Number 6 has to step carefully to make sure he doesn't topple over with as many drinks in as he is now. He should have known how this would go after the first time. There won't be any rafts carrying him away tonight, either, so he won't be spared from the hangover. Frankly, in a few minutes, none of that is going to matter to him anymore. Not after Ava delivers the good news.
Once they make it to a quiet area, he turns to her and says, "Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Ava leans into 6 just enough as they walk that he has something to keep steady on the path. Luckily she hasn't drank any, Valdis interrupting before she could. She appreciates having a clear mind for this, softly inhaling the fresh air until they come to a stop.
She's still lightly buzzing around the edges, staring up at his face cast in the glow of street lamp. "So you know how Valdis can... sense souls?" Ava begins, taking his hand and turning it over in her own. "She... informed me, just a moment ago. That there's another. Growing inside me." And guides his hand over her stomach, so there's no mistaking the meaning. Even if there's not much there yet.
His brow furrows ever-so-slightly as she takes his hand like he's really concentrating on her words. And then his eyes go wide as she places his hand on her belly. Another soul. Another soul!
"You're pregnant!" he hollers and then slaps a hand over his mouth to stop the sound.
He's shaking like a leaf, knees knocking together, but there's a smile so wide on his face it could split him from ear to ear.
"Ava, Pumpkin, this is wonderful news. We've hoped for so long--"
Suddenly the blood drains from his face. He fumbles for the leather band tied around his neck and pulls out the ring threaded on it. With shaking fingers, he attempts to untie the strap. "I'll wear the ring every month. It will be all right."
"I don't know how far along..." Ava admits shyly, but it must have been sometime within that last month after her death.
It is true that they've been hoping for this, wanting to build a family together. Another piece of that shared dream that had felt so impossible for them, but she clung to so devotedly. Part of her expects to wake up any moment...
Her breath catches as he comes to the important conclusion of what must be done. Valdis had told her that she must inform Peter to put the ring back on, but Ava knew there would be no need. He'd take on the burden without question, and she'd have to allow him without protest. She reaches up to help him with the tie, her own hands trembling as she takes the ring and places a gentle kiss to it.
"Until we find another way. We will," Ava promises, slipping it onto Peter's finger with so much tenderness despite knowing what it will do to him once her illness transfers. It feels so cruel, to have their joy tainted by this. But it's a continuation of all the sacrifices they've made to get here, and will continue to make for each other and now their future child. "It's going to be worth it, Peter," she whispers, smiling through the tears. "You're going to be an amazing father."
"It must be early," Number 6 agrees. Within the month, maybe no more than a few weeks. Far too soon to make any announcements no matter how much he feels like shouting it from the rooftops.
Her kiss to the ring brings him back to present. He manages to quell his shaking enough to let her slip it onto his finger smoothly. As soon as the weight of it settles on him, so does a distant soreness. He ignores it and reaches to pull Ava in close.
"It will be worth everything," He tells her sincerely. For her and their child, there is nothing he would not endure. "I will. And you will be a wonderful mother. You must believe in yourself now as much as I believe in you. Our little blossom is counting on it."
She melts into the comfort of his embrace, letting go of so much of the anxiety and uncertainty. "I'll... have to find someone to do a checkup, and... make sure I'm not doing anything unhealthy. Like drinking tonight," which isn't all that big a loss, she rarely does. But she's sure there's all sorts of lifestyle habits she'll have to adjust.
"Shame I miss out on the game yet again," she jokes lightly, because it's obvious what she considers more important. She nuzzles into his chest, breathing in. "Still, I was... wasn't expecting this until. After. We had found a more sustainable solution. I know we have so many more months ahead, but it's hard to feel prepared. I... I want to do things right."
"We'll ask around, Ava. Don't fret. There are women in this town who have or have had children before. Someone will be able to help us." Child rearing is one of the oldest things in the world. He's sure they can figure it out. They'll have time, since they know so well in advance.
