Jane opened her eyes for the hundredth time, still not asleep, and still not able to settle her mind.

Hours had passed. Long, agonising hours of silence had passed without the prospect of Edward coming through the bedroom door, slipping into bed silently, and falling asleep. She was no longer looking for any grand apology, and certainly wanted no dramatic scene. Jane did not even care anymore if they did not talk tonight, but she could not handle the thought that he was somewhere else in the house, probably thinking ill of her and of how she had acted.

Still, Jane knew she had done nothing wrong, and she was not willing to leave her room and go in search of him just to ease her own mind. Perhaps her yelling and her tone with which she spoke to him was wrong, and perhaps her unreasonable wish to ignore anything he said was unkind, but she was not wrong to be angry and hurt. Images of Franklin flashed across her mind and anger flooded her system as she was reminded of being pushed into her home like a child, locked away for doing something naughty. Did she not have a right to face him? To not appear to be afraid of him? To not give him power over her?

More time passed, and Jane finally admitted to herself that she was not going to fall asleep while so many thoughts and feelings ran through her mind. She got out of bed, and moved over to the fire, which was now reduced to only embers and ash. She took some wood from the box beside the hearth and threw in two pieces which caught immediately. A fire blazed once again, and the sight, smell, and warmth of it momentarily took away her negative thoughts.

Jane's hands found her baby bump as they so often did these days and smoothed her stomach thoughtlessly. For the first time a terrible thought occurred to her. Was this the way it would be for their child now? It's mother and father fighting? Perhaps not be all of the time, but enough of the timet to make it a trait which defined their family life. Jane starred into the fire unseeingly, wrapping her blanket closer around herself.

Was this what marriage is reduced to in the end? If so, she did not want to fathom the future for much long. Could it really be true that understanding, patient love only last so long? Did every marriage have a clock set on when the sense of partnership expires? Had they reached that point? Jane and the man she loved in the same way she loved herself.

It was absurd, jumping to these extreme conclusions over one fight, but in truth, Jane was not used to the unfamiliar feeling the fight left her with. They generally did not fight, and they had never remained mad at each other for this long. Never had Jane gotten into bed angry and been unsure whether or not her husband would shake her away during the night to talk. He always had.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Some time before the sun rose, there was the lightest touch on the door and it opened. Directly from the door you could see the bed, but not the fireplace which was off to the left hand side. Edward, in seeing that Jane was not in bed, stepped quickly into the room. When his eyes located her, he could see that she looked worn, weary and unhappy. She was wrapped in his old, large and warm robe which still engulfed her, despite her now being triple her normal size, curled up in her characteristic armchair.

Jane turned to face him and so he could see her eyes were slightly red, and practically brimming with tears, though she had not been crying.

"Where have you been?" she asked, slightly defensively. Tears had risen to her eyes upon hearing the door creak open.

"My study" he responded, gravely.

When she did not object to him moving beside her, he sat down in his armchair- not taking his eyes of of her.

"You've gotten no sleep either" Jane commented slowly, grabbing his chin and moving his face gently, "Your eyes have quite dark circles"

He nodded, but he did not really care what he looked like. What he looked like was surely secondary to what he felt.

"Edward, we do not need to talk right now" Jane stated, defeated. "We can just sleep until tomorrow, and talk then"

He paused, "Is that what you would like to do?"

"No, not really" she replied, softly.

Again, silence fell between the two, but neither had a particular desire to fill it quickly. They knew each other too well and too long now to mistake the silence for anything else besides what it was. Jane knew that if she spoke she would be asked to fall silent again, for the blame of this fight was with him and he knew that. Her speaking first, trying to heal the wound, only would have hurt more. So she looked at him, surveying his face.

"Don't Jane" he said, "Stop looking at me in that way"

"I look at you. It is in no particular way"

He moved his fingers back and forth over his knuckles, already clearly focusing on another thought. He sighed, closing his eyes before he spoke. His voice was low, and constricted.

