Chapter 285

Pearl woke up then next morning to find a box beside her pillow. She wiped her eyes and opened it, finding a handwritten note inside along with another charm for her bracelet. It was a Christmas tree. She smiled and read the note.

"Merry Christmas, my darling. Come downstairs, I have a surprise for you. I love you." She says up on the bed and slid her feet into her slippers. Downstairs, Erik stood in the living room, beside the Christmas tree. All around him were perfectly wrapped gifts. She looked down and saw the name "Robbie" written on all of them. Except one.

"What is this?" She asked.

"He will be here soon. I don't want him to miss Christmas." Erik said. Pearl smiled and hugged him. He handed her the box with her name on it. She looked up at him and then opened the gift. Inside were 5 books. She looked closer and saw that they were journals. She opened them and saw Erik's handwriting. At the bottom of a box was a framed, printed poem.

"Her hair is thick and wild,

dark brown with bronze and gold lights

and shades throughout.

Scented with flowers and magic.

It smells like a summer day, a winter's eve. Jasmine. Heaven.

I fear that when she brushes it again,

she won't remember to be careful.

She'll forget that it is there where I dwell,

tangled in the curls, clinging and burying myself. Where my soul is wound, and my heart calls home.

She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

She looked up at Erik. "I wrote that, in my head, in Italy. While watching you, dancing along the castle wall in Tuscany. You made me become a poet and I knew I had fallen in love with you." He said. "And the journals, they are my entire life from my early twenties until after I fell in love with you in Italy. It's all there. This is me, giving you all I have to give. My past, my thoughts, my pain. I want you to have them, to read them and to know that I am a good man, despite all that I have done. I hope they help you understand me a little better and know how much you have changed me for the better." He said. She looked down at the journals again and smiled. It was an amazingly thoughtful and loving gift. An important gift. She stepped closer to him and hugged him. "I love you." She whispered in his ear. "Thank you."

He smiled and nodded. "You are welcome." He said.

She walked over to the tree and picked up his gift. She handed it to him and smiled. He took it and opened it, curiously studying the gift inside.

"What is it?" He asked, holding up the empty box.

"What I want to give you, will not fit in any box, Erik. You have me, all of me. And... "she said, pulling a key from her robe. "You have Italy, too." She said. He looked at her, puzzled. She handed him the key and smiled. "I bought the Villa in Italy. It's ours now. And it wasn't easy. The owner drove a hard bargain but I managed to negotiate a terrible price. Iris helped." She said. Erik's eyes widened and he smiled with delight. "Oh my goodness. What a gift!" He exclaimed. He hugged her and kissed her.

"This is the best Christmas, ever." He said.

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

"Merry Christmas!" Erik's mother said as they walked into the palace. Edward was there to greet them as well.

"How are you feeling?" Frances asked as she walked with Pearl into the dining room.

"I am tired, mostly. And uncomfortable. Other than that, I am well." She answered.

Everyone had arrived was seated at the table. Auggie and Maggie smiled and said hello and Sebastian stood and bowed to them.

"Hello cousin. Pearl." He said. He looked rugged and bigger, a slight black beard growing on his perfectly chiseled jawline. His military duty must have been extremely physical, Pearl thought.

"I can't wait to spend some time at Highgrove House with you and the little one after he arrives." Frances said, sitting next to Sebastian.

"Same here. I look forward to it." Sebastian said.

Pearl looked quizzically at him and then at Erik.

"He is the Godfather. And I want him there, with you, in case I am pulled away for business. And Bash has happily agreed." Erik said. Pearl looked at Sebastian and looked down. She wasn't sure about this, not that she didn't trust herself but she felt weird around Bash now, because of her coming on to him.

Dinner was wonderful. The gift exchange went well, too. Erik's parents had gifted Pearl a handmade quilt for the baby and a stunning diamond necklace. "This is too much." Pearl said as she looked at the huge diamond pendant.

"I'll say. I only get socks and pants." Erik said, joking.

Pearl watched as Sebastian opened his gift from

Pearl. He took out the dagger and held it in both hands. He looked at Pearl. "Always, indeed." He said, responding to the inscription. He knew Latin. She smiled and nodded.

"Gratias tibi valde" he said.

"You're welcome." She said back.

Sebastian's father looked tired and ill. He had little to say and when he did speak, it seemed like a lot of work. Pearl felt for Sebastian, who spent the day tending to him.

After filming the royal family Christmas announcement, everyone said their goodbyes.

"Erik, mind if I stay at Highgrove tonight?" Sebastian asked.

"Of course. Everything alright?" Erik asked.

"Not really. Father is ill and I have been taking care of him for several days now. Our aunt arrives tonight and is taking over. I thought it might do me well to visit the country for a couple of days. To be complete honest, I need a break."Sebastian said. Erik nodded and told him he could stay as long as he would like. Pearl looked at him and nodded as well. He had a sad look, bewilderment even. Her heart hurt for him.

The driver opened the car for Pearl and Erik got in behind her. She and Erik rode in the back on the way back to Highgrove, with Sebastian playing DJ in the front with the radio. It was an almost 2 hour drive with lots of country roads and scenery, but it was getting dark and Pearl was exhausted.

They were about a half hour from Highgrove house and an hour and a half from London when Pearl's back began to ache again. This time much worse. She shifted in her seat several times. "Everything alright, love?" Erik asked.

"Yes. I'm just terribly uncomfortable." Pearl said. All of a sudden, a loud boom was heard and the car pulled hard to the left. The driver slowed to a stop and got out to see what was wrong.

"Tire's blown. I need to change it." He said. It was the darkest and most desolate part of the ride home. Sebastian got out to help, using his phone light. Just as he closed his door, Pearl felt the immediate urge to use the bathroom. She stepped out of the car and felt her water break. "Oh, oh no." She said.

"What's wrong?" Sebastian asked.

"My water. My water just broke." She said.

"Oh no. Ok. Breathe. We need to get you back to London." He said.

"Yes. Yes we do." She said, nervously.