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In the evening, I would usually return to our cold house and bed. But not before cuddling with Vincenta. She didn’t display the same expressions as when Muma Padurii occupied her body, but her warmth still emanated from her being. And I wasn’t a picky person. “Give me a small cuddle, and I’ll give you a large snuggle.” Then I would make myself an herbal tea and off to bed. But sleep didn’t like me during that time. I struggled to even close my eyes every time I would see his face and wished it would all be done soon. But just like all “soons,” it liked to be ambiguous. And the ambiguousness made me fret uncontrollably. I would get out of the house and stand next to the gate, waiting for the love of my life to return. Several times, I questioned if I should time travel to Athena and spend time with her, but the fear of missing his return doubled my anxiety. So I preferred to stay.
During one of the nights, while I stood at the gate, I saw a shadow. From afar, it could’ve been an owl’s or some kind of animal’s, but the closer it got, the clearer it became. It was him. I dashed toward Gabriel with the exuberance of a thousand years. He looked just like I remembered, except drenched in blood. Though his face blended with the shadows of the night, one feature began to become apparent even in the darkness––his radiant smile.
Finally, in his embrace, he spun me around and kissed me with abandon. Then peered into my eyes. “I fear I have dirtied your beautiful face,” he said.
“We can always go to the river and swim.” I smiled mischievously.
Sometimes, Gabriel didn’t quite get when I joked and when I dared him. As once my words escaped my mouth, he went supersonic, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself on the bank of the same river we first went on a date.
“Are you out of your mind?” I asked.
“Your wish is my command,” he said as he jumped into the water with his arms still wrapped around me.
“Wait, our clothes.”
“They’ll dry. Eventually.” Gabriel smiled.
I had to do my duty and splash him several times, but when one fought a supernatural being, things usually didn’t turn in my favor. Still, he played the game diligently and, as a true chivalrous knight, let me win.
After I took a celebratory bow, Gabriel wrapped his arms around me and went for a deep kiss. “Finally, I have you all to myself,” he said as a silver streak traveled across his eyes.
“Not quite. There’s someone with us.”
“Where?” Gabriel surveilled our surroundings.
“In my belly.” I chuckled.
“You are with child?” Gabriel’s eyes widened.
I nodded shyly.
In one swift move, he raised me, twirled me around, and then embraced me. It reminded me just how strong my husband had become. The blend between the future and present Gabriel made my mind swirl in excitement. How could I be so lucky to get to experience this with him?
“The joy you bring me. I am the happiest when I’m with you, my love.” Gabriel laughed.
“Wait till the sleepless nights roll in,” I said.
∞∞∞
After Gabriel helped Vlad the Impaler with the Forest of the Impaled and completed his transformation, things went for the better. While pregnant, we lived at our house in the village, with Gabriel satisfying every whim I had. I also preferred not to travel in time while pregnant with my baby, as two time-wielding children would be too much for one family. Plus, Gabriel planned to turn our child into a vampire as soon as he turned twenty.
We had our sweet boy, Xavier Theseus Stoica, at our home with the help of Muma Padurii. Somehow a witch gave me more confidence than a medieval doctor. Gabriel resembled the definition of elation. Even in rudimentary conditions (where were diapers when you needed them?), Gabriel represented the epitome of fatherhood, probably compensating for the times he missed with Athena. We had Tiberiu become his godparent, and everyone else, including Solomonarul, Teodora, Anca, and Grandma Stoica, made sure to spoil the boy rotten.
After two years spent in blissful parenthood, I decided to travel back to Athena (which was technically twenty-four hours) and bring her for the first time to Wallachia. She had been living with my parents the entire time, for which I planned to buy them soda and technology stocks when the time arrived as a thank-you for raising Athena. I also brought my parents for a visit, but that was a story for another time.
When Gabriel saw Athena for the first time, he fell to his knees. She, of course, didn’t understand who he was as she barely started walking, but to Gabriel, it didn’t matter, for he planned to build a bond far stronger than time. The hug that followed tugged at my heart. His silvery tears rolled down his face as a form of penance for what he could’ve done to her in a different life. “If only you knew how much I love you and how much fear I still hold within for the times I almost hurt you,” he said, trying to contain his remorse. He looked at her beautiful brown and blue eyes, relishing in her features.
“Dada,” Athena said.
Gabriel froze at the sound of her words. “Did she call me ‘Dad’?” he asked me.
“Indeed, she did.” I smiled.
“But how? She has never seen me before.”
“My parents have a vast collection of photos from our wedding. Weirdly, many involve only you. Mom didn’t have to be so obvious about who was her favorite between the two of us, but I guess it came in handy now.”
For the following five hundred years, Athena spent summers in Wallachia and subsequently in other parts of Europe, while for my parents, that meant three hours of rest each day. Though Athena was always one, Gabriel couldn’t be happier to play with her. Every time she would return, he would prepare a new wooden toy for her to play with.
