Three days later, Gavin's fever had broken, and he was finally free to leave his room. The first thing he did was head to Elijah's office to get his new prosthetic fitted. It seemed Elijah was ready for him, and had even improved on the design since last time. Nothing really looked any different. It still had that slight bend in the toe section with a metal ankle joint and a wooden body. The difference came in the material within the lining. The leather had been covered with a slightly softer suede material, and the edges had been cushioned a little. On the thigh section, the corset strap remained the same, though he noticed the laces were slightly wider and easier to pull.
"I made it just a little wider above the bed this time due to the extra padding…Are you ready?" Elijah asked as he watched Gavin tie off the lacing. Gavin ran his hands over the familiar corset binding and tugged. It felt good and snug. He raised his leg a little and felt the familiar weight. The new leg didn't feel too heavy. He placed his foot on the floor and nodded. He was ready. Elijah stepped back a little, giving him space to push himself up but remaining ready in case he needed support. Gavin stood. There was a momentary wobble before he corrected himself. Thank phck I still remember how to do this. "How does it feel?" Elijah seemed hopeful as he watched him take a few steps, using his cleaned up cane for support.
Elijah had returned to the woods after the storm to look for it. He knew it wouldn't be far from where Gavin had fallen, so he'd searched the road carefully. It had been caked in wet mud, but otherwise unharmed. After bringing it back, he'd thoroughly cleaned it and buffed the handle with a proper bronze cleaner. He'd gone over each small swirl, making sure it was completely free of dirt. Gavin had been relieved and thankful for both the return of his cane and the prosthetic replacement. He never thought he'd miss the prosthetic, but getting around without it was a pain in the ass now that he was used to it.
"It actually feels a lot better…" The padded rim was hugging his stump rather than digging into it, and the softer rest beneath was a little easier on the still tender skin. Elijah beamed at the news, letting him take a few more rounds of the small room just to make sure. It really was a lot more comfortable. The pressure was still a little unpleasant, but in a few more months, as the skin and muscles hardened and got used to it, he was sure it would improve.
"Are you sure? Does anything need to be adjusted?" Gavin took a few more thoughtful steps. It felt pretty good. He didn't notice anything off in the prosthetic's height, and it was no heavier than the last one. The thigh strap was about as comfortable as expected, considering how tight it needed to be. His stump sat securely in the base, and it didn't rub too much as he walked. It was definitely an improvement on the last one, and he was pretty happy with it.
"No, I'm pretty sure it's good." Elijah nodded his satisfaction as he tidied his bench, humming happily as he did so. Gavin's eyes sharpened as he looked at him. Elijah didn't fucking hum. He didn't hum unless he was happy. Really happy. The sort of happy he'd been when he'd asked Chloe to marry him and she'd said yes. Either he'd just got some really good news about something, or he'd had a breakthrough with one of his inventions.
"You get some good news or some shit? What's with the humming?" Elijah clammed up at the accusing tone as he lowered his tools and leaned back on the bench. He looked like he'd been caught in a trap as he stammered and tried to look innocent. "Come the phck on, I know you. Don't even try to bullshit me." He huffed as Elijah gave him a resigned look. Despite the resignation, he also looked incredibly excited as he glanced at the closed door, as if checking that no one was about to interrupt them.
"Alright! It's supposed to be a secret, but Chloe says she's expecting!" He spoke quietly, as if afraid of being overheard, but he was still brimming with restless energy. Gavin smiled and gripped his shoulder, doing his best to seem surprised. Elijah, it seemed, was too preoccupied with his own buzzing excitement to notice. He was jittery. How the phck did he manage to hide that long enough to fit my leg? He looked like he was about to run a marathon he had so much energy.
"That's great! I'm happy for you…So, does this mean you're going to get married?" Elijah nodded, much to Gavin's relief. They'd have to get married before Chloe started showing too much if they wanted to avoid becoming the talk of the town. They'd probably get off lightly, being American. Gavin was pretty sure the Brits viewed them as a little uncouth and liberal anyway. They'd probably assume that was the norm for Americans, having children out of wedlock and tying the knot at the last minute.
