Double the Fun [for Hans]

[vicioussweetie]

Ali wandered the house, looking here and there for her currently-missing husband. It was a good hour past the goslings' bedtime, and a half-hour since the last request for milk, more pillows, fewer blankets, another story, or a final check for monsters in shadowy places. Where could Hans have wandered off to in the interim

Comments

[hammerofhell]

Hans, fortunately, has not gone back to the castle! He had spent much of the time before bed putting together a model plane with Morty (A Sopwith Camel) whiles Hans regaled the lad with a somewhat cleaned up war story, before it was time for bed.

Following that, he had briefly retreated to his room, and the sound of pen scratching on paper could be heard.

"In Matt Savage," he says, talking to himself softly as he writes, "I was a strange mirrored version of myself. He came from nothing, I came from nobility. But both of us had risen to become among the greatest pilots of our day. The Hammer of Hell and the Balloon Buster, destine to meet time and time again..."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali had slowed when she heard Hans talking, and peeked into his room to see if he was alone. Since he is, she lets herself in and sets the tray down beside him before sprawling across the bed. While he writes, she will too--though it's a much more clicky sound than his pen.

[hammerofhell]

"But where we were very nearly matched in skill, we were very different in temperament. Savage was little more than a cowboy in the sky, delighting in his ability to shoot others out of the sky. We were both killers, but I took no pleasure in it..."

He stopped when the clicking of keys penetrated his concentration and turned in his chair.

"My love," he says. "I did not hear you come in."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali smiled, peeking at Hans over the computer screen. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I thought you might like some company, and some cookies, but you were so intent on your writing I didn't want to interrupt."

[hammerofhell]

"You could never disturb me," he insists. "And your company is always most welcome."

[vicioussweetie]

"Thank you. But still, you can go back to writing. My news can wait." See this Ali, this one right here? She's the very picture of patience, she is!

[hammerofhell]

A smile tugs at Hans' lips, as he is now very much intrigued. He sets his pen down.

"I believe I can put this on hold for the moment. I would rather hear what you have to say."

[vicioussweetie]

"It's really nothing that can't wait a while," she assures him. "I just wanted your opinion on a few things for the nursery. Which cribs to buy, which strollers, whether we should get duplicates of everything or not..."

[hammerofhell]

Hans starts to reply, but stops himself before words can even get out of his mouth, as certain words penetrate his brain more fully.

"You are speaking of... more than one child?" he asks, carefully.

[vicioussweetie]

"Twins," she announces with a smile. "Perfectly healthy twins, according to the doctor." And then she rolls onto her back and stretches, cat-like; a move that makes her shirt ride up and expose a few inches of her stomach, if he'd like to come and say hello.

[hammerofhell]

Hans would indeed like to say hello! He joins her on the bed, a look of amazement still on his face.

"Twins... Unglaublich..."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali grins, wiggling a little. "Yeah, I'd say we did pretty well. We'll need to think of lots of names. Especially if we don't find out their sexes before they're born."

[hammerofhell]

"Indeed," he replies, before thoughtfulness overtakes him.

"Twins. Children..."

[vicioussweetie]

"That was the plan," she points out, wrapping her arms around him to pull him against her. "Think you're ready for two at a time?"

[hammerofhell]

Ali's presence is a comforting one and he leans into her embrace. "I would hope so," he says. "But now that the reality stares me in the face, I wonder if I could be any kind of father at all, if I am capable of being the father they will need."

[vicioussweetie]

...this is not how this discussion is supposed to go.

"You'll be great. Look at how much the children already adore you. You do a wonderful job as a father."