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The swirl of bleak colored walls blurred as Viserys ran through the hallway. A right, a left, straight past the elevators, and then another left.
Out of town on a business venture, Viserys had been shocked to get the call from his brother, saying that Aemma was delivering their baby more than a month early.
The door opened abruptly, the noise disturbing whatever peaceful atmosphere once engulfed the room.
Inside, Viserys let his violet orbs land firstly on his wife. A tiny thing weighing a mere 145lbs while pregnant, now looked to be 45lbs lighter. Her fair hair cascaded down onto the blue hospital gown, where it twisted and disappeared under the gray fleece blanket.
“Shhhh, she’s only gotten a few hours since the birth.” A familiar voice surprised Viserys from the corner, and the Targaryen turned his gaze toward the sound. Seated in an extremely uncomfortable looking chair that was almost too small, a sixteen year old Daemon Targaryen held a bundle of white and pink.
There wasn’t much time for Viserys to process the situation, his shaking form moving hastily toward his brother in fear and excitement. The Targaryen couple had been trying for a babe since they married, young, but now here it was. Viserys was finally a father at twenty two, his younger wife, a mother.
A hoarse rasp escaped his throat, and he wanted to weep, “Is she alright? Is everything alright?” Viserys didn’t want to believe he was fortunate enough to still have his wife, and a new daughter. “She’s perfect.” His brother spoke gently, his lilac stare still fixated on the babe in his arms.
It was hard for Viserys to picture his brother in any sort of parental role, but the man had to admit that Daemon seemed suited to family. “Come meet your daddy, Little Dragon.” Daemon cooed before handing the angelic creature to Viserys.
It was at that moment that Viserys fell in love. Violet eyes, as dark as his own. A cute little nose, even her chin belonged to him. All his best features, all Aemmas best features, twisted into one goddess like child. “Rhaenyra.” Daemon said, Breaking Viserys from the enchanment, “Aemma already signed off all her paperwork, she was upset that you couldn’t make it in time, but I think she will forgive you if you hand her this.”
His little brother slipped a miniature bottle of wine from his pocket and chuckled, “I was saving it for her, gods knows she deserves one after everything.” Cocking a smirk at the corner of his mouth, Daemon returned his focus onto his new niece, little did Viserys know that his brothers attention would never fade.
Viserys hated waiting, he was never a patient man despite what his close family would think of him.
Being wealthy came with certain assurances, one would think. One of those was that people you love wouldn’t die while giving birth. For gods sake it was the twenty first century, certainly they’d figured out how the vagina worked.
Unfortunately, even that wasn’t guaranteed, Viserys knew that better than almost anyone.
The flickering of the hospital lights made his stomach churn, “Do you have a coffee machine?” The man asked a passing woman wearing green scrubs.
Responding rudely, “I’m not a server- Oh. Sorry Mr. Targaryen. Yes I’ll bring some right away.” The mouse haired woman said before rushing down the almost empty hallway.
Couldn’t they play some music? Or put some decorations up, wasn’t having a baby supposed to feel like a celebration? Every time he entered one of these damned places, Viserys could list a hundred ways to improve them. Unfortunately he’d always forgotten to bring a notepad and pen, and Viserys had never had the memory his younger brother had.
No he didn’t have anything Daemon had, not really. There were a few things they once shared. As children the duo had a dog named Caraxes that always preferred the younger, so much so that Baelon, their father, had allowed Viserys to go pick a new dog from the pound later that year. Just like everything else in his life though, Balerion died. Too old, too sick, too tired to go on the vet had said.
In college they had both studied Valyrian history, somehow despite his ineptitude for every other course, Daemon managed to ace the classwork. “Aegon reborn” their Professor would say as his younger brother recited incredibly inappropriate poetry, causing all of the girls in the room to swoon. Viserys had always suspected that their teachers private lessons with Daemon helped more than his “tongue work.”
Otherwise the only other thing the brothers seemed to have in common was Rhaenyra. Even she belonged to Daemon now. Hell, Viserys knew it the moment his daughter learned to speak, that the girl would love her uncle more. Constantly cooing and cawing for only the rogue.
Aemma, his first wife, had always said it was because his brother didn’t need Rhaenyras affection as badly as he did, and oh did Viserys need it.
His daughter had grown up knowing that her fathers wallet was open, just as open as his heart. Constantly asking for this or that, Rhaenyra had never went without a thing. Well not anything Viserys could buy her.
