Chapter Twenty-Four
Erik walked through the sitting room and toward the kitchen slowly, lost in thought and wondering when it would be time to eat. He had been composing all day, shutting himself up in the music room and asking to be left alone. It was only a week after he had received the horrible news from the doctor, and Erik had been practically unreachable ever since. Opening the kitchen door, he looked to his wife and smiled faintly. "When will supper be ready, Christine?"
Christine turned when she heard her husband's voice and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist. She smiled slyly and swung her hips as she approached him, and slid her hands up his chest and around his neck and she whispered against his lips, "You can have supper right now, my love..." She kissed him deeply and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
Erik froze, pulling his lips from Christine's and gently pulling her back to stand a safe distance from him. A look of pain flashed in his eyes, before he closed them for a moment, then looked away. Taking a few steps from his wife, he looked out the window and sighed softly, obviously at battle with himself.
Christine frowned and sighed, and then stomped her foot angrily. Biting the insides of her cheeks to keep from lashing out at him, she turned with flaring nostrils back to the stovetop, and stirred the soup fiercely. He'd been the same way all week, as indifferent as he had been when she'd first met him and taken lessons with him. He never touched her, and he pulled away whenever she touched him. She felt as if she were starting at square one again.
Erik walked to the nearby table and pulled out a chair, sitting down heavily and resting his head in his hands. "Where are the children?" He asked, trying to find something safe to talk about.
Christine scowled. "You'd know if you'd come out of that damn music room every once and a while."
Growling in frustration, Erik shoved himself up from the chair and stalked toward the door. "Maybe I'll just go back in there then!" He exclaimed, seething and unable to think of what had made him so angry in the first place.
Christine fought her oncoming tears and she shouted, "Fine, I'll eat your supper and just become fat again so it will look like I'm pregnant, and then maybe you'll return to Earth!" She sniffed back her sobs and continued to stir madly.
Erik's eyes widened at Christine's words, and he turned to look at her in shock. "What are you talking about?!"
What do you think I mean?!" She exclaimed, turning to look at him and raising her hands into the air. "You've been sulking ever since we came home from the doctor's! We've had two full days to be alone together, and you acted as if all you cared about was your music! You haven't laid a hand on me! I feel like I don't even know what it's like to be kissed anymore! And now the children are back, and you hardly ever speak to them! Maddy feels horrible! The twins won't even know their father if this keeps going!" She lowered her voice and turned, pushing her hair off her shoulders. "If you don't show any love to me, at least show love to your children."
Erik rushed forward, flinging his arms about Christine and pulling her close. "Christine..." He said, his voice quivering. "I don't feel that I should touch you now... aren't you disappointed in me?! I surely am! I'm hardly a man now, hardly fit to call myself your husband, let alone touch you..."
Christine pushed back away from him as her eyes glittered with tears, but she was too angry to let them fall. "You never listen to me! You've given me four marvelous children and I've told you they're all I've ever wanted and more!" She slapped her forehead in disgust and turned away from him. "Always your insecurities Erik... How can you call me your wife when you feel insecure around me? I thought we were past this..."
Erik let a tiny sob escape his lips, and he turned his back. "We were past it, Christine! And then God saw fit to ruin things! If you're content, then fine, I believe you! But I'm not! I'm not content, and I feel like a selfish fool, but I wanted more out of life, I wanted more children, I wanted longer with you! And all I am is old and broken, hardly a man at all..." He fell to his knees in his grief, sobbing softly and burying his face into his hands. "I'm such a fool..."
Christine folded her arms across her chest and allowed a single tear to fall down her cheek. "You are a fool, if you believe that you are not a man, that you are not worthy to be my husband, that I am disappointed in you! Erik, I cannot express how much I yearn to feel you against me as I did a week ago. You may not believe me, but I love you whether you are fertile or infertile, whether you are fool or genius." She moved closer. "God did not ruin this. Perhaps I would've died in my next childbirth? And that is the reason this happened? Erik, would you believe me if I said that I didn't want any more children? We had two in one! We have four beautiful children, Erik, isn't that enough?"
Erik looked up at Christine, trembling as his tears continued to fall. "Christine..." He whimpered, crawling toward her and rising to his knees, throwing his arms around her body and burying his face into her stomach. "Oh forgive me... please!" He cried, shaking with his sobs and feeling faint. "I am content, they are enough... everything I have is enough, oh forgive me!"
Christine stroked his hair and sighed deeply. "Erik, my love, you have done nothing wrong. I realize that you're feeling less masculine but I still want you, and if you still want..." She trailed off as she saw the soup catch on fire, and she shrieked as she pulled away and ran to the stove, trying to suffocate it with other pans sitting around.
Erik rushed up and grasped the nearby moist dish towel and tossed it over the flames, snuffing them out and sighing in relief. He looked at Christine then, and had to smile, his eyes twinkling as he took her hands in his. "I love you, Christine... you're the only mother of four I know who can still burn soup."
