- I am going to be an Uncle. - Noel was proudly tasting these words, as he was smiling widely. - An Uncle. Uncle Noel. I hope it will be a boy, so I can teach him everything I know.

- How to cheat in card games, for example? - Greg retorted playfully while passing his older brother. They liked each other, but they were teasing each other a lot, of course, nothing serious was going on between them.

- For the last time, Mister Gregory, I state I wasn't cheating. Merely I was showing you some card tricks to make the party be a more interesting one.

- And that is how you accidentally won the game. - Greg laughed out on his monotonous sounding voice which was similar to a robot's laughing. A bit weird for someone who did not know the reason behind it, but the family accepted him with it, and was happy for it.

- You are too young to understand such a business. - Noel messed up his brother's hair and stuck his tongue out on him. - And besides, Englishmen never understand humor.

- Noel, I don't wish to hear another sentence like this ever again. - Christine stepped into the room with a pile of freshly washed clothes and put it down on the bed. - Put these clothes in your suitcases, boys. We have to get ready for leaving next Monday, so keep using only the most necessary things until that. Papa just arrived back with the tickets for the ship.

- Yes, Mama. - Greg jumped to reach out for his clothes obediently.

- I am sorry, Mama. - Noel said with surprise. - But why can't we joke about English people?

- It is not about being English or not, but about making degrading remarks about someone else's nationality. When you all will be together I am going to tell you a few words regarding this matter.

Christine left the room, slowly collecting her thoughts about what she had to tell the children later, and how to word those sentences. She had felt earlier as well this was a talk which had to be done at some time, but since they both have Lily and Greg in their family with foreign roots or heritage, she knew she had to tell it to them before they arrive back to Paris. She absently looked around, noticing Erik writing something at his desk. She peeked inside the open door of the study, and curiously walked closer.

- What is my sweet husband working on? - her angelic voice caressed Erik's ears, and he couldn't help, but looked up and turned to Christine, smiling.

- Proofreading and correcting French homework for the children. They forget their own native in merely a few years time. Shame. Look at this grammar your son is using. - He pointed at a line with his bony finger in Noel's homework.

- If they make mistakes, they are my sons. - Christine chuckled. - When they make you proud, they are your sons.

- They are our sons, no matter what, but I like to act grumpy. - Erik admitted and shook his head.

- And we love you this way. - Christine placed a soft kiss on the top of his head, while Erik thankfully and lovingly squeezed her hand leaning on his shoulder. - Anyway, I would prefer, my sweet Christine if you too, started talking to the children in French only again.

- It will be hard for Greg. We have to take him into consideration, let alone Lily. She won't understand a word, she never spoke French before.

- Do you think Russians started switching to French any time I visited Russia for me to have the honor of talking to me? - Erik retorted.

- No. - Christine shook her head with a tired little snort.

- And thee Persians?

- No. - Christine shook her head again.

- Chinese? Italians?

- Italian is almost French. - She pouted, wanting to change the subject.

- See? They have to make efforts to adapt to the country they will be taken to and they never learn the language if they are pampered and never have to use the language.

- Partly you are right, but you are too strict in this matter. - She shook her head in dismay. - I see you too will have to hear what I tell the children in the evening.

With that, she kissed Erik's head again, and with a final small back rub, she left the room to let Erik work in peace.

In the evening, when everyone but Lily was sitting in the living room, the adults having either a glass of wine or a cup of tea, and the children received their hot coco before bedtime, Christine announced she was going to tell a story. The children were extremely happy for this, they loved when any of the parents told them a bedtime story, it was usually Erik, though, so they appreciated the change. Greg and Belle instantly sat next to Mama's feet on two pillows, and Noel, who loved to listen to stories in the most comfortable way possible, lay across the sofa with his hands folded under his head. Flo curiously stopped writing music, looking at Mama, and Mahtab just sat closer to Erik, silently waiting for Mama to start talking.

- Today's story is a bit of unique you see. - Christine stated smiling. - It wasn't written by famous authors like the ones Papa reads to you mostly. It was written by life itself.

- Life can write stories? - Belle asked with a hint of confuse.

- It can write the most interesting ones, my sweetie. - Christine patted the tiny head and stroke the red curls between her fingers.

Once upon a time, in a country far to the North, where people speak a strange language and winters are long and cold, there lived a little girl. She was an only child of a loving Mama and Papa. They lived in a small house, and were rich in love but poor in wealth. Mama was ill, and could not move her feet, so she needed a lot of help from the small family. But they did not mind it at all, on the contrary.

