Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Sometimes, V believed that things were too good to be true.

Every phase of her life before him had been a fight for survival, a time of trial and tribulation. First, it was the dirty streets of Rancho Coronado, though she was too young to remember anything except for the smell .

Then it was the accident. V had just turned ten when it happened, yet the memory was clear as day. It started off with her staring out the window, as the car sped through the badlands. She was counting every star in that pristine desert night sky, watching the moon follow her, believing that it really did.

She didn’t notice it then - the roar of motorcycles from behind getting louder and louder. All she remembered was her life flashing before her eyes, the way her body flailed in the car as it shook. Her entire life shook then.

When it ended, all that was left was silence and the searing pain in her leg. V called out for her parents, her vision flipped upside down, but there was no answer. She couldn’t even see them from the backseat - the car was crushed in. Then she saw the splatter of blood, and it didn’t take very long for her to determine their fate.

The moments after that were a blur. Getting sick in the car, walking through the badlands in the freezing cold, limping and hurting, until she found light on the other side of the tunnel. A gas station.

The gas station owner would let you stay in the convenience store for the night, let you take whatever you wanted from the fridge. V was no medic, but she knew how to wrap up wounds and take care of them. She had gotten into her fair share of fights, acquiring many bruises and cuts throughout the years.

The cut in her leg was deep and painful and V felt fuzzy and hot.  She wrapped it up the best she could, and drifted off to sleep in the back of the store, oblivious to the blood slowly leaking through the bandages. 

Next thing, she woke up to the smell of dust and CHOOH fuel exhaust.  An old nomad woman was holding her hand, explaining that the sepsis would’ve ended her short life if they hadn’t stopped to fill their cars that morning. Later the woman welcomed her into their family, as if  V had been one of them all along. From that point on, they were her family, and she was a Bakker.

V spent the majority of  her life as a nomad and for a long time, it seemed as if she would die as one, but then, life took a different turn. Over a decade later, it was either Snake Nation or life as an outcast, and for V, being the latter was the only choice. The day V left her family, she met Jackie and got chased by Arasaka in her Thornton Galena. That’s when the new phase of her life began - her time as an amateur Night City merc - all six months of it.

She never thought it would build up to something like the heist. After Jackie died, and Johnny entered her life, things moved so fast that they were almost out of reach. Goro, Johnny,  Japan, then death . Or so she thought.

Three years later, she was still kicking. Things once being so bleak, V doubted that she would ever make it out alive. After fighting Yorinobu’s forces with Goro and undergoing a surgery that failed to help her condition, she threw in the towel. There was no point trying to fight death when the white horse kept galloping, approaching closer and closer with each passing day.

But Goro still loved her, and made the decision to take her home. He cherished and loved V through everything. Helped her recover after seizures, held her up in the  shower when she couldn’t stand. Kissed her through the pain, the vertigo, the numbness and the blurred vision. Sometimes, all at once. 

It was painful, but bittersweet with Goro at her side. He introduced her to a life of wonder and luxury, that most people could only conjure in their dreams. She embraced it all and immersed herself in it as if in a deep ocean, but it was no match for the pain. Even worse than the symptoms was the look Goro gave her every time she took a step towards the end. 

The last time V saw that look was when he met her at the hospital. Her mind was barely there, no more than one of her vital organs failing. She felt like she couldn't breathe enough air into her lungs, even as the oxygen filled the tubes in her nose. 

Goro said that she was going to die there. Then, just a month short of her expiration date, they discovered a cure. A delicate operation, long and risky. The doctor made it clear she only had a 50% chance of survival. Goro advised her to think it over and consider her choices, but at that point, V had no choice and nothing to lose. The following week she laid on that table, hoping that the image of the operating room would not be her last memory.

The surgery took almost 12 hours, with doctors and nurses cycling in and out of the room. Goro didn’t believe in miracles until she survived. Her hair was gone, her eyes were sunken into her skull. The surgery left her head swollen, wrapped up in bandage and gauze. But the neurosurgeon assured Goro that her immune system was no longer attacking her neurons. V would need time to recover, but she would no longer have to face imminent death.

