Even though Kristina was suddenly saddened by her aging and how it effected her body, and that she learned she was unable to give birth another time in her life due to her age, she was easily comforted by her loving husband, and she realized her age was nothing compared to Erik's. Of course, she knew with her mind that Erik was much older than her, and there were times she worried about her husband's health, it did not occur to her nowadays that Erik might be ill.

He seemed so strong and in good health usually, just as back in those days when they had met. She did not notice anything special on him, save from the pain in his joints, which were considered to be normal in Erik's age. He showed he was perfectly all right, and he did not need any help with taking care of himself and completing smaller tasks around the house. Of course, he did not have to do the main housework any more, like a few years back. All of his children were now old enough to actively help with the housework so none of the family members had to over strain themselves. Mahtab was good at organizing the lives and tasks of the younger siblings, and was actively helping and caring for them. He loved to do so, and everything seemed to be so idyllic.

Even nursing the twins was easier than any of the family members would think in advance. They were afraid Florian and Lily won't be able to take care of the babies without a considerable amount of help, but they had to disappoint in a positive way.

After the first few chaotic weeks when Flo and the still weak Lily were in need of some help with nurturing and organizing the twins' schedule and Lily was just starting to regain her strength and could finally focus with her all being to take care of the infants, it turned out both of the teens were surprisingly good and loving parents compared to their young ages and inexperience in life and raising children. The task was even harder as they did not only have one, but two babies to look after. Flo was a hardworking little guy, finally not trying to get out of his jobs to be done, he took great care of his studies and was helping Lily conscientiously with all everyday tasks around their children. Florian slowly became a responsible young man instead of the silly boy who used to only care about playing music and chasing girls. He finally understood what it meant to be a father, and he loved to look at Valentine and Éponine developing and learning new things day by day.

Éponine resembled more of Flo's side of the family, so the Daaés, with dark hair, and Kristina sometimes would remark her eyes looked like her Mother's, and her nose being similar to her own, which was inherited from her dear Papa. Éponine was the more silent out of the two babies, she was calm and peaceful like a young queen. She did not eat much, and spent most of her day sleeping.

Valentine had very small amount of silky blonde hair and was a spitting image of… no one in the family. He did not look like Flo at all, nor did he resemble Kristina or any of her relatives, and nor did he look like Noel, which was a miracle. He did not even look like Lily, and she did not remember any relatives of hers had these facial features. Though Erik had blurry memories of seeing that face somewhere earlier in his life, and when closing his eyes, he could recall a painting hung on the wall in the bedroom of Mother… the wedding picture of his parents. Valentine looked a lot like Erik's father he had never known, and might have possibly caused the death of at his birth, when the poor man had seen his face for that first and last time. Welcome to the world, look- alike of "Maurice dear". Valentine Daaé was a bit more active than his sister, but thankfully he did not fuss too much either, and it was easy to calm him with music if he was crying. Erik usually sent a few notes of whistling a classical masterpiece in the baby's ear if he was starting to be moody, and it cleared his mood right away.

Of course, there were a lot of people to offer their help to both of them with the babies, and they weren't totally alone. Kristina could give the most useful tips to Lily regarding breastfeeding, bathing them, and she had much experience and knowledge about detecting the babies needs just by their cries. Lily was often thankful for her sweet Mother- in-law as everyone was already calling Lily as Flo's wife. They knew well by the time they reach the correct age, they were going to get married anyway. A big loving family surrounded them and the happy grandmother and all of the Uncles were eager to help with anything. Yes, even Noel. Nowadays Noel was much maturer and much more caring than before. Even in London he started showing some compassion towards his old father when he faced one time he could REALLY, for real, lose him. Forever. It hit him in the heart, and he started bonding with Erik, and nearly unnoticedly and naturally helping him, but since they returned to Paris, he was even more openly helping Papa whenever he could. Even if that was something simple act, like carrying a book to him, or his walking stick, or put a cup of coffee in front of him, he was silently and actively taking care of Papa. He did not work his clever mind any more about how to cause trouble and how to work on some scary experiments- he seemed to grow a heart with much empathy he seemed to lack so far.

