After Erik's first seizure things had changed a lot in the family. Erik was finally not the only one taking care of the house. Mahtab was helping him before a lot, but the house and the garden together were still too big, and Erik did not consider Mahtab as a small servant, rather his aid many times, so he still had a lot to do. But now, as the doctor informed them about his need to rest more, and Christine finally realized that those 28 years difference to Erik's advance between them started to have a sign, she saw that it was too much for him alone. He was an old man, and men in his age needed a lot more rest than before. She had to realize Papa Daaé was younger than Erik when he passed away, so he needed to be spared of emotional and physical exhaust the most possible, especially with his new illness. Yet Erik liked to be active, his body wasn't capable of that much anymore. He did not like to admit this, but appreciated that he had less things to do, and liked to rest in his chair.
Sadly, Erik did not only have that one seizure. Yet they were not too serious anymore, and the "grand mal" occurred just a few times, he had some lapses which lasted for only a few seconds of blankly staring into space, or shaking his hands rhythmically. The children were explained what to and what not to do to Erik if it happens, and they reacted well to this. Mahtab once assisted her father during a grand mal, and put a pillow under his head while he lay on the floor in the salon. She was a bit scared, but tried her best to overcome it, and later she guided Papa to bed with the calm and secure knowledge of a doctor. Erik knew he could trust his oldest at any time after it had happened so he wasn't scared about seizures any more.
The housework was, rather equally sorted between the family members, so everyone had their job. Even Flo and Noel had to help at home, cleaning their room, keeping it tidy and packing away their clothes from the laundry, so they weren't the spoiled little boys anymore. They learned that they had responsibilities as well, and everyone had to help each other.
Doing the dishes was the work that had to be scheduled, as there were smaller or bigger quarrels about it between the kids as no one really liked to do that chore, not even Mahtab, who tended to do someone else's job anytime without a second thought – but not dishes. Christine made a timetable for each day of the week, telling which of them will do the dishes, and it was equally shared, so no more reason for disagreements. Noel seemingly hated the chores, but deep in his heart he liked to help his parents, yet he would never admit it out loud. He made an attempt though, to avoid doing the dishes, using his smart brain (and bad manners). He "accidentally" broke some plates, claiming he wasn't good enough in working with breakable objects, but Christine knew well that it was on purpose, so Noel did not receive any sweets for a week, as Christine announced the plates will be replaced by that money she would spend on his sweets, so Noel did not have the urge to do it again. Christine took part in everything as well, as she had to admit she chose the easier way earlier, just to let Erik do everything, and she loved being spoiled. Time to be a normal and effective housewife instead of the Queen. She did the laundry, sew buttons back up on jackets, did the ironing and took care of the children. Erik was cooking still, and he loved to garden, and tell the bedtime story to the children. These were the things he mostly did and liked, as he did not let anyone else to meddle with his roses, and Christine was still a horrible cook. But in other housework she got noticeably better. Before she ironed actually more wrinkles in Erik's shirt than how he removed it, so he rather did it for himself, but practicing made her much better. She was now able to iron even the pants perfectly.
Mahtab loved Belle and she took care of her the most with Christine, yet Mahtab liked to imagine Belle was actually her baby. She loved to walk her in the garden, firstly in her pram, but as she grew, she took her out to crawl, and then, walk around with her help. The small girl developed normally and smiled a lot, which made Mahtab even happier. Teaching the baby to walk did not take that much time and Belle soon could walk insecurely, yet constantly by her big sister's side. She reminded Erik of the relationship between Mahtab and him, and he was waiting for the day when Belle will address Mahtab "Papa". It did not happen though, as Belle, when she started using real words instead of baby language, she called Erik "Pa", Christine "Ma", Mahtab "Mada", Flo "Fofo" and Noel as "Nene". If someone asked her what her name was, she nodded and said "Baby". She did not have too much of a vocabulary yet, but she could communicate her will easily. She adored to dance to the sound of music, yet she was rather falling on her rear many times, as her sense of balance wasn't too good yet, but she was still jumping around without getting sad or upset about failure.
Mahtab was so patient towards the small girl as a real adult, Erik had to admit that sometimes even more so. She did not get upset if she had to explain simple things over and over and tell a thing 100 times to Belle, even if the baby did not yet understand it.
Christine was happy to find out that Belle was a totally girly girl, unlike her oldest child. She, from even a very young age, loved to be dressed in nice dresses and she loved jewelry. She also loved to play with Christine's make up accessories, and let Mama put some lipstick on her. She also loved to see herself in the mirror. As a toddler, she took up a habit to show herself in dresses by turning around, and showing even the small shoes she got, and was bragging on baby language until the person who was watching her started clapping in delight.
- What a vain little princess are you, my dear. – Erik laughed while clapping.
Christine bought newer and more- more beautiful dresses for her, enjoying that she had a daughter, finally. Mahtab was never interested in such things, not even while she was still wearing dresses as a toddler. She never wanted to play with jewelry or wear one, save for the pocket watch and cravat pin she received from Erik. One day, not much before Christmas in 1899, Christine arrived home with the young child from the city. Erik did not know what they did there, but he soon found out Belle had a pair of golden earrings.
