Chapter 7
Week 35
Erik gently stroked his hands over the full curve of Charles’ belly, softly enough not to wake the other man who slept cradled against his chest. He felt their daughter move under his hands, shifting in her increasingly tiny home, ready to make her appearance in just a few more weeks.
They’d been cuddled together on the couch binge watching Charles’ new favorite show Call the Midwife when he’d looked down to see the other man out cold. He was large enough that it was easier for him to sleep sitting up, as the baby had a habit of shifting wildly whenever he tried to lay flat even with pillows as support. Erik found it adorable.
He’d stopped the show and turned off the television, simply enjoying the feeling of his family held safe within the circle of his arms.
They’d been resting just so for about twenty minutes when the baby gave a particularly hard kick in the process of a full turn jolting Charles into partial wakefulness.
“Oh, did I drift off again?” he snuffled against Erik’s broad shoulder.
“Yes, but it’s alright, you need your rest and she seems inclined not to let you have it,” he reassured his lover, still smoothing his palms over the taught skin of his belly.
“Hmmm, I don’t wanna move,” he mumbled, still sounding more than half asleep.
“Good thing you don’t have to.”
“Ugh, yes I do, that last somersault put her right on my bladder,” he pouted beginning to shift onto his feet to head to the bathroom, “Besides, it’s almost dinner and you promised matzoh,” he grumbled as Erik helped him to his feet and made sure he was steady before letting him go.
“I did, I did and I know better than to hold out on you when you’ve got your cravings,” he smiled up into Charles’ softly rounded face, more sure than ever that he’d never seen a more beautiful sight.
“What is it?” he asked softly, cupping Erik’s strong jaw in his hands, stubble rasping his palms.
“Nothing, just enjoying the view,” he smiled as a pleased grin crept over Charles’ face. He tried to deny it, but Erik knew he was self conscious about his larger frame and uncomfortable with the amount of attention he drew.
He was so tiny it really did look like he was carrying twins. Reaching most things had become impossible. With his lack of height combined with his new girth, he often felt that his arms were useless, “I’m like a T-Rex,” he often complained.
“My favorite dinosaur,” Erik always replied, kissing a smile onto his face.
They’d spent the last few weeks in relative solitude, Erik having put his foot down on Charles’ friend’s behavior once the other man received a borderline blood pressure warning at their weekly checkup the day after his blowout argument with Raven.
“Let’s just take some time for us, we’ll have little enough of it once she makes her debut,” he cajoled his still fuming lover into agreement as they left the doctors office.
“Keep talking like that and she’ll be a showgirl,” Charles had teased, half smiling.
“I can see it now, her name up in lights, starring in a Broadway show,” Erik grinned madly at the thought.
“Speaking of names…”
Erik cut him of gently, “Not until your blood pressure is down.”
Charles capitulated with a sigh and agreed to drink a whole bottle of water and take a nap as soon as they made it home. As much as he raised a fuss, it was all for show. He loved how Erik doted on him and the baby. He’d never been the center of anyone’s attention and he loved it, though of course he was willing to share the spotlight of Erik’s love with their little darling. He couldn’t wait to meet her.
~~
At their next appointment his blood pressure was back in the normal range, as it should have been considering the entirely stress free week he’d spent being spoiled by Erik and his parents.
The semester had ended a few days after his fateful meeting with Moira and he hadn’t seen her since. It had been strangely nice not to have to deal with any negativity concerning his pregnancy or relationship. He hadn’t noticed how stressed he was until he cut off contact with his friends.
It was a little lonely, but he filled the time while Erik was working by shopping online for baby clothes and eyeing larger apartments close to Stark Tower, he was contemplating buying one of the nearby high rise apartment buildings so they could live in the penthouse and collect rent. He’d been working his way up to running it by Erik without seeming like he was splashing his wealth around.
