Chapter Text
Vi hadn't held a baby in years.
Jinx was the first and, until this point, only baby she had ever held. Vi remembers being scared because Jinx was so small. She was worried she'd accidently hold her wrong and hurt her, and it hurt to hear her cry. Vi had these fears for weeks until one day, a very upset Jinx had only stopped crying when placed in Vi's arms, still small and glassy eyes looking at her older sister with so much adoration for such a small being.
But Vi wasn't scared this time around. Not about hurting the baby, that is.
New parents always have fears. Especially about if they're doing things right for their child, Vi thinks she may have wondered about every possible thing she could do wrong over the course of the last 10-or-so months. It was such a nerve-wracking experience for her, but it had to have been that tenfold for Caitlyn.
She had carried their child and suffered through all the aches and pains over the (close to) 10 months she spent carrying their baby. She was the most frustrated with not being able to work properly and all the older women of Piltover who thought it was just okay to touch her without permission. Vi remembers when she barely managed to not blow up at a whole gaggle of women who simply invited themselves into her space, and only didn't because Vi told them to basically fuck off in the kindest way possible (which wasn't very kind at all, especially considering they were making Caitlyn uncomfortable.)
However, all that came to a climax when she went into labor and nearly half a day later, 11 hours to be exact, Vi is able to hold her newborn in her arms.
Vi had tears in her eyes when a very tired Caitlyn offered their baby to her, smiling so gently as Vi shakily took the small thing into her arms. Camellia, they had named her. A beautiful baby girl who had very small wisps of purple hair¹ that was an almost perfect mix of her red-pink and Caitlyn's dark blue.
It had taken them many years to even consider trying to have a child. Now, with the both of them in their late 20's, she sees that that was the right choice. They wouldn't have loved Camellia any less if she had been born several years prior, but she would have grown up with parents who were still trying to recover from their traumas and learn how to cope with them. They felt that any child of theirs deserved to grow up not knowing of their parent's hardships but rather find out about them when they are old enough to understand them.
After many years she finally holds her baby in her arms, and she is surrounded by an overwhelming feeling of love. They'd been out of the hospital for two weeks now and Vi has been doing her best to take care of both of them, even though Caitlyn constantly tells her to “just focus on the baby”. Like hell she'd not care for her wife who literally pushed an entire human out of her body and is still in the recovery period. Caitlyn had always been stubborn like that, preferring that others did not dote or care for her because she'd somehow feel guilty. Undeserving, even.
That was a huge part of Caitlyn's own recovery, learning to accept that kind of care and love. There were a lot of late-night discussions and tears and eventually sessions with professionals to help her. Vi had hated to see Caitlyn shrink in on herself, to see her lose confidence and begin to think of herself as a liability because of her new-found struggles with her disability. Vi had worked hard to prove to Caitlyn that she wasn't going anywhere, and Caitlyn's own frustrations with herself weren't going to deter her from caring about her.
Vi sighs softly, doing her best to keep quiet as to not startle Camellia. Everytime she looks at her the more she sees Caitlyn in their daughter, as if her striking blue eyes weren't enough. That had been Vi's favorite part of meeting Camellia, was seeing her open her little eyes only to find Caitlyn's own staring back at her. She had secretly been hoping their daughter would carry more of Caitlyn's traits, not because she didn't want a child that reflected her but rather to be able to look at her daughter and wife and see the two of the people she loves most in both of them.
It's quiet mornings like this that she finds herself thinking of all the people who Camellia would never get to meet and vice versa. Vi knows that her mother would've loved her daughter, and would've been the proudest of grandmothers. Her father and Vander would've found everything Vi-like in Camellia. Little features and behaviors that were distinctly Vi. Mylo would have the softest spot for Camellia, probably would've done his best to be her favorite uncle. Vi chuckles lightly at that, knowing that him and Jinx would've gone at it to be Camellia’ favorite. Claggor would have easily won that competition, Vi can already tell. He always had a certain energy about him that made children very friendly with him, so Camellia would have enjoyed simply being in his presence as much as Vi did.
What makes her wonder the most though is Jinx. Vi knows that she struggles with the idea of not being the only thing someone wants, which came as a result of her trauma and being primarily raised by Silco of all people for her most important developmental years. Although she doesn't think she would be jealous of a baby of all things. Instead, Vi wonders if Jinx would like her niece, if she would love her. She likes to think that she would, that she would love being an aunt. Vi knows that she's out there somewhere, Caitlyn had told her of her personal research many years ago. Vi wants to see her sister again, it's the one thing she could ever want; but, if she's happy wherever she is, then who is Vi to take her away from that? All she's ever wished for her baby sister was for her to be happy and safe, and if being away and out of Piltover or Zaun is doing that, then so be it.
Vi just can't help but think about her daughter's future with her auntie Jinx in it. Jinx braiding her niece's hair after she grew it out, putting cute little hair ties, bows, and other small decorations in her hair to make her the cutest thing in the whole world. Camellia indulging in Jinx's crazy and loud activities, coming home dirty but insanely happy. Jinx, holding a small Camellia in her arms, simply staring at her with nothing but care and adoration. The same way she looked at Vi as a baby.
