Sorry this took so long. End of semester and real life and all that. Anyway, hope you enjoy it.

Port-of-Seas…thank you, this one is for you, and for the Doormouse.

Ducky…my brilliant Beta…thank you!

Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I did, but alas, I do not own anything to do with V for Vendetta. Not my creation as all…with the exception of Victor. I claim him, but never for profit.

Victor Ea Vian

Chapter 14: Paddington

Evey stood at the sink of the small kitchenette of the Shadow Gallery staring aimlessly at the last dregs of her tea, her thoughts a jumble of the last preceding days.

Sometime in evening the night before, after she and V had returned from the roof, checked on their son and retired to bed, she had reached for her lover. She had needed to feel his warmth and his love, but much to her surprise, he had refused her. He had denied her, proclaiming he feared she had experienced too much stress during the course of the day and he did not want to bring harm to either her or to their unborn children. Instead of making love as she wanted, he had held her tightly in his arms, showering her with tender words and loving kisses until she had fallen into a deep, sound sleep.

It was only when he was showering early in the morning she had approached him again. This time, after much manipulation and persistence on her part, he had relented and taken her. Their joining had been slow and gentle, proclaiming in it the deep adoration and dedication each held for the other.

Little does he know, thought Evey as she reached for the faucet and watched the dregs of her tea wash down the drain, he has given me the strength to lie once more to this country and to protect my family.

She sighed as she heard the faint sound of the chiming of the clock in her lover's study. It was almost time, time for her to face the press and watch the end of her career and possibly the end of V's dream for a better England.

'Are you ready my dearest?' he asked. She did not know he had moved behind her, and was watching her carefully.

'As ready as I will ever be.'

He smiled, causing the latex of his mask to crinkle at the corners of his eyes. 'I shall be there, my love. I will not send you to face the demons alone.' Turning, she allowed him to wrap her in his arms and rest his head atop of hers. 'You can do this, my darling. You have faced much worse before.'

'I know.' Again she sighed and squeezed his arm reassuringly. 'I am just a little tired and nervous. That's all. I think the hormones from the babies are already kicking in. Remember how it was with Victor?'

A chuckle sounded deep within his chest. 'I do. I swear there were times I wished to return to the coma. A sweet oblivion away from the magnitude of the manic and melancholy moods manifested by my magnificent mother-to-be.'

Frowning wearily, Evey turned to touch his cheek and kiss him. 'You're alliterating darling. Please don't. Not today. I need you calm and focused today. I need you to stay sane. No killings, no beatings, no quoting, no alliterating, no insanity. I need you with me.'

'And I will be.' Dipping down his head, he kissed her lips gently, 'I was merely pointing out how horrifyingly hormonal you can be when you are pregnant. If I had been able, I would have gladly thrown myself in front of any remaining Fingerman who would have been willing to off me then and there.'

'Certainly I wasn't that bad?'

'Oh, my precious love. Trust me, you were.'

Evey grinned playfully, attempting to set aside her fears. 'If I were that difficult to live with, my love, why did you knock me up again?'

'Oh,' His lips found the sensitive area below her ear and began moving down her throat. 'I couldn't resist myself.'

'Obviously. Hmmm…oooh, darling. Keep doing that and I won't be able to resist myself.'

'Promises, promises.'

Turning her head, she caught his lips with hers, kissing him passionately as a deeply embarrassed Eric Finch, who had been lingering behind them, cleared his throat in embarrassment.

'Hate to interrupt, especially since you are going to be shagging at any moment on the table, but do you think one of you could show me how to get out of here? Maybe let me use a phone or a mobile or something? Anything, as long as you let me go and I don't have to witness this.'

Releasing Evey with reluctance, V turned to his houseguest. 'Gladly Eric. In fact, I have already spoken to Inspector Stone and I am to deliver you to him quite soon.'

'Thank God.'

Raising an eyebrow, Evey glared at her houseguest in a teasing manner. 'Are you saying you did not enjoy your stay with us Eric?'

The Irishman frowned, tilting his head as he considered his hostesses' question. 'Do you want an honest answer?'

'Not really.'

'Good. In that case it was splendid. An experience like no other. In fact, I definitely see why Victor acts the way he does. Why he is a little…off.'

'And what is that supposed to mean?' scowled V, his eyes narrowing in anger.

The policeman nodded to the child who had silently entered the room and was standing, looking up at his parents, holding one shoe in his hand.

'Mummy. Daddy. I need help,' he declared.

'Oh honey, look at you. I just dressed you.' There was exasperation in Evey's voice as she kneeled in front of her son. 'What happened to your clothing? Why are you nude?

The little boy shrugged. 'I didn't like them.'

