(Untitled)

[prima_sequentem]

(about a year and a half after this disaster)

James Moriarty is sitting on a couch by the fire wearing a mildly ridiculous contraption and smiling a smile that is much more ridiculous than that

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[isaysimplewords]

Significantly less time has passed for Cal, who is fairly preoccupied when Milliways shows up. Trying to figure out what the fuck happened in a recent alien invasion attempt will do that.

Which is how he gets his coffee and is halfway to the fireplace when he focuses on the tableau before him enough to register what it is he's seeing.

That gets his attention.

[prima_sequentem]

She looks up.

She looks down again.

[isaysimplewords]

Technically speaking, it's impossible, but he thinks it anyway

(Calvin)

and the thought freezes him to the spot.

[prima_sequentem]

Even as hard as she's trying not to look at him, she can tell.

Quietly: "Are you all right?"

[isaysimplewords]

Cal stirs and swallows, trying to find his voice again.

"I'm - fine."

It may be the least convincing lie he has ever told.

[prima_sequentem]

"You're usually a better liar than that," she says, apparently to the fireplace.

[isaysimplewords]

The corner of his mouth twitches in an almost-smile.

"Congratulations," he says, nodding toward the baby. His voice is steadier this time.

[prima_sequentem]

"You know, I'm actually starting to think that's the right word."

James lets herself meet his eyes at last.

"Her name is Samantha."

[isaysimplewords]

Samantha. A girl.

He thinks about that, about having a daughter, he steps closer to get a better look.

[prima_sequentem]

She tenses for just a moment, but nods, silently giving him permission to approach.

[isaysimplewords]

He doesn't know if he could have held himself back. Now they won't need to find out.

"She's beautiful," he says softly.

It surprises him a little that he can see traces of himself - his double - in her tiny features. That also had not been the case with Calvin.

(And no one could accuse Cal of taking after Reed Chandler, either.)

[prima_sequentem]

"I named her after my mother."

[isaysimplewords]

"I wanted to name our son after my father," Cal murmurs, his eyes still on Samantha, "but everyone thought Reed was too old-fashioned."

He'd been outvoted. (Which is to say: the soon-to-be grandmother had said no.)

[prima_sequentem]

Hear that, Sammy? Grandma Chandler is being controlling again.

"I'll remember that if we have another happy accident."

[isaysimplewords]

He smiles slightly.

"We named him Calvin instead."

God, he misses his son. It's always there, in the back of his mind, but there are still times when it pushes its way to the front. This, perhaps inevitably, is one of those times.

[prima_sequentem]

"Look at us," she says-looking, indeed, at him- "having a conversation."