Several hours after their breakfast reunion, Evey had left for work for the afternoon and V was left alone to abide by some work of his own. Due to their meeting with Jonathan Crowe the next day, V wanted to make sure he dressed appropriately to chauffeur his beloved without gaining any hideous looks from any by standers. Despite how favorable his Guy Fawkes adornments were to the public he sincerely doubted most country folk did. In any case the less attention that was drawn to him or Evey the better.

As V sat down to gaze at his appearance in the vanity, he carefully traced with his eyes the scars and burns that resided on his cheeks. A feeling of sadness overcame him then as he processed each blemish and mark that scarred his flesh. He wondered then if he could remember what he looked like before he was taken into the resettlement camps. If only he could piece that together it could then possibly bring him comfort. Alas, he could not and he knew it would take him ages to reveal his true self to Evey. He could only pray that she would be satisfied with what he could give her at that moment in time.

The new costume he planned to portray was massively out of his comfort zone. Eying the suit, wig, prosthetics and accessories from his place at the mirror sent a shiver down his spine as he tried to imagine what Evey could possibly think. Sure he had adorned himself in costumes that were more ridiculous than this, but maybe that's what bothered him so much about this one in particular. This new persona had to be normal and he wasn't quite sure he had the confidence to be so. Evey certainly had no idea what he was planning so it wasn't as if she had asked him to do this for her. In fact, he wasn't so sure she had even thought about what the future would bring and how she would explain her condition to the public. He wanted to plan ahead and to figure out a way to help her without having to expose himself completely. It nerved him then to think that maybe she had already spoken of their secret to someone and he knew if she told anyone it would be Eric Finch. Despite how great of a friend he was to Evey, V knew that Eric did not trust him.

A feeling of hesitation hit like a train in his stomach and he gulped as he tried to push the hissing demons out of his mind. They were trying so very hard to talk him out of wearing the silly costume and to forget about the entire thing. He wanted so desperately to hide away and to not concern himself in the matter, but he also knew better than that. If Evey decided to go about her business and not speak of her pregnancy, he wasn't sure how it would be received by her people. He couldn't possibly let her ruin her reputation over something so trivial. She needed to keep the respect and trust of England without any backlash so that they could move forward.

He stood abruptly then and the demons fled as soon as they felt him place a hand on one of his knives. He would not be defeated by them. Not this time.

Striding over to where he kept the suit, he began to strip away his uniform of darkness. It felt odd putting on clothing that did not particularly interest him creatively. He rather enjoyed how his poet shirts and doublets made him feel powerful. Even shining his boots to perfection every morning was a sign of eminence. He pondered whether or not this business suit would give him that same feeling of authority.

Sighing, he carefully laid out his usual outfit on the bed and began to put the dress shirt and pants on.

What are you so afraid of, old man?

To be completely honest he wasn't very sure. He could guess it was his nerves toying with him for that all he wanted to do was to impress Evey. He could only hope that she approved of his new look and would accept him for who he was, yet hadn't she already done that?

He shook the negative thoughts from his head and continued to dress until he was finished. Looking at his reflection in the full length mirror he possessed he carefully observed himself for anything that may have been out of place. When he was satisfied he turned back to his vanity and began to put on the rigorous prosthetics and make up that would hide his true self. He hoped that the supplies he had would be able to help him convince others that he was not forging any sort of look. It would take him hours to achieve what he imagined.

It was nearing 6 o'clock that evening and V knew that Evey would be walking in the door at any second. He kept a close eye on the security cameras that were hooked up around the secret entrance of the Shadow Gallery as well as the corridor and the door that led into their home. He didn't want her to sneak up on him and he was mindful of how much time he was putting in to his new face.

Just as he predicted, he noticed something move out of the corner of his eye and sure enough his tiny yet self assured girlfriend was slinking through the corridors. A small smile crept to his cheeks then as he watched her glide through the narrow tunnels as if she had done it her entire life. When she made it to the door, he could hear it open and she was humming a delightful tune to herself.

"V? Are you home?" she called out sweetly as she took her coat and scarf off.

Putting a few finishing touches on his look, he took a deep breath and nodded to himself before standing and pushing in his chair.

He slowly moved to the door and placed his hand on the thick wood. He could still hear her humming and walking around the gallery without any concern. Evey knew he liked to hide from her sometimes out of reluctance so she did not pressure him to come out.

