A/N - Another one. I'm hoping to have this completed shortly.. Thank you for your time, patience and perseverance..
Chapter 36.
A few weeks later..
Arrangements and the logistics of the trial period had been made; essential items packed and moved to Walt's.
Vic and Cady talked about the 'move' and the trial period. Cady thought she sensed that Vic was nervous about taking that particular step and told her that she was doing the right thing - giving her Dad a chance.
Cady simply told Vic, that she didn't expect her back.
She told Vic that, she would at some point need the bedrooms for her own family, when the time came.
Vic asked Cady if things were getting serious between her and Dash... Cady's blushing spoke volumes.
##
During the last few weeks, Walt, with the help of Henry and the odd occasion - Dash... had been preparing the cabin for Vic imminent arrival over the last few weeks... he wanted everything to be right. To make it a home for them.
Walt had been renovating one of the newer bedrooms; that he had added on during the last couple of years – it had its' own bathroom, including shower and bath-tub. The tub he'd found at a reclamation yard and had it retouched to make it look like new.
In truth he had been decorating the room for Vic since the winter. He hoped that one day she'd want to be with him.
It had given him something to do and think about and Vic was always on his mind... And now she was going to be living with him... even if it was to be for short time... he wanted to make her feel like she was his World, and then she would want to stay with him.
He brought new sheets and duvet cover for the bed.
Everything else was almost new, the bedroom furniture had found online thanks' to Cady; Walt made sure it was sanded down and re-varnished. Walt thought that Vic would want a new bed, untouched by all those years of sadness. So he found an old bed frame, again cleaned it up and gave it a fresh coat of varnish. The mattress was brand new and so were the pillows including the long support pillow Walt had brought to make Vic feel more comfortable.
It also meant that Walt would be able to stay in his bedroom, which shared a bathroom with Williams's room – that way if William was scared in the night – he would be able to find his father without panic.
Walt thought about building another annex to the cabin, however he knew that he'd not have time to build it before Vic's arrival and also the arrival of their own twins.
No, it was a project for another time, but only if Vic was going to stay permanently - Maybe a use it as a playroom or Den... but that would have to be next spring.
He was allowed to dream wasn't he?!
He and Vic finally living together in the cabin with their young family...
###
Vic and William moved in fairly easily, it took only a couple of hours of actual moving with the help of Henry, Cady and Dash - in all fairness William had his own space with his father, so the majority of the items that were transported up to Walt's were indeed Vic's.
Vic hated moving, packing all her belongings into boxes and containers, making sure all the breakables and fragile items were not thrown in the back of Walt's Bronco or Henry's truck. She felt stressed and asking herself - was she doing the right thing?
Walt made sure that all Vic's items were put into her room, placing her suitcase and bag on the bed - to make it easier for Vic to unpack.
Cady helped Vic unpack, for which Vic was grateful for. Vic noticed all the little touches that had been in place and thought it must have been with Cady's help... She acknowledged the effort Walt had put in to make her feel more comfortable. She continued to unpack and began to settle into her surroundings.
Cady left her to join the rest of the group out on the porch.
Walt offered all parties a cold one on the porch which had a few more seats, then what Vic had seen the last time she had been up at the cabin.
They stayed until daylight started to fade, Henry heading out first and then followed by a tipsy Cady being driven home by Dash.
They were finally on their own - their first night under the same roof as a family - it scared the crap out of Vic...
She noticed that William was not out on the porch with them. She asked Walt where he was, Walt replied that their son was getting ready for his bed.
Moments later, the little boy came out on the porch in his pyjamas and joined his parents.
William jumped up on Walt's lap and whispered in his ear. Vic felt a little jealous that her baby boy was 'keeping secrets' from her.
Walt saw this uncomfortable expression on Vic's face and told her that their son wanted a story read to him before he went to bed.
Vic smiled as both father and son went back inside - leaving her alone to enjoy the beautiful summers night.
Vic gave them their time together - she'd had William to herself for the first three and a half years of his young life.
She couldn't begrudge Walt this time, and gave them that precious time. A short while later Vic slowly got up of the chair and walked back into the cabin, where father and son were.
Vic was keenly watched the pair of them bonding on the couch, her little son listening intently to his father reading to him. Vic smiled – her son was happy and content... and so was Walt.
While Father and son were preoccupied, Vic decided to take a quick look around to see what other changes Walt had made to the place – since the last time she had stayed overnight – more than 5 years ago...
It was now more of a family home and no longer the Spartan bachelor pad of years before.
