Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Thirty-Three: Reunited

Slowly opening his eyes, Cristiano felt better than he had done in the last couple of months and it didn't take him long to realise why; he was definitely not in Palma anymore, he was back in the capital. 

Staring up at the ceiling, Cristiano tried to wrap his head around the fact that he was actually home now; tears fell before he could stop them and he couldn't help but look around the hospital room where he was laying.

It was a lot cleaner than where he had been held and Cristiano wondered how long he had been unconscious since the last thing he remembered was Sergio rescuing him. 

Looking down at his stump, Cristiano couldn't help but feel his stomach turn at the fresh white bandage that was wrapped around it; there was clearly a couple more inches missing from the end. 

He guessed that the doctors had, had no choice but to take more off considering how infected the injury had been while he had been held hostage. 

He had never thought that he would make it back to the capital alive and Cristiano knew that he owed Sergio his life; he had given up on being rescued after what had happened to him. 

"How are you feeling General Ronaldo?" a doctor greeted snapping Cristiano out of his thoughts, he was pleased to see his patient awake after the rough two weeks that he'd had. 

It hadn't been easy and the doctor was surprised that Cristiano had survived the infection that had nearly killed him after how weak his body had become. 

Cristiano stared at him for a moment, he was feeling better and being in the capital made him think of what he had nearly lost; he wanted to see his family and soon. 

"My wife?" Cristiano asked wondering what Camelia had been told, he couldn't bare for her not to be here after what had happened; he hated to think that she was still back in Lisbon and had no idea he was back.

The doctor smiled, he was sure that Cristiano would want to see her before his sons were allowed to come and see him; they didn't quite understand what had happened to their father after he had been gone so long. 

"She's been at your side since you arrived," the doctor reassured him leaving out the times he had been forced to have Camelia taken away; she was doing herself no good sitting by Cristiano day in and day out. 

The doctor doubted that Cristiano had any knowledge of the fact that his wife was pregnant and he was sure the news would cheer the General up when he found out. 

Cristiano nodded his head leaning back against his pillows, he looked down at his arm and frowned wishing that he had been awake when Camelia had found out that he had lost an arm. 

"How is she?" Cristiano asked wanting to be prepared for when she came to see him, he would get out of bed right now if he could but he wasn't sure his legs could handle that. 

He had lost quite a bit of weight during the two months that he had been held hostage and Cristiano doubted that the doctors would allow him to leave this room for a while. 

"As well as expected," the doctor replied vaguely, he didn't think it was his place to share anymore and he guessed that Cristiano would notice how vague his answer was. 

Cristiano glared at the doctor but before he had the chance to ask any more about his wife and children; he found himself being checked over. 

The doctor wanted to make sure the stump was healing nicely, they'd been hard pressed to save the entire arm and more had been taken off to give Cristiano a fighting chance. 

The last thing that they wanted was for an infection to take hold again, they doubted that Cristiano would be able to survive that and they wouldn't be able to save him.

***

Waking up from his nap, Cristiano grumbled to himself annoyed that they had drugged him to make him get some sleep; it took him a moment to even realise that there was someone sat on his right holding his hand. 

Slowly turning to look who was there, Cristiano paused at the sight of Camelia sitting beside him; she looked beautiful and he couldn't believe that she was here with him now. 

"How are you feeling?" Camelia asked softly, she didn't know what to say and she wished that things were easier for them; she felt him squeeze her hand before she realised she was crying again. 

Cristiano stared at his wife, he had never been so relieved to see her and his heart ached when he saw that she was crying; he slowly lifted his arm only to realise that there was no hand there anymore to brush away her tears. 

"You're here," Cristiano whispered trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened that day, he was actually home and he couldn't wait to see the boys. 

He was sure they would be a little confused about the fact he only had one hand now but Cristiano was sure that things would work out just as well; he had heard that the Emperor had some special plans for him since he couldn't fight anymore. 

However, that could wait and right now Cristiano wanted to just focus on the fact that he was here with Camelia after what he had been through. 

Leaning forward, Cristiano kissed Camelia and held her close allowing her to cry into his shoulder; he couldn't help but shed his own tears after everything that they had been through. 

Pulling back after a few minutes, Cristiano couldn't help but notice the bump that was hidden under Camelia's maxi dress; he hesitated not sure if the pain medication was messing with his head. 

"You're pregnant..." Cristiano whispered gently reaching out to touch the bump, she was clearly a bit along and he tried to work out when they would have conceived; his thoughts drifted to the last night they had shared together.

Matias had told both of the couple that it wasn't possible for Camelia to conceive again after what Hugo had done to her and it left Cristiano a little stumped at the fact she was clearly pregnant right now. 

"Miracle baby," Camelia confirmed with a nod of her head, she was about half-way through her pregnancy and she was just so happy that Cristiano was here to enjoy her pregnancy with her now. 

Cristiano smiled brushing his fingers against bump, he couldn't believe that they had been blessed with a third pregnancy and that he had very nearly missed it. 

Kissing Camelia again, Cristiano couldn't help but think about what the future would hold for them; he was going to focus on his family and nothing would take him away from them again.

Camelia closed her eyes, she had honestly feared that Cristiano would die after what had happened; she had seen how ill he had been when Sergio had brought him home. 

"It's going to be okay," Cristiano reassured not only himself but Camelia, they weren't going to be parted again and Cristiano was going to do everything in his power to recover from this. 

Junior, Mateo and the new baby were going to need their father and Cristiano wouldn't allow them to be put out again like what had happened this time. 

Jorge had told him what had happened while he had been a hostage with Dolores seizing control of his lands; she was a threat to his children and Cristiano wouldn't allow her to continue. 

She had even tried to come and see him after hearing that he had woken up but Cristiano wasn't having it, he wanted to be with his wife and there was nothing she could say about it. 

Camelia was everything to him and in a few months' time they would be welcoming another baby to their family.