Christine made a show of pouting and turned to fold her arms across her chest, her lips stuck out as she frowned.
Erik laughed softly, wiping away his remaining tears and drawing Christine against his chest. Gently he kissed her forehead and nuzzled his face into her hair. "I've missed you this last week..." He began, moving his lips to her cheek as he spoke. "How about we go upstairs, hmm?"
Christine grinned evilly and pulled away. "Catch me if you can!" She announced, and gathered her apron and skirts as she rushed out of the kitchen, and to the grand staircase. She hopped up them easily, and ran straight to their room, and to the far side of the bed, standing and waiting with a twinkle in her eye.
Erik sprinted up the stairs, taking them three at a time, and he burst into the bedroom, searching around and finally seeing her at the other side of the bed. "Ahh... there you are..."
Christine grinned and tilted her head to the side, her face flushed and her dark curls falling down her shoulders. "See, you're not old." She climbed onto the bed and stood on it, placing her hands on her hips. "Now that we're upstairs, what shall we do?" She lazily untied her apron and threw it at his face, giggling softly as she did so.
Erik laughed and pulled the apron from his face, tossing it to the side and pouncing on his wife. Knocking them both to the bed, he lay atop Christine and grinned dangerously down at her. "Oh, I don't know... what do you think?" He asked as he lowered his head, nibbling at her neck playfully.
Christine smirked and tried to remain looking innocent as she tilted her head to the side. "We could play chess," she suggested, an eyebrow raised. "You know... check... mate." She trailed her hands down his chest and to the front of his pants, and massaged him gently as she gazed into his eyes.
Erik's eyes fluttered closed and he whimpered, pressing his hips forward and seizing Christine's lips swiftly. "Hmm... or I could ravage you..." He whispered against her mouth, eyes dancing. "I rather like the idea of that, myself.."
Christine grinned and nipped at his bottom lip. "Or I could ravish you." She flipped him over swiftly with a power she didn't have a clue she possessed, and pushed him back on the bed as she lifted her hands to the back of her dress as she perched atop him at the waist.
Erik gasped when Christine flipped him, and he looked up at her with wide eyes. "That works too, I suppose." He stated with a smirk, trailing his hands up her legs to rest on her hips.
Christine smirked as she pulled her dress up over her head, and then leaned down to unbutton his shirt. She quickly pushed it off his shoulders, eager to see his broad chest, and she leant down to lick at his nipple. "There is something just so," she bit down gently, "Erotic," she continued and licked at the nub again, "About being on top." She grinned down at him deviously.
Erik groaned, grasping her upper arms and squeezing tightly. "Yesss..." He purred, wiggling beneath Christine and whimpering. "I agree..." He ground out, his voice hoarse with passion.
She scooted up his body, settling on his chest, and grabbed his hands, and held them above his head. "Don't make me tie you up," she whispered menacingly.
Erik tugged his arms free, grasping Christine's waist and sitting up a bit, reaching her lips with his own and kissing her passionately. "Don't tease me." He commanded, nibbling at her lips and groaning in need.
Christine moaned softly and grabbed his shirt, and ripped a long strip from it. "Tease you, Erik?" She pushed him back and held his head between her thighs, her chemise falling over his lips and chin as she tied his hands to the bedpost. "I would never dream of it." She smiled wickedly as she completed her task.
Erik growled, arching his upper body and trying to pitch Christine from atop him. "You'll kill me at this rate, woman!" He cried, tugging his hands and glowering.
Christine smiled and slid off to his side, rubbing her hands all along his chest. "Don't worry, my love, I won't leave this time..." She grinned and sat back, resting her feet across his chest and pulling her chemise to rest at the top of her thighs. "But I think I will sit here for a while and watch you squirm."
Erik whimpered, wiggling his body and looking balefully at Christine. "Please... please either untie me or make love to me..." He begged, "I cannot stand to sit here and wait!"
"Well," she began, quite pleased, "That's how it felt this entire week. My breasts ache and it's not from nursing." She settled back on top of his chest and leaned over him, her hands on his binds and her breasts in his face. "What will you do if I untie you?"
Giving Christine a wicked smile, he lifted his head a bit and latched his lips onto her breast, suckling eagerly and moaning in pleasure when he began to taste her milk. "How about this?" He mumbled, his head swimming from desire.
Christine gasped and pulled away, slapping at his chest. "I should be more careful." She murmured, as heat spread throughout her body. She looked down at herself and sighed. "And now my chemise is wet. Erik, you bad bad boy. So naughty. You'll pay for that." She moved down his body and slid between his legs, and began to unfasten his pants.
Erik grinned rakishly at Christine's words, and when she moved down his body his eyes widened. "Christine..?" He tugged his hands furiously, trying to free them.
Christine pulled his pants down his hips and threw them to the side of the bed. She leant down and kissed his abdomen softly before lifting from the bed and standing next to it. "What if I leave you here now? How did you get out of the binds last time?" She began to slowly pull her chemise up her body.
