supportive and downright unhelpful. Sometimes Christine considered telling her that she didn't require her help. But she wouldn't.
She was broken out of her thoughts by a rapping at the doorframe. She nearly sighed when she realized that it was the very person she'd been thinking about. Was there a version of 'speak of the devil' that had to do with thoughts?
Maybe not. Perhaps there should be. Christine wouldn't turn down her help, but she could be as difficult as she wished. After all, she was with child. So she simply nodded at her in order to prompt her.
"I meant to tell you, but it must've slipped my mind. I finally managed to convince my daughter to come out with us. She is to be arriving today- so I am heading out towards the docks." Antoinette informed brusquely.
Christine knew very well that Antoinette had no intentions of ever telling her, but she was too excited by the prospect of seeing Meg again to really call her out on it.
"Please don't worry! Go ahead. I shall be fine." Christine chirped excitedly.
Antoinette blinked once or twice before nodding as she left. It was a relief that she didn't question her or double check.
It would've been oh so inconvenient if she had. For one, Meg wouldn't know where to go or how to find them. Not only that but she'd have to deal with the presence of someone that didn't actually give a shit.
She was alone for a few hours before she finally heard footsteps approaching the room. She propped herself up in the bed and made sure her curls at least looked presentable.
To her surprise, it wasn't just Meg that entered the room. She had another woman with her that she recognized as La Sorelli. Before she could question her, the other woman was throwing herself at her in a hug.
Christine giggled and returned the hug just as eagerly, letting it linger before they both pulled away.
"Careful. I am pregnant, after all. I'm delicate." Christine joked softly.
Meg rolled her eyes playfully and perched on the edge of the bed.
"Perhaps you were once, but I don't think so anymore. A delicate woman wouldn't have ran away with someone so dangerous." Meg mused, her tone equal parts playful and serious.
Christine flushed and muttered a quiet thanks. Her friend brushed it off and introduced her to the slightly older woman formally.
She soon learned that they were romantically involved. Perhaps it was wrong and unheard of to most - but she had no room to judge. It didn't seem wrong.
They seemed very happy.
In the end, that was all she cared about when it came to Meg. That Meg was finally happy.
Erik seemed to tolerate Meg and Sorelli, though he was much kinder to them than he was Antoinette. For that, Christine was thankful.
The only downsides were that he wore his mask more often and that he seemed more comfortable working longer hours now.
Perhaps it was because she had more pleasant company. She supposed that it didn't hurt the last couple of days.
She just wished he hadn't left this morning. For once, she'd been awake for hours before him. She couldn't be expected to sleep while dealing with what she assumed were labor pains.
But he apparently hadn't noticed. She couldn't fully blame him, though.
He was usually singleminded when he had to force himself to do something unpleasant or he was focused on something else. This was just more proof of that.
Christine tried to distract herself from them for as long as she could manage. Meg and Sorelli were excellent help with that more often than not.
They stayed with her, even when the night had begun and crawled by slowly. The pains were getting more intense and harder to conceal. They were also becoming closer together.
Meg finally figured it out and cradled her lightly, stroking her hair. She clung to her, using the affection as a means of anchoring herself to reality.
"Shall I find you a midwife? I'm sure you'll be pushing soon at this point." Sorelli offered hesitantly.
It was doubtful that she knew for sure, but it wouldn't have been hard for the woman to put two and two together.
Meg opened her mouth as if to agree, but Christine shook her head firmly. Her friend peered down at her in concern.
"Find Erik. I'm not having this baby with him gone." Christine huffed, muffling a grunt.
She rested her hand on her stomach, stroking it lightly as if that would help.
Sorelli nodded and rushed off to go do that.
"I'll have mother fetch a midwife, then. As much as you want him around- you and this baby are the first priority right now." Meg informed, letting go of her just long enough to accomplish her task.
Christine could see where she was coming from, but a small whine left her as she disappeared from sight.
She really didn't want to be alone right now.