Maybe Noel subconsciously felt something wasn't right during these weeks.

Some changes were happening in the family, other than the arrival of the twins.

Noel, contrary to his whining and stating he wanted to be home schooled, just as in England, but Erik was stubbornly wanting the children to go back to public school. He felt he was simply too old to tutor so many children at once, and write and check homework for so many different levels of educations and ages. He knew they liked to be tutored by him and Kristina, but he also knew teaching 3 young children at once won't be a good idea from now on. Especially considering the two youngest children, Greg and Belle had so many years to come in scholarship. No way he could handle that all alone, and the children would need to be in other children's company at their age. Greg will be able to learn French more easier if he was talking to other French children at school. And to be honest, at least they won't be around to constantly make noise from 8 to 4 in the afternoon. Some peace is needed.

At September 1905, all of the children continued their studies at ordinary schools of their level. Noel attended a Secondary School not too far from their home, not the best one in Paris, but all the better, maybe they will be able to put up with Noel's "eccentric behavior" better than in a shiny Prince-crafter institution. Belle and Greg went to the same primary school, and to Belle's endless praying, Erik finally agreed to allow Belle to take ballet classes. He stated though that it shall be only a hobby for her as he won't agree to have her make a living out of being a ballerina. She, the Princess of Papa, the small jewel of Paris won't, and he repeated, WON'T be the mistress of a nobleman to achieve the top of her career, which would most likely be inevitable in that occupation. Ballerinas are the "night butterflies" of musical carreer, he said, even though he was making sure Belle was out of hearing range.

Flo was attending the Conservatory in Paris, as an underage student, where he was instantly admitted after a successful audition and by the references from England, and after he showed his symphony to the committee of teachers. He was taking lessons in composing from Gabriel Fauré, and his teacher was finely content with his development, even though both the professor and Erik agreed in Flo needing to learn much still. Being talented isn't enough in itself, even though it is a huge help in achieving one's goals.

This, of course, meant that Mahtab was alone at home, again. It wouldn't have been a problem in itself if it did not remind him again of his special situation, feeling an outsider. Even if he covers his face and goes in public, he can't be sure no disaster happens with a mask, or his mustache won't slip off in the most awkward moment (it did happen at home sometimes, why can't it happen anywhere else then?) so the human mask does not solve anything. No wonder both him and Erik still did not go out in public too much and they avoided it if it was possible.

Even worse was he was technically, whether he liked it or not, a woman. Even though he was skinny, by the age of 20, he managed to grow some breast which he disliked, and they could be noticed when he was wearing a suit. Not too much, but his body shape was different, and it was easy to tell it wasn't a man who wore those clothes. And those times of a month, which was his biggest nightmare with his aching waist, mood swings, and the blood… what is that for when he knew he never ever wanted to give birth to anything was beyond him. Why God wasn't so merciful with him so that it was him who wouldn't be able to give birth at all?

He suddenly had too much free time to think of medical issues and the life of an outsider.

And he realized something.

Something bothered him since the twins birth, when the young doctor came into the house regularly to check on the babies and Lily: it was a female doctor. She was the only female finishing her studies in that year at University, as Mahtab was informed later, when he caught some lines of a chat between Lily and the new doctor who received Docteur Bonsanté's praxis and patients. And not only that was a young female doctor, who had success in her carreer, but the fact Papa never turned to her about any issue he might have had in these months. Yes, maybe he just wasn't feeling ill, which was unlikely with his age, but he also noticed Papa was trying to locate his old doctor. If he went to retirement, but where is he at all…?

At first Mahtab did not understand why did he not want to consult with the new doctor at all. He misunderstood the issue of Erik being mistrustful towards a woman, but the problem lay deeper than that.

Docteur Bonsanté KNEW Erik. He knew his face, and he knew what to expect of. But Erik was now simply too old and too scared to show himself to someone new and he simply was too tortured to trust her unconditionally.

And with too much free time on his hands, Mahtab was finally be able to think of how he could help both his poor father, and anyone else who had the misfortune to be born as a "freak."