The door creaked open and he stepped out cautiously before making his way down the dimly lit hallway. As he got closer to the gallery he could hear her rustling in the kitchen, perhaps trying to find herself a snack before dinner. He peaked out into the room and he blushed when he saw the back of her. She was wearing a pale pink dress with black ballet flats and her hair was in loose curls that touched just at her shoulders. She looked so lovely and he suddenly became embarrassed with himself. He wanted so desperately to impress her, but he felt so idiotic in this costume.

Evey could sense his presence even though she pretended that she did not. She wondered why he was feeling so apprehensive, but she didn't dare put any pressure on him. Instead of calling out his name again, she grabbed a bag of crisps and a drink of water and sat down at the table to play on her phone.

Watching her carefully, he let out a shaky breath and began to walk into the room once he had the nerve. Her back was still to him at the table and she did not even flinch when she heard his shoes click against the stone floor.

"Hello Evey," he said coyly, his hands tightly clasped behind his back.

Turning around to face him slowly, a slight hint of surprise hit her as she observed V's new appearance. At first she was confused and even mystified at seeing him without Guy Fawkes or his other usual embellishments.

"V…oh my goodness! You look…,"

"Abhorrent?"

"Heavens, no! I was going to say compelling, actually…"

"You're not serious."

"But I am," she said as she stood, her face glowing with excitement.

Reaching to grab his hands, he warily gave them to her as she gave them a tight squeeze. He seemed to be in pain as she observed every detail that he had put in to the costume. Refusing to look at her, he began to shy away until she lightly placed a hand on his cheek.

"V, your eyes…they're so blue," she whispered, amazement clearly in her voice.

"They're not contacts," he responded.

Her stomach flip flopped then as she smiled earnestly at him.

"They're beautiful."

"Thank you," he murmured.

"V, if you're worried about what I think of this new persona, you don't have to be nervous. I think it's rather sexy," she said as her hand fell from his cheek to his chest.

V faintly scoffed and looked away again, heat immediately flooding to his cheeks. He was grateful she still wouldn't be able to tell with all of the prosthetics and make up he wore.

"But this isn't who I really am, I feel absolutely ridiculous," he muttered, tempted to run away then as he began eying the door.

Evey cocked her head to the side in a concerned manner and she shook her head, "Well of course this isn't you, but ridiculous is the last word that I would describe you as."

"I wanted to develop a new persona so that when the time comes and your people need a reason as to why you're with child…I will be the answer," he said quietly.

Giving him a quizzical look, she frowned slightly, "You would risk exposure…for me?"

"Of course," he replied simply.

"V…are you positive that it is a good idea? I'm sure we could come up with another reason." She was absolutely astonished that he was willing to go so far after everything that they had been through over the past year and a half.

"There are no other reasons and you will lose the trust of your people if you do not provide them answers, even if it is a part of your personal life. You are their Princess now and you have created a bond with them that no other authoritative figure in this country has had at any point in time. It will always be your life before mine, Evey."

Feeling wretched, Evey didn't really know how to respond. She knew that V had a point and that she should be honest with her people, but on the other hand she wondered how much of her personal life should be shared with the public. She didn't exactly care whether or not her people judged her for her lifestyle, but then again maybe that would only enhance their appreciation for her if she were to start bringing V to public events.

"If we do this I think we should include Mr. Finch," she said.

V hesitated a moment when she spoke of Mr. Finch, but nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, he should know about what we are planning. Does he know?"

"Yes, I told him yesterday,"

"And his reaction?"

Evey sighed, recalling the conversation she had with Eric the day before felt like an eternity ago.

"He was upset that you had left me."

She noticed V clinch his fists ever so slightly and he nodded in response.

"I deserve that. I hope he changes his mind about me soon," he said bitterly.

Evey smiled mischievously at him and wrapped her small arms around his torso. She was grateful for their height difference then as he returned her embrace and placed his chin on the top of her head. She breathed in his natural scent and sighed deeply, feeling his comfort almost immediately.

"He will, he cares about me and therefore cares about you too. In any case he just needs to get to know you a little better and hopefully us bringing him into the situation will help him do so,"

V shrugged his heavy shoulders in response, "Perhaps you are right, my dear. If anything he will despise me less, or at least that is what I plan to achieve."

She giggled and raised her head to look up at him, "You were his greatest enemy at one point in time."

"I still am."


The next day, Evey awoke to the sound of her alarm buzzing in her ear. She groaned miserably as she attempted to press the 'snooze' button until the awful sound was silenced.

She noticed V was not laying beside her and she could only figure he must have gotten up ages ago. It was nearing 7 o'clock in the morning and she pouted when she realized they would need to be leaving soon to see Jonathan Crowe at his country home later that morning.

