Work Text:
When Jayce was twelve, he had a dream.
It was a silly dream for that young age, but he wanted to live it one day.
Watching his mother build a home for them, the desire to be the head of the house grew and took root until his early adolescence. But it was buried deep within his sea of confused emotions when he realized it wouldn't be as easy to achieve as he hoped.
When she fell in love with Viktor in her twenties, her desire was rekindled. He didn't know how to talk to men or flirt with them. But Viktor seemed to sense the intense sea of his feelings and how difficult it was for Jayce to express his feelings, so he took the first step: he invited him for a walk. From then on, they formed a true and trusting friendship, a safe haven for both.
The announcement of their relationship came almost five years later. And it didn't even take two years for the most beautiful wedding in the world—according to Caitlyn—to happen. Now, at twenty-eight, a year after the wedding, Jayce knows she has the life she always wanted with Viktor, with her great love.
His entire career as one of the most brilliant scientists of his time wasn't a major challenge for him. Not even being recognized and acclaimed by the country made Jayce forget his most cherished and beautiful dream, which was now hidden in the abyss.
Jayce lied or dodged when asked when he would have children, when a family would come, or if he and Viktor were considering adopting. It wasn't that Jayce didn't think about it, but he didn't think Viktor was the kind of man who would be a father, so he never brought it up and waved away the answer when his husband asked him before they were married.
If Jayce told him his true wish, if he asked for it, Viktor might not accept it, and… Viktor was the most important person in the world to him, the idea of losing him was unacceptable.
Jayce was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of a box falling. Viktor stood in the doorway of the guest room of the new house, looking weary. The cardboard box lying at his feet indicated he'd taken a risk by picking up something heavy and, given his leg disability, couldn't handle it.
"Vik, I told you to call me when you're going to pick up the heavier boxes," he said, picking up the box and placing it on the dresser.
"I'm not made of glass, Jayce." The other man's voice was sarcastic. He adjusted the oversized shirt on his body, a clear sign it belonged to his husband. "See what's in there and throw away what's not important. I'll get the last box."
Viktor left the room before he could see Jayce's nod.
Turning and focusing on the box, he opened it and began rummaging through the items that would stay in the house and those he would let go of for good. Jayce found some very useless things, like old crayons and shoelaces older than his grandmother. Other objects, like an Iron Man lamp, a notebook with a Lightning McQueen cape, and an old compass, would go—not the first item, Jayce didn't have the courage.
He thought he'd seen it all when his hands reached for more solid objects at the end of the box. Curious, he picked them up. The nostalgic sigh that escaped his lips was almost like a summer song. In his hands were three medium-sized photo frames, two of them his and one of Viktor. The photos were from way back when, when he was between ten and twelve years old. Jayce had to admit that looking at him now, he understood why everyone insisted on pinching his cheeks when he was younger. He was so adorable, just like Viktor.
Jayce didn't know that by looking at those photos, the dam protecting his heart had cracked and was now leaking everywhere.
It was neither intentional nor planned when her face was wet by a small tear that, still shy and full of long-held feelings, traveled alone and sadly down her face.
“How I wish…” Jayce’s fingers traced his own youthful face in the portrait. The almost soundless whisper was whispered confidently into nothingness, a plea stuck in his throat and a desire shining in his eyes.
"What did you want?" Viktor's calm voice startled his husband. He sighed when he saw Jayce's tearful face. "Why were you crying, Jay?"
"It's nothing." He hurried to put the portraits away in the dresser, where they would later decide the exact location of each object. "Nonsense, Vik. Don't worry."
"It's no joke if it made you cry, Jayce." Viktor set the smaller box on the bed and approached his husband, pulling his body in front of his. His eyes flickered over the portraits on the cabinet, then settled on him. "What made you so emotional? Tell me."
Jayce tried not to show it, but he couldn't lie as well as Viktor who could always see right through him and see through his lies like water.
The exchange of glances lasted for a few long seconds until Jayce gave up and admitted defeat. Viktor wouldn't give up and let him go until he told him everything he was keeping inside.
“I have a request.” Jayce’s voice was shaky and filled with uncertainty.
"Ask me whatever you want, darling." Viktor smiled as he cupped his great love's face and placed a soft, loving kiss on his cheek.
Jayce's breathing was unstable for several minutes, he was going into a silent panic attack and Viktor hugged him tightly, making calming circles on his back and whispering several "I love you"s slowly until he returned to his normal self.
The actual request came some time later, when Jayce broke the hug and stared into Viktor's dark eyes.
— Can we… Can we have a baby?
The question flew like a bird, calm, yet it sent the wind whipping in different directions. Jayce was about to cry again and could already feel tears welling up in his eyes. The topic of conversation was a sensitive one for him, and not having prepared for it beforehand was killing him. On the other hand, he was glad he'd had the courage to speak openly with Viktor about his most cherished and beautiful dream.
When Viktor didn't respond, Jayce continued.
"You don't have to say yes, not now, not in the future. It was just a quick thought... But if you'd like to consider it sometime, I... I'd be so happy, Vik." He hated himself for stuttering so much and speaking nonsensically, but his nervousness kept him from doing anything properly.
"You want to be a father? Why didn't you tell me before, Jayce?" Viktor was calm, but the accusation and betrayal in his voice were palpable. "How long have you been thinking about this? Why didn't you tell me you wanted this? Jayce... This is big..." Still stunned by the news, Viktor brought his husband's face up for another small kiss, a cheek kiss, and a hug. "My love, I would have said yes, of course I would, Jayce. I want to have a family with you."
The way Jayce burst into tears in his embrace ached in Viktor's heart. He clung to his body like a lifeline and impulsively twirled his husband in his arms, drawing nervous, amusing giggles from both of them. The air in the room seemed brighter and happier, just like them. Their sweet smiles blended with the wind and the natural afternoon sunlight streaming in through the large window beside the bed.
"Viktor, I love you so much, my love…" Jayce kissed her lips sweetly. "Forgive me, I didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid to tell you that this is one of my greatest desires… You know, I've always dreamed that the person I'd fall in love with would be the mother or father of my children. I've always dreamed of having a big family, with children running around the house. That's always been my wish." Viktor's ears listened intently, not missing a single detail. "I… I've dreamed of children since I was a child, but I thought it would be difficult since you never told me anything about wanting a family. I assumed you didn't want that, so… I never told you. I'm happy to tell you now."
Jayce kissed him again, one of those deeply passionate kisses that seem to only exist in books and soap operas.
After the kiss, Viktor brought his face closer, feeling him leave a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Jayce, I love you, my love." Viktor's words brought a smile to Jayce's face. "Your dream is our dream…"
When Jayce was twelve, he had a dream. When Jayce was twenty-eight, he realized his dream.
Jeyza Tallis, the first of four children Jayce wanted, was born a year later.
And she was perfect.