Erik glowered at Christine with a sigh. "I called for your son until he came with his pocketknife and cut the binds." He stated simply, smirking then. "And if you leave me this time, I'm calling Maddy instead."
Christine's eyes widened and she dropped her chemise back down her body. "Really? Well how about I just go fetch her myself?" She grinned and turned for the door.
"No!" He cried, struggling even more. "Please Christine... a whole week... you're driving me insane!" He exclaimed, wiggling on the bed and giving her his best puppy eyes.
Christine smirked evilly and turned back to him. "Yes, a whole week. So sad. I could've been a wild thing. We could've tried the bath, like we've been wanting to..." She grabbed her chemise and pulled it over her head. Stalking back towards the bed, she crawled onto it and to his side, lowering her lips to his chest once more.
Erik groaned, lifting his hips and kissing Christine with a fiery passion, almost constantly whimpering. "Yes... Oh Christine..." He whispered, struggling to find more contact against her body.
Christine slung a leg over him and sat just out of reach of his manhood, and held onto his shoulders. "Now if I ravish you... Then you must promise you will ravish me... And so on, and so forth." She grinned down at him as she reached up to his binds, and untied the knots.
Giving a cry of relief, Erik brought his hands down and they immediately grasped Christine's hips, pulling her to rest atop his straining flesh, and he sighed softly, relieved just at the pressure against him. Leaning up then, he kissed his wife passionately, then trailed his lips down and began suckling at her breast once again.
Christine gasped and rocked on his flesh, and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him to sit up and leant her forehead against his and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. She felt like it had been an eternity and the feel of him inside her was exquisite. She trailed her lips to his jaw, where she nibbled gently.
Erik gasped and whimpered, pressing his hips upward and straining to move deeper inside of Christine as he nibbled at her breast. Looking up and meeting her gaze, Erik winked, sliding his hands to her back and rubbing gently.
Christine arched on him, throwing her head back and letting her long curls fall down her back. She held his shoulders as she moved on him, nearly bouncing as she tried to get him deeper. Her mouth sought his and she kissed him fervently, her tongue crashing into his. She moaned deeply into his mouth and moved faster.
Erik groaned and sped up his movements, kissing Christine with a furious passion and growling as his hands clutched her back, nails digging into her skin.
Christine threw back her head and cried out, feeling her release so incredibly close. She rode him faster, her nails digging into the top of his shoulders as she screwed her eyes tightly shut. She panted in his ear as she nibbled on his lobe, and wrapped her legs more tightly around his waist as she felt herself beginning to tighten on her husband. "Erik!" She cried into his ear, and bit his shoulder as she clung to him.
Erik cried out, his entire body arching up from the bed as he felt his release wash through his body, and his eyes shut tightly as he pulled Christine's body flush against his own and shook against her. "Christine..." He purred, panting softly.
Christine breathed deeply as she lay her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms underneath his. She closed her eyes and waited for her breath to return to her and her heartbeat slow. "Erik," she whispered, squeezing him to her. She was blissful beyond words.
Erik breathed deeply, cuddling closer to his wife as a shiver came over his body. For some reason he had grown incredibly cold, and he reached down the bed, grasping the blankets and cuddling tightly against Christine as he pulled the blankets over their bodies. He trembled with cold and sighed softly.
Christine frowned and stroked his face. "Erik," she murmured, "Are you quite alright?"
Teeth nearly chattering, Erik nodded and nuzzled closer. "I'm okay... just a bit cold..." He swallowed hard against a rising wave of nausea, and whimpered.
Christine pursed her lips and placed a hand upon his forehead. Her eyes widened and she sat up. "Erik! I think you may have a fever!"
Shaking his head weakly, he let his eyes slide closed. "No I'm fine." He insisted, shaking his head. "I haven't been ill in years."
"You are now." She frowned and stood from the bed, and pulled the covers up over him. She grabbed her robe at the end of the bed and pulled it over her. "I'm going to get you some hot soup, alright? I'm worried about you."
Erik sighed heavily and nodded. "Hurry back, you're my bed warmer now." He stated with a slight smirk.
Christine could only hope it wasn't a serious illness.
X
Charles moved through the house and toward his parents� bedroom with his little sister in his arms. His father had been sick for the past few days and now Charles was worried that Bella had caught the illness as well. Stepping shyly into the room, he looked at his mother who sat on the edge of the bed. "Maman... I think Bella is sick.."
Christine raised an eyebrow and motioned him forward, holding out her arms to accept Bella. She looked down at the little child, who sneezed cutely and wiggled her head afterward, running her little fist over her nose. Christine sighed and grabbed a handkerchief from her nightstand, and pressed it over Bella's nose. "I think you're right, Charles." She sighed and turned back to the bed, and sat down beside Erik. "Papa, papa, you make me sick!" She cried in a shrill little voice, pretending to be Bella. Unlike her siblings, she was not talking at the age they had been, and not walking either. Though, she couldn't hope for all her children to be geniuses. "Charles, are you feeling sick? How is Maddy, and Phillip?"