"This is ghastly," she muttered to herself as she tried to get comfortable again.

Not even ten minutes later V knocked quietly on her door before entering with a tray of her favorite breakfast foods and coffee. She moaned and attempted to bury herself further under the covers as he lay the tray down beside her on the bed. She heard him walk over to the other side of her to turn the light on and he sat gingerly beside her. His arm draped around her small waist and he tugged the covers just below her eyes. Giving her a sly smile, he whispered, "Good morning."

"I don't know if it really is morning though. I cannot see the sun; it mustn't be morning."

"Don't be silly, you have an iPhone. I doubt the clock is incorrect," he replied.

Evey whimpered as V placed a small kiss on her exposed forehead, wishing then that she could slap him away without consequence.

"Come now, I made your favorites. I promise when we return this evening you can slap me all you want," he said as he watched her sit up with absolute irritation.

"I will gladly slap you for forcing me to be awake at such an hour on a Saturday."

V smiled impishly at her and shrugged, "I see it more as a flirtatious game than a brutal punishment."

He removed himself from her bedside and skillfully dodged a small pillow that she attempted to throw at him for being so malicious. Grinning wickedly at her, he closed the door behind him and left her to steam.

"Men" she growled.


After breakfast she managed to find her way into the bathroom to get ready for the morning. She picked out a simple light blue dress to match a mustard colored sweater and black flats for the occasion and prayed it would be appropriate for the doctor visit. She had never really been to see a doctor before so she had no idea what she should expect. V was waiting for her in the hallway and she noticed he was wearing a different colored suit than yesterday. It was a tweed texture and it hugged his muscular frame in all the right places. Evey found herself gazing and admiring how handsome he looked and she blushed when he turned and caught her eye.

"What are you staring at?" he questioned, mild concern in his tone.

"Oh…nothing…I really like this new suit. Where did you get it?"

"Exactly how I get all of my other goods," he responded honestly.

She smirked at him and fetched her coat on the rack behind him, "Naturally. Are we ready to go then?"

"I am if you are."

As they exited the Gallery, V led her down another path opposite from the one they usually went down to get onto the streets.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

V was walking briskly ahead of her with his hands in his pockets. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled at her, "To the car."

Giving him a bewildered look she realized then that before this she didn't know V could drive.

"Are you serious? I didn't know you owned a car."

"I own a lot of things that you probably are not aware of."

She bit her bottom lip with hesitancy at his response and froze when she realized they had entered a massive garage just below the city and in the center was a red sports car. She watched in utter awe as he approached the passenger side and opened the door for her.

"Do you like it? It's a 1963 Porsche 356B Karmann Coupe."

"I…do like it…and you know how to drive this thing?"

"Yes, but it has been a while. I never really had a use for it until now."

Giving him an odd look, she came nearer to the car and sat down in the seat. V closed the door swiftly behind her and wound around to the driver's side.

"You never told me you could drive either," she said, her tone suspicious.

"I never told you a lot of things, my dear."

Pressing her lips together firmly, she cocked an eyebrow up at him and shook her head, "You're quite the renaissance man."

V smiled sheepishly and revved the car to life, automatically putting it into drive. He reached up above him to press a small button on a remote and the wall (or what Evey thought was a wall) began to creek open. Another long and dark tunnel lay before them and she could only assume it would lead to the streets above. He paused a moment to reach for a pair of brown leather driving gloves and then his stylish Rayban sunglasses that sat in the console between them as he waited for the door to completely open.

"It pleases me to hear you say that. I pride myself on knowing many skills."

"I know you do," she said quietly.


Evey was truly astounded by the greenery that surrounded them on either side of the vehicle. V was speeding rather casually down a windy country road and it gave her butterflies every time he would hit a small bump or hill. They were heading for Kent, a place she had never heard of before until she became Princess just over a year ago. She grinned when she saw herds of sheep and cattle in the distance of a field and she was eager to force V to stop just so she could pet one.

"V, this is marvelous! I cannot believe I have never been to the country before now."

"I think you will rather enjoy Jonathan's cottage then. Massive fields of green on either side and a small garden in the back. I hope it won't cause you to miss city life too much."

"I think I could do without the city if I'm being honest, especially now that I've seen how beautiful it is out here!" She rolled down her window then and grinned when the wind hit her face. It had been so long since she had been in a car and she loved how exhilarating it felt to have the wind brush through her curls.

She could hear V chuckling behind her, admiring her for her childlike qualities. They were getting a bit closer to Jonathan's house then and he started to slow down once it was in sight. As he pulled into the gravel drive way, he came to a halt just a few feet away from the house. Evey gazed at the place in amazement and opened her door slowly.

