Issue 1 Downtime

When Victoria returned, the babysitter definitely looked on the verge of panic, standing outside the baby's room. There was a low moaning coming from within, and it felt like the place was creaking and shifting on its foundation, in a way that buildings as recent as this simply didn't do.

As Victoria entered the room, one wouldn't be able to tell that this girl had been plagued by breakdowns for the past few days. She had her icy calm about her, and walked in like she owned the goddamn world. Which, admittedly, she might think that she did.

She glanced at the room, then at the babysitter, then back at Claire. "Darling, while I deal with this, can you be a dear and get her two hundred pounds out of my purse? It's next to my bed." Then she walked into the room where her daughter was, various oddly-composed bracelets on her hand flowing down into the shadow-and-ice dagger that was her focus.

"You who enter this place uninvited!" she spat. "Speak!"

Nothing had managed to enter the room that she could sense, but something was straining, clawing at the wards from without. She could feel each stroke of an insubstantial finger as it traced letters on the wall from the other side, letters that expressed themselves in blood.

"L-E-T-U-S-I-N"

Victoria growled, but resisted the urge to stab the wall to make the wards lash out at whatever was there. "You who disturb this home demanding entry, I command you by my power to name yourselves!"

"W-E-A-R-E-O-F-N-G-A-R-A-I"

"W-E-W-I-S-H-T-O-S-E-E-T-H-E-C-H-I-L-D"

Victoria's eyes narrowed... and this time, she did stab her dagger into the wall to make the wards flare and strike at the intruders. "N'Garai, you assault my place of power! You will leave, never to return, on pain of binding, banishment and death!" Although likely, they're going to force the issue...

There was an inhuman shriek as the wards flared, and a pause before there was more writing.

"W-E-W-I-L-L-W-A-I-T"

The writing stopped.

"So will I," Victoria whispered, the dagger flowing back up to wrap around her wrist again. Shaking slightly, she turned, picking Vivien up and hugging her. Oh, goddess...

After dealing with the babysitter, Claire came in.

"Is Vivien all right?" Claire asks, looking worried.

Victoria swallowed and nodded. "Little upset from the noise," she said, shaking a little. "I... they couldn't get in. That... didn't make them happy." How do I keep them out?

"That's good, right?" Claire asks.

Victoria swallowed. "No," she said quietly. "I don't know why they were here... and this isn't just something gravitating to me while she might be in the way. They were here for her. I've been very, very careful not to let anyone on that side know about her."

"Oh, god," Claire says, "...I'm so sorry, Victoria."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I... need to start asking for answers, and... goddess, I'd been hoping to not have to ask people for anything..."

Claire just puts a comforting hand on Victoria's shoulder.

She swallowed. "Claire... can... can you watch Vivien for an hour tonight? In your room? It doesn't matter what time. I just... need a free hour." She leaned her face against the hand, trying very hard (without too much success) not to shake.

"Of course I can," Claire says.

"I'm sorry, I... It shouldn't take long."

"Take as long as you need," Claire says, "She's safe with me."

Victoria smiled a little. "I know... I think you're the only one I'd trust for that right now."

Claire smiles, "I won't let you down. I promise."

((later))

It had been two hours, actually, that Victoria was gone. She'd been apologetic for it, but distant as she brought Vivien back to her room, though she wouldn't object if Claire came with her.

Claire followed after her, lingering at her doorway.

"Are you okay?" Claire asks hesitantly.

She sat down on the couch, leaning back, letting Vivien sleep on her chest. "I..." She closed her eyes. "No, I don't think I am..."

Claire stepped inside, taking a seat next to Victoria.

"What happened?"

"I... I could keep her safe with me," she said, her fingers running affectionately over the baby's head. "I'd... change, if I did. I've seen what that's like, when people came back from the future. It's... not a happy existence for me. I could deal with that, but... it's not a happy way for Vivien to grow up, either."

"Oh, hun..." Claire says quietly.

"I could find nannies and make sure she has good schools to be boarded at... but I promised myself I wouldn't be like my mother raising her..."

"I know," Claire says quietly.

Victoria nodded, leaning down and kissing the sleeping baby on the head. "And... if it was someone I knew that... would raise her near me... she wouldn't be safe." Though she obviously was trying to keep her voice matter-of-fact, it cracked as her eyes filled with tears.

Claire puts her arm around Victoria's shoulder, holding her tightly. Not saying anything. Just being there for her friend.

Victoria leaned against her, trying not to be too loud. "Tell me I'm not a horrible mother. I don't care if you have to lie, just tell me. Please," she whimpered.

"You're not," Claire says sincerely, "A terrible mother wouldn't sacrifice every bit of happiness for her daughter's safety. She wouldn't rip out her own heart to make sure her daughter is safe."

"You are a wonderful mother," Claire says, "I've never met a better one."

She squeezed her eyes shut. "Do you think she'll forgive me for this someday?"

"Of course," Claire says, assuring Victoria, "I know she will."