That night as they sat down to a meal of matzo soup with cornbread- another of Charles' cravings- he realized that for the first time in his life he felt truly at peace. He smiled at Erik happily and dug in with a vengeance that clearly pleased the other man.
“I think I’m going to miss being pregnant, food has never tasted better,” he moaned throatily around a mouthful of stew.
“Yes, you made that clear when you started crying over the frittata at brunch,” Erik said dryly.
“Your mom makes the best frittata!” Charles protested.
“I never said she didn’t,” Erik chuckled, “By the way she gave me the recipe so you can have it anytime you like,” he glanced up at Charles’ unexpected silence only to see the younger man blinking back tears.
“You’d make that for me?” he sniffled, furtively rubbing his eyes.
Erik sighed and hid a smile as he stood to grab a tissue, at least Charles’ mood swings tended towards happiness.
~~
“Buy a building? Near Stark Tower?” Erik asked, incredulous as they curled on the couch after dinner.
“Yes?” Charles offered softly.
“Um, sweetheart, I have savings but… we can move there no problem, but to own it?”
“I can buy it,” Charles held his breath.
Erik was silent for a long moment, carefully watching his young lover and doing mental calculations, “When you said trust funds, inheritances, and portfolios, I was thinking millions,” he said without inflection, “maybe I was right, but was I?”
“Yes, when it started it was millions,” he paused again and held his breath more tightly.
“Breathe Charles,” he ran his fingers through the carrier’s hair as he let out a shaky exhale.
“My net worth is probably nearing a billion at this point,” Charles said almost too quietly to hear.
Erik shook his head and let out a wry laugh, gently tugging him into a loose embrace, “So you want to acquire this multimillion dollar property and push it over the top?”
Charles placed his hands against his chest and pushed off slightly, “No! I-that’s not what I, oh, you’re teasing me!”
Erik laughed full out at the other man’s ire, “I’m sorry darling I couldn’t help it, you looked like you thought I’d be angry that you have that much money.”
“Well…” Charles blushed and refused to meet his eyes until Erik tipped his chin up with one finger and forced him to meet his gaze.
“Can I tell you a secret?” Erik whispered conspiratorially glancing around the room as though they may be over heard. Charles nodded, looking slightly suspicious. “For regular people, one million is hard to imagine, so going from thinking I was dating a multimillionaire to knowing I’m dating a billionaire isn’t that big a leap.”
“Oh, really?” Charles perked up at the news, "so you don’t feel…weird about it?”
“Not really, we live off what we make; I know you feel strange about your parents’ money.”
“Yes, but now that I’ve stopped working…”
“Hey. You’ve got savings and I’ve got a great job, we’ll be fine darling, I’d rather have you happy than your salary coming in,” Erik soothed, smoothing a hand over the smaller man’s shoulders, “that said, I also like the idea of you using your inheritance for something other than charity, something for yourself. Have you ever done that before?”
Charles looked affronted, “Yes, of course I have!”
“Putting yourself through school doesn’t count!” Erik laughed at the face he made at that, “Can you think of anything else?”
“Well obviously I couldn’t afford to live here on a professor’s budget, or eat out every night, or afford my tailor.”
Erik sighed at the list, “Those are small expenses darling, have you ever bought something crazy?”
“Like a building?” Charles asked.
“Yes.”
“No,” he finally admitted.
“Then I say we go for it.”
“…Really?”
“Why not? What have we got to lose except this admittedly fine apartment,” he gestured around their home with one hand.
“Really?”
“Yes! I told you I’d love to be able to walk to work, to be able to take you for lunch on days I’ll be home late. I don’t want to waste time on a commute; we were planning to live in one of them anyway, what does it matter if we own the place at the same time?” he asked pragmatically.
Charles averted his eyes and bit his lips, “Well, two of the buildings I like have available penthouses…”
“What have I gotten myself into?” Erik growled playfully, leaning in to kiss plump ruby lips, mind clearly moving on to more intimate matters.
“So can I set up a tour?” Charles gasped as his he moved down to kiss his throat.