Even though Daemon had always managed to earn the hate of every other woman in his life, he had never seemed to disappoint his niece. At least, not enough to make the girl finally see sense.
At eight years old Rhaenyra had only truly desired one thing that her father couldn’t provide, “I want to marry Uncle Daemon!” His silver headed daughter screeched out dramatically to her parents, and Viserys met Aemmas frantic blue eyes.
The familiar argument reared its head once again, like an infestation of ants that never truly went away. Constantly Viserys beat back his daughters desire for Daemons company, only to find the girl had squirreled her affection away for a few weeks before it would erupt like a geyser.
Leaning down, his sweet wife placed her hands on their daughters shoulders, “Sweetie, your uncle is too old to marry you and he’s already got a wife. He can’t get married again.”
Where the hell was his brother? Viserys had thought as the two parents scrambled, trying to avert a tantrum. “It’s my birthday, you said I could have ANYTHING I wanted. I WANT to marry Uncle Daemon! I don’t care if he’s married to that ugly, old bitch!” Rhaenyra shook her silvery pigtails and stomped, causing Aemma to gasp, “Where did you learn that word young lady! You should never call someone that! It’s incredibly hurtful!”
Rather than have the decency to even try and look apologetic, their daughter seemed to grow madder, “I learned it from aunt Rhaenys. I know what it means. Rhea Royce is a bitch! She wouldn’t even take uncles last name, I would HAPPILY take his last name!”
Viserys covered His Face with his palm, dear god he was never going to let her visit Laena again. “Honey, you already have Daemons last name. Why don’t you ask your daddy for something else, like a pony or an air balloon?”
Aemma was reaching pretty far for ideas, and Viserys tried to help his wife out, “Didn’t you say that there was a new tv show you liked? Hailey Nevada? Daddy can get you onto tv if you want? More famous than even her!”
Aemma coughed beside him, “Hannah Montana sweetie, but yes. We can put you in singing lessons, just like Uncle Daemon. You can be a singer!”
Something seemed to glitter behind the girls violet eyes, and Viserys knew she had settled on a new gift, “Fine. If I can’t marry Uncle Daemon yet, I want to become a singer.” A sigh of relief escaped Aemmas lips, happy to have avoided the oncoming meltdown. “That’s wonderful dear, you know I’ve always adored your voice. Daddy and I will set your lessons up this week!”
The hurt of Daemons tardiness was covered, like a bandaid over an itchy scab, only briefly. Two hours later, Rhaenyra had grown livid with her uncles absence.
At this point, Viserys and his wife could do little to change her mood. Sulking in the corner of their summer houses den, Rhaenyra had gone into shut down mode. Refusing to eat, denying her guest any attention. When Viserys had mentioned opening presents, the little girl scoffed. “I don’t wan’t presents. I want uncle Daemon to be here, like he promised.” The admission scrapped painfully across her father ears. Large violet eyes pooled up with tears and Viserys watched as his daughter stormed up to the solitude of her room.
That was the final straw. Angry fingers stabbed themselves into the keypad of his jitterbug flip phone. Once..Twice..Three times it rang before his younger brother picked up. “Hello?” Daemon answered, seemingly unaware of the current situation. “I hope you’re on your way.” Viserys snapped cruelly, “Viserys? On my way where?”
Through the static laced connection, Viserys heard the sound of sheets crumpling. “Please tell me you’re joking. I told you three times, maybe more, the party. Rhaenyras party!” Steam might as well have rolled out of his ears, Viserys roared into the phone like an angry dragon. “Or is the attention of some whore more important than your nieces birthday!”
There was a brief moment of silence before, “Her birthday isn’t until Wednesday. You said it was on her birthday weekend! Not the weekend BEFORE!” Daemon hissed into the phone before snapping at his companion, “Get off me, and get out.”
Sighing, Viserys supposed his brother couldn’t really be blamed for the miscommunication. In fact, Viserys himself was shocked that Daemon had managed to miss the festivities. “Is it already over? I can be there in an hour, thirty minutes if I speed.”
His brother was always eager to make Rhaenyras birthday a memorable event, last year the irresponsible man had tried fire breathing and cost Viserys his deposit on the cabana rental. Daemon had apologized, once, but insisted that Rhaenyra herself asked him to show off his newfound skills. No doubt a talent he picked up from one of his many “Burning man” flings. “Everyone has already left, she wouldn’t even open her presents. I swear to god Daemon, you better fix this.”