"Yes, but nothing too grand…I was actually going to tell you within the next couple of days. We want to get married within the next two weeks, and we'll need witnesses…Due to the rushed nature, we planned on simply signing the papers and perhaps enjoying a ceremony with our families once we return home. There's a little place in town we can file the papers, but we'll need two witnesses to sign them, and, well…you are my brother…" Gavin huffed as Elijah trailed off hopefully. You could have just asked me to be your best man, idiot. He limped a little closer to wrap an arm around his shoulders, accepting the tight hug he received in return.
"Of course I'll sign the papers for you, and if you need two, then I can just bring Nines along, unless there's someone else you have in mind." Elijah shook his head. He hadn't asked or even thought of anyone else. He'd pretty much known Nines would be the second man if Gavin was the first. "You look like you're about to have a heart attack…" He was pretty much hyperventilating as he pottered about, trying to figure out what to do with himself. He'd probably be fine once he refocused that energy on his current project.
"Sometimes I feel like it…I can't even imagine…Me, a father!" He almost seemed to find the idea laughable, but Gavin was quietly sure he'd be a great father. A little eccentric, perhaps. If his kids turned out as smart as he was, there was a lot he could teach them. They could start a whole family business with this prosthetic thing he had going. They could call it Kamski & Sons or some shit. Perhaps they'd stop at one child, and they might have daughters, so the name was negotiable. He was pretty sure that seeing Elijah with a girl would be just as cute. He'd probably let her braid his hair while he worked.
"You'll be a great father, just don't be like ours!" He was only half joking as he spoke, and Elijah seemed to know that as he nodded his agreement. It wasn't just about being unfaithful, it was about how you handled it afterwards, too. Gavin was pretty sure things would have been better for everyone if he'd just been honest from the start. Maybe growing up with Elijah's mother would have been more difficult, but not knowing and treating her like his own blood for all those years only to have her turn on him later had been brutal. "Don't forget to tell me the dates and shit when you get it sorted, alright?" Gavin left Elijah after that and headed down to find Nines.
He found him sitting on the rear patio with a pot of tea. From the lack of clutter, Gavin knew he'd held off on ordering breakfast until he arrived. It would have been a shame if he'd run late and turned up to a cold meal. Gavin paused a little way off to admire him. He had one knee crossed over the other, with the morning paper half folded on his lap. He sipped his cup of tea slowly, fingers neatly curled as he held the delicate handle. His silvery eyes barely left the page as he drank, licking his lips with a small hum. Apparently, he'd found something rather curious. His eyes seemed to brighten as he lowered the paper, and he seemed set to jump to his feet until he looked up to find Gavin staring at him.
"Gavin! Come quickly!" He waved him over urgently as he folded the paper to whatever he was reading and held it ready for him to read over his shoulder. Gavin frowned a little, barely daring to hope as he hobbled forward. There were few things that would come up in the news and cause such brimming excitement. He leaned on his cane and rested his free hand on the back of Nines' chair as he looked down at the bold print. There had been a major victory in Amiens. Holy phck! They'd forced enemy lines back eleven kilometres the day before.
"That's phcking great!" If things kept going like this, the war could end within the next half a year, maybe less! It was good news. Good news? It's phcking great news! He looked up and searched the patio and found Jeffery a few tables away, sitting with a couple of younger officers who'd arrived a few weeks back. "Jeffery! Did you see the news?" Jeffery paused mid-sentence to look up with a confused expression. "Morning paper! Did you read it?"
"No, not yet. I just got down." Gavin tapped Nines' shoulder, and he was up, swiftly moving to let him see for himself. Jeffery nodded his thanks, thoughtfully scanning as Gavin hobbled closer. It didn't take long for him to react. He let out an excited whoop before leaning across to read the article out loud for the other two men. They beamed as he recited the news of the major breakthrough and high number of enemy casualties. The other two men were off like a shot. One on foot, suffering an arm injury, and the other in a wheelchair he'd recently learned to push himself. "Thank God! Thank God this could all be over soon!" There was bitterness in that statement as well, of course. Had it finished sooner, he wouldn't have lost so much.
"I can drink to that!" They likely would drink later that evening. Gavin had no doubt the good news would spread like wildfire. Just a few weeks ago he'd thought the war would never end. He'd thought both sides were in pretty bad shape, especially when thinking of the lack of reinforcements for their small frontier. Is that why? They've been diverting resources to Amiens? He wasn't entirely sure about that. According to the paper, it had been a mostly Australian and Canadian offensive, with British and French troops in reserve with the heavy weaponry.
