Chapter 228

"I don't want to go to the hospital. I am fine."

Erik said. The police had questioned Erik and Jim and the rest of the men. Before the police were called, Jim had transported Michael back to the warehouse and covered their tracks in the hotel.

"Pearl never told me you were ex CIA." Erik said.

"I never told Pearl that. She doesn't know about my time in the secret service, either." Jim said. "I thought it would be better if she didn't know."

"Understood." Erik said. "But I think moving forward, Pearl needs to know everything, always."

Erik reluctantly went to the hospital for an overall exam and shower. Other than losing 20 pounds, being completely dehydrated and malnourished, he was fine. They gave him some IV fluids and vitamins and he was good to go.

"I need to get home. I need to see her." Erik told her father. He got in the car with Jim and his father rode separately.

"She did the research. She figured out Charles was behind this within two days of your capture." Jim told Erik on the ride home.

"What?" Erik said. "Why didn't this rescue happen sooner, then? Why would it take almost three weeks?"

"No one would listen to her. She had Sebastian helping but that's it. She thought it was an inside job right from the start. She began to look at the people closest to you. Shit, she was ready to investigate your old man." Jim said.

"How did she figure out it was Charles?" Erik asked.

"Birth certificates. Charles middle name was Fournier. Michael's mother's maiden name was Fournier." Jim explained.

"My god. And how did you know I was at the mill?" Erik asked.

"Again, Pearl saw Michael was born in Amsterdam. And after she dug deeper into his background, that his father used to own the mill. When Edward finally listened to her, he got some people on it and apparently someone had reported lights on there for the first time in years." Jim said. "She had been trying to tell us all this from the beginning but no one would listen to her. She didn't sleep for days looking into all this."

Erik couldn't believe it. She had saved his life a second time.

"And your cousin, Sebastian, he was there for her. He was the only one that believed her or listened to her or helped her. Your father treated her like a nuisance. Sebastian let her stay with him at his home when your father said she couldn't leave London. Erik, you owe him a debt of gratitude." Jim said.

"Yes. I believe I do." Erik said.

****************

Pearl was pacing the floor. The last they had heard was that it was now a rescue mission. She knew nothing. Nothing. Sebastian watched her frantically walk through the room. He knew there was no way to help her. For her and the baby's sake, he hoped Erik was found alive. He wanted her to be happy. Cared for. Whether it was Erik or him, it didn't matter.

There was some movement outside. "The car has returned." An officer said.

Pearl frantically watched the door. Was he there? Did they find him alive? It has been almost a month since she had seen him last, after she had been told he was dead.

Jim walked in and then Edward.

"Where is he? Where is he, Jim!? Goddamnit, you told me you would bring him back!" She cried.

Just as the words left her mouth, he walked through the door. She didn't hesitate for even a second when she saw him, running to him and wrapping her arms around him. "They said you were dead but I knew you were not dead. I knew you were alive. I could feel you. I could feel you still alive. I never gave up. I wanted them to listen to me." She said. He wrapped his arms around her, a feeling he never thought he would have again. He squeezed her and held her tight to him. "Pearl. I told you I would be back. I'm sorry I took so long. Forgive me." He said. She looked to the sky and the tears poured from her eyes.

"It's ok." She said. "I forgive you."

"You saved me again. My god. You saved me again." He said. He missed her smell, the feel of her hips. The softness of her hair. Things he would never take for granted again.

"I am not waiting til autumn to marry this woman. You all have a month to plan. Then I don't care if we fly to Vegas, I'm making her my wife." Erik proclaimed. He hugged her again. She smiled and kissed him.

Everyone gathered around them. His mother, Auggie. They all hugged him and embraced him. Erik saw Sebastian standing behind them all. He walked to him and hugged him, then extended a handshake to him. "Thank you. Thank you for being the kind of man through all of this that I could only hope to be. I am forever in your debt, cousin." Erik said.

Sebastian shook his hand. "I'm happy you are home and safe." He said.

Erik hugged him again and then shook the rest of the officer's hands that helped in his rescue. He then went back to Pearl and picked her up, hugging her tightly. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.

"I have your baby inside of me." She whispered back. Erik put her down and looked at her, startled.

"You what?" He asked.

"I'm pregnant. I'm almost six weeks along. You're going to be a father." Pearl said, feeling worried now.

"I thought you couldn't. Or it would be almost impossible." Erik said.

"I thought that, too. But I was wrong." Pearl said.

Was he just in shock or was he angry? Or scared? She tried to read him but he had his head down, his face to the floor.

"Erik, I'm sorry I... " he looked back up at her, tears streaming down his face. He looked into her eyes, sobbing. "This is the greatest moment of my life. I survived this terrible ordeal to come home to hear this. I can't believe it. I'm so happy I don't know what to say."

Pearl smiled. "You don't have to say anything." She said.

He pulled her into his arms again, silently saying all she needed to hear.