Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty-Two: Slowly Recovering

"You're home," Camelia mumbled surprised looking up from her book, she still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that he was always here with her now; she often wondered how long it would be before he grew bored of her. 

Things had been strangely calm since Hugo had been executed and Catalina banished, sometimes Camelia felt like it was all a dream and she would wake up without him with her. 

Cristiano nodded his head, he didn't like being far from Camelia or the boys especially after what had happened; he couldn't imagine how he would have coped losing Camelia. 

"How are you feeling?" Cristiano asked sitting down next to Camelia, she was starting to get a bit of colour back in her face and he was pleased that she didn't look like death. 

It had been scary watching over her when she had been seriously ill, Cristiano felt responsible for what had happened to Camelia; he wished that there was some way that he could make this right. 

"Matias says I should be able to get out of bed next week," Camelia said softly, she peeked at Cristiano knowing that she had to tell him; it wasn't fair to keep him in the dark about what was going on after what had happened. 

If Camelia had only been braver then Hugo would have been caught out sooner, she knew that this was all her fault and she felt that Cristiano was only with her because they had two sons together. 

"Cami..." Cristiano murmured taking her hand, he hated how quiet she was and he wondered what else the doctor had said while he had been gone. 

It hadn't escaped Cristiano's notice how quiet Camelia was being and it had little to do with her recovery, he felt like she was slowly pushing him away from her for what he had done. 

Having Camelia locked away like that would forever haunt Cristiano and he knew that he would do anything for her forgiveness; he wished he could take away the pain he had caused.

"I can't have any more children," Camelia whispered looking down at her hands, it had been a horrible shock to her and she couldn't believe that decision had been taken from her by the infection. 

Matias wasn't sure if it was a permanent thing but he had told Camelia that it didn't seem likely that she would ever completely recover from this; he had tried to comfort her with the fact that she already had two beautiful sons. 

Cristiano was completely silent for a moment, he stared at Camelia as the words seemed to settle in his head; guilt and anger bubbled within him and he wanted to strangle Hugo for doing this to them. 

"You need a wife that can give you what you need," Camelia whimpered looking away, tears burning her eyes wondering why the Gods continued to torment her; she hated this but she knew that Cristiano had a duty. 

People expected him to have a wife that would give him children, that would act a certain way and make him look good in pubic; something that Camelia wasn't capable of doing. 

"No," Cristiano spat realising quickly where Camelia was going with this, he took her hands knowing that he had no interest in other women. 

There was only one reason why he had married Catalina and that had been because he had no other choice; he had need an heir and his mother had picked his wife out for him. 

"I married for duty once... I won't do it again," Cristiano said with a shake of his head, he moved closer to Camelia; he wasn't going to let her slip through his fingers. 

They would get through this together and Cristiano knew that he would never let anything happen to her again, he loved Camelia and to lose her completely would kill him and he wouldn't recover.

"If I can't marry you then I shall never take a wife again," Cristiano swore knowing that there was only one woman that he wanted, it had been officially a year since Camelia had come back into his life. 

It almost didn't seem real and Cristiano didn't want to let her go again, she meant everything to him and she had already given him two beautiful sons; he had heirs and he didn't care if they didn't have any more children. 

Staring at Cristiano, Camelia couldn't believe what she was hearing and she felt tears form in her eyes; she was surprised he still wanted her upon hearing that she was broken. 

Kissing Camelia softly, Cristiano was careful not wanting to upset her after what had happened; he was being so careful with her knowing that Hugo had done a lot of damage. 

"I swear Cami. I won't let anyone hurt you or the boys ever again," Cristiano mumbled resting his head against Camelia's; his eyes searched hers knowing that he had wanted to wait to do this but it was more important that he did it now. 

The last month had been better and Cristiano knew that Camelia was going to be okay, they would get around this and he didn't care what anyone else thought; he would do what he had been planning to do for six years. 

"I love you Cami," Cristiano mumbled kissing her again, he smiled when she kissed him back knowing that he couldn't imagine a life without her; he wasn't going to let anything get in their way. 

Gently deepening the kiss, Cristiano didn't rush Camelia knowing that he would understand if she wanted him to stop; cupping her face, he couldn't help but enjoy this moment between them. 

"I don't know what I would ever do without you... I know I make mistakes and have messed up but I want to make this right," Cristiano continued when he pulled away from her, his eyes searched her face and he knew that they would be okay no matter what happened.

Camelia stared at Cristiano wondering what he was talking about, she didn't blame him for what had happened and she hoped that he realised that; she should have told him what Hugo had done. 

The fault was hers alone and Camelia knew that the fault was hers alone, she took Cristiano's hands wishing that she could do something to make this better; she hated to think of them falling apart because of the past. 

"Marry me?" Cristiano whispered watching Camelia closely, he had wanted this for so long and he was hopeful that she wanted the same. 

Camelia watched Cristiano as he moved to get something, her heart pounding in her chest as she realised that he was being serious; she couldn't bring herself to breath a word as he returned with the 9ct white gold diamond halo cluster engagement ring. 

"I bought this over six years ago," Cristiano mused surprised that he was finally able to give it to her, he had never thought that he would get the chance but he wasn't going to waste it for a moment. 

It had been hidden away from Catalina since she had been forced into his life, Cristiano hadn't really spent much time picking out her ring like he had done with Camelia's. 

He'd saved up for months to buy the ring in his hands now when he had been a soldier, Cristiano had planned to give it to Camelia before she had been taken from him and married off to Ricardo. 

"Cris..." Camelia breathed not believing that he still wanted her when she was damaged, tears filled her eyes as she admired the beautiful engagement ring in his hand. 

Slowly taking Camelia's left hand, Cristiano slipped the ring onto her finger knowing that they would make if through this; he didn't care what had happened, he would always love her. 

Kissing Cristiano, Camelia didn't know why he would ever want her now but she had a feeling that nothing she could say would ever change that. 

The newly engaged couple both knew that there would be some people that wouldn't be happy about the announcement of their engagement.