Rings
Summary: The crew arrives at the Mad-Thane residence, and Ingrid does something she's never done before.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I do not own Last Exile, no money is being made off this use.
Chapter 2: Something Old, Something New
"I'm back!" Tatiana shouted as she backed in through the kitchen door. She's left for the market right after breakfast, to pick up a few things for Lavie whose turn it was to make dinner that night. "They had a lot of fresh fruit that looked good so I made sure to get some extra.." She turned to se Dunya sitting at the table with her head in her hands. "...Did something happen?"
Sighing Dunya up looked at her, frustration evident on her face. "Ingrid wanted to know about Sophia's baby. I tried to explain...and I think everything went horrible wrong.."
"You mean..?"
"Yeah, she didn't take it well... I don't think she's going to let Mullin, or Claus back inside. I don't know what to say that isn't going to make it worse." Sighing again Dunya got up and helped Tatiana put the groceries away.
"Well, we need to head over the Mad-Thane's anyway... Maybe Lady Mad-Thane can help sort it out?" Tatiana said hopefully.
"I hope so." Dunya said before sighing again. "We'd better go find Ingrid, and Mischa... I hope she hasn't done anything to him..."
Alex woke to the sounds a debate. "Not this again.." He thought rolling his eyes as he looked to check on Sophia. She had fallen asleep not long after the flight started, and was thankfully despite the noise still asleep. He'd draped his cape over her to make sure she stayed warm enough. He hadn't expected to fall asleep himself.
"Don't be stupid." Came Godwin's voice from a few seats ahead of him. "The Captain's first child will definitely be a boy."
"You failed biology didn't you? The baby probably isn't even a boy or a girl yet." Came Vincent's rather irritated reply.
Dio's reply was far more cheerful. "It will definitely, one-hundred percent be a girl! I have a feeling about, and I'm very good at these kinds of things, right Lucciola! They should name her Farfalla."
"Dio they already said they weren't going to name the baby after and insect, even if it was a pretty one. You should be more quiet Miss Sophia, and the captain are trying to sleep." Lucciola said calmly beside Dio.
"Well... My grandmother says.." Wina started but was cut off by Kostavi.
"Oh come on! You change your mind three times a day depending of what your granny said." This was true, Alex thought, but Kostavi was being a bit rude about it. Especially considering Wina was a superior officer.
Vincent interrupted whatever argument was about to happen. "I for one hope it's a girl." Even with his eyes closed Alex could imagine the ridiculous grin on Vincent's face. "Can you imagine Alex with a daughter old enough to be interested in boys? Those poor kids won't know what they're in for!"
"Only if they're anything like you Alzey." Alex said not opening his eyes, causing Vincent to choke on his own laughter.
"How long have you been awake?" He finally asked.
"Long enough." He said turning to look as Vincent moved to the seat across from them. "How close are we?"
"We have about an hour left to travel. Are you going to let her sleep till we get there?"
"Probably. She's been exhausted, even with the nausea gone all she wants to do is sleep sometimes. Justina was like that with Claus, but she was sick for longer." Alex replied adjusting the cape. She'd been caring for him for so long, it was oddly pleasant to be able to return the favor even a little.
Vincent grinned, ignoring the other quiet conversations that broken out among the other passengers. "That's right, it's weird to remember that you're the one who's had experience with this before. Sophia's the one who's going to have to learn how to change diapers isn't she?"
"She'll do fine." Alex said leaning back in the seat.
"Speaking of names." Vincent said grinning, "Vincent is a wonderful name fo.."
"No. I already told you no. Sophia wants to name it after me, and I'm not sure I haven't already lost that argument. Anyway what if it is a girl?" Alex said turning to look at him.
"Vincenta is a beautiful name for girl." He answered still grinning.
Alex blinked at him. "If you say that again, I swear it will be the last thing you ever say."
Vincent laughed a bit before looking back at Alex. He had a more serious expression on his face now. "All joking aside, what names do have in mind?... Have you talked about?.."
Alex nodded quietly. "It was one of the first things we discussed. It's too soon, for both of us. I know, I know." He said rolling his eyes at the look on Vincent's face. "We just aren't ready to have a little Euris running around yet. Maybe someday, but not now." He looked up to see Vincent grinning at him again, he glared back. "What?"
"The first one isn't even here yet, and you're already talking about having more." His smile softened. "I can't remember the last time I saw you this happy."
