[For Veronica]

[plntfood]

The truth is, Mathias has been thinking about it for awhile now, even if he's never mentioned it to Veronica. Or anyone, for that matter. After losing so many people -- the latest being Henry, which he can't even bring himself to think about -- he isn't exactly open with his plans for the future with anyone. He knows this isn't healthy, but Henry's

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[neptune_sleuth]

Veronica's got a glass of iced tea in one hand, a plate of fruit and cookies in the other, as she makes her way over to stand beside him, leaning low over Mathias' shoulder to look at the page. "What are you reading?" she asks, setting her things down. It's something about building, that much she can see. What she doesn't know is why. "Planning on adding on to your mansion?"

[plntfood]

"Yes, I feel it needs a tower," Mathias answers, looking up at the sound of Veronica's voice and offering her a smile. "And a library. Oh, and a movie theatre. I know it's all a little ambitious, but I think I can make it work." In truth, he's not even sure if he can add an extra room onto what he's got already and he's beginning to think he's going to have to ask the building crew to lend him a hand. He's handy with building, but mechanics and engines are different than beams and foundations.

[neptune_sleuth]

"That sounds fantastic," Veronica says, kissing his cheek as she swings past to sit beside him. "But don't you think you're forgetting something? I mean, Mathias, where will you put the indoor swimming pool?" Even as she talks, she's peering at the book, trying to get a better idea of what he's really planning to add on to his house, making guesses at why he'd feel the need.

[plntfood]

"I was going to make it an outdoor pool, but now that you mention it, indoor is obviously the way to go," he muses thoughtfully, considering the books and tapping a page that mentions erecting walls and how to go about supporting them properly. He's nervous, although it doesn't show, and he wants to tell Veronica why he's reading this book, but he still isn't sure how to say it.

Henrich would be so irritated by this behaviour. "An extra room would be nice, ja?"

[neptune_sleuth]

"For the pool?" Veronica asks, playing dumb. "Unless you want it to go in the library, I'd say so." She takes a long sip of her tea, then shakes her head. "If you're expanding, you know, the building crew can do it. That's what I had to do when Sam moved in." She watches him, expectant. He'll tell her in a moment, she's pretty sure, otherwise she'll have to start asking questions. Not getting an answer never crosses her mind.

[plntfood]

Mathias nods, looking down at the book for a moment, trying to sort out his thoughts. He knows he could easily tell her he feels he needs more room for the dogs and she would likely believe him, which would give him time to sort out all the details he's been considering for the past several weeks. On the other hand, maybe Henrich was right, at least some of the time. Maybe, in a situation like this, it's best not to think about it too much.

"I know," he says. "I was thinking... I was hoping if I had extra room, you might consider moving into the hut with me. And Sam, of course." And the dogs, but he leaves that unsaid. The more he thinks about it, the more an expansion seems necessary if she agrees.

[neptune_sleuth]

Even if some small voice in Veronica's mind had a sneaking suspicion it was something of the sort, it still manages to catch her off guard. "Move in?" she echoes, almost flat. It's difficult to arrange an appropriate answer when she's running through so many contrary trains of thought. Why not? They've been together nearly two years and something like this was virtually inevitable, inasmuch as anything is; she loves him and they're good together and she wants to be with him and there's a part of her that likes the notion. Then there's the part of her flailing madly around inside, aware she's a package deal now, though he's never shied from that, aware that this is an enormous step, that there's something dauntingly adult about that, too close to things she wanted when she was too young to know better. "That's... I don't know. I have to... I have to think about that. I mean, that's a big step."

[plntfood]

Nodding again, he continues to look down at the book, smoothing his hand over one of the pages to clear out the wrinkles at the corner. It's the answer he knows is both the most honest and the most logical, but there's still a part of him that started to hope she would say yes right away.

"I know," he says, looking up and giving her a smile. "I just... I am looking at building an extension, I didn't want to lie to you about what I have been thinking. It's just... we have been together for awhile now and I want to live with you. I want to be there in the morning and I want to help with Sam and..."

He trails off and smiles. "But I understand. Take your time."

