Chapter Text
A soft gallop echoed along Toussaint's dirt road as a horse covered in white, red and silver armor entered Corvo Bianco's vineyard before stopping in front of a small stable where the rider on top of the animal got off and led the horse inside.
“Okay Roach, you can rest a bit now... I don't intend to accept any contracts in the next few days.” Declared the rider as the horse let out a squeal before approaching some hay.
The rider nodded before walking away from the barn. He was a tall man with white skin covered in scars with a more prominent one going through his left eye, his eyes were bright yellow with a cat-like slit pupil. On his back he carried two swords with a mini crossbow next to them. This was Geralt of Rivia, a witcher from the wolf school.
But now that wasn't all he was.
Geralt would receive the medal of the Order of Vitis Venifera, the highest honor in all of Toussaint, being decorated as an official knight of the duchy of Toussaint, making him a nobleman in the eyes of the kingdom and with a vineyard like his, his situation changed a lot. Witches lived on the road, following the path, but now? Geralt had a house that he could really call his own, a place where he could stop and rest, and for the first time since he got his witchering amulet he was thinking about retiring.
He was so immersed in thought that he was only brought out of it by his butler, Barnabas Basil, calling out to him in front of his house.
Barnabas Basil was a man about Geralt's size, but without the witcher's athletic build. He had slightly tanned skin and was bald, wearing a common butler's uniform as well as a pair of dark glasses that hid the color of his eyes.
"Master witcher, an unknown individual has just entered the residence. I resisted as best I could, but my efforts were in vain." Barnabas Basil declares, making Geralt look at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Who is it?” Geralt asks, causing the butler to nod.
“Unfortunately, they didn't give me the slightest courtesy to introduce themselves, I was too stressed and rushed.” The butler explained, making the witcher turn his attention back to the house.
With that, Geralt approached his house before entering it. He quickly looked around the entrance before continuing to walk when he saw no one, prepared to fight or use one of his signs at any sign of danger.
However, as soon as Geralt reached the dining room, he couldn't help but relax and widen his eyes at who he saw. It was a woman he knew well, Shani.
Shani was a pretty, fair-skinned woman with short red hair and green eyes, wearing a white shirt with a green vest, black pants and boots with heels. She was sitting in one of the chairs with a pensive expression until she saw Geralt and stood up, causing the witcher to notice something: her belly was a little bigger than he remembered.
“Geralt.” She greets Shani with a smile before hugging him, which Geralt immediately returns.
“Shani... this is a surprise.” Geralt comments, smiling as he turns away from the woman who smiled at him.
“I hope it's not unwelcome.” Shani jokes, making Geralt smile.
“Never.” Declares Geralt smiling before looking her up and down. “It's good to see you.”
“I say the same, it took me a while to find you, but in the end I did.” Shani nods, smiling.
“Yes... But I didn't know the war was over.” Comments Geralt, making Shani frown.
"It's not over. The war is still going on, Nilfgaard has redoubled his efforts and Redania has started to have more difficulty in the battles." Shani explained as she walked past Geralt before stopping and looking at an ornate shield on the wall, which bore the bridge's coat of arms, Geralt's coat of arms. “The thing is, I've been relieved of duty.”
Geralt immediately turned to her and frowned, looking for any injuries.
“You can stay here as long as you need, my house is open to you.” Geralt declared, making Shani smile at him.
"Thank you Geralt. Your home is certainly lovely, but... I need to talk to you, alone." Shani says, making Geralt nod and glance briefly at her stomach, something she realizes. “Yes... it has something to do with that.”
(Some time later.)
Geralt and Shani were walking side by side until they reached some benches behind Geralt's property, where they sat down and observed their surroundings and listened to the sounds of the environment.
“...I think congratulations are in order.” Geralt commented, making Shani nod.
“Yes, I certainly didn't expect to get pregnant, let alone find out during the war.” Shani declares, making Geralt nod with a serious look, not knowing how to feel about it.
“Is that why you were dismissed?” Shani was silent for a few moments before nodding at his question.
"Yes, when you start getting sick regularly and vomiting, you end up being a burden on the army. They dismissed me with dishonor, I was only offered the courtesy of picking up my things and leaving in a carriage to wherever I wanted thanks to my services."
Geralt nodded solemnly feeling heartbroken, he knew that Shani should have gotten over him after the two of them split up in Oxenfurt, but it hurt the notion that in just two months she had gotten someone while he had lost almost everyone he loved. Yennefer was furious with him and didn't even want to have contact with the witcher and Triss anymore, after their disagreement, she went to Kovir and they lost contact completely.
