Christine nearly collapsed when her husband gently entered her from behind. It was definitely different, and he seemed a lot larger pushing into her at that angle. But despite the slight discomfort at first penetration Christine actually found it more stimulating. She gasped and pushed back against him, more than willing to make love to him like this. The fact that he wanted to try new and different positions caused Christine to become wet with excitement. He felt the new surge of wetness and he groaned, moving just a little faster inside of her. When she came she was moaning his name and Erik followed almost immediately after, being careful not to collapse on her, given her condition. Erik lay down on his back and Christine cuddled up against his side.
"If you keep coming up with so many wonderful ideas for our bedroom, we are going to have more children than we can manage," Christine murmured, kissing the warm skin of his neck. Erik grinned. He liked hearing how good he was when it came to pleasing his wife. Talk about an ego booster. It remained silent for quite some time.
"Erik...?"
"Hmmm?" He had just begun to fall asleep. Christine's fingers were playing over his chest and for some reason it was making him feel very drowsy.
"You know why I went after you that night in the cottage?" she whispered. Erik found his eyes opening so he could look at her in the dim light. She was biting her lip and he knew they would not get any sleep before Christine spoke her mind.
"Why is that?"
"You saw what nearly happened to me when I had thought you had died...I saw that far to many times in my dreams...when you went to that cottage I had to go after you...it was my love for you and the baby that made me go after you," she whispered.
"You almost lost the baby, my love," he whispered, wanting her to realize why he had been so upset about all of this. He had thought that they were done with this conversation but apparently there was more Christine still had to say.
"Erik, I would have lost the baby if you would have died that night... I would have, too...I would not be able to bear living here without you-"
"Our baby, Christine..."
"I love our baby, Erik, more than anything...but my grief from losing you would surely kill me," she whispered. Erik remained silent. Could he blame her for wanting to help him? She had not known what would happen to her that night, although she should have realized that it would not be good. But he admitted that if their places had been reversed he would have done everything to help her, even if she had insisted that he didn't.
"I understand..." he whispered. He watched as the relief practically made her body go limp. She had desperately wanted to hear him say that, and him doing so meant more to her than she could ever
"Stop here!"
Christine opened her eyes drowsily when the carriage pulled to a stop and she heard her brother shout. She was lying in Erik's arms, who was looking out the carriage window, silent. She looked up at him with her question in her eyes.
"This is where your father and Sienna have been staying."
Christine scrambled out of the carriage and Erik smiled, shaking his head. He stepped out to watch as Christine threw herself into her father's arms. Gustave pulled his only child close and hugged her, not wanting to let her go now that she was safe from harm. Erik turned his eyes for a moment to watch Sienna begin to sob as Anthony ran towards her, nearly yanking her into his embrace for a very passionate kiss.
It seemed Daae had truly found someone to love, and Erik was happy for him. Raoul, too, had found love with Mademoiselle Giry and he would no longer have to worry about the boy trying to steal Christine from him. But as Erik thought about that he realized that he really did not have to worry about that anyways. He no longer doubted Christine's love for him, and he promised her and himself that he never would again.
They had been through so much in their short time of marriage together. They had both escaped death more times than Erik ever care to remember. Their love had been tested at least once every day, and the fact that they had made it through showed just how much their love could endure. And endure it would, for the rest of their lives.
Christine turned back to Erik when Gustave went to embrace Anthony. Erik was leaning up against the carriage, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her. She smiled and was rewarded with a small lift of his mouth. They were finally going home. Christine went over to him and he pulled her against his chest, pressing a kiss to her temple. His hands strayed to her stomach and lightly caressed the bulge growing there. He pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered that he loved her. She smiled and leaned against him.
"Anthony? May I speak with you in private before we leave?" Sienna wondered. Anthony nodded. He had yet to stop smiling since he had been reunited with her. They excused themselves from everyone and moved far enough away that no one would possibly be able to hear them. Before she could speak Anthony pressed a kiss to her mouth and she smiled. Nothing would explain the relief she had felt when she had seen him come out of that carriage. She would not ask him what happened with Delauney because she was sure that he would not wish to relive it.
"Is everything alright?" Anthony asked. Sienna nodded with a small smile.
"Yes...I just have some news for you," she replied. Anthony frowned, wondering what in the world the news could be.
"Oh, well what is it?" he wondered. Anthony felt something clench his heart when she took his hand and laid it gently on her stomach. His eyes grew round as realization dawned on him and his eyes found hers. She was smiling and nodding her head, tears coming to her eyes.
"I'm pregnant."
"You're pregnant...!"
Sienna waited silently for this all to sink in and she watched as disbelief turned to joy on Anthony's face. He shouted and grabbed her, spinning her about and causing Sienna to laugh. Everyone had come running, wondering what in the world was wrong that would cause Anthony to shout like that.
"I'm having a baby!" Anthony cried. Erik, Gustave, and Nadir all cocked an eyebrow and Christine and Sienna began to giggle.
"We are having a baby," Sienna confirmed. Christine clapped in delight and hugged her friend. Anthony could not seem to keep his hands off of Sienna and he hugged both her and Christine rather tightly, causing both women to laugh. Nadir and Anthony embraced.
"Congratulations, son," Nadir murmured. Anthony grinned.
"I'm having a baby!"
A few weeks later...
"Erik?"
"Hmmmm?"
"When this baby is born, do you think we can have another?" Christine whispered. Erik's eyes opened and he turned to look at his wife. They had been home a total of seven days and Erik had finally allowed himself to relax. It felt good not to have to worry about something for once, and he was beginning to sleep just a little better, with fewer nightmares. He and Christine had retired early that night and had spent the night making love. Erik had almost been asleep when Christine had asked that question.
"You want more than one?" he wondered. He waited, his breath held, because he would never tell her how much he really wanted several children. Christine seemed to think about this for some time.
"Well, two would be nice," she said softly. She could just picture it. A little boy and a little girl. Erik was studying her intently. He wanted more than two, that was for sure, but he supposed that they would just have to take it in stride. He had strong, healthy seed, he was sure he could reproduce very well, and he wanted a family with this woman.
"No matter how many we have I will be happy, my love," he whispered. Christine smiled.
In the beginning she had been like a caged bird, trapped in a cage called marriage to a man she knew absolutely nothing about. She remembered those first few weeks with him. He had shown her no compassion and she had believed that she would never come to love him. Then as time progressed she realized that this was going to change. There was no way she could be around this man and not fall in love with him. There was just so much to love that it was impossible not to. His love had made her feel like a woman, desirable and strong. He was always there for her when she needed him and Christine knew he would be for the rest of their lives. Erik's love had opened her cage, and allowed her to soar.