Okay. Now the next chapter is finished. I'm really glad. As you can maybe guess something wonderful will happen in this chapter. I already want to say that I'm maybe not able to update next week because I need to prepare for my exam. At first I wish you all fun with this chapter.

Greetings Petit Erik

Louise POV

Soon after the children started school, one day while Erik and I were home alone, a letter fluttered into our house. Our big kids were in school and the little ones were in kindergarten. Erik was in the music room working on something. I opened the letter, my eyes widened and I beamed overjoyed.

"Erik!", I shouted and a moment later he tore open the door and came running out of his room.

"Angel! What is it? Did something happen?", he asked me in a panic.

"Oh, no. Everything is all right. But look," I replied, holding the letter out to him.

He was curious and read it through.

"That rascal. Has he actually been able to win over the strict Madame Giry? But I really don't begrudge them both. Madame has been without a steady partner for a very long time."

"It must have been very lonely for her."

"Well, she was sort of married to her work. But I think it will do her a lot of good to have someone waiting for her in the evening when she gets home, hugging her and listening to all her worries, too."

"That must be very nice. Certainly, she needs someone like that."

"Absolutely. By the way, did you know Meg is in a relationship too?"

"Meg? Really?"

"Oh, yes. She looks very happy. She's definitely going to be at her mother's wedding."

"I think so, too."

As I was saying this, something caught my eye. There was something else on the back of the letter.

"Um, Erik. There's something else there," I pointed out to him.

He turned the letter and I saw his eyes widen.

"I...I...I'm supposed to be Nadir's best man. Me?"

"Oh Erik. That's wonderful. He would be so happy if you did."

"But he would like me to do it as I am. The way I am now," he said, pointing to his exposed face.

"Oh, Erik. I know it must be hard for you but I know you can do this. I believe in you."

He looked at me.

"Thank you, angel."

"A winter wedding it is. Hopefully there will be snow."

"Hopefully."

We would find out weeks later. On December 21, we all sat in the church. I sat in the front with in the first pew, while Erik stood next to Nadir. My husband grinned widely as he saw his best friend's discomfort and excitement. Erik had dressed up mightily and looked great. I saw Phia wave at him and he waved back with a big smile. It was so good to see him happy. He brought his finger to his puffy lips, kissed it and tossed it to me. I blushed, kissed my finger too, and threw it to him. His unmasked face broke into a broad smile.

Shortly after, Madame Giry also arrived and I saw Nadir's and Erik's eyes widen. I turned around and gasped. Madame Giry looked beautiful. She had a bright smile on her usually stern face and she was wearing a long white dress. Meg started crying with joy when she saw her mother. Erik grinned widely. Nadir's mouth was open and tears were running down his cheeks. As Madame stood next to him, Erik sat down with me and I took his hand in mine. When the wedding ceremony started, we all looked forward. Nadir and Madame looked so happy. Tears were running down both of their cheeks and they were smiling.

At the end, they turned to us and the pastor called out: "I hereby present Mr. and Mrs. Khan!"

The church erupted in resounding applause. Erik was beaming so much that I thought his face would split in half. It was so good to see him so happy.

Erik POV

I almost felt as if I had gotten married myself, even though I am already married. I was so happy for Nadir and Antoinette. I hugged my best friend fiercely and I felt tears running down my cheeks.

"Congratulations, both of you. I'm so happy," I sobbed against his neck.

He chuckled, sobbed too, and hugged me tightly as well.

"Thank you, my friend. I am so happy. I've loved Antoinette for a long time, but I never knew how to tell her."

"And now you're married," I giggled, breaking away from him to wipe away my tears.

Shortly after, Lou came and took Nadir with him. He and Antoinette would drive to the inn where we would all celebrate. Lou, the kids and I got in the car, as did everyone else, and drove after them. It took about half an hour. When we got there, everything was already prepared and looked very nice. The children were beaming and squealing happily. They looked so cute in their dresses and suits. Lou had on a long red dress and silver jewelry that I had given her. She had her hair pinned up into a beautiful hairstyle. She had braided part of her hair and put it in the back as a sort of half-crown over her other hair, which was open and she had curled it with a curling iron. She looked beautiful.

Her hand was in mine and I lifted it to my lips and kissed it. When it started, Nadir and Antoinette cut the cake to great applause. He fed her a piece and then we all helped ourselves to it. Lou fed me a slice which had a lot of cream in it and it tasted excellent. I noticed some cream left on my mouth. Lou wiped it off the puffy side of my mouth with a giggle. She licked her finger and gave me a mischievous grin.

"Hmm. Yummy."

I giggled and kissed her lips. She licked lightly at the thick spot and I moaned softly so only the two of us could hear. When we parted, I held my hand to my deformed upper lip.

"I'll never tire of this feeling of your lips on mine," I said.

"And you will never feel other lips."

"As is my wish."

We helped ourselves abundantly to the buffet and I felt as if I could burst afterwards. The children had also eaten very well, Lou anyway. We feasted lavishly on the sweets. I just couldn't keep my hands off of it. I was just too greedy for it. Nadir loved to tease me with it. Even now, as I ate a piece of chocolate, he grinned at me. I just stuck my tongue out at him with a grin and continued to eat with relish. He merely chuckled. I was glad to have him as my best friend. We were almost like brothers. One couldn't get along for long without the other. Suddenly I felt myself being hugged from behind and squealed. Shortly after, a nose was poked into my sparse strands of hair and I heard a giggle.

