Chapter Twenty-Eight
Raoul stood outside of the grand home, nervously knocking on the door. He knew this may be one of his last chances to be able to know Christine's body again, if not her love...
Erik jumped up from the settee in the sitting room when he heard the knock at the door come, and he rushed to the front door as he slipped his mask in place. When he opened it to find Raoul standing outside, he growled. "Tell me why I should not inform the authorities that you are here, Chagny."
Raoul gulping, giving Erik a small boyish smile. "Because I have a proposition for you. We both love Christine, am I right?" At Erik's nod, he continued. "Well, why should only one of us know her love? We could be with her together! The two of us making Christine soar to pleasurable heights... you do want her to be happy, don't you?"
Erik gaped at Raoul, unbelieving. "You are a fool." He said, advancing on Raoul, who's eyes widened as he took a few steps back. "But..."
"You have said quite enough. Leave before I do something I may regret!"
Raoul squeaked and rushed from the yard, chancing only one glace back.
Erik shook his head, forcing his anger down, and retreated back into the house.
X
Christine snuck up behind Erik as he sat at the piano bench, and bent so that she could slide her arms down his front and whisper in his ear, "The children are taking their afternoon nap..." She grinned against his neck and nibbled enticingly.
Erik grinned broadly, turning on the bench and putting his arms around Christine. "Well then, what would you like to do?" He asked as he kissed up her neck playfully.
Christine tilted her head to the side as a thoughtful look came onto her face. She stepped back from him and gave him a playful look. "Perhaps we could play, 'Tie up the angel.' I really like that game."
Erik laughed at Christine's words, standing and moving forward swiftly. Wrapping his arms around Christine's body, he tugged her to the sofa in the sitting room and forced her down, crawling over her body. "Or, we could play 'the angel is the boss'. I liked that game too." He said, smirking and lowering his lips to Christine's.
Christine pushed at his shoulders and sat up on the sofa. "Erik, we've made love her so many times... Let's try somewhere new!" She pleaded, giving him a winning smile and her eyes twinkling mischievously.
Erik chuckled, stroking Christine's cheek. "All right then, my dear... where would you like to try?"
Christine giggled and bit her lip as she pulled him toward the fireplace. "In the chimney..."
Erik laughed and shook his head. "I don't fancy the thought of getting full of soot... how about somewhere else?"
Christine poked her forefinger at his sternum. "Fine then, angel, you pick some place new."
Grinning, Erik grabbed Christine and carried her to the grand piano. Gently he laid her down on the back and crawled up after her. "How about here?"
Christine grinned up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down close. "Perfect," she purred, and let her tongue slide out along in between his lips.
Erik grinned seductively, kissing Christine with a great passion and pressing his hips against hers. "I hope the children take a very long nap..." He whispered against her lips.
Christine slid her feet along his calves with a broad grin. "Really? Why's that? Are we going to be taking a few interludes during the music?" She giggled lightly and caressed the back of his neck.
Nodding slowly, Erik moved his mouth along Christine's neck, nibbling at her flesh and sliding his hands up to caress her breasts. "I thought we would repeat the song a few times, to make sure we know it well." He said with a wink.
Christine moaned deep in her throat and tightened her arms around him. "So you're saying," she began, moaning once more before singing quite clearly, "Sing once again with me... our strange duet?" Christine shimmied underneath him and pushed her hips up against his.
Erik nodded, pressing his hips tightly against Christine's and groaning in need. He sang back to her, his voice strained with passion. "My power over you, grows stronger yet." He winked then, reaching behind her body and untying her gown, pulling it down over her shoulders and tossing it to the side. His hands then attacked her corset, then chemise, and soon she was naked beneath him.
Christine wiggled beneath him, her brow creasing in frustration as she yearned to feel his body pressed against hers. The flat hard surface of the piano was cool against her backside, and she shivered, her nipples hardening. She wrapped her legs and arms around Erik and pressed her chest into his, moaning slightly against his neck, as she placed warm kisses there.
