|
Post by Rebecca on May 21, 2008 3:41:37 GMT -5
*Delirious, Rebecca tossed her head upon the damp pillow, moaning in pain.*
"Ma--Maman?" *she said in a dry whisper, gazing without focus at Clarisse.*
|
|
|
Post by Clarisse de Chagny on May 21, 2008 13:34:03 GMT -5
"No, dear but she will be sent for. All I need you to do is brave and stay strong for me."
*She looked towards the door for the arrival of the doctor who was there almost instantly. In a hushed whisper he confirmed the news of her nephew. Clarisse nodded slowly, returning her attention to the girl.*
"There is no more to be done of that now, please see to my niece."
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on May 21, 2008 15:39:46 GMT -5
*Becca only wept, shaking her head as she writhed with pain.*
"I cannot--I cannot--" *she breathed vacantly before her eyes rolled back into her head and she became insensible. Pain split her in two in the instant before she felt herself falling back, falling away, into a cool, sweet nowhere where there was no pain.
She found herself looking down upon her own self as she lay in her bed--the bed she had shared with Philippe, and would never share with him again.
The bed she would die in.
Sighing emptily, she turned her face towards a bright light which beckoned.*
|
|
|
Post by Philippe on May 26, 2008 16:24:20 GMT -5
Rebecca…Rebecca…
Philippe…
*A smile warmed her face as she saw him—he looked years younger—standing in a pool of light so bright it hurt her eyes to look at him, but still she could not tear her gaze away from him.*
Are we in Heaven?
*He half-smiled.*
Not yet.
*He took her hands.*
I want you to go back, Becca. I need you to go back.
*Her grip on him tightened.*
I cannot. I cannot…not if we are dead together.
But we are not dead together. You still live, sweetheart.
But the pain—there is no more pain…
You may be outside of your body but you are still bound to it by some invisible cord…you can still feel the beat of your heart, somewhere, the spark of life, the wind of breath…here…
*He laid his hand against her chest, and she felt the warmth of him against her, but it was not a living warmth—it was not flesh. It was the glow and heat of a candle’s flame.*
I do not want to leave you…I do not want you to leave me…
I already have. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
*Tears—there were tears. Hers. His. Without bodies they somehow managed their mutual grief with the same silent drops slipping down their cheeks.*
You could not help it, Philippe. I should have—
*He took her into his arms with a fierce kind of possessiveness, with all the lost vigor of his youth and all the passion he felt for her which had never—which would never wane.*
Never blame yourself. Never, Rebecca. Do you understand me?
*She nodded numbly, clinging to him.*
Still…I’m still sorry, Philippe. For all the time lost to us because of…
The fault in our estrangement was only mine. I know that, now…
I should have given you more chances.
No—you were right to act as you did. Had you not drawn a hard line I might not have truly come to know myself, my faults, and I would not have attempted so earnestly to change them as I did. You forced me to better myself—and I love you all the more for it.
*She gazed into his dark eyes, knowing that soon it would be for the last time.*
There is so much left undone…so much still unsaid between us. There are things I should have told you…things I’ve wanted to—
Shh.
*He held her head against his chest, his cheek pressed against her hair, memorizing the scent of her for these lingering moments they had together in this magical place.*
I know.
…y-ou…you know?
*She gazed at him with wide eyes.*
I know. And it’s alright, Becca. It’s alright. It is less than what I have done to you…certainly no worse. If you can forgive me why should I not forgive you? And besides…I love you. My love will condone anything…it will wipe away any flaws and faults…and this is not even a flaw. I am happy that you were not so alone when you left me…when I think of the pain I felt in losing you…in being alone…I prayed so often that you would not share the same fate as I. “At least let her not despair as I have done,” I cried out. As you have a son, I am glad, now—for you will not be alone. Even had we not had these children, you would not have been alone.
Children? You mean child.
*Philippe’s lips curved into a gentle smile.*
I can see, now, all that is to be…for you and our children.
*He kissed her brow.*
You carry not one, but two infants.
TWO?
*She began to tremble.*
I cannot…Philippe…truly, I cannot…
You can, and you will. Be brave, Rebecca. Be strong, as I know you are.