- It is like Tonton when he could not move his hand. - Flo stated a bit of sadly.

- Yes but now he can. - The Daroga smiled, with a thankful expression, moving his hand which used to be unusable for a time.

- Maybe the little Girl's Mama will heal as well. - Greg smiled hopefully, though he knew deep down in his heart it was unlikely. It happened to him before… Mama just left for Heaven.

- Sadly not. - Christine shook her head and some tears were forming in the corner of her clear blue eyes, but she composed herself quickly.

For six years, the family lived as every family should, in love and peace, until Mama got sick. She was in bed for weeks, and the small girl was worried about her, never leaving her side. One morning, Mama reached out for the girl's head, stroke her hair for the last time, and said "I love you" in that strange language, then closed her eyes for the last time. She was no more, and the little girl was alone with Papa from that time.

- This is a sad story, Mama. - Belle, climbed closer, seeking for comfort. - Will it be so sad all the time?

- No, dear, but you have to know life isn't always easy and happy. - Christine kissed Belle's forehead with an apologetic little smile.

Don't feel too much sorry for the young girl yet. She was sad, of course, but Papa, her dear and sweet Papa was so good to her she felt safe and loved with only him as well. A very adventurous life had started for the little girl: she was travelling all around the world with Papa, to see many countries and meeting new friends on the way. Papa was a violinist. He was playing music for all kinds of audiences in every town and country they have visited. All of the world was their home, and yet they had no real home.

You know, my darlings, there are two kinds of musicians. One is the kind who gives concerts at concert halls or opera houses, in front of the richer audience, and travels only to see similar concert halls around the world, playing music of classical masterpieces… and there is the street musician who plays music by one single instrument in front of the poorer audience, mostly on the streets or sometimes at the inns. They often play folklore tunes or dances everybody knows. Papa was the latter, and this way they have met many people who liked his music. The small girl was so proud of him, admiring him while he played.

- Papa is both of these musicians, is he? - Noel corrected. - I mean he said he used to play for crowds on the street but he also played in Flo's symphony.

- I am not a musician by profession. - Erik retorted. - Please don't interrupt your Mother all the time, you all will have to go to bed soon.

Christine smiled at Erik's grumpiness yet again, but she sent a playful wink towards him. Erik acknowledged it with a hardly noticeable small wave of his right hand towards his wife, and winked back at her.

These latter musicians though, are not as much respected as the ones you have already seen both in Paris and here. Street violinists are poor, and they are treated as "strange" and like "they don't have a proper occupation". I know music is a hard work, but many people don't think so, and they tend to say musicians, especially street violinists, are useless, and not too much more respected than beggars and gypsies.

Even stranger is that father and daughter are constantly talking on a strange language no one understands, and they came from a country no one knows too much about. They were always the odd outsiders who never stay in one place for a long time. Though they play and sing together nicely, no one really understands them, and they met only a few people who respected them completely. The litle girl learned some phrases on many languages, but she was yet very young, and mainly Papa spoke. She felt safe with only Papa, who was able to help her and protect her from everything. As I said, a few people were real close friends to them. In France, they once met a sweet married couple, a professor and his wife. They were the closest in the girl's life she could call as parents instead of parents.

Christine stopped for a moment, looking around with a deep sigh. Even after these long years it was painful to recall.

The little girl neede those kind people more than anything… as there came the awful time when her Papa also fell ill and after a long illness, withering away, he passed away on day the girl wants to forget so badly.

Yes, dears. She was left there, alone in a foreign country, without her loving Papa, with kind, but foreign people. They did their best calming her, and raised her the kindest possible, but this situation was hard in itself. You have to understand, when you have traditions and habits you and your family do, it is hard to adopt to completely new habits, after losing everyone who mattered to you. It makes you feel lonely, and sometimes it is even like you are not yourself any more. You have to learn and do new habits, speak a new language you hardly mastered yet, everyone speaks to you on that hard language suddenly, and you feel so lost. You feel shame when you don't understand something, thinking you should, and you hardly dare to speak, fearing you will make huge mistakes and everyone will laugh at you, saying you are stupid. The language you spoke before, your native, is no more. No one can speak it, and you will never hear "Good night" or "I love you" on the words you have been hearing in all your childhood so far. And… they even change your name.

- Change your name? - Erik gasped. - How come? Are you not Christine originally?