- Oh ho, I see now why you took her. – He smiled. - Aww, look how cute you are, little one… soon you are going to be a maiden every man will fight for.
Christine, however, found some strange things about Belle within time. As she grew and her face turned more mature instead of just a baby face, she noticed some major differences upon looking at her. As she got one and a half a year old, she developed facial features that resembled literally no one in the family. Her eyes were green, yet none of the other children had any color besides blue or dark brown, and her hair was much lighter than Erik's or Florian's, but much darker than Mahtab's, Noel's, or hers. It was between light brown and red in some shades and looked rather red when the sun shone at it directly. With the green eyes it was odd, and so much different from other parts of the family. Christine could not even think of a relative who had these features. She sometimes wondered how come that she looks so different than the other children, and tried to remember back to the day of her birth sometimes.
Erik was acting so strange, looking back… so nervous, so insecure.
And those sentences still haunted her sometimes, ringing in her ear as she was thinking about Belle's birthday. At first, it was the doctor:
"It is a boy, Christine… please stay with me…"
And then Erik:
"We are going to raise him on gruel."
How did the boy become a girl? Why does she look like no one else in the nearer or further family?
Is it actually possible for a dark brown haired man and a blonde woman to have a red haired child…?
She was a bit of suspicious about there might be something Erik did not tell. Some secret. But what? Yet, she felt ashamed of her thoughts, and tried to find a logical reason behind Belle's unique looks. Maybe she does not remember clearly? Maybe the girl inherited some older features in the family, and carried them from a further generation? She did not know anything about Erik's family for example. Might be Erik's relatives had this combination of hair and eye color and that shaped nose at some point…?
Still, a strange thing…
Mahtab was already 14 years old, and just finished another growing phase. She was now extremely tall, compared to being just a young girl, she had already manly height. She reached up to Erik's chin, and was thin as a skeleton still. Her body frame did not show at all that she was a female. She was now taller than Christine. She mastered a technique from her father to make her voice sound deeper than it was, so she mostly sounded like a teen boy, unless she wasn't paying attention and jumped back in mezzosoprano range, especially if she was emotionally worked up. She loved to play with the tone of her voice and in some months, she had a range similar to Erik's – from a deeper baritone to high soprano in falsetto. She was still singing very nicely, and did so with pleasure.
Florian and Noel were close friends, yet Noel often considered his older brother to be a coward namby-pamby. Flo was just a meek, dreamy, artistic and silent boy, short and chubbier built, from the two of them, he looked younger than Noel, who was already taller than Flo, and much -much braver. Noel grew a lot as well in the past year, just like Mahtab. He sure also inherited Erik's height. Flo rather acted and looked like Christine, save for the hair and eye color. Christine told he still reminded her of her Papa a lot. They liked to sing together, or Flo accompanied her by the violin and it always touched Christine's heart. She recognized Papa Daaé's emotional playing, combined with Erik's technique.
Flo, as a 12 year- old boy, was starting to be even more interested in girls than before, especially Sophie de Chagny. She was a beautiful young girl, unlike Mahtab, who was a boy, instead of being a girl. But Sophie, with her porcelain doll face, her graceful movements even despite being blind, and those well- formed white hands of hers… She always reminded him of ballet dancers or a queen. He was so much in love with her. He wanted to marry her when he gets old enough. He caught himself daydreaming about her a lot, while he was supposed to do his homework, and he wasn't ashamed of the fact. He wondered how does it feel to kiss a girl… but he still had to wait as it wasn't polite for a man in his age just randomly walk to a girl and kiss her. But he has to learn how to court.
- Papa… - He walked to Erik nervously at an evening, cracking his fingers.
- Yes, Flo? – He turned to the pre-teen, with a hint of worry. Flo wasn't so nervous usually.
- Papa, let's talk like… a man to a man. – He cleared his throat.
This sentence sounded rather ridiculous from a boy, who still sounded like a child, as he did not yet hit puberty. Erik nodded and led him to the study. They sat down at the desk and Erik pointed at Flo, informing him he may now start to speak. He found it strange how his children felt and acted like grown – up people from a young age. What this boy wants, really?
- How do you court a woman? I mean… what do you do to her so she knows you want to marry her?
- Florian, you are too young for this. Marriage is only for grown up men.
- I know, but… I thought… I will marry Sophie.
- Oh. Well, she is a nice girl indeed.
- I know… - His voice cracked for a second, but he continued. – So I was thinking of marrying her when I become a famous composer.
- What makes you think you are going to be one?
- I wrote a symphony. – He stated. – It is nearly 1900. – He added explainingly.
- I don't see how it is in connection with you and Sophie.
- I will publish my symphony and earn a tad of money then I ask her to marry me as I will be able to support her.
- You are such a child. – Erik smiled and shook his head. – You are just like your Mama, dreaming all the time.
- So… what to do?
- At first, dear, if you like Sophie, be kind to her. You hardly ever speak to her when you are together. I bet she knows nothing of your feelings.
- Because I am afraid she likes me not.