"I came up here so that you could sleep. I did not come because I knew what to say to you, or how to say it"

"Well seeing as you are here now, I suggest you try"

"Try?" he asked, his voice rising, "Try? Try to tell my wife how sorry I am for her being tormented and haunted by a memory of violence that I have made her too weary of speaking to me about? Try to reconcile that in my own mind? Try to find words that cannot come close to encapsulating how sorry that makes me feel? I know it is outside of your depths to know what such a thing could feel like Jane, but it is not for me"

"Edward-"

"No, Jane. I do not need your sympathy and comfort-"

"Excuse me" Jane commanded, firmly but not unkindly. "but you were wrong to assume I was trying to give you either of those things. Edward, I trust you. I trust you above everything else. I will listen as many times as you want me to hear your words, until they are right. But please, put me out of my misery, for I cannot reside in my world happily when you are angry with me".

"Jane I'm not-" he began, slightly surprised, but he cut himself off and sighed. "Jane, I am not angry with you. For Christ's sake, you are everything to me. All of this was my fault. And I am only ashamed with myself that I hurt you".

He reached for her hand, surely seeking the comfort he often did when he took her hand before saying something that was difficult. He did this without thinking and looked surprised that she did not pull away. The feel of his hand was warm and familiar.

"Please, forgive me" he said, his voice raw and honest. "Forgive me for treating you like less than you are. Forgive me from trying to shelter you from your own experience. And forgive me, above all, for not being a husband to you when you needed me most, and for leaving you to carry a burden that was not yours to begin with, and certainly not yours to walk with alone".

Jane looked at him, and her heart seemed to close over as if the two broken pieces were pulled back together with magnets and sealed instantly.

"Jane I, I tried so much to shelter you from Franklin because I was the reason in the first place he attacked you, and I could not bare the thought of that happening again in my presence. Such a reason was selfish, and I'm sorry. I know that before we meet, and certainly before we married, you possessed all the strength you hold now, and you moved through the world without me, and you did not need me to be your protector. But I am your husband, and it is in my nature to be protective of the things I love".

"But I do need you" Jane interjected, "I need you now more than ever, because I have woven you into my life as my partner. I did not know what that was before I meet you, but now I need it."

"Then forgive me, please. For I did not treat you as my equal, my partner. I treated you far less"

"Forgiven" she said, simply, allowing her thumb to caress the hands which remained entwined with one another.

"And that is all?" he asked, "I am simply forgiven?"

Jane nodded, "There is nothing to forgive. The punishment you would place on yourself is far more severe than anything I could impart onto you. I know that you felt your actions were wrong as soon as you did them. I just needed to hear it- I do not want to torture you, and I do not want to fight"

Edward pulled Jane gently onto her feet and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him and kissing her temple, his eyes closed. Jane moved into his frame, wrapping her arms around him in an intimate hug.

"My darling I am so sorry"

"I know you are" she said, moving into him closer. He smiled at his action, kissing her neck. His arms were strong, and protective, and Jane could not deny how much she loved him in that moment. As much as he owed her the apology he gave, she had become increasingly aware of how few men would have actually apologised to their wives. He had never done things the conventional way, he had done what was best for their marriage, and that meant everything to her.

. . .

Jane got into bed as Edward undressed and washed his face. Finding a comfortable way to sleep was becoming harder and harder, and she spent much of her time now in bed trying to locate that spot. Edward was already in bed beside her, eyes closed, when she was still tossing and turning.

"I think I'm too warm" Jane said, pulling herself into a seated position with some effort.

Edward looked at her before closing his eyes again.

"Then don't wear your nightdress" he said, simply.

Jane pulled it off over her head and felt instantly better. She wished she could remain like this, outside of the blankets the whole night, with just the breeze from the window touching her body. But then Jane thought again, and perhaps felt the opposite? Now the breeze was too cold, and she could feel goose pimples coming out over her arms. She lay back in bed, covering herself up in the blankets. But she did not heat up, she remained cold, and now her joints and bones ached with it.

"Now I am cold" Jane said to her husband, as if it was his fault for suggesting to remove the nightgown. "And I have thrown my nightgown away"

He grinned without opening his eyes, opening his arms to her.

"Well, luckily for you, I am very warm"

Jane wasted no time in cuddling into his side. He was right.

Silence fell over them as Jane looked over her husbands shoulder towards the window. The sun was just starting to rise now, and Jane wished she would have the strength to stay awake and watch it. Dawn was far better than dusk, in her opinion.