Luckily the family did not need too much help by Erik, as contrary to him usually looking good compared to his age, and even his epileptic seizures did not occur for months in a row, and he was most likely in a good health in general, some strange feeling took over him sometimes, he would explain it to himself as a side effect of his traumatic earlier life, but he sometimes felt like he was going to die in some months time. He did not know why, as he felt nothing special about his health, other than the effects of his age. Still, he wanted to consult with his doctor if it was possible. No, not the young new one. His old friend he was always turning to whenever he had medical problems in the past: Docteur Bonsanté. He found it a strange thing Alain did not contact him about his new location, he had expected him, knowing his unique situation, he would accept him as a private case from time to time… But finding out why he did not do that was a new shock to Erik. No, Alain did not simply retire from work. He retired from humanity, and his new location was in a Parisian cemetery. Of course, he was an old man already… in Erik's age. This malheur just added to Erik's uncomfortable feeling, but God forbid his loved ones may notice anything of it! He tried to disguise these thoughts so his family won't notice, but he did not calculate by his two cleverest children: Mahtab and Noel.

Mahtab, in general, started to act strangely in these past months.

He seemed to be lost in his thoughts many times, and reading more medical books than usual. He was usually interested by more fields of knowledge, nearly every skill had attracted her as a magnet did attract iron, but since the twins were born, or maybe even since the old lady died in such a horrible way, he turned to medical books only. He was reading them day and night, learning about human anatomy, diseases, surgeries, and he started taking small notes and ideas in a booklet he carried with himself constantly. Those notes weren't be able to understood by anyone in the family- anyone but Erik. These were small questions in Latin, usually containing only shortened, quickly noted words, and they were more philosophical than medical possibilities.

"W. if op. on oneself was poss.? "

"Painkilling anesth. During op.?"

"Dissecting living human killing?"

"Unneeded body parts…?"

Erik could only hope these were simply asked out of curious habit of Mahtab, but he knew already that these thoughts occurring in a skull of a severely deformed human being weren't the signs of the best of happenings in the future.

Seems like it was time for a talk. A new talk between father and son. They are one of a kind and will understand each other the most. As always.

And he even knew how to start it this time.

Mahtab was surprised it wasn't Papa who directly invited him in his study, he sent a message with Belle, who stated Papa was wearing a "funny costume". She also stated he looked like "a foreign person". He did not know how was that possible, but curiously walked to meet his father in his room. Mahtab only imagined Papa was wearing some kind of a new human mask, that is why Belle thought him someone stranger, but when he knocked and opened the door, he stepped back for a moment, noticing Erik standing in front of him, without a mask, but in an unfamiliar attire.

He was wearing a piece of clothing looking like a bathrobe, but he did not have such a bathrobe or dressing gown or smoking jacket like that, and it obviously wasn't from a European culture. Examining it, it was dark blue with golden and at some places, red patterns following each other in some kind of strange, but well-composed order. Also, a strange round-shaped, embroidered hat with the same style was put on his head, even though it wasn't cold in the house, and Erik never wore any headwear at home normally. He wasn't wearing a mask that time though, which even added to his unusual look.

- Come in, Mahtab. - He smiled. - I wish to talk to you.

Mahtab walked into the room and sat down to his usual place he was always sitting at whenever he was asked to come into the study. His curious mind could not wait for an explanation, so he wasn't even fully seated yet, he asked with excitement:

- What is this clothing Papa? I have never seen it before… is it Persian…? Why did you get it? Why are you wearing it now? Why did you never wear it before…?

Erik had to chuckle for some moments before he could get back into the role of the strict and serious tutor he was intended to play, because of Mahtab's endless questions. Just as when he was yet a small child, he is asking a thousand questions in a row, without waiting for the answers, just asking endlessly. He could see the young child again in his mind, jumping up and down as he was following him around in the house, being only tall enough to reach up to his waist level, and all he was able to hear was "Papa, what is this, how does it work, why, why, why, why?" He had to smile again, when this memory came to his mind, so he decided he won't be that serious in the end.