- The girl in the story is Mama? - Belle gasped. - Mama is the orphan poor girl?

- Yes, dear. - Christine nodded, kissing Belle again. - This story was a short version of what I was going through after my Papa moved to Heaven, leaving me in Perros, to the attendance of my dear second family, Mama and Papa Valerius. You have to understand they meant well. They gave me a loving home, and I am so thankful for that and I love their memories more than anything. But yes, they changed a bit of my name. When I moved to them, they thought they should write my name in a less foreign way, so that it looks more like a French name. They only wanted people not to look on a strange way when they see my name written down and not to judge me. They changed "Kristina" to "Christine". With the lack of my native tongue used, and the writing of my name changing, I felt like the last part of me being "me" was taken away as well, and now I am a completely different person.

Erik could not hear the rest of the story, as he suddenly fell deep into his thoughts. No, the last part of your personage, dear, was taken away when you had to change your father's name to a not even existent surname your husband made up, so he could give you a name "of his own". How foolish I was not even considering this all she had just told… what a fool I was…

- We promise we won't force a foreign culture completely on Lily and Greg, Mama. - Erik was startled up to these words said by Mahtab. - We leave them time and help them get used to French habits and we can have mixed traditions as well.

- Right! - Noel jumped up excitedly. - Please tell me more about your traditions, Tonton! - He pointed at the Daroga.

- Not today. - The Persian shook his head with a small chuckle. - I think you all have to go to bed already.

There was something wrong with Erik the next few days as Christine noticed. She kept asking him if he felt well, and Erik assured her he was all right, but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts many times. Being lost in thoughts wouldn't have been such a problem in itself, but she feared it was a sign of a new seizure Erik was going to go through, if a "grand mal" was coming, it was always foreshadowed by smaller "absence" episodes, when Erik would blankly stare forward to nothing for a few seconds. Christine seriously hoped it wasn't going to happen, and she was about to ask Erik to cancel the trip to France, but on the day of the departure he woke up totally changed. He was happy, hopeful, and the earliest bird of the family in that morning.

- Wake up, lazy group of children! Do you want to sleep until noon? Eh? Up, up, I said.

They were even more surprised he did not lose his endless optimism and good spirits on the way to the port to catch the ship, and he did not even give a damn about surely soon getting seasick, as always. He was cheerfully whistling an upbeat little tune, while carrying both his and Christine's suitcases.

- What has gotten into you, Erik? - Christine laughed, not remembering when Erik was in such a great mood for the last time.

- Things are getting back to the way as they should be. - He replied with a small content whistle at the end of the sentence.

- I did not know you missed Paris so much.

- Paris? Who cares about Paris? - Erik laughed out with a wave of his lesser occupied right hand.

- I don't understand you then. - Christine's eyes widened in surprise.

- You will, my sweet wife, you will. Soon enough.

Upon arriving to the dock, Mahtab suddenly noticed someone else standing there, already waiting for the departure, with luggage, so she… she did not just get out to say good bye to him… and he could not help but drop his belongings on the floor from surprise and happiness. Bonnie was waving happily at him and when they finally hugged, Mahtab could only ask:

- Are you… really coming with us?

- Yes! - Bonnie nodded happily. - Papa allowed me to go to Paris to study arts. They say I might become an artist. Just what I wanted! And we don't have to part!

- Never… - Mahtab swallowed back some tears. - Never ever… but why didn't you tell?

- I only got to know about it yesterday. It was a surprise for me too. The happiest surprise of my life.

- Mine too.

After they finally composed themselves enough to rejoin the group, Lily, who was just feeling better from her earlier illness and anxiety, looked at Flo with a happy smile. She was a bit of nervous about the coming journey, but it was so good to see the other happy couple, and to hear how much Erik worked to make both of his older sons happy. Lily did not fear Erik any longer, especially since Erik was extremely kind towards her lately and asked regularly if she was safe and healthy.

- You will like it in Paris, my love. - Flo reassured her. - I know you will.

- I know I will love it with you. Wherever we are. Because I love you. - She replied smiling.

She was so thankful, looking at Flo, knowing she was finally home, and not treated any more just as a ballet girl who ruined her career with an early pregnancy. Thankfully the baby did not bother her. She did not know why Christine kept asking her if she had problems with her stomach. She never experienced such a thing.

The journey was pleasant for everyone but Erik, so he did not show up too often. Noel made a silly jokey remark about it is Lily who is pregnant and yet she isn't the one suffering from sickness, but he regretted it the next moment when Mahtab gave him a moderate wallop of educational purpose.

