Chapter 3
" Hello world, I'm Little Miss Victoria.....
Eric Finch rounded the corner and froze, watching Evey. Even after what she had gone through over the last months, Finch was impressed with the strength the young woman still possessed. He handed the clipboard to her. " You ok?"
Evey smiled up at him as she took the board, scrawling her name across the end of the paper. " Yeah, " She paused, " We're both fine." She patted her belly gently.
Finch took the paperwork from her, laying it on a nearby table. " Com'on, I'll take you home. You need to rest before tonight." Gently taking her by the elbow, he led her from the tent and back toward the patrol car.
" Eric, " Evey paused as he opened the door for her, " I want to thank you for all you've done." She stopped, her hand resting on his arm. " I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you being there that night."
" I wasn't going to let you go through all of that alone, " Finch sighed, " besides, everything you said at the train made sense-----it just took me a long time to realize it. We owe you and V a great deal."
" Thanks, Eric." Evey took her place in the front seat as Finch pushed the door shut.
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The figure hidden by the semi-shadow of the building watched as the Chief Inspector drove away. V had caught sight of his ex-antagonist just before he slipped behind the wheel of his car. There had been someone else with Finch, but V couldn't tell who it was-----most likely, it was his partner, Dominic Stone. A grim expression flushed V's face----he still had something to finish with the lieutenant, something he owed Evey. V twirled the cane in his fingers once, then turned and slowly walked away.
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" Are you sure you'll be ok for a couple hours by yourself?" Finch asked as he waited with Evey as the Gallery's door slowly swung open. " I know that you've gone through over the last couple days, and....."
" Eric, I'm fine.....really----just a little tired, that's all." Evey smiled up at him as she stepped through the doorway, Finch behind her.
" You've got my number......"
" Yes, Eric, I have your number...." Evey giggled as he looked around the priceless treasures that the gallery held. " Are you ok?"
Finch let out a deep sigh as his hands landed on his hips. " I just can't get over everything he has.....had down here. My god, if Sutler would have known........" Finch shook his head slowly, then turned back to Evey. " Sorry....."
" It's ok, Eric. " Evey replied, " He would have been pleased to hear you talk like that....."
" Well, let me get back to the office.....Dominic will start worrying about me......." He smiled at her, " He's a good kid, you know."
" Yeah." Evey smiled as she walked Finch back to the doorway.
" I'll pick you up about six." Finch reached over and placed a kiss upon Evey's cheek. " Get some rest, ok?"
" I will....I promise." She answered as she watched him disappear down the tunnel. " Well, a cup of tea would be good." She said softly as she reset the security system again. A swift kick to her ribcage drew her hand to her abdomen. " You agree too?" The smile quickly disappeared from her lips as melancholy memories flashed into her mind. Memories still too fresh to be pushed back into the recess of her subconscious. It was then that the first drop of wetness ran down her cheek as the steel guarded composure she had been faking so well broke down, and soft sobs escaped her throat. " V......." Her heart-wrenching voice echoed off the stone walls, " Why did you do this to me?!" She cried, " Why did you leave me after you told me you loved me?" The last sentence hung in the silence of the gallery. " Why couldn't you have picked me over that damn vendetta of yours?!" She looked into the emptiness of the Shadow Gallery, " We're going to have a baby-----do you hear me, V?!" She screamed into the stillness. " A baby-----we're going to have a baby....." She barely made it to the settee before her legs collapsed and she curled into the corner, her sobs, her only companion.
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Bare hands rested on the railing of the balcony as weary eyes looked out over London's skyline. Evey was out there-----somewhere. She had been on V's mind ever since he had seen Finch at the park. How many times over the last months had he fought the urge to find Evey and bring her home to Ravensclaw----how often had he slowly slipped into the abyss to forget the pain that had wrenched his heart unmercifully when her smiling face had appeared in his mind-----how much longer could he survive without her?
" Evey, " V closed his eyes tightly, " I am so sorry...." His breath caught in his throat, "Please forgive me....." Turning, he walked back into the suite.
