Shoshana sent word to Erik about the birth of their child, writing to him about their beautiful little girl, and about how flawless she was. She told her husband how incredibly terribly she missed him, and how excited she was for him to meet their daughter. She told him her name was Sarina, and what the name meant and that it had been her mother's name. Everything she could possibly think to write was written and sent to Erik two full days away.

Erik read the note a hundred times, looking for any trace that it was a joke, or that something was wrong… but no. Shoshana was happy and healthy, and their baby was a flawless little girl. For the first time in ages, there simply was no second shoe that was waiting to drop, no bad news on the back end of the final page. Things had gone well, it was that simple. And things were going well on the work site. The finishing touches were coming into place now; furniture was arranged, curtains were hung, flowers were brought in from every corner of the world to greet the Sultan when he arrived. Every single trap door worked perfectly, including the one from Erik's living quarters to the world outside the Sultan was never to know about. Nearly two months to the day after Sarina had been born, Erik was able to leave the new, completed palace and return to Mazenderan to meet his daughter.

He hadn't announced that the project had been finished slightly ahead of schedule, nor that he was making his way into Mazenderan. After purchasing the loveliest flowers in the marketplace and a vial of his wife's favorite almond oil, he snuck into the palace like a specter and moved to their apartment for the first time in nearly two full years. Had it really been so long? It felt like he had arrived in Persia just days before… but it had truly been closer to three years. Three years since he had first met Shoshana, that strangely exotic little harem girl searching for an equally exotic little cat. Three years since they had become friends, and since their marriage had been arranged by powers beyond either's control. Within three years they had fallen in love, and now they had created a family. The more Erik thought about it, the more and more remarkable it really seemed.

Without so much as a knock, Erik let himself into the apartment. Shoshana nearly jumped out of her skin from where she sat, admiring their perfect little girl as she slept in her crib. She clutched at her chest instinctively before breaking out into a full run and leaping into her husband's arms. Wrapping her legs around his middle, she kissed him soundly.

"Erik! Oh Erik I've missed you so much! I can't believe you're here!" She exclaimed, throwing off his mask and covering his face in kisses. Erik couldn't help but laugh as he kissed his wife eagerly.

"I've missed you too, Shoshana," he promised. "So, so much. I got your letter."

"You didn't write back," she pouted, and Erik kissed her to quiet her.

"I wanted to finish the palace as soon as possible so I could come back to you. Except for reading your letter I did nothing but work," he explained, and kissed her deeply. "I did read the letter though, repeatedly. Everything is okay?"

"Everything is incredible, Erik. She's simply perfect, come and see," she took his hand, but Erik slipped free to put his flowers in a vase in an attempt to stall for time.

"Just a moment, these will die if they don't get in water," Shoshana frowned and moved to hug him from behind.

"Erik… you don't have to be nervous" she promised, kissing his shoulder. "She's going to love you. And I promise Erik, she's perfect. She only cries when she's hungry or tired. She sleeps a lot, and she's started smiling and singing. She loves the mobile you made her."

Erik nodded, and moved to retrieve the mask she had removed. Quietly she took it from his hand. "My love, if she grows up knowing you without it you won't ever have to worry about her being afraid someday."

"But she'll be afraid now-"

"She won't, I promise. Everything in our world is new to her, she's taking everything in stride," Shoshana kissed him to help steady his nerves, and took his hand to guide him to the crib.

Erik peered into the crib, and found himself staring into the large brown eyes of his daughter. He could hardly see the resemblance to himself, she was so perfect. Her cheeks were full and soft, paler than Shoshana's could ever have been though the baby had clearly inherited most of her other features. The girl stared up at him, brow furrowed curiously as she babbled her hidden language and chewed on one of her fists nervously at the sight of this stranger. But she didn't scream, and didn't cry. Sarina simply observed, and deciding the man meant her no harm reached up the hand that was not in her mouth in an attempt to touch his face. Shoshana smiled and lifted the girl from her crib to offer her to Erik.

"I couldn't-"

"Nonsense, Erik. I know how careful you are, you're not going to drop her. Here, support her neck. She can lift her head now, mostly. She's started rolling too," Shoshana smiled and passed the baby off to her husband. "You wouldn't believe how incredible she is. She sleeps all night, but she's up as early as you used to be. I'm worried she'll drink me dry though, she certainly got that from me," she teased, knowing her husband was a light eater.

Erik accepted the baby reluctantly, and continued watching the girl just as she continued to watch him. The girl looked over to her mother, who smiled at the girl and blew her a kiss. Sarina seemed comforted by this, and reached up to inspect the man she didn't know was her father. The infant inspected ever corner of Erik's face without fear, confused by this strange new man but certainly not afraid. "She's very brave," Erik whispered, not wanting to startle the girl.

"Like her father," Shoshana smiled, and moved to sit on the bed.

"I don't know about that."

"She reminds me so much of you, I don't know how. This I the first time she's met you, but she fixates on things just like you do. She can stare and sing with the mobile until she can hardly keep her eyes open. She does nothing in moderation."

Erik nodded quietly, unable to take his eyes off the girl. Shoshana immediately knew she had been right; while she had fallen in love with their child as soon as she knew she was pregnant, it had taken until this first meeting for Erik to fall in love. There was no doubt in her mind that her husband was just as in love with their daughter now as she was, and it filled her with joy. He had been so stubborn, so reluctant… and still he was in love with this fearless girl he had sired.

"Hello, Sarina. I'm your father," he smiled down at the girl, and Shoshana stood to move towards her husband and embraced him from behind.

"I love you, Erik," she smiled up at him and kissed his bare cheek.

"I love you too, Shoshana."