Chapter Text
“Hmm.”
You listened as the witcher made small noises underneath his breath. His brows were furrowed together as he stared at the long piece of wood stretched across the table.
Your attention was taken from the book in your hands and instead, you found yourself watching Geralt.
He turned the wood over once, then twice, examining both surfaces of the walnut carefully.
“Hmm.”
“What is it, darling?” You asked him.
He shook his head. He placed the wood down and moved across the room to the small pile of wood that rested near the door to the bedroom.
“Perhaps you should have someone come help you. Vesemir is rather handy.”
“I can do it just fine.”
“I don’t doubt your abilities, love. I just…. I’d like to make sure our child’s bed won’t collapse when they are trying to sleep.” You absentmindedly rubbed the side of your stomach.
“It won’t collapse. I’ve built things before.”
“Oh, I know.” Your eyes drifted around the room until you found the chest sitting on the opposite side of the room. That very chest was one that Lambert had to lend a hand in crafting. Though he was a talented man, woodwork wasn’t one of Geralt’s strong suits. “But perhaps another set of hands wouldn’t be bad? Especially considering I can’t get down there to help you.”
Golden eyes flickered up to briefly glare at you as he returned to the center of the bedroom.
“Oh, come on now, dear. Don’t give me that look.”
He grunted.
“I just do not want to sit here and watch you struggle to put that together.” You cocked your head to the side just a bit. “It would be so much easier on you if you asked for help. Even Cirilla wouldn’t mind helping, I’m sure.”
“I want to build my child’s crib on my own.” He stated, his deep voice quiet and low.
Geralt stood at the table and placed the plank of wood where he wanted it.
You pushed yourself to your feet, grunting just a little at the weight of your entire body now coming to rest on your ankles.
Hearing the noise of discomfort that you made, Geralt turned his attention to you.
“Where are you going, dove?”
“Just stretching my legs. The baby is trying to stretch too.” You arched your back, placing one hand on your lower back. “Won’t be long now before they’re here.”
Hearing your words made Geralt furrow his brow more- if that was even possible. What if he wasn’t able to get the crib done before the arrival of the baby?
Geralt got down on his knees and began to work on one of the legs of the crib, giving the wood his full attention.
You came up behind him. You combed your fingers carefully through his white hair, smiling when he leaned into your touch.
“If you had help, then perhaps you could take a nap with me soon.” You leaned down to kiss his head.
“M’sorry if I’m disturbing you.” He turned his head back to look at you.
“No, you’re not disturbing me. I could sleep through a war right now. I just wouldn’t mind you holding me.”
A little smile crossed his lips and for a moment, his eyes fluttered shut as you continued to brush your fingers through his hair. But all too soon he pulled away and let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry, dove. I have to finish this first. I don’t want the baby to arrive and not have somewhere to sleep.”
You nodded your head understandingly. Your husband was a stubborn man, and if he had his mind set on something, nothing could change it.
“Alright, love. I’m going to go down to the dining hall. We’re a little hungry.” You rubbed the side of your stomach.
“I can walk you down.” Geralt stood to his feet, moving to retrieve his cloak from where it hung near the door. The halls of the keep were frigid thanks to the snowy weather of the Blue Mountains during the winter months.
“You don’t have to do that, darling.”
“I just want to make sure you make it down the stairs without any trouble.” He wrapped the cloak around your shoulders.
***
After retrieving a snack and walking you back to the bedroom, Geralt returned to his project. He settled with sitting on the floor near you while he sanded down one of the pieces of wood.
“How much longer do you think it will be?” He glanced over to you, his voice quiet.
“Before the baby gets here?” You asked. “Oh, I’d imagine they will be here soon. Any day now.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“What if the crib isn’t done by then?”
“Oh, I think you will have it done in plenty of time.” You reached over to momentarily brush his hair with your fingers.
He took your head, bringing your fingers down to his lips and placing a kiss on your knuckles.
***
You fell asleep for a little while and found that when you woke up, you were alone in the bedroom. Geralt no longer stood looking over the crib in the center of the floor, nor was the crib even in the room.
You furrowed your brows together, a bit confused.
After grabbing his cloak to keep you warm, you ventured around the keep in search of your husband.
“Fuck, Lambert!” The White Wolf grumbled. “My damn hand is right there!”
“Then move your hand!”
You heard the voices come from the library. The door to the room was propped open, so this allowed you to peek into the doorway.
All four witchers were working on the crib for yours and Geralt’s child. Eskel and Vesemir were discussing something, Eskel gesturing to the crib as he spoke and Vesemir nodding in agreement. Lambert and Geralt seemed to be trying to put the crib together, too impatient to wait for the other two to finish talking.
Your presence in the doorway didn’t go unnoticed for very long. Vesemir was the first to look at you, offering you a smile. Eskel was the next, nodding his head once to acknowledge your presence. But the other two seemed busy with the crib.
“Y/N, come have a seat.” Vesemir gestured to a chair nearest to them.
Hearing your name, Geralt immediately looked up. His eyes found you without hesitation.
You moved towards the chair, bypassing him on the way.
“I thought you wanted to do this on your own.”
He grumbled something incoherent under his breath.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea to have them help you.”
“Fantastic until jackass here breaks my hand with the hammer.” Geralt gestured to Lambert.
“Well, it’ll teach you not to give him a hammer.” Eskel chuckled.
“Fuck off! I know what I’m doing!”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’ll break your hand on purpose!”
“Oh, Lambert.” You sighed, a smile resting on your face. “How do you feel about the little one that’ll be here any day now?”
“Fucking ecstatic.” He rolled his eyes. “I love kids.”
“Don’t let that sour attitude fool you, Y/N.” Vesemir swatted a hand at the youngest wolf. “Just last night, he was telling me how he wanted to teach the little one to track.”
“I’m gonna make sure that kid beats your ass in our yearly hunts.” Lambert gave Geralt a shove.
Geralt shoved him back, igniting a wrestling match between the two.
“You’d think they’d grow out of that.” Eskel moved to continue the work on the crib.
“Never.” Vesemir chuckled, amused by the men’s behavior. “Not near the fire, boys!”