Chapter 3

Victoria stared sadly at her reflection in the washroom mirror. It had happened again, and there was no controlling it. She felt just horrible, and she felt as though she wanted to cry. Just what would she have to tell Victor?

"Victoria! Victoria, my dear!"

She jumped when she heard the knock at the door. She sighed in defeat; she couldn't hide the problem from her mother...

"... Yes...?" she slowly opened the door and then blinked when she saw not only her mother, but Victor's mother standing there as well. "Is... is there something wrong?"

"No no, child, nothing is wrong," Nell stepped forward and patted Victoria's shoulder. "We were just wondering if, well...-"

"Victoria... how are you feeling?" Maudeline cut in and took her daughter's hand. Victoria looked to both of them rather oddly. They obviously knew that there was something going on.

"Well..." Victoria began, "I... I'm not quite sure, actually."

Maudeline and Nell glanced at one another and nodded.

"It's quite alright, dear," Maudeline lead Victoria to the nearest seat.

"You don't have to be afraid to tell us…" Nell followed along.

Victoria quickly took the seat she was offered. Most of her energy was drained anyway, and she was feeling quite dizzy. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"I… I don't know where to begin…" she hesitated. "I just get so nauseous and dizzy sometimes. It happens during the day and sometimes in the middle of the night. I was just hoping that it would pass, but it has continued for longer than I had expected. I'm afraid that I don't know what to do about it…" she looked to the floor. Oh hopefully they would have an answer.

"Goodness, dear," Nell sat beside her and brushed back Victoria's slightly frizzled hair, "there is no need to worry. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you."

"Yes," Maudeline added, also sitting beside her, "this is all perfectly normal…"

Victoria was completely confused now. Perfectly normal? It was normal to get sick like this? Oh she certainly hoped not! "I… I'm afraid I don't understand…"

Victor had not taken his eyes off the door that Victoria had run off through. She had been gone for quite a while now. Much longer than her usual trips to… well… He sighed. His mother and Victoria's mother had left as well. Perhaps they knew what was wrong.

"…." That's when he looked to his and Victoria's father. Why was it… they had not budged from their seats?

"Something wrong, Victor?" William waved his hand in front of Victor's rather vacant eyes, "You look as though you've seen a ghost."

No, Father, I'm quite alright. It's just… I'm rather worried about Victoria, and I feel horrible that I don't know what I can do to help her. Do you think Mother knows what to do?"

"Victor, my boy," Finis chimed in, "there is nothing to worry about. In fact, you should learn to get used to it. There have been quite a few times that Victoria and my wife have run off, and then returned without saying a word about anything."

"Yes, Victor. There are some things about women that we are probably better kept in the dark about," William nodded.

Victor sighed. He didn't understand how there could be nothing to worry about. Everyone kept saying that it was okay. Hopefully… it was.

Suddenly they heard a loud crashing noise. The next thing they knew, Nell had run through the door. She ran straight for Victor and pulled him out of his seat.

"Victor! Come quickly! There is something we need to tell you!"

In no time at all, the rest of them had joined with Victoria. Victor instantly took his wife's hand.

Victoria's eyes were rather… wide. She look incredibly surprised and happy, yet slightly afraid at the same time.

"Victoria…?"

"…" she blinked, snapping back into reality, and looked to her husband quickly. She smiled sweetly to keep him calm. This was absolutely amazing. She couldn't believe it. "Victor… darling… I… I…" she laughed a bit, "I can't believe what I'm about to tell you!"

"What is it, Victoria?" he blinked. This was strange. One moment she looked like she was about to pass out, and the next, she's laughing. He wondered and almost worried about what it could be. "…. Victoria…?"

"Oh Victor… I do love you so…"

"I… I love you, too, Victoria…"

"Do you suppose you're ready…?"

"Ready… for… what…?"

Victoria took both of Victor's hands and stood. She looked directly into his eyes and smiled as comfortingly as she could. "There… there is going to be a… a new member joining our family…"

Again, Victor blinked. A new member of the family? He looked around. Who else would come to a simple little lunch getogether? "…What? But, who? Isn't everyone already here…?"