Charles shrugged, hopping up on the bed beside them and laying his head on Erik's chest. "I feel fine, and I think Maddy and Phillip are okay too." He said simply, touching Erik's face and smiling evilly. "Papa... what happens if you sneeze?" He asked suddenly, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Erik's eyes widened and he appeared thoughtful for a moment. "You know, Charles... how about I get out my pocket knife, remove your nose, and then you can find out first hand?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Charles giggled, crawling over Erik to plop onto Christine's lap.
Christine smiled down at Charles and kissed the tip of his nose. "I'd much rather it stay there so why not try to be a tad more respectful?" She placed Bella in Erik's arms and placed her arms around Charles. "Hold your sick child, I have my big healthy boy right here." She grinned over Charles's head at her husband and ran her fingers through her son's hair. She was amused at how curly and brown it was, just as hers was.
Erik chuckled, holding Bella close and kissing her forehead. "Sorry, little one." He said softly, smoothing her hair from her head.
Charles wiggled a little and looked up curiously at Christine. "Maman, how come Bella doesn't talk like Phillip does?"
Christine tilted her head to the side and shrugged. "I suppose she didn't receive the genius traits, as the rest of you did. I didn't talk when I was her age. You have to remember that there are some normal children out there." She smiled and kissed his forehead. "She's pretty, isn't she? Well she can't have beauty and brains, I've learned that the hard way." She giggled at her own joke and shook her head at how ridiculous she sounded.
Charles smiled and hugged Christine tight. "You're pretty and smart both maman, I love you." He stated, kissing her cheek. "And I love Bella too... will I have a pretty baby like her some day?"
Christine kissed his forehead and hugged him to her, nuzzling his nose with hers. "Without a doubt," she announced, kissing his nose. She smiled and lifted him up into her arms, and swung him around before placing him at her hip. "Erik, our guests will be arriving soon... If you feel you cannot get up then just call me and I'll get Bella. Otherwise, you bring her down."
Nodding, Erik cuddled Bella closer, closing his eyes. "All right, I'll be down in just a moment." He stated.
Charles giggled and squirmed a bit, before laying his head on Christine's chest and closing his eyes.
Christine smiled and took him out of the room, and carried him down the stairs. "You still love Maddy, don't you? You seem so occupied with Bella these days. I remember when Maddy used to be your hero."
Charles grinned up at his mother, cuddling closer to her. "Maddy is funny. But I guess she's okay for a girl..." He winked at his mother then, and leaned up to whisper in her ear. "Don't tell Maddy I said this, but I wish I was as tall as her..."
Christine laughed outright and smothered his cheeks with kisses playfully. She took him to the sitting room and sat down with him in her lap. "You adore your father, don't you? You look up to him?"
Charles nodded, folding his legs pretzel style in his mother's lap and looking up at her adoringly. "Papa is so brave.."
Christine nodded. "He is very brave. Do you want to be just like him?" She grinned, setting her trap with ease.
Charles nodded, eyes wide. "He's going to teach me to play the violin!" He exclaimed with excitement, nearly bouncing out of Christine's lap.
Christine laughed and nodded excitedly. "Well did you know your Papa loves Maddy very much? I think he loves her more than you do..." She raised her eyebrows, eyes wide as if surprised.
Charles frowned. "Does not!" He exclaimed, shaking his head back and forth quickly.
Christine nodded, a serious expression coming to her face. "Oh yes, I think he does. He loves Bella more than you do, and he loves Phillip more than you do, and he loves me more than you do!" She gasped and covered her mouth, grinning underneath her hands.
Charles glared up at Christine, shaking his head again. "He doesn't even!" He stated confidently. "'Cause I love Bella and Phillip and you way more!"
Maddy walked in at that time, and sighed as she ran her hands through her hair. "Phillip woke up, but I will go take care of him. Aunt Meg and Uncle Nadir are at the door, so you should go let them in. When you see Papa, please tell him I'm upset with him because I feel sick." She sniffed and turned to go retrieve her smallest brother.
Charles giggled, jumping up and running to Maddy. "I don't feel sick Maddy, let me take care of Phillip you go lay down!" He said, rushing from the room.
Maddy watched him as if he were insane, and sighed as she turned to her mother. "What has gotten into him?"
Christine grinned. "Apparently he loves you way more. Would you go get your father? He's upstairs and he needs to be down here, like I told him to be." She leant down and kissed Maddy's cheek before moving to the foyer.
Maddy turned and climbed the stairs weakly, and entered her parents' room. "Papa? Uncle Nadir and Aunt Meg are here." She yawned and then sneezed, and glared at him. When she saw Bella on the bed, she glowered. The little twin sneezed as Maddy had, and cooed up at her father and giggled. Maddy rolled her eyes. "Mamma said you better come downstairs or she won't give you a special hug, she'll give you a spanking."
