Ange de Musique

Chapter Twenty-Two:

Erik and Michelle had not seen or heard from Armand since the incident earlier on. Erik was still looking to see him try to come to take his wife away. However, they could not focus on him because Michelle was about have their first child. Nearly six months had passed and Michelle was swollen with their child. Her body was sore all the time which gave her a great amount of trouble. She cried when she was in pain which always disturbed and saddened Erik. He had always heard the first pregnancy was the hardest, but Jesus, Michelle had to have one of the hardest pregnancies ever.

"Erik. Oh God." Michelle said as she struggled to stand up from the chair she was in. She thought she felt something that felt wet and sticky coat her thighs suddenly.

Erik leapt to his feet quickly and asked, "Is it time angel?" She nodded her head quickly. He swept her up quickly in his arms and took the quickest tunnels to Michelle's room up above. He had ordered the managers not give it away to any new ballerinas and of course, they obeyed. He layed her on her bed gently and said, "I'm going to get Madame Giry. I will be back quickly. Keep calm." He then quickly opened the door and left.

Michelle, however, did not feel calm. She could feel pains spread through her abdomen and thighs. Tears fell steadily down her cheeks as she spread her legs slowly to see if the pain would go away. No. The pain didn't go away, it only got worse! Erik barged in with Madame Giry behind him, "Michelle, Madame Giry says that the doctor is not in tonight."

"What!! What am I going to do?!" Michelle shouted as she cried even harder.

Madame Giry took her hand and gently said, "Don't worry Michelle. Erik can deliver the baby."

"What! I don't know how to deliver a child! What do I look like? A nurse?!" Erik, in turn, shouted. He then looked at his wife and noticed the pain in her face. "Angel, I will do my best but I don't know how."

"Please Erik." She begged him. "I can't wait any longer."

"Antoinette, i'm going to need your help." Erik said as he turned to her.

She nodded then went off to gather the things they would need. Erik gently took Michelle's hand in his own. She squeezed his hand in pain. "Erik, it hurts."

He looked at her with saddened eyes. He hated to see his wife in pain. "I know angel, but it will be all over soon." Madame Giry returned with a few towels and a bowl of warm water.

"We'll need to prop her up a bit Erik." Madame Giry told him.

Erik helped his wife up as Madame Giry put four pillow under her back. He then gently lay her back down on the pillows. Erik heard his wife moan in pain. "Shh angel. It'll be over soon."

However, that was as far from the truth as ever. The next four hours tested not only Michelle, but all three of them. Erik had never helped a woman give birth to a child and Antoinette could only help so much because she was trying to keep Michelle calm. Michelle, though, had to be the worst of the three. She didn't know what she was supposed to do except to push and whenever she did that waves of pain so strong overcame her body that she had to stop pushing.

"Angel you have to finish this. I know it hurts..."

"Hurts! You have no idea!" She interrupted him as he placed his hands on her thighs once more.

"You can do this Michelle. Now listen to your husband and push!" Erik bellowed at her. Michelle grabbed bunches of the sheets in her hands and screamed bloody murder as she pushed as hard as she could. "Almost there angel. One more time."

"No. I can't." Michelle whimpered softly.

"Angel please. I know you are tired and are in pain, but our baby needs to come out. The legs are out for God's sake. One last time. Push as hard as you can. I know you can do it." He said as he gently reached up and stroked her sweat-covered cheek.

Michelle grasped the sheets again as she closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, then pushed with all of her might as she shrieked from the pain. Then suddenly she felt the pain subside and a rush of wetness coat her inner thighs. She opened her eyes as she heard a baby's cry. She noticed Erik had taken off his mask. Tears of happiness fell down his cheeks as he cut the cord connecting his child and wife.

"Is it a girl or boy?" She questioned her husband.

"Girl. It's a girl angel. She looks just like you." Erik answered. He wrapped his daughter in a towel then handed her to Michelle. He then moved the pillows and sat behind her. "What are we going to name her?"

"I don't know. I thought you could name our first child." Michelle said as she leaned her head against his chest.

"It would be an honor Michelle." He thought for a minute then said, "Fawna. How about Fawna?"

"It's a beautiful name Erik." She then looked at her daughter and said, "Welcome to the world Fawna." Their daughter began to cry softly, seemingly wanting something.

"I believe she wants fed." Madame Giry interrupted as she smiled at the three.

Erik had foreseen this, being the intelligent man he was, and had suggested to Michelle to sew some straps on her newer undergarments that could unhook or unbutton so that she would not have a hard time when breastfeeding. He helped her unbutton the straps and watched as the garment fell about her waist. Michelle looked to Madame Giry with confused eyes. "Cradle her against your breasts. She will know what to do."

Erik watched with interest as his wife did what Madame Giry told her and their daughter immediately attached herself to his wife's left breast and began sucking. He had never seen such an act before, though he had heard of it and read about it, it was very interesting to watch for him.

A while later after Fawna was fast asleep in Michelle's arms, they decided to go back down to their home so Michelle could get a bath and sleep as well. Madame Giry accompanied them after taking the sleeping infant in her arms. Erik carried Michelle since she was still too weak to walk for that matter.

Once down in their home, they put Fawna in her crib and covered her up with several covers to keep her warm. Erik prepared a warm bath for his wife and put a soothing lavender oil in the bath to help Michelle fall asleep faster. After he had prepared the bath, he helped her undress and put her in the tub. He watched as she tenderly ran a sponge along her limbs.

"Angel, can I tell you something?" Erik questioned his wife as she relaxed in the tub.

Michelle laughed softly the said, "Of course Erik. You know you can always tell me anything."

"When I saw you with Fawna earlier I was so happy, but I was wondering if she had not come out looking..." He was interrupted as she threw her sponge at him, missing him by an inch.

"Don't you dare suggest that. Do you think I would have given myself to you, married you, and given you a child if I didn't love you? I don't care that your face isn't perfect Erik. I love you so much. You are more than a face and don't you forget that. If Fawna had come out with your deformity then I would still love her." Michelle told him angrily.

"I'm sorry angel. I didn't mean to make you angry."

Michelle looked at him with saddened eyes. "Erik stop thinking that you are not worth anything. I love you damn it. Now please help me out of the tub."

Erik did so and helped her dry off as she leaned heavily against the sink. Once her body was completely dry, he helped her into a silky white nightgown and started to take her to the bedroom. Madame Giry left after Erik and Michelle reentered the bedroom. Erik placed his wife on the bed then checked up on their daughter to find her sleeping.

"Come here and sleep with me." Michelle told Erik as she curled up in the covers. He obeyed his wife and came to the bed after taking off his shoes and vest. He then crawled into bed and scooted beside his wife. He gently wrapped an arm around her stomach and kissed her neck. "I love you Erik."

"I love you too Michelle." Erik replied then nuzzled her neck as he fell asleep.