Chapter 233

"There you are! My god, woman. I have been looking for you everywhere." Erik said, finding Pearl sitting in the private garden of the palace.

"Don't get me started on trying to find someone." Pearl said, smiling.

"I have a couple of things I need to talk to you about." Erik said.

"Good. I have a couple of things I need to talk to you about, too." Pearl said in a mocking way.

"You first." Erik said.

"Ok. We need to go shopping. As soon as we are through talking. You need some suits because you are so thin now and your cousin needs some because his sense of style is shit. And there is a party tomorrow night in our honor. I've already told him we are going and he is not thrilled and I don't care." Pearl said. "He's waiting for us in the library."

"That is agreeable. Anything else?" Erik asked.

"Yes. I love you." Pearl said. Erik smiled big and kissed her.

"Ok, my turn." Erik said. "Auggie pulled me aside just now while I was searching for you. Pearl, he has been seeing Maggie since they met and he wants to introduce her to our parents. She is terrified and saying no. She is older than him, American, and worried about that, as well as them being an interracial couple. He told her my parents will not mind but she is freaking out. He is asking for our help." Erik said. "He loves her, Pearl. A lot. He is going to ask her to marry him after our wedding."

"What?" Pearl asked, putting her hands over her mouth."Really? Oh, I love Maggie so much. We will be sisters!" Pearl hugged him and jumped up and down.

"Shhhhh. No one knows yet." Erik said.

"Oh my god, I am so happy!" Pearl said. "But what about Trigon?" She asked.

"We will all run it together." Erik said. Pearl was thrilled.

"And the next thing. I know it's early in the pregnancy, but I told my parents you were expecting." Erik began.

"I told your father. Before he left to rescue you." Pearl said.

"Yes. I know. And they are completely thrilled. But my mum, she had one request." He said.

"Ok." Pearl said.

"If it is a girl, she would like us to name her Helena. After my great, great grandmother." Erik said.

"Of course. That's a beautiful name." Pearl said.

Erik smiled. "You agree to it, then? You can choose whatever middle name you'd like."

"Danieli" Pearl said. "After the hotel where we first made love."

Erik beamed with love. "That is the most beautiful name, ever." Erik said.

"And if it's a boy, I was hoping we could name him Robert. Robbie." Pearl said.

Erik immediately looked away from her and then put his face in his hands. Pearl felt pangs of panic. "I'm so sorry. It's a bad idea. I just was thinking tha..." and he kissed her. His face wet with tears. "I love you, I love you so much it hurts." He said, pulling her into his arms. "Yes. That would be lovely. I would love that." He said.

Pearl felt relieved and happy. She wasn't sure if he wanted a constant reminder of his friend but his reaction told her that he would always have the reminder, regardless. This wasn't that. This was honoring him. Robbie would be a prince.

"You can choose his middle name." Pearl said.

"Keats." Erik said without hesitation. Pearl's heart swelled. The last name of the poet that Erik read to her in the hotel in Rome.

"This is just the most perfect day, Pearl. The most perfect day, indeed." Erik said, wiping his face.

"It's only noon." Pearl said.

"Yes." Erik said, smiling.

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"Auggie, get your ass over here." Pearl said, opening her arms. "You can ask me anything. I will always help you. I love you." Pearl said.

Auggie smiled shyly. "I love you, too." He said.

"Now let's get Maggie on a plane." Pearl said, fist bumping him. Erik laughed.

Auggie smiled and fist bumped her back.

"Then it's settled. Good. I can't wait to see you!" Pearl said, hanging up the phone. "Ok, her flight leaves in two hours. And it's a nine hour flight. We will need to have a room ready for her so she can try to sleep a bit when she gets here." Pearl said.

"I will be waiting for her at the airport. Thank you, Pearl." Auggie said.

She hugged him and told him she would find her a dress while they were out.

"Now Erik, let's find that surly cousin of yours and get him in a suit." She said.

Erik rolled his eyes. "This should be fun." He said.