“Yes, and talk to your real estate guy about the purchase, I’m sure he can ease the way,” Erik murmured against a starburst of freckles.
“Hmm, what?” Charles panted, confused.
“You’re not even listening!” Erik teased, working his shirt open to run his hands over sensitive flesh.
“Well you’re distracting me!”
“Yes, I am.”
~~
Week 35
“Hello?”
“Erik?” said an unfamiliar woman’s voice.
“This is Erik Lehnsherr,”
“Hi Erik! it’s Kitty, Katherine? Your cousin?”
The memory clicked in his mind, “Kitty? Hello, how are you?”
“I’m fine I’m fine I hope you’re not too busy, Aunt Edie gave me your number, she said you’d be fine with a call.”
“Yes, of course, I must admit I’m surprised to hear from you,” Erik tried to regain his footing. To say this was unexpected would be an understatement.
“Well you shouldn’t be, you were at my wedding,” she laughed at her own bizarre non sequiter.
“Ahh, yes I was,” he hedged still wondering what this was about.
“At the reform Synagogue downtown? Where my husband is a junior Rabbi? Uncle Jake told my mother the problems they’ve been having at your temple and I thought I’d invite you to a service and we’ll see what happens?”
Erik’s mouth hung open in shock, “Charles isn’t Jewish,” he finally managed to stutter.
“I know that, but you are and your daughter will be, and non Jews are welcome to attend services, it might be nice, besides, I’d like to meet your Charles, the mystery man who stole your heart,” she practically sang. Ever the hopeless romantic.
He blushed though she couldn’t see him, suddenly recalling her calling him the tin man when she was younger because he was always so distant.
“I’d like that, I…can’t thank you enough,” he said earnestly.
“Oh Erik, you’re family, even if you’re not reform,” she laughed and they chatted for a bit before agreeing that he and Charles would attend services on the upcoming Sabbath and she would take the younger man under her wing during the services.
“Thanks again, I look forwards to seeing you,” he hung up the phone with a bemused smile; some things were certainly looking up.
~~
Week 36
The next few days passed in a blur of work and home where Charles was trying and occasionally succeeding in making edible meals every night.
“Pinterest is my new best friend,” he’d confided, scrolling madly through a board called ‘Easy Recipes for Non Cooks’.
Erik glanced at the clock, it was already after six, the new project was ramping up and his hours were longer because of it, he wanted to have a firm handle on the specs before his paternity leave began. It was late though, and he was eager to try Charles’ first solo attempt at lasagna. He was just packing his briefcase when he heard a quiet knock on the door, and glanced up, sharp words on the tip of his tongue for whichever of his employees had a problem this late in the day.
He frowned in surprise at the sight of Azazel darkening his doorway, “Did we have a meeting?” he asked, automatically reaching for his phone to check his calendar.
“No, no. I had one with Miss Potts and I thought I’d see if you were still around,” Azazel said self consciously.
“I was just leaving,” he said stiffly.
“I can see that, I just…can I have a moment?” he sighed and ran a hand through his thick black hair.
“Yes, of course, have a seat,” Erik sank back into his chair, not bothering to remove his outer wear.
Azazel sat as well, crossing one leg over the other as he mentally parsed his words, “My son is my joy, the love of my life,” he smiled distantly as though picturing someone dear to his heart. “When I heard he was on the way I was terrified, I did not know what to do, or if he was even mine,” he chuckled, “but he was. He is, and the moment they placed him in my arms he grabbed my heart and hasn’t let go.”
Erik sat in silence, watching the other man show more emotion than he’d ever seen before.
“Erik, I’m sorry for what I said, you were right about letting myself become bitter. The thing is, even if I had to go through it all again I’d do it in a heartbeat just to have him. You’re a lucky man to have the love of your child’s mother as well. I just came to say what I should have said before, congratulations.” He gave a crooked smile and offered his hand which Erik shook with aplomb.
