Genevieve had been in the middle of a very sweet dream when the feeling of lips, warm and very familiar, awoke her from the deep slumber she had eventually succumbed to past midnight. “Ten more minutes,†she grumbled, her bottom lip protruding just slightly as her brow wrinkled a touch. The restlessness of pregnancy had left her always feeling as if she lacked sleep, even if it was Effie, not herself, that was dealing with the cries of little Niklaus at all hours of the night. But her position was not to fuss over the child as he grew under the tender love and affection of their household but rather to educate him once he became old enough to mold into the image of their past.
However as soon as she heard his voice, that voice that she had grown to love in a way she had loved nothing else, her heart almost immediately fluttered in her stomach and in a surge of energy to which she was yet to find the source, she awoke with an intake of air, her eyelashes fluttering open only to squint a fraction when the bright rays of daylight accosted her, reminding her that it was early morning. “I forget you sleep here now, you’ve given me a right fright,†she said softly, but there was no malice in her voice but rather, a smile as he leaned in closer, taking much pleasure in the exciting way that he spoke of their plans, a contrast to the usual calm and sometimes cold manner in which he at times regarded some of the staff around the house.
“It’s your birthday, shouldn’t I be doing the cooking?†she offered instead. Genevieve could not cook a decent meal even if her life depended on it but was curious to know how he’d respond to her suggestion. Would he be the good boy he was and say he’d eat her meal no matter how awful? Or rather, would he insinuate she had no skills in the kitchen (completely true). Either way, she enjoyed teasing him. “Anyway, what makes you think I haven’t any plans of my own? It might be your island but Taylor is rather fond of me and is, as we speak, making sure my plans are accounted for as well,†she continued with a laugh. Taylor had only obeyed her because she had threatened to unleash Wolfie’s wrath upon him should he deny her. But it was nice to think that her staff occasionally did things for her from their goodwill.
“But first things first,†she noted, she cuddled in closer to him, wrapping a hand around his waist as she drew closer, the coolness of the sheets doing little to dissuade the warmth that often felt so close and exposed to him. “Happy birthday, my darling, you’re finally