Alex smiled looking at Sophia. "I didn't think I'd ever be this happy again."
Claus, and Alvis landed in the front yard on one of the landing pads that had been placed there for vanship use. Alvis hopped out as quickly as she could and ran to Lavie and the others who had come out to greet the arriving guest. The girl smiled brightly. "Wait till you see Sophia!" She said excitedly as the passenger ship landed beside Claus and Lavie's ship.
Wina was the first one off, waving at the waiting group. She was followed by Dio, Lucciola, and Vincent who stopped at the door. "What's going on?" Claus asked when he and Wina reached the others.
"Sophia fell a sleep, and Alex didn't wake her up until just before we landed. She's a little mad about that." Wina answered smiling. "She's been really tired lately. She slept through a battle with pirates a few weeks ago."
The mechanics emerged carrying some luggage, and looking in a hurry to get away from the ship. They couldn't hear what was going on inside but Vincent still standing by the door said something, whatever the response was it made him wince and leave. He walked over to the others scratching the back of his head. "They might be in there for a while... She's crying now, because she upset about being angry with Alex for not waking her up earlier." He knew that her emotions being so out of control had to be the worst part of the pregnancy for Sophia. He really didn't know how Alex could handle that, He'd sat there patiently letting her work out her anger, and just pulled her to him when she started crying.
Elisabeth, with a look of sympathy walked over to the ship and went inside. David smiled sympathetically as well. "Why don't we all go inside and give them some time?"
Later they were all talking quietly in the sitting room when Alex, Sophia, and Elisabeth joined them. Sophia's eyes were a bit red and puffy, and she looked tired, but she smiled at them. "Hello,..Sorry about that..it's just.."
"It's fine." Elisabeth said smiling herself. "I was even worse with Holly. Poor David, I don't think he had a moments peace."
The incident soon seemed forgotten, as they all settled down talking about the wedding, and baby. Dunya was excited to show Sophia, and Wina the wedding gown that had been passed down through her mother's side of the family for generations. Mullin wasn't allowed to see it till the wedding day. "It took a lot of work, since it was made for weddings in Disith. Aunt Eva, and Mother were both a lot bigger than I am when they got married too. Aunt Eva always complains that I took too much after Dad." Dunya said smiling. "It looks wonderful though. Lavie helped a lot."
Lavie nodded. "It looks completely different with all that fur gone... Speaking of weddings." She grabbed Sophia's hand and pulled it toward her to get a better look at the ring on her finger. Sophia couldn't stop herself from blushing a bit as the other girls, including a young maid who had brought in some food and drinks gathered around to look. Lavie's mouth dropped open as she looked up at Sophia. "You've got to be kidding."
Sophia blushed more, but couldn't keep from smiling. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Alex looking over and glaring. "Well...The jeweler said he could do it, and I really liked it.." It wasn't a typical wedding ring, there were small diamonds in the silver band, but the central stone was a deep red garnet cut to the shape of, and held in place by a tiny silver frame resembling the Silvana's crest. It had been quite expensive to have the intricate work done for two rings, Alex's ring was the same with a thicker band and no diamonds, but that hadn't been an issue, and Alex had wanted her be happy with them more than anything.
"I like it." Dunya said smiling as she returned to her seat. "I haven't even seen mine yet. It's a Disith tradition for the bride's family to purchase the rings. We won't see them till Aunt Eva, and Uncle Peter get here... I'm wondering if I should be worried."
"Why?" Sophia asked picking up her tea cup.
"They're...really...enthusiastic about the wedding. Aunt Eva has a tendency to go overboard sometimes, and I don't think I've ever heard Uncle Peter say no to her." Dunya Answered, her smile suddenly became stiff when Ingrid sat down beside Sophia. She tried to distract Ingrid but she was already whispering something in Sophia's ear. Sophia laughed a bit blushing and whispered something back to Ingrid. Alex looked over at them raising an eyebrow.
"Really?" Ingrid said pulling away from Sophia with a look of surprise on her face.
Sophia nodded, smiling placed a hand on the top of Ingrid's head. "You'll understand when you're older."
Ingrid gave her the most skeptical look she had ever seen on the face of a six year old, and holding the goat Alvis had given her slid off the sofa. She turned around and looked at Alex. "You're really weird." Was all she said before she went back to join the other children. Dunya put her head in her hands, and Sophia laughed again.
