Video Chat

Announcements

Cassandra sighed, checking the screen on her laptop once again. Why wasn't he picking up?!

Yes, it was considerably earlier than the time that they normally video-chatted-- it was nine o'clock in the morning, as opposed to their usual nine-at-night routine-- but still... What was keeping him?

She turned her attention to the book that she had next to her, engrossing herself in its pages. It wasn't until she heard Varian's tired voice that she realized that he'd actually picked up.

"Cassie?" he asked, "is everything alright?"

Note to self, she thought bitterly to herself, don't call Varian earlier than normal, or else he'll think it's an emergency.

"Yes, everything's just fine. I just... Wanted to talk."

Varian frowned, quickly rubbing his eyes. "Yeah?"

Cass sighed a little. This might end up taking a little longer than she'd hoped.

"I... I wanted to show you something. Y'know... Before we both went off and did whatever we've got planned for today."

"Okay, then," he said, suddenly sitting up a little straighter, "what's up?"

Ruddiger ran into the room where Cass was just then, something firmly clamped in his mouth. Cass smiled a little, reaching to take it from the raccoon and giving him an affectionate scratch behind the ears.

"Thanks, buddy."

Varian smiled a little. Sure, it had taken awhile, but still, it was finally happening: Cass was finally opening up to Ruddiger.

And then she held up the item that had been in his mouth so that Varian could see it. "Check this out."

He studied it closely, confused at first. And then that confusion melted away, replaced by curiosity and... Perhaps uncertainty.

"Is that... Is that what I think that is, Cassie?"

She snorted. "If you think it's a sandwich, then no."

Varian laughed, shaking his head. "No... Is that-- are you--?"

"And we've got a top competitor for 'Most Incoherent Speaker,'" Cass announced to no one in particular, "Varian, come on down!"

Of course, Varian knew what he wanted to say. He knew what she was showing him. But, for whatever reason, he couldn't. He couldn't say anything, couldn't form the words beyond the thoughts.

He swallowed back the lump in his throat and tried again. "Are you saying... A baby?"

Cass nodded, her eyes getting uncharacteristically glassy. "Yeah. We're... We're going to have a baby."

Varian let out a laugh, the excitement he was suddenly feeling showing itself in the sound. He couldn't necessarily help it when the tears started making their way down his face.

"Cassie... Oh, my gosh, Cassie..."

"Bet you weren't expecting that to be your wake-up call this morning, did you?"

He smiled. "Not one bit, Cassie."

Not one bit.