Flora awakes the next morning to the smell of food cooking. In the kitchen, she finds her children along with her intruding husband.
"Morning Mom," Celeste calls.
"Good Morning my love," Vulpes greets, surprising her with a kiss on the cheek, knowing her dislike of causing a scene in front of the children.
"Morning," she responds gruffly, wanting to strike him for his nerve.
"We're making pancakes," Helen proudly proclaims. "And Daddy's helping!"
"We wanted to surprise you," Vulpes grins.
Flora gives a bland smile in return, silently wondering how much longer Vulpes would be around.
"I want you to come back with me to the Capital," Vulpes announces over breakfast.
The children erupt in excitement while Flora chokes on her tea.
"Why?," she croaks, wiping her chin.
"I want my family," he says plainly.
"You didn't want us five years ago," Flora grumbles.
The noise at the table dies at her statement.
"Is that why we went away?," Castor asks. "You didn't want us anymore?"
"Of course, that's not true," Vulpes says smoothly as he smiles at the children.
Flora rolls her eyes at his act as she takes another sip of her tea.
"Children are most precious," he continues. "I am fortunate to have so many, a true blessing."
The children smile at his assurance while Flora thinks unpleasant thoughts.
"Why don't you go play while I talk to your Mother," Vulpes urges, sensing his wife's disbelief.
"Go over to Harold's and see what the old man is up to," Flora orders, eager to set her estranged husband straight. "I will come get you all in a little while."
"Yes Mother," the children respond before leaving the table.
They wait a few minutes to ensure that the children have truly left.
"Seriously Vulpes? Let's all go back to the Capital," she mocks. "You can't just get them all excited like that, it's not fair to them."
"What's fair in keeping them away from their father?," he challenges.
"A father that wanted to pretend that he had no children to begin with!," Flora snarks.
"I'm not as terrible of a father as you think. I'm there for my children, they can see me anytime they want."
The meaning of his words fall on her like a brick wall as Vulpes realizes his mistake.
"There are other children?," she asks, the words foreign and unwelcome in her mouth.
Vulpes stares at her, his face carefully blank.
"How many?," Flora presses.
"Eight," he finally announces.
Flora doesn't hide the hurt she unexpectedly feels.
"My," she tsks, channeling her pain into something sharp. "Eight children in five years, you've been busy my Emperor."
Vulpes remains silent under his wife's burning gaze.
"Eight families to fight, eight families that wish to rule. Eight reasons why to not return."
"I can protect you and the children, " he counters quickly.
"What about Miranda?," she asks.
"She's around," he says slyly.
"Of course she is," Flora sniffs. "You kept the one that wanted to replace your family. How noble of you."
Vulpes glares at his wife.
"My answer is still no. In fact, it's hell no."
"I will drag you back to Flagstaff if I have to," he growls.
"No, you wont," she grins.
"Don't tempt me woman."
"I know you wont, do you know why? Deep down you want me to come willingly, like how it once was. You drag me back and I'll never stop trying to escape. Any child you force upon me will not grow."
Vulpes sits back in his chair, an easy smile on his lips. He is amused, she can see it in his eyes. She gives a brief thought to when was the last time that the Emperor heard the word "no."
"Do you know how I found you?," he says nonchalantly.
Flora smiles, "That was my next question, how?"
"This," he says, placing a small, amber colored vial on the table.
"I was leaving the Grand Temple after giving my offerings to Mars, when I smelled something I thought I would never experience again, your perfume. In fact, it stopped me in my tracks so captivated I was. After some searching, it was found that a beggar woman carried this little vial. Her husband had stolen the perfume from a merchant as a birthday gift. The merchant had bought the fragrance from another merchant that specialized in "exotic wares from far flung places". That second man was able to tell me of a most delightful woman, a true beauty, that resides in a small town at the foot of King Mountain."
"Dammit Thomas," Flora thinks.
