My German Lover Part 23, chapter 1

"...I can't believe it!", Will said, after he had heard the complete story...

"And the gendarmes will do nothing?", Franz asked...

"No!", Paul answered, with a very sad look on his face.

"We must do something... This guy (...) What's his name again?", Will asked...

"... Marcel Foucarde", Ludwig answered. "I've seen him once or twice last summer. He's a scamp..."

"Well... Promise me you won't do anything against that guy...", Paul said, looking at Will... "It's bad enough the gendarmes won't press charges against him... I don't want them to press charges against us, for something we would have done to him in retaliation... And you too, Ludwig: Promise me!"

"(...) Yeah yeah, I promise...", Will reluctantly said...

"Me too...", Ludwig said... "I promise... but..."

"No "but"... You've promised. That's it!", Paul answered, satisfied...

Only problem is, Paul forgot to make Lutz promise the same... And when Ludwig raised his eyes to look at Lutz, he saw a grin on his friend's face...

They waited for three hours like that...

Then, the surgeon came to the room and sat down, exhausted.

"... I did my best!", he said, looking down at the floor...

"How is he?", Ludwig anxiously asked...

"..Well... I guess he'll never get married..."

"I beg you pardon?", Paul asked, stunned by the doctor's answer...

"(...) He'll survive... but I had no choice... The damages caused to his sexual organs were extensive. I had to procede to the removal of the scrotum and testes..."

"(...)"

"...That's why I say he'll never get married! As for the other wounds, they will heal. Your friend is young, strong and healthy! He's going to need lots of rest, but he will heal..."

After a long moment of silence, Paul looked at the surgeon and asked him:

"(...) But... What about his sexual life?"

"...Of course, no woman will ever want to marry him... I mean... He will never be able to reproduce..."

"That's not what I'm asking you, doctor...", Paul said...

"Well, from the moment a man can't reproduce...", the doctor started to say...

Paul looked at him. He had no doubt the surgeon was a very competent one but, obviously, he was not a very imaginative person! In the good doctor's mind, outside procration, sexual relations did not exist!

"... Just so I understand, doctor...", Paul slowly said... "Let's say... -and I understand that it is highly hypothetical- but let's say François meets a widow who already has children... And let's say all she wants is to find a husband who can bring back home a pay check each week... and that all she wants is to find a father to her orphan children... Do you follow me?"...

"...Yes", the doctor said, looking at Paul...

"...And let's say this woman doesn't want to have any other chindren...", Paul continued to explain... "Would François be able to... how could I day... to "honour" her?"

"You mean... sexual intercourse?", the doctor asked...

"Yes!"

"Oh well, yes! You see, his penis was not removed. It was intact... So yes, he will be able to get erections... It would have been quite different if all this had happened before puberty... But at his age, yes, he would be able to "honour" her..."

"... And... What about orgasmic potential?", Paul asked...

"... His capacity for sexual pleasure remains intact. But of course, his libido could be weaker... He will even be able to ejaculate! After all, his prostate is intact... but the liquid he will ejaculate will contain no sperm and as I explained to you, he will never be able to reproduce..."

"...But he will experience sexual pleasure?", Will asked the doctor...

"Oh yes! (...) Now you must also understand that, apart from the fact he will never be able to reproduce, there are other small inconveniences he will have to get use to... The growth of hair will quit him... Before long, he will lose his body hair... The hair on his head will not be affected, though... Also, he will have to watch his weight... Men that have been castrated have a tendency to gain weight! Oh, and don't worry: He's voice will not change, since his castration has occured after puberty... So I guess... well... that's all I can say..."

"(...) Thank you very much, doctor... Now we understand... And... how long will he have to stay in here?", Paul asked...

"...A week or two... If he recuperates as fast as I think he will, I'd say he'll be out of here in about ten days..."

"Can we see him now?", Ludwig asked...

"In an hour or two, he will be moved in here from recovery... You'll be able to see him but please, let him sleep. Wait until tomorrow if you want to speak with him..."

"We will, doctor! And thanks for all you did...", Paul answered.

"... I did my best! Poor guy... I'm really sorry..."

"We understand...", Will answered.

Later, François was moved to his private room where his friends were waiting for him...

He was peacefully sleeping...

"I'll stay, and spend the night in here... just in case...", Ludwig said. "Now, go home, and have some rest..." he said to the others...

"Yes", Paul answered. "I'll give the Vicar a call, to let him know about the operation... and tomorrow morning, I'll come back..."

"Fine", Ludwig answered, with a sad smile on his face.

The morning after, when François opened his eyes, he saw Ludwig sleeping in a chair, right next to his bed...

He didn't know where he was... but could remember all the events that had led to his beating. He started to silently cry...

When Ludwig finally woke up, he rose his head and saw François was looking at him...

"How do you feel dude?"

"...Like if I had been run over by a train, I guess..."

"At least, you're alive!", Ludwig answered, smiling at his friend... "I was scared like hell..."

"Have they found Jacques?", François asked, worried...

"Not yet! The Vicar said he's hiding somewhere... But he wasn't beaten..."

"I'm sorry for what I did...", François slowly said, with tears in his eyes...

"What?", Ludwig exclaimed... "You did nothing wrong François, nothing..."

"... I guess I can no longer hide from you the fact that I'm gay..."

"... Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I was afraid I would lose you as my best friend..."

"Shit! (...) But François: You are my best friend! I would never let you down, just because you're gay! What the hell were you thinking? I love you François... as much as I love my brother Will... I'll always be your friend François..."

"Thanks, pal! (...) Then, looking at his body under the sheet, he asked Ludwig: "What have they done to me?"

"(...) I... Paul will be here later... he will explain to you. I'm afraid I'm not too good with medical explanations, you see. (...) Are you hungry?"

"...Like hell, I am...", François answered, grinning...

"Good! I'll go see what I can find..."

"Oh Ludwig?"

"Yes?"

"Where the hell am I?"

"...In Paris. At the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital..."

"...In Paris?"

"Yes... Wait for me: I'll be back with something to eat..."