"I think that's the first thing she's ever said to me." Alex said smirking as turned to look at the clock. He turned back to Sophia. "It's getting a bit late. Do you want to wait till tomorrow?"
She looked up at the clock. "...I think we can make it before dinner. A walk does sound nice."
"You're going somewhere?" Claus asked blinking.
Sophia nodded smiling. "We're going to tell Euris, and Marius about the baby." She answered as Alex helped her stand. Just outside the town near the cliffs where Claus, and Lavie had buried their fathers a small cemetery of sorts had sprung up. There was a large memorial to all the people who had been lost in the war, along with family memorials to loved ones left behind on the Prester. Euris' memorial stone now rested there under a grove of trees that grew flowers in the spring, though it was far too late into summer to see them now. A memorial stone for Marius, and Euris' mother was not far away. There was one for her parents, Sophia had only gone to see once. She had few happy memories of her parents. Her mother had spent much of the time after Sophia's birth too ill to be able to be with her daughter. She didn't really like to think of her father even now. He would hate Earth if he had lived, it was far too easy to imagine the man, sinking into his own madness, remaining on the throne of Anatoray alone, holding on to the shattered illusion of power even as he wasted away.
"Fia? Are you all right?" Alex asked quietly as they stepped out into the hall.
Startled out of her thoughts she blinked at him before smiling, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Sorry... I was just thinking about Father.."
Alex frowned, looking concerned. "Are you sure you're all right?"
She shook her head smiling as she leaned against him. "I'm fine. I was just thinking how much he would hate it here... He would probably be furious about the baby too.." She said smiling a bit bitterly, she was quiet for a moment, hugging his arm tightly. After a few moments she looked back up at him genuine smile on her face now. "I'm fine. Let's go see Euris before it gets too late."
He nodded, but still looked concerned as they continued. They were just out the door when Vincent caught up with them. "Hey!" He shouted jogging up to them. They paused to let him catch his breath. Alex raised an eyebrow at him. He grinned in return. "Mind if I join you? I haven't visited Euris in a while."
Sophia smiled. "It's fine with me." Alex said nothing but nodded as they started walking again.
He ignored Vincent's prattling for much of their walk. He was keeping a close watch on Sophia, she seemed to have forgotten the conversation about her father, but Alex still worried, and wondered if perhaps they should have waited till tomorrow to head to the cemetery. While his own nightmares about Delphine, and the Grand Stream had lessened over time, Sophia had begun having strange dreams about her father, which had only increased with the stress of pregnancy. The past, along with her father were literally worlds away now, and she was a confident, capable young woman, excited about becoming a mother. Part of her however would always be a little girl, desperate to please her father. It was one of the things he couldn't protect her from, and he hated it.
The trip through the small town was, other than Vincent quiet, though he got a few stares for his uniform which made him regret not changing first. Fortunately no one tried speaking to them. Down a partially stone-paved road, just outside of town they walked through the cemetery gates. In the distance Hamilcar, and Georges' grave stone could be made out on the cliff, memorials to Justina, and Lavie's mother beside their husbands. Near the center, was the towering white stone of the war memorial. The stones for Emperor Anatole, and Empress Amaltheia were somewhere beside it, Alex had never been to see it but Sophia had told him it actually looked rather pleasant, for something her father's former counselors had paid for. At the far end of the cemetery he could see newer stones, and fresh graves, most likely people from Prester who had passed since arriving.
They walked up the hill to Euris' memorial, even Vincent was quiet now. Sophia smiled sitting on the stone bench in front of the stone. "It looks like everything is being taken care of." She said looking out over the cemetery from the hill. Alex nodded saying nothing.
Vincent quietly excused himself to give them some time alone, and headed toward Hamilcar, and Georges' graves. For a while Alex sat quietly listening to Sophia talk to Euris. "Then he made one of the pilots go get some for me. You see?" Sophia said cheerfully. "He's been completely spoiling me."
Alex sighed rolling his eyes. "It was the only thing you could eat and keep down for two weeks. I hardly call keeping you from starving spoiling you. Anyway I didn't make him do anything he volunteered."
"Ha! I talked to Rolf, and his exact words were 'Of course I volunteered Ma'am! The captain told me I did.' I don't think that counts." Sophia said smiling smugly at him.
Sighing Alex rested his head in one of his hands. "I'm going to have to have a talk with him." He grumbled quietly while Sophia laughed. Rolf was an excellent pilot, one of the best... Sometimes though, Alex wondered if the boy left his brain in his vanship when he got out.