Viserys slammed his phone shut, unable to form a punishment to back up his warning. Threats had never been his strong suit.
It was an hour later when Daemon arrived, silver hair messily hazed around his face. Rather than speak to his brother, Viserys just shoved his thumb in the direction of Rhaenyras bedroom. Better Daemon solve it, plus he and Aemma were busy paying out the party staff.
Hundreds of dollars handed out on peach colored checks. Some for the caterers, a bit for the cleaning staff, the petting zoo seemed to be the largest waste of funds. Though Rhaenyra had insisted she was “obsessed” with goats, the silver headed girl had barely spent more than a moment with the smelly creatures.
Only after Viserys had signed off on the last payment did his daughter and brother materialize. Rhaenyra with her eyes still puffed and red, Daemons hand tightly bound to her own.
The nurse reappeared with the coffee, and Viserys slipped out a thank you before returning to the uncomfortable chair. He should be in that room, in fact he was supposed to be in there.
But as the doctor had entered and the screaming had started, Viserys found himself experiencing a crippling fear for the second time in his life.
It was unfair to Alicent in some ways that he’d skipped the birth of their children completely. Aegon was a good boy, his second born, but Viserys knew he couldn’t go back into the hospital after what had happened with Aemma.
His second wife had said she understood, promised that she didn’t hold it against him. Somehow though, Viserys had found himself in this position once again. Only now it was with the last remaining piece of his former marriage.
Was he upset when his brother proposed at the Velaryon wedding? Yes, of course. However, he couldn’t bring himself to miss out on the life of his daughter. So Viserys had simply smiled and clapped before offering the couple his blessing and congratulations.
It was no shock that Daemon and Rhaenyra had married, the girl was spoiled and she’d never settle for less than what she wanted. Unfortunately for Viserys all she had ever wanted was his brother.
And the two of them were just the same. Always had been. Born of the same spoiled fruit.
At fourteen, Rhaenyra had grown into a beautiful and intelligent young woman. Viserys had tried to be a present father, always inquiring about his daughters life, her friends, her hobbies. Unfortunately being “around” wasn’t enough.
It started sometime after Aemmas miscarriage, the babe just before… well the last one. A call from the headmaster of Rhaenyras school had ruined an annual game of golf.
Although it wasn’t completely out of question for Viserys to go, Aemma usually handled those sorts of things. Unfortunately though his wife was unable to attend the unexpected meeting, bound to her bed in recovery.
So Viserys shuffled nervously alone in front of the headmasters desk, fidgeting with his Rolex for what felt like the hundredth time.
While he paid a hefty sum for his daughter to attend such a prestigious academy, the same one he, Daemon, and Aemma had attended, it was still hard for Viserys. His wife seemed positive that the school was abusing his gentle nature and “pushing him around” for extra funds.
Of course, that was of no real consequence to Viserys. If opening his purse strings loosened the strict noose the academy kept around his daughter., he’d gladly bend to their will. In fact, his own father had used the Targaryen wealth to keep his two sons in good standing, and Daemon had always caused much more trouble than Rhaenyra could ever hope to.
But, Viserys had promised Aemma that he would try to be more assertive, not so willing to sprawl out his signature on a check to sweep his daughters misdeeds under the rug.
Apparently though, she didn’t believe him, because a few moments after Viserys had arrived, the familiar sound of expensive leather shoes was tapping itself through the office entrance.
Looking like the worlds cruelest lawyer, Daemon appeared. His black suit contrasting with his sleeked back, cropped, silver hair. Viserys almost groaned, “Daemon, I understand that my wife has no trust in my abilities, but I can assure you that I have this situation under control.”
Rather than respond, his younger brother slithered into the chair aside his own. “I can’t imagine she is in too much trouble, given what I’ve donated this year.”
Narrowing his lilac eyes, Daemon went to respond. Only to be cut off by the mahogany door opening to reveal the headmaster, Mr. Mellos.
A few awkward handshakes were exchanged, between Viserys and the principle. Daemon had refused to move. Keeping his foot propped on one knee, two fingers glued to his temple. “It’s so good to have you here, Mr Targaryen,” the headmaster said before clearing his throat and glancing toward the younger brother nervously.