*He bent and kissed her full on the mouth this time, their tears mingling upon their lips in the hushed heat of the moment before he drew away, half-dissolving into the light as he smiled at her.*
They’re beautiful, Rebecca.
Our children are beautiful.
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on May 26, 2008 16:33:59 GMT -5
*Becca returned to herself with a scream of pain as she bore down with all her might. There was a echo of triumph in the sound, however, and the doctor remarked that she seemed to have gained an almost supernatural kind of strength.*
***FADE OUT TO BIRTHING***
***FADE IN***
*Becca lay back, exhausted and pale, with the two swaddled bundles laid in her arms. The girl--the elder by twenty-five minutes--she named Violetta. The little son she felt urged to name after his father, but recalled the legacy Philippe would have left in his spirit, and knew that he had preferred the name Zachaire.*
"Zachaire. His name is Zachaire," *she whispered, trying to smile through her exhaustion.*
|
|
Violetta
- Ingenious Pilot -
Named after a suicidal auntie.%\1\%
Posts: 245
|
Post by Violetta on May 26, 2008 16:46:55 GMT -5
*Violetta was already contentedly sucking on her mother's breast, gently nudging her brother with her foot.*
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on May 27, 2008 15:40:01 GMT -5
"You two," *whispered Becca with gentle maternal pride as she gazed at the children who were so obviously Philippe's--the girl, why, she had his stern brow and dark hair, and the boy, he had his Papa's nose and serious little mouth.*
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on Oct 5, 2008 19:48:49 GMT -5
***NEW DAY***
*Rebecca had gone to sleep in the master bedroom with a little unease which she hid from Rudolf. The room had not changed since last she had seen it...and everywhere were memories of Philippe--of the good and the bad of those years she had lived here before.
And when she slept, she dreamed--of the day Philippe had beaten Rudolf, of the day she had found him, in this room, on this bed with that serving-girl, of the day she had ridden back only just in time to save him from suicide, of the day he had died...
She woke with a gasp, feeling bile rise in the back of her throat. Her eyes darted about the darkened room, the hair on the back of her neck rising with a sense of being watched by some malevolent force. What had woken her? The torment of her dreams had continued some time before she shook herself free. Had it been a sound? Had someone spoken? She turned to look at Rudolf and saw him soundly and deeply asleep.
Rebecca sat up, hugging herself, shivering and wide-awake.*
...it's Philippe...it's haunted...
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on Oct 16, 2008 13:09:00 GMT -5
***POST-ROOF THREAD***
*Brought down from the roof, still trembling with shock, Rebecca vaguely realized that this was the second time traumatic experience had kick-started labour a contraction was slowly crushing her spine, it felt like. Whiter than a sheet, she sent a maid for the doctor, the midwife, anyone who would come, and paced the room in agony.*
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on Oct 16, 2008 13:41:23 GMT -5
***SOME TIME LATER***
*Rebecca was forced to her bed, covered in a sheen of perspiration as she fought her way through each contraction with waning strength. Though it seemed an eternity, however, the child came quickly, as though she were eager to be out in the world. She, for it was a little daughter born who gave a single squall to announce her presence before quieting with contentment immediately thereafter. Rebecca could not help but laugh as the warm bundle was laid in her arms.*
|
|
|
Post by Carolina on Oct 16, 2008 15:05:00 GMT -5
*has arrived*
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Oct 16, 2008 16:12:31 GMT -5
*Finally, they let Rudolf in the room, though the truth of the matter was that if they'd kept him out much longer, there likely would have been trouble.
He moved quietly over to Rebecca's side. He'd missed this part of Stefan's life, and he didn't want to miss any of it with this one.*
"They told me I now have a daughter," he said with a soft smile.
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on Oct 16, 2008 16:16:14 GMT -5
"And so you do," *said Becca softly, her voice weary but jubilant as she smiled back at him. She held the bundle towards him.* "Would you like to hold her?"
|
|
|
Post by Rudolf on Oct 16, 2008 18:23:19 GMT -5
"Yes." Carefully, he took the baby from Rebecca and settled her in his arms.
|
|
|
Post by Carolina on Oct 16, 2008 18:24:38 GMT -5
*The infant yawned and turned in her sleep a little, snuggling into her father's embrace.*
|
|