Nothing special was going on for the rest of the journey in France, up until Erik announced he had to take care of some business alone and asked the rest of the family to just go on with their journey, not to bother about him, and he was going to rejoin them once he arrives to Paris.

- Where are you going? - Christine asked with worry.

- Nowhere special. - Erik wasn't making sense yet again, and Christine did not like it.

- Tell me a name of a place. - She demanded a reply.

- Not important.

- I don't know such a city, it is not on my map.

- It is next to "I am not telling" and is located near "None of your business", my love.

- Erik, I am not allowing you to wander like a vagabond. We need you at home.

- Do I need your approval? - He snorted.

- At least don't go alone. - She sighed, seeing he won't listen. - I am not comfortable knowing you are all alone at a place I don't even know the name of. What if you get ill?

- Partly right. - Erik nodded. - But you are not coming, it is a surprise for mostly you.

- Then take Mahtab. - Christine offered. - He is the oldest and…

- And he is occupied by loving on his little lover, I am not comfortable separating them. Noel has yet no one, he can come.

- Noel is yet too young.

- He is 14. - Erik shrugged. - If I was old enough to live on my own at this age why can't he accompany an adult to a French city?

- Please take care. - She hugged his shoulder.

- You too. - Erik replied on a kinder voice. - All of you. You are very dear to me, and I love all of my family. Stay safe.

Noel was happy to go somewhere with Papa in private. He liked his big family, but some alone time with his father was always a good thing, especially that he admired Erik so much, and considered him as his role model. He will be a scientist when he grows up… or a magician… or both. Just like Papa. Finally Mahtab and Flo were old enough not to cling on Papa constantly. It is his turn! Looking at the boy so closely, sitting at the seat on the train facing him, Erik just realized how much Noel's features matured during these past months. The boy grew a lot again, meaning he reached up to his ear, and was lanky, blonde and his eyes were lighter blue than Christine's, with a shade of gray. Strange. In his early childhood they used to be darker blue, and his hair was darker blonde as well. Now he looked like his hair was white. Fading colors already? The boy was always pale, but completely healthy and vital, Erik assumed maybe he inherited some kind of skin condition from him, making the boy paler than average. Thank God it is not yellow at least.

And there came the thought which was bothering him about Lily's pregnancy… can a condition like his, be passed through two generations? How much is the chance of Lily's child, or coming children will look like him or Mahtab, passing on devil's little face through the family? Lily does not even know how they look in normal, she only saw them masked yet. What if she has to hold a small disfigured child after childbirth?

- Where are we going, Papa? - Noel broke the silence between them, looking out of the train window.

- Perros. - Erik replied shortly, just woken from his musings. - Thank you for coming, Noel.

- I want to go with you. Anywhere. - He reassured.

- Really? - Erik looked up in interest.

- Yes. - Noel nodded. - I love you and would follow you around forever.

Noel suddenly fell silent, being surprised and startled by his sudden confession of his emotions, then went on:

- Papa, why is that…. I want to say nice things to you all… mostly… but I only say cynical things?

- This is just the way you are. - Erik patted his shoulder. - It is not a bad thing, I am like that mostly too, if you pay attention. It is hard for me to talk about what I feel. I guessed it was because of solitude, but it seems like it is rather my nature, and you inherited it from me. The only important thing is to follow your heart and try your best not to talk but act as you feel. If someone loves you enough they will know how you feel without you needing to tell them constantly.

- So you knew I loved you even if I did not tell?

- Of course I did. - Erik smiled. - Just as you sure know I love you.

Noel smiled widely and rubbed his palms together, which was his habit to convey endless cheer, he did that subconsciously since he was a baby. Such a child he is yet… Erik thought to himself. He wants to play the serious adult, but deep down in his heart he is just a little boy, seeking for love and attention. It isn't easy to be the youngest of the "own children" trio. Since his birth he had to fight for attention, competing Mahtab, and Florian. Two rivals at birth… not easy. He really has to spend more time with his youngest.

- You see, I tell you what we are doing here. This journey is merely a spiritual one yet, to make sure I have the right thoughts and want to do the right solutions. - Erik started explaining the reason why they were on that train suddenly. - We are heading to Perros so that I can talk to your Grandfather.

- But he is dead. - Noel scratched his ear in disbelief.

- I know. - Erik nodded. - But I feel it as the right thing to do to ask him first.