Two years had passed since the surgery that saved V’s life. She was healthy, and her new hair had grown almost past her shoulders. They left everything and moved to the Japanese countryside - a Kominka house along the green waters, with mountain Fuji just beyond the backyard. Moss grew on the thatched roof, and in the winter, she would find it covered in virgin snow.

Every day, she got to view grass fields as far as her eye could see. Every Sunday, they walked that gravel path into the forest, through the natural world, inside a world that was so peaceful it felt like a braindance. All thanks to him, the love of her life, her husband .

The house was cozier and comfier than anything V had ever experienced in the city, and remarkably quiet. Goro had told her it was built from the logs of a cypress tree hundreds of years ago. Some parts still had to be renovated, and other areas of the house were dusty and dim.  But it was the perfect place, the perfect way to live. Because for once, V was healthy, and it was more than they could ask for.

 For once, Goro got to see his wishes come to fruition. He finally got what he wanted, and that made him a new man, born again in love and tranquility. Together, V and Goro built a home. 

He was still a hardworking man, and sometimes, his hours stretched into the late hours of night. V, on the other hand, considered herself officially retired. Her legendary status meant nothing in Japan, and moving out of Night City came with a shift in priorities. There was no blaze of glory for her. Just the quiet life V never thought she deserved.

---

 That day, Goro met her in the backyard after an hour-long drive home. V greeted him as he went to water their assortment of potted plants, sitting there on a wooden chair, her holo pressed to her ear. She wore a loose-fitted yukata, and the bottom of her feet were black.

 It was summer - hot and vibrant - but the sun was setting, and the air was giving way to a cool breeze. Crickets and cicadas had just begun their evening symphony. Once he was finished, he sat next to her, undid his bun, and let the wind run through his hair. After a few minutes, the chatter stopped, and she put down her holo. 

She turned to him and smiled. “ I was just talking to Vik. Just wanted to check up on me.”

He sat next to her on an adjacent wooden chair. “And how is Vector-san?”

“Same as usual. Says he misses us, though,” she said, her eyes turning gloomy. “I miss him too.”

Goro knew well that V left good friends behind when she moved in with him. She made a few in Japan throughout the years, but a close bond had yet to take root and blossom.

 “Perhaps I should take you on a trip to Night City,” he softly said.  “You would have a chance to reunite with your friends.”

“Hmm… I’ll think about it,” she replied. 

Truth is, V  loved the idea of visiting her friends in the city. But the memories were tainted with Jackie’s death and Johnny’s departure. 

After Jackie died, things weren’t the same. She didn’t expect them to change now; time did little to heal those wounds. 

“How are you, though? You came later than usual.”

Goro yawned, leaning back. He would have to get ready to head in soon. But Valerie was here, and wherever she was, he wanted to be by her side. “I am alright, my love. Just tired.”

Then came the comfortable silence - the sound of reminiscing. The sound of what it felt like to be someone to one another. Awkward silence didn’t exist between them, it no longer meant a thing. 

“It’s getting cold,” V said, breaking the stillness. Her voice was sultry and bold, like she knew exactly what she wanted and where to get it. “Want me to warm you up?”

Before he could even respond, she was in front of him, swinging both of her legs around his hips and straddling him. He hummed in pleasure, but didn’t reciprocate. 

“In a moment. But first, tell me how was your day,” he asked.

“Nothing out of the ordinary. Neighbors and I had a chat earlier today; apparently Nibbles stole a pair of their socks. Fuck if I know how.” V chuckled. “Oh yeah, I made unagi for dinner today. It’s in the fridge.”

“I see my cooking lessons have come to use,” he said, voice low and husky. “Since when did you learn how to cook unagi ?”

“On the net. But it doesn’t taste the same as when you cook for me. Never does…” 

V’s yukata hung from her shoulders, loose at the collar. It was once his, but she officially borrowed it after many long winter nights. Her olive skin was warm and lively, and her blonde hair blew with the wind.

One good look at her was enough. Goro swooped V in his arms, carrying her indoors. He placed her on the couch and slid the yukata off, cupping her breasts. She moaned loudly in response, and reached for the zipper on his pants. 