- This is, my dear child, is what you receive by experimenting, and being curious. - His voice gave away a hint of sadness even though he was smiling, which even made the whole scene more interesting.

- A strange smoking jacket? What for?

- It is not a smoking jacket, Mahtab, it is a mandarin robe. It is a Chinese clothing worn by the imperial family and the officials of the court.

- Are you a Chinese official? - Mahtab's jaw dropped with a gasp of surprise and excitement. He forgot to use his manly voice, but he did not even notice it due to his utter fascination.

- Can you see the duck symbol at the center of the back? - Erik showed his back for some seconds so that the speechless young person could admire it in peace for a time.

- And what does that mean? - He went on, sounding like an overly excited girl.

- It means your poor father once received the seventh rank of scholar ranks in China.

- Out of how many? - He went on, wondering if it was a good or a bad thing. If there were for example, 10 ranks, Papa is a genius the world shall admire… but if there were 100, this is not that much…

- Nine.

- God, you are a genius! - It simply burst out of Mahtab, hugging Erik a bit more vehemently than he was planning to, and Erik did not even like it that much at that time. His bones hurt a bit, but this was the smaller problem. The bigger one was Mahtab got too much excited about a simple rank. Yes, sure, it was a high rank, but it was painful and hard to receive it… and that is what he shall learn. Exactly.

- Mahtab, calm down. Son, can you hear me? - Erik used his softest and calmest voice possible to soothe Mahtab to be able to talk to him in a cold and strict manner.

- I can. Teach me! Teach me, Master!

- Stop being silly, Mahtab. I don't like if you call me Master, it sounds like you would follow the madman magician to show you tricks of defeating a phoenix.

- Sorry, Papa. I was just excited, I wish to learn everything.

- I know. Mahtab, I used to be the same way, this is why I show you this mandarin robe I received, to remind you about something. But at first I have to tell you a story. Do you promise you will listen patiently and don't interrupt me at any point?

- Yes, Papa.

- Good. So:

Long time ago, in my youth, when I was just a young man and was wandering through the world as a home- and hopeless outcast freak, trying to find my place and the point of my miserable existence, not much after my 20thBirthday I did receive this robe as an instant 7thGrade of scholar rank, without needing to achieve the other six. It might sound an amazing achievement to you right now, and I was proud of it myself as well, back at that time. But only recently I realized what I did for it.

To be short: I arrived to China in November the previous year, and I was examining and studying Chinese culture and music at the first place. I did the same thing I did everywhere else: I wanted to make a living of performing music and magic tricks combined in a special show I was talking to you all about, numerous times. You see, they thought me as some kind of magician, and I was often invited to parties of noblemen and higher ranked people. I was the main attraction after a while, and I got in contact with the members of Qing dynasty.

Those times in China were a complicated and hard times historically, as Hong, the ruler was trying his best to forbid everything which made the old days of China shameful, and claimed himself the Brother of Jesus himself. I know, the man was most likely in a mental state, which made him… how to word it nicely… a good medium to manipulate. To be fair, he really made efforts to be a good leader and a good father for his people, but China was under the pressure of some European countries financially… including ours.

To be honest, I liked the family. They seemed to understand that my facial disfigurement wasn't the work of evil powers, just a simple birth defect. I liked to converse with members of the family and I liked when they praised my intelligence and skills. You see, I was yet a young man, seeking for some kind of acceptance the world had refused to give me earlier.

In the summer of 1851, one of the close relatives of Hong, a niece fell seriously ill, and the doctors at the court were clueless about what had caused it and how to cure it. She was showing confusing symptoms which gave them headaches and a possibility of losing that special jewel. To be honest, I did not really care for the girl herself, but I wanted to show I could cure her. It became some kind of an exam for me, to prove me and the people who were mocking me behind my back, that I was fairly capable of stopping the disease. "How could a freak cure her? Look at his is just as messed up in the head inside and out."