Erik moaned deeply, kissing Christine with a voracious passion and working his suit jacket and shirt off. His hands then moved down and worked off his trousers, and he sighed heavily in relief. "Christine..." He moaned, before thrusting himself deeply within his wife.
Christine gasped and gave a loud moan, her ankles locking just above Erik's rear as she pressed him to her and arched, trying to take him deeper. "Oh... Oh, yes, the Phantom of the Opera is there...Inside..." She brought her lips to his and kissed him deeply, moaning into his mouth as she moved against him.
Erik chuckled, kissing a path down Christine's neck and nibbling at her collarbone. "Yes... he is..." Erik mumbled, thrusting hard inside of Christine and gasping for breath.
Christine panted softly as she gripped at his shoulders and upper back. "I bet... You wish... I would've said it... Back then." She grinned up at him before lifting her head to kiss him deeply, thrusting her tongue in his mouth just as he was thrusting mightily into her. She moaned in her throat and let her head rest against the piano as a look of pure rapture came over her face.
Erik's eyes fluttered, and he moaned louder and louder with each thrust. "Yessss..." He hissed, taking one of her nipples into his mouth and biting at it as he thrust a bit faster. "Christine... oh God yes..."
Christine gasped and dug her nails into his back. "Oh yes, oh yes, Erik! Erik!" Her eyes opened as she felt her climax approach, and she suddenly saw something out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and out of the window, and there, blonde hair swaying lightly in the breeze, was Raoul. She gasped and her legs tightened around Erik. "RAOUL!"
Erik's head snapped up as he looked down at Christine in confusion, his body stopping. "What?!" He cried, eyes wide with confusion and sadness.
Christine shrieked and tried to cover her upper chest. "Out the window! Look!" She pointed shakily to the window, trembling as she lost all desire and fear overtook her.
Erik withdrew from Christine's body and walked naked to the window, shaking his head. "There is nothing here." He stated simply. "Were you imagining Raoul giving you such pleasure?"
Christine's eyes flared with anger and also with a sadness that hadn't been there since she'd been raped. "I swear to you he was there! How could you even ask me such a thing!" She slid off the piano and bent down to grab her chemise. "Damned if I'm going to let him take one of the children!" She threw her chemise over her head and pulled her hair out, stalking toward the door to the music room with a determined face.
Erik put his head in his hands and opened the window, looking out and gasping. Swiftly he pulled his head back in and called out to Christine. "Come quickly!"
Christine paused at the door and turned back to him with a frown while slowly moving toward him. "What now? You want to throw me out of the window for saying his name?" She mocked, a scowl on her face.
Shaking his head, he stepped toward Christine, putting a finger over her lips. Gently he guided her back to the window and pressed her head out, pointing down. There, lying amidst the bushes and flowers a few feet down, was Raoul. His trousers were down around his knees and his hand was closed over his manhood, moving furiously. His eyes were squeezed shut and he was gasping softly in passion.
"Oh my GOD!" Christine shrieked, and looked with disgust and yet a hint of amusement at her former friend. She began laughing, her shoulders and hair shaking with her giggles. She couldn't help herself. It was disgusting and humorous to see what the pitiful vicomte had become.
Raoul's eyes snapped open and he gasped, looking at Christine's beautiful face, and he moaned as he released. "Christine... come down here, let me feel you..."
Erik scowled at Raoul, grabbing Christine and pulling her back inside the window. "Remove yourself from my property, monsieur, or I will be forced to do so myself!!"
Christine was hysterical by now. "So that's why it didn't hurt when he raped me! He's as small as Phillip!" She bent over laughing, and stopped as she stared below Erik's hips. "I feel I chose the right man," she said, breaking out into giggles again.
Erik smirked at Christine, before turning back and watching Raoul scramble from the bushes. Casting a glare back at Erik, he ran away, pulling his pants up as he went.