“Knew you couldn’t wait.” V exhaled, fire in her eyes. “ Fuck, you do me so well…”

Goro’s hands were all over V in her favorite places. Hers were all over him - kissing and stroking. He bent his knees and leaned into her chest, entering his love as gently as he could.

Rest would wait until midnight. 

---

4 Weeks Later

It was well after midnight and they were still awake. One movie turned into another, and then a marathon. V’s head rested on Goro’s shoulder, while his hand gently ran through her hair.

About halfway through, he noticed that she had gone silent. She breathed deeply from her nose, squinting against the light of the TV every so often. 

“Are you feeling alright?” Goro asked, brows furrowed. He leaned over to look at her face, and even in the dim light found her pale and sickly.

“Shouldn’t have eaten those five day old leftovers…” 

He pressed the back of his hand on her forehead. It was clammy and sweaty. “You seem ill.”

“Stomach’s been turning for a while now. Fingers crossed I don’t throw up on the mat.”

He paused the TV. “Do you need to go to the bathroom? A garbage bin?” 

“Nah, I’ll just sleep it off. Don’t take me to bed - carry me there once the movie’s over.”

He nodded, rubbing her shoulder. “ Oyasumi , Valerie. Don’t hesitate to wake me if you feel worse.”

“I will. Goodnight.” She whispered and closed her eyes, drifting off into a restless sleep. 

-

Goro  knew something was wrong by the way V sat on the tatami mat for breakfast. Her expression was sour, and an arm was wrapped around her middle. Each time she brought food to her mouth, she chewed slowly and swallowed hard. V sipped on water while she ate, and by the time her plate was a quarter empty,  she began to play with the  chopsticks.  

V remained like that, until the moment Goro looked away and she ran to the bathroom, hand covering her mouth.

When he reached her, she was kneeling in front of  the toilet, clutching the porcelain with an iron grip. Again and again she retched, with no pause to catch a breath. Goro took her long hair and grabbed it in a fistful. 

By the time the gagging ended, the  smell of sick was beginning to permeate the air. It reminded Goro of what he thought were her final days. Her kidneys and liver were on the way to complete failure, and the unforgiving nausea that came with it.  By the fifth month, she couldn’t stomach food unless it came from a tube through her nose. He inhaled sharply. 

“Was it something you ate?”

V raised her head, wiping the string of saliva clinging to her mouth with a tissue. Her voice was dry and hoarse. “Babe, I already told you. Probably those leftovers. They smelled a bit weird,  but I was hungry.”

“You acted strange all night. Perhaps you need a doctor.”

“ No . Let’s not drive an hour away just cause I puked, okay?”

“But-”

“I appreciate the concern, babe. I always do, but,” she sighed and stood back on her haunches. “Every time we go there, I’m always told I’m okay. And I bet you this time, it’s just some food poisoning that’s gonna be gone in a day.”

He was silent, unlike his thoughts. 

“I’m okay, Goro. I’m healthy. There’s nothing you gotta worry about anymore.”

“I hope so.”

---

One week later

The nausea and the pit in her stomach didn’t go away after that. She still found herself hugging the porcelain god, and sometimes the sink or trash bin if she wasn't fast enough. 

While all that was happening, Goro was none the wiser. As soon as his head hit a pillow, he was out cold. Within hours of arriving home from work, he slept like the dead. Several times a night, V rushed to the bathroom, and he never stirred once.

There was no time left in his day to recognize the signs. The past week was spent hiding in the bathroom in the morning until Goro left. As soon as the door closed, like clockwork, the inevitable came. 

V continued to hide her illness until the day she fell asleep on the couch, the trash bin tucked to her side. After finding her like that, Goro brought her to bed with tea and crackers, refusing to take no for an answer. 

“How long has this been going on?” he asked, placing a cool cloth on her forehead. His lips were pursed into a thin line, the worry in his eyes was staggering.

That day, V’s stomach had no mercy on her, unable to even hold down water. She felt like an idiot for not telling him sooner.  