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Dominic Stone looked up as the office door opened. " How is she?" He asked as Finch flung his coat across the back of his chair. " As well as can be expected."
Dominic nodded. " The final report came in from demolition cleanup-----they didn't find anything at the site." Stone paused. " Not even a tiny piece of the mask."
Finch let out a deep breath. " That's what I figured-----after seeing what was on that car...." Picking up a coffee mug, he poured it half full. " V was probably blown to bits."
Dominic looked away.
" You coming to the dedication?" Finch asked.
" Yeah.....we do owe him something I guess." Stone replied.
" And Evey."
" And Evey...." Dominic smiled up at Finch.
" She loved him, you know." Finch turned back to his desk, and began shuffling through some papers.
" I don't know how...." Stone sighed, " Hell, he held her prisoner and tortured her, Chief-----how could she love someone like that?"
Finch shrugged his shoulders, " I don't know, Dominic, I just don't know....."
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Will looked as V, his hands grasping the hat he held. " You sure you want to do this boss?"
" I am quite sure, Will." V smiled grabbing his cane and hat from the table. He looked at his friend. " I'll be fine."
" I can bring the car around, if you like."
" No, I believe I'll walk----it's such a wondrous night...." V walked to the door, then turned to face his friend. " Take the night off."
A wide grin broke across the blonde's face. " Thanks. If you need anything, call."
" I will, William." Opening the door, V walked out.
Will closed the door after him, then threw the chauffeur's hat on the table and unbuttoned the jacket. He was concerned over the possibility of what could happen tonight at the dedication if V did find Evey. Entering the adjacent suite, he changed clothes.
Evey was sitting in front of the makeup mirror V had used so often in the past, putting the final touches on her makeup when the first contraction hit. Her hands closed around her stomach protectively as the first cramp traveled across her abdomen, her face contorting in pain. Suddenly, fear seized her mind as she realized that the baby was coming-----two months to soon! Evey pulled herself from the chair and slowly began walking toward the main gallery room as a gush of warm liquid cascaded down her legs and onto the stone floor. " Oh. God...." She breathed, steadying herself against one of V's priceless statues. After taking a deep breath, she continued across the room to the piano. Dialing Finch's number, she placed the cell phone to her ear.
" Eric Finch." Came the gruff voice across the line.
" Eric, it's Evey...."
" I was just on my way to pick you up." Finch told her.
" My water broke, Eric. I need to get to the hospital....." Evey's voice broke off as she bit her lip as another pain grabbed her.
" I'll be there in five minutes!" Evey heard just before the phone went dead. She sat down carefully on the bench----another pain hitting at the same time, and she stuffed her fist into her mouth to keep from crying out. The minutes seem to pass slowly as she waited for Eric to arrive, and almost jumped out of her skin when loud pounding began on the gallery door. Rising slowly, she made it to the wall and entered the security code into the keyboard.
Finch didn't wait for the door to open all the way, he squeezed himself through the opening. " Evey?" He looked around frantically.
" Over here."
He hurried toward Evey, wrapping his arms protectively about her, then led her to the red settee by the wall. " Where is your bag?"
" Master bedroom, by the closet." She answered.
" I'll be right back." Finch took off down the hallway, returning moments later, a small overnight bag in his hand. " Right then, off we go...." Finch helped her up and made their way from the Shadow Gallery and into the hallway, the door closing behind them securely. By the time they had reached the car, the contractions were no more than five minutes apart, and Finch had no alternative to rush her to Guy's Hospital with sirens wailing and lights flashing. Within ten minutes she had been admitted and moved into a small, private delivery room where her daughter would be born. Evey was told that because the baby was breached, a necessary Cesarian would be performed so her daughter could be delivered safely. Evey tried to keep her eyes open, but the anesthetic weaving it's way through her mind was putting her into a deep sleep. Finally, her eyes closed as she drifted into oblivion.
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" Evey.....?" She heard a voice calling from off in the distance. " Evey my love, open your eyes.....there is someone who wants to meet you...." The soft voice drew her from her sleep, and she opened her eyes trying to focus on the shadow beside her.
