She huddles beneath his wings, letting his words calm her worries. "If we waited for things to be convenient and ideal, we never would have gotten anywhere at all," Ava agrees. They had their first kiss the night of an attempted takeover turned slaughter. Their wedding between one crisis and the next. But she's glad the rules of that nightmare realm couldn't allow for her to get pregnant, because she'd never want her child raised in captivity the way she was.
"But oh Peter, I... never thought all this would come true. No matter how badly I hoped for it. And now it is, everything... everything is more than I could have dared dream." She gently traces her fingertip over the ring, knowing it wouldn't be possible without. Knowing this is why Peter made such a sacrifice.
"And look where we are now." Neither of them have the luxury of waiting for the time to be right, so they seize the time they have and make it right for them.
He pulls back to gaze into her eyes. His own are shiny with joyful tears that only she will ever see. "I'm so happy, Ava. This is more than I ever imagined possible. You are my dream come true. You and that spark you're carrying. I don't regret a single moment of sacrifice I have made to bring us to this. I won't ever regret it."
If it's a dream, she never wants to wake up. Never wants to return to her old life and lose everything. She knows he feels the same, reaching up to gently wipe at his tears even as her own streak damp cheeks. She laughs lightly, at their shared vulnerability. Weaknesses that they wouldn't allow themselves unless they had each other to cover.
"When do we tell others?" she asks. Valdis knows, of course, but probably wouldn't share their news with others. "Phil, and Darcy, Ruby..." those seem the most important to tell first. Not tonight, though. Tonight is theirs.
"I don't know. We should wait a little while, shouldn't we?" Admittedly, there is not a secret in the world he has ever wanted to spill more immediately than this. But wisdom tells him they should give it just a little more time.
"Yes, I agree, all three should know. Perhaps we have them for dinner to break the news." That way no one feels left out for having known sooner or later than another.
"There are so many things to be uncertain about, but there is one thing we shouldn't doubt. I'm going to be a good father, and you are going to be a spectacular mother." No room for doubting that. He won't allow it. "And we are going to have to start thinking of names."
She hesitates in thought, letting his wisdom of caution with sharing the news triumph over her fresh excitement. But not extinguishing it. She nods. "When we're certain it's... that everything is okay," she agrees. She'll do whatever she can to make sure she's minimizing any risks in the meantime.
At the mention of names, Ava shyly glances up at her husband. "I... like the idea of naming them after Maximilien, somehow. To honor his sacrifice." They wouldn't be safe and together without his wish.
"Yes," he agrees, gently cupping her chin. "When we're sure." The ring on his finger feels a little heavier, suddenly, but he's more determined than ever to bear it up.
Her suggestion warms his expression right up. "I think that's a marvelous idea. We wouldn't have this chance if not for him. We'll have to amend it a little if it's a girl, of course."
A nod, and just as quickly her eyes are damp, with the realization she'll never get the opportunity to let know Maximilien know. That he won't ever get to know their child. Not Bill, not her parents... Ava presses her forehead against Peter's chest and lets out a weak whine. "I... I'm so grateful. For how much love I've... been given. Despite everything."
Lifetimes ago this would have been impossible for either of them. And now they have a chance. She touches her fingers over the ring, the process of the pain already starting to fade from her body is slow but feels even more noticeable than ever.
He holds his palm to her belly and looks at her with all the love and affection he has in his heart. "You'll pass that on to our little miracle too. We both will. Our child will have a future full of love, and that will make all of their sacrifices worth it."
All the love and support that had been denied her upbringing, she doesn't say. Not with words, at least. She's so determined to make up for the past, to heal from it.
"Let's get back inside, I think we could use a night of fun." Before they have to start worrying about all the logistics.
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Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
"But oh Peter, I... never thought all this would come true. No matter how badly I hoped for it. And now it is, everything... everything is more than I could have dared dream." She gently traces her fingertip over the ring, knowing it wouldn't be possible without. Knowing this is why Peter made such a sacrifice.
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
He pulls back to gaze into her eyes. His own are shiny with joyful tears that only she will ever see. "I'm so happy, Ava. This is more than I ever imagined possible. You are my dream come true. You and that spark you're carrying. I don't regret a single moment of sacrifice I have made to bring us to this. I won't ever regret it."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
"When do we tell others?" she asks. Valdis knows, of course, but probably wouldn't share their news with others. "Phil, and Darcy, Ruby..." those seem the most important to tell first. Not tonight, though. Tonight is theirs.
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
"Yes, I agree, all three should know. Perhaps we have them for dinner to break the news." That way no one feels left out for having known sooner or later than another.
"There are so many things to be uncertain about, but there is one thing we shouldn't doubt. I'm going to be a good father, and you are going to be a spectacular mother." No room for doubting that. He won't allow it. "And we are going to have to start thinking of names."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
At the mention of names, Ava shyly glances up at her husband. "I... like the idea of naming them after Maximilien, somehow. To honor his sacrifice." They wouldn't be safe and together without his wish.
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
Her suggestion warms his expression right up. "I think that's a marvelous idea. We wouldn't have this chance if not for him. We'll have to amend it a little if it's a girl, of course."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
Lifetimes ago this would have been impossible for either of them. And now they have a chance. She touches her fingers over the ring, the process of the pain already starting to fade from her body is slow but feels even more noticeable than ever.
"Peter." Followed up by nothing, just affection.
Good place to start to wrap?
Re: Good place to start to wrap?
"Let's get back inside, I think we could use a night of fun." Before they have to start worrying about all the logistics.