“Thank you, Az, that means a lot. It’s a girl by the way,” he said proudly causing Azazel to let out an amused snort. “What is it?”
“You know what they say about girls?”
“No, what?”
“They wrap their fathers around their fingers before they can stand looks like she got you before she was born!”
Erik joined in laughing as well, “Yes, she really does.” He hesitated a moment before tentatively asking, “So your son is how old?”
“Three next month,” he puffed up with pride.
“So do you have any advice for infants?”
“Accept the fact that you’ve already lost, but that it’s a battle worth losing,” he said sagely with a wicked smile.
“Thank you for that,” he said dryly, “come, let me walk you out.”
“Yes, of course, you must be getting home to your Charles,” Erik was startled to realize the other man remembered his boyfriends name after hearing it so briefly weeks ago. He was struck by a sudden idea.
“Hey, how do you feel about baby showers?”
“Will there be cake?” Azazel asked seriously.
Erik raised one eyebrow, was that a deal breaker for the ruthless lawyer? “Yes?”
“Then I love them, when and where?” he smiled.
“I’ll email you the details. Thanks for stopping in, this was nice,” he was surprised to find that it was true.
“Yes, perhaps I will bring Kurt to your party,” he said hesitantly only to be met with Erik’s smile.
“We’d love to have him, the more the merrier.” They shook hands in the lobby and went their separate ways each with a weight lifted from his heart.
~~
Week 37
“Lehnsherr!”
Erik sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, not in the mood to deal with Starks’ lead project manager. He looked up from his computer to find one burly, hairy, Canadian settling into the seat in front of his desk. He looked to be contemplating putting his feet up while he was at it.
“Don’t even think about it Logan!” he snapped.
“What? I didn’t do anything!” he retorted defensively.
“You were thinking it, I can tell,” Erik cut off his protests of innocence.
The other man shrugged unapologetically and settled back into his seat, seeming content to sit in silence as Erik worked. It wouldn’t be the first time Logan had made a hideout of his office when his minions were on his last nerve and it wouldn’t be the last.
They had an understanding; a shared general dislike of humanity didn’t hurt matters either.
After a moment, Erik went back to his calculations, but was unable to lose himself in the flow under Logan’s steady gaze. After another half hour he was tired of playing the waiting game and finally snapped, “Alright, what is it?”
“Nothing bub, just came to see if the gossip is true,” Logan preened, clearly pleased to have won their unspoken contest.
“Gossip?” Erik frowned, he stayed out of the office rumor mill as much as he possibly could. The soap opera that his life had become was more than enough.
“About your baby mama, is it true you knocked up some barely legal wunderkind?” Logan asked incredulously.
Erik chuckled at the description and settled more comfortably in his chair to clarify, “Charles just turned 25, so barely legal, no. But he is a certified genius so take from that what you will.”
“Well, he can’t be all that smart to get roped in by you,” Logan said with a wide grin, reaching out to offer his friend a handshake which was returned with jovial aplomb, “So am I getting a niece or nephew?”
“The baby is a girl, no guarantees on her being your niece,” Erik chuckled at the forlorn look on Logan’s face.
“You wound me Lehnsherr!” he clutched his chest dramatically before leaning forwards in his seat to settle his elbows on his knees, “but I gotta ask, is everything alright? For a man with such good news on the way you’re wound tighter than you normally are. I was scared to bring it up to you but the rumor wouldn’t die and I was afraid the first person who asked you about it would.”
“So you took one for the team?” Erik asked dubiously. Logan would sell tickets if he ever thought Erik was truly going to take someone’s head off. Figuratively of course.
“Alright it was mostly curiosity, now spill,” acceded with a grin.
“It’s… been a stressful few months,” Erik finally admitted.
“I bet, arbitration must have been a bitch,” Logan commiserated.
“It was hell, I’m so glad its over,” he said baldly.
“Magda alright?” he asked gruffly, having met her several times at company events.