- But he can't reply.

- I know you believe in only material issues, Noel, I used to be like that in your age, but believe me, as you age, you will find out you can't always explain things regarding only science.

- I see. - Noel nodded with a shrug. Whatever Papa finds true, is true. Who is he to debate older people's life experiences? Maybe he can even learn by them.

- I wanted to show you his grave already anyway. - Erik stated. - He was your Grandfather after all and you know how much he meant to Mama.

Visiting the graveyard was something strange for Noel. He imagined Papa will ask something out loud, and maybe he can hear something as a sign being sent their way, but Papa only stated.

- I introduce you Noel. He was yet a baby when I visited you for the last time and I haven't shown him to you in person yet.

Noel, not exactly by his own will, did a small bow towards the grave, just as if he was really bowing towards the person he was introduced to.

Contrary to him being introduced so nicely and Papa spending an enormous amount of time at the grave, not another audible word left Papa's lips. He sometimes whispered or murmured something, but Noel could not catch a coherent word or sentence. Contrary to his usual short-tempered behavior, and getting bored easily, he did not start complaining or hurrying Papa to go on with whatever he was doing as fast as possible. He knew it was important to Papa for some reason, he was patient. He was trying to occupy his thoughts by reading the names engraved on the gravestones, and calculating how old were when they died. He was a bit of worried to see most of the people weren't as old as Papa at their final hours coming. 55,43,67,68,52,49,24… how can someone die at the age of 24? It was terrifying to consider he might die 10 years from now.

When Papa finally finished talking to the ghost of Papa Daaé, he seemed to be happy and relieved.

- Come, dear. We may go now. Will you help me with my job here if you were so kind to accompany me?

- Yes, Papa. Whatever needs to be done, I help with that.

- You might help me with an idea as well. - Erik put his bony hand on Noel's shoulder. - As you see, we have two extra people to live with, with another one on the way, and we weren't a small group even before. The house is starting to be too small, so I will have to rearrange the house, but I am not young enough any more to work all alone, I need help from you and your brothers. I have some imaginations and plans, but I am curious of your opinion. How would you remodel the house? Or would you do an addition?

Noel was so happy to be finally treated as a grown up aid for Papa. And he looked at Erik with such a thankful expression the old man wanted to laugh or hug him right away.

- Tell me what do you think first. - Noel replied. - Then I will tell my idea.

- So, to tell you my version, I was about to say I could put walls in the huge childrens room to make it as three separate rooms: one for Mahtab and you, one for Greg and one for Belle. I did not even know why I thought such a huge room is needed for Mahtab when I built it, but it can make up to three smaller rooms. The problem is I can't make more rooms out of the room without them being absolute mouse holes, so Flo and Lily shall be put somewhere else. And we did not even speak about the child.

- I think we won't kill each other in one room, Papa, we did not do it so far. All we need is more beds and that one room being rearranged. We could have bunk beds, so we don't have to sleep next to each other and it saves up space.

- It is a good idea in itself, but Florian and Lily need a separate room with the baby, and well, it is not the most comfortable solution like this either. Don't forget you will grow older eventually and I am not sure a girl will want to share a bedroom with two boys. If you want to, you may have one shared bedroom with Greg, as you used to, but… why if we can make you an own room? Which of the rooms can be sacrificed, what you think? The guest room is for Tonton, as you know. We have a music room and my study to choose from, and that can be given to Flo and Lily.

- Don't touch any of these, you don't have to. - Noel replied with calm, and nearly unimaginable logic.

- And where shall I put three people then, with all their belongings? In the doghouse?

- No. - Noel shook his head. - You forget about the attic.

- Partly true, but… well I haven't wandered up there in ages. There are much rubbish up there. I have no strength to throw everything away.

- You are not alone for that. - Noel replied with determination. - Mahtab already has a smaller corner up in the attic, he always hid there when he did not want us to pester him when he was working. All we need is just to separate a proper room for Mahtab, one for Flo and Lily and one for the baby to have an own room. I guess it needs it.

- Yes, I have been thinking about this, but you see, walls have a nasty habit not to grow out of the floor magically, one has to build them. In older times I wouldn't have given it a second thought, but as I am aging I think through building or repairing things twice.

- Who talked about you? - Noel shrugged. - Mahtab did receive architectural education from you in the past. And I am not stupid either, if I can say such a thing, without being too immodest, and I am sure we can work on it. If we aren't remodeling, adding to the house would need work anyway. We are here to help, and I guess Flo can help us with easier tasks. All you have to do is supervising us and give instructions if needed. There are three boys in great health and strength.

