That night, Christine talked to her husband. She was very nervous. Discussion with him whether he wanted a second child wouldn't be easy. She took a deep breath and then asked, "Erik, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, Angel. What is it?" Erik replied.

"Do you remember how three years ago, we decided not to have any more children?" Christine waited for a reply. Erik nodded. "Well, I was wondering if you still didn't want to have more children."

"Angel, it's not that I didn't want to have children. It's that I didn't want to risk having a child that looks like me. So to answer your question, yes, I do still feel that way."

"Okay. Well, that makes this next part slightly harder," Christine paused. "Erik, I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" Erik exclaimed.

"I'm pregnant," she repeated.

"How could this happen?" Erik exclaimed again.

"Well, when two people love each other," Christine began with a mischievous smile.

"Christine, this isn't the time for jokes," Erik said with an exasperated sigh.

Just then Gustave entered the room.

"I certainly hope you aren't mad at me," Christine replied. "This is just as much your fault as it is mine."

"Oh, and just how is that?"

"Do you really need me to explain the process to you?"

Erik laughed. "I'm just afraid that this one will be deformed like I am. We were fortunate with Gustave."

"Look at it this way: if this child does inherit your deformity in some way, they won't be alone. They'll have you. You would be able to sympathize with the child."

"And while that may be true, we can't decide how the world will treat the child. I have seen the world and it's hate, Christine. I don't want to put another human being through that, but now it looks like we may have no choice. I was looked down upon. I was an outcast. I just hope our child will be treated differently."

"Remember that this is all hypothetical. We don't even know if this baby will be disfigured," Christine reminded.

"Wait, you're pregnant?" Gustave exclaimed. He had been waiting in the shadows, listening to his parents' conversation.

"You're father had the same reaction," Christine laughed. She loved how similar Gustave was to his father.

"Is it true? Are you pregnant, Mother? Am I going to have a sibling?" Gustave questioned.

"Yes, it's true," the mother answered.

Gustave flew into his mother's arms. Erik was still standing nearby in shock.
Christine let go of her son and took her husband by the arm. She led him over to a chair and asked, "Erik, are you alright? You're white as a sheet."

Erik didn't reply. He was sick to his stomach. The thought of bringing another deformed person into the world terrified him.

"Erik? Erik!" Christine exclaimed.

"What?" He asked.

"I asked if you were alright."

"Yes, I'm fine," he replied.

"No, you aren't. Erik, tell me what's wrong," Christine said concerned.

Erik told her of his fears. Gustave quietly sat by and listened. Gustave admired the way his parents talked things out. He had never once heard his father raise his voice at his mother.
After Erik and Christine discussed the baby for a long time, Erik found that he was excited at the prospect of becoming a father again. Christine was equally as happy. As for Gustave, he couldn't wait to tell his friends that he was going to be a brother. He had gotten so used to the idea that his parents weren't going to have more children that at first, he didn't know if it was a good or bad thing that his mother was pregnant. Once he was assured by both parents that it was a good thing, he immediately ran off to tell Lucas and Celeste.

"He's so happy," Christine observed with a smile.

"I am too," Erik replied before he kissed his wife.