Erik laughed and sat up weakly, groaning as he did so. "Well, looks like you're sick too, huh?" He ruffled her hair and grabbed her hand. "Well, those of us who are sick best stick together I suppose..." He said, winking down at her and walking from the room.
As Maddy followed and turned to bring Charles and Phillip into the sitting room, Christine allowed Nadir and Meg to come in, and smiled kindly at them. "Enter at your own risk," she warned. "Erik, Maddy and the smallest, Bella, are all sick. Best you know that now, rather than when you are sneezed on."
Nadir chuckled and patted Christine on the arm. "Well, lets see the newest editions to the house hold." He said, walking in and smiling at Erik.
Meg looked a little nervous. "I'm not going to get sick, am I? Maman would be angry.."
Christine jerked her in by her bodice and shut the door. "Don't be such a chicken, Meg, dear." Christine saw Maddy come out, and she asked, "Where is everyone, darling?"
Maddy sighed and shrugged. "Papa came down with Bella, Charles said we would come with Phillip in a moment." Maddy immediately went to her favorite aunt, really her only aunt, and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Aunt Meg can I move in with you?"
Meg laughed at Maddy, patting her head. "I think your mother would like you to stay here..." She said with a grin and a wink.
The sound of Erik coughing weakly from the other room made Meg jump, and she winced. "Are you sure I'm not going to get sick..?"
The thought of Meg cooing constantly at beautiful Bella made Maddy cringe, and she took her hand and pulled her back towards the foyer. "I think you should go, Aunt Meg, I'd hate for you to catch a cold. Your toes could shrivel and fall off from the sickness and then how would you dance?"
Christine grabbed Meg by the bodice again and pulled her forward. "Come, if you catch a cold, it's a sacrifice you made for your nieces and nephews." She grinned and tugged her into the sitting room, much to Maddy's displeasure. Christine immediately went to sit beside Erik, and stroked Bella's forehead. She took the girl from him and held her out for them to see. "This is Bella. Charles named her because she's so beautiful."
Meg smiled, eyes wide with joy. "She's precious!" Meg exclaimed, grinning broadly.
Erik stood and went over to Maddy, grabbing her around the waist and carrying her over his shoulder to the sofa again. "She doesn't hold a candle to my angel." He said, tickling Maddy a bit and winking down at her.
Charles walked into the room with Phillip and smiled. "Boys are better than girls, Phillip and I aren't sick." He said, puffing out his chest and walking to Maddy. "If I let you hold him are you going to get your cooties on him?" He asked, grinning playfully.
Maddy scowled and wrapped her arms around Erik's neck, and kissed his cheek. "Are you calling Daddy a girl? He has the cooties, too!" She stung her tongue out and pretended to cough at him. "Careful, I'd hate for you to get cooties." She whispered into her father's ear, "What a fool!"
Erik glared down at Maddy. "Now, ma petite ange... your brother was only teasing, do be nice.." He said softly, stroking his fingers through her hair.
Christine handed Bella to Meg and took Phillip from Charles, and stood before Nadir. "And this is Phillip. He was the first twin to come out." She sighed sadly and passed a hand over his face. "He's blind, but he has an amazing ear and I love the color of his eyes." She smiled and cooed at Phillip.
Nadir frowned, looking closer at Phillip. "You're certain he's blind?" He asked mournfully.
Christine nodded sadly in answer to Nadir�s question. "We took him to the doctor. He is blind. But he's still a little genius."
Maddy giggled as she heard her mother's words and pointed to Bella. "Unlike her! She's just a ditz, like Papa says you are, Aunt Meg."
Erik glared down at Maddy, while Meg laughed and held out a lock of her hair to look at. "Well... I've known that for a while now!"
Suddenly Erik began to cough again, and he rolled his eyes when he had finished. "Honestly, I think you children carry germs or something, I haven't been sick in years, and all of a sudden-" Erik's eyes widened then, and he set Maddy aside, rushing from the room and toward the bathroom, cursing to himself the whole way.
Christine's eyes widened and she stood. "I'm going to go check on Erik. Stay here and Maddy, Charles, please refrain from fighting. Though, Charles, I think you gave me cooties the other day." She winked at Maddy and hurried to the bathroom, and entered cautiously. She didn't want chunks on her beautiful dress. She rubbed Erik's back and giggled. "You don't have any hair for me to pull back."
Sighing, Erik reached behind himself to grasp Christine's hand in his own. "That is a fact which makes me quite relieved." He stated, squeezing her fingers and standing after a moment. Rinsing his mouth, he washed his face and hands, and sighed heavily. Meeting Christine's eyes, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, bending a bit and resting his head on her shoulder. "I feel miserable." He said with a heavy sigh.
Christine grinned and trailed kisses along his cheek and earlobe. "Then shall I make you feel better?" She ran her hands up his chest and around to the back of his neck, where she gently massaged the tight muscles there.