“Since I got sick a week ago. I thought it was just food poisoning at first. But I dunno. Feels… different .”

V’s face was sunken and pale, her lips chapped and bloody. She looked to be in desperate need of medical attention, but Goro didn’t want to bring her to a clinic unless necessary. 

V’s surgeon warned that her immune system was weak and susceptible to infection. Months before, in a few days, something as simple as the common cold turned into a fever. Unable to bring it down on his own, he carried her to the ER one late evening.

He only had to do it once and he had hoped that he won’t have to again. 

“You are very dehydrated,” Goro pointed out, holding the chamomile tea in front of her. 

Her face turned green as she pushed the cup away. “I’ve been trying to drink, but I can’t keep anything down.”

“We have the pills from your surgery. Maybe that will help,” he suggested.

When V didn’t respond, he took her hand and squeezed. “Please, Valerie. I know you are not feeling well, but not drinking fluids will only make you feel worse.”

She agreed to take the antiemetics and felt much better the next day. But when the weekend came, she took a turn for the worst. 

There was no hiding what happened in plain sight. That morning, V bent over the kitchen sink, bile flowing from her lips. Her throat felt raw.

“Do you want some water?” Goro asked.

V nodded her head. “This nausea is killing me…” she cleared her throat, wiping the sweat on her brow. “Went into the kitchen the other day and almost puked from the smell.”

He came back with the glass of water, and guided her unsteady feet to the couch, where she practically collapsed. His stomach dropped. “Was it something I cooked?”

“It can’t be your food, babe. I’ve always loved it,” she mumbled. “I’ve just been throwing up everything I eat for some reason.”

Goro couldn’t stand by and let it continue. He wasn’t sure what was happening to V, nor what it indicated about her health. 

She was healthy, and he needed her to stay that way. So he said what he needed to say: “I think it is time to take you to a doctor. This has been going on for too long.”

At that moment, both wondered the same thing, but neither said it out loud -  if the illness that took hold of V’s body was a sign of a larger, more pressing issue.

 The surgeon assured that she would live a full, healthy life. So far, his words proved to be true. But V always had her doubts. Even without the obvious signs of death, the fear of it happening all over again remained.

V went silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. Goro was right, and she knew it - it was better to be safe than sorry. “Yeah, doesn’t sound so bad. I’ll make the appointment for tomorrow.”

He smiled, but there was sadness in his eyes. “As soon as possible, please .”

“This is getting bad,” she admitted, blinking away dark spots in her vision. “Been puking since five in the morning, but you looked so peaceful sleeping in bed.”

“ Kuso , Valerie. I had no idea it was this bad,” Goro answered, shaking his head. “Here is the deal: I can take the rest of the week off. That way, I can dedicate my time to you.” 

“I’m scared,” V said, like a child in the dark. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

“Everything will be okay,” Goro assured her, holding her hand. “Surely it is something temporary, like a virus.” 

V buried her head in her hands, and began to rock back and forth. “Tell me I’m not gonna die,” she croaked. 

Goro took his hand and put it on her shoulder. “No, V. You are not dying. Your bloodwork and brain scans were perfect just a month ago.” 

After a while, she revealed her face. Her eyes were red and her expression made it seem like she was ashamed, or at the very least, embarrassed. She straightened her back. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“It is okay. But what is not okay is that you lost your breakfast,” Goro mentioned. “You must eat - keep your strength up.”

“Fine. But at least let me help you in the kitchen.”

-

“The amount of hCG in your blood indicates that you are in fact pregnant,” the doctor announced. “Congratulations.”

Goro and V waited an hour for the test results. Bad news was something they were prepared for, and even anticipated. 

But nothing could’ve prepared them for this.

V’s heart skipped a beat. Her skin tingled, and her vision began to sway.

“What,” V blurted out. “B-But I still got my period this month…”

The physician explained that implantation bleeding was normal in early pregnancy and often mistaken for menstrual bleeding. 

“ No ,” she moaned. “I was told I-I would never be able to have kids.”

 V remembered what the surgeon had told her the moment she came to. She was cured, but her reproductive organs suffered irreversible damage beforehand. 