Perfume making was something that she had always dabbled in. Becoming Consort to the Emperor of the Legion gave her plenty of time and resources to hone her talent. Once the homestead began to produce, Flora began to practice her craft again. Never in a million years would she ever suspected that something as trivial as perfume would bring her husband back to her. Perhaps Joshua was right, Flora muses. Everything happens for a reason.
"At first I couldn't believe it, " Vulpes says. "My wife alive after all these years. A miracle!"
"After you tried to kill me," she interjects.
"I told you I had nothing to do with that," he snaps. "All I was going to do..."
"Is send me and the children away," Flora interrupts. "We would "wait" in New Vegas while you made a fool of me in Flagstaff. Is that it? "
Vulpes was silent, the look upon his face speaking volumes.
"Thought so," she sniffs.
"There must be something I can do to show you" he begins.
"Crawl," Flora states.
"What?!"
"You heard me crawl, let me see the almighty Emperor crawl in his hands and knees to his beloved wife."
"I will not!"
"That's fine," she says. "I see your pride is too large to allow you to kneel properly."
Flora stands from the table.
"It was nice of you to come see the children. They have missed you, especially Castor and Pollux. I hope that you will have a pleasant journey home, give my regards to whatever whore you have sharing your bed. Tell Miranda I say hello."
"Wait," Vulpes cries. "Just wait a minute Flora, I need you to come back with me. I love you!"
Flora cackles, "And I really need a husband that I can trust and believe in! You may have loved me once, I never stopped loving you. I loved you even as you sent us away."
"I do love you, I never stopped thinking about you. I was lost Flora!, " he exclaims.
"Ha!," Flora snorts. "You willfully left, don't you dare lie to me Vulpes Inculta! You stopped thinking about me the first time you bedded that senator's wife!"
The befuddled look upon his face infuriates her, calling forth all the unresolved feelings she thought long buried to the surface. Flora seethes like a boiling cauldron.
"You think I didn't know! I knew! I knew about all of them! The woman came to me afterwards, begging my forgiveness. But she wasn't the only one, nor was she the last one. And those that boasted of being conquered, quickly learned to keep their mouths shut!"
Vulpes quirks an eyebrow at this new revelation.
"Oh yes," Flora grins, showing her teeth in a fierce way. "They did not respect me. Like you, they thought I was a simpering fool, a mere woman but they forgot that I have teeth. I defeated the NCR Rangers. You think a few stupid young girls would present a problem?"
Vulpes thinks back to the summer of seeming unrelated accidents. Four fresh, young girls presented by ambitious families, each hoping to catch the Emperor's wandering eye. Unfortunately the young girls kept falling into trouble, each one worse and worse. The first young girl was trampled by a team of Brahmin while another was fed poisoned berries. The third developed a horrible reaction to something caustic, scarring her skin permanently while the final girl was rendered lame by a razor hidden in her shoe. The court buzzed with intrigue at each turn of events. It was quite a while before any other young girls were presented in court.
Despite feeling a bubble of irritation at her actions and his inability to put the events together, a strong sense of pride takes hold. He remembers the passionate union that occurred after the destruction of Camp Forlorn Hope. Afterwards he realized that he felt more for Flora than just a woman to service his needs. Vulpes had found his equal, someone as ruthless and willing as he was.
The room is silent as Flora awaits his response.
"What happened with Miranda?," he asks.
"Ah yes," Flora begins as she paces back and forth. "That troublesome bitch. She was a clever one, her Aunt had schooled her about the court and how to pay her respects. I hate to admit but she fooled me."
"She's not much to worry about now," Vulpes says cryptically, dismissing the subject.
"If I had my way, she would never be something to worry about ever again."
"What would you do with her if presented the opportunity," he purrs.
"Are you attempting to regain my favor by offering up your used goods, my Emperor?"
"I'm offering you the chance to obtain revenge and vindication," he responds.
Flora grins, wide and toothy.
