Naming Baby Longmire

Vic had emailed Ferg the baby name list she and Walt had narrowed down. It was much smaller than it had started out yet is still seemed pretty large when she looked at it. Not wanting to scare The Ferg off she composed what she hoped would be an encouraging message with the list.

Dear "Uncle" Ferg,

We appreciate your willingness to look over our list of potential names. Any insight

and suggestion you can offer will be a big help. I think Walt and I are too caught up in

all the names to really think clearly about them anymore. You know we want to

recognize the Italian and the western backgrounds of the two of us but beyond that I

don't think we really have anything specific in mind. Feel free to suggest additional

names or combinations we haven't listed.

Thanks for the help,

Vic

Ferg had had the list for about a week when he left a post-it on Vic's desk one morning while she was out on a call. He had some ideas about their 'project' and asked if he should e-mail them or would she like him to call.

Vic smiled when she saw the post-it on her desk. Leave it to Ferg to be discreet in a message left out in plain sight. Ferg had left to pick up lunch so Vic decided to leave him a note too. She would be there when he read it but she figured why not do it just for fun. Vic checked in with Walt and asked him a couple of questions then returned to her desk and quickly scratched out a note to "Uncle" Ferg. It was impossible to think of him as simply The Ferg anymore. She was careful not to address him as uncle at work, but she always thought it before calling him by name; it was only a matter of time before she slipped up. The though made her smile, wondering who would be there to hear it when she did.

A few minutes late Ferg came in with lunch for Ruby, himself, Walt and Vic. Branch was out in the south county for the day and would not be back until close to quitting time. After dispensing the meals and drinks to the others Ferg went to his desk and saw and envelope on the center of his blotter with his name etched into the paper by an ink pen. He set his food to the side and picked up the envelope, slipping the freshly moisten flap open and, pulled out a folded slip of paper:

Ferg,

We would like to invite you to breakfast at our cabin before work tomorrow. Please

bring a hearty appetite and your name ideas. Is 5:30 too early?

Vic and Walt

Vic watched him read the note and then turn to look at her. "Well?"

"Five thirty will be fine. But you don't have to feed me, I just…"

"Ferg you were invited for breakfast. What's the problem? You afraid of my cooking?"

"No, no. I just don't wanna put out or anything."

"It's no inconvenience. Walt and I have to eat breakfast too ya know. So get your butt to our place by 5:30 in the morning and be ready to eat. We're having Lasaomelets."

Walt entered the out office and was just in time to hear Ferg ask, "What's a Lasaomelet?"

He broke into a huge grin and answered, "The damn omelet you'll ever eat."

Vic smiled up at Walt and then turned back to Ferg, "Don't listen to him, he's biased."

"Hey it's one of your favorites too." Walt defended.

"I know, but it may not turn out to be one of Ferg's. Leave him alone and let make his own mind up tomorrow."

Walt gave her a contrite expression and said, "Yes dear." And then strategically moved passed Ferg and whispered conspiratorially, "Bring your appetite Ferg. Trust me you won't be disappointed."

As Walt moved back toward his office, Vic reached out and swatted his butt, "I heard that."

Walt tossed over his shoulder, "It's the truth!" Just before he reached his office door he turned and asked in mock sternness, "You do know it's against the law to assault an officer?"

"Just 'cause I popped your ass doesn't mean it was assault. I can show you what…"

"Nope. No, no just asked a question that's all." Walt slipped through the doorway and closed the door behind him, leaving Vic to laugh in his wake; Ferg and Ruby joining in in less than a second.

The Next Morning

During breakfast, which was a resounding hit with Ferg as well as Walt, the trio talked about a wide range of topics. When they finished breakfast and had started to clean up Ferg started to explain how he had gone through their list. Walt and Vic exchanged a look at how incredibly thorough he had been. Ferg said before he went through the name combinations they had originally listed he had had an idea that would give the baby Italian sounding names while also recognizing the Sheriff's love of literature. He shifted a bit nervously; already worried he had gone too far, since they had not said anything about literature, only about Italian and western in general.

Walt said he liked the idea and the way Ferg had been thinking about the name selection and encouraged him to continue.

"Well first, the name Dante. It wasn't on your list but Dante Alighieri wrote the Devine Comedy and I know it is one of Walt's favorites" He couldn't help his nervousness and glanced at Walt to be sure he was not misspeaking. Walt nodded and Ferg continued. "And, well his given name was Durante which sort of seems special to the baby since it's kind of like Durant, and that's where his parents met."

Walt added, "And where he'll be born and raised."