[neptune_sleuth]

Veronica's quiet a moment before she leans over to kiss him. "Thank you," she says. He's never been anything less than understanding with her, honest, far more patient than most of her previous boyfriends, and so it's not exactly a surprise that he proves the same now, but that doesn't make her any less appreciative. Maybe, just maybe, it's not a terrible idea. Having him there in the morning, falling asleep with him, is startlingly enticing.

"I will think about it. I'm... not against the idea. I just need a little time to get used to it. And I'm not sure if uprooting Sam right now is a good idea or if she's young enough that it's just okay, I..." She shakes her head. "I'm still trying to figure out how kids work."

[plntfood]

"I think that's how most parents feel for their entire lives," Mathias answers, smiling into the kiss and then leaning back in his chair. "I think my parents still felt that way, even when I was an adult." Although he's hardly an expert on the subject, he doubts anyone really is an expert on being a parent, even those who think they are.

Even now, though, with a maybe, he's still nervous and he tries to cover it with a smile. "At least that wasn't a no," he says.

[neptune_sleuth]

"It's not a no," Veronica agrees, then shrugs. "It's not a yes yet either, but it's... not a no. So... you can keep considering that expansion and... I will think about it. Run the idea by Sam, not that she probably will really understand, but..." It's not even, she thinks, that she's against it. She needs time to settle into the idea. There's an air of permanence and adulthood to it that worries her, as much because it seems like tempting fate as because of her usual hang ups.

[plntfood]

Mathias nods, showing he understands and he reaches across the table for her hand again. "Let me know if Sam decides I am an appropriate roommate," he says, smiling again. "Tell her that I promise not to play loud music after eleven and that I almost always pick up after myself. But if she agrees, she has to do the dishes."

He closes the book in front of him and leans his elbows on the cover, letting it go for now. He isn't going to push anything, not a huge step, not when there is a child involved. "Where is Sam now?"

[neptune_sleuth]

Veronica slips her fingers through his, holding on. "With Eden," she says. Even if it weren't for Sam, she's not sure how ready she is for such a step, torn between wanting it and wanting to run the other way as she is with any big forward movement. That he can treat it with such levity while still being serious about it, though, reminds her again why it might not be a bad idea. They work so well together. Taking that step won't ruin that. "She spoils her rotten, so Sam adores her. Maybe you can bribe her."

[plntfood]

"With candies and toys," Mathias agrees thoughtfully, as if he's truly considering this. In the end, he knows Veronica will pick what's best for Sam, no matter how many candies or toys he gives to the little girl. "Do you think it might help my case better than promising not to play loud music?" he asks, smiling at Veronica over the table.

There's still that part of him that sounds like Henrich trying to be heard. The part that's telling him to give Veronica all the reasons why this would be a good idea, but Mathias says nothing on it. He's not prone to impulsive actions at the best of times and this is certainly not a place where it would be appreciated.

[neptune_sleuth]

"Yes," Veronica says, and that would, in fact, be entirely true, were it in Sam's hands. "Actually, I think she likes loud music. She does like to dance." She can't shake the sense that she should talk to him about this, really talk, but she's not sure how much the choice would be hers then. Good as she is at standing her ground, he might sway her into a decision she regrets (but how rushed can anything be when it takes a while to build the necessary extra rooms? How rushed when they've been together almost two years? She's known him, loved him, longer than some people even stay here). A little more serious, she sighs. "Are you sure you really want to do this? I mean, she's... she's not even four, Mathias. She's a kid and... you've been amazing with her, with us, but this is... more than just visits. It means taking on both of us."

[plntfood]

"Hey," he says, smile disappearing as he reaches for Veronica again, taking both her hands in his. "This is not about taking you on as if you are both some kind of chore. I understand that there are responsibilities if you and Sam were to move in and I'm prepared for that, but that isn't why I'm asking. I am asking because I want to live with you. With both of you."

A little girl hadn't been part of the original plan -- although there'd really been no original plan that far back, just a vague idea of what he'd one day like -- but even so, he's happy to adapt. Happy to help Veronica as much as she needs and happy to take direction from her where he knows he needs to learn.