Erik gave a relieved sigh, relaxing against his wife and nearly purring from the wonderful feeling of his muscles being slowly relaxed. "Mmm... you can keep doing that all day..."
Christine gave a seductive smile and pressed herself against him. "Oh really?" She asked, and moved her hands to his shoulders, massaging him thoroughly there before trailing her hands down to his rear end.
Erik whimpered with the self-control it took to move Christine's body from his and hold her away from him. "My dear, illnesses can be spread... I don't want you to become sick.." He said reasonably, the whole time resisting the urge to take her right there in the bathroom.
Christine cursed and sighed loudly before swinging the door open and stomping out. She lowered herself onto the settee and folded her arms across her chest, cranky because she hadn't received any love in several days. Stupid cooties.
Meg looked at Christine with confusion. "What's the matter?" She asked in concern.
"Let me guess," Maddy began, with a pompous air. "Daddy felt better so you tried to give him the special hug, but then he felt sick again so now you are frustrated because he might've given you cooties." She grinned. "Charles, come here, I want to give you a special hug so I can give you cooties."
Christine rolled her eyes. "Close, but not completely correct." She huffed and lay back on the settee, her arm falling over her eyes dramatically.
Erik stalked out of the bathroom, determined to get his prey, and he crouched down low as he came up behind the settee, and suddenly he pounced of the back of it, landing atop Christine and kissing her fiercely. "To hell with the germs." He murmured, hauling her into his arms and carrying her from the room. "If you get sick, I'll take care of you." He stated simply, and moved toward the staircase.
Meg rose an eyebrow, and looked first to Maddy, then to Nadir.
Nadir was laughing far too hard to respond to Meg's questioning look, and he buried his face into his hands.
"Don't worry," Maddy assured her aunt as she picked up Phillip and sat on the settee. "Papa can't make babies. He's inflammable or something like that. But he can still give the special hug so at least Mamma can do that and not get fat again."
Nadir's eyes widened, and he gasped. "Infertile?!"
Maddy snapped her fingers. "Yes! Yes, that's the one!" She growled down at Phillip and pushed his head away. "I don't have the special milk!" She sighed and set him down on the settee. "Anyway, Daddy's infertile. So he's stuck with me, an angel on Earth, Charles who reminds me of a pebble in my shoe, this poor blind child who tries to suck at your chest if you're Mamma or not, and this stupid ditz right there." She pointed to Bella. "Poor Papa. All he's got is me." She shrugged helplessly.
Nadir laughed, shaking his head. "Maddy... you are definitely your father's daughter."
X
Maddy touched Charles's shoulder and shook her head. "Don't worry about a thing. You know Aunt Meg as well as I do; she's just downright stupid, like Bella." Maddy giggled. "Papa thinks Aunt Meg is stupid, too, so all we have to do is tell him of our plan and I'm sure he would help us!" She batted her eyelashes and clapped her hands together. "Besides... Papa loves his little angel too much to deny her anything!"
Charles grinned, and nodded his head. "You're right, he'll make sure we can trick her good!" He said with excitement, bouncing as he grabbed at Maddy's arm. "But what are we doing to do to her? It's gotta be good.."
Maddy tilted her head to the side in thought. "We should scare her out of her wits... If she has any." She hummed to herself and then snapped her fingers. "We should give her the sleeping potion! And then..." She bit her lip and her eyes lit up. "We can make her look like Mamma!"
Charles laughed at the thought and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, we can make her hair like maman's! Aunt Meg isn't as pretty as maman anyway." He said simply, before his brow furrowed. "But what on Earth are we going to use?"
Maddy grinned wickedly. "Remember Papa telling us about Persia? And how the women used the liquid brown stuff to draw on themselves?" A twinkle came into her eye and she pulled his hand toward the music room, where their father was. "Papa has some. I saw him draw his name on Mamma's back the other day."
Charles' eyes lit up. "Yes! That would work really good, it's almost maman's hair color!" Charles began to run then, dragging Maddy behind himself as they burst into the music room. "Papa! Papa.. um.. Maddy has something she wants to ask you... " He pushed his sister before him, suddenly shy.
Erik looked up from his composing and quirked an eyebrow. "She does, does she?" Looking at Maddy his eyes twinkled. "What is it dear?"
"Papa, I love you..." Maddy smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes as she moved to sit on the piano bench beside him.
Groaning, Erik rubbed his face. "What do you want from me?" He asked with a smirk.
"Oh, Papa, you've given me so much already! I would never ask for anything more but your love and pride." She wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned. "However... This is something you would enjoy as well, so I'll ask you for it." She turned to look at Charles. "Tell him the plan, brother."
Sighing, Charles dug his foot into the ground, putting his arms behind his back as he looked nervously up at Erik. "Well Papa... we wanted to play a trick on Aunt Meg.. and make her sleep... and then make her look like Maman..."