“Cut the pleasantries, Mellos. What exactly has Rhaenyra done that warranted sixteen calls to my sister in law? You do know she is recovering.” His brothers spat at the elderly man in a bored tone as he examined his nails.
Coughing into a handkerchief. “Ah, well I hate to bother you Mr. Targaryen,” The headmaster said to Viserys, ignoring Daemons question. “unfortunately it is several issues we’ve had with Rhaenyra. Today was the worst of course, by far, but she has toed the line of disciplinary action for months.”
The desk chair creaked as Mellos reached into the old drawer, pulling out a fully stuffed yellow folder labeled “Targaryen.”
Flipping the first few pages, Mellos settled on a piece of paper covered in red markings. “The bullying has only worsened since the last time we discussed Rhaenyras issues. She, and two other girls, were caught smearing pigs blood onto the gym clothes of one of their classmates.
Beside him, Daemon scoffed, “Rhaenyra is extremely body positive. She follows Selena Gomez on Twitter, I highly doubt she’d be bullying some dollop about her weight.” Viserys nodded along in agreement with his brother, never once had he heard his sweet daughter make cruel remarks about a woman’s figure.
At this Mellos became a bit flustered, “I’m sorry to say, Mr. Targaryen, that there were several witnesses and the insults given were not about size. Rather, she and a friend filled the girls locker with some… educational.. pamphlets on rhinoplasty.” Viserys tried not to groan, then he said a little prayer of thanks because he knew that if a “friend” was involved with the bullying, then at least Rhaenys’ wallet would cry as loudly as his own.
A sinister smirk graced Daemons face, “I think there was a miscommunication. Surely my niece was offering the girl some well deserved tips, Rhaenyra is always very proactive when people ask her for advice. Always obsessed with making slideshows and flyers as a child, too productive some would say.” Humming out casually, Daemon continued with a roll of his hand, “The girl was probably too embarrassed at admitting she asked for help. Clearly, my niece was just helping a friend achieve their best self.”
A tight frown formed across the headmasters lips before he continued, “Ah well. The next time she got into trouble was over an exchange with her teacher. Ms. Redwyne.”
Viserys took the slight pause as an opportunity to cut in, “My wife did mention her teachers retirement. I’m sorry, Mellos but my daughter is very respectful of her elders. I doubt that any offense was meant to Ms. Redwyne. Perhaps the woman was simply looking for an excuse to finally put the grade books down? I mean, she used to teach Daemon and I, and that was years ago.” A hopeful Viserys batted his violet eyes at the headmaster in hopes of avoiding the coming revelation about his daughters personality.
“Unfortunately sir, Redwyne left after your daughter ridiculed her diet, body, and work performance. Over twenty years she’s taught here, never have I heard such vicious words from the mouth of a student.” Mellos shook his head and Viserys felt himself physically flinch as his brother inquired as to what was said.
With a sigh, the headmaster moved to his computer. A few stokes of the keyboard and a video was playing on screen. “Normally we don’t allow phones in the classroom, but somehow a student caught the entire thing and posted it onto “TikTak.”
Beside him, Viserys could feel his brother vibrate with excitement. Always eager to watch Rhaenyra play the dutiful role of his chaotic niece, “Your husband probably left you for a younger woman.” Rhaenyra sat smugly in her desk chair, twisting at one of the rings on her left hand.
“It’s common now for older men to date younger. Especially after sleeping with a deflated old cow for twenty years.” The young Targryen didn’t stop though, and Viserys brought a hand to his face in shame as the video continued to show his daughter rant, “Of course, it could always be that he was tired of trying to communicate with someone that never offered anything valuable to a conversation.” Standing from her desk, Rhaenyra smirked and slid her way toward the older woman in the footage.
Smugly, the silver haired heiress spoke, “I guess we will never know, then again I could always message him on insta, you know he follows me and likes ALL of my photos. It’s kinda desperate but who could blame him, really?”
Leaning forward, Rhaenyra whispered something too softly for the film to pick up and then backed away, “So next time, keep my uncles name out of your dried up, crusty, old, mouth.” Viserys was sure that the staff couldn’t speak Valyrian, but the implication got through, because the next moment Redwyne was slamming her things into a large alligator skinned purse.
At this, Daemon barked out a laugh, “Mellos. Please give me a copy of that account, or perhaps I can find it online? What is that username.. High-as-a-tower69? Clever.”
