SUMMARY: The magic of Westview gives them a baby girl
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“A movie tonight or… shall we head out for a walk? It’s not very warm but the weather has cleared up enough that we probably won’t get rained on.” Regulus asked as he moved to sit on the couch. He wouldn’t mind doing either though he knew that, for Louis, his own day was just getting started. The vampire might want to get out and move around a little, he might even want to slip off and feed before rejoining Regulus. He really didn’t care what they did and had the energy to be up for a few hours longer (at least) thanks to a nap he had taken earlier that day. “I think I have the energy for both if you’d rather not try and decide between the two.” The vampire could also ask him to go home for the night and Regulus wouldn’t be offended or upset. They weren’t living together no matter how used to it Regulus had become since the issues with their memories last month or how often he asked to stay the night. If space was needed, space could be given.
He had opened his mouth to say just that when he heard the sound of a soft knock upon the door. That was… odd considering the time but, perhaps, Louis was expecting company? Maybe he had invited another friend over? Regulus stood up, laughing just a little. “Or I could go?” He grabbed his coat as he moved towards the door, wondering if he should apologize for not leaving sooner or just assuming he could ask to spend the night again and not be denied. He was getting a little too comfortable in Louis’ apartment. He hesitated once he reached the door, not sure if he should open it or not. This wasn’t his home. Was it really his place to answer the door? He turned back around to give Louis a look and… was it just him or did Louis look just as confused about the surprise visitor? "I'd like to stay in tonight. I've fed already so I'm all yours," he grinned. Maybe later after the younger man was asleep he might go for a walk, but for now he was right where he wanted to be. Louis didn't mind at all Regulus coming over often. He enjoyed his company and he was easy going, a gentle soul and that was appealing to him. "You certainly seem to have extra energy tonight. Have you had some caffeine or sugar? He smiled and patted the spot beside him on the couch. "I'll let you choose the movie."
The knock on the door surprised Louis. Who could that be? He really didn't know anyone else there besides Lestat and he'd just as easily walk in without knocking as anything else. "What? No, you're not leaving. I'm not expecting anyone so I have no idea who could be at the door. Maybe it's a surprise pizza delivery," he teased. "Go ahead and answer it." Louis sat there a few seconds before he stood and walked to the door. In case there was someone or something nefarious at the door he wanted to protect Regulus and himself, You just never knew with Westview. Okay. He didn’t have to leave because Louis wasn’t expecting anyone. That was good. It meant once they dealt with this, whatever it was, they could cuddle up together and watch a movie. Regulus nodded once he got the okay to answer the door and pulled it open, free hand clutching onto his wand in the hopes he would have a chance to defend himself (and Louis) from anything on the other side of the door that might be looking to harm them.
He pulled open the door and paused when he first saw nothing in front of him. He would’ve assumed it was a neighbor playing a joke when a soft noise caught his attention. Looking down Regulus blinked as he caught sight of a squirming blanket. The scene was a little too familiar for comfort and he immediately bent down to scoop the bundle up fearing, for a moment, that Westview had seen fit to give him Corvus back and all the drama that surrounded him. Pulling the blanket back he was relieved to find a completely different baby. One that looked a bit like the vampire behind him. “It’s a baby…” He said, turning towards Louis so he could see. If this was anything like the last time it happened then the baby was theirs. He just hoped that Louis liked babies. Louis had just made it to the door when Regulus bent down to pick something up. He was almost in shock when he turned to him and announced it was a baby. “Who would drop a baby off at my doorway?” He couldn’t understand why they would do something like that. He looked to Regulus then back down at the little bundle. His emotions threatened to spill out of him as he dared to have a closer look, pushing the blanket aside to look down into the most precious face of a cooing baby girl. “Hello there, precious. Aren’t you just the cutest.” She was perfect and the vampire couldn’t help thinking of his own family.
“Close the door, Regulus.” Louis carefully took the baby into his arms then went to sit on the couch. She was perfect. “Should we call the police? Or maybe the hospital?” He didn’t want to give her back. What kind of parent would leave their baby at a stranger's doorstep? He couldn’t stop staring at her. “She needs someone who will take care of her and protect her.” This was going to be difficult to explain and he knew that. When Regulus looked up at Louis he frowned. Obviously, the vampire had come to the conclusion that made the most sense. Unfortunately, this was Westview and things were rarely as simple as some desperate parent leaving a child upon a stranger’s doorstep. He said nothing for the moment, deciding it was best to explain things once they were both seated. At least Louis seemed to like children. That made this easier, made him more than willing to release the little girl into her father’s arms.