In an unlikely turn of events, she accepted that. Goro was an older man, and together, they wanted peace. Children were the antithesis of everything she wanted.

“It seems that whoever told you that is incorrect,” the doctor verified. “It is safe to assume that you are at least six weeks along in your pregnancy.”

Silence filled the room, invading it. In the meantime, V kept her head down. The thought of looking at Goro at that moment gave her chills. 

Then came the discussion of prenatal appointments, the first ultrasound and her due date. All V could hear was the ringing in her ears, so she let Goro take over the conversation. 

She vaguely heard a door closing. When she looked towards the direction of the sound, she found Goro looking over her. His eyes were wide and his hands shook. Somehow, he was beaming.

Goro was surprised, no doubt overwhelmed. To him, this meant to be taken as good news. What shocked him more was V’s reaction. It was a far cry from his expectations, from the ones he envisioned playing out the same scenario in his mind.

Most of all, he thought that V would be happy, but now she couldn’t even look him in the eye. 

The storm followed them to the car and all the way home. 

-

The simple act of initiating a conversation with V after not speaking since late morning made Goro fidget.

Fresh and clean from a shower, it was time to head to bed. “Are you feeling any better?” he asked, lying next to her.  She was turned the other way, opposite of him, but her breathing was too fast for her to be asleep.

Following the revelation at the doctor’s office, V spent the day cooped up in bed while he took care of errands around the house. Goro was tempted to cheer her up, but ended up respecting her decision, and figured that she needed time to process the news. 

“Yeah. The meds worked,” she whispered, turning to face him. “Can finally eat without my stomach turning.”

“That is good to hear. How are you feeling?”

V sighed, staring off into the distance. “Dunno. I’m gonna be a mom in eight months, but I don’t feel like one. Don’t even know my own mom - all I’ve had are nomad brothers and sisters” 

“It is your decision. I support you whatever that may be,” Goro reminded her, taking a deep breath in before continuing. “A baby...I would have never expected it at this age, but it would be an honor to raise this child with you, Valerie. Remember that.”

V’s fingers circled around her wedding ring - pure gold and a karat of diamond - and according to Goro, none of it synthetic. She thought back to the day she became Valerie Takemura, bound together with him in matrimony. 

Truth be told, if it hadn’t been for her ailing condition, it wouldn’t have come so soon. During their honeymoon, she remembers how difficult it was to fight through the sickness and pain. But it was to keep him happy - to make their last moments together the best moments of their lives.

But there were no regrets about marriage. Only regret she had was not seeking a cure sooner.

V shook her head, frowning. “Doesn’t feel right, raising this kid. Feels like I just got my life back, but I’ll think about it.”

Goro cupped the side of her face with his hand, and began stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. He felt a pang in his heart, seeing her lying there, looking defeated. “It hurts to see you so upset, Valerie.”

“I’m not upset, Goro. I’m just…overwhelmed.”

He leaned over, placing a kiss on her temple. “I understand. But it's your choice, and yours to make. There are many years ahead of us, and that means plenty of time to start a family of our own.”

V smiled wryly, batting her lashes. “Thanks, babe. Sorry for shutting you out.”

“There is no need to apologize, my love. Your happiness is most important to me.”

“Okay, so can I go to sleep now?” V mumbled, yawning.

He nodded, turning the bedside lamp off. In the darkness, he took V in his arms, and with both eyes closed, he counted  each and every one of her breaths.

She was out in minutes.

Two weeks later

She felt different, now that she knew there was a baby growing inside of her. Every day, she observed all the little chances - so small yet so big, and always on her mind.

The first ultrasound was the other day, revealing a little lump of flesh with a beating heart. Together, Goro and V decided to keep the sex a surprise. Even then, it was still hard to believe that they had created life.

It was still overwhelming. Some days, V woke up excited, and other times in complete disbelief. It almost didn’t feel right to have something positive introduced in her life. She spent so much of her life in pain and fear, and now - family? Something didn’t seem right, like a single pinch could unravel the dream she lived in. 