Viserys coughed, “What exactly caused Rhaenyra to say such things? She has never been one to lash out without provocation.” The eldest brother said, with a scowl. Though he knew that the girl had simply been spending too much time with his brother, and Redwyne had always had a distaste for Daemon.
Mellos frowned, “I hardly think what Ms. Redwyne said, warranted that sort of response, but Rhaenyras statement,” the older man shuffled to a piece of paper with the Targaryen girls handwriting, “stated that Ms. Redwyne insulted Someone very dear to her, and that given the opportunity, she should’ve also mentioned the woman’s need for a new perfume, because the smell of cat piss effected the students ability to learn.”
Even Viserys was unable to stifle his chuckle, as it was a joke both Targaryens had made when they’d attended the academy. “Ah yes, well my girl has always been rather protective, I’m sure that can be overlooked as she was only defending another person.” Daemon leaned forward, begging Mellos to argue with him.
The older man made no further comment, flicking his dark eyes down to the folder once more. “Lastly, and the reason I called you here today, Rhaenyra and another student got into a physical altercation today.” At this, both men gapped.
Rhaenyra could be cruel, spoiled even, but Viserys knew his daughter was not one to be aggressive. “Where is my daughter, Mellos? I’d like to hear her account of what took place.” The man shuffled the papers uncomfortably before pressing the small button on his phone, “Can you send Miss Targaryen in please, Moira.”
A few awkward moments passed as they waited for his daughter to creep in through the doors, “Hi, Kepus… Daddy.” His daughter greeted the two brothers before shooting her violet gaze down, shyly.
The girl looked so young in her uniform, crossing her legs nervously and playing with the hem of her skirt. Viserys had forgotten all the horrible things Mellos had accused his sweet child of, especially once his eyes landed on the bandage gracing her perfectly sculpted cheek.
Daemon had already stood and crossed the room to get a better look at it, “Bandage, off.” His brother Spat out, taking the young woman’s jaw into his hand, roughly. “Daemon, be careful. She’s clearly been through something horrific!” Viserys cried, rising from his own seat and joining the duo. “I promise, it’s not too bad.” Rhaenyra said coyly, “What happened?” Her uncle asked, shooting his dagger like gaze at Mellos.
The older man was fiddling with a paper weight on his desk nervously, “Well, I was headed to my AP Chemistry Class, and I was late because I had to stay behind in P.E to change.. I took a different staircase and ran into Florence Fossoway. Well she was extremely upset, started shouting at me like a total lunatic. The next thing I knew, she was trying to shove me down the stairs! I fell, luckily, and instead got cut on the corner of a statue.” The poor girl was shaking with stress at recalling the event.
Viserys had tried to keep his cool, rather than yell, he simply turned and approached the table with rage. Slamming his fist down, “My daughter was ATTACKED and you’ve brought me here to accuse her of what exactly?”
Mellos sputtered out, “Well Mr. Targaryen, Miss. Fossoway has told us another story. She found your daughter kissing another student on the stairwell, a boy Miss Fossoway was apparently seeing. After a very heated exchange Rhaenyra was pushed into the statue in self defense.”
Viserys was livid, a glance behind him at his family gave him strength. Daemon held a tight grip on Rhaenyras wrist, offering her comfort. Then Viserys watched as his brother whispered something into the young woman’s ear, probably an assurance that she was safe.
Viserys saw his daughters eyes widen and then shoot to the floor. His poor girl was obviously ashamed of what happened, victims of bullying could feel uncomfortable about coming forward, Viserys had read once in a newspaper.
Turning his attention back to Mellos, “I cannot believe the slander you have poured around this office about my daughter, when she has been facing this brutal treatment from her peers. I can assure you that not one more dime with come from my account unless I am promised that those responsible in this attack are removed from this campus, Mellos!” Fuming with rage, Viserys looked toward his daughter for strength.
Only a short week later though, Ms. Fossoway was in the hospital. Fell down the stairs at some event or another after drinking too much, Viserys had heard about it through Aemma. “Serves her right,” Viserys thought without a care in the world only to be berated by his for his lack of kindness, “She was seriously injured Viserys, and another student died in a car wreck leaving the party that same evening! We need to make sure Rhaenyra understands how drinking can affect her life!”
The next month was full of half assed attempts to inform Rhaenyra of the pitfalls of alcoholism. Viserys chuckled at the memory. Even with their problems, Aemma had made things fun.