As V helped her out of the car they walked towards the house together in silence, mainly because Evey was so distracted with fascination over how quaint the cottage was. She started to have a romantic day dream of what life would be like to live in a place like this. She wished so badly that they could have a farm of their own and a yard that stretched for miles for their little one could play freely.

V was watching her with attentiveness and he wondered what she was thinking. He had an aching suspicion that she was contemplating what life would be like to live in a place like this and he had to do everything in his power to not let his heart sink. He cursed himself for not being the man that she deserved and able to live a normal life without the repercussions of his identity. He could only pray that she would not resent him for this.

Shaking the negative thoughts from his head, they made it to the front steps of Jonathan's home and V knocked on the door. Waiting patiently for someone to answer, V gave Evey a sideways glance. Her eyes were focused on the peculiar looking doorknob that faced her and he could tell she was nervous.

Suddenly the door opened and an older gentleman of around 60 years of age answered the call. He smiled gently at them and extended his hand to V, "It's been many years, my friend."

V returned his gesture and smiled, "It has."

"Please, come in. We can get you both settled in the back."

Evey suddenly felt anxious as V gestured for her to walk ahead of him into the rather small home of Jonathan Crowe. As the man sped away to prepare for their visit, Evey looked back at V with a hint of fear in her eyes.

"I've never seen a doctor before so I'm not very sure…but don't they usually have their practice outside of their home?"

V nodded his head, "Yes, but because of Chancellor Sutler's strict policies he had to make due with what he could. He was under the suspicion for many years of helping those who Sutler did not deem worthy of medical care. They eventually striped him of his practice in London and he was forced to open a secret clinic in his home. I actually helped him construct it and I can assure you it is very safe."

Evey pursed her lips together carefully and nodded, trying to accept that he was probably right and that she did not have anything to worry about. They sat outside of a large oak door and awaited patiently until she was called into the room. A nurse appeared at the doorway and she smiled at Evey, "Will you follow me?"

Looking back at V, he gave her a firm tilt of his head and tried to smile at her encouragingly, "I will be in once you've changed," he promised.

She stood up and followed the nurse into the rather small room. The nurse handed her a cotton hospital gown and instructed her to take her clothes off so that Dr. Crowe could examine her carefully. As she did so she felt rather exposed and nervous as she sat atop the examination table, hoping that V would come join her soon.

Once she had gotten settled, Jonathan knocked politely on the door and greeted her with enthusiasm.

"Hello Miss. Hammond! My name is Jonathan Crowe. I'm very pleased to meet you. I will just be doing a few basic things first such as checking your blood pressure, heart, lungs and then we will do some tests on your urine and blood. I can assure you that you are in the best of care and after we conduct these tests V can come sit with you."

She smiled softly and nodded her head, trying to fight any tears that threatened to spill from her light brown eyes, "That sounds good to me, thank you for helping us."

"The pleasure is all mine and if you have any questions during the examination, please let me know. I understand that this is your first time seeing a physician and I do not wish for you to be frightened."

Nodding her head, she smiled again and muttered a 'thank you' just as Jonathan requested for the nurse to help him begin setting up.


Once she was left in peace, Jonathan fulfilled his promise of allowing V to come visit her after her tests were completed. He stepped into the room with a smile on his face and approached her in one swift motion, "How are you feeling?" he asked as he reached to grab her hand.

Evey smiled up at him and then gestured to the bandage on her arm, "I didn't like having my blood drawn, but other than that it was fine."

"I'm glad you are alright and I knew you could handle it."

"It got less frightening as he talked me through it and then I remembered I've been through worse," she joked half heartedly.

V's heart skipped a beat when she made the comment and he gave her a half smile. Bringing her hand to his lips he brushed a soft kiss against her knuckles before speaking, "You're very strong minded, Evey. I should never doubt you."

"Me either, I'm not so sure why I did."

They chatted for a few more minutes before Jonathan knocked politely on the door with the nurse trailing behind him. He sat down in his swivel stool on the other side of Evey's bed and smiled softly up at them, "Your urine and bloodwork came back normal, Miss. Hammond, and I do not believe you have anything to be concerned about at this stage of your early pregnancy. However, you must be cautious with your eating, sleeping and physical habits over the next several months to ensure your overall health and I will prescribe you some prenatal vitamins to take on a daily basis. I would also advise that you keep living your life as normally as possible."

"So you do not believe the St. Mary's virus has affected her in any way or the fetus?" V questioned as he gave Evey's palm a squeeze.

