Author's Note: Hi Friends. Everything is terrible so let's indulge in fluff. Thanks to Miss Everglot for inspiring me to keep going with these, with her adorable V/V stories. -PP
18
The January night was cold, clear, and still. There was no moon, but the sky was lit brilliantly by a wash of stars. Victor stepped out onto the porch and looked around.
"There you are," he said when he spotted Victoria on the far end of the porch. She was leaning against the railing and looking out at the night, with only a light knit shawl thrown over her shoulders. "Everything all right?"
"Oh yes," she replied. Her breath made white clouds as she spoke. "I was only cooling off. It's dreadfully warm inside, isn't it?"
Victor, whose fingertips and nose had frozen almost immediately in the winter air, tucked his hands up under his arms for warmth and went to stand beside Victoria.
"It didn't seem so to me," he told her.
They were quiet for a moment, looking up at the night sky. A mile or so distant was the village, a few faint lights glowing here and there. Victor wrapped his arms around Victoria from behind, resting his chin on her head. She leaned back into him, and he immediately felt how warm she was. It was like hugging a hot water-bottle. He snuggled up even closer, hunching a bit to conserve warmth.
"Here," Victoria said, amusement in her voice. She unwrapped her shawl and handed it to him. It was big enough that he could wrap it around them both.
"Much better," he said with a sigh, and she pressed herself close against him.
The stars glittered so beautifully in the cold. Victor took a deep breath through his nose. The air smelled of snow. Despite the heat Victoria was giving off and the snug wrap around his shoulders, he was getting a chill. He was just about to suggest they go in to sit in the parlor when she spoke.
"I'm going to have another baby," she said. She twisted her head about to look at him. Only the faintest outline of her face was visible in the darkness, and the slight shine of her eyes. Victor blinked.
"No wonder you're so warm," he said, holding her close. Victoria, always a bit warm anyway, turned into a small furnace when she was pregnant. She turned away to gaze up at the stars again, and he did the same. Victoria's hair, just under his nose, smelled faintly of her lavender soap. Mostly she just smelled of her. It was a warm, comforting scent. Victor closed his eyes.
Another baby. Funny, he'd just been thinking that afternoon how complete their family seemed as it was. One for him, one for her. A Van Dort resemblance and an Everglot resemblance. Both girls were older and settled. They had routines. They had personalities. He knew them and what they liked. He finally felt more or less settled as a father. Yet somehow, he couldn't quite muster up any worry about a third child. All he could imagine was that he or she would find their place to fit in just fine.
That, and he loved to watch Victoria with their children. He held her closer, pressed his lips to her temple.
"That's happy news," he said, bending to drop another kiss on her cheek.
"I wasn't certain, this time," Victoria told him. "Not at first. I've not been ill at all. It's been very unlike the other two. I wasn't sure until I felt it. This one is very energetic already."
Victoria moved her hands down to her belly. Victor followed her movement, laying his hands over hers. Much too early for him to be able to feel anything, of course, and Victoria wasn't yet much rounder than usual. Still. It was nice to know a little someone was in there, and feisty.
"Are you pleased?" he thought to ask. It suddenly occurred to him that she'd been awfully quiet. Perhaps it wasn't just the warmth of the house that had brought her outside to be alone. He straightened up to rest his chin on her hair again.
"Of course!" Victoria said quickly. Then, after a slight pause, she added, "Well, surprised. A little tired. But yes, I'm pleased. I miss having a small baby about."
"It's much easier when they don't walk or talk," Victor agreed. Victoria elbowed him gently in the ribs.
"That isn't what I meant," she said through a quiet laugh. "Though you're not wrong."
Victor wrapped his arms more tightly around her, and Victoria moved so that she could grasp his hands, pressing them against her middle.
They stood out there for a few more minutes, gazing at the stars, until Victor's nose began to run and Victoria was comfortably cool.