During times like these, she gravitated towards Misty, with her soft voice and gentle demeanor. Through thick and thin, she remained a good friend. After Jackie’s funeral, the bond only grew between them. Sometimes, V wished she still lived a street away from her shop, just to hear her voice again. There, sitting in the backyard, she craved for her presence, thousands of miles away.

When she saw her profile picture scrolling through her contacts, she knew it was time for a call. The holo rang, and within seconds, her face materialized on the screen. 

V cleared her throat and cracked a forced smile. “Misty!”

Misty’s face lit up in response. Nothing about her was different compared to the last call. She still had the same hair and wore the same spiked collar. As usual, her lips were painted dark. “V! Good to hear from you. How is everything?”

“It’s been good, real good…”

Misty placed both hands on her retail counter, leaning in a little and squinting her eyes as if trying to read the person on the screen before her.

 “You sure? Looks like you’ve got something on your mind.”

V snorted, crossing her arms. “No, it’s just…” she trailed off, feeling tears well up in her eyes. “Fucking hell, I’m a terrible liar.”

Misty’s expression darkened. “Hey… what’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant.” she said, her voice monotone, like explaining an everyday task. “I uh, found out not too long ago.”

She gasped loudly, and her eyes opened wide. “Really? Congrats, V! You’d make a wonderful mother.”

“You really think so,” V asked, sniffling. She shifted her weight from one foot to another, and placed a finger under her eyes to catch the tears before they could fall.  “‘Cause I don’t know what to do about this fetus… baby… thing . I’m in limbo.”

Misty tapped her fingers on the hardwood, deep in contemplation. Her expression grew difficult for V to read, up until the moment she spoke again. “How about a reading to help you make up your mind?”

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

Misty took out the deck, the one Jackie bought. A pang shot through V’s heart. She shuffled the cards in-between her fingers, and once she pulled out the first one, her head shifted downwards. 

“Your past: death . Remember what I told you - don’t always think about this in the literal sense. This card can also represent change, endings and beginnings, and rebirth.”

She took the next card from the deck, flipping it over. “Your present: the world . You are glowing with a sense of wholeness, achievement, fulfilment and completion. A long-term project, period of study, relationship or career has come full circle, and you are now revelling in the sense of closure and accomplishment.

“Hmm..”

Misty continued, sliding the third and final card from the deck. She smiled, looking towards V for a short moment.  “Your future: the empress . The empress signifies a strong connection with femininity. Femininity translates in many ways – elegance, sensuality, creative expression, nurturing, and fertility. The Empress calls on you to connect with your feminine energy and create beauty in your life.”

V never believed these kinds of things. But somehow - without fail -  Misty’s readings were never wrong. She took a deep breath, looked across the breadth of the landscape before her. Then she closed her eyes, letting her thoughts flow along with the cool breeze and chirping of birds.

She was far from making up her mind about whether to keep the baby, but there was a sense of relief. For a while, she could sense that Goro wanted a family. But after spending an entire lifetime trying to find hers, switching from one to another, how could she start her own?

After a while, V heard someone call out her name, snapping her back to reality. She looked over, and found Misty’s big eyes peering over her, filled with worry. 

“Thanks, Misty. But I gotta go.” V said, sighing. “Talk to you later, mkay?”

Misty smiled softly and winked. “Goodbye, V. And good luck.”

-

[V]

 Babe?

I’ve made my decision.

I’m going to keep the baby.

[Goro]

That is great to hear.

I will be home soon.

^-^ 

 [V]

Can you stop at the store to get mochi ice cream?

[Goro] 

I will consider it.

I am kidding. Of course I will.

[V]

<3

-

Two weeks later

V stood at the mirror, staring at her belly, wearing nothing but a crop top. After a moment to breathe, she leaned over and began to brush her teeth, trying to get rid of the taste at the back of her throat. 

It had been a month since the discovery of her pregnancy, which would make her three months along. Morning sickness came and went, and her body changed every day. V’s hips expanded, the bump on her belly grew, and so did the size of her breasts.