Nell whacked him on the arm with her fan, "A baby, Victor!"

"Victoria is going to have a baby!" Maudeline nodded.

"A…. what……?" Victor's eyes widened. What… had they just said? What? Really? A baby? Victoria? And.. what? His knees became a bit weak.

"What fabulous news! A job well done, my son!" William winked and whacked him on the back. Victor only stood there and stared blankly until-

"……" he fainted.

"Oh!" Victoria kneeled down to help prop him up. She laughed. It was a surprise that she hadn't reacted this way. She was still rather shocked at the news.

"Well, what a pity…" Finis crossed his arms. His wife stuck her nose in the air.

"The boy can't keep his hands off of our daughter, and yet he can't handle the news that he's become a father… I do hope, for your sake Victoria, that he will make a fine father," Maudeline looked to Victor and rolled her eyes.

"I believe he will, Mother, " Victoria smiled and nodded as she stared at Victor's closed eyes. She hugged him a bit and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Suddenly, Victor's eyes fluttered, and he blinked. He looked around the room quickly before dusting himself off. How did he get on the floor?

"Forgive me…" he stood and looked to Victoria. Wait… he was beginning to remember something. Victoria… had something she had told him. He looked her up and down and raised an eyebrow. What was it that she had said again?

"Victor? Are you alright?" Victoria placed a hand gently onto his cheek.

"I'm quite fine, Victoria," he straightened his tie, then he look into Victoria's eyes. There was so much happiness and innocence in them right now. He wished he could have remem-

"…"…-er… perhaps he did. Victoria was with child… right? Or had that just been a dream? "I'm sorry, Victoria… but… were you trying to tell me something?"

Victoria smiled, the Everglots grunted, Nell nearly fainted, and William only patted his son once more on the back.

"Yes, Victor, yes!" she grinned and took her husband's hands again. She didn't mind that he had fainted and forgotten. There was no way that she could have prepared him for an unexpected surprise of this size. "You don't have to worry about me feeling ill any longer. I know why it is! I am carrying a child, Victor. Our child! You and I… we are going to be parents!"

Victor blinked a few times, and his lips slowly curved into a small smile. It was true then; he was not dreaming.

"Victoria… I… I… I…" he was at a loss for words, so he just shook his head and smiled, then wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

Nell came closer to the two and hugged them tight. "Oh, I'm just so excited!"

"The Van Dort name will be carried into the next generation!" William beamed and danced in a little circle around them all.

Victoria could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes. This was a dream come true for her. Since she was just a child she had dreamed of the day that she would have her own child or children with the man she loved. Victor was everything she could have ever wanted. She loved him with all of her heart. And now, they were about to begin their family together. It was still hard to believe that she was actually… with child. Time would take care of that, though. She cuddled against his chest and gently rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. Then suddenly, she felt something splash against her cheek.

"Victor?" she whispered, and opened her eyes. There were tears slowly slipping down his face. She smiled softly and lifted a hand to gently rub his cheek and wipe away some of the tears. "Victor…" she spoke again, this time a bit louder, "are you happy…?"

Victor could have lived in this moment forever. This was the greatest and, at the same time, most surprising news that he had ever received in his life. He knew that this usually happened with married couples, but he never thought that he himself would become a father. He wondered if he could even do it. Well, one thing was for sure: he would certainly try his best.

"Victoria…" he whispered in response, and sniffled a bit, still holding tightly onto his beloved wife, "I've never been happier."

"Ahrmm…"

The two quickly jumped at the loud sound and looked to it quickly. It was Victoria's father.

"This is all lovely, really. The day couldn't get any better. But I do think it's time that we return to our meal before it gets cold, yes?" he spun around and began the walk back to the dining room.

"Ah, yes… yes…" Victor laughed nervously, "Why don't you all go ahead. We'll be right behind you."

Just as soon as their parents had all returned to the dining room, both Victor and Victoria let out small sighs of happiness. They looked to each other and smiled, then walked hand in hand back into the dining room. They were going to be parents…. together. They loved each other so much and could not wait to continue their life together, no matter what the future held.

Of course, they'd have to make it through the rest of lunch first.