Hello loves! I'd like to start by apologizing for my extensive absence. My family is facing a small tragedy at the moment, and we're dealing with a lot. It's been far too busy and far too stressful for me to spend my time focused on these fics. I'm very sorry about that. Now that the season is over, I've got more prompts than ever, so I'm going to try to keep us all entertained throughout the hiatus. This, particular fic was requested BEFORE that season finale, so at this point could be considered an AU.
Vanessa had grown restless in the last few weeks. She'd been confined to the house for the most part, rarely able to leave, and never able to leave on her own. She hated it. She was made to be a free spirit, Ethan knew, and keeping her pent up was the equivalent of keeping a bird in a cage. The weather was changing, and that morning, she had wanted nothing more than to leave and wander about the city. He'd been unable to deny her anything with the look on her face, so now they were walking through the city park.
He kept his distance from her, allowing her to wander about on her own, and only keeping her within his sights. Her eyes were sparkling, and a look of content sparked across her face. She sat casually on the bench, alternating between watching the children play in the field and closing her eyes and soaking in the sunshine.
Ethan watched curiously when a small child, a little girl no more than 6, climbed onto the bench beside her and started talking. He was too far from them to hear what was being said, but the huge smile that flitted across Vanessa's face was unmistakable. The conversation seemed to go back and forth for quite a while, the little girl talking animatedly, waving her hands around in exaggerated movements, and making silly expressions.
He was surprised a little, to see the scorpion, the lioness herself, Vanessa Ives return these gestures. They were both giggling and grinning, and the sight made him smile. After a moment, it appeared that they waned into a silence. Vanessa looked out over the field, her face contorted into thought. The child watched Vanessa, her little head tilted to the side in thought, before jumping down from the bench, and flitting off across the field.
A look very similar to sadness crossed her face when she watched the child go, but it faded when the little girl came running back, flopping back down on the bench beside her, and laying two small white roses in her lap. The child seemed less animated this time, her smile smaller, but Vanessa's expression softened and she seemed touched by what the little one was saying. Vanessa responded kindly, brushing the child's curls behind her ear, and tucking one of the roses with it.
They sat and talked for a moment longer, before the child was called away by her father. Before leaving, the child stood on the bench, and wrapped her little arms around Vanessa's neck, hugging her before flitting off again. Vanessa watched her leave with a small smile on her face, before getting up and moving towards him. She twirled the stem of the flower between her nimble fingers.
"Who was your little friend?" He asked, chuckling as they linked arms. They walked a while down the path before she answered.
"Her name was Alice. She thought I looked lonely, so she decided to start a conversation." Vanessa answered, laughing quietly at the memory, still twirling the flower in her hands.
"Well, from where I was standing, it seemed like a very interesting conversation." He chuckled again, wondering what a child could have had to say.
"She was sweet. Her favorite color is blue, she has several brothers who wouldn't let her play, she likes dolls and cats and making people laugh." Vanessa chuckled.
"Oh yes. Very interesting." he said, nodding his head in an exaggerated manner.
"Oh don't be so cynical Mr. Chandler." she swatted his arm playfully, and they laughed together for a moment before lapsing back into a peaceful silence.
"What about the flowers?" He asked, plucking the bud from her hands gently, and observing it.
"She thought I looked sad," she murmured quietly, thoughtfully, before continuing, "She said I looked sad, the same way her mother used to, and the flowers always made her smile." They stopped for a moment and he tucked the rose behind her ear, just as she'd done to the little girl earlier.
"You did look sad," he murmured quietly. She laughed, a small little laugh that was barely audible, but she didn't say anything else. They walked along in silence for a while. Her smile had faltered since leaving the park, and he couldn't get the image of her and the child laughing together out of his head. It had seemed so natural.
"You never struck me a child person." he chuckled lightly. As natural as it had seemed, it had still been so odd.
"Oh? What makes you say that?" she asked, looking over at his face and raising an eyebrow curiously.
"I don't know. You just seem so composed and quiet. I imagined children would annoy you." he said in response.
"I don't think they would," she murmured quietly, shifting her eyes back to the ground, her lip curling thoughtfully before she spoke again. "I've always wanted children." her voice was quiet,almost shaking, as if the words were a whispered secret she'd never told anyone. He didn't immediately respond, watching her eyes for any hint to what she would say next.
She sighed heavily,"Oh well, No one ever really gets what they want, and I'm not suited to be a mother regardless" she sounded so forlorn as the words escaped her lips. He could tell they weren't a truth, but more a wall she'd built up to prevent her heart for aching anymore. She told herself a lie to protect herself, and now she believed it. After a long silence, he spoke again, hoping to lighten the mood in someway.
"You know, I think you'd make a wonderful mother." he whispered, stopping their walk and turning her to face him. She looked to the ground sheepishly before speaking again.
"Do you?" She sounded almost shocked, and he briefly wondered how many people in her life had told her the contrary.
"Yes I do. And I hope that you'll get the chance to find out." he murmured, lifting her chin gently to look her in the eyes. It was a genuine hope that he gave to her. He wanted her to be happy, and to live the kind of life that she wanted to live. Certainly, she wouldn't always be hunted by the darkness. Surely, there would be a time when she could settle down and have peace.
She didn't speak anymore, but she sighed quietly, dropping her eyes away from his again.
"I do too." she breathed, and he wasn't quite certain that he'd heard her say it at all, or if she'd actually said it. He linked their arms together again, resting a hand on top of hers when she gripped his arm, patting it gently. As they walked, she leaned gently against him, resting her head on his shoulder every now and then, but the little rose stayed tucked behind her ear.
Thanks for reading darklings! I'll do my best to keep updating, but for a while, my life is going to be highly unpredictable!