She's seen Williams room on a previous visit, she'd also seen the bathroom which she'd ran into to get dressed after what was now the moment of conception of their twins. Walt's room pretty much spoke of Walt, nothing fancy – plain and simple - A place to sleep.
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Within the first week of the trial period, Vic had already begun to regret giving in to Walt's idea of a trial period...
The cabin had no air-conditioning and she was in desperate need of a cool down... having a cool shower helped for a short time. But even at a slightly higher altitude, the heat was still stifling, especially at this time of year..
Walt had taken William out into work with him, to give Vic some breathing space.
She contemplated walking around naked – but knowing her luck... an unexpected visitor would show up and get the shock of their lives... but it was tempting...
The heat and humidity... would normally not bother her, she'd strip down to her vest top and shorts usually - but there was something else that got in the way of that... and those two bundles of joy were having some sort of football tournament taking place in her abdomen. Her vest top and shorts no longer fitted comfortably on her. She was now wearing oversized loose tops and capri style yoga pants. If only she could cool down...
No... a walk to cool down was what she needed...
She headed out towards the stable; Walt's horse was already out in the fenced off paddock... the horse immediately walked up to Vic, nuzzling her.
"You want some water?" Vic asks ...
The horse gave a snort...
"I'll take that as a yes"
Vic walked over toward the tap and turned it on... the hose was already in the big water trough... and Walt's horse started to drink.
When the horse had his fill of water, Vic turned off the hose. She turned around and walked further into the stable; towards the workshop at the back... she opened the door.
Her eyes widened at the sight before her... Walt was in the middle of making a cot. She remembered the bed that William was sleeping in – Walt must've built that too...
She rubs her growing belly... "You two are going to be the luckiest babies in Absaroka"
Walt was serious about wanting to make a go of being a family – Vic thought... but was she ready for that herself?
She was a different person now, to what she was all those years before.
And Walt appeared to have changed too.
His pantry was stocked full, his fridge was full and even the freezer was stocked with meat.
This Walt was a far cry away from the Walt she first met 8 years ago. The man who had just lost his wife tragically 6 months earlier..
That Walt was distant, introverted and not much of a talker... Vic recalled all the hours she would spend, trying to make him talk on their long journeys together...
Back then, the old Walt refused to own a mobile phone, but she slowly brought him round to using modern technology - even if he didn't have one of his own, he was using other peoples mobiles. He'd used a laptop and PC... he joked about checking his email on a number of occasions.
They'd enjoyed having a laugh together, they had great banter; almost intuitive banter.
She recalled when she first saw his infectious smile - it was almost hypnotic, and the looks of apprehension he'd have on his face after she made a comment that was full of innuendo...
But then she recalled that with 'that change' in him – when he became distant. He rarely spoke to her, and when he did speak to her – it was in anger or down to some argument. He'd pick fault with anything and everything that she'd done.
She risked everything for him, and lost everything for him.
Time had passed and that pain had slowly ebbed away... deep down Vic hoped that Walt wouldn't push her away this time...
##
Walt too, was determined to make a go of this opportunity that Vic had given him... He wanted to make her stay with him... for all the right reasons and most of all - because SHE wanted to stay with him.
If Vic had been craving something – he'd go out and get it for her whatever time of day or night it was.
He had even borrowed a small air-con unit with hose for Vic to use in her bedroom.
When Vic had got upset or irritable - he'd take it, whatever she said to him - he knew it was the pregnancy hormones talking. Walt just wanted to make her feel like she was wanted. He offered Vic a foot rub and she took him up on that... and for Walt he was more than happy to give that type of pampering to Vic...
Walt and William seemed unfazed by the heat of the July sun - Vic was jealous of that, she felt powerless about not being able to control her own body temperature. Walt would strut around and work on the place shirtless - this further irritated Vic... was he trying to 'play her'.
William would help his Dad with some of the gardening and other cleaning chores.
Walt had set up a little paddle pool for William to cool down in, but ended up himself in the pool. Both of them giggling away, while Vic watched on, the pangs of jealously slowly building... she wanted to go and join them, but her ever growing belly was keeping her from that kind of fun.
There was a time in the past where Vic would openly want to 'walk in' on Walt changing his shirt or any other item of clothing his was willing to discard in front of her – recalling how she used to imagine what he was like naked; but she was married back then and he was the forbidden fruit. Was he trying to tempt her again?
She sighs... It wouldn't be long before William would be back at school, both her and Walt had made sure that more than enough photos and candid snaps were taken of William during this summer - snaps with Walt, William with Vic and the odd one or two – with them as a family.
It was clear to Vic, that their son enjoyed the family aspect of this trial period... and so did Walt.