“I don’t know, I hear conflicting things. I’m trying not to hate her for fucking up my life but damn it she did, she still is!” he snapped at the thought of his ex wife and her machinations.
Logan took that in with a frown, “Whoa man, what’s going on? She left you, how is she still your problem?”
“You tell me!” Erik huffed, running a hand down his face.
“No, you tell me, what really went down between you two?”
Erik slouched back in his seat and pivoted in his chair to face the window. Then he spilled his guts. At the end of it all, Logan looked about ready to kill someone.
As Erik suspected, it was nice to have someone on his side.
“So let me get this straight, he’s getting hell for being with you because you’re too old and serious, and you’ve somehow Jedi mind tricked him into taking maternity leave which, call me crazy but most birthers take! And you’re getting hell for being with him because he’s young, fertile, and non Jewish. Oh also his mom's an anti-Semite and to top it all off his blood pressure is up from all this shit?!”
“Pretty much,” Erik agreed acerbically.
Logan let out a low whistle, “I see why you’re so wound up.”
“I thought you might,” they sat in silence for a long moment, both going over the matter in their heads before Logan spoke up.
“Can I give a word of advice?”
“Go for it,” Erik gave a tired shrug.
“Fuck ‘em. Fuck all of ‘em. They don’t deserve your time and attention. God damn it, I had no idea, I can’t believe you lost friends over this, that your mom lost friends over this. It’s insane!” he seemed genuinely consternated.
Erik sighed heavily, “Well I wouldn’t call them friends, not anymore.”
“You got that right,” Logan ran his fingers through his already crazy hair, fluffing it up even more.
“I just wish there was more I could do for Charles, he’s so social, he must be lonely. I’m here all day and he’s…well researching and doing birthers yoga but still…I feel guilty like I took his family and friends away from him,” he finally admitted aloud what he’d been feeling since Charles cut Raven out of his life.
Logan dismissed that with a snort, “No, they took themselves out of the picture. I’m sure the kid’s strong. He must be to put up with your sour ass day in day out.”
“Yeah, he is,” Erik smile fondly at the thought of the other man.
“See, don’t sweat it! I’m sure you two will come out fine; you’ve still got your folks on your side. You’ve got me, what more could you need?” he asked expansively, spreading his arms like he was god’s gift.
Erik rolled his eyes at the other man’s antics, “Thankfully we have a few more people than that, but you’re right. You’re right; I just want to make him happy.”
Logan looked slightly uncomfortable at that, “Ummm, look I’m sure you do but I was seriously asking ‘What more do you need?’ Baby gifts for my niece! Narrow it down or a truck from FAO Schwartz will back up outside your apartment one day and you won’t know what hit you!” he dodged the stylus Erik threw at him, “all right all right I know when I’m not wanted! But seriously, gift ideas by the end of the day or you’ll regret it and I’ll seal my place as favorite uncle before the kid's even born!” he ducked out of the office as Erik made to rise from his seat.
He sat back down with a laugh once the other man was out of sight and promptly forwarded the surly Canadian a link to the baby registry, better safe than sorry.
~~
Week 37
Charles frowned down at the batch of organic chives he held in his left hand. They had organic chives and organic green onions right next to each other. What was the difference? Was there a difference? He sighed and took one bunch of each. Edie could decide which she wanted to use.
He glanced around for his shopping partner but she was nowhere to be seen. She was showing him how to make brisket and potato hash, the very thought had his stomach rumbling. Turning his cart slowly, he made his way out of the produce aisle hoping to find her at the butcher’s counter, if he gave her the puppy eyes she’d surely want to feed him a snack.
He only hoped he be half the mother she was when his time came. It was something of a relief to have a proper role model for the task since no one in their right mind would consider Sharon mother material.
He finally caught up to Edie in the seafood department, she’d clearly just left the butcher as she clutched a brown wrapped package protectively in front of her. He’d smiled and tried to catch her eye but she was caught up in what appeared to be a serious conversation with two women.