From then on, the witcher was alone for a long time until he was brought to Toussaint.
"So, who's the father? I imagine he didn't take it well, since you're here." Although he wasn't the one who had won Shani's heart, she was still very dear to him and Geralt would keep her and the child safe if he needed to.
Upon hearing this, Shani snorted, letting out a small laugh.
“I don't know, I haven't told you yet.” Shani commented, causing Geralt to frown and prepare to answer, but he quickly stopped when he realized what she had said.
“...You haven't told me?” Geralt asks, staring at her intently.
“Geralt, you were the last person I had a relationship with.” Shani explains, making Geralt stand up suddenly, looking shocked as he walks forward a little, looking at the vineyard, trying to reason out what she said before turning to her.
“That's impossible, witchers are infertile.” Geralt declares.
“Yes, I know... but it's the only thing that makes sense, considering how unique my pregnancy is.” Shani explains, prompting Geralt to gesture for her to continue. "My senses are heightened, it was a nightmare trying to sleep with so many sounds and smells. Once I accidentally cut my finger and it healed faster than normal for a human, but in a natural way for a witch. Geralt, I'm sure the baby is yours."
Geralt remained silent, going over everything he had been told before approaching Shani, who immediately stood up to face him.
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. My theory is that when Vlodimir possessed you, it did something to you and that allowed an opening for you to somehow get me pregnant... I think." Shani speaks, noticing how Geralt approaches her without any expression on his face, until he embraces her.
Shani remained silent until she finally returned Geralt's embrace, with the two of them standing there hugging.
(Scene break, a few months later.)
Shani let out a satisfied sigh as she sat on the balcony of the estate, her belly even bigger than before, showing unmistakably that she was pregnant. Life had changed completely since she met Geralt again.
Since Geralt had found out she was pregnant, the witcher had retired completely and started to focus exclusively on looking after the vineyard and her. The two of them would often spend hours and hours chatting on the balcony and in other parts of the house, walking around the estate, talking to the staff, and feeding the animals. It was quite peaceful.
Sometimes Geralt would accept a contract if it came from a royal messenger, in the kingdom's most urgent cases, but he always returned home to her, his wife.
Another thing that happened was that they both got married. It was a small ceremony, but it included many of the figures that Geralt had helped in Toussaint, as well as some others who appeared, such as Zoltan, Dandelion, Lambert, Keira and Eskel. Geralt's two witcher friends nearly had a heart attack when they found out that Shani was pregnant with his child, which made Keira demand the formula for the ritual and when she got it, she and Lambert disappeared soon after.
They still didn't know if it had worked or not.
Still, it was very surprising to have Duchess Anna Henrietta herself at their wedding reception, wishing the couple well and treating them like friends.
"Mistress Shani? Would you like some more juice?” asked Barnabas Basil as he approached Shani, which made the woman smile at the butler.
“Yes, I'd like that Barnas, thank you.” Shani nods with a smile to the man, who nods before taking the glass of juice and walking away.
If her mother saw her now, she would surely be proud of who she had chosen to form a family with, even if it was a witch.
Just then, she noticed Geralt returning to the estate wearing his wolf school grandmaster armor. He was returning from some contract given to him by Anna Henrietta, something that paid well, she heard.
The witcher promptly handed the horse over to some of the servants who were near the stable before approaching her.
“Shani, I'm back.” He greeted Geralt with a quick kiss before kneeling down in front of her and placing one of his hands on her stomach. “Hey... I'm back, thanks for looking after your mom.”
Shani couldn't help but laugh at what Geralt said before she stood up with the witcher following her. The two promptly entered the house with Geralt removing his weapons, placing them on the stands as Barnabas Basil came out of the kitchen and stopped when he saw the two.
“Ah, master witcher, I see you've returned from your mission, shall I ask you to clean your weapons and armor?” The butler asked, receiving a nod from the witcher.
“Yes, and also make sure Roach gets some new carrots, he deserves them.” Geralt declares before he turns to Shani who has taken a seat in a chair in the side room.
“So?”
"It all worked out, it was just a few ghouls with some atrocious ghouls leading the pack. I won almost 500 gold coins, so we have enough to open a clinic for you when our future child is born." Geralt declares with a smile, receiving a look from Shani.
“You seem certain that it's going to be a boy, but it could also be a girl.” Shani comments, making Geralt smile before sitting down in the chair across from her.
“True, but I still think it could be a boy... but regardless, the child will be our son and we'll be in this together.” declared Geralt, smiling at Shani.
“Yes, I wouldn't have it any other way.”