Beside the cliffs Vincent reached the graves and looked out over the ocean smiling. "Some view you guys have." He said looking at the grave stones. For a while he talked to them about what was going on in the skies, and things he had seen traveling over the Earth. He'd never known the two men well, but he remembered those few meetings they'd had. He knew how much their approval had mattered to Alex. "I suppose you already know about the baby? Try not to be too hard on him ok? He knows he really screwed up on that one, but he's doing his best. Sophia's excited, scared too, of course. Alex... Sometimes he almost seems like his old self. According to Sophia he's spoiling her. That doesn't surprise me... Sometimes I still want give him a black eye for making her wait so long."
"You're always looking out for me aren't you?" Vincent jumped and turned seen Sophia standing there smiling a bit sadly at him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked smiling as she walked up to stand next to him.
"I thought Alex needed some time alone with Euris,... and..I wanted to see Mother and Father,.. But I didn't want to go by myself." She said her face reddening.
"Alex still not getting along with the in-laws I'd take it?" He asked putting an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward the war memorial.
Alex was still sitting silently after watching Sophia walk off to find Vincent. He looked at Euris' memorial smiling faintly. "I did something stupid again, but I guess you can see that. Vince is all smiles for Sophia, but I know he wants to kill me sometimes... I'm so scared, Euris. I'm going to get everything wrong. I..I'm actually looking forward to that. There's just so much I can't protect them from. Sophia's been having nightmares about her father she doesn't want to talk about, but she wakes up crying..." Getting off the bench he knelt in front of the stone. Part of him feeling like a complete idiot for doing so as he closed his eyes and prayed. "Please watch over them for me, and protect them from the things I can't." A sudden warm wind rustled the leaves above.
'Dummy... Why do think you even have to ask?'
Alex's eyes popped open, and he looked around quickly. It had been no more than a whisper. He wasn't even sure he had really heard it at all. It might have just been the rustling of leaves. Moments later when his heart had finally calmed, and he had managed to stand again looking down at the stone he sighed. "Just the wind... It was just the wind." Turning to go look for Sophia and Vincent, he paused looking back. "Thank you, Euris. I love you, and I miss you... I'll be all right now." Walking away, he could have sworn he heard soft laughter. "Just the wind." He thought, though for a moment the warm breeze almost felt like fingers gently brushing against his face.
He found Vincent and Sophia at her parent's memorial. He walked over and wrapped his arms around Sophia. "He has been behaving himself hasn't he?"
Sophia looked up smiling, but blinked and frowned at him. "Are you all right? You've gone pale?"
"I'm fine." He said smiling at her. "I was just... startled a bit is all."
"Startled by what?" Vincent asked frowning as well.
"It was nothing." Alex snapped pulling Sophia closer. She and Vincent looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes knowing better than to ask any more. She placed her hands over Alex's smiling up at him.
"Ready to go back? I'm starting to get hungry." She asked still smiling. He nodded letting her go. She took his hand as they turned back to he path out of the cemetery. Vincent beside them began bragging about the important people who had traveled on the Horatius. "Their getting here on different ships of course, but I'll be escorting most of them home." Much of what Vincent did these days was protecting politicians, and royalty when they traveled from country to country. He considered it an 'honorable profession' and better than simply fighting pirates, Alex considered it 'glorified chauffeuring' and had no problems letting Vincent know this.
"I hope they do get back in time for dinner.. Are you sure you won't stay?" Elisabeth asked waking the Claus and the other s to the door.
"Lavie's been planing this meal for a while, and who knows how long it will take to convince Ingrid to let me, and Mullin in the house. She's pretty determined to make us sleep in the barn." Claus said looking over at the girl who was very determinedly staying between her sister, and Mullin. Ingrid glared at him as if she fully expected him do something.
Elisabeth smiled. "Give it a little time, I'm sure she'll be fine in a few days. I'm sorry my talk with her wasn't much help."
Lavie, walking beside Claus grinned. "I wonder what Sophia said to her? She's not being nearly as bad as she was this morning when Dunya, and Tatiana brought her and Mischa over."
"I'm not sure I want to know..." Claus said sighing.
Alex, Sophia, and Vincent were walking up the path to the house as they stepped out the door. "You're leaving?" Vincent asked pausing as they walked by.
"Yep, we have dinner plans of our own. We'll be over early tomorrow though." Lavie said smiling. She turned to Sophia. "You'll come see Dunya's dress tomorrow if you have time right?"
