Victor had eaten the soup, even managing the fruit bowl before falling into a warm sleep with a contented belly and calm mind.
"Poor guy, he's exausted," Skinner said, noting just how fast Victor had fallen asleep, a deep sleep from the looks of it. Nothing about this situation was right, and the small pieces of information they had gotten from Frankenstein had left more questions than answers.
"I do wonder what happened to put him in this situation," Alan asked.
"If memory serves, Frankenstein was an old family in Switzerland who had tragedy after tragedy before their last surviving member moved away to his spouse's homeland after getting married not long after the eldest child disappeared into the unknown," Nemo said. "Several newspapers on the subject exist; it was a rather popular mystery for a while."
"Perhaps we can find this sibling if he is related-" Henry started, only to be silenced by a flat look.
"I'm afraid this is unfeasible."
"Why?" Tom asked
"Because this incident took place around eighty-three years ago, and that man in there can't be more than thirty," Nemo said.
"Well, if he was used as an experiment, then perhaps slowed aging was part of that process?" Mina offered, disliking the idea that someone could have been used as a lab animal for over eighty years and only just currently escaped their captivity; carrying a child that their body had been forcefully repurposed to bear proved a bit more than she liked thinking about.
"Even if he is the lost sibling, the main issue is if we are going to care for him properly, and later on, a newborn of all responsibilities, we need to be prepared," Nemo said, knowing the man would want to leave soon after his child arrived, staying in one place was dangerous for them all, superfluous HQ or not.
Nemo, of course, would provide Victor the same opportunity he gave the others to come and live on the Nautilus, and it was where he raised his own daughter, who had many great teachers and did not lack in anything.
Much better than any hospital they could take them to, which were often more filthy than the backend of a-, not the time Nemo.
Jekyll nodded in agreement "we will need to make sure we have clean towels, cotton balls, blankets, pillows, and a mop" the Doctor chose to leave out the many tools that would be required if Victor required a cesarean; they could figure that one out a bit later.
The vampiress nodded. "Don't forget, new clothes for him and the baby, diapers, crib, figuring out which crew would make the best sitters for when he needs rest, and look into hiring a wet nurse if nessasary" Mina knew there were not many female crew on the ship, and none of them pregnant at the current time.
And even if one was, she was unsure how willing they would be to part with milk for their child to a male mother.
"Toys and books too!" Skinner piped up, the whole situation was still a bit harder to swallow than he would like, but the idea of soon having a baby to play with was helping ease that.
"And I have some pretty cool stories to tell myself," Tom offered, not one to be left out, making Alan chuckle at his surrogate son's enthusiasm.
And so, the League got to work.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Thank you for this," Victor offered as he walked along the path of the HQ's garden with Skinner's help, glad that the high stone walls would keep anyone from spying on them, a warm, cushioned robe, thick socks inside oversized slippers and a fur-lined hat kept out the chill, both glad that snow had not yet fallen despite it now being the twentieth of November.
The week had been previously spent with the ex-scientist sleeping, eating, and having pleasant conversations with the League and other crew members, all of which had, mercifully, not questioned Victor further on his situation, allowing the man to gain some of his strength back.
That morning, Victor found himself wanting to go outside; he was still dreadfully weak and was not even sure if he could support his own body anymore, but Frankenstein wanted to see something other than the infirmary.
And, with a look-over by Jekyll, it was determined that as long as he dressed warmly and allowed someone to stay with him the whole time, he could go outside for a few minutes to acquire some fresh air.
"So, what do you think so far?" Skinner asked; Victor had been shocked to find there was nothing under that grease paint he slathered himself in, but Rodney had saved his life. That was all that mattered.
"It's very nice here," Victor replied; he had been given an offer by Captain Nemo that once he and his child were strong enough, that they could come with the League onto the Nautalis to live, if Frankenstein wanted.
A generous offer, but one Victor needed to think on, he had spent so long alone or in the company of his creation, then Adam had become acquainted with...no...don't think about it, it does not matter now; what mattered was making sure the baby had the best life it could, and a life upon a submarine with a group of seasoned adventurers sounded like every child's dream.
Could he live on the ship though? It would be no doubt safe, but he loved trees, mountains, wildlife, the things his beloved Elizabeth would write for hours about, stitching together poetry as skillfully as she sewed buttons to a coat.
Oh, how he missed her, all of them, and even after their previous hatred, he missed Adam too; suppose eighty years of living and hiding together tended to do that.
And now even he was gone.
"You're definitely looking better," Skinner smiled, expressive despite his lack of visible eyes.
"I feel better," Victor said honestly before sitting on a provided bench with a huff rubbing his stomach, which seemed to have grown considerably even after just one week.
"You ok?" Skinner asked, not having much experience with pregnant people, he had been the youngest of his siblings or had been, his Ma had gotten pregnant again, but he had left home before it had been born; sometimes, he did truly regret that fact.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you, just tired, but that's normal from what I have heard," Victor said, leaning into the backrest.
"Yeah, Mina and Alan did say that"
Skinner knew of all people they should know, having both had children and Alan's wife had died not long after giving birth and Mina had been pregnant herself.
Skinner had not managed to get more details than that.
"Getting big in there.."
"Yeah..."
"Are you alright?" Victor asked, seeing the sudden change in expression on the bubbly man's face "Is something wrong?"
"No, no, just curious on how you got into this...situation in the first place," Rodney said softly, and Victor gave another sigh.
Suppose he could not withhold his past forever from them, especially if he was going to be living with them from then on.
"I agreed to...someone who I hurt very much, to be their mate, a lot of pain and alcohol helped with that decision, suppose our lives together was not so horrible as it could have been, he wanted that perfect human life he saw through windows of homes, so his treatment of me was as any man treats a wife...good and bad days for us both" Victor closed his eyes and fought down yet another sigh.
"You don't have to say anymore if you don't want to," Skinner said; despite curiosity burning in him to find out what happened next, Victor did not need the stress.
"It's alright, I think it will help telling someone about it, we were staying in an apparently abandoned old castle, near some river if I recall right, when a man came to the door, saying it was his home, Adam was shocked when he did not scream at or try to attack him, but he was oddly friendly to us both, we found out later he was some sort of warlock or magician, he offered us a chance to have a full family and Adam was happy to hear it...and I agreed" Victor looked at the ground.
"You, agreed to..." Skinner was shocked.
Victor nodded "Suppose I was curious about it, and I had wanted a family before...nevermind, so I thought 'why not?' the man seemed genuine in wanting to help and Adam seemed to find it to be the next step to take in our relationship"
Skinner sat and listened, not even moving.
"But, not long after finding out his procedure had worked, that I was pregnant, people somehow caught wind of monsters living in the castle and stormed it...setting the whole place on fire...I managed to find a way out, but I knew I had a child under my heart and could not afford to go into the town or try and save Adam and the mysterious man, so, I kept walking..." Victor said as hot tears combat with the chill of the air and felt a comforting arm wrap around his shoulders.
"I'm sorry that happened to you, I'm not gonna say I understand most of it, but I'm glad you told me," Skinner said, wondering who the wizard guy could even be, and what motivations he had for offering such a strange service.
Victor remained quiet for a moment before looking up at the sky and seeing it was turning off dark.. "I think it's going to rain..."
A call came from inside telling the two men to come back in, and Skinner helped Victor to his feet.
"Bet the cook has a tasty treat ready for you two!" Skinner said, returned to his smiling self, and the two headed back into the warm building.
Victor's belly rumbled, making him blush, and causing Skinner to laugh.
"Seems your little one agrees with me!"
Victor just smiled.