XXII.

Malika felt Erik's chest rise and fall underneath her head. She loved him, more than he knew probably. She smiled as she felt him stroke her hair softly. "I love you." He murmured quietly. "That was a rather good night."

She smiled again, they had spent all night making love to each other. It was slower and more gentle than she had ever experienced. She had never felt Erik be so calm and sweet during sex. "Yes it was. We should do that again tonight."

"Mmm. That sounds nice cherie. Very nice. I shall look forward to that. However, I do not want you to strain your body too much." He responded quietly.

"Erik...my siblings birthday will be coming up soon and I would like to get them a gift of some sort. Would you allow me to get something for them?"

"Of course cherie. My money is yours as well. We will go out sometime this week and find something for them." Erik replied, he ran his fingers over the curve of her bared shoulder. "Jesus, you are absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you. You are so handsome. I love watching you sleep. You seem so peaceful." Malika responded as she felt his chest rise and fall again.

"Only with you cherie."

"I love hearing your heart beat. Is that strange?"

Erik laughed softly. "No. I do not think so."

"What do you want to name the twins?"

"Hmm...if we have boys we shall name them Henry and Jacques. If we have girls we will name them Adele and Carole. If we have a girl and boy we will name them one of the names I have chosen."

Malika raised an eyebrow. "Those are beautiful names but how about we name one with a French name and the other Hungarian?"

"What names have you thought of?" Erik questioned her.

"Samuka or Kristof for the boys and Alexa or Sarika for the girls."

"So if we have a boy and girl which would you prefer to name?"

"It does not matter to me. I think you should name the girl."

Erik arched an eyebrow, his lips upturned in a smile. "Why is that?"

"Because I think it would be excellent if you did so." She replied then kissed his lips softly.

"I love you cherie. I will always love you." He whispered softly in her ear.

She smiled then looked at him and said, "Erik, I would like you to talk to my sister on her birthday."

Erik looked down at her as she looked upwards to look in his eyes. "Why is this?"

"My father and mother are dead Erik. When children turn thirteen in my country it is the beginning of what will be the years where they are given more responsibilities before adulthood. Usually on the thirteenth birthday fathers give daughters gifts and explain to them the responsibilities of adulthood while mothers do the same with their sons." Malika explained.

"So you wish me to take a father role with your sister?" Erik questioned her.

"No. Doing so would be an insult to my father and my sister. She considers you her estranged brother-in-law. I wish for you to explain to my sister that all men are not as they seem. I wish for you to help her understand what being an adult entails." She responded. Malika sat up and looked at him as he sat up and leaned against the headboard.

"I am an estranged brother-in-law?" He asked in an amused tone.

"Erik! I'm being serious. We're a family now. This is important!"

Erik gently pulled her against his chest. "I am taking this seriously. I will not let you down."

"Good. Erik, this is very important. I know you will be great." Malika said then kissed his forehead gently.

He smiled at her. "Do not worry. I know this is important and I will do right by your sister." He paused, "What type of gift shall I give her?"

"Her favorite color is green; get something with the color green in it."

"Ah...so an emerald would be nice for her?"

She smiled, "Whatever you wish. Something heartfelt."

"Very well then. Tomorrow we shall go out for a special shopping trip."

"Thanks."

xxxx

A week later Erik found Malika directing a few maids, including the new maid, Marie, to put up decorations around the dining room. She looked on as Erik entered and surprised her as he wrapped his arms around her stomach. "I have distracted them long enough."

"Don't worry, everything is almost finished here." She replied. "Do you have your gift?"

"Yes. I do. I have to tell you that I am nervous." He admitted in a low voice.

"Do not worry. You will do fine." Malika assured him. "You have no idea how much I appreciate you doing this for my sister." She kissed his lips softly then smiled happily at him.

He smiled at her then said, "Anything for you."

"Shall I go get them Monsieur?" Marie interrupted the two.

"Yes." Erik said with a nod.

Erik smiled at Malika as she looked at him. They waited momentarily before hearing soft footsteps on the tiled floor. Malika smiled warmly as her siblings entered the dining room. "Happy Birthday!" She shouted as she rushed up to them to give them a hug. "It is hard to believe that you are a year older."

"You didn't have to go to all of this trouble sister." Linka voiced as they sat down at the dining room table.

"It is your birthday. Erik and I were too happy to arrange this for you." Malika commented. "Come, let us eat, and then we can give you our presents."

xxxx

"Here is a bench." Linka announced as she and Erik walked in his massive garden. She sat down on it quickly and waited for him to join her.

Erik felt his stomach turn as he sat down beside her. What was he to say? He wasn't a father yet, nor did he know what to say to her. He sighed deeply and finally said, "Linka, you are not a chit and I think you know why I brought you out here."

"Yes. I know why Erik."

"Linka...not all men are like Sanxay or me as I used to be. I want you to know that. Most men are kind and caring. You have to understand that I was bitter and I hated women to a certain degree that I did not care what I did. Your sister, being the woman she is, stood up against me and because of that she had to deal with a lot of anger from me." He paused, "I am a lucky man to be married to her."

"Erik, why did you hate women so much? Did a woman hurt your heart?"

"You can say that. I haven't told your sister the past yet, it is still too fresh to speak about." Erik replied.

"She loves you. She is worried too." Linka commented as she noticed Erik giving her a strange look.

"Worried?"

"She thinks you might find someone else. Men do take mistresses; it is not uncommon, at least not in our country."

Erik sighed loudly, "I have told her countless times that I would never take a mistress."

"But she needs more than words."

"How did this turn into a conversation about Malika and I? This is your birthday and I am supposed to help you understand some things."

Linka looked at him as he took out a thin, black medium box. "Here is a present from me. Happy thirteenth birthday Linka."

Linka took the box and took off the lid, a silver necklace with a medium-sized round emerald pendant on it. "It is beautiful Erik. You did not have to get this for me."

"You are thirteen, besides I haven't exactly been a good brother-in-law." Erik commented.

"Erik promise me that you will not do anything to hurt my sister. She would be devastated if you hurt her."

Erik smiled as he realized how close Malika's siblings were truly close to her. What he had intended to be a talk about Linka ended up turning to a talk about Malika and him. He nodded at her. "I will never hurt your sister. I love her too much to."

Linka smiled warmly at him. "Thank you."