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"It's war, then." Gally turned off the radio.
"Yes." Susanna pressed her lips together. "How do you feel about children?"
"I'm all for them. Why?"
"If Basil's going to war -- and goodness knows he won't come home -- then I thought, well, we could find a way to have a child."
"Ah. Poor mite, no father around."
"There will be many children in those straits, and they'd have Aunt Gally."
"Always. Who've you got your eye on?"
Susanna blushed. "No one, dear. Some strapping young thing going off to war, maybe."
"Or -- just a thought -- Newt."
"Perhaps, if he wouldn't mind."
*
It took five minutes and a cup of tea with whisky before Gally asked, "How was it?"
Susanna laughed helplessly, her face in her hands. "Oh, we got the job done eventually."
"What a relief," Gally said wryly. "And here I was worried you'd leave me for my little brother. Was it absolutely horrid?"
"Bearable, but oh, terribly awkward. I didn't know where to put my face half the time, if you see what I mean. And when I told him it wasn't foolproof, he nearly had the vapors."
"A man of science and he didn't know that? For shame."
*
Gally rang Newt after the second go. "Looks like we're full steam ahead."
"Does it? Ah, good."
"You've been a brick."
"One does what one can." Newt hesitated. "It hasn't made things difficult between you, has it?"
"You've not won the fair maiden's heart with your charm and verse, much though it pains me to report it."
"Ah, good. It's a relief to be considered entirely out of the running."
"Not entirely, yet," Gally said. "If something were to go wrong --"
"Then I should rally round, of course. Though I think you could provide a higher caliber of bottle service."
*
"Support her head," Gally advised Newt.
"She's so tiny." Newt cradled Vanessa close. "Hello, little one."
Vanessa's eyes tracked his finger across her vision. She grabbed it, saying, "Ba."
"Ba indeed. You've a very firm grip, young lady."
"She takes after the Major, may he rest in peace," Gally said lightly.
"She has her mother's nose, at least." Newt smiled at the baby, then made a face. "Oh, what a stink."
Gally chuckled. "Give her here. Now, miss, you've gone and made a mess of yourself all over your Uncle Newt."
"I can help."
"Ah, no need. I've got her."
*
Vanessa's first birthday was a subdued event, what with the war on and her father dead in it. There was a very small cake, just enough for Vanessa to smash to bits, and for Susanna to distribute to the two guests. "A sugar rose for Aunt Gally," she said with a wink.
"You ought to have the rose, as you did the bulk of the work," Gally demurred.
"It's a bit sweet for me."
"As sweet as you," Gally said softly.
Susanna blushed. "Eat your cake. Can I interest you in some flat cake, Newt?"
"I'd be delighted, thank you."