"Of course. I'll be happy to help with whatever you need if I can." Sophia answered smiling back at the girl.
The others waved goodbye as they reached the front gate, and Sophia and Vincent waved back before heading inside. Over dinner they mostly talked about the other dignitaries who would arrive tomorrow. Hesperia would be arriving in the morning with some other guild officials, General Fortel, and Governor Keep were staying in a hotel not far away. The empire was sending Crown Prince Justin, whom no one present had met before. There were several others expected, but Sophia was a bit too distracted by the food to really pay attention. She finished her own meal as quickly as manners would allow, stole a good deal off of Alex's plate, he pretended not to notice, and ended up with Vincent's dessert, because he clammed not to like pecans, she couldn't remember if this was true on not. After dinner they moved to another sitting room. The talk had at some point changed to being about the baby, and Alex was telling Nestor about the features of the Silvana that already gave them quite an advantage when it came to child care. "Justina insisted on having the baths installed. She said Claus was hard enough to bathe as it was. She hated to think what it would be like trying to get him in a shower."
"It must be very nice." Nestor said sipping some brandy. "It's very rare to see something like that even on the luxury ships the nobles have. To have full sized baths in all the officers quarters? That is something to envy."
"Yeah." Vincent grumbled, though he was still smiling. "Even the Urbanis class ships don't have baths. Though I do have to say, other than that the Horatius has far more pleasant decor. The Silvana is so..."
"So what?" Alex, and Sophia asked together giving him flat looks.
Vincent blinked at them. "You two are spending too much time together."
Sophia rolled her eyes turning back to the others. "Anyway, we're having my old quarters converted into a nursery. They're supposed to start working on that tomorrow." She smiled leaning against Alex. "Of course, the baby will be staying in our room for a while. Vincent's sister Emma already sent a few things."
"And you didn't throw them out?"
"Vincent!"
"She wouldn't let me."
"Alex!"
"Have you thought of any names you like?" Elisabeth asked to change the subject.
"We have a list." Sophia answered while both men were rubbing their arms where she had pinched them. "If we think of something we like we write it down, for some reason though." She said looking sideways at Alex. "Certain names keep getting crossed out."
"We talked about this. The kid is already going to have enough problems without being named after me..." Alex said in the kind of tone that gave the impression he already knew he was on the losing side.
Sophia only smiled. "We'll see."
"We have a list of names too!" Kostavi said grinning.
"Yeah." Wina said smiling as well, though it looked rather forced. Sophia was trying not to laugh while Alex groaned quietly. "Some of them are...um...really..unique." She finished awkwardly. The mechanics were grinning even more now, and Dio was smiling widely, the crew's list had been his idea, and a source of entertainment for several weeks.
"Unique?" Alex asked looking slightly amazed. "I'd be ashamed to give a dog some of the things I've seen on that list."
The mechanics started laughing, as did Sophia. Most of the rest of the talk was spent suggesting more names. The mechanics, along with Vincent and Dio getting more ridiculous as the evening went on, though Sophia did make notes of some of the Disith names Nestor had suggested.
When they finally made it to bed, Sophia was asleep the moment she slipped under the covers. Alex before preparing for bed rewrote the names she had liked into the small notebook they had brought. He listed them separately from the rest as he couldn't quite remember which were boy's names, and which were girl's. Looking over the list he sighed, seeing Alexander, and Alexandria listed again, he once again crossed them out this time writing a small desperate 'please?' beside them knowing very well the next time he looked they would be clearly written down again.
After getting ready for bed he set his prosthetic arm on the bedside table, and carefully climbed under the covers so he wouldn't disturb Sophia. It didn't take him long to fall asleep.
Over at the farm Claus, and Mullin sat glumly together on the porch. "At least it's a warm night." Mullin said sighing. Claus nodded. When the door opened quietly they both turned to it hopefully, but it was Lavie standing there with pillows and blankets. She gave them sympathetic looks.
"We still can't get her sleep." She said handing over the things she carried. "I'll let you know as soon as she is." Both boys sighed again and headed to the barn.
"Maybe tomorrow night we should see if we can stay at Duke Mad-Thane's." Claus suggested frowning.
"Yeah... How come we're the ones to suffer for something Alex did? And where did Ingrid learn a word like unhygienic anyway?" Mullin asked sulkily.
Claus just sighed again, at least dinner had been good.