Shaking his head in dismay, V lifted his son into his arms. 'You must wear clothing and look nice today, my cub. Your mother is giving an important speech and I do not want London to think we have a disheveled child.'

'I'm not dis-hev-lid. I'm Victor.'

'You are without clothing.'

'I want to wear my dungarees. Can I please? Pretty please, Daddy?'

With a sigh V glanced at his mate who shook her head. 'Laundry.'

He nodded, turning his attention back to his son, 'Your dungarees are in need of cleaning, cub. You must wear other clothing. Perhaps even those your mother dressed you in which you have removed. May I inquire what you have done with them?'

Victor looked at his father blankly and shrugged. 'Don't know. They're gone.'

'Yes, we can see that.'

'Victor, honey,' stepping forward, Evey reached for her son, resting him on her hip. 'Let's go find you a new outfit while Daddy takes Eric to meet Dominic. Can you tell Daddy and Eric goodbye?'

'Uh huh. Goodbye Daddy. Goodbye Eric.'

'Goodbye Victor.' The older man watched as the woman and child crossed the room and disappeared from sight. The moment they were gone, he turned to V. 'Take me to wherever the hell it is Dom is picking me up.'

'Not very affable, are you Eric?'

The police chief scowled, 'I just want to go home. Is that too much to ask?'

V smiled. 'Not at all. Right this way please, Inspector. I will be more than glad to see you on your way.'

VEV

V stood at the edge of the crowd which was gathering outside of Evey's ministerial residence. He was watching the media prepare for the press conference while simultaneously keeping an eye on his son who was examining the multitude of flowers placed on the curb and against the fencing by concerned citizens. He was not worried about being recognized, even though he had donned his complete Sebastian attire. No, the media and the people were there to see Evey, and until the day before, there had been no pictures or videos of him in the news, at least not as Sebastian. Luckily, he thought as he scanned the crowd for ne'er-do-wells, the photo of him and Eve kissing was out of focus and his face had been partially obstructed by her hand cupping his chin.

'Daddy?'

'Hmmm?'

'Why do the policemen have doggies?'

'They are looking for explosives.'

'Are we going to blow something up?' There was anticipation and glee in the child's voice. 'Can I push the button and make it go boom? Please Daddy, can I?'

'No.' V frowned and glanced at his son. 'We are not playing bombs today. They are trying to make certain someone does not attempt to blow up your mother.'

'Oh... Could someone actually do that?'

'Victor.' There was warning and worry in his voice. 'You wished to see the flowers. Please examine them. I do not wish to leave my lady for too long.'

With a shrug, the little boy literally hopped into the flowers while his father turned a casual eye back to the police and the reporters. In a moment there was a pulling sensation on the leg of his trousers.

'What type of flower is this?'

V glanced down to see what his son was holding. 'Monkshood, and remember Cub, today I am Sebastian, you're caretaker and tutor. I am only Daddy when no one else can hear.'

'Okay.' The little boy nodded and turned his attention to other flowers. 'What're these?' He held another bouquet up for inspection.

'Oleander and woodruff'

'And this one?' He pointed to another on the ground.

'Daisies'

'These?'

'Carnations.'

'What about these, Daddy? They sorta look like yours.'

V took the bouquet his son had picked up, thinking of the implications of the flowers. 'Those are roses and, Cub, please do remember you are not supposed to be calling me Daddy at current moment.'

Victor frowned, ignoring his reprimand and looked at the roses quizzically. 'They don't look like our roses. Are you sure you got them right Daddy? They don't look right. Maybe they are carnations too.'

'No, these are not like the ones your mother and I grow, but they are roses nevertheless. After your mother's announcements are over and the people disperse, we will discuss horticulture as today's lesson. Each flower has a meaning Victor. We will look at them and discuss the meaning of each.' He handed the bouquet back to his son.

A look of dread crossed the little boy's face. He did not particularly want a lesson today. He only wanted to pick the prettiest and the best flowers his mother would like the most.

'What's this one?'

'Lilies.'

'And this one?'

Activity at the corner of the crowd caught V's eye as he watched Daniel Stanton, Richard Carson, and several other members of Evey's party step outside the residence in heated debate before entering again. Not moments later, a car pulled up, letting out a battered Chief Inspector Eric Finch and Inspector Dominic Stone.

'Victor,' mumbled V quietly, his attention now consumed by the activity in his secondary home, 'take my hand a moment. Daddy wants to see something.'

'Okay. Can I look at more flowers? I want to take some to Mummy.'

'In a moment.' He took a few steps towards the house for a better view of the Chief Inspector as he and Dominic crossed the hastily set up stage to speak to a small cluster of policemen gathered by the door. Seconds later, Dominic turned, scanning the crowd while Eric, moving slowly, disappeared inside, his face set in a grimace.

