After the operation Erik was already sound asleep. He wasn't around any more in spirit when Mahtab bandaged the wound and cleaned both themselves and the environment. The bathroom was spotless clean and Erik was sleeping on the sofa by the tub. As he was thin, he fit there perfectly and as Mahtab knew he should not be moved too much with a freshly cut wound on his abdomen, he rather chose to leave Erik there to sleep in peace and not to bother him to lay him anywhere else which might be more comfortable, but would be much more risky as well, regarding Erik's health.
They weren't through all of the happenings, he knew it. At first, Erik shall be left in peace for weeks to recover normally, and even if the surgery was successful, he could still suffer from various complications afterwards, he could develop fever or some kind of infection, which would mean more risk, but death is thankfully unlikely now that he was operated on in time. Luckily the appendix did not perforate yet, though they were in the very last minutes avoiding that fearful possibility, this is why Mahtab was afraid of the risks of infections. He covered his father up with a light sheet so that he won't be cold, and tiredly walked outside to the guest room where Tonton Mohammed was patiently waiting for him.
- I know you did not have more choices, Moonlight, and you solved this situation perfectly. I am proud of you, and proud to be your relative, my child.
- Are you, Tonton? - He asked with an exhausted smile.
- I am. - The Persian nodded. - You are the best thing Erik had done in his life. Ever.
- Oh Tonton, I… - He yawned.
- Don't talk, Moonlight. Please lay down here on my bed and rest. Don't worry about anything.
- Tonton… do you remember the time you held me as a young child? - Mahtab asked closing his eyes, and mindlessly slipping into girlish range with his speaking voice.
- Yes, I do. - The Draoga nodded and put a blanket over Mahtab.
- You sang for me to… make me calm down.
- Yes, I did, though your father says they could use my voice to torture prisoners in the Persian Shah's prison.
- Siing. - Mahtab asked, drifting on and off constantly, being unable to fall asleep easily, though he needed it badly.
- All right then.
The Daroga sat down to the bedside and stroke Mahtab's short blonde hair while starting a Persian folk song on his truly questionable ability to sing, but it did not matter to Mahtab, as he only wanted to feel loved and secure after such a night, filled with insecurity and fear. He was silently crying, but stopped it after a few moments when he finally fell asleep. All of the stress had to come to the surface, the Draoga thought. No wonder the poor child was weeping for a time. He dried Mahtab's sunken eyes in his sleep, and stood up from the bedside to stretch out. He did not feel tiredness even after staying awake the whole night, and he walked to the window to peek outside. It was dawn, close to morning. He walked to the bathroom to check how Erik was, but he was mindlessly sleeping and did not need any kind of assistance right at that moment, so the Daroga walked away to leave him be.
Only when he got dressed and walked out to the Hall he considered the possibility of Kristina would search for Erik, and they did not even find an excuse to tell the other family members about Erik's how and whereabouts. But thankfully he did not need an excuse right away, as when Kristina showed up, fully dressed and ready to leave the house, she wasn't paying attention to even greet him, she seemed to be so upset about something to be able to forget about her manners. The Persian watched her crossing the Hall and hurrying away with lips thin as a blade, and a serious expression all over her face, lifting her head up and standing up straight. At the poorly lit hallway in the early morning, she looked like a judging angel, and seemed like she was about to kill someone, and it was utterly unusual of the dove-spirited sweet woman. What had happened here overnight? Did everyone just lose their minds?
Even bigger his astonishment was when he saw Noel descending the stairs in sleepwear still, at seven o clock in the morning. He should have left 15 minutes earlier to arrive to school in time.
- Noel, why are you still home?
- I am not going to school today. - He replied casually. - I just finished feeding Monsieur.
- Why are you not going to school? Are you sick too? - The Daroga inquired, yet he realized the next moment he should not have said "too", but it was already too late.
- I am perfectly healthy, thank you for asking. But Maman said I am not going to a school where they treat me that way and she went to the school to talk to the principal.