Erik sighed, rubbing his face, and he gently pulled Christine into his arms. "Earlier today he asked if I would share you with him... both of us with you at the same time." He said, wincing in disgust.
Christine's face contorted into one of pure disgust, and she looked up at him with her nose crinkled in her blatant distaste. "That's ridiculous! You'd be doing all the work." Her eyes still held their playfulness. "He is no longer such a threat to us. What a fool he has become! But didn't you used to tell me he was always such a fool?"
Erik nodded, pulling Christine into his arms and carrying her back to the piano. Setting her down, he crawled up to sit beside her, and began to work her chemise off. "Yes... that I did. Now, where were we...?"
Christine grinned and was about to respond when she heard Bella's long, drawn out cry from a few rooms down. She sighed and leant up to peck him on the cheek, and carefully slid out from under him, grabbing her corset and dress. "Another time, then. Oh, and Erik?" She looked back over her shoulder as she stood in the doorway. "Remember to close the drapes next time."
X
Maddy smiled as she drew Edwin's face, and caressed it lovingly even though thick black ink was staining her fingers. She hummed softly, dreamily, and began to sing what she'd heard her parents sing together many times. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime..."
Charles walked into the room and heard Maddy singing, and he smiled. "What are you singing?"
Maddy shrugged and drummed her fingers on the floor beside her as she continued to gaze at her love. "Papa and Mamma sing it all the time. He said he sang it to her when he was the Phantom of the Opera."
"Phantom of the Opera? I've heard maman call Papa her Phantom... what are they talking about?"
Maddy shrugged. "Mamma used to sing at the opera, and Papa... Well, I don't know." She sat up, brushing dust from her hands. "Now I'm curious. Charles, you know better than to evoke my curiosity!"
Charles giggled and nodded. "Yes, but now we can go ask maman and papa about the Phantom!"
Maddy's smile broadened. "You get Bella, and I'll get Phillip."
Charles jumped up and rushed from the room, going to Bella's crib and scooping her into his arms. He rushed to the staircase then and waited at the foot for Maddy to bring Phillip.
Maddy, the sleepy Phillip in her arms, led the way up the stairs and put her forefinger over her mouth as she came to rest in front of her parents' bedroom. She carefully opened it without one creak, and snuck in, tiptoeing to the end of their bed and setting Phillip between their feet before climbing onto the end herself.
Charles smiled and climbed onto the bed as well, frowning as he saw his parents both looked naked, and Christine was almost completely on top of Erik. Holding Bella close in his arms, he looked deviously at Maddy.
Maddy bit her lip as she grinned mischievously, and grabbed one side of the sheet, motioning for Charles to grab the other, but not waiting to tug her side down.
Charles giggled softly and tugged his side down as well, eyes widening when he saw his parents both naked. His head tilted to the side as he looked first at Christine, then at Erik.
Bella, watching Maddy intently, crawled over Charles's lap and came to rest in Maddy's, and then crawled up Erik and Christine's entwined legs to rest at their thighs. She reached out and grabbed at Erik's family jewels, a goofy, innocent grin on her face.
Erik shifted in his sleep, moving closer to Christine and batting at Bella's hand. "Not now Christine... let me sleep a bit.."
Maddy giggled and tried to pull Bella back, but the little mite scooted up her parents� bodies and landed in between them. She saw Christine's breasts and her mouth fell open with merriment as she reached for them, kicking her little feet to get closer. She kicked all the way back and ended up hitting Erik in the family jewels.
Erik gave a squeak of pain, suddenly wide-awake, and his hands moved down swiftly to grasp at his wounded flesh. "Bloody hell!" He cried, uncaring that he was cursing before what appeared to be a full audience. His eyes squeezed shut in pain as a few tears slid out, and he hunched into the fetal position, whimpering in pain.
Charles gasped when Bella kicked his father and put a protective hand over himself. "Bella! Be careful, that really hurts if you get hit there!" He exclaimed, reaching out and trying to pull his little sister from her position.