But then she had passed, and all Viserys could do was watch as his daughter folded in on herself.
In a way, he was thankful that Daemon came back home to them, fully at least. Finally retiring from his music career and focusing on family. It was one thing to raise a daughter alone, but Viserys had to run an empire as well.
Those first few days were hardest. Rhaenyra ordered their driver Westerling to drive her straight to the beach after the funeral, locking herself away in the family condo. For an entire week she refused to answer her fathers calls.
Across the small rounded table Viserys sobbed into his cloth napkin, “I can’t do it, Daemon. I can’t do it.” His brother sat silently, cutting into the medium rare steak on his plate with ease, “I understand you’re upset Viserys, but this is a public place. You need to keep it together. I saw pictures of you crying in the drive thru of a McDonalds online, what message will that send to your daughter? She needs you to be strong.”
Setting his cutlery aside, Daemon pulled his brothers hand forward, “I cannot understand how you feel, not truly. For I have never lost the person I love. However, I know Aemma would want you to be there for Rhaenyra. You’re letting the vipers in.”
Taking a large gasp of air, Viserys tried to bite back his sob, sniffling instead and letting his body shake out the hurt. “I know. You’re right, I know, but I loved her Daemon. Every time I look at Rhaenyra, all I see is Aemma.” Upon saying his deceased wife’s name, Viserys heaved another loud cry.
Daemon brought his hand up to his temple and rubbed, “I will handle Rhaenyra, but I cannot keep the sharks at bay. You need to pull yourself together. Take a few days, weeks even, to mourn. I’ll watch the company, I’ll take care of our little dragon, but I expect you to stay out of the public eye. No more “break downs in Burger King,” Viserys, you know better than this.” Nodding along, Viserys dabbed at his violet eyes once more. Happy to receive the help of his brother, even if it was tough love.
Daemon drove up that night to the beach condo to meet with his niece, at the behest of Viserys. The two of them returned days later with shared smiles and matching jewelry, “Valyrian steel daddy, can you believe Daemon knows someone who collects pieces?”
His teenage daughter cooed over the metal hanging around her neck, “It is lovely dear, perhaps I should ask your uncle if he can find me a trinket to match yours as well.” At this, his daughter face soured, “They don’t have a million pieces of Valyrian steel laying about.” Rolling her violet eyes, the same orbs that matched her fathers, Rhaenyra stormed off to her room with a huff.
At the time, Viserys thought Rhaenyra must’ve thought a matching necklace with her father would’ve been seen as uncool, and he was happy that the loss of her mother wasn’t weighing as heavily on her as it was on him. Now the poor man burnt his tongue on coffee at the realization that he’d been excluded because the girl was In love with his brother.
The sound of a door slamming jolted Viserys back to life, the sludge in his hand spilling onto his dark shirt as his body jerked to position.
His brother wasn’t shouting, it was more of a hiss. Daemons venomous words could be heard down the tiled hallway, “I don’t care if he’s delivered a hundred fucking children, he’s about as useful as a blind fucking tattoo artist. He’s eye fucked my wifes tits the entire evening and now he’s refusing to follow her birth plan. You will March your fat ass down that corridor, Judy,” Viserys watched as Daemon pressed his index finger into the woman’s olive green scrubs, “to the phone and call Gerardys, the OBGYN we paid thousands of dollars to have deliver our children, or I will sue you for every fucking thing you can possibly imagine.” Turning foot, Daemon attempted to reenter the room only to find that it had been locked.
The nurse, Judy, was already high tailing it down to the nurses station, passing an even more stressed out Viserys.
Worried about his brother, but more for his daughter, Viserys arose and wobbled toward the delivery room. “Is everything alright? Is she okay?” In front of him, Daemon tapped on the window again with a scowl, his foot rapping against the floor anxiously. “She’s fine, the doctor wants to wait on her epidural. Damn old man is lucky she wants the thing so bad, otherwise I would’ve already lodged it up his ass.” His brother looked a wreck.
It was an uncommon thing, considering Daemon had always been the handsome one out of the two of them. Silver hair was messily shaken out around his pale face, dark rings lingered under his lilac eyes. “Why won’t they let you back in?” Viserys asked, before trying to peak through the very small window into his daughters room.