- Why, what had happened?
- My music teacher thinks because I am the son of La Daaé and the little brother of Flo, I am perfect with composing and transposing anything I see. I am not, so I am failing. When Maman heard this she told me to stay home and help the others today and not to worry about anything.
- I understand now why she was so angry. - The Daroga smiled with relief.
- She said no one was going to hurt her children without consequences. But why did you ask me if I was sick too? Who else is sick? - Noel asked the question which was now inevitable.
- Your father. - The Daroga admitted softly, after looking around to make sure no one else was in hearing range.
- Papa? - Noel gasped. - What is the matter? Did he have a seizure?
Noel was terribly afraid of Erik's epileptic seizures and stress indicated fainting spells, so he tried his best not to cause trouble, so Erik would avoid them more easily, and he was extremely anxious facing the reality that Erik keeps having them no matter what.
Seeing how worried Noel was about a possible seizure, the Daroga felt he needed to calm the boy, so he took his wrist, and led him after himself to the guest room and whispered, not to wake either Mahtab nor Erik that Erik had to go through a surgery which Mahtab performed.
He was scared for a moment that the boy will scream or panic, but he remained calm and composed.
- Where is he? - Noel asked softly.
- In the bathroom, but don't bother him please, he is asleep. He needs to rest.
Noel silently slipped in to check on Erik, who was still sleeping like the dead, and did not even wake up to the sensation of Noel checking his pulse. Noel nodded with relief making sure he was alive, then left the room. This boy is more and more mature day by day, the Daroga thought to himself. Noel calmly walked to the Persian, and smiled at him reassuringly.
- Now I know everything will be all right. I am not worried about him or my schooling any more. Don't worry about me, Tonton, I will help the others. Just support them. - He pointed to the bathrooms and Mahtab's direction, then nodded again.
As a grown up man would do, the boy left the room, and went to dress up and take care of the smaller ones without even being asked to do so, and acted like a father figure towards them.
He warned Greg and Belle to hurry up and make sure everything necessary was in their schoolbags, and gave an apple to them so that they will have lunch at school.
- Maman gives me biscuits. - Belle pouted, looking at the apple.
- Apple is healthier. - Noel leaned closer to her, patting her head.
- But I don't like it, this was the fruit we should not eat. God said so.
- You are searching excuses not to eat the apple, using the Bible as a proof. It is a sin. - Noel shook his head and pushed the girl's back gently, to show her he was done with the argument. - If you want to be a good girl and show us we can be proud of you, you go to school with Greg and behave nicely, eat your lunch and learn your lessons. If you do so, I will give you some special treat which is even better than biscuits. - Noel smiled.
- Do you promise?
- I do. - He reached out for a handshake to prove he was speaking seriously. Belle accepted the handshake, so it was a deal.
After the younger ones left for school, Noel went to check what he could help Florian and Lily with, but they were fine taking care of the babies, so Noel went back to the guest room and sat down beside Mahtab, looking at him admiringly. His older brother was awesome. He always knew it, but now he was even more certain of it. He simply had to watch him, and felt like even being in the same room with him makes him smarter and a better person. While he was sitting on the bedside and watching Mahtab, thinking what he had done earlier to save the whole family along with their Papa, a decision was making itself up in his smart little skull: He was going to be Mahtab's aid as a doctor. He will study medicine and become a pharmacist or a doctor. Instead of risky scientific researches which lead to nothing useful, and make his family worry over him, he was going to turn to human anatomy and medicine. Mixing medicin is like alchemy anyway, which always interested him in a way.
Kristina was sitting at the principal's office and calmly but seriously listed her concerns about Noel's music teacher, showing him the latest homework her son would have needed to sole, and it clearly wasn't the level of difficulty he could do without the help of the more experienced members of the family.
- I am sorry, Madame, but I don't understand music theory that much to have an opinion about this homework.