He made his way over slowly, something about her posture seemed defensive and brought a pucker to his brow. The baby turned as his heart rate sped up and he shifted his now prominent waddle into high gear and made his way over to her.
She finally caught sight of him once he was nearly upon them and the look on her face, a mix of censure and resignation made him hesitate but it was too late to turn back as one of the women glanced over her shoulder to see what had captured Edie’s attention. She was a lovely older woman around Edie’s age who wore her years well.
She gave him a blank look that turned speculative then hostile in an instant as she clutched the other woman’s arm and turned her to face Charles as well.
She was beautiful, with a thick fall of dark hair and striking features, she was about Erik’s age and looked like a younger, more vibrant version of the older woman, clearly her mother.
Especially with those matching expressions.
He idly wondered if his child would look as much like him. Though at second glance he wondered why she seemed familiar. This was a Jewish specialty store; perhaps he’d met her at temple with Kitty?
With the way they were glaring he was glad to have the cart between them as a barrier. The tense moment passed as Edie bustled around them and placed her package into his cart, “It was nice running into you both, but we must be on our way,” she began hurriedly when the older woman interrupted.
“Don’t be silly Edith, surely you have a moment to introduce us to your young friend?” the words themselves were innocuous, polite even. Her tone was not. Charles bristled at the perceived slight to Edie who sighed and gave his arm a gentle squeeze.
“If you insist. Charles, this is Anya and Magda. Anya, Magda, this is Charles,” she said shortly, her grip on his arm tightening as he felt the blood drain from his face.
The younger woman, Magda, visibly flinched as he was introduced. Her mother simply pursed her lips disapprovingly, giving Charles the same look Edie was giving Magda.
Both women devoured him with their eyes, taking him in from his expensively tailored maternity clothes that highlighted rather than hid his prominent belly, to his flushed cheeks and tousled hair.
Anya looked at him with reproach bordering on disdain while Magda’s gaze was locked on his belly with an intensity bordering on lust.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Anya remembered her manners and cleared her throat, “Charles, it’s nice to put a face to a name,” she nudged her daughter who nodded jerkily.
“Yes, likewise,” Charles stuttered, making no effort to hide the fact that he was staring at Erik’s ex-wife with an avid curiosity nearly strong enough to distract him from the fact that the other shoppers and even employees were attempting to listen in with barely concealed interest.
Edie glanced around impatiently, causing all but the nosiest few to at least pretend to turn their attention elsewhere, “Well, now that introductions are done, we’ll be on our way. Unless you have something to add?” She asked, voice and eyes harder than Charles could have imagined.
Magda’s eyes snapped to his and the whirl of pained resignation in their depths fed the sympathy in his heart that he always held for her.
“No, nothing, thank you Edie. Mama come on,” she turned and headed for the exit, leaving Anya to collect their cart.
“Edith, Charles, perhaps we’ll see you at temple,” she lifted her chin with a smirk at Edie’s pained inhale, her grip on his arm now painfully tight but he relished it. The tension kept him grounded in his body, kept him from getting lost in his head as the other woman followed her daughters path to the exit.
“Are you alright?” he turned to her and asked softly enough that they couldn’t be overheard.
Edie smiled tiredly and ran her fingers lovingly through his hair, “I should be asking you that, dear. Now let’s get home and let you put your feet up, that’s more than enough excitement for the day.”
“More than enough for a life time,” he agreed dryly, happy to make her laugh even as he wondered what they’d said to her before he arrived, she seemed so drained.
He didn’t look forward to telling Erik about this.
~~
That night after dinner was served; Jakob cleared his throat and eyed the two of them meaningfully. They frowned at him then at Erik who had tucked into his meal, oblivious to the day’s events.
He glanced up with a sigh, “Alright, what silent conversation am I not a part of?”
