Once Upon Another Time...

Chapter 22 Erik's Pov

Mina opened the door. Her face was flushed, she looked exhausted. I ran into the room and Mina closed the door behind me. There I saw Christine. She was holding our child. The baby was swaddled in blankets. Christine looked exhausted. Her hair damp with sweat. Her face pale.

"Gustave, would you like to meet your father?"

The tears I once shed had turned to happy ones. I had a son. A beautiful son. He was perfect, no deformity to be seen. Christine placed him in my arms. He had puffy cheeks and Christines lips. A small tuft of dark hair on his head. I didn't recognize his nose, probably what mine would look like if it wasn't so mangled and deformed. I could make out bits of the both of us in him.

"Hello my son. Do you remember me? Or my voice? It's me, your Daddy."

I cooed to him. He opened his eyes for a moment, yawned and gurgled at me. I kissed his forehead and then turned to kiss Christine.

"How are you my angel?

Perfect. It was a beautiful pain. I'd suffer a thousand times over to bring him into the world."

She smiled in adoration at him. Gustave whimpered and started to cry a little. My eyes widened. I turned to Christine, panic stricken. She held out her arms and I gently placed him in them.

"He's probably hungry Erik."

I watched as he began suckling. There was a knock at the door. Daroga and Mina were standing in the doorway. I smiled and nodded. They quietly entered with small smiles on their faces. Daroga clapped me on the shoulder. I turned to him and smiled, then back to Christine and Gustave.

"Congratulations. He's beautiful.

Thank you Daroga."

I patted the hand he had on my shoulder. Mina came over to me and hugged me from behind.

"Erik, he has your eyes you know?"

She whispered to me. I bit my lip and the tears flowed again. This moment was so perfect. Christine smiled up at me, she had tears in her eyes as well. Gustave was done eating. Christine looked up at Daroga and Mina.

"Would either of you like to hold him?"

I turned to Daroga. He looked very nervous.

"Daroga, sit in the chair, it'll be easier."

He obeyed. Christine gently placed little Gustave in his arms. As soon as she did Daroga relaxed. He smiled at us and then at Gustave.

"Hello little one."

He cooed.

"It's me, Uncle Daroga."

He smiled at him. We softly chuckled.

"You have been blessed Gustave, blessed with a wonderful family."

I took Christine's hand and kissed it tenderly.

"We all love you so much already, and will do anything for you already."

We all exchanged glances. What he said was one hundred percent true. I would die for Gustave. I think we all would. Mina walked over to Daroga and he gently handed him to her.

"Hello angelito. It's me, your Tia. Mina. As soon as I heard you cry I was happy Gustave. I was happy you were a healthy beautiful boy. I'm sure we all are. But your Mama and I had been waiting for a while."

She smiled at Christine. Gustave gurgled. Mina handed him to Christine. She started to rock back and forth with him.

"Mina?"

Daroga called to her.

"Yes mi amor?"

He crouched in front of her and we all looked at him.

"A new life has started today, and I wanted to know, Mina Gallo will you start a new life with me? Mina, will you marry me?"

She started to cry.

"Yes, of course Daroga!"

He picked her up and kissed her. I smiled as he pulled a ring from his pocket and slipped it on her finger. Christine leaned towards me and kissed me. Today was perfect. Nothing was wrong.