- If it is so, how can you expect a 14 year old boy to solve this? And why don't you ask the respected teacher to tell us if the rest of the class received the same homework, or he is only making my son's life harder?
- I am certain that Monsieur Lasourd did not mean to show favor, or discriminate your son. Noel is quite of a unique child anyway.
- What do you exactly mean by "unique"? Please clarify your opinion when you are talking about him. Did you mean it as an insult?
- I was merely making a statement. He is not like others. He is a bit of strange, to tell the truth, and I can imagine if the teacher only wished to make him more like the others.
- If it is so, do you honestly feel it is the right way to make a child behave? To repeatedly humiliate him in front of the whole class?
- I doubt he meant to humiliate Noel.
That was too much. The principal was openly denying the problem and she was made to be the over worrying and captious mother of the rebellious pupil in his eyes.
- I would like to have this problem solved, rather than being swept under the rug. - Kristina stated seriously. - My son is a good student in each and every other subject but music. Don't you think it is not a coincidence?
- It must be the lack of talent. - The principal poured himself a glass of wine and tidied his clothing and mustache. He did not seem like to be much interested in the whole subject.
- Listen to me, Monsieur! - Kristina stood up and leaned closer with a cold intonation- My father was a master violinist. My husband, Noel's father is a first-class composer. My older son, Florian is a successful student of the Academy of Music where I took my exams as well, myself, and ended up being an opera singer. And even if Noel isn't the next Mozart, do not call him talentless with such a family behind him, only because an issue of favoritism!
- If your husband is such a master composer, how come I haven't heard of him or his compositions and he is utterly unknown at the Academy? - The director asked suddenly, with a hint of disbelief in his voice.
- How do you know he isn't? - Kristina asked with hurt pride.
- Monsieur Lasourd hadn't heard of the name "Erik Daaé" among his friends and acquaintances from the school. And honestly, I don't understand why the children wear your maiden name, including you and even your husband.
- My husband took up my maiden name, and not the other way around. - Kristina frowned, not really liking where the conversation was going.
- It is highly uncommon.
- I don't like what you are implying. - Kristina's eyes narrowed.
- I wasn't implying anything. I only make statements as I said. And I would ask rather your husband to come and clear up this issue, if there is anything to be cleared. I haven't even seen your husband, it would be nice to meet him finally.
Kristina was asked to go and not to bother the principal with his many things to do. Simply as that. She was so furious she could hardly see from anger. Clearly the principal did not respect her as a person, only a woman, however emotionally strong and strict she was, and he was hinting she did not have a proper husband. Now shall she really send Erik in here? She was extremely afraid of Erik's temper, which still showed up, after so many years. He will kill the whole group of teachers if he walks in here.
He should never know what did the principal nearly say, or just implying of her and her children, and his non-existence. That would lead to a tragedy shaking whole Paris. He shall only know the necessary things.
Meanwhile in the house life did not stop.
- Eat, please, eat little one… - Lily was trying to spoon feed Éponine, who was constantly just shaking her head away , tossing and turning, and smudging carrot sauce over the whole part of the kitchen she was able to reach. Valentine was a good boy and Flo successfully fed him, but Éponine simply did not want to have a bite of the food her parents were trying to make her eat.
- Nina! - Flo smiled at the fussing baby and leaned closer, taking the bowl out of Lily's hand. - Go, dear and put Tin to bed, so he can nap, and I take this from you.
- You are so good to me, dear. - She smiled tiredly and picked up Valentine and carried him away to the second floor to put him to bed for an after lunch nap.
- Come on, sweet princess of mine… - Flo tried to give a bite to the still reluctant Éponine. - One spoon for Beethoven… one spoon for Mozart… another one for Chopin… oh, dear girl, please… make Papa happy and eat some…
Éponine was only willing and capable to fuss and shake her head away from the spoon right again, which fact did not fill Flo's heart with happiness.