"No, I do not, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary you must give me a call immediately so that we can remedy the situation."

V immediately relaxed his tense posture the moment it was confirmed out of Jonathan Crowe's mouth. He was so sure that Evey or the child would be afflicted with the consequence of his poisonous blood, but perhaps he was just being too cautious. Evey grinned at the news and patted V's hand for reassurance, "That is wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for helping us."

"Yes, of course. I'm very pleased that you called on me to examine you. Now that the difficult things are over with I wanted to do an ultrasound so that you may see the baby. The nurse will help you get adjusted now."

As Jonathan left the room briefly for the nurse to come and help Evey, she looked up at V and grinned when she realized how exasperated he was, "Don't beat yourself up."

"I shouldn't have left you for so many days for nothing."

"It wasn't for nothing! You were scared and I know you were just protecting me. Trust me, a few days ago I wanted to kill you, but now that I know what it was all for and to have the added bonus of everything being alright we can both agree that it was certainly worth while," she reasoned, her tone hopeful.

V smiled at her and nodded his head, stepping out of the way just as the nurse began to hook up the machine for Jonathan to start the ultra sound. Once she hooked it up, Jonathan returned to the room and handed V a list of helpful instructions and recommendations for what they could do to keep Evey healthy during the next few months.

Sitting beside her, Jonathan spread the gel over Evey's small bump and began using the transducer to find the small fetus. Suddenly, the sound of a rapid heartbeat started to pulsate within the room. Evey's mouth came agape as she watched with utmost curiosity and awe at the screen. V slid his hand into hers as he watched with equal enthusiasm at the new life that resided within her.

"It is very hard to see at this stage, but if you see that small flicker right here that is the heartbeat," Jonathan said as he moved the transducer around her small frame.

Tears began to weld within Evey's eyes as she examined the small and precious life within her. She could hardly believe what she was seeing and was already falling in love with the sound of their baby's heartbeat flooding through the room. V gave her hand a gentle squeeze and he knelt down to plant a kiss on her forehead. This time last year he would have been baffled at the thought of having a child and he knew that his reaction would have been even more melancholy than it was a few days ago, but something about the way his Evey looked when she saw the screen made his heart melt. His new life was taking off faster than he originally planned and he felt as though he could conquer the world with his new found happiness. There couldn't be anything to spoil this special moment between them and he was grateful he was able to find the motivation to get himself off that train that was heading for Parliament over a year ago.

"Is it healthy, doctor?" Evey asked as she watched him move the sonogram over her stomach.

Jonathan looked back up at her and smiled, nodding, "Yes, your baby has a very strong heartbeat. I wouldn't expect any less based on who its parent's are."

This caused a great smile to appear on Evey's face and she looked up at V with a beaming expression. What a happy day this truly was.

"I'll have the nurse print a few images off for you to take home now so I'll leave you to get changed," he said.

V approached Jonathan in a grand gesture before he exited the room and gave him his hand to shake. He thanked him endlessly for seeing them and allowing them to witness their first ultrasound together. He was on cloud nine and Evey couldn't help but notice just how blessed she was to be starting this little family with the love of her life.

When Jonathan and the nurse left the room, V helped Evey grab her clothes and he awaited patiently for her to get dressed. When she was finished she unexpectedly threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him, "Oh, V! I am so happy! This is truly one of the best days of my life! I did not think I could be as happy as I was when you first came back to me, but this certainly is a treat to follow. I love you so much."

V chuckled and gently placed Evey back on to the ground, he was very nervous that she might hurt herself even from giving him a giant hug the way she did.

"And I love you, Evey. I was just thinking about how my life before this was to end to help shape the new world, but now that I am a part of creating a new life for this new world I couldn't be any more satisfied than I am right now. You've changed me and my perspective and I am so very glad of it."

Gingerly putting her hands on his chest, Evey tilted her head up to place a small kiss on his lips. The electric shock that passed through them was enough to make V gasp. She always managed to impact him in a way that created absolute elation within his bones, "I am as well, my love. I am so blessed to share this life with you."


A few blissful months later, Evey was nearly waddling around the Shadow Gallery with a few paint chips in her hands. She was inspecting the room that V had cleared out for her to decorate as the nursery for their new little one. They did not know what the gender of their baby would be yet, but they wanted to begin adding pieces to the room before the birth. Evey was ecstatic for keeping the sex of their baby a secret, but she knew V was anxious. She kept reminding him that he needed to be patient and that no matter what the gender was they would be pleased. Of course he agreed with her, but he couldn't help but be a little eager to know what they were having.