After shaking hands and sharing a few more positive words, Nines and Gavin returned to their table to order breakfast. The maid must have heard. She was positively buzzing as Nines spoke to her, and clearly eager to run downstairs and share the news in the kitchen. By the time she stepped out to join them, Chloe had also heard the news. She hugged and kissed them both as she took the spare chair, though all she wanted was tea.
"We're going to be eating soon. Are you sure your stomach can handle the smell?" Gavin remembered what had happened a few days ago when they'd been eating. Chloe nodded, insisting she felt fine. You felt fine the other day, too…He didn't press her further. It was her body. He trusted her to know best. She had a light shawl wrapped around her shoulders that day. Something she could strategically hold across her stomach to avoid notice. "Elijah told me about the wedding this morning. Congratulations." It was a long time coming as far as he was concerned. It shouldn't have taken Chloe getting pregnant for Elijah to get his ass in gear. Chloe's beaming smile was enough to let him know she agreed.
"Thank you. I suppose he knew there was no way around it with the little one on the way," she added as she rested a hand on her stomach. Gavin chuckled his agreement. It did seem like he'd been deliberately putting it off somewhat. "I'll set a date at the office later on today." Since Gavin was on the mend, he suggested he and Nines go with her. It wasn't right for a lady in Chloe's condition to go to town alone. You never knew who you'd run into. With their plan for the day set, Nines and Gavin turned their attention to breakfast. Despite claiming she'd feel fine, shortly after the food arrived, Chloe excused herself to take a turn about the garden. Good idea, escape before you puke.
She seemed completely fine once they finished eating and joined her. She got the car ready, and they drove to town. They headed into the small council office, where Chloe booked a day for them to register the papers and gathered the ones they needed to fill in prior to their arrival. Since the three of them were together, they headed into the jewellers to get the rings sorted. Gavin insisted his own ring felt fine, so only Nines needed to find one for himself. Gavin joined him in looking at the silver bands while Chloe perused the golds for her own ceremony.
Hers was relatively easy to sort out since she remembered her size from the engagement ring she'd had fitted. She'd also measured Elijah's size using a small wire ring. She handed it across to the clerk and asked for the matching size. He seemed surprised, if not a little impressed, by her resourcefulness. Nines knew the ring he wanted, but he was having a little trouble finding it. In the end, he had Gavin remove his ring and asked the clerk to help find the right style. After a while of searching, the clerk went through the paperwork he had for the sale of Gavin's ring to find the right one and measured Nines' size. He was a little bemused when Nines turned down the offer of the thinner, ladies' ring at a discount. How curious for two young men to buy matching bands without the ladies' counterpart.
Gavin handled the purchase of Nines' ring, trying hard not to smile too much as he accepted the little black box. Elijah had given Chloe plenty of money for the trip, knowing she was likely to buy a few things in town. The rings, a new outfit, and perhaps a few early baby supplies in preparation. A lot of the larger things could wait awhile. Hell, with the recent news, there's a chance we could all be back home by the time she gives birth! That would be ideal for the birth certificate. It would likely be easier for the baby to have the same citizenship as its parents.
They headed down the street, enjoying the sun. It was pretty quiet that afternoon, but most of the younger men were at war, and it was a normal weekday. Gavin kept his left hand in his jacket pocket as he walked, fingering the box as he watched Chloe and Nines walk a few steps ahead. Warmth swelled in his stomach at the thought of slipping it on, but that was something he wanted to save for later. When they were alone. Maybe I could do it over dinner? Or before dinner? After dinner? He was so busy thinking he barely noticed as they stopped.
"Oh look! Aren't these just darling?" Chloe exclaimed as she looked at the little booties and onesies in the window. Gavin huffed as he paused beside them. It was a pretty small shop, so he decided to wait outside in the sun while Chloe and Nines went inside. He hadn't been out for a few days, so getting some sun would do him good. He settled on the window ledge, resting a hand on his cane as he tilted his head back and let the sun warm his face. I have a feeling we may be here for a while…