I did not care about the remarks. I started experimenting as I knew well that result and success takes a lot of patience and practice. I wasn't allowed to treat her in person, but I was determined to cure someone else showing the same symptoms, proving I was right the whole time, and maybe they will try to cure her with my method. I did not have to disappoint: in a village nearby there was a similar outbreak of an illness. Everyone considered it as an epidemic, but I doubted it, as it was too much spread out in the villages nearby, and not everyone showed the symptoms. Not even me after spending days in "infected" areas. I claimed the illness wasn't spreading from human to human. I was considering it to be some kind of food disease, and all I had to do was to find the source. Yes, if it was that easy. Until this time it sounded good enough, right? But finding the source for me wasn't the usual way. You could now easily say I was poisoning people for months, willingly and happily, for finding the source of the illness, as I did not try to save the already ill ones, but going around in safe zones, giving vegetables to poor families, and was waiting which of the food made them show symptoms. Why did I not test them on myself you ask? Why would I do such things? You see here lies the problem I did not realize back then. I did not WANT to cure people. I only used healthy people and made them sick to prove my point. Only after that happened, I bothered to cure the ones were lucky enough to survive until I wanted to cure them. Even more horrible the act of mine was when I used "expendable" subjects for my tests. Who, you ask? Old people, demented, who were unable to work, mentally retarded children, and anyone "incapable of a normal life". I decided about life and death, and for a time it was only about death, until I found the correct way to cure every single ill person who had left in my death hands. The soldiers did not stop me from doing it. At first, they were too coward to step in "infected" areas, secondly, these were only poor people no one really cared for. Moreover, while I was experimenting, I wasn't at least visible to them at court. In three months, I had the perfect combination of herbs and chemicals which were successful in ANY case possible. They did not want to believe me at first, so for the last step, I did what I should have done in the first step: I ate an amount of infected crops that made me sick too, and cured myself with the same method. As they witnessed the whole thing it was easy to convince them.

The girl was still alive when messengers sent the news to the court, and the doctors were only be temporarily able to cure her state, as it always came back after some days. In their final desperation they turned to my mixture and prescriptions, including her diet, even bathing habits.

In a week, she was healthy again, and the few people suffering from the same disease at court I did not even considered worthy of being mentioned at all, and so I was one of the extremely rare examples of a civil person receiving such a robe, and the first European person who ever received it. I was celebrated for my knowledge and received a seventh rank of scholar rank. I could have stayed in China to be a legal member of scientist crew- if I wanted to and if the ministers would have agreed to that (which was unlikely).

So, this is the end of it.

Mahtab, I want you to understand it isn't the robe and the rank that matters. It isn't even the result that matters. All that matters is don't be a doctor just for the sake of experimenting with living people. It was hard for me to understand, and took me 50 years to realize that humans weren't meant to be my toys whom I can do whatever I want to. You might not believe me right at this moment, but I am not proud of this robe any more. I used to be- I used to wear it as a fancy dressing gown at the House by the Lake many times, just to bathe in my own genius, up until that nasty comedy happened with the Angel of Music and your Mother. Only then I understood, Mahtab, that I received that rank by the blood and sufferings of innocent people. Tears and death led to that glory, Mahtab. And I did not do it to help, only to prove my point.

At Kristina's kiss I realized I wasn't allowed to toy with people as I pleased, not with their lives and emotions- you CAN'T have all for the sake of ONE.

There was silence for a time, and Erik looked at Mahtab with an expression which showed both strictness and worry.

- Do you understand why I told this to you? I found your notes, child. Please tell me you are not wanting to experiment on living people?

- Oh no, Papa! - Mahtab shook his head and laughed out in confusion.

- But then why do you ask if it was possible to operate on someone without anesthetic?

- Because I was curious if one can operate on oneself. I thought… if something happens maybe to me… I mean you did not find a doctor either after yours… disappeared… Papa, I don't want to accept the fact we can't count on anyone, but I found a solution.

- What solution?

- I will be a doctor. - He spat out proudly. - To cure the people no one wants to cure! I will save the life of "freaks", Papa!

Erik sat in silence for a few seconds, and an alarm went off in his mind.

- I seriously prohibit it! - He pointed at Mahtab. - Can you hear me? NEVER!