He poked his head out and looked around once before shutting and locking the door. “We could call the hospital.” But not for the reason thTat Louis was thinking. The last time this had happened the doctor at the time had posted something about new parent care packages. They were in need of supplies. Regulus moved to sit beside Louis on the couch and debated how to address this. “Louis… you know that this place is strange, yes?” He asked. “Well… this sort of thing has happened before. The babies. They’re special. She’s yours. Well, our’s unless you’ve recently kissed someone else.” The last part was a joke. “So she does have someone who will take care of her and protect her.” As caught up in the little baby as he was, Louis could sense some tension and anxiety coming from Regulus. Why? It could be that the idea of someone dropping off a baby on some stranger didn't sit well with him either, but it seemed to be something more. He turned to look at the younger man and nodded. "Yes, I know this place is a bit strange." One would have to blind not to notice that. As he listened further a look of confusion and surprise came over his face. Could that be true?
"No, I haven't kissed anyone else, but how..." He looked back at the baby girl and felt his emotions well up again. "Is that true? Is she really mine...ours?" It was incredible and hard to believe. "She's ours." That had to sink in for a few moments. Never did he think he would have children after the change, but here and now he held his daughter in his arms. "Well, Regulus, our daughter needs a name." If he hadn't believed in magic before, he did now. It was weird to think of this happening again. When Corvus had been taken away Regulus hadn’t expected to ever be a parent again. He liked kids, sure, but parenthood wasn’t in the cards for him. Not in Westview, anyway, where he didn’t have to worry about his family or the expectation to continue on the bloodline (and keep it pure) now that he was the heir. He was just glad he was going through this again with Louis who seemed to have taken the news about her origin rather calmly. He was still a little anxious. This experience hadn’t been the most pleasant one last time it had happened but he was hopeful. Louis cared about them both.
He allowed that news about her origin to sink in a little without saying much, only nodding his head to confirm what he’d already told Louis. It was true. She was their child. The magic of this place was strong and unpredictable. He leaned in again to watch her as she observed her surroundings and the awed faces of her parents. Everything about her was perfect and Regulus was certain he had never loved anything more. He turned back to look at Louis once the vampire spoke and nodded. “My family has naming traditions…” He said. “But, I think, I’d like to hear your opinions on a name before I pull out an astronomy book.” Louis wasn't one to freak out over a magic baby. His first concern was the wellbeing and care for the child. Of course mingled with that was his wife and daughter he'd lost so long ago. The sadness and grief was ever present. He didn't think time would ever change that. The vampire wasn't sure he was ready to share that with Regulus. Not that he didn't trust him, but it was more that he didn't want to let that sadness take over when someone or something had given them a baby girl.
"I remember. You name children after stars and constellations. It's a beautiful tradition." Louis paused. "I was named after my grandfather. Elizabeth is a family name I like. I know it might seem old fashioned and I don't mind if it's her middle name." He paused again, looking down at the precious bundle then back up to Regulus. "We could break with tradition and pick a name we both like. If you're not then I'm okay with us choosing a constellation or star name we like." Regulus fell silent as he mulled over the name. Elizabeth was a lovely name. It may not have been the name of a star or a constellation but he did imagine that, perhaps, someone within his family would’ve liked it. Then again, maybe, he wouldn’t have cared so much what any of them thought. Looking at her and Louis he knew that the happiness of this family was far more important than the traditions his own had held onto for so long. “I’m glad you think it’s a beautiful tradition… but I do like your suggestion and not just for a middle name. Elizabeth would be a lovely name for her.”
The idea of rebelling against tradition had always scared him. Going against his family had never been a smart or safe decision. He’d learned that at a very young age. He hadn’t been able to shake those fears, not even here where he was sure he was far from them. The idea of rebelling in this little way, by not adhering to any tradition, didn’t scare him as much as he thought it should have. Instead he smiled at the idea and nodded. “We could do that.” He said. “We should do that. Maybe Elizabeth can still be her middle name but… maybe we can think of something a little more fitting.” He said before falling silent as he tried to think of a name, any he particularly liked. “What do you think about naming her after a flower?” "New traditions can be a beautiful thing," Louis smiled. He was glad Regulus liked the name. However, it seemed maybe he didn't. Something more fitting. That stung a little. Had he not been so wrapped up in the baby in his arms he may have said something. However, his focus was on her and there was no need to get into an argument or anything about a name. As long as they both liked it that was all that mattered.