Vic smiled at the two men, they looked so terribly serious, it was sweet that they were really trying to come up with just the right name and putting so much thought and effort into the task. But at the same time their expressions looked as though they were puzzling through a great unsolved crime. "I like that idea Ferg, what else did you come up with?"

"You already had Nicholas on the list and I thought with Niccolò Machiavelli. You could use anyone of the Italian variations; Nicolo Nicoli Nicolo and call him Nic or Cole, those are both kind of western sounding."

Walt said, "Cole is not an option Vic made me promise no 'outlaws' or major western 'heroes'. Said it would put too much pressure on a kid and she figured with the two of us as his parents he's gonna grow up with enough pressure as it is.

Ferg looked at him and said, "So no Wyatt, Morgan, Jesse, Frank, Kit, Billy, or Ike?"

"Yep, and no Dalton, Custer, Roy, James, Jack, Bart, Cassidy or Sundance."

Although Ferg thought the Sheriff was teasing with some of those names he let the suggestion of Cole drop and went back to his notes on the names. He tossed out a couple of other ideas on the names from their list but Vic didn't really hear him, she was lost in thought. She played the name Dante Nicolas Longmire over in her head a few times and then tried Dante Longmire, Nicolas Longmire and Nick Longmire, finally Cole Longmire. She looked at Walt, "What do you think?"

"About which one?"

She gave Ferg an apologetic shrug and wrinkled up her nose at him, "Sorry but I was listening. I was thinking about the first two. Dante and Nicolas." She looked to Walt expectantly.

"I think Nicholas meets our criteria for Italian and western. And Dante holds special meanings for us and our son; I like it. What about you?"

The trio made their way into the front room once breakfast and associated trappings were cleaned and everything put away.

Vic dropped onto the couch, "Dante Nicolas Longmire it is, with one provision."

"What?" Walt asked as he sat on the edge of the couch next to her, leaving Ferg to the recliner.

"I'm not big on calling him Dante even though I am sure my father will call him nothing but Dante. Just as I know my mom will forever call him Nicky, even if he grows to be a linebacker and towers over her. Whatever we use as his everyday name has to be short, since it's gonna be paired with Longmire. Two long names, no puns intended, are too tough on a kid."

Walt offered, "Nick Longmire?"

Vic him a slow smile that hinted of embarrassment, "You're not going to believe this, but I was thinking Cole Longmire."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope, Cole's not as bad as Wyatt or Dalton, and besides its short for Nicolas, like Ferg said. Plus it's not like we're just are naming him Cole..."

She trailed off and Walt leveled his gaze on hers, "What?"

"And I kinda like that my son would have a real cowboy name like his dad."

Walt gave her a heartfelt smile that nearly melted her, "Not a bad idea for a fella growing up in Wyoming."

She smiled around the tears that had begun to pool in her eyes, "Not bad for a fella growing up as Sheriff Walt Longmire's son." She resented the hormones wreaking havoc in her emotions, Vic swiped at the tears with the heels of both hands, "Shit, I hate all this sentimental, emotional, blubbering."

Walt handed her his handkerchief and she turned a crooked grin to him, "Have I ever told you how sexy I think it is that you carry a bonifide, honest ta god handkerchief?"

He shook his head at her and chuckled, "Uhm, nope."

"Well it is. So don't ever be without one. Especially when I need one."

"I'll make a note."

"I'm serious."

"I know. That's why I'll make a note. Same way I do anytime you tell me that kind of thing. Don't wanna do anything to make you change your mind about me." His tone matched hers in seriousness, but he winked at her to show he wasn't afraid of that happening anymore. Walt shifted and picked up her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, "So, we agree on Baby Longmire's name?"

"Yep. So stop calling him that. His name is Dante Nicolas Longmire; Cole to his family and friends."

Walt leaned over her abdomen and gently stroked his other hand across it, "Well what do you think of that Dante Nicolas Longmire? That name's bigger than you are Bab…, uh, Cole!" He felt the baby kick under his palm and looked at Vic and very seriously asked, "Was that approval or rejection?"

She laughed, "If he hates, let him change it when he turns eighteen."

Ferg mumbled, " 'snot that easy."

To which Walt added, "You too huh?"

Ferg nodded, "Yep. By then you're pretty well stuck with it."

Vic laughed a bit derisively as she rubbed her abdomen, "Then he can join the three of us!"

The two men laughed at her and she caved in giving them a bright smile as she chuckled, "Besides aren't you cowboys sorta mama's boys and give into to stuff your mama wants?"

She directed the question to Walt but both he and the Ferg nodded as Walt said, "Mostly."