He drapes his wings around her back and kisses her softly on the forehead. "These things rarely wait for a convenient moment. I'm not sorry it's happened so soon. It will be all right; I promise. You will be just fine. There is nothing we cannot accomplish together."
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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IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
19/5/24 22:38 (UTC)Number 6 has to step carefully to make sure he doesn't topple over with as many drinks in as he is now. He should have known how this would go after the first time. There won't be any rafts carrying him away tonight, either, so he won't be spared from the hangover. Frankly, in a few minutes, none of that is going to matter to him anymore. Not after Ava delivers the good news.
Once they make it to a quiet area, he turns to her and says, "Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
19/5/24 22:57 (UTC)She's still lightly buzzing around the edges, staring up at his face cast in the glow of street lamp. "So you know how Valdis can... sense souls?" Ava begins, taking his hand and turning it over in her own. "She... informed me, just a moment ago. That there's another. Growing inside me." And guides his hand over her stomach, so there's no mistaking the meaning. Even if there's not much there yet.
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
20/5/24 01:50 (UTC)"You're pregnant!" he hollers and then slaps a hand over his mouth to stop the sound.
He's shaking like a leaf, knees knocking together, but there's a smile so wide on his face it could split him from ear to ear.
"Ava, Pumpkin, this is wonderful news. We've hoped for so long--"
Suddenly the blood drains from his face. He fumbles for the leather band tied around his neck and pulls out the ring threaded on it. With shaking fingers, he attempts to untie the strap. "I'll wear the ring every month. It will be all right."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
20/5/24 02:11 (UTC)It is true that they've been hoping for this, wanting to build a family together. Another piece of that shared dream that had felt so impossible for them, but she clung to so devotedly. Part of her expects to wake up any moment...
Her breath catches as he comes to the important conclusion of what must be done. Valdis had told her that she must inform Peter to put the ring back on, but Ava knew there would be no need. He'd take on the burden without question, and she'd have to allow him without protest. She reaches up to help him with the tie, her own hands trembling as she takes the ring and places a gentle kiss to it.
"Until we find another way. We will," Ava promises, slipping it onto Peter's finger with so much tenderness despite knowing what it will do to him once her illness transfers. It feels so cruel, to have their joy tainted by this. But it's a continuation of all the sacrifices they've made to get here, and will continue to make for each other and now their future child. "It's going to be worth it, Peter," she whispers, smiling through the tears. "You're going to be an amazing father."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
20/5/24 15:36 (UTC)Her kiss to the ring brings him back to present. He manages to quell his shaking enough to let her slip it onto his finger smoothly. As soon as the weight of it settles on him, so does a distant soreness. He ignores it and reaches to pull Ava in close.
"It will be worth everything," He tells her sincerely. For her and their child, there is nothing he would not endure. "I will. And you will be a wonderful mother. You must believe in yourself now as much as I believe in you. Our little blossom is counting on it."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
20/5/24 22:39 (UTC)"Shame I miss out on the game yet again," she jokes lightly, because it's obvious what she considers more important. She nuzzles into his chest, breathing in. "Still, I was... wasn't expecting this until. After. We had found a more sustainable solution. I know we have so many more months ahead, but it's hard to feel prepared. I... I want to do things right."
But it's hard to hide how excited she is anyway.
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
21/5/24 16:52 (UTC)He drapes his wings around her back and kisses her softly on the forehead. "These things rarely wait for a convenient moment. I'm not sorry it's happened so soon. It will be all right; I promise. You will be just fine. There is nothing we cannot accomplish together."
Re: IMPORTANT NEWS [cw: pregnancy]
22/5/24 00:36 (UTC)"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]
22/5/24 21:33 (UTC)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]
22/5/24 23:51 (UTC)"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]
29/5/24 21:03 (UTC)"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]
29/5/24 22:29 (UTC)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]
12/6/24 01:15 (UTC)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]
12/6/24 03:27 (UTC)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?
18/6/24 00:32 (UTC)Re: Good place to start to wrap?
18/6/24 01:50 (UTC)"Let's get back inside, I think we could use a night of fun." Before they have to start worrying about all the logistics.