Camellia makes a soft noise, and Vi snaps out of her thoughts to look down at her daughter. She's yawning in the cutest way possible, probably tired of her mom's constant thinking. Vi laughs softly, rubbing her thumb against the little one's cheeks. “I'm sorry baby, am I thinking too loud for you?” Vi asks, already developing a ‘baby voice’ as Caitlyn would call it. Camellia smacks her lips at her, telling Vi everything she needs to know.
“You're so right, ‘lia.” She exclaims, although still in a whisper. It's not exactly early nor late, the sun already rising higher and higher. Vi had taken Camellia to her future nursery-room, for when Caitlyn and her felt comfortable enough to have to elsewhere, and sat down in the very comfortable rocking chair that originally belonged to Caitlyn's grandmother. Vi talked to her daughter for the better half of an hour before getting lost in her thoughts, enjoying the simple silence that came with a dozing baby and a mostly empty home. Now, though, Camellia is making various kinds of noises with Vi softly cooing at her and talking to her again.
Eventually Vi looks out the window for a moment, watching as the sun rises higher in the sky and as the deep blues fade into lighter blues with strokes of pink. Something about that seems symbolic to her now, blue was always a color she associated with the people she loved most. First Jinx and then Caitlyn. Now her world is filled with purple, the soft, deep color that her daughter carried.
Looking down at her daughter, a living piece of her, she feels overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions. Most importantly, she is filled with love.
Pure, unadulterated love.
“You might be the best thing to have ever happened to me, Camellia.” Vi says, tears welling up in her eyes. Camellia makes a confused noise and begins to wave her hands around frantically. Vi, in her mix of tears and happiness, holds her daughter closer. “My sweet flower,” She mumbles, uncaring for the spit that begins to cover the strands of hair Camellia is able to grab.
“Should we go see mama?” Vi asks, suddenly feeling a distant need to see Caitlyn again. Camellia must agree because she begins to babble more, as if asking for her mom.
The trip from the nursery to their rooms is a short one, seeing as Caitlyn did not wish to be far from her daughter when the time came for her to be in a separate room. Opening the door, Vi immediately notices that Caitlyn is not in bed.
Camellia squirms in her arms, recognizing her environment. She must associate this room with Caitlyn as she's in here most of the day with her. “Where'd your mama go? Hm?” Vi asks, her voice soft and gentle. Vi walks to different parts of their room, making a small game out of checking into places she knows Caitlyn wouldn't be.
Vi's not surprised when the amount of noise she's making causes the bathroom door to open, a very tired looking Caitlyn stepping out. “Good morning,” the blue-haired woman says, yawning afterwards. “How long have you two been up?”
“A few hours, I think. It was still mostly dark when I went to check up on her.” Caitlyn hums in response, softly closing the door behind her. “Let's hope you didn't mess up her sleep schedule.” Vi smiles. Both of them know Camellia never had a schedule. No matter how hard they tried to get her on one. “At least she sleeps through most of the night,” Vi says, taking Caitlyn's arm when she is close enough. “Hm, I suppose we should be happy about that.” The other says, allowing Vi to help her back to their bed.
“Do you want her?” Vi asks, readjusting Camellia in her arms as she makes sure Caitlyn gets settled. Caitlyn smiles, tilting her head to look up at Vi, “Of course, love. Go freshen up for the day.” Camellia is quick to settle into her arms, mouth searching for food. Caitlyn laughs, and does what she needs to do.
Vi stares at them for a moment, watching how gently Caitlyn holds their daughter, how much care she puts into making sure she's okay. She watches how Camellia lit up near her mother, gratefully latching onto her.
“Vi?” She hears, and all she does is smile. Vi leans forward and kisses Caitlyn's forehead, who in turn reaches a hand to squeeze at Vi's arm. “I'll be right back,” she says, ready to take Caitlyn's advice and take a nice warm shower with all of her fancy soap.
“Take your time, It's not like I'm going anywhere.” Caitlyn jokes, softly rubbing her thumb against the exposed skin of Vi's arm. “Uh-huh,” Vi says, walking away from the two of them towards the bathroom Caitlyn was just in.
Vi loved her little family. She never quite imagined building one of her own outside of the one she found. The Vi from 7 years ago would laugh if you told her she'd be married, to a Kiramman no less, with a newborn daughter only a little more than half a decade later. She'd laugh and call you crazy.
But now?
28 years old, with a partner she loves and a daughter she adores more than the sun in the sky. Vi wouldn't trade this for anything. All she would need to complete this almost dream-like future of hers would be to have her baby sister at her side. Vi knows that's a tough thing to ask for, especially from her sister herself. Vi wants Jinx to be happy, to feel the happiness she feels now, but being away from her is a constant ache she feels.
Vi likes to think that Jinx is happy, wherever she is. It fills her heart to know that her baby sister is at peace somewhere, escaped from the places that caused her so much pain. Vi would love for her to meet Camellia, but she knows that that is a fleeting dream.
Vi sighs, running a hand through her already messy hair.
One day, she thinks. Camellia will be loved, and one day she may be loved by her aunt, Vi smiles at the thought, already envisioning a future for her daughter.
For now though, she has her little family to sustain her. Something to care for, something to live for.
She's happy. Vi's so happy.