Jane felt Edwards hand in the small of her back, massaging it lightly. This sign of affection made he want to bury her face into his chest.

"Jane" he said, softly, perhaps wondering if she was still awake.

"Mhm?"

"Tomorrow, if you like, I want to hear what you thought you could not tell me before of Franklin. If indeed your mind is burdened, and your heart is heavy, let me take that from you. Let it be mine to carry- not yours alone"

"I should like that very much" Jane said, pulling back to look at her husband, "But you're right, tomorrow. For I am too tired now"

Edward bent down and kissed Jane's large stomach, placing his hands on her intimately.

"I am sorry little one, for keeping your mother awake. I love her, very very much".

Jane smiled at the stark contrast of his masculinity and his gentle, loving touch. She pulled him up to her face and was soon kissing him as she had wished to do all day.

Need, and desire, and want and love all rushed through Jane like a broken damn, and she did not feel tired any longer. The day had caused her so much stress and worry, and the one thing she counted on to help her through it was her husband, but after avoiding his gaze all day, and staying up all night waiting for him to return, his renewed presence made her heart soar. Surely there was never a woman alive who loved her husband as much as she loved hers. But it had stopped as suddenly as it has started and Jane could not help herself from letting out a disappointed moan. Edward looked at her with an mixed expression of being unsatisfied and slightly apologetic as he leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead.

This did not subdue the panging in Jane's stomach or chest.

Her expression must have given away her thoughts for Edward sighed and caressed her cheek.

"I dare not do more, my love. You will think I am trying- what was the word you used? Apologetic lovemaking. I do not wish to fight in order to make love to you afterwards. Besides, you should sleep, look at the rising sun"

"Mmm" Jane said softly, thinking.

Edward looked unsettled as he observed the disappointment on Jane's face before he broke into a knowing, radiant smile. He bit his bottom lip and turned back to Jane, moving a curl away from her face.

"Where is my beautiful wife who tells me what she wants?" he asked, moving her arms above her head and pinning them there as he teasingly brushed his lips against hers. This sent shudders through Jane, the flame once again burning within her and threatening to overtake her without her consent.

"Edward?"

She beamed, and could not help herself.

"Yes Jane?"

"I would like you to do whatever you want with me"

He raised his eyebrow at her,

"Would you indeed. This is indeed a dangerous proposition?"

"Yes"

He moved over her more closely now, speaking quite low.

"Then, I would like you to remain very quiet, and very still"

"No" Jane protested, trying to sit up. "No, this is not about torturing me. This is about you making up this day to me"

"Ah so this is apologetic sex then"

Jane looked disapprovingly at him, but could not help the small smile that crept over her face.

"You must be quiet, Jane Rochester..." he began, kissing her neck sensually" ..because we have guests staying in the very next room and your usual cries of pleasure are sure to rouse them from sleep and they will think some wild beast has climbed through the window and savaged you"

"I'm sure that is the first thing that they will think over suspecting you" Jane said as Edward lifted his hands from Jane's arms that were still drawn over her head.

"And you must be still.." he continued, drawing back the sheet and pulling off his own shirt, "Because I want to slowly make love to you until you are begging me"

"There is no need for that, you are torturing me now"

As his lips meet hers again, Jane could not contain her beating heart, nor her pounding head. She wondered if he could hear it too, and if she gave her own desperate want of him away too easily. His hands found her hips as his lips moved down her body. Her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, between her breasts and suddenly around the soft peaks of her breasts. Jane sighed heavily as he sucked, lightly at first, then with some force. Her head spun wildly with the feel of his tongue, and she threw her head back into the pillow, grasping his arm mindlessly. She could feel it coming, feel it building inside of her, clasping at her lungs and chest. Jane pulled up quickly and Edward drew back to look questionally at her.

"Darling, what is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong" Jane breathed. She looked into his eyes for a few seconds before she turned away to respond. "I am going to come too quickly, and it is embarrassing. I am supposed to be mad at you"

Edward laughed heartily into Jane's shoulder, shaking in an effort to silently contain it. Jane smiled too, burring her face in him.