'DADDY. DADDY. DADDY' yelped Victor loudly while hopping frantically up and down and trying to pull his father towards another section of flowers. 'LOOK, DADDY. LOOK.'

Momentarily dismissing Dominic and Eric from his mind, V turned his attention to his son. 'What is it cub? What has put you in such a passion and how many times to do I have to tell you today I am Sebastian? If you cannot abide by this rule Victor, then I shall have to take you back to the Gallery and you will miss your Mummy's speech. That or I will take you to Eric and make him watch you for the rest of the day.'

'BUT IT'S PADDINGTON, DADDY! A little girl came and set him down just right now. I saw her. She waved at me. She had Paddington and flowers and she and her Mummy put them down and pointed to me and then to Paddington. Oh, Daddy, please, please, please, can I have Paddington. PLEASE.'

V considered his son, allowing himself to be led in the direction of the bear. 'The animal is not yours.'

'Nuh huh,' Victor shook his head violently. 'Mummy said these flowers were placed here for us. For me and her and the babies. Even for you Daddy. If it was left for me and Mummy and the babies, then it is mine. It was left for me.' He looked up at his father with large doe eyes. 'The little girl waved at me Daddy. She wants me to have it.'

'Yes Daddy, let him have.'

V turned to look behind him, coming face to face with Dominic Stone.

'I am not certain it is appropriate.'

Dominic shrugged, 'It's a bear. What is it going to hurt if he has it? Hell, I had a Paddington as a child, or I did until one my sisters tried to feed him marmalade and ruined him. When my Mum tried to wash it to get that crap out, it fell apart. To this day I still haven't forgiven my sis for destroying that bear. God, I loved it,' he reminisced wistfully.

A wide grin spread across V's face. 'You amaze me at times Inspector. You truly do.'

'Really?' The young man blushed.

'Yes.'

Looking as if he had just grown five additional feet, Dominic scanned the crowd. 'I talked to my youngest sister about watching Victor for you. I'll bring her by later today. I told her she was meeting Sebastian. Is she still?'

'As far as I know.'

'Not a good idea for him to be calling you Daddy right now, don't you think?'

'I do. We were just discussing the issue as you arrived.' Turning V looked down at his son who was waiting in anticipation.

'Please Daddy?' He asked, bouncing on his toes.

'Victor,' the Inspector said.

'Yes Dominic?'

'If you are going to call him Daddy, you better call me Daddy too. That way we can just say you are confused and call everyone Daddy.'

The little boy frowned and looked at the man as if he were insane. 'I'm not confused. I know who my Daddy is.'

'Yes, I know you do. That is not what I am saying.'

Victor looked up at his father, his eyes beginning to pool with tears. 'May I have Paddington? Please? I'll try to be good and stop saying Daddy today. Please?'

'Cub…'

'Oh let him have it.' The policeman grinned and nudged the other in the ribs. 'He did say he promised to try.'

With a shake of the head and throwing up his hands in defeat, V smiled down at his son. 'Go get it.'

'Yeah! Thank you Daddy, thank you.' Spinning on his heel, the little boy began bouncing towards his prize.

Beaming, his father watched him go. 'Is there something you want to tell me Inspector? For instance, why the bomb sniffers are here, why there is a group of bobbies at the door or what the politicians were saying about my Eve that has enraged Eric so?'

'Yes, no.' he sighed, 'I don't know where to begin. Truth is, I'm trying to hide. The political head hunters are in there asking Evey questions about you and demanding to know what she is going to say in her speech. It's my understanding Stanton is demanding her immediate resignation and turning her position over to him. I think this crowd and the reporters would be better to face than that lot. I hope she manages. I also hope Eric isn't the worst one. He's still pretty sore about…well, everything. As for the constables, well, there have been a few rumors something big was going to happen. I just want to be prepared.'

V nodded. 'Rightly so. There is a certain tension in the air, is there not? As for Stanton and Eric, I would expect nothing more from individuals such as they. As for Eve, I am certain she is managing quite well. You have no idea how uniquely stubborn my beloved can be. She will, in the end, get want she wants. One way or another, believe me, she will win. She always does. When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws, they prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws. Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale. For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.' (1)

Turning his head slowly, Dominic blinked, his face falling. 'You're quoting.'

'I am. Kipling to be exact.'

The younger man visibly blanched and took a step away, his hand unconsciously moving to his side. 'Does this mean…I mean, the Chief… he heard Evey saying this morning…' He gulped. 'Does quoting mean you're going to go ballistic and start killing people?'

