"Fred?!" Gustave gaped as he set down his bag on the sandy shore. "Ana?!"

Anabel kissed Fred's cheek and ran to greet her friends. 

"How is he, Anabel?!" Gustave asked nervously. 

"Fred taking good care of him. I think he's going to pull through."

Gustave's eyes widened and he gave a small nod, "You and Fred?"

Anabel blushed, "Married. A year now."

"Fred?!" Autumn laughed in surprise, "What on earth are you doing here."

"Oh yah know," Frederick stammered awkwardly, "Fishing?"

"I haven't seen you since-" She stopped there, giving a small and awkward chuckle. 

Fred sighed and looked at her kindly, with a smile that told her that he had changed much since she last saw him. "Let's put that all behind us Autumn. No hard feelings."

Fred turned to Gustave and grinned, "My cousin!"

Gustave looked down with a smile and fumbled awkwardly with his shoes before looking up, giving a sigh and embracing Fred. "Alright, just this once."

"Wheres Luke?" Autumn whispered to her husband. 

"Look!" Luke screamed in delight from the other side of the dock, "It's a skull! A human skull! How disgustingly awesome is that?!"

Gustave rolled his eyes and retrieved the boy dragging him back by the back of his vest. 

"When did this happen?!" Anabel laughed pulling Luke into a hug and ruffling his hair. 

"He needed a home, we had one," Autumn shrugged with a smile. "4 months now."

Fred grinned at Luke and tipped his hat, "Pretty big for a four-month-old aren't you."

"Father," Luke said ignoring Fred, "Could I go see the other skeletons now?"

"Luke Good Heavens no," Autumn groaned shuddering, "Come on,  Ms. Destler will want to meet you."

Luke shriveled his nose, "Who's she?"

Gustave gave a heavy sigh, "It's her husband you wanna be worried about." 

"Is he a pirate?"

Fred gave a laugh but Anabel nudged him in the side so hard he went doubling over in pain. "Anabel don't do that!"

"What's there to be scared of then?" Luke pouted. 

All the grown-ups except for Fred seemed to ignore his question. When the others had moved on ahead on their way to the small house Fred turned over his shoulder and mouthed the word "Deformed."

Lukes' eyes widened and he felt like shrinking back. Was Fred joking? 

As he entered the small house he couldn't help but fall silent. It was warm inside, one might even say normal, the living room nicely furnished. Not the home of a monster his small mind would have expected. 

"Luke dear, keep up," Autumn urged helping him onward. 

Luke jumped in his skin at the sight of another child in the doorway they had just walked through just seconds before. 

Luke, who was hypnotized by the ghost of the girl staring back at him from the doorway failed to notice the entry of Erik and Christine. 

They had been speaking for several minutes before Ilios turned and joined her mother, burying her face in her dress skirt. 

"I adopted him," Luke heard Gustave say, "We have that is."

His eyes for the first time turned to the masked man towering over him. Luke felt his throat go dry and he looked up with wide inquisitive eyes as the man looked him over and nodded. 

"Tolerable."

Luke felt anger rise up in his chest, tolerable?!   

"Speaking of the family though... Father, I wished to speak to you-"

Erik gave a skeptical look to Luke and then nodded to his son. 

"Later, it's been a hard day for Eli."

Gustave looked faint, "How is he doing?"

Christine gave a soft smile, "He'll pull through, he needs out patience and time."

"And candy," Ilios whispered, her eyes fixed on Luke, "If you have any."

Gustave grinned and swept his sister of her feet. he was about to give her a toss into the air when she gave out a yelp of pain. 

"My arm Gustave! My arm!" She held her small sling tightly and gave a small frown before grinning and hugging him closer. 

"I'm sorry!" Gustave stammered, "I didn't know."

"It's alright," Ilios grinned, "I'm just happy your home."

She pulled Gustave down to her level and whispered in his ear. 

"Who is he?"

Gustave smiled and nudged Luke over, "Luke this is my sister Ilios."

Luke frowned and looked from the sullen pretty girl to Gustaves grinning face. 

"You lied!" The little boy exclaimed, "She doesn't look like you at all." 

"And boy aren't I glad," Ilios laughed, sparking a timid smile from Luke and a disapproving glance from Christine. 

