A/N: Pseudo-sequel to "the Loris and the Baby."
I do not own Leviathan, Behemoth, or Goliath.
It was quite an odd sight to see the Count with a baby in his arms, but here he is, holding a baby. You could see the discomfort on his face when Deryn walked up to him and said "Here, hold Sophie." She was smart to leave so quickly. The baby keeps reaching up for his mustache, but he won't let her reach it.
"She has your father's persistence." he says out of the blue.
"I know." I respond.
"Other than her eyes she reminds me of you when you were born." he continues as though I hadn't spoken. "She's only a bit bigger than you were. Your father was constantly making sure your mother was comfortable, but she was perfectly fine. He was worried about you."
"Me?" I ask.
"Yes." he responds. "He had yet to determine if you would be his successor, but your mother just saw you as a baby, which was very much like her. She was never as worried as he was. She was certain you would someday be emperor."
"I guess she was wrong about that." I say shyly as Vulger holds the baby at eye level.
"She was, I don't think she would have minded your choice though." he answers, moving Sophie back into his arms. "Had you been a girl your father would have named you Sophie. He felt it was the most beautiful name he had ever heard. Your mother preferred Margaret."
"Which did you prefer?" I ask before I could stop the words.
"Neither. I suggested Maria, for your grandmother, but my words fell on deaf ears." he says, cradling the baby and rocking her back and forth. "Aleksander, however, was my idea. Your father's first choice was Maximilian, but your mother detested it. For once I agreed with her."
"You didn't like Mom much did you?" I ask.
"Towards the end she started to grow on me. She loved you, Alek. She for the longest time worried that you hated her for her commoner blood."
"I could never hate her." I answer, taken aback.
"Regardless, in the end her blood changed nothing for you."
"Do you still think I made the wrong choice?"
"No. You're a romantic, like your father before you. A romantic would never be able find happiness away from the woman he loved."
"Alek, let's go!" yells Deryn from the other room.
"Good luck with her Count." I say.
"Don't worry, I will take care of Her Serene Highness with the upmost care." he responds, somewhat sarcastically.
"Emperors are rather useless things." calls Bovril from the crib, giggling.
"And please take that creature out of here. "I had been hoping it would have left this world by now."
And at that, the baby starts crying.
"Sophie has grown rather attached Bovril." I say, leaning over to pick the loris up. "I'll take it to our room though, just for you."
"Thank you. Now who's hungry?" he asks Sophie, she makes a noise. "I thought so. In our kitchen tonight we have a wide sellection available."
"Alek let's go!" Deryn says as she enters the nursery. "Isn't it a bit odd to see Vulger holding a baby?"
"Maybe a bit, but he seems to have a way with children."