“Nothing important, enjoy your dinner,” Charles hedged, “do you like it? I helped make it you know.”
“I know darling and it’s delicious, I’ll have seconds if I can manage it,” he gestured playfully to the heaping portion Charles had given him, proud of his latest culinary accomplishment.
Jakob gave an irritated huff, ignoring the eyes his wife was making at him and simply said, “It’s a fresh cut, your mother took Charles to the market this morning to pick it out.”
“Oh, did you see Mr. Mittleider? He gives you the best cuts for a reason mama,” he teased as a light blush lit her cheeks causing Jakob to grumble about dirty old men.
“Yes, and he simply gave me the cut I asked for!” she protested his familiar claim that the butcher had his eye on her.
“At a discount I’m sure; did you have a nice time at the store darling? Finally figure out how balance the equation?” he turned to his lover, eyes sparkling.
He was referencing Charles’ explanation that cooking was basically chemistry; therefore a recipe was akin to an equation he had to balance.
“Not quite, I was thrown off by green onions and chives,” he admitted cagily.
Erik frowned, “Is there a difference?”
“Apparently not,” he tucked back into his meal with a nervous smile.
Jakob watched as Charles and Edie ate with studied innocence, Erik noticed his father’s reaction and raised an eyebrow at him, knowing he’d oblige.
“When they got back from the store Charles had a lie down,” Jakob stated without inflection.
“Probably for the best, the store is a good few blocks,” Erik nodded agreeably, still wondering what was going on.
“And your mother asked me to check his blood pressure. It was fine by the way but the nap certainly didn’t hurt matters,” he took a deliberate bite and eyed his wife meaningfully.
She pursed her lips and set her napkin on the table, “We ran into some acquaintances at the store, I thought it might have been too much excitement for Charles and the baby,” she recounted with a small frown.
“Oh, who did you run into?” Erik asked as tension set into his shoulders.
“Magda and her mother,” she gritted out, jaw tight.
His gaze snapped to Charles, “Are you alright, did they do anything, say anything to you?”
“No, nothing really, not to me…” he cut his eyes at Edie causing Erik and Jakob to turn their attention to her.
“You said nothing of this, love! What was said?” Jakob asked with a frown.
She sighed and sat back in her seat, “it doesn’t matter, really. But I do think I’ll skip temple this week, honestly it’s become a bit much and I can’t help myself when people gossip about you behind my back. If they were talking about me it would be one thing, but you. My sweet boy who had his heart broken, to be dragged through the mud! It was all I could do not to slap the both of them when we met. Anya for spreading gossip and Magda for doing nothing to stop it!”
Erik frowned deeply, “I’m so sorry mama, and you shouldn’t have to suffer for what happened with Magda.”
“Don’t be silly son, you and Charles shouldn’t suffer for the choices Magda made, but her family is spreading their own agenda. Selfishly I might add,” Jakob cut in.
Charles had been sitting quietly, absently playing with his food when Erik took notice, “Are you sure you’re alright darling?” he asked softly, leaning over the table to catch the smaller man’s hand in his.
“Hmm? Oh yes, I’m fine it’s just. I feel sorry for her, she looked so sad…” he looked up to find the Lehnsherr’s giving him soft smiles, “what?” he asked bewildered.
“You’re such a sweet boy, Charles, I’m glad you’re to be the mother of our grandchild,” Edie said, leaning over to run her fingers through his hair.
Charles chuckled self conscious of all the attention, “Well, I’m glad of it too. You’re the best family I could imagine to bring a child into.” By now the both of them were sniffling. Erik stood to grab tissues but Jakob beat him to it with a wry smile.
“You know she never used to cry before you were born?” he asked his son.
“I can’t imagine,” he stood to wrap an arm around his mother as Jakob got Charles a fresh juice.
“Oh hush the both of you, ruining our moment!” Edie chided, leaning into Erik’s side.
“It’s not ruined,” Charles protested with a watery smile, “they just proved my point.”