She began to fuss a little and Louis gently rocked her. "There are a lot of flowers. Did you have any particular kind in mind for her name?" Daisy was the only one he could think of off the top of his head that he didn't care much for. New traditions. That was what he wanted to focus on, what he wanted to focus on making for himself and, possibly, them while they had this chance. If things played out the same they wouldn’t have her for very long so it was best to enjoy what they had while they had it. Regulus was already thinking about how he could make that work. Maybe he would see about staying with Louis while they had her. He didn’t want to take the baby out of her father’s home even if he was sleeping during the day.
“I can think up a few suggestions.” He said, smiling as he watched the expert way that Louis soothed her. “Mostly I was wondering about your opinion on the idea. If you don’t think it’s a good idea we can keep discussing.” They should settle on something they both liked or, at least, find a way to compromise if they couldn’t agree. “But a few suggestions I had were something like Rose, Iris, or Violet.” It was only right that Louis had an idea of what he was thinking of so he could decide if he liked any of the names or not. Rose, Iris and Violet. Louis bit at his lower lip to keep from chuckling. If Regulus thought Elizabeth was old fashioned and not as fitting, the former flower names were more old fashioned. “I like them all. I also like Ivy. What about you baby girl, do you like them?” He smiled and leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead thankful he had fed already and was still on the warm side to the touch. “I kind of like the sound of Ivy Elizabeth. Rose Elizabeth sounds nice, too.”
Louis shifted then carefully passed the baby to her other father. “Honestly any of those names are good with me, Regulus, but I would like Elizabeth to be her middle name.” He watched the younger man with their baby and couldn’t get over the sight. Whoever or whatever brought her to them must have known a few things about the vampire and Louis was thankful. Maybe it wasn’t so bad here after all. “So what’s it going to be, dad?” Louis grinned. Ivy. He hadn’t even thought about that one but he liked that name as well. He mulled over the two choices in his head. Rose Elizabeth or Ivy Elizabeth… He was more than willing to agree to Louis’ request for the middle name. He supposed he could also be easily convinced to name her something like Elizabeth Rose or Elizabeth Ivy. Those both had nice rings to them as well.
He looked up as the baby was handed to him, happily taking their daughter and gently cradling her in his arms. He was glad he had some sort of experience from the first time this happened. He would’ve hated to be absolutely useless when it came to caring for her. “Well…” He started before letting out a soft laugh when Louis called him “dad”. He was a dad, wasn’t he? The last time he had hardly felt like it with the constant disapproval from his flatmate and the back and forth with his baby’s other parent. “Wow… dad. I never thought…” He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to get choked up over that. “Rose Elizabeth, I think… but you could convince me to go Elizabeth Rose if you think it sounds better.” He could see that Regulus was getting a bit emotional and leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips. “I know exactly how you feel.” And he did in so many ways. “I think Rose Elixabeth is a good name.” Louis looked down at their daughter and smiled, taking a moment to take hold of her tiny hand. “Hello Elizabeth Rose. You’re so beautiful and precious. Your dad and I are going to take care of you and keep you safe and love you with all our heart and souls.” Even if Louis didn’t have a beating heart in his mind he still had a heart. He retained his humanity despite what he was.
“This is the best night I’ve had since I’ve been here. We’ll need to get her a few things for the morning. Diapers and some formula. We can do a full shopping trip when I wake up tomorrow evening.” Regulus returned the soft kiss before allowing his attention to drift naturally back to their baby. She really was beautiful and precious. Regulus couldn’t get over the fact that she existed even if he tried to remind himself that this was only temporary. They wouldn’t be allowed to keep her forever no matter how much either of them may have wanted that. He leaned and pressed another gentle kiss to her forehead before immediately going over what they would need for her and what he would need to bring over for himself.
“It has been a very good night, hasn’t it?” He agreed. “We can see if there’s a place still open for us to purchase those right away and, while you’re still up, I’d like to stop by my place. I’m just going to need to grab a few things so I can prolong my stay. I don’t want to move her from home to home too much. I’d rather she live here with us.” He was sure Louis would agree. He couldn’t imagine either of them wanting to be too far from her for very long.