Author's note:
Greetings! It's been awhile. If you remember me at all from a few years ago, I wrote a number of stories for my favorite fandom here, but I recently did a purge of my old writing and decided to start fresh. It's been a very long time since I've written a proper story - please let me know what adjustments and criticisms you have! It feels good to be back, and good to write about my favorite lovebirds again. Thanks for reading!
-Sarah
November twenty-first. A Monday.
Victor Van Dort was officially 22 years of age, and he didn't bother to pay it much attention, just as he had for all of his birthdays.
As he sat at his piano in the parlor that morning, tinkling an absent-minded melody on its keys, he tried to think back to the last birthday celebration he could remember:
Nothing. Not a one.
Is it strange I'm not bothered by that? he wondered.
His parents had simply been too busy when he was a boy, with William getting business off the ground and Nell always haphazardly attempting to climb the social ladder. Celebrations of any sort stayed far in the background, and birthdays were no exception.
Now, that wasn't to say that Victor's birthdays were forgotten completely - usually partway through the day, his father would clap him on the shoulder and twitter some remark about him being one year closer to inheriting Van Dort's Fish. Then his mother would huff that no son of hers would ever be a fish merchant, as she apparently deserved so much better. Well, Mother, what did you have in mind, then? he wondered. And of course, his old pup Scraps would sense he needed some affection and give him a few friendly licks.
Victor smiled at the memory of his beloved dog. He hoped he was still happy, down there in the land of the dead.
The land of the dead.
Somehow, the place always crept back into Victor's thoughts. And now, his birthdays were an especially strong reminder of how he almost hadn't lived to see 20, let alone 22.
He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling bitter-sweet but thankful for living at that moment. His hands continued their slow, even melody on the piano. Even if his family had taken birthdays for granted growing up, he could never be so careless now. Not after all that had happened those few years ago. Each day, no matter how seemingly mundane, was a reminder of how wonderful it felt to live.
And of course, how wonderful it was spending it with the person he loved most, who just then had quietly entered the parlor.
Victoria, always quiet as a mouse, stepped over to her husband and kissed him softly on the cheek. He jumped, startled, and the kiss traveled somewhere near his ear.
Victoria couldn't help but laugh a little. Poor dear, he was always so easily startled.
"Happy birthday, darling," she said with a tiny smile. Victor looked over to find her still in her dressing gown and nightgown, her braid from the night before now messy as it trailed down her back. Usually when she awoke in the morning she preferred to dress right away, but he enjoyed seeing her like this. He smiled at her, murmuring a thank-you.
Victoria tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "May I sit?" she asked, gesturing toward the piano bench Victor was seated on.
"Of course." Victor scooted over and held an arm out to hold her close as she sat down, smoothing her dressing gown beneath her. He pressed a kiss to her temple in return for his.
"Well. How does twenty-two feel?" Victoria inquired, a hint of a laugh in her voice.
"Not very different from twenty-one, I suppose. I'm glad you remembered this year," Victor ribbed gently.
"Remembered! Of course I remembered. Although, you did fail to tell me about your twentieth birthday until months after it had passed…"
"To be honest, I forgot about it myself that year. We had just been married, you know. There were many other things on our mind at the time."
A silence settled between them and their minds drifted back in time.
~
Three years prior, Victor and Victoria had finally wed shortly after their experience with the corpse bride and the land of the dead. Victor's twentieth birthday was a few weeks after, but the previous events had still weighed heavily on his mind. It wasn't until the next spring when Victoria had been curious about his birthday, and he realized he forgot about it. Poor Victoria felt so sorry for missing it that she managed to have the cook bake him a small cake for his half-birthday. She had even decorated it herself with icing flowers and candles. It had touched him greatly, even though she hadn't forgotten it at all.
~
Victoria sighed and slipped her hand into Victor's, bringing him back to the present.
"I'm happy you're here with me now," she said. Victoria always made it a point to tell him she was grateful he was there after all they had been through, all they had nearly lost.
Victor gave his wife's hand a squeeze as his other hand traced the piano keys once more. "Me too." He started up the melody from earlier again, soft and wistful. Perfect for the rainy morning weather.
Victoria turned to look over her shoulder, making sure the parlor door was closed. "I have something for you," she said, almost sounding nervous. She got up from the bench and walked over to the mahogany bookshelf near the fireplace, opening the little cabinet inside it and carefully removing something wrapped in tissue paper. Victor stopped playing and turned to face her as she shyly walked back toward him, her dressing gown and the tissue paper rustling softly.
"Victoria! Oh, dearest, how long have you been hiding this?" he asked incredulously. He'd been in their parlor nearly every day for the last month playing the piano, sketching or reading - how did he miss this?
Victoria laughed. "I have my ways of working around your schedule." Gingerly, she held out the wrapped parcel to Victor, who eagerly took it from her. Careful not to tear the expertly folded paper, he unfolded the package.
Inside was a simple black scrolled frame, holding a delicate, crocheted-and-embroidered doily. The doily was shaped into the familiar silhouette of a butterfly, and within it, a large "D" enveloping a smaller "V" represented their last name. The design was threaded with what seemed like every possible shade of blue and gray, and there were many intricate designs woven throughout.
Victor gaped with delight how beautiful his wife's handiwork was. "Oh, Victoria, this is…darling, this is incredible," he beamed. "How long did this take y-"
Suddenly Victor's eyes locked on the corners of the frame. The butterfly design was flanked by familiar looking dry, dead flowers.
"Roses, lilies, and baby's breath," Victoria whispered, meeting Victor's gaze warmly as he looked up at her. "I…I couldn't just let them sit tucked away in a drawer forever. I had to honor her in some way."
Victor's heart was so full he felt it would burst. "My love - Victoria, this is…this is simply perfect. Thank you." He reached for her hand again, setting his gift carefully on top of the piano, and pulled her toward him, onto his lap.
Victoria pressed her forehead to Victor's, closing her eyes as he held her. Words weren't needed at that moment, just like many others, to express what they were feeling. She knew how much the corpse bride had affected him, and she too was grateful for Emily bringing their lives together again. Once she had fully understood what happened, she made a promise in her heart to live their lives in her memory.
The quiet moment passed, and Victor wrapped his arms tighter around his beloved's waist as she entwined her hands around his shoulders. "Thank you for a truly lovely birthday," he grinned, giving her a nice long kiss.
Victoria stood and ran her hand through his dark hair, a gesture she found herself doing often. "You sound as if it's already over," she laughed. "We haven't even had cake yet, although I suppose we should have breakfast first." She glanced over at the grandfather clock on the far wall, noting it was almost 10 o'clock already.
"Aren't you going to dress first?"
"I don't think so. Besides, I have another birthday present for you. Upstairs."
"What! Darling, you didn't need to get me anything else, this is more than enough."
Victoria cocked an eyebrow, a small, intimate smile playing at the corners of her lips.
It took him a minute. Victoria's sense of humor certainly caught him by surprise, even after all this time.
"Oh!" Victor blushed. "Well. I…I suppose breakfast could wait a while longer."
There were no other words needed as she led her husband out of the parlor, and up the stairs to their bedroom.