"So have you decided on what colors you want?" V asked as he watched her enter the room.

She smiled up at him, the Guy Fawkes mask beaming at the sight of her. "I have narrowed it down to these very traditional colors," she said as she showed him the pale yellow, green and teal.

"Isn't teal more boyish?"

"Heavens, no. I could most certainly use this as a background palate for a girl's room."

"Clearly my idea of gender neutral has been skewed," he retorted.

Making a face at him she started to walk around the room carefully as she observed each of the fine details it contained. V was kind enough to put actual walls in the room that covered the stone beneath so that she could add as much color and excitement as it so pleased her to do for their little one.

"You did a very good job, by the way. I'm surprised you were able to do this by yourself," she remarked as she gave him a smile.

V clasped his hands behind his back and wandered the room with her slowly, "Thank you. I most certainly had you in mind for every detail and it was an interesting challenge to accomplish."

"I know, you definitely kept me up a few of those nights you were building."

He was grinning at her from behind the mask recalling exactly what she was speaking of. He had faced an interesting puzzle before him when trying to assemble some of the walls without any proper assistance. He may could admit he said a few cuss words when doing so.

"Well I suppose it was necessary. When is Mr. Finch gracing us with his presence?"

"Soon actually, I am supposed to meet him on the corner in a few minutes. Are you almost finished with dinner?" she questioned, salivating at the thought of what V could have made for her this time. He was doing such a wonderful job of keeping her fed these days and she hoped he would continue to do so after the baby was born.

"Yes, it is ready now actually. I've made some very delicious lasagna tonight with homemade noodles and pasta sauce."

"Oh I am terribly excited, I'm starving!" she remarked as she gave him a gleeful smile.

V rolled his eyes at her and gestured for her to leave the room, "You just ate a snack about an hour ago."

"Yes, well, it's the baby, not me!"

"I doubt that. Your eating habits haven't changed that much, you know." He said, his tone unamused.

"You're really awful sometimes, you know?" she joked as she looped her arm through his.

"I just like to tease you, that's all."

As they chatted for a few minutes more, V led her to the Gallery so that she could retrieve her coat. "It's a bit chilly for September, don't you think?" she asked.

"It is indeed. Make sure Eric is there first before you go and please be careful," he said as he helped her put the coat on.

Evey scoffed slightly at him and gave him a face, "Oh, V. The entire country knows that I am with child and that my suitor, Atticus Coulson, is the father. I'm sure if anyone was to steal me it would have been ages ago."

"Please don't say that," he said firmly, his body tensing up rigidly.

They both knew that Evey had enemies and that she had in fact received a few threats from those who opposed her and her lifestyle choice. It was hard for her to come out with such great news and to start carting V around to various public events and parties, but their transition was getting somewhat easier these days. She knew he had a right to be cautious and every time he was forced to join her it took massive amounts of time for him to assemble his costume. She was always impressed, however, with how well he was able to realistically portray his prosthetics and make up. Nothing about his adornments were cheesy and she never felt weird or embarrassed to show him off to her people. It was hard for V to be such a different person, but he played his part very well and she could thank all of his prior experience with theatrics for that.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend or hurt you. I know I shouldn't joke about those things," she said softly, feeling like a child who was just scolded.

"It's alright, Evey. I don't mean to be harsh with you, but you know how dangerous this game is. You need to be careful out there even if it means you are just going to the end of the street," he said gently, squeezing her arm for support.

"I promise I'll be back soon, Eric just texted me," she said as she showed him the message. When V was satisfied, he backed away and allowed her to leave and watched as she disappeared through the door frame.

When she arrived at the top of the landing, she walked quickly down the street to meet Mr. Finch just a few blocks away. When she arrived at the corner she found him standing there with his trench coat draped casually over his shoulders. He gave her a small smile when he saw her and she immediately gave him a quick hug before leading him to the Gallery.

This was the first time that he would be received into their home and she was pleased that V had managed to find the comfort of allowing an outsider to join them.

"How was your journey over? Where did you leave your car?" she asked.

"It was fine and I parked just a few blocks away. It should be alright over there."

"Good! Well I hope you're hungry! V has made us some lasagna and fresh garlic bread. I'm terribly excited," she said enthusiastically.

Mr. Finch chuckled and nodded, "Yes. I know you talk a big game about his cooking, I'm eager to try it. Thank you for having me over at this time."

"Oh the pleasure is all ours! I'm so happy we are able to have a guest in the Gallery. This is a huge step for V. Besides me you are the only other person to see it. He has such an impressive collection of art and other artifacts; you'll be blown away."

