HEY ALL! It's been awhile! Rest assured I have not forgotten about this story, nor do I intend to. I love Evey and V still but my own novel has taken priority in my life. BUT all your marvellous reviews and subscribing has encouraged me to write another for this story. I'm a simple creature apparently, I thrive on encouragement XD. But seriously, I missed these two. Enjoy the wonderful fluffy dynamic! All the best - Lady Victra :)

V inched slightly around the corner, just enough so he could peak without disturbing the subject of his eye. Evey sat staring pensively up at one of the gallery paintings, a lush field of green with flowers, detailing the coming of spring. One hand on her chin and the other playing with a loose string at the ankle of her slightly frayed jeans. V tucked back around the corner and crossed his arms, equally in thought.

He didn't know why, but lately Evey had seemed so...so...depressed? No, not quite that powerful. Perhaps uncharacteristically glum. Yes, that was it. Glum. And this bothered V. He was supposed to be her host, and lately it seemed she had done more work than him in terms of their relationship, keeping him sane, keeping him motivated to free the country from Sutler by giving him something worth fighting for besides revenge. So why was she sad? V took to silently pacing the length of the small kitchen. Step, step, step, turn, step, step….ah...perhaps she no longer wishes to stay. No! Enough of that. You know Evey loves you, she said it herself. Get a grip, man. Just find the problem. Why would she be sad?

V thought, and thought. He thought so much the point between his eyebrows was starting to ache with a full throb, but for the life of him, he didn't know why she could be so downtrodden.

So he resolved to ask. And in doing so, he also resolved to personally see to it that whatever Evey responded with he would immediately seek to make her happy. No matter the cost.

Resolute in his mission, V straightened his sharp doublet and strode to where Evey sat, making sure to put a little extra pressure on his feet so as not to startle her. Wouldn't want to begin on a bad foot. He chuckled internally.

"Hello Evey," he chirped, low and smooth.

"V," she replied in welcome.

V hesitated a moment beneath his mask, wondering how to begin. Ah, to hell with it.

"Evey, I can't help but notice that you seem, well, rather down lately. Have I done something to offend you?"

This seemed to break Evey from her stupor and she craned her head up and back to lock eyes with him.

"Not at all V, why would you think that?"

"I'm glad, then. But Evey, you've been staring at this painting like a lost fawn for over an hour now."

Evey laughed, getting to her feet and dusting herself off with two swishes.

"I guess I have now that you mention it." She stretched, arching her back gracefully and V found his eyes drawn to her elegant curves rather than the sweeping hills of the painting. "It reminds me of my childhood. Before the war, before the lockdowns. I used to play in a park just like that with a few girls my age, jumping rope."

V smiled at the thought of a younger, freer Evey playing in the summer sun. Adorable. He couldn't remember his own youth, and so he cherished the bits of hers she would share with him on occasion. And yet, something didn't quite make sense about what she said. He tilted his chin.

"Jumping rope? I've never heard of it. Is it a game?"

"Why V! Really? It's one of the most common schoolyard activities. Definitely always was my favourite."

V raised his hands in a gesture of admittance. "Can't say that I was blessed with the opportunity, at least, not in my recent memory." V watched the understanding dawn in Evey's eyes, then the embarrassment, which he waved away to her relief. This had been a typical interaction for them since his admission after their training session. She sometimes forgot that he was a rather empty husk of a man, but it was not her fault, and his gentle reminder intended no shame. His soul was hers, how could she harm him?

His mission was to make her happy, after all, and perhaps he had just found his answer to how.

"I would love to play it with you if you desire to. You could teach me."

"Really?" Evey replied, an endearing glint of life emerging from the depths of her eyes.

"Certainly. I wouldn't want it any other way."

—-

"Evey, is there perhaps a different way to do this?" V asked hopefully, the rope hanging limply between his hands. Ridiculous thing, try as he would, with all his natural athleticism, he couldn't for the life of him match rhythm with the rope.

Evey giggled from across the room, setting down her own rope after a final cross-jump. She had been watching V for the past ten minutes, a grown man, an assassin, struggle and fail miserably to play a school girl's game. She couldn't contain her mirth any longer. He was so cute! Initially, she had felt bad for screwing up for the umpteenth time and forgetting about V's lost memories. It just seemed such a natural thing, to have memories of childhood, good or bad, that it was sometimes hard to remember that they were missing for him. But when he said that he didn't know what jump roping was, but that he would do it with her before she could reply, well...ok maybe it was a little evil of her not to tell him what it involved before agreeing. But there was no going back now. And she wouldn't wish it for the world.

"There is actually. A version where we work together. Here," she said, taking V's rope gently from his defeated grip and blushing, guided him over to her own. "I'll tie these two together, but we are going to need an extra hand. Hmmm.."

"I think I have an idea," V replied brightly, grateful to no longer be caught in the throes of self-pity.

Soon, V had the suit of armour, his faithful sparring partner, pulled into the center of the room, waiting at attention, where one end of the rope was tied snugly to his wrist.

"Ok," Evey said from the other end. "I'll turn, you start in the middle and watch my motion. When the rope comes by, jump!" She grinned, bobbing her head enthusiastically as if she could levitate him with her mind.

Well, there's a first time for everything. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

"Go!" Evey said, beginning to turn.

And it caught on his ankle. Ugh! Infernal thing.

"Sorry Evey, I do believe I'm rather bollocks at this."

"Try again." Without waiting Evey began to turn, and after a hazy second, V gave a halfhearted hop and...cleared it! He cleared the rope! Around it sailed and back, smacking the gallery floor only milliseconds before his heels followed suit, but it was enough. He was jumping rope!

He laughed, breathy and giddy, urging Evey's smile even further up her cheeks.

"Fantastic V!" She whooped in delight.

And the rope caught his toe. But they didn't care. Rushing forward, Evey flung herself into his arms and he twirled her about like a dancer.

Laughing in such jubilation, V felt tears stream down his cheeks. Evey wiped hers away, but didn't pull back from his grasp. Instead, she let her breathing settle as she relaxed against his powerful frame.

After a moment, his chest ceased his shaking and he relaxed with a contented sigh. He braved his cheek lightly upon the top of her hair.

"That was fun," he commented idly.

"It was. I knew you could do it."

"Yes, it would appear I have graduated into the ranks of the young school girl, a most elite class of athlete. All thanks to my marvellous instructor."

That sent them into another fit of giggles.

"Thank you, V, for cheering me up today. I really needed it. Sometimes it's hard knowing what the world once was, compared to what it's become."

"Mm," he replied, giving her a comforting squeeze.

"But you reminded me we have all the time in the future to make those memories real again. To make new ones. Better ones. So thank you."

"You're very welcome. And thank you as well, for sharing them with me. I love you."

V tensed. It had just slipped out, so naturally and so easy. They had seldom said it aloud, and each time it had been she who initiated.

"I love you too," Evey purred contentedly, secretly elated by his easy confession. She pressed a lingering kiss to the spot beneath his jaw where a small line of exposed skin peeked out from his compression shirt.

He hummed in pleasure, which abated as she suddenly pulled back.

"Turn for me?" She pleaded playfully with owlish eyes.

"As you wish," V laughed, bowing while simultaneously picking up the end of the rope. As he turned he couldn't help but let his mind linger on the other potentially pleasurable uses for such a rope, but that was for another day. Today was for innocent play, and the curve of his darling's lips as she sang the songs from her youth.

Teddy bear Teddy bear turn around…

Teddy bear Teddy bear touch the ground!