Mahtab was given a dosage of laudanum later that night so she was at least able to sleep. Erik sat on the edge of her bed, worriedly examining the teen, if she was bothered by nightmares and would be in need of help and comfort. Christine was nervously cracking her fingers in the doorway. Thankfully the other children did not wake up to the scandal. God, what to do now?
- What a scandal… what a scandal… - She whispered as walking back and forth in the hall in front of the room where the oldest child was exhaustedly sleeping a thankfully, dream and mindless sleep. – Getting her name in such a scenario..
Christine suddenly walked inside and leaned closer to Erik, who silently stroke Mahtab's hand.
- Look what have you done. – She hissed.
- Me? – Erik gasped in dismay.
- Who else? Who allowed her to court a girl like she was a boy? Who encouraged her to this disgusting act?
- Stop calling my child that. – Erik groaned. – As you will receive the exact pair of that slap. I never hit you in my life, Christine, but I swear I will if you are cruel to Mahtab.
The young girl turned her head to the side and Erik was afraid the starting fight was going to wake her, so he just caught his wife's hand and led her outside of the room.
- Here, if you must, torture me now. – He moaned.
- Erik, I know you meant well. – Christine sighed. – But you simply can't let Mahtab to get into such scenarios. What shall happen to her reputation?
- You fear the reputation of a child which is actually nonexistent or disguised for the majority of other people? Wake up, Christine! At Florian's school, they think Flo is our oldest. We literally had to keep Mahtab's existence as a secret if we wished to save him from traumas like these to happen way earlier.
- But… now you even address her as "him"..?
- It is his wish. I grant it.
- And what if she wants to change her name?
- We were already talking about this with hi. He says he likes the name Mahtab, and as people don't know if it is a male or a female name, he is fine with using it. It is a rare name, really. And he said he was happy about me naming him after a person I loved very much.
- And so she says she was really… a boy?
- Does it take you really so much time to accept? Yes, he is. And please refer to him with his correct pronouns. I would hate to be called as "she" as well. Please respect his will. You have 3 sons and a daughter.
- But we can't pretend she is a boy when she clearly isn't. We should rather help her accept and acknowledge she is a girl, so that she can live her life properly.
- Gender, Christine, is not about what you have between your legs. It is about how you feel. Mahtab has something miscoded in his brain, but he is like this. You can't change that, just as you can't change his face. And what do you mean by "properly"? Walking around in dresses he will hate forever? With that face, waiting for a man to marry "her"? I think, without hurting him, my dear that it most likely will never happen.
- Oh! You as well have a family, if you failed to notice! – Christine snorted.
- Thank you for informing me, Christine, that a monster was able to start a family at the age of 49, after a life of rejection. You make me absolutely happy by reminding me that despite of Erik having a face like a corpse, you STILL made the act of absolute self- sacrifice to connect your life with Erik and give birth to his children!
- Erik, stop it, I did not mean it that way, and you KNOW it! Stop getting out of this conversation like you get insulted over something I did not say…
- You merely indicated it, yes. You were so self – sacrificing to accept me despite of my face and Mahtab's, and you would even be soooo understanding to accept the face of…
Erik suddenly stopped. He nearly spat it out in his sudden rage. But Christine got suspicious.
- The face of WHO, Erik? – Christine asked softly.
- The Devil. – Erik groaned.
- No, you weren't going to say that originally. – She stated. – Erik you have some kind of secret. – Christine went on.
- What sort of secret? – Erik was desperately trying to look as cold as possible, and denying it until his very last breath.
- I overheard a sentence. – She continued stubbornly. – The other night, Mohammed told you something interesting. He stated you were so kind and patient towards Belle – despite…. And that was where you rather harshly silenced him. Despite what, Erik?
- Despite of me already being so old compared to such a young child. – Erik retorted.
- No. You would not silence him for that. You did not wish him to tell something. Something you keep as a secret since the day of her birth. Or it wasn't even HER Birthday, Erik?
- You talk nonsense tonight, woman. I suggest you to go to bed and try to clear your head out. This night made everyone upset here. Mahtab, you, me… I wish to end this conversation right here, as I fear we would insult each other if we continue.
Erik turned around to leave the hallway and go down to the living room to relax, but Christine followed him. The Daroga was sitting by the fire, looking at the flames. He was still under the effect of the scandal and Mahtab's crying earlier, so he did not even notice the couple behind him first.
- Oh, Christine, leave me the Hell alone!
Erik's annoyed voice hit the Persian's ear suddenly and he turned around to see what was going on. He did not have to think a lot as Christine headed him the next moment, and leaned down, close to him, being desperate for an answer.
- Mohammed, please, I beg you to tell me the truth. – She pleaded. – Did I give birth to a boy or a girl that day? You were with Erik the whole time…
- Christine, stop. – Erik started to get angry.
- The child I gave birth to was a boy. I know it was! – She grabbed the Daroga's shoulder. – Tell me!
- It was. – He nodded. There was no need to deny it any more. It was a secret for two years. Christine has the right to know it.