"I am eager to finally see it. I know he stole all of those goods," he remarked bitterly.

"Don't sound so bitter, he will tease you relentlessly for it," she warned.

Mr. Finch shrugged, "Just because we work together now does not mean I have to really like him."

She couldn't help but laugh and she flashed him a wicked grin, "I'm sure he feels the same, but I appreciate you both trying for me."


When they reached the Gallery, Evey led through the heavy wooden entrance of their home. It was warm and bright with fresh violet carsons residing on a table nearby. She couldn't help but notice him tense up at the sight of them and she blushed in response. Despite the fact that all of V's murders had happened nearly two years ago and were obviously justified she knew it was still a bitter pill for Mr. Finch to swallow.

"Please let me take your coat, Eric and I will also fetch you a drink. Make yourself at home," she said sweetly, trying to distract him.

Mr. Finch nodded his head in response and allowed Evey to take his coat from him. As she disappeared, he began to roam around the Gallery in utter awe. V had stolen remarkable pieces of artwork, books, furniture and all sorts of things that Mr. Finch had not even since before Chancellor Sutler's reign. It was an odd thing for him to realize just how skilled of a thief V was and who exactly he was dealing with. Underneath his soft exterior there was a deadly man and he couldn't help but be surprised at how well tamed he had become since Evey had come into his life.

Behind him a familiar gruff voice cleared their throat, startling Mr. Finch to a point where he flinched at the sound. There V stood in his Guy Fawkes get up wearing the silliest apron with flowers adorning it, but Mr. Finch dare not make a comment.

"Hello, Mr. Finch," he said plainly.

Mr. Finch tensed mildly at his acknowledgement and nodded his head at him, suddenly feeling overpowered by the change in his costume. Over the past several months V had only shown himself as Atticus Coulson to the public (which included Mr. Finch) so it had been a while since he had seen the notorious masked vigilante, sans apron.

"V." he replied coolly.

Breaking the ice almost immediately, Evey came back into the room with a glass of wine and a massive grin on her face, "Here you are Mr. Finch! I really hope you're hungry. I'm starving! I feel like it's been ages since the last time I've had something to eat,"

"Er…thank you, Evey. Once again I appreciate you both having me over for dinner this evening."

"Oh it's no trouble at all, V always makes more than he should so we end up having leftovers all the time…although I guess it's not too terrible, I tend to eat them all. This baby really knows how to eat!" she said, giggling at her comment.

When no one laughed at her cute small talk, she frowned and turned to give V a questionable look. He was standing solidly behind her, clearly making Mr. Finch feel as awkward as possible just because he could. She gave him a look of annoyance and crossed her arms over her chest, "Oh will you two stop? It isn't as if you haven't seen each other in a while. In any case, Mr. Finch, how could you be wary of a man who wears an apron with pretty flowers on it?"

V sighed and folded his arms strongly over his chest as Mr. Finch tried not to laugh. He refused to feel anything other than pride for his interesting taste in aprons.

"And if you're wondering if it's even mine, it isn't. Now will you both please help make this evening a pleasant one so I can enjoy my dinner?"

Both men grumbled their apologies for Evey's sake and turned to head for the kitchen behind her. She looked over her shoulder and grinned fantastically at them both as they followed her with sulking attitudes, "Now that's more like it!" she beamed.

"You do look rather silly in that apron, lad," Mr. Finch muttered to V.

V scoffed and allowed for Mr. Finch to go ahead of him, "At least I have the confidence to do to wear what I feel prettiest in."


Once dinner was finished, Evey and V led Mr. Finch into the 'telly area' for some tea. They were chatting about the upcoming elections and how interesting the race had become since the campaigns began in late April.

"Mr. Bass has been doing exceptionally well. I am pleased to see him so well received by the public," Evey said as she took a brief sip of her tea.

Mr. Finch nodded in agreement, "Yes, I do agree with you. He seems to have a certain air about him that works well with everyone he encounters."

"I do believe he has been in politics for a while now, correct?" she asked.

"Yes, but you know that he could not do anything in the past few years because of Sutler," he replied.

V was sitting quietly in his favorite chair nearby, keeping his thoughts to himself. He wasn't sure if he trusted Willard Bass and how he felt about him being so 'well received' by the public so quickly. Most of the general public seemed to be in favor of Evey and her current position and he wished that she would give that more of a chance. Of course now with the baby coming into their lives he wondered how much she would be interested in working in politics once it was born.

"What say you, V? What do you make of Mr. Bass?" Mr. Finch asked as he settled into their couch.