- I keep forgetting you are growing up. I know it with my mind, but I always consider you as small children in my mind.

- I know it is like that with parents. - Noel smiled. - But we can solve everything and help our parents. Up until now you took care of us. It is my turn now. So… I don't mind me having a shared room with Greg, and we could make up two rooms halving it, so Belle has an own room. Like this the rooms won't be too small, but Belle does not have to live with boys. The others will go up to the attic. And even the baby will have an own room.

- It is fine by me if you help cleaning up the mess up there. I believe there are soldiers camping up there from back the Prussian war, no one telling them it had ended. - Erik chuckled.

- Everything will be done, Papa. Done and organized up until Christmas. Is the baby coming on Christmas day like I did before? - Noel asked with excitement.

- I don't exactly know, but it is due towards the end of December or the beginning of January, yes. - Erik nodded.

- Do you think it is a boy?

- It doesn't matter to me. - Erik sighed. - It shall only be healthy.

Tricking Noel into helping him with the construction was easier than he thought, Erik wondered contently. Noel is turning much more helpful as he is aging. Good, very good. To Noel's surprise, they did not go to catch the train to Paris. They were heading to an office, and Noel did not understand any of the issue. Erik only explained they were changing something, or at least they are finding traces.

If a name change request was filed in the city, it has to have some documentation laying around right here, and maybe they are lucky enough to find an original birth certificate of Christine, without needing to travel farther to the North.

Gods are merciful towards the old sinner: Christine's name change did have proper documentation, along with the documents of her adoption, and they were able to find an original birth certificate of Kristina Daaé, that being attached to the request of the name change.

Erik instantly knew what to do.

They stopped at various offices on the way home, and Noel did not understand anything of the issue any more, but he was sure it had to be done this way, and the only thing he was sure about he loved travelling slowly with Papa. They talked a lot, discussing scientific matters, bonding like father and son.

Christine was so relieved when they finally arrived home after 3 days, and was slightly annoyed, but did not ask anything, not wanting to argue right away. When they finally were in private with Erik, after the head of the family listed up his plans with the children and asked Mahtab to help his brothers to clean up the attic before they can start working on the house, Christine could not help any longer to ask Erik whatever he was doing with Noel for days.

Erik did not reply, only placed a small envelope on the end table at Christine's bedside.

She lifted it up curiously, tilting her head to the side, examining the envelope.

- What is this?

- Find it out, Kristina. - Erik answered, surprisingly in Swedish.

Her eyes grew wide of astonishment, and hurriedly opened the envelope which contained her birth certificate and a new identity paper, containing the name "Kristina Daaé" .

- Erik…! - She gasped. - It is… it is…

- It is you. - Erik nodded, not switching back to French, staying with Swedish.

- But… but… I understand you changed my given name back to Swedish… but why did you change my maiden name back?

- It is not your maiden name, sweet nose. - Erik reached into his pocket, handing Christine another identity paper, but this one was for a person named "Erik Amadé Daaé".

- What the Hell…? - Christine gasped, but slapped her mouth for the profanity which left her lips out of sheer surprise.

- I explain. - Erik sat down at the side of the bed. - Christine, I made a mistake, and only your story made me realize it. I used to think, at the first years of our wedding, you wore your maiden name because you did not want to have your monster husband's name…

- Erik it is…

- Not true, I know now. Let me finish, please. So, I made a mistake by making you abandon the last crumble of your identity which linked you to your heritage. You simply did not want to feel like being another person suddenly. Forgive Erik for that move, but he always saw wives wearing their husband's name, because it was society's habit. I did not consider the fact I did not even have a proper name to give you, and I had to make up one… instead of simply taking up yours.

- Oh… but you… don't mind it?

- How could I mind such a pure name, my love? I visited Father Daaé and asked him if he… approves… of my plan. - He admitted softly. - I felt like he did.

- He is honored. - Christine dried her eyes, and hugged Erik's shoulder.

- The children will receive their documents in a few weeks time. - Erik cleared his throat, not wanting to seem like he was crying, as he did.

- You are the best husband I can ask for, Erik Daaé.

- Erik… never had such a beautiful sounding name… he could not make up any which fit him so well and he would be so proud to wear.

From that day, Erik never called his wife Christine ever again, he rather used the name she received originally at birth: Kristina.