Bella proceeded. She giggled at her father and slapped at his hands before turning to her mother and latching onto one of her nipples. When no milk came out, she got a confused expression and bit down with the two teeth she had.
Christine's eyes flew open and she shrieked lightly, gasping, "ERIK!" But when she saw her daughter staring up at her with wide eyes and a near-toothless smile, her mouth dropped open. She looked to Erik and raised an eyebrow. Seeing the rest of her children at the end of the bed, she said, "I hope there is a reasonable explanation for this."
Erik continued to moan in pain, cracking an eye open and peering up at Christine.
Charles bit his lip. "Well.. you see, we wanted to hear a story, and then Bella kicked Papa in the.. .well, in the naughty area..." He flushed a bit. "And then Bella bit you... She didn't mean to be naughty though.."
Christine pulled the covers up over her bare form and placed a hand over Erik's. "Are you alright, my love? That must've been very painful..."
Maddy nodded and leaned forward, placing her hand over her mother's. "Yes, daddy, are you okay?"
Erik flushed and tugged the blankets up over himself, brushing Christine and Maddy's hands away from him. "I'm fine, just fine..." He murmured, although his face was still drawn and pale. Once the blanket was completely covering everything he reached over, taking Christine's hand beneath the blankets and placing it over his wounded area with a sly smirk. Moving over a bit, he pressed his lips to Christine's ear. "Maybe a bit of a massage would make it feel a little better..?"
Charles frowned as he watched his father whisper into Christine's ear, and he cocked his head, trying to figure out what was going on.
Christine raised a thin eyebrow and replied softly, "Unless you want to be harmed again, I'd suggest you never imply that again in front of the children." However, she grasped him in her hand and slid her fist up and down, giving him a teasing, seductive smile, then pulled away and sat up against the bedpost, pulling the sheet under her arms. "Now, children... What is it you wish to discuss?"
Erik grumbled softly and sat up as well, pulling Christine against his body and kissing her forehead.
Charles smiled at his parents and folded his hands in his lap as he began. "I want to know about this 'Phantom of the Opera'. And so does Maddy and Phillip... and I guess Bella would like to know too."
Phillip nodded enthusiastically in Maddy's lap. "Tell us!"
Christine smiled up at Erik and scooted closer to him. "What brought this on, children?"
Maddy bit her lip before casting a glance at Charles. She began timidly. "Mamma, we heard you call Papa your 'Phantom.' And then the other day while napping we heard you singing Phantom of the Opera... or something."
Erik bit his lip, not sure what to think right now... what if the children thought him cruel for the way he lied and tricked Christine...
Charles smiled. "Yes... maman, what was that song, and why is Papa a Phantom? He isn't a ghost at all.."
Christine rested her head on Erik's shoulder as she spoke. "Well, there'd been rumors of the Phantom... and then he came to me, as the Angel of Music. My father, Phillip--that's who you're named after, Phillip, you know that--told me when he died, he would send the angel." She squeezed Erik's hand, prepared to tell the story her way. "And he did."
Not much later, Christine came to a painful part. "...And he pulled me through the mirror, as he sang to me." Christine smiled, taking a deep breath, as she'd been talking for a while.
Maddy clapped her hands together and sighed wistfully. "Oh, Mamma, that is beautiful!"
�Yes, well... The next morning, he was playing at his organ... And I came up behind him and pulled his mask off." Tears came to her eyes as she remembered the painful morning.
Charles gasped, putting his hand against his own disfigured features as tears came to his eyes. "Maman!"
Erik smiled softly and held Christine close, kissing her cheek. "Charles, hush. It is quite all right, now."
Christine stared straight ahead as she continued, trembling slightly. "He was so angry... I'd betrayed him worse than anyone ever could have... He was just so disappointed, so hurt..." Tears fell down her cheeks as overwhelming guilt washed over her, and she tried to take deep breaths to stop crying.
