No Backward Glances

Chapter 17: Relief

January 10th, 1883
{Erik's P.O.V}

"We lost it." she repeats.

I can't move. I can't speak. I can't function.

"We lost it." she says again. But instead of silence following her words, she breaks down & starts sobbing uncontrollably.

I walk over to the tub & lift her out, craddling her small frame close to me. Every sob, every tear that escapes her green eyes, penetrates my soul. We lost it. We lost our one chance of becoming parents.

I dry her off & slip her robe over her shoulders. I sit next to her as she sits on the bed, her back against the headboard.

"We lost it." she says. "We lost it." she says again, reaching foward & forcefully grabbing my shoulders, pulling me to her.

"I'm so sorry, my love." I say, rubbing her back, I feel tears spill down my cheeks. My baby is gone. "I know, Christine. I am so, so sorry."

She won't stop crying. No matter what I say or do, she won't stop. It's breaking my heart.

As she sits in my arms, I think briefly of a miscarriage a woman had in one of the gypsy camps I was kept in. She was screaming in pain for a few moments then collapsed. Another woman screamed in pain for five minutes straight, not out of loss but physical pain.

"Christine, did you feel any physical pain when you started bleeding?" I ask her, holding her on my lap.

She shakes her head as to tell me no.

That's odd. "Stay right here, alright? I am going to go get the doctor."

"No, no, no! Don't leave me!" she begs, clinging onto my coat.

"Christine, I need to make sure you are alright. I need to go get the doctor." I stay sternly.

She nods & lets me go.

I quickly run outside & hop on the horse Nadr lent us in case I needed to get to the doctor for Christine. I ride as fast as lightning into town. As soon as I reach the Doctor's, I rush into Doctor Bernard's office.

He looks up from the book, stunned. I am never one to lose my calm composure in this village.

"My wife.." I choke out. "My baby.." I say.

He understands & immediately follows me out to my horse. He hops atop his own & follows me to the house. I lead him to the bedroom.

"I'm back, Christine." I say as I walk in, kneeling beside the bed, taking her small hand in mine.

Her tears have not yet stopped but, her cries are quiet unlike her earlier wails of agony.

"Madame Fauchelevant, I'm going yo ask you to lie down." Doctor Bernard says.

She obediently lies down.

"I'm going to just expose your stomach so I can examine the fetus' state. Is that alright with you, Madame & Monsieur?"

Christine looks at me.

"Of course, Doctor. Do whatever you must." I respond.

He moves away a part of her robe to expose her stomach. My heart breaks as I see the tiny bump that was once her perfectly flat stomach. That bump is my child. My child could be dead.

The doctor presses the stethoscope to Christine's abdomen & listens for a minute. Easily the longest minute of my life.

He pulls the instrument away from her & pulls her robe back where it was. "Madame, Monsieur, your child is alive & well."

We both sigh in utter relief. Christine sits up & we embrace each other, tears if joy making their way down our faces.

"We're going to be parents." I whisper to her.

"Everything's going to be alright." she says happily into my ear.

She then pulls away, keeping my hands on her lap. "But, Doctor, why was I bleeding?" she asks.

"I hope you don't mind by me asking but how old are you, Madame?"

"Seventeen." she replies.

"& when at what age did your menstrual cycle begin?"

"Um, I had to be fifteen, almost sixteen."

"That's why. With your periods only beginning one to two years ago, your body is in shock which could cause uterine bleeding as it did for you. Especially since you're so young." he explains.

"But did it hurt my baby?" she asks, placing a hand over her belly.

"No. You both have a perfectly well developing baby on your hands." he says reassuringly.

"Thank you." I say to him.

"Thank you so much, Doctor." Christine echoes.

"You're welcome. Come see me again in a week's time. My schedule is free that day so both of you, drop by my office at any time."

We thank him again & he leaves.

"Our baby is safe." Christine says as we lie down on the bed, my head next to her belly, my hand gently stroking the small baby bump.

"Thank God it is. I love you both so much."

"We love you too." she responds.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for putting you all through all that emotional pain! & sorry for not updating on Friday like I promised. I've been so busy (as all of you who follow me on social media may know)! I also added a cast for this story. However, I incorporated some Kay/Leroux/original traits to these characters :)