Erik's eyebrows raised and he chuckled. "But what on Earth would you do after that?"
Maddy frowned. "Well I didn't think about that..." She rubbed her neck, brows furrowed as she wondered what they could possibly do after they made her look like Christine.
Jumping up and down then, Charles laughed as he cried, "Then you can try to give her the special hug, Papa!" He ran forward, jumping into Erik's lap. "That would really scare Aunt Meg!!"
Erik frowned, appearing thoughtful. "Well... how would you make her look like your mother?"
Maddy played with his hair as she replied, "We were thinking the stuff the Persian women use to draw tattoos on themselves, and put it into her hair to make it look like Mamma�s." She grinned. "Please, Papa, please! You think Aunt Meg's a ditz! Well she's sitting in the twins' room right now and we could lead her out and make her fall asleep! It'd be so much fun, Papa, pleeeeease? Mamma would never have to know! She'll be back from the market later!" She kissed her father's mask and wrapped her arms tightly around him.
Erik nodded. "That would work.. it washes off with warm water and soap.. after a while.." He grinned broadly, and ruffled both Maddy and Charles' hair. "You know... I think this just might work. Go fetch your aunt."
Maddy leapt from the bench with joy and danced around merrily. "Papa, you're the best in the world!" She giggled and ran out of the music room, taking out the sleeping potion vile she always kept with her. She grabbed a cup from the kitchen and ran toward the twins' room, and smiled sweetly as she reached Meg. "Aunt Meg, Aunt Meg! I made a special beverage for you!"
Meg eyed the cup curiously, and hesitantly took it. "What's in it?" She asked as Maddy pulled her towards the sitting room. She sat down on the couch and Maddy climbed into her lap.
"Just drink it, Aunt Meg! It is yummy!"
Meg sipped cautiously and pulled the cup away from her lips with one swallow. "Maddy! That's atrocious! It..." Her eyes abruptly closed and she fell back upon the settee.
Maddy stood and laughed, and called for Charles and Erik. "I did it, I did it!"
Charles laughed as he came running, and Erik strode out of the music room then with a bowl of a dark murky paste-like liquid. "Well then, I suppose we should get started... She won't be out too long..."
Setting the bowl down, Erik laid a few towels beneath Meg's head so they wouldn't make a mess on the settee.
Charles grabbed a lock of Meg's hair and pushed it into the henna, laughing as he used his fingers to spread it up to the roots.
Maddy grinned and worked quickly and efficiently, dipping several of Meg's blonde locks into the henna and then rubbing them all together. "Papa, will she still be a ditz when she doesn't have blonde hair?"
Erik laughed heartily, nodding as he watched his children work. "Yes, I imagine she will be, unfortunately."
When Maddy had finished her side, she glanced over at Charles. "Almost through?" She gasped as Meg made a noise and moved a tad.
Charles nodded and dipped the last few locks in, then grabbed one of the towels and sponged Meg's hair to get the excess off and also to make it a bit curlier. He grinned when he was finished, and he drew back the towels, wiping his hands and tossing them to Maddy.
Maddy rubbed at her hands fiercely, shrugging as the henna left a stain on her hands. "This will be worth it," she murmured, and moved away from her aunt. She quickly ran them to the kitchen and hid them, and hurried back to stand beside her father. "Papa? When shall she awaken?"
Erik grinned. "Any moment now..." He said, rubbing his hands together. "Here, give her a mirror so she knows what she looks like." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small mirror, making sure it faced down as he held it, and he smiled shakily as he set it to the table. "I shall go into the other room... when she is awake and things seem prepared I shall come out." Rushing from the room then, he chuckled.
Maddy grinned at Charles and took his hand, and stood innocently beside the settee. Meg stirred then, and sat up, yawning slightly. She blinked and came to focus on the children, and raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" She questioned, confused.
Charles giggled and handed Meg the mirror. "Look!"
Meg took it and frowned as she looked into the mirror. Her eyes went wide as she saw her hair and the few stains at the top of her forehead, and she gasped and screamed. "What is going on here?!"
Maddy looked sad. "What do you mean, Mamma?"
Meg screamed again and shook her head. "You two! Just wait until I tell your mother!" She stood and gathered her skirts, and started walking toward the music room. Normally she would've knocked but she was too angry to do so. "Look what your children have done!" She announced, holding up a lock of her hair.
Erik turned and looked lovingly at Meg... after all, he was quite the actor. "My dear, what are you talking about? You look just as beautiful as ever." He stated, standing and walking toward Meg with a seductive smile.
Meg blanched and took a giant step back. "What are you talking about?! Christine would be so upset if she saw the way you're looking at me now! Stop this madness, Erik!"
"What are you talking about? Are you ill? You are Christine, mon ange.." He said, tilting his head as he drew near to Meg and pulled her into his arms.
Meg squeaked and flushed, and pushed away from him. "I cannot believe this! I'm Meg, Erik, I don't even resemble Christine in the slightest! Are you insane?!"
