Chapter 284: Chapter 284
"Good morning, nightingale." Erik whispered. He held Pearl in his arms in the dark bedroom, the sun hadn't risen yet.
"Why are you awake so early?" Pearl asked, pulling the covers up to her chin.
"It's Christmas Eve and I'm excited." Erik said.
"You are?" Pearl asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Yes. I usually am not fond of celebratory days like this. My life hasn't exactly been something to celebrate, for me. I can't recall being this excited for Christmas since before the... since before Robbie." Erik said, pulling Pearl tighter to him. She hugged his arms and sighed. "I am looking forward to this as well." She said.
"Would you like a cuppa? I'll go and put the kettle on." Erik asked.
"It's early. You'll wake everyone." Pearl said, giggling.
"No I won't. I've given them all the next three days off. They can shop on Boxing Day or whatever they would like. I wanted us to have an intimate Christmas. After attending the palace events, that is. I'm excited for you to help with the annual announcement from our family this year." Erik said as he put on a robe. Pearl looked at his body. He had gained all of his muscle back after losing so much weight last spring. She missed being intimate with him. She was huge now and neither of them initiated physical contact in that way in recent months. Pearl couldn't imagine how she was going to go another three weeks until her due date without exploding.
"Everything alright, nightingale?" Erik asked as he noticed Pearl looking down.
"Yes. I'm fine. I'm just ready to have this little guy." She said. Erik laid down beside her and rubbed her belly, kissing it and looking up at Pearl. "I can't wait, either. Not long now." He said, smiling. Pearl nodded.
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Erik put the tea on and Pearl waddled down to the dining room. "Breakfast, my love?" Erik asked.
"Maybe some toast. I'm not feeling very hungry today." She said. She felt exceptionally uncomfortable this morning, with lots of back pain and pressure on her pelvis. "How big ARE you?" She asked her belly. At her last appointment, the doctor said she was measuring a little large for her timeline but that everything looked great. She had been concerned with the movement from him slowing, but she was reassured by the doctor that the baby was running out of room and this was normal.
We need to be at the place around ten tomorrow for the mid-day family dinner. Auggie and Maggie will be there. And Bash. He is home from his military obligation for a few weeks before he has to go again. His father, my uncle, will be there as well. He hasn't been well so we are pleased he will be there this year." Erik said.
"I'm sure your family is happy about that." Pearl said. Sebastian was still a mildly awkward topic between them. Erik loved him, and so did Pearl, but when lines are crossed, however slight, things never really go back to being the same.
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After a perfectly restful and enjoyable day together, Erik built a fire in the main living room and brought an extra quilt to cover Pearl on the couch. He grabbed a book and sat down at her feet, propping them up.
"In drear nighted December,
Too happy, happy tree,
Thy branches ne'er remember
Their green felicity—
The north cannot undo them
With a sleety whistle through them
Nor frozen thawings glue them
From budding at the prime.
In drear-nighted December,
Too happy, happy brook,
Thy bubblings ne'er remember
Apollo's summer look;
But with a sweet forgetting,
They stay their crystal fretting,
Never, never petting
About the frozen time.
Ah! would 'twere so with many
A gentle girl and boy—
But were there ever any
Writh'd not of passed joy?
The feel of not to feel it,
When there is none to heal it
Nor numbed sense to steel it,
Was never said in rhyme."
He read from the Keats book of poems. Pearl smiled and sighed. Her life was perfect now. Calm and content on this winter's night. This always terrified her, because her world was a storm, and calm always meant something was coming along soon, to sweep her back into the turbulent wind and darkness that always seemed to follow her.
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