Daemon scoffed, and knocked on the door again, “I don’t know. I’ve only made one nurse cry and she left hours ago. That old pervert keeps making her get into the bath, then bounce on a yoga ball, watching her tits the whole time like the lecher he is. Rhaenyra is insisting it’s proven to help, poor girl is so fucked up from the hormones, doesn’t know she’s being violated. Who the hell makes a pregnant woman bend over on the bed like that, doggy style?! Does he think I’m an idiot?!” Now his brother was growling and banged on the door once more before a nurse finally appeared to grant him entry.
Before it could shut, Viserys caught it and popped his head in, “I love you honey! You can do this, your mother would be so proud!” All the motivational words he could think poured from his mouth, and he took in the site.
His brother was right. The perverse doctor, Mellos, had his daughter propped like a horse on the hospital bed, legs spread open in front of him. Viserys almost fainted, the scent of blood and gore tearing his nostrils with the familiar fumes of his wife’s departure. “Oh god, honey!” He cried out with a sob, “Dad, everything is fine! Or it would be fine if I could just get a fucking epidural!” His little girl said, shaking from the pain of childbirth.
The room around Viserys began to swirl, taking his consciousness with it.
In his dreams the older Targaryen saw scenes from his life. Marrying Aemma, the woman of his dreams. The moment Rhaenyra had caught him with Alicent in the families pool house after coming home early from a trip. Escorting the platinum headed girl down the aisle toward his brother, before needing his new wife to help him sit down. All a blurry of memories that he’d never been able to remove despite the years taking several others away..
“Viserys, wake up. Our grandchildren are here!” The sound of his first wife’s voice was crystal clear in his old ears, jolting him back to the world, “Aemma?” He shouted out into the room, only to find himself propped on a chair in the corner of a quiet room.
The smell of gore had been replaced with something softer, and Viserys let his violet orbs scan the familiar scene, “Rhaenyra?” Shaking, the man arose to cross the room toward the hospital bed. Like a masterpiece, he saw his family gathered together around two blanketed bundles. “Viserys, come meet your nephews.” His brothers dry humor caused Rhaenyra to chuckle, “Honey, that is so cruel, he just woke up!”
Viserys was thankful for the feinting, as he couldn’t have handled the rest of what the evening had in store for his family. Rhaenyra had safely delivered the twins, despite doctors assuring her that they needed a C-section. Once Gerardys arrived however, the labor was much easier. Rhaenyra and Daemon shared the story of the birth as Viserys slipped his hands down to the blanketed babes. “Aegon, and Viserys. After my brothers.” Daemon had said, pridefully despite Rhaenyra rolling her eyes, “I tried to tell him we had enough Aegons, but he insisted that ours would be the conqueror reborn.”
Gazing at his two missing puzzle pieces, the ones with very little silver hair and beautifully purple eyes, Viserys felt his heart grow. “They look just like you.” His warm voice spoke to his daughter, “And me.” Daemon interrupted rudely, but Viserys ignored his brother. “I love them. I love you. Oh I wish your mother was here to see this.” It was a shame that his Aemma had missed such a moment, but Viserys knew that the gods would allow her spirit to see this moment of pure joy.
Years prior the Targaryens were meeting for their weekly luncheon. “My girl, look what your Kepus has for you today!” The younger brother said to Viserys’s daughter. The light haired girl giggling at the teens antics, “Kepus!” Rhaenyra responded, for it was the only word she ever seemed to want to say outside of, “No.”
Aemma sighed, “You really do spoil her. Don’t you think it’s time for you to start giving her cousins, Daemon? Someone she can play with. Someone you can spoil?” The mother kissed her daughters cheek as Viserys passed her a cloth to wipe away the small amount of drool on Rhaenyras chin. “I won’t ever have children, and I have someone here I can spoil plenty. No cousins for you, right Rhaenyra? Your darling Kepus will never betray you that way!”
The chubby faced toddler nodded, “NO COUSINS!” She chanted in response, parroting the word as best she could. Around the table, the family laughed and Viserys felt his heart clench in sorrow. There was nothing he wanted more for his brother than for the man to feel the warmth that having a family could bring.
Instead of trying to hold one of his grandsons, Viserys backed away to find a tissue. Unable to fight back his tears. “I hope you aren’t going to cry like this every time we have a child.” His brother snarked and Rhaenyra tutted. Viserys felt his throat close momentarily as he realized that Daemon planned to have many more children than he had ever let on.