Maddy grinned as she watched, giggling to herself. Her Papa was so good.
Fingering a lock of Meg's newly colored hair, he tried not to pull a face at how cold and wet it still was. "Hmm.. same brown hair... same beautiful features... Nope, you must be my Christine." He stated, advancing on her again. "Now come here and let me show you how much I love you."
Meg's mouth hung open and she turned to open the music room door. "You just wait until Christine finds out about this!"
Erik rushed after Meg, grabbing the door and holding it closed. "My dear, I believe you may be quite ill... do you not know who you are? Who is the Meg you are speaking of, by the way? You are Christine, my wife." He stated, leaning down as if he were trying to kiss her.
Meg screamed, and though it was shrill, she heard the front door close. She turned and wrenched the door open, and when she saw Christine in the foyer, she ran towards her and grabbed her shoulders. "Christine, save me!"
Christine raised an eyebrow and set her groceries down. "Now, Meg, if I had known you felt this way about me perhaps I would've chosen you instead of Erik?" She grinned and made a face at Meg's hair, and ran her fingers through it. "What is this about?" She questioned, bemused. She heard Maddy's giggles and raised an eyebrow.
Erik came running into the foyer then, grinning broadly. "Come back Christine!" He cried, then stopped when he saw his wife. "Er..."
Meg jumped and whimpered, and ran behind Christine, peeking her head out from behind her as she shivered. Christine placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. "Erik... What exactly have you been up to?"
Erik flushed, rubbing the back of his head. "It was the children's idea!" He exclaimed.
Maddy gasped and stomped out, pulling Charles with her. "Was not, you brute!" She quickly hid her hands behind her back and grinned innocently up at her mother.
Christine glared at each of them. "You," she began, pointing to Erik, "Are in big trouble. And as for you two." She glanced over her children and raised an eyebrow. "No music for a week. Go to your rooms unless you wish it to be a month."
Charles gaped at his mother then, and blinked a few times before tears filled his eyes and he rushed from the room.
Erik looked at Christine in shock, then swallowed hard, obviously unable to decide if he wanted to stay there, or go after his son. "That's unreasonable!" He cried finally, resting a hand at Maddy's back.
Christine narrowed her eyes. "Is it? This is henna, Erik. It won't wash out completely for at least a couple of weeks, perhaps a month or more! Though I trust that you keep charge of the henna, don't you? So you must've given it to them." She turned to Meg and held her shoulders. "Was he doing what I think he was doing to you?" When Meg whimpered in reply, Christine whirled back around to face her husband. "The children will not suffer as badly as you will. Even if it was their idea, you knew better than to go along with it!" Her nostrils flared as she tried to remain calm. "Maddy, get your brother and the two of you apologize to Aunt Meg. You will go stay with her and wash out her hair as thoroughly as possible, and that shall be your punishment."
"Oh honestly, it was just a bit of fun." He said, glaring at the two of them. "She looks better with dark hair any how." Smiling nervously down at Maddy, he ruffled her hair and gave her a little push. "Go on, dearest..." He said softly, before turning to look at Christine. "If I'd wanted to be punished like a child, I wouldn't have run away from home all those years ago." He stated, eyes narrowed, before he stormed from the room and began to clean up the henna from the sitting room.
Not much later, Maddy had collected Charles and Meg reluctantly took them home with her. Christine stood in the foyer, hands still sternly on her hips, and she moved slowly toward the sitting room. She watched Erik work, favoring how great his rear end looked, and then stepped in carefully. "It was wrong, Erik." She sighed and went to stand next to him. "Though I wish I could've seen the look on her face when you professed your love to her."
"It was just a bit of fun, I fail to see why the children need to be punished." He stated, not looking at Christine.
Christine tugged at his sleeve. "You're right. That's why I sent the children with Meg. They'll clean her up, and tomorrow we'll go pick them up." She grinned wickedly and stepped into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "After you've received your punishment, of course."
Erik sighed, still upset by how angry the game had made his wife, and he looked balefully down at her. "I'm covered in henna, Charles is upset, and you're angry with me..." He stated, tears unwillingly coming to his eyes.
Christine sighed and moved away. "I'm not angry with you. Seeing Meg in such a state was quite humorous, but I had to say something. She's my best friend." She rested on the threshold of the sitting room. "Charles will be fine, I'm sure, once he realizes his music was not taken away from him. And as for the fact that you're covered in henna, well, I've got henna all across my back, so ease up." She turned to exit the sitting room. "If you are truly this peeved I shall go retrieve the children."
Erik sighed heavily, reaching out to tentatively touch her arm. "Let them stay there for the night..." He said, moving a bit closer. "You�re sure you are not angry with me?"
Christine turned and placed her hands on her hips. "If I was, would you let me tie you up?" She grinned and took his hand, and pulled him toward the grand staircase.
Chapter Twenty Five