- Nina sweetheart, Papa would need to study. Please let us get through lunch at last…
In the exact same moment someone else appeared in the kitchen. He was walking slowly and staggered like he was slightly drunk, and he was pale, but Flo was extremely happy to see him stepping in.
- Look, sweetheart, who is here! Here is grandpa!
Erik did not say a word to them, unlike his usual self, he silently walked to the sink to make tea, if he was in such a condition to form proper thoughts. He felt like he wasn't even in his body and was extremely tired and thirsty at the same time.
- Papa, I am sorry to bother you, but I need your help.
Flo approached him from behind, so he could not see how pale Erik was, and was so lost in his thoughts about music theory lesson he was about to go to do study, that he did not even realize Erik wasn't talking to him at all. - I need to finish my homework, but Nina does not want to eat… would you mind trying t make her eat a few bites? Please.
He put the bowl next to Erik's hand. He was staring at it like it was coming from another planet at first, but after he shook his head to make his brain function and finally asked:
- What…?
- Please feed Nina, Papa….! Please… it is for the last time I ask that. Thank you!
Flo was nowhere near anymore after saying thank you, he hurried away and left Erik and Éponine alone in the kitchen with the small bowl of carrot sauce.
- Damn. - Erik stated, but he sat down with a considerable amount of pain coming from his wound, to at least try to do the task he was asked to do. He mindlessly was trying to insert the spoon into Éponine's mouth, but she was only making things harder by doing the exact same stubborn denial of food as she was doing earlier.
Erik was tired, thirsty, in pain, in a bad mood, not entirely himself and his personality slipped back to that grumpy and fussy childish monster he was sometimes at the fifth cellar. Maybe it was just the aftermath of the surgery which made him turn to his older self, but he could not help. Éponine's fussing did not come at the right time and it only made him upset.
- Eat or else… - He moaned.
The girl tossed the spoon out of his shaky skeletal hand.
That was the last drop in that said glass for Erik, before losing his last drop of inhibition and turn nasty. He pulled out the drawer next to himself to obtain a new spoon as he did not feel like bending to reach the one dropped onto the floor, dumped the new spoon into the sauce and reached out for Éponine's mouth. It stayed shut, until the exact moment Erik pinched Éponine's nostrils together by two fingers, which made her open her mouth out of reflex to breathe and cry, but she did not have the time to do so as Erik shoved the spoonful of sauce into her mouth with a strict move.
- Here. - He growled. - If I say you eat, you will.
He repeated the process for three or four times by the time Éponine was unable to eat any more due to crying and Erik did not feel well enough either to go on with the process, but he could not stand up either to walk away.
- I am fed up with this shit. - He stated.
Thankfuly Noel appeared just in time to see what was going on, and had enough brain to alert the Persian to help him to lead Erik back to the guest bedroom before he either collapses onto the kitchen floor or does something even more terrible he would regret later.
- How did you get here? - Erik asked, looking at Noel, as him and the Persian laid him down on the couch again.
- Don't worry, Papa, you will be fine. - Noel replied calmly, and put his hand on Erik's forehead.
He was feverish.
- Papa, please stay here. - Noel said reassuringly. - Wait here.
Noel walked to the still sleeping Mahtab and gently pushed his shoulder.
- I am sorry for waking you up, but Papa needs us.
- Is there something wrong? - Mahtab lifted up his head.
- Pap is feverish, but we will solve it.
- We? - Mahtab sat up and walked to the sink to make a compress for Erik.
- Yes. I am your aid from today. - Noel stated. - Tell me what is my job.
- Please go to Papa's study and from the drawer he keeps medications in, bring me the small jar from the front row, second place from the left. If it is here, pour a glass of cold water and pour exactly 20 drops of the liquid in it.
- Sure. Anything else?
- Nothing else now. - Mahtab smiled. - And thank you.
As he put the compress on Erik's forehead, and caressed Erik's forehead with love, Erik closed his eyes and sighed.
- Thank you, Kristina. - He murmured in half sleep.