Holding back his own tears, Erik very gently drew Christine against his chest, pressing her face into his neck and rubbing her back slowly. "Shhh... my dear, it is okay now... you know I forgave you the day you returned to me..."
Christine sniffled, beginning to think the retelling was a bad idea. She continued anyhow, and as she approached the managers' attempt to capture him, she used her hands excitedly to accentuate things. "I knew he was too smart for it! I knew he must've known..." She grinned. "And then Past the Point of no Return..." A dreamy smile came over her face as she remembered.
Clearing his throat slightly, Erik flushed. "I behaved deplorably." He stated simply.
"I was actually very brazen. It's humorous to me now." Christine locked her fingers with Erik's, watching as she did so.
Maddy raised an eyebrow. "Mamma, what is brazen? Papa, how did you behave deplorably?!"
Erik sighed. "I should not have stolen your mother away, is all that I am saying... but I am getting ahead of the story."
He stole me away, after I tore away his mask... again." She sighed and told herself what an imbecile she was, beating her hands upon her thighs for a moment before breathing deeply. "Raoul... he... he came to save me. And Erik put him in the Punjab lasso, and made me choose whether to stay with him and let Raoul live, or kill him by choosing to go back to him." She wouldn't lie to her children.
Erik choked, putting a hand to his throat and sighing weakly. "Christine... this story, they shouldn't know..." He protested weakly. "They should not know of the sins their father has committed..."
Charles gave a cry of joy when his mother's words came, but he fell silent when Erik spoke. "But Papa, that was a good idea! Either way you would win! Raoul would be dead or you would have maman! She picked you I bet, didn't she!"
Maddy had a contemplative look on her face. "No... No, she chose Raoul, didn't she? That's why you hate him so much? Because you love Mamma to much to ever hurt her like that..."
Erik put a hand to his face, forcing back tears and turning to hide himself against Christine's chest, trembling slightly.
Christine's eyes filled with tears, too. She didn't want to face it, but she did. "I realized I loved him, that I always had... I kissed him. I chose him, but not to spare Raoul's life. Perhaps that would have been a plus, but I wanted him to know I loved him." She sighed as she rubbed the back of Erik's head. "And then we heard the mob. All the opera people, coming to get the Phantom... Your father sent me away with Raoul and though I didn't want to go, he insisted it."
Maddy frowned. "But... why?!"
Finally, Erik's tears did fall and he began to sob softly against Christine. "Because I thought myself to be unworthy of your love! " He cried, looking at Christine now, forgetting the children were there. "You were so much more than I could ever hope to be... so innocent and pure... you had never killed, never been a victim the the black demons of desire and lust... you were in every way and angel, and me... just a demon." He said, rubbing furiously at his face. "And after all the lies you had told to me, after all the fickle tricks... I didn't know if I could trust anything any more, not even that look of love in your eyes."
Christine's mouth dropped open and she scooted a little bit away from him. Maddy's gaze went from both parents suspiciously to Charles, a worried look coming to her eyes. Christine tucked the sheet tighter around her. "Erik, you know I was misled! Misled by you, pressured by everyone! Being rubbed in every wrong direction! I was but a child, an innocent, like you said! I didn't know how to deal with any of it."
Sighing heavily, Erik nodded. "I know... I didn't know how to deal with any of it either... maybe in that way, we were both but children... so new to love..." Cautiously he moved toward Christine again, reaching out to trace his fingers over her cheeks as another tear fell from his eyes.
Charles reached out and grabbed Maddy's hand, fearful that his parents would fight more.
Bella curled against Charles, feeling a bit scared at hearing the tone of her parents' voices. Maddy held Phillip tighter, rubbing his head with his free hand while scooting closer to Charles. Christine's eyes slowly raised to meet Erik's, and she said softly as a tear fell from her eye, "So you've... not trusted me... not believed in my love... all along?" She sucked in a deep breath, her eyes lowering again, her head dropping.
