"Victor." (END)

"Beautiful. Did you pick a name?" Gary said.

Gary's mom looked up from the new baby they had made together. "Your dad says I should pick a 'V' name since he's two-thirds me," Veevee said.

"Yeah," Gary said. "How about Victor?"

"Victor." Veevee laughed. "I like that. He'll conquer the world," she said. "At least part of it." She got a wicked look on her face and beckoned to Gary to lean close. She whispered in his ear.

"Mom!" Gary protested.

"Own it, you naughty boy," Veevee said. "You know it's true."

Gary laughed. "Guess so. Any regrets?"

Veevee laughed out loud. "Nope. After all, you're the one on diaper duty for the next year, year and a half."

"Mom!"

The baby coughed and gurgled. Veevee grinned. "You should be thankful you didn't knock up your sister too," she said.

Gary's expression softened. He shrugged. "All right, guess I earned it."

Veevee's phone chimed from the bedside tray. She grabbed Gary, kissed him, and answered the phone.

"Yes, sweetheart," Veevee said. "Yes, the baby's here. And the perpetrator. He doesn't look too unhappy. No. Yes. Yes. Anything you want to tell Gary? Ha ha, not on the phone. Okay darling. See you soon." She closed the connection. "Well, enjoy your freedom till tomorrow," she told Gary. "Catch up on sleep, 'cause you're on baby duty as soon as me and Victor get home."

Gary swayed on his feet, feeling the fatigue of all the hours he'd been up waiting. "Peter said he'd take me home," Gary said.

"Then go. Git. Sleep. Because tomorrow is gonna be a new world for you, dad," Veevee said.

Gary shook his head. He took a deep breath. A tear rolled down his cheek.

"You gonna be okay, Gary?" Veevee said.

"Yeah mom," Gary said. He took her hand. "Just tired. And everything. I'm gonna be okay."

Veevee squeezed his hand. "I love you. Get some sleep, and be good."