"Go ahead and play," Erik smiled slightly after a moment, "Don't think I don't see it your eyes."

Ilios grinned, kissed her fathers masked cheek and grabbed Luke by the hand dragging him out of the room. 

"Kids," Gustave laughed, he turned to his father and smiled, "Was I really that young once?"

Erik made a gesture, "Up to my knee and even then barely." 

Erik beamed proudly at Christine, "To have a child that size around again."

Gustave shrugged, "I dunno, I mean Lukes pretty tall..."

"Not Luke idiot," Autumn chuckled kissing Gustaves cheek. 

Gustave went pale, "No, you don't mean."

Christine gave a sigh, "Surprise?"

Gustave wasn't sure what to say, sure he was happy. At least he thought he was happy, but another sibling to watch out for? Another risk of pain. Was it worth it? 

"Congratulations!" Autumn gushed and jabbered enough for the two of them combined. 

"You alright?" Erik asked drawing away from the group and putting a hand on his son's shoulder. 

"Honestly," Gustave laughed, "I don't know. It's a lot to take in. Between Eli, and then Ilios."

Erik nodded solemnly, he understood. 

"I'm terrified," he admitted. "Christine's the only thing helping me through."

"I'm worried about Eli," Gustave moaned, "With what you told me, how people reacted. I had always hoped it hadn't been enough to-"

Erik cut him off, "It's enough. Enough to cause hate. He seems content alone though, for now. He enjoys hiding in the shadows. He gets that from me."

"And Ilios?" Gustave inquired. 

Erik gave a heavy sigh, "That's a different story. I feel I've lost her already as well. Shes always taking off at 90 miles per hour, having somewhere to go and be. I can't keep up." 

Erik laughed at Gustaves concerned preoccupied face. 

"Am I getting older?" Erik sighed. 

Gustave smiled and shook his head, "No," he replied honestly, "Not you. Never you."

Erik ruffled his son's hair, "Now what is it that you wanted to speak to me about?"

Gustave bit his lip...now seemed as good a time as ever. 

"You what!" Erik's voice boomed across the halls. 

Autumn cowered and Fred gave a laugh. 

"Starting to regret not marrying me huh?" he teased.

Autumn stuck out her tongue, "In-laws are in-laws no matter how rich."

Fred nodded and gave a laugh. "I've missed you, Autumn. Though I was surprised at how quickly I got over you."

"Youth distorts all of the time to revolve around whimsy," Autumn sighed, "I'm glad I'm not young anymore."

"I was a stuck up naieve boy wasn't I?" Fred admitted.

Autumn nodded and looked to him in gentle admiration, "You were. It's good to see that heart I knew was there living now."

The four were interrupted by Erik barging into the room. 

"You." He growled pointing a finger at Autumn. 

Autumn gulped, "Me?"

"Meet me outside," Erik stated firmly. 

Gustave nodded and Autumn followed Erik outside. 

Christine gave a nervous laugh, "What was that about?"

Gustave groaned, "I got married without asking your permission." 

"Oh!" Fred mumbled, "I did the whole eloping thing too. Its cheaper. Keeps the aprents off your back."

All turned and frowned. 

"Sorry," Fred laughed nervously, "Tough crowd." 

Christine looked to Gustave, "Your Father clearly is a bit hurt-"

Gustave raised his eyebrow. 

"Okay not hurt, a bit enraged?"

Anabel nodded, "Yeah that sounds more like it."

Fred went to check on Eli with Anabel and the mother and son sat in silence. 

"Do you love her?" Christine asked slowly, searching her sons nervous face. 

Gustave sharply turned his head, his eyes desperate with longing. 

"Yes. More than anything else."

Christine nodded with a smile, "That's all I need to know. You've grown so fast. Don't forget your Mother Gustave. Don't forget me."

Gustave tenderly came over and kissed his mother's cheek, "Everything I am. Everything I will ever be, I owe to you."

Christine brushed away a few stray tears, "You left here my son and came back a father and a husband. I never should had let you go to New York."

Gustave put a strong hand to his mothers frail one. How he worried for her health, for the babies health. 

"I will always be your son." He assured her with a smile. 

"Promise?" Christine laughed, eyes twinkling in the candlelight. 

Gustave smiled. 

"Promise."