- Daroga!- Erik yelled.
- Shut your face, the kids will wake up. – Christine turned to face Erik. – Use your mouth finally for something useful. For example telling the truth, if you actually know what it means.
- It… it wasn't… it wasn't a matter of choice. – Erik stuttered.
- Then what it was? – Christine demanded a reply.
- Oh Christine… let's just… forget it… please…
- Erik. – Christine walked closer to him and put her hands on his shoulder, She gripped it firmly and looked him in the eye. – Erik I NEED to know. Please. – Her voice changed to pleading. – If there is a secret, I need to know.
- Do you promise… you will love… Belle the same… after hearing…? – Erik whispered brokenly.
- It won't change my feelings for the child I am raising as my own for two years. – Christine lowered her head. – As it is the case, right? She is not my real child.
- No. – Erik shook his head. The Daroga nodded at him from the chair.
Erik slowly and with huge pauses, told Christine the story of that horrible and sad day, he told about Beau and his features, and the fact that the doctor wasn't able to save him. He lived for two hours only, and he was simply too weak to fight.
- How did he die…? – Christine sniffed.
- In my arms… in peace. – Erik whispered. – I sang… sang for him.
- Where is he…?
- I buried him… in a forest near Paris. That is where I… found Belle.
- So she was abandoned? Did you not steal her from her family?
- Erik did many bad things, but not that. She was… in the good place at the good time…
- Oh Erik… - She cried.
- I am sorry. I did not dare to tell you. You were in a horrible state after giving birth… the doctor said… any kind of stress might … KILL you Christine. Erik simply could not bear the thought of losing his son and his wife at the very same day. – He went down on his knees in front of her, and hugged her legs desperately sobbing.
- Erik did you mean to… save me? You did it for me? – Christine stroke Erik's shaking back.
- Ye… ye… - He wasn't able to speak, so he finally just nodded.
- You did not do the… most perfect thing… but I am happy I learned about it. And I would like to ask or something Erik. Will you do me a favor?
Erik again was only able to nod as tears were running down his deformed cheek.
- Promise me you lead me to Beau's grave once we return to Paris. – The mother asked brokenly. – I wish to say Good bye to my son and sing a lullaby for him after so much time.
Erik nodded again, as Christine patted his back.
- I am not angry, Erik, and won't dislike Belle for it. You meant well and Belle is a very kind girl. I love her and she has a loving family. She, and the kids shall not even get to know about.., this episode.
Erik was partly relieved that Christine took the news so well, but stress did not do any good for him. He had gone through so much things that day. Mahtab's disappointment in love, then the nasty affair with Julie's father, and the misunderstanding about Mahtab's gender, and now the truth about Beau and Belle… it was simply too much for even a week, let alone a single day.
- Erik, are you all right? – Christine asked with worry suddenly.
The Daroga stood up from his chair as well and concernedly, he rushed to Erik's side to check on him. The man did not react to any of the questions, his face turned bluish pale, his eyes got fixed at a point above Christine's head and he wasn't able to stand up or move. He felt he was going to be sick at any second, so he tried to crawl on his hands and knees a few meters away, but he was shaking too hard. Christine tried to help him up and lead him to bed – and that is where she made the mistake.
- Christine, I think it is not a good idea to take him upstairs. – The Daroga warned…
But it was already too late.
They took a few steps together, Erik hardly could sense anything around him, just walking out of obeying the force which pulled him, when Erik cried out in pain and all his muscles stiffened, causing him to fall back, no matter how Christine tried to catch him. She was only able to grab his hand, and the forced pull caused Erik's right wrist to get dislocated. Christine gasped in shock when she was her husband slipping down the stairs, head facing the ground. The Daroga saved him from possibly cracking his neck as he caught him before landing. Quickly he pulled him to a safer place just in time before the convulsions of a "grand mal" started. Erik hit his head against the wood floor several times before Christine could put a pillow under his head finally. They were watching as the stress triggered seizure lasted, and Christine felt horrible when she noticed Erik bit his tongue. Oh God, he gets so much injured. Why do you make him suffer so much, my Lord…?
As the spasms stopped, Christine knelt down next to him, stroking his hair, and wiping blood off of his lips. She knew that Erik won't come to his mind for at least half an hour, and he shall be left alone until he regains consciousness and he will have a headache for a long time after… she felt horrible. She nearly killed him. If they went upper, Erik would have slid down from the top of the stairs… and the seizure… it happened because Erik can't take so much stress for a day any more. Especially not after a life he had. She should have left him alone and just not say anything else that night. Oh, poor poor Erik!
- Erik, I am sorry. – She whimpered while caressing his face.
Erik, surprisingly soon compared to usual, opened his eyes which reflected some common sense. He wasn't able to speak yet, but he, with much effort, moved his left hand to touch Christine's hand and with his eyes, he tried to say "I love you."
- I love you too. – Christine whispered, understanding Erik's thoughts.
The poor man, as he was still feeling lousy, just turned his head to the side with a deep sigh of relief, and slowly bowed to unconsciousness again, as always after a grand mal.