"I would see her whipped until the skin is flayed from her body."
"And then?"
"I would have her crucified in the courtyard as an example to the others."
"My wife," Vulpes smiles, motioning to her.
"Not so fast, dear husband," she coos. "Dealing with your whore only resolves half of the issue. You still have to pay the piper for your transgressions."
Vulpes once again quirks his eyebrow.
"And what do you want my dear wife?"
"I want you to leave and never come back."
"No," he responds quickly. "That's not going to happen."
"But you asked me what I wanted," she pouts.
"And I told you want I wanted," he replies.
"I am not one of your whores, panting for your attention. Why do you entertain yourself with this made up motion that I'm going to come back with you?"
"Cause you will," he says confidently.
Flora scoffs, "We'll see about that."
"Where are you going?," Vulpes asks, watching her walk away.
"I'm done talking to you," she calls over her shoulder as she walks into the kitchen. "I'm going to collect the children."
"I going with you," he exclaims. "I want to meet this Harold character."
Flora laughs at the hint of jealousy she detects in his voice.
"You're going to be disappointed," she teases.
...
Harold is an older man in his mid-fiftys, with grey hair and a bum leg that he got from being kicked by a Brahmin as a young boy. Flora introduces Vulpes as Mr. Fox, the children's father.
"Cass, why don't you move over, let your father sit," Harold instructs Castor.
"Cass?," Vulpes repeats.
"That's me!," Castor says proudly.
"And I'm Paul," Pollux announces.
Harold smiles, "Sorry about that, with names like Castor and Pollux, the boys got teased a lot in school. I sorta helped them out with new ones."
Vulpes nods," I remember being their age. I was picked on for being too skinny, got into a lot of fights."
Harold chuckles, "You look like a scrappy one."
"Won as many as I lost," Vulpes smiles as he sits.
"What do you do for a living Mr. Fox?"
"I'm in the people business."
"You a slaver?," Harold asks in a serious tone.
Vulpes snorts, "Nothing of the sort. I manage people, ensure committees actually do what they were created for. More like an overseer, make sure everything runs smoothly."
"Must be important work if you have an armed escort following you around everywhere," the older man says, motioning to the pair of armed guards that stand at the end of his walkway.
"You could say that," her husband responds casually. "Anybody really could do my job, Mr. Harold. Are you familiar with New Vegas?"
"No, can't say that I am. You'd have to ask my boy, Thomas. He was stationed there before the NCR lost the entire area to the Legion."
"That was quite a bit ago," Vulpes responds.
"It was, " Harold agrees. "Thomas got out of the Army after he recovered from his injuries. Him and a few of his Army buddies started a caravan company, call themselves Aces and Eights."
"Dead man's hand, " Vulpes calls.
Harold looks surprised at his announcement.
"I used to call New Vegas my home before all the fighting. I met Flora there, didn't we honey?"
"We actually met in Nipton, remember?"
"How could I forget," he grins. "There I was standing on the town hall steps when Flora walked down the street. Despite all that was going on, she was the only one I saw. I just had to know her name."
"You were bold," Flora agrees. "But that's what I liked about you the most."
Vulpes smirks, "Fortune favors the bold."
Harold nods, "That it does. Take my boy for instance. They told Thomas that he was crazy for wanting to trade with the Legion but look at him now. He went from one caravan to five within two years! Papa, he said, those people are starved for luxury goods, especially the Capital. They just can't get enough! It was Thomas to convinced Flora to sell her perfumes on the market. From what I've been told, it's a huge success."
Vulpes looks at his wife, "She's a woman of many talents."
"That she is," the older man agrees. "Flora took that run down outfit next door and turned it into something pretty. Women are like that; whatever you give them, they will make it better."
"That they will, " Vulpes replies. "We men need to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts more."
Flora subtly scoffs at his declaration.