"No!" Erik cried, reaching out to grasp Christine's face in his hands. "No... when you returned to me, Christine... it was then that I knew your love for me was not a lie... and I have trusted you and our love ever since." He whispered, leaning forward to brush his lips across Christine's gently.
As Christine fell forward to embrace Erik tightly, tears falling across his chest, Maddy asked timidly, "You... You returned to him, Mamma?"
Erik smiled, holding Christine close and kissing the top of her head. "Yes... your mother returned to me when Uncle Nadir came to Raoul's estate where she was staying and told her that I was dying..."
"And you were together, then? Oh, that's so romantic! But... whatever happened to Raoul?" Maddy frowned slightly, remembering the man who'd been so nice to her but had deceived her and cut her father's lung.
"Uncle Nadir went to Raoul's estate when it became obvious I was not going to die as was thought. Once your mother came to me and told me of her love and... well, gave me the special hug... I was stronger. Uncle Nadir brought Raoul, and your mother told him that she was staying with me in my home." He said softly, stroking Christine's hair. "Raoul left... and we didn't see him again until our wedding day." He smiled at Maddy. "You were in your mother's belly the day we were married... the first time your mother and I gave the special hug, we were lucky enough to conceive you." He said, cupping his daughter's cheek lovingly.
Maddy giggled and moved forward after setting Phillip aside, and jumped onto her father, her arms around his neck. She curled her fingers around her mother's dark brown curls and smiled sweetly. "And you love me the most, right?"
Erik cleared his throat and smiled down at Maddy. "You are my miracle, you know that." He assured his daughter, kissing her cheek.
Bella heard her father's voice become loving and she hurriedly crawled up the sheets, and climbed on top of Maddy's lap, pressing her hand against her father's face and smiling goofily up at him.
Erik chuckled, looking down at Bella sweetly. "Well hello there, dear..." He cooed, drawing her up into his arms and cuddling her close as well as Maddy. Kissing Madeleine's forehead once more, he looked down at Christine. "Are you alright, my dear?" He asked with concern.
Christine nodded and sighed. "It's all in the past. I have the best life I could've ever hoped for now." She smiled and slipped all the way under the covers, accidentally pushing Phillip off the side of the bed with her feet.
Phillip squeaked, blinking a few times in consternation as he lay on the floor. For the life of him he couldn't understand what had happened... and then he realized. He had been on the bed, the covers had ruffled as his mother had spoke, and then he had fallen, obviously to the floor... Wiggling a little, he stood and clung to the edge of the bed. "Maman, maybe you are blind too!" He exclaimed, waving his arms around for someone to pick him up and whimpering. His head hurt now.
Christine gasped and sat up, clutching the covers to her front as she moved to the end of the bed. As she bent over the end, practically mooning Erik and not really even thinking about it, she pulled Phillip from the floor and into her arms, and sat back on her legs, still stark naked in the back, the sheet barely remaining in the front. "Oh, my baby, are you alright? I'm so sorry." She kissed his head numerous times, nuzzling his cheek for a moment before holding him tightly.
Phillip wiggled a bit in Christine's arms, closing his eyes and pressing his face against her chest. "Maman..." He murmured sleepily, cuddling closer, "Don't let me hit my head again, it hurts..."
Erik had gasped for breath when Christine bent over the bed, and now he was struggling against his arousal. All his mind could comprehend was that the children needed to leave the room now or they were going to see things they should not view for quite a long time. Looking lustfully at Christine, he shifted uncomfortably and moved Maddy from his lap.
Christine sat back against the bedpost and rocked Phillip gently. "I'm sorry, my love. Please forgive me." She patted Phillip's back, still rocking him gently in her arms.
Maddy looked up at her father after she noticed a tent had formed in the sheet covering him, and she raised an eyebrow. "Papa..." She trailed off uncertainly, and moved back down to the end of the bed, away from him.