"Well Jane, it is not as if your record is only being able to once. I must say, it is a good thing indeed to know that anger towards me is a turn on. My goodness, is that blush in your cheeks?"

Jane pushed him back onto the bed, straddling him and pinning him down by the chest with her hand.

"Perhaps, which I think you shall have to pay for"

They grinned at one another as Jane pressed her lips to his, feeling his warm hands on her hips. Edward sat up with Jane still straddling him so that he could turn her gently and support her as he lay her back down on the bed.

As she had progressed in her pregnancy, Jane had experienced complications with sex. Though her desire did not change, her mobility and ability to participate had changed. At first she had worried of her husbands reception to this, but was relieved to find that he was patient and gentle with her, wanting her to be comfortable and at ease.

"Do not wait any longer" Jane said, "Not tonight"

He obliged her, moving above her and positioning himself to enter her. This position had always worked for them, but as he moved within her, Jane felt a sharp pain shoot through her spine and travel through each nerve of her whole body.

Jane cried out in pain, and Edward looked horrified. The cry of pain was foreign, even to Jane. The pain was gone as soon as it had come, but still her breath was heavy, and her husband looked down upon her, his eyes wide.

"It is okay" Jane assured him, putting her hand on his chest, "I'm okay"

"Jane you are not-"

"I'm sorry, I did not mean to frighten you".

"That is enough for tonight" Edward decided, drawing her up again before him.

"I am not in pain anymore" Jane assured him, "Be patient with me, please. I know that lovemaking is harder since I've been pregnant, but I want you as much as I ever have, and it hurts to not have you, far more than that pain I have just experienced. I know things may be different for you, but nothing has changed for me-"

"Jane, you have to know that what you say is impossible. To even conceive that I desire you less now that you are pregnant? Or that I have less patience for you? I am just terrified of hurting you, or our child. I do not mind waiting until our child comes".

"One more chance" Jane said, "One more and then if I am still in pain, we will wait"

Edward looked around the room and suddenly lifted Jane into his arms, carrying her to the long and wide table in the bedroom by the fireplace. The table was perfectly at his waist height, and the hard surface, unlike the bed, allowed him much more control with her. He lay her down gently,

"I think this will be better. But you must tell me immediately if you are uncomfortable"

He pressed his lips gently to Jane's and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck easily. She felt his hand move slowly up her leg, his fingers brushing her leg lightly until they reached her most intimate area which quivered under his touch. Jane closed her eyes, forcing her head back. He knew her so well, for within seconds she was arching into his touch, shuddering beneath him as he drew her face back to his and stared deeply into her eyes. Jane could not muster a sentence, but she tried to convey with her eyes what she felt in her heart.

And soon, bringing her to the edge of the table, he kissed his way down across her large stomach, and knelt down before her and spread her legs slightly so that his tongue could slip between her already wet folds. Jane gasped slightly, her voice hitching in her throat and her breath becoming caught in her lung. Her mind became simultaneously heavy and weightless, she could think of nothing else besides how happy she felt. She could not even think of her husband, and what he was doing to her.

He put one hand on her stomach as she moaned into her fist.

She ran her fingers through his hair thoughtlessly, wanting to touch some part of him but not having the strength to look at him. The ceiling was blurred in between the flashes of sight she could make it. As she felt the wall of pleasure smash into her and flow over her like being submerged in water, she arched her back, pushing on his head to move him away. It was all too much, she could not feel all this at once.

At the feel of her curling up, Edward put his hands over hers on his head and steadied her. He did not lift his head, he only ran his fingers over hers reassuringly. As she relaxed, he pulled back and looked seriously into her face. Jane reached for his hand and held it over her heart as her breathing normalised.

Edward kissed Jane's lips, holding her chin between his thumb and finger. He moved over her once again and entered her slowly. This time she felt a slight tenderness from the previous pain, but he felt good. The pang was momentarily soothed, and her heart leapt with joy.

"Alright?"

"Alright"

And together they moved, slowly at first, and then faster. Jane could feel herself climaxing again, felt her muscles contract and relax, felt her head spin and then felt her heart soar at the sound of her husbands deep groans beneath her. And then the moment of perfect bliss broke around her and Jane was filled with an intense awareness of her and Edward, together, as one.