"Especially with the children," Harold laughs. "Heaven forbid if it was just up to me to tend to Thomas alone, boy might not have made it to adulthood. And that was just the one child! I'm sure Flora has her hands full dealing with four of them!"
She smiles, "They're good kids."
"I'm sure you helped more than you think," Vulpes says to Harold.
"It was my pleasure," he responds. "Ever since Ruthie died and Thomas went to find his own fortune, I've just been sittin' here. Probably would have died a couple years back if it wasn't for these kids, gave me something to focus on."
With grand flourish, Vulpes pulls a business card out of seemingly thin air and presents it to the old man with a smile, "That always impressed them at the Casinos. Should ever need anything, I am in your debt."
Harold reviews the small card, outlined in thin copper lines and fancy scroll work.
"Victor Fox, " he reads. "President of Logistics. Copper Bull LLC, New Vegas, Nevada."
On the back is a shiny, rampant copper bull.
"You went back to New Vegas?," Flora inquires.
"Have good memories of the place," Vulpes winks.
She throws him a half smile, they did have some good times in the shining city of lights.
"I'm hungry," Helen announces, walking over to her mother.
"But you just ate," Flora says, scooping her up.
Helen gives a sorrowful look before resting her small head against her mother's shoulder.
"I'm hungry," she repeats firmly.
Flora gives a sigh, "This child has the appetite of a ravenous yao gui."
Vulpes smiles," I remember you always being hungry while you carried her, I suppose she's always been hungry."
She glares at him, how would you know, you were never there.
Her husband had gone away with Miranda to the country estate, leaving Flora and the children in the Capital before she could tell him about the baby. When Vulpes returned a month later, he rushed into her chambers, excited to hear about the pregnancy but irritated that he had not been notified sooner. Flora responded by throwing a vase at him, telling him if he had been home instead of gallivanting around with his whore, he would have been informed. Afterwards, they barely spoke to each other. Looking back, Flora can see how she gave Miranda room to scheme and plot her wickedness. Instead of fighting for Vulpes, she fought against him, pushing him directly into that hussy's skinny arms.
Flora notices Harold watching her, giving the old man a lukewarm smile.
"Come on children," she says standing. "Let's go find something for lunch, your sister's hungry."
"But I wanted to stay here with Harold," Castor moans.
"You heard your Mother," Vulpes snaps. "Get up!"
"It's fine," Flora says as she walks off the porch. "He can stay."
"I'll stay with him," Pollux calls out.
Flora gives a non committal wave of her hand, indicating she heard. Harold clears his throat.
"You boys should go with your parents. I'm sure your father would like to spend some time with you."
Castor slumps his shoulders, disappointment on his face.
"But Mom said," he begins.
"No buts, young man, " Harold says sternly. "You can visit another time. Besides I'm waiting on Thomas, he should be home sometime today."
The children light up in excitement at Harold's announcement.
"Mom, can Thomas come over when he arrives?," Celeste asks.
Flora makes a face, "It's really up to Thomas if he wants to come over. I'm sure he'll be quite tired when he arrives, traveling by caravan can be rough."
Celeste gives a sad face.
"I'll tell you what," Harold says. "We'll come over for dinner tomorrow."
"Mom will make the roasted Bighorn that he likes," she exclaims with glee.
Flora rolls her eyes, "Anything else you'd like, your majesty?"
Celeste giggles, "I want Thomas to come with us when we move back to Flagstaff."
"Nothing has been finalized," Flora says firmly as she waits for the rest of her family on the walkway.
The men shake hands.
Harold pulls Vulpes close, whispering in his ear.
"Apologize. "
Vulpes gives an incredulous look, "I beg your pardon?"
"To her. Even if you didn't do anything, apologize to your wife," Harold continues. "She's too good of a woman to just let slip away."
Vulpes thanks the old man once more and steps off the porch, joining his family on the walkway.
"So this Thomas fellow," her husband begins as the family walks back to her home.
"Celeste is infatuated with him," Flora sighs.