Erik glanced down and flushed, before crawling across the bed and kissing Christine with a firm passion, telling her quite plainly that he needed her at that exact moment. Pulling away, he looked deeply into Christine's eyes, his own darkened with passion. "Christine..." He ground out, taking one of her hands and placing it beneath the covers to rest on his straining flesh. "Perhaps the children should go play downstairs...?" He whispered.
Christine's face turned into a mask of confusion. "What?!" She rasped, looking down where her hand was. She was so surprised her grip loosened on Phillip and he dropped of her lap and down to the floor beside the bed.
Erik's eyes widened when Phillip fell to the floor once more and he held back laughing, instead peering over the bed with a worried expression.
Maddy frowned as Christine bent over the bed again to pick up her son, murmuring apologies. "Papa... what is that?!"
Erik bit his lip. "What is what, darling?" He asked, gritting his teeth and trying to force himself to calm.
Maddy looked perturbed. She pointed to the obvious tent and looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Is there an animal under there, Papa?!"
Christine narrowed her eyes and set Phillip down beside Charles before lying over Erik's lap and sighing deeply. "Yes, we have an animal for you, but he won't come out until tomorrow, so you must all behave until then."
Charles frowned. "But I know what that is, it isn't an animal!" He exclaimed, shaking his head. "Papa has to go to the bathroom! Mine does that when I have to pee." He stated proudly.
Maddy frowned. "Your what, Charles?"
Charles rolled his eyes. "My naughty area, silly!"
Erik bit his lip and nodded. "That's right, Charles. And I really must use the bathroom right now, but first I must greet your mother good morning properly, and I know how you all hate to watch us kissing so go on now, you've heard your story..."
Maddy still wasn't convinced. "Well what exactly is your 'naughty area?' Why does it stick up? I don't have one when I have to pee!" She poked at Charles's pants. "I want to see!"
Charles jumped up. "Hey now! That's a private place, Papa said so! You can't see it unless you are going to give me the special hug!" He stated, "And you don't have one because you are a girl!"
Maddy jumped up as well. "Then I'll give you the special hug! I love you, you're my brother!"
Christine sat up on her legs and grabbed Maddy around the waist. "You'll see one soon, my dearest. You only see the naughty area of the man you marry, dear, not your brother. Never your brother..."
Maddy squirmed and turned to look at her mother. "But Mamma! The priest said that we are all brothers and sisters in God's eyes!"
Erik chuckled. "Which is why religion as a whole is completely unintelligible." He murmured, looking to Charles and smiling. "Maddy, I think Bella and Phillip need a diaper change... you can see a boys naughty area then, you clean his diaper just like Bella's..." He hinted, trying to get the children from the room.
Christine rolled her eyes and slapped Erik's shoulder just as Maddy jumped off the bed and grabbed Bella. "I'm so confused. I'll ask Edwin if I can see his naughty area and give him the special hug next time I see him."
Erik chuckled as he gave Christine a playful look. "You say that to him, Maddy, and he may not ever come back..."
Charles scooped Phillip into his arms as well and moved toward the door. "Maman and Papa want to give the special hug I think, so we should go..." His eyes lit up then and he bit his lip, waiting for Maddy to leave first. He had a question for his father...
Maddy huffed and threw her hair over her shoulder, glaring at her father before stalking out of the room, Bella gurgling as she did.
Charles bit his lip shyly and looked at Erik. "Papa... you know what happens to the naughty area when we have to go to the bathroom...?"
Erik sighed, putting a hand to his face. " Yes, Charles?"
"Well... I was just thinking, maybe that's how you know you want to give the special hug... and maybe you don't have to go potty at all..." He shrugged. "I just wanted to help you, Papa..." He sighed a little and smiled nervously at his parents, before holding Phillip closer and moving from the room.
Erik's face flushed and he groaned, shaking his head. "We'll have trouble with him in a few years..."
Chapter Twenty Nine