Chapter Text
The Shatterdome kitchens were bathed in a frosty light at the twilight hours of two am. Vanessa Gottlieb was trying her best to stay quiet, she really was, but sometimes the call for pickles destroyed an individual’s need for civility.
“Bloody-” Vanessa quickly grabbed at canisters of biscuit dough that started to topple out of refrigerator. She managed to grab three, but a fourth one rolled off of her swollen belly and clanged loudly on the cement floor. While she was thankful that it didn’t crush her toes, it did not stop her form swearing under her teeth.
She set the three cans back in the fridge and looked on the floor to see where the can of dough had rolled. She had a bad feeling that it had rolled under the refrigerator. After awkwardly bending her body and crouching down onto her hands and knees, she saw that it had rolled under the sink, and not the refrigerator. As if that was good thing.
Pressing her body as low to the floor as her belly would allow, Vanessa reached her arm under the sink and groped, squinting in the dark. Her hands scraped against the wet, mildewy tiles, making her shiver in disgust, until her hand clasped the canister. Vanessa tried to stand back up, but realized that it would prove to be a challenge.
“Here,” murmured a tired voice. Vanessa looked up and saw Herman, wearing the powdery-blue silk pajamas she bought him two Christmas’ ago. One of his hands gripped his cane, while the other was held out in front of her. She grabbed his forearm, and with a grunt, pulled her self up. He placed his hand on her hip to steady her, and Vanessa took that as an invitation for more intimate contact. She pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek.
“Did I wake you, love? Please go back to sleep, I was just getting something to eat,” she said. Hermann rubbed his eyes with his hand.
“It’s quite alright,” he sighed. “I wasn’t sleeping that well anyway. Are you alright?”
“Of course! Just hungry. I’ve got a big craving for pickles,” said Vanessa, glancing back at the fridge, “’cept there doesn’t seem to be any in there…Ah well.” She shifted her weight onto another one of her swollen feet, and pressed her forehead to Hermann’s shoulder.
“Would you like to go get you some pickles? I think there is a convenience store down the street from here. I don’t think it would take me more than fifteen minutes,” asked Hermann. Vanessa stood there for a moment and considered his offer.
“Um…no. No thanks, love, I’ll be fine. Maybe Alison and I will go out tomorrow and get them.” Vanessa smiled half-heartedly. Hermann wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
“I’m going to go get you those pickles,” he whispered. He turned around and started to head out.
“What? No, Hermann, it’s alright, it can wait till morning,” she pleaded, grabbing his wrist.
“No it’s not,” he retorted, “Did you know, Misses Gottlieb, that you are a lousy liar? You say you’re all right but I know for a fact thatyou’re going to be shifting around in bed all night craving pickles and not getting any sleep. Then in the morning you’ll be in a right state, which will put me in a right state, and then, I don’t know, the baby will be in a right state…or something.
“Plus,” he added, nodding defiantly at her, “you’re wearing my pajamas.” Vanessa glanced down. She was wearing an old TU BERLIN shirt of Hermann’s, pulled taunt over her stomach, and beneath that, was also wearing a pair of Hermann’s glow-in-the-dark print pajama pants. They were adorned with constellations and rocket ships.
“So?” she asked, “S’not my fault that you have comfy pajama pants that look cute on me. What does that have to do with anything?”
Hermann shrugged.
“Nothing really. I’m not good at arguing at 3 am. You are right though, they do look cute on you.” He glanced at the floor, his ears turning pink.
“You say that about everything I wear,” she said, rolling her eyes and trying hard not to smile.”
“It’s true,” he stammered, “you could be wearing a plastic bag and you’d still look radiant.” Vanessa went up to him, wrapping her arms around his wiry frame. She gently put her lips against his cheek, and felt his chest press against hers and he took a sharp intake of breath.
“I bet you say that to all the pretty girls,” she whispered. He took her hands, gently kissing her back.
“Other girls won’t talk to me,” he answered, smiling.
“Nerd,” Vanessa hissed facetiously. Hermann gave her a look.
“Oh really? Really? I’m the nerd? I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure I overheard you and Newton having a heated argument earlier over which kaiju had the best biological weapons. Or how about when we first arrived and you aided Alison and Tendo in the coding of those new jaegers? Or maybe when you first met Mako and the two of you stayed up till four in the morning discussing that one Japanese film…oh what was it called?”
“Akira,” mumbled Vanessa, not looking Hermann in the eyes as she drummed her fingers on her belly.
“Yes, and who promised me that they would look over my equations tomorrow and then go on a date to the science museum?”
“This nerd right here,” Vanessa said, jabbing her thumbs in her direction. They both burst into laughter.
“Shhh! Shhh, don’t laugh so loud!” Hermann placed and arm on Vanessa’s shoulder and tried to press a finger to his smile.
“You’re the science officer! You’re the one who will get in trouble not me,” giggled Vanessa.
They both quieted down and Hermann took Vanessa’s hand.
“I’ll only be a few minutes. I can meet you back in the room?”
Vanessa swiveled her lips as she mulled it over.
“Fine. But you know how worried I get when you go out alone late at night. It’s dangerous out here; even the five-minute walk to the store is risky. ”
“I promise I’ll be safe,” said Hermann, heading out of the doorway.
Vanessa stood there a moment, arms akimbo, before Hermann poked his head back in the doorway.
“Fifteen minutes. I promise. Love you.”
Vanessa sighed, but couldn’t help but smile. She saluted him back.
“Love you too.”