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Vi knew it would be hard once their daughter was born. When she mentioned the possibility of having a baby, she never realized how quickly it would happen.
They discussed who would carry their child, intensely so. On one hand, both of them were terrified of the thought that they were responsible for caring for and nurturing their baby inside their bodies for nine months. On the other hand, both of them wanted the honor, the privilege, the bond with their baby.
In the end, they both decided Caitlyn would be the one to do so. Vi’s body had been battered and bruised so much that she was scared it would affect the growth of their baby. While Caitlyn also had threatening injuries before, they both thought she was the safer choice.
It didn't help that Vi still punched first during missions.
So, while Caitlyn was growing their daughter in her womb, Vi did her best to keep her comfortable. Made sure she was warm or cold enough, found the food Cait had been craving for, massaged her swollen feet and stiff back.
When Caitlyn was giving birth, Vi was there the entire time. Reminded her how much she loved her, thanked her every minute, promised her the world.
And when their baby girl greeted the world with a sharp cry, Vi cried with her. She didn't know how it was possible, but the second their girl settled in her arms, Vi’s heart grew tenfold.
In her first week, Lavender Kiramman was an easy baby. Slept all the time, ate quietly when it was time. Vi thought she got Caitlyn’s calm temperament.
Then the second week hit.
She had to give her daughter credit. Lavender kept to a schedule. Every night, she was awake at eleven p.m., drank milk, fussed while they changed her diaper, then fell back to sleep before twelve. Then, the second either one of her mothers laid her back down in her crib, she'd come out swinging.
“Out of everything she could get from you,” Caitlyn joked one night. “It had to be using her fists.”
Vi laughed as she picked their daughter up, swaying to a silent beat. “It’ll be fun teaching her how to throw a punch.”
Her wife shook her head but smiled fondly. It was crazy, Vi thought, how Caitlyn could be so tired yet still look like the most beautiful woman in the world. Her hair was down from the ponytail she loved to style it in, her eyepatch tucked away in the drawer, she wore Vi’s shirt - claiming it was more comfortable.
Vi thought she saw Caitlyn the most beautiful when they got married. She realized how untrue that was.
No, Caitlyn was the most beautiful when she was a mother. Love shone from her eyes whenever she gazed at Lavender. A soft smile graced her lips every time she held their daughter. Her voice was soft as she spoke to her.
Caitlyn Kiramman once doubted her ability to be a good mom. But Vi never did. She knew Caitlyn would be the best mother, she would do everything in her power to keep Lavender safe and happy and feel loved. Vi would be right there with her.
One random night when Lavender was six months old, Vi woke up for no reason. She reached over to the other side of the bed where she found it cold. When she looked, Caitlyn was nowhere to be found.
Checking the clock on her side table, she was confused to see it was only two in the morning. Light casted by the moon slivered through the blinds as Vi stood and pulled on a shirt.
She was about to go look for Caitlyn when she saw light coming from the nursery. It had been hard on both of them when they moved Lavender there. But once she started sleeping properly, Tobias recommended letting her sleep in her own room.
The door was slightly open, Vi peeked through the crack. Her heart soared and calmed at the same time.
On the rocking chair, Caitlyn cradled Lavender. Their daughter’s blue hair was a couple of shades lighter than Caitlyn’s, a hint of pink warming the cool tone. Her wife had her eyes slightly closed, gazing lovingly toward their daughter.
Vi was satisfied to just lean on the doorway, letting the mother and daughter have their moment. But Caitlyn’s voice broke through her bubble of contentment.
“Are you coming inside, darling?” she asked quietly. Vi jumped from shock, Caitlyn’s eyes never leaving their daughter’s face.
“I was letting you have your moment,” she responded. Caught, Vi approached her little family, crouching in front of Caitlyn and caressing Lavender’s plump cheek. “We both know I’m her favorite.”
Caitlyn scoffed. “I can't believe I carried her for nine months only to be chopped liver,” she remarked. Vi knew she was joking, though. The mischief shone through her blue and gray eyes.
She wasn't chopped liver either. While with Vi, Lavender was rowdy. She loved it when Vi threw her up in the air, trusting her to catch her on the way down. Her tiny fists always smashed against Vi’s cheeks and hands, already a fighter, their little one.
But with Caitlyn, that was when Vi knew Lavender felt the safest. Maybe it was because Cait already protected her from the world inside her when she was pregnant, or maybe she just felt exactly what Vi felt. Caitlyn was home, and when Caitlyn was there holding them, they felt like nothing in the world could ever touch them.
“She looks exactly like you,” Vi retorted. “Let me be the favorite mom.”
Finally, Caitlyn looked at Vi, the softness in her eyes warmed Vi’s entire body. “If you believe she looks exactly like me, you must have gone blind, Violet.”
Confused, Vi looked at Lavender, then back at Caitlyn.
Her wife smiled softly before she reached out and caressed Vi’s cheek. “She may have my hair and eye color, Vi, but everything else? She's all you. The strength in her hands, the passion in her eyes, the love and trust she has for us. If Lavender grew up even half the woman you are, nothing would make me happier.”
Vi knew it would be hard once their daughter was born. But as she sat in the nursery, Caitlyn carrying their sleeping baby, she knew it was worth it.