"How do you feel about him?," he asks, his tone purposely kept light.
"We are friends," she replies.
"Just friends?," Vulpes questions.
Flora narrows her eyes at her estranged husband.
"Yes, just friends," she says frostily.
Vulpes nods, appearing satisfied with her response.
...
Lunch and Dinner pass without incidence. After the children have gone to bed, the notion of returning "home " is once again broached by her husband.
"The children are happy, I'm happy, why would we go back?, " Flora says sharply, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"It would make me happy," Vulpes says.
"You would take me back to constant reminders of your infidelity, all for the sake of your own happiness? You haven't changed one bit."
"Flora, I've apologized fo.."
"No you haven't!, " she interrupts loudly. Flora bears her teeth at him before continuing on a softer yet still harsh voice. "All I've heard was "I was lost" and "it's my right". If I would have done any of that, you would have me whipped and sold off as chattel!"
Vulpes recalls an incident in which they had fought after Flora had caught him with one of the nannies. She had threatened to go find company of her own in retaliation. It was the nanny that rushed to get assistance, fetching Wren and a few others to free their mistress from his tight grip. Flora had refused to see him for days afterwards. Having enough of her childish behavior, he barges into her chambers. The look of apprehension in his wife's eyes was difficult to bear.
But he had apologized, hadn't he?
Vulpes remembers the pair of Brahmin that he bought for Flora, creatures with beautiful hides that shined like gold under the sun. There was the small cart that he had commissioned for her and the children to enjoy. Heaps of jewelry and beautiful trinkets, all purchased as a physical embodiment of his regret at her mistreatment. At the temple, he gave offerings to Mars as penance for the shame he felt, even sacrificed slaves, but none of it ever brought the salvation that the priestess promised.
It was after this incident that he asked her to change. It was fine for her to act wild when he was a mere Senator but the Consort to the Emperor must act with dignity and grace. Teaching the children how to trap, track and fight was something someone else should do, certainly not his wife. The advisors had him believing that it was by his hand alone that the Mojave campaign was a success, that no mere woman was able to tip the scales. Women were only to be used in two manners: those that serve the home and those that serve men. There were no equals be found amongst them. When Vulpes asked Flora to put away her wildness, he effectively killed the Courier of the Mojave, dooming his wife to play the role of one that serves her house while he found others to serve his needs. Mars punished him for his hubris, taking the only person that truly cared for him. Now she stands before him, ready to drive him away before he could hurt her again.
"I'm sorry Flora, for everything. I was not a good husband to you."
She scoffs at his admission.
"I am not a good man, nor have I ever been. There is no excuse for my behavior and I truly am sorry for all the hurt I've caused you."
Flora purses her lips, searching his face for lies. In the harsh, bright light of the kitchen, it appears that he is being truthful.
"Why are you really here?, " she asks. "Since you are being so truthful."
Vulpes looks away, "You're going to think it's funny."
"You're not a funny man," Flora replies.
"I had a dream, " he says. "You and the children, walking in the desert, just walking nowhere. All of you looked so sad."
He leaves out the part about waking up with tears in his eyes.
"Later that morning, I went to the temple to make an offering to Mars, that he may put your wandering souls to rest."
"And from there you smelled my perfume," Flora finishes.
Vulpes nods.
"All because of a dream?, " she asks.
"Do you believe me?"
Flora scans her husband's face again as he awaits her judgement. It would be easy to condemn him, she thinks.
Hate the sin, love the sinner, a voice from long ago speaks.
Flora closes her eyes, if Joshua could forgive the man that ordered him set aflame and thrown into a canyon then she supposes she could try to forgive her husband. For him to be here based upon a dream spoke volumes.
"I suppose I could try and forgive you, " she says with a sigh.
Vulpes smiles, one step closer to his goal.
"Just because I forgive you doesn't mean I'm going to forget anything," Flora says firmly, reading his expression.
"I understand," he says eagerly.