" Ah....there you are...." Finally, her eyes focused, and she looked into the smiling face of Guy Fawkes.
" V?" She asked groggily.
" Yes love, I'm here......and so is our daughter. " V 's mask tilted downward toward a small bundle wrapped in a soft, pink blanket. " Would you like to see her?"
Evey smiled up at him, " Oh yes......." She paused as a tear trickled from the corner of her eye and onto the sterile white pillow.
Gently, V placed the pink blanket into her arms. Pushing the corner away, she glanced down into the face of her daughter, Victoria. Evey cried softly as fingers gently ran through thick black hair, and she counted every finger and checked every part of her head and face, making sure she had not lost one precious gift her father had bestowed upon her. " Oh V, she's beautiful...." Evey watched as a small delicate hand grasped around her long, slender fingers. " She has your black hair.....and blue eyes....."
" If that is what you believe, my love, then yes, she does indeed." He rose from the chair and stood beside them-------his gloved hand resting gently over theirs. " Evey, please believe me when I say that I never wanted to hurt you."
She looked into the dark slits, " I know V, I've known that for so long....."
Crossing his hands before him, he stepped away from the bed as the lighting began to change. " I love you Evey----you and Victoria both, but I can't stay-----I am no longer part of this world-----my life here, is finished."
Evey reached out her free hand to him, " V, no! Stay! Please, I need you to stay.....here with me....with us...." She cried softly as the child opened dark blue eyes and looked into hers.
" My love, if only I could have a wish, it would be to remain here......" He continued to back into a brilliant continuum of light. " I will always be with you.....if not in body, then in spirit....." He raised a hand in farewell. " Tell her of me my love.....tell her of the man, not the idea who was her father....."
Evey watched as he disappeared, sobs erupting from within her soul. " She will know V, I promise....she will know you....." Evey's eyes closed slowly as she pulled Victoria against her chest.
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V watched the sea of Guy Fawkes masks move around him toward the platform where several speakers sat waiting impatiently. V searched the stage for Evey, but she was not there----maybe she was running late------he wouldn't put it past her. A middle-aged man with graying hair stepped to the podium.
" I want to thank everyone for coming tonight, but unfortunately, our main speaker Miss Evey Hammond will not be appearing due to an emergency meeting with the antiquities director of Egypt. Miss Hammond sends her apologies and wishes she could be here to help unveil the statue that is to be dedicated in memory of a true English hero----Codename V........."
V's heart skipped a beat as the news sunk into his brain-----Evey had been called away on an emergency meeting------once again, he would be cheated from seeing the woman he loved. With his head hung low, and shoulders slumped, he made his way through the growing crowd and headed back to the hotel.
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Evey's eyes slowly opened. The anesthesia hadn't quite worn off yet, and she still felt groggy, but she could feel the hand holding hers tightly. Looking over, she gazed into Finch's smiling face.
" Hi." He said softly placing her hand on the bed. " You need to rest."
" The baby...."
" Is fine...." Finch replied, " Beautiful little girl......." He paused looking at Evey, " but you had a bit of a rough time though."
Evey closed her eyes as sudden tiredness swept over her.
" As a matter of fact....." Finch watched as the door opened and a young nurse walked in, a bright pink blanket snuggled in her arms.
" I believe someone wants to see you...." The nurse smiled as she placed the blanket into Evey's arms.
Evey pushed the corner aside revealing bright pink skin as a small fist waved in the air while patches of dark hair could be seen as she lifted the blanket from her daughter's head. " Hello Victoria....." Evey smiled as tears ran down her cheeks and, if as in reply, a pair of dark blue eyes gazed up at her. She looked at Finch, " She is beautiful, Eric-----I----I just wish V could see her....."
Finch touched her cheek gently, " Where ever he is, I am quite sure he can."
Evey looked down at her daughter, " I know he can, Eric...." She stopped, then smiled up at him. " I know he sees her, hears her, and loves her......" Closing her eyes, she could see the Fawkes mask, and knew that there was a grin as wide and as perfect beneath it in her heart.