V folded his hands casually over his lap and shrugged, feigning disinterest, "I am sure he is a decent chap, but I'm wary of his politics."

"Well we knew that, but what is it exactly that makes you so wary?" he questioned.

"He may or may not have worked with fingermen in the past." V said sharply.

Evey placed her cup into its saucer gingerly, giving V a look of bewilderment, "When did you hear about this?"

"I heard it accidentally while I was out one evening back in April."

"So you have no real proof?" Mr. Finch asked.

"No, I do not, but that doesn't mean I am ruling what I heard out completely."

V always had his doubts with every politician and he knew that this was to be expected in the election. He just hoped that his influence on Evey would be enough for her to recognize who was being truthful and who was not.

"Well, I think it's important for us to consider the rumors as well as what we know. The people will find out sooner or later," Evey said as she gave V a small, yet encouraging smile.

"Right, I agree. For now, we should probably keep that in hushed tones unless we hear anything similar," said Mr. Finch.

"Isn't Mr. Bass giving a party soon at his house in London?" Evey questioned.

Mr. Finch nodded his head, "Yes, I believe that is coming up very soon. Will you both be attending?"

"I believe we must in order to keep up appearances and so forth. It is very important that I attend any party given by all those who are running in the campaign to maintain fairness," she said as she took another sip of her tea.

V nodded, "I hate that that has become a regular thing for you, but I suppose it can be a necessary evil."

Evey smirked at him teasingly and shook her head, "Sometimes dressing up can be fun."

As the three continued to chat and wind down their conversation, Mr. Finch started to stand and gesture for the door, "Alright I think I must go since it is getting a little late. I sincerely thank you both for allowing me to join you for dinner, it has been a pleasure eating inside the terrorist's home," he joked.

Laughing, Evey stood with him and led him to the door, "Really, Eric, you are most welcome here any time. Don't let my V bully you at all. The past is the past and in the end we all wanted the same thing."

After Evey said her goodbyes she disappeared into the kitchen to get a head start on cleaning and to give the men the necessary space they needed to speak their peace. No matter how difficult V could be sometimes she knew he would do the right thing in the end for her sake.

"Let me see you out down the corridor, Mr. Finch." V said politely as he walked him out of the Gallery.

"Thank you. I wanted to speak to you about something while I have you alone anyway," Mr. Finch began as they walked down the corridor.

"You have my full attention."

"It's about the relationship you have with Evey. To the public it may seem a little scandalous that you are in such committed place without the promise of marriage."

"Who says I haven't considered marrying her?" V asked, clearly displeased.

"Her people. It would be favorable to them to know their Princess is in safe hands since they are not too sure who this Atticus Coulson person really is."

"It does not matter if they do not see it as 'favorable,' it is none of their business." V could admit he was getting more irritated by the second at how ridiculous this conversation was.

"I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I am saying it is something that you should consider. I apologize if I have offended you. Please do not take this as a critique, but from someone who cares about her just as much as you do and would never wish to see her unhappy."

V paused a moment before they reached the end of the tunnel, his shoulders sagging ever so slightly. He wasn't too sure Mr. Finch was even being truthful about the entire thing and he wondered if this was a personal jab at him.

"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Finch. Thank you for bringing that up. I will be sure to think this over very carefully."

There was a tightness in V's voice that Mr. Finch chose to ignore and he nodded at him gravely before disappearing into the night. V closed the door tightly behind the man and made sure the bolts on the heavy steal door were locked and secure. Truth be told he had been thinking about his future with Evey and what that would mean for their relationship, but he wasn't so sure he knew her feelings on the matter. The demons were hissing and spitting jeering thoughts into his mind when he began to think about her reaction.

If he couldn't even show her his real face, how would she ever truly accept him as her husband? There were things about marriage that V wasn't so sure he was ready to accept and even if Evey could comply with his dark side he knew it wouldn't be fair to her.

V couldn't be unfair to her.


A/N: Hello, hello! WOW this was a really long chapter for me to write! I have to be honest with you guys, it took me several months to get this out. For some weird reason I wasn't able to map out this chapter the way I wanted so I gave up for a while to concentrate on school and whatnot. Then one-day last week I was thinking about it and suddenly KABLAM I was able to get out of it what I wanted! Sometimes I forget how difficult it is to write for V so I hope I did him some justice this time. I just love that guy so much and the character I have shaped in my head is so dear to me. I hope this chapter has proven worthy and I appreciate all the sweet feedback from you all. Please continue to let me know how I am doing and I will try harder to get another chapter out for you guys soon! XOXO ~merimekko