“Cmon, baby. Gotta stop making me sick whenever your dad makes coffee,” she grumbled through the thick layer of toothpaste covering the inside of her mouth. 

V  heard footsteps and saw Goro approaching the door. He entered and stood behind her, rubbing small circles on her back. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah babe, I’m doing just fine.” She murmured, spitting out the last of the toothpaste into the sink. “Felt nauseous for a second. Plus my back is sore.” 

“Should I call the doctor? Would you like a massage?”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “Babe, I’m pregnant. This kind of stuff is normal.”

“If you insist…” 

Following her PTSD diagnosis, the healing process hadn't been linear. Goro knew that her fear and resentment towards doctors would linger. Trips to the doctor were sometimes necessary, but he would hate to let things spiral out of control again. He couldn’t let that happen. He promised he wouldn’t.

Goro thought back to all the time she had spent in recovery after the surgery. Three weeks in the hospital and four months at home - time she could never get back. She defeated the threat of death, but that itself did not make things easier. 

Self-confidence left her the moment she woke up. All that was left of her hair was buzz cut. V’s face swelled as if she spent a day sleeping on it, and her eye sockets were bruised a deep shade of purple. Multiple incisions scarred her head, with some going down the back of her neck.  

Goro caught her then in the moment when she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, flushed with tears. 

He assured V that she was beautiful, even if she couldn’t see it for herself, and that he loved her just the same. Every night following the surgery, he lowered her down into a warm bath, massaged her scalp with shampoo, and clothed her in the warmest clothing. After taking care of her needs, Goro took care of his own, until the day she felt well enough to take care of herself. 

He still needed to remind himself that it’s over - that there’s no reason to fear. But at that moment, he was terrified not to lose what he had.

Valerie and their child.

“You’re worried. I can see it, that look in your eyes,” V mentioned. “After we came here - to Japan - I didn’t see it leave your face, not even after I was cured.”

“There was once a time you were dying. And now you are with child. I can hardly believe it,” he confessed, clearing his throat.  “A few years ago, I was Saburo-sama’s bodyguard. I never thought things would change as much as they have.”

“I feel the same way. If you told me I’d leave the clan, end up in Night City, and have a rockerboy terrorist stuck in my head? I might’ve punched you in the jaw.”

He could feel laughter bubbling in his throat when a lump suddenly appeared there. He always wanted a child, but he could not forget his own childhood. Before Arasaka, there was Chiba-11 - grey skies, filthy streets, and violence around every corner. Corporate chemicals infested the waters of the canal he swam in almost daily. 

That had been combined with years of intensive training and hormone therapies to make him a super soldier. He felt relieved to be in a position where his children would not have to experience the same, but still, he wondered if the effects on his body would be passed on to the next generation. The thought itself, of this child suffering, made it difficult to breathe. 

Goro closed his eyes. When he opened them, V was looking at him, brows knitted. “The toxins I was exposed to as a child. I do not dare think of how that would affect the baby,” he said, shifting his gaze to the baby bump. 

V sighed and took his hand. “Remember the last ultrasound? Told us everything was okay. If something was wrong, we would’ve known by now.”

He agreed with a nod. A moment later his hands were on her bare waist as he was kneeling down and  placing a gentle kiss on her bump, just above her navel.  

Tears flooded her eyes. In the span of a few minutes, she had experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. There was something so sweet about her husband showing love to a baby that had yet to be born - who was probably no bigger than a fruit at that point. 

V couldn’t hold them in, no matter how hard she tried. A single tear fell from her eye, and when she went to wipe it away, another one. She looked through blurred vision Goro standing up and placing his hand on her.

Goro cupped her cheek and came so close that their noses touched. “I apologize, Valerie. I did not intend to stress you out, especially when you are pregnant.”

“It’s not that,” she said, snorting through the tears. “I-It’s Just the hormones, I guess. Not entirely sure why I’m like this.”

He sighed in relief, smiling softly. “I simply hope that our child will be healthy, and that your pregnancy goes as smoothly as possible.” 

“Me too, Goro. Me too.” She mumbled, wrapping her arms around his chrome shoulders with no intention of letting go.