For a moment, V looked at the young policeman, his brows furrowing and eyes glowing behind tinted lenses before letting out a loud burst of laughter. 'My dear fellow, my sanity is as it always has been. I am merely saying my Eve is a force to be reckoned with.' Still laughing V turned to look to see what was taking his son so long to retrieve his bear. 'Besides, Eve says I am not allowed to kill anyone today.'

VEV

'You want me to what?' Evey stood with her arms crossed, a determined look on her face, and her eyes blazing in fury.

'Resign, immediately and announce you are vacating your chair to me.'

'You have gone completely mad, Stanton. Completely. It's low-life such as you the new government has worked so hard to stop. I am sure as hell not going to just hand my post over to the likes of you. Believe it or not, being a woman does not make me an imbecile, neither does being pregnant. I am not fragile; I am not going to break.'

Her words resounded throughout the room, letting all in attendance know she was serious despite the colour draining from her cheeks and the hand she had rested on the back of a chair to steady herself. Don't pass out, don't pass out. 'I am the representative of the people, Stanton, and I am going to remain that way, until they say they want otherwise.'

Stepping between Evey and the red faced, rage-ridden Stanton, Richard Carson held up his hands indicating for everyone to calm down. 'Evey,' he announced calmly, trying to sooth the situation. 'Putting Stanton's abrupt nature aside, you can understand the party has questions. We are worried. One look at you and it is obvious you are not well. We need to know you are going to be able to maintain your position in an effective manner.'

'I just told you, I could. I have explained everything very plainly to the lot of you.'

'Yes, my dear, I am aware of what you said, but your health…we cannot jeopardize the position we have gained. It may be wiser if you do step down.'

Evey's face contorted, 'Not you as well, Richard. I have morning sickness, that's all. It's true the doctors say this is a dangerous pregnancy for me and my schedule will have to be adjusted. I will have to rest more and cut back on some of my activities, but until I am near seven months gone, everything will be fine. It is only during the last two months that I envision any major difficulties. Even then, I can cope and I believe the people will understand.'

'Understand? UNDERSTAND!' Stanton's voice rang throughout the room. 'You want this country just to stop what it's doing and wait for you to pop out a sprog before it continues about it's business?'

'That is not what I meant and you know it.' Evey's tone was ice as she spoke through clenched teeth. 'I meant the people will understand if I am not out in public as much as normal during the latter stages of my pregnancy.'

'Evey,' again Carson's calm voice again broke between the two. 'You are asking a lot.'

With a weary smile, she nodded. 'I know I am, but we must trust the people, Richard. We are here for them, and I do not plan on letting them down. V fought for them, and so do I.'

'V,' the name was practically spit out as Stanton pranced around the room in anger. 'Is he finally going to come out of hiding and revealing his real indignity? Do we finally get to have some answers from the bastard about all the billions of pounds he stole? Pounds which rightfully belongs to this government.'

With a shake of the head Carson dismissed the little man, 'We are here about the pregnancy and yesterday's attempt on Evey's life, Daniel, not for more of your obsession about CodenameV.'

'Yes, the pregnancy. You haven't told us, Minister. Which one of the many do we congratulate? Who's the lucky father to be? The Chief Inspector, your nanny, Inspector Stone, David, your assistant…V? Who is it?'

Before Evey could speak, another angry voice entered the quarrel. 'Why, I am, Stanton. How could you not realize it?' Moving next to Evey, Eric placed his broken hand on the small of her back, attempting to steady her. His eyes met hers, urging her to agree.

'Eric,' she mumbled, 'what are you doing?'

'Oh darling, there's no need to pretend any longer. All of London has known about us for years. It's time we brought it out in the open.'

'Eric!'

The look on her face told him all he ever wanted to know about her feelings concerning him claiming the children. If the look she had been giving Stanton had been filled with contempt, it was nothing compared to the one he was receiving.

'Evey, there is no need to hide it any longer.'

Tilting his head, Richard Carson examined the bruised and battered man before him. 'It's not you. You're not the father.'

Turning slowly, his eyes glowing, Eric glared at him. 'Why would you say that?'

'From the way she looks at you. The look she gives the nan…' Carson's eyes widened as his voice faded away in realization. With a quick step, the old man turned, scanning the room. 'Where is he? Where did the nanny go? It's him. He's the one, isn't he?' He turned back to Evey, his face incredulous 'He's V. Sebastian or whatever his name is...he's the father just as he's also Code…'

He never got to finish his sentence. Luckily, the door flying open and a semi-breathless constable saved everyone from an awkward situation.

'Minister…you must leave at once. Your son…your…'

The constable gasped for air.

Evey's heart stopped.

'…son…has discovered a bomb.'