[Sometime This Week...] Glad I Did That Again...

[51stcentry_jack]

A warm spring morning, with a hint of rain in the air, though for now, the sunlight streams in through the windows of the clinic. A day full of life, a good day for a child to be born

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[drownedfuchsia]

Fuchsia's waited nearly a day before coming to meet the newest mansion resident. She was having a serious case of anxiety about meeting the baby. What if she breaks the baby.

"Is everyone well?" No hello, or announcement, just a voice from the hall.

[drownedfuchsia]

The black and white of Fuchsia's world, means that babies are joyous only, or trouble, not a mix of both. That is held for brothers only.

"But Verrity's not done anything. She'll be different." For all the black and white, there's also a lot of hope that comes about with a new baby, particularly a healthy one.

"Her sister should be here too."

[51stcentry_jack]

"She's back in my world: probably for the best if she stays there," he admits. "If she turned up here, well, she'd have a lot of questions I'm not ready to answer."

How would a man explain to his daughter that he's both male and female, in a manner of speaking? Hard enough that he looks like he should be his daughter's brother and not her father...

[drownedfuchsia]

"That's sad, she won't know her sister." Still, "she'll have plenty of others here."

For a whole 8 seconds, she chews her bottom lip. "Can I hold her? I promise not to drop her."

It's happened -- not her fault, but it's the entirety of her experience with babies.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Sure thing," he says, and he'll lift the wee one, holding her out to Fuschia. "One hand under her head, and the other under her bottom; that way, you'll have a good hold on her."

Verrity might roll an eye toward her father as if to say, 'who is this not-you person you're handing me off to??'

[drownedfuchsia]

It's going to be a slow process, handing off Verrity to Fuchsia. She's taking extra care to follow the instructions. IN spite of this, Verrity has every right to give her father the stink-eye over who he's given her to.

Once she does feel secure in her hold on the baby, she doesn't move. This would be a little awkward to look at, from an outsider's perspective.

"Hello, Verrity." For once, there isn't a single bit of shrillness to her voice, and she tries to smile, though who knows, this close up, if it won't terrify the thing.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Be polite: you're being held by a noble lady of a faraway realm," Jack coaxes.

Verrity might roll her eye back to her father, then back up to the ceiling, before looking up at Fuschia. She'll stare for a long moment, and then she crosses her eyes, which are still getting used to focusing on things.

[drownedfuchsia]

"I don't think it counts for babies."

Relaxing only a little, Fuchsia steps back, very carefully, to sit in the chair again.

"You'll be a good girl." She coos. "What's the tradition for the baby's first day?"

[51stcentry_jack]

"For the time and place where I came from, the first day, the kidlet stays close to them that bore 'em. The family keeps watch, making sure nothing disturbs 'em," he says, his pale eyes going distant. "When the parent is ready for it, they'll give the wee one their true name, something only the two of them know. People got two names, where I come from: the name that everyone knows, and the true name which only the parent and child know."

[drownedfuchsia]

"So Verrity isn't her name?" Oh, talk about confusing her."

"Do you know your name yet?" As if the baby could answer her.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Oh, Verrity's her name, it's just the name that everyone else will know her by," he says, somewhat thoughtful. He's had so many names of his own...

Verrity will yawn: all this talk is tiring her out. Besides, she thinks of everyone that isn't Jack as Not Dad, and herself... well, she's not telling us what she calls herself.

[drownedfuchsia]

"All right them, Verrity." She says the name with more confidence, as if somehow convincing the child of her own name.

That confidence with the name gives her the confidence to rock her a little. It's a gentle motion, hopefully soothing.

The longer she sits with the child, the more Fuchsia sees a different side of the baby: a person, not a bundle in blankets to be passed about. It's a rather emotional experience, and she blinks three times, as if she's about to cry.

[51stcentry_jack]

"Looks like she's warming up to you at last, the little darling," Jack notes, pleased. "And if I'm not mistaken, you're liking her as well, milady."

Verrity nestles down in her blankets and goes right to sleep: this may not be Dad's arms, but she feels safe enough here.

[drownedfuchsia]

"Shhhhhh," enjoy that. She just shushed Jack Harkness.

"Verrity's sleeping." Fuchsia will continue to rock her, just a little. She may even sound a little protective.

[51stcentry_jack]

He might grin at that shushing: reminds him of Alice Guppy and some of the earlier heads of Torchwood who thought they could keep him on a short leash.

"She'll do that a lot, the first few months. Or at least during the day: night time, that'll be a different thing. I swear, babies are nocturnal critters. Good thing, I am, too."

[drownedfuchsia]

Fuchsia would never presume so much, but she's enjoying the baby asleep in her arms.

"Won't she want to eat all the time?"

Hold on, Fuchsia's gotten herself really confused. "Who feeds her? Where's her wet nurse?"