A/N: This came out quicker than IU thought it would. But then, because of that, it's another short chapter. I'm sorry! Lately, my creativeness has just been blah, so… yeah. I promise I'll try to get a longer chapter in next time.

Oh, and thanks to everyone for the reviews! Much much much appreciated! You guys are great .

Disclaimer: see chapter one.

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"Though We Walk Through the Valley"

Chapter Two – "How Things Go"

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Victor closed the door behind him and put his jacket on the coat hanger. The entire house was silent, as it always was. Very little noise ever went on within those walls. The loudest thing to ever sound through the house was probably Victor's piano.

He sighed.

He began walking toward the large staircase at the end of the hall, but stopped when he noticed a soft glow of light emitting from the parlor. As he proceeded toward the room, he began to hear soft crackling sounds.

Someone had a fire going.

Curious, Victor entered the vast room, light dancing and flickering upon the walls and furniture, popping noises sounding from the fireplace. It created an abnormally cozy feeling to the room. Usually it, and the rest of the house, always seemed to bleak and cold.

Victor continued through the room, looking in all directions for any sign of someone else, but there was no one there.

"Odd…" he whispered to himself. Shrugging, he moved closer to the fireplace to put it out before heading upstairs to bed. Upon walking past one of the armchairs however, he could now see a figure sitting in it.

Victoria sat with her head tilted to the side, hands limply holding onto a quilt she had been knitting, mouth slightly open, and eyes closed.

It didn't take Victor long to realize she had fallen asleep waiting for him to return home.

As quietly as he could, Victor removed the needle and thread from her small hands, followed by the quilt, and placed them in the other armchair. And as gently as he could so as not to disturb her slumber, Victor slid one arm under her knees, another across her back, and lifted her from the chair. He stood still for a moment to make sure she was still asleep, then slowly turned around and took a few steps over to the loveseat. With the utmost care, Victor laid her down onto the dark red cushions.

Victor stood for a moment, looking down at her. He smiled sadly and kneeled down next to the sofa. Hesitantly, he reached out a hand and softly ran a single finger down her cheek.

"I'm sorry Victoria," he whispered. "I'm sorry for making you worry about me like this. You should be angry with me for coming home this late, never telling you where I'm going, what I'm doing, distancing myself from you… but instead, you just worry. You're a truly wonderful person, Victoria." He pushed a stray hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

"You deserve someone much better than me. You shouldn't have a husband… who has second thoughts a month after his wedding."

He then leaned down and very lightly pressed his lips against her forehead. Victor knew he did love Victoria, and probably always would. He just knew he had no right feeling that way about her, when he felt the same way for another.

Pushing himself up from the floor, Victor noticed a blue blanket folded upon the armchair Victoria had fallen asleep in. Walking over to pick it up, he lifted it from the chair and looked at for a few moments.

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"No peeking now, Victor!" Victoria giggled as she lead him by the hand into the parlor. Chuckling, Victor kept his eyes shut and replied, "I won't."

Smiling excitedly, Victoria opened the glass doors to the room, and walked her husband into the very center of the room. Letting go of his hands, she said to him, "Don't look yet!" He smiled and nodded.

Listening intently, Victor heard what sounded like heavy cloth being flailed about. After a few seconds, it was silent within the room. He then felt a hand grab hold of his own and heard from right beside him,

"Okay. You can look now."

Opening his eyes, Victor gasped at the view that met his gaze. Laid out upon the carpeted floor was the most… beautiful quilt he had ever seen.

Dressed in all shades of blue from nearly white, to nearly black, knitted into the pattern was a large moon that took up most of the quilt. And around the moon were cerulean butterflies, all fluttering across the material.

"Oh…" Victor awed. He was nearly speechless at the amazing piece of work. She must have spent hours working to finish it!

"Oh, Victoria… it's… amazing. Beautiful." He breathed, still unable to tear his eyes away from it. He felt his wife's hand tighten around his. Smiling warmly, she said to him, "I'm giving it to you."

Victor's head snapped to her, his eyes wide. "Victoria… oh, thank you!" He pulled her to him, hugging her. "I adore it! I'll treasure it always! In fact…"

He pulled away from the hug and rushed excitedly over to the quilt, and picked it up from the floor. He then walked to the loveseat, and sat himself down. Looking to Victoria, he reached out an arm toward her, beckoning her over. Smiling, she took his hand in hers, and sat down beside him. He wrapped the quilt around himself, then around her shoulders.

"It'll be ours," he stated affectionately.

Victoria's smile widened. "Oh, Victor…" she breathed, resting her head upon his shoulder. She pulled the blanket closer to her and laced her free hand with his. Victor laid his head against hers.

They fell asleep like that.

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Victor ran a hand along the soft material in his hands, smiling wistfully. That hadn't happened long ago at all, but… things had changed so drastically since then, that it seemed as if it had been years ago.

Holding onto the corners, Victor let go of the rest of the quilt, letting it unfold freely. He then carried it back over to Victoria's sleeping form and covered her with it. He carefully tucked it comfortable around her so that it wouldn't fall of at any point in the night.

She mumbled softly in her sleep as he finished tucking her in.