- Well you have to find it out. If you like her, give her compliments. Tell her she is kind, she is beautiful, and so. And if she likes you back, she will do the same. I think, you shall wait until you both turn mature, and then, she will eventually tell you the answer to that special question. But it is not until you can support both yourself and her. Believe me, it will take years. But don't get sad. I suggest you just to do what you did before. Play and write music, play with the others, and be kind to Sophie. You will eventually find out the answer.
- Thank you Papa. – He smiled.
The things Erik said sounded logical, and though he wished to move to the next step as soon as possible, he knew it was wiser many times to wait. Erik had to laugh at this small silly boy. He thought and acted like a naïve little child. And he was yet thinking of marriage… what a cute idea, the small Don Juan.
Christmas came, Christmas of 1899.
That Christmas was remembered well by the whole family, especially poor Christine, who nearly had a heart attack.
Everything went fine up until they started to open gifts. The family got common gifts, and they were having fun up until the point Mahtab lifted up a small box which was addressed for her.
- It is from me. – Erik said. – You will like it.
Christine did not think of anything special. Maybe some manly thing for the teen, to feel herself more like a man…? Maybe a new cravat pin or cufflinks? But then why that box is so big? The lid was opened and Christine gasped upon the sight of a smaller kind of silver colored, brand new pistol in the box. With a scream she fainted.
She woke up to the sensation of sneezing from smelling salts as her head lay on Erik's knee. She faintly looked around and noticed Mahtab happily meddling with that horrid thing. It wasn't a dream.
- Thank you, Papa, I wanted this…! How did you know? – She inquired happily.
- Christine, please, don't make a scene. – Erik's voice pleaded in her right ear. – I will explain later.
Christine, yet it was rather hard for her to compose herself, did not say a bad word about the pistol, but asked Mahtab not to carry it around with her to the dinner table. It simply does not belong there. She obeyed, and also to Erik, when he informed her that the pistol was to be only used when he can control her, and only he shall give it to her, and will take it away when it is not used. She agreed to these terms.
Later, when Erik and Christine stayed alone, she just sighed and turned to Erik.
- Christine, Mahtab needs to learn how to defend herself. We talked about this before.
- We did, and I did not like the idea of the lasso either, but the pistol is too much.
- It isn't. Christine, the Punjab string is only good for fighting at short distance. Mahtab needs a pistol to be able to be in advance from long distance as well. She can shoot before they arrive. Don't worry. Erik will control her while learning. We only aim at lifeless objects. She shall never ever aim the gun at a family member or friend. If she does, may or may she not be a teen, I spank her as she won't be able to sit for weeks.
- Well… I am not happy about a girl with a pistol.
- Oh ho, dear Christine! – Erik laughed out. – At first, Mahtab is a boy. It was told to you many times. Secondly, you also own a pistol.
- What?
- Don't play the deaf, dear. You keep it in the second to last drawer of your nightstand, left side in the back. In a Swedish flag patterned case.
- How did you… know it?
- I am your husband. I take care of the house for years. I find everything.
- Only for… self-defense.
- Well, Mahtab's is only for self- defense as well. – Erik shrugged. – We are going to have the first lesson tomorrow.
- All right. – She nodded and lowered her head. – But please take care. I worry about her.
- We all do. – Erik agreed. – You shall worry only if she can't defend herself. And we will take good care, don't worry. Erik is an excellent shooter. He never misses.
Well, Christine still wasn't too happy about the fact, but she decided to let them do so. Mahtab adored the pistol. It looked so awesome, and she felt like an adult when she had it in her hand. At the grip, there was a big letter "M" engraved, making it even more personal for her. She was so excited at her first lesson, holding it and running outside with Erik in the snow. They stood in front of a tree. Erik carved a dartboard on the tree and walked next to his daughter.
- All right, try to aim at the center. Just like me. – Erik showed her what to do and how to handle the weapon, then shot right in the middle of the board. – Your turn.
She lifted the pistol just as she saw from Papa, and sent a shot at the poor tree. It reached the edge of the board.
- Not bad for first try, but you shall be more exact. With a bad aim you are helpless.
- I understand. – She nodded, then shot again. This time the bullet hit the fence next to the tree.
- Try to imagine it is someone you hate. – Erik advised.
- I don't hate anyone. – Mahtab wondered. – Why, who do you hate, Papa?
- No one in particular nowadays. – He shrugged. – But it helps. Just try to imagine the people who hurt you earlier. The kids at school, or the people on the train.
- Oh… those… - Mahtab wheezed, remembering back at those scenes. She lifted the pistol and shot the dartboard right in the middle, accidentally picturing one of the faces in front of her. – That's it. – She smirked. – That served you right.
- Indeed. – Erik patted her shoulder. – Excellent shot.
Christine was worriedly examining them from the window, but she found out with relief that no one got hurt during that macabre little play.
Mahtab found out that shooting got really much easier as she imagined those hostile faces in front of herself. She let out a small laugh each time she scored. She took it as a game, and finally she could get rid of the stress piled up in her soul for years. She isn't helpless any more. Should someone be so idiot to attack her or her family…
They shall get it.