"Boo."

I laughed and kissed my wife's hand, which was resting on my chest.

"Well, Madame OG?"

"Yourself, Monsieur. OG," she replied.

A moment later, someone tugged on my pant leg. I looked down and saw that it was Josy.

"Dancing, Papa?", she asked me, looking at me with a look that would melt any chocolate and including me.

"Of course, angel. Shall we ask Phia if she wants to join in too?"

"Yes, Daddy."

Together we went to the dance floor and Phia ran to join us. Together she and her sister bounced back and forth giggling. Of course, I was coaxed into it, too. As well as my two daughters had coaxed me, now my two sons were doing it to my wife. Giggling, they also joined us and started jumping around. Soon the four siblings were holding hands and dancing themselves while I danced with my Lou. We both beamed happily and she looked like a queen. My children danced happily in a circle and I beamed overjoyed. It was really perfect. After a while, the children were exhausted and sat on the chairs. I giggled and sat down with them while Lou talked to Christine. She and Raoul had also been invited, of course. They were both beaming and it seemed like there was a second wedding coming up. And it seemed I was right. I love it when I am right. Christine came to me and put something in my hand. An invitation. I opened it and saw what it was for. Her wedding to Raoul.

"Christine," I breathed.

"I would be very happy if you came with your family, angel," she said to me.

I noticed tears coming to my eyes and just nodded.

"Of course I'll come. It will be my pleasure."

"I would like you and your family to be the guests of honor. That means you'll sit in the front row, please."

Now tears were really running down my cheeks. All I could do was nod.

"Thank you, angel," Christine replied, kissing my disfigured cheek.

I lifted my hand there and felt the spot. She had kissed me on a groove. Not on a tiny patch of smooth skin, but deliberately on my biggest flaw. At the word flaw, Lou would immediately spring back into action and say it wasn't a flaw. I was so grateful to my wife for her acceptance. That is something I will never take for granted. And I was so happy that it happened anyway.

Louise POV

The wedding of Nadir and Antoinette was beautiful. Madame had now literally ordered me to finally address her by her first name and no longer to address her formally. At first I shied away from it a little, but then I gave in. It was strange, because I had only addressed her as Madame, and formally. Erik just smirked when he heard Antoinette threatening to address me only as Mrs. Mühlheim if I didn't address her normal. At this threat, I gave in. She grinned proudly as I bent to her will. My children bounced around happily and giggled. They really were that cute. Erik grinned happily and looked proudly at his offspring.

Phia was currently with 'Uncle Nadir'. She had taken him very much to her heart. And Nadir loved our children more than anything. When Erik had to work a little longer and I did too, the Persian sometimes picked up our little ones from kindergarten. Of course they were very happy about that. Meanwhile, he and Erik would sit at the bar and drink a whiskey together. Their friendship was really something special. I am so grateful to Nadir for saving Erik from Shah back then. Because otherwise I would have never met my wonderful husband and the father of my children. And that is something I would never want to miss.

Erik turned to me just then and grinned at me. I waved at him and he returned it, blowing me a kiss, which I returned. He beamed and then turned back to his conversation with Nadir. They were both speaking in Farsi and I was surprised that Erik could still speak it after all this time. And somehow our children had also made up their minds to speak as many languages as their daddy.

Christine came to me just then and gave me something. I looked into my hands. An invitation. To her and Raoul's wedding. My eyes widened.

"I've already given one to Erik and told him I'd be very happy if you came as guests of honor."

"Guests of honor?", I croaked.

"Yes. Guests of honor. Raoul and I would be delighted."

I merely nodded. Christine gave me a beaming hug and grinned at me. I hugged her back tightly and gave her a watery smile. Erik, the kids and I to Raoul and Christine's wedding. I was really looking forward to it now. Meanwhile, our little ones were bouncing joyfully back and forth on the dance floor. They danced with Marius, the conductor of the opera, and when he saw Erik grinning at him, he grinned widely back. I grabbed a big glass of cherry and banana juice and walked over to my husband and Nadir. As I sat next to him, Erik pulled me into his arms. Meanwhile, I started sucking on the straw.

"What's that, honey?", Erik asked me, eyeing the drink curiously.

"Cherry and banana juice. Would you like to try some?"

He nodded and sucked ever so slightly on the straw. His eyes widened.

"Be right back," he said, and I watched him make his way to the bar.

Nadir and I merely chuckled. Shortly after, Erik came back with an equally large glass, grinning broadly, sat back down between me and Nadir, and sucked on his straw. His eyes closed in pleasure.

"Lou, I think I've found a new favorite drink. Besides coffee, of course."

Nadir laughed.

"My friend. You'll never get away from your coffee, will you?"

"Never!", grinned Erik proudly.

I snuggled up to him and together we drank our glasses empty. Our children saw this and soon we were each drinking from our glasses. I think I awakened a new passion in my family that wouldn't stop anytime soon.