Chapter 13 - The First Steps
13 - 15
Spring gave way to the vibrant, sun-drenched heat of early summer, transforming the Varric estate into an oasis of blooming roses, emerald lawns, and sparkling fountains. The bullet holes in the marble facade had long since been polished away by master stonemasons, leaving the mansion looking as pristine and untouchable as it had for a century.
Inside the nursery, a major milestone was about to take place.
Liana knelt on the plush carpet ten feet away from the carved crib, holding her arms wide open with an encouraging smile. "Come on, Nico! You can do it! Just one more step!"
Eleven-month-old Nico—or Lucas, as Liana sometimes whispered to him in the quiet privacy of their bedroom—stood wobbling unsteadily on chubby legs near the edge of the rug. His big, shimmering eyes were locked entirely on his mother, his tiny brow furrowed with intense, single-minded concentration.
Leaning against the doorframe with a cup of black coffee in his hand, Matteo watched the scene unfold with a quiet, fierce pride that made his chest swell.
"Don't rush him, Liana," Matteo murmured, walking slowly across the room to kneel beside her. "Let him find his own footing."
Nico wobbled to the left, caught his balance by grabbing onto a low stuffed teddy bear, and then—with a determined little grunt—took one, two, three rapid steps forward across the remaining expanse of carpet.
Before he could tumble forward, Liana’s arms caught him securely, lifting him up into the air as she spun around in a joyous circle.
"He walked! Matteo, did you see that? He walked all by himself!" Liana laughed, pressing a flurry of kisses to the toddler’s chubby cheeks while Nico shrieked with delighted triumph.
Matteo stood up, a broad, genuine smile breaking across his rugged face. He stepped forward, wrapping his strong arms around both mother and son, lifting them both slightly off the floor in a powerful embrace.
"I told you," Matteo whispered against Liana’s hair, his voice rich with profound emotion. "A Varric always finds his way forward—no matter who tries to block the path."
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Later that evening, after Nico had drifted off to a deep, peaceful sleep in his crib, Matteo and Liana sat together on the wide stone balcony overlooking the moonlit sculpture garden. A gentle summer breeze rustled the leaves of the oak trees, carrying the sweet scent of night-blooming jasmine from the courtyard below.
Liana rested her head on Matteo’s shoulder, her fingers tracing the edge of the silver locket she still wore around her neck—only now, the photograph inside had been updated. It wasn't just a picture of a lost baby anymore. It was a polaroid taken that very morning: Matteo, Liana, and Nico laughing together in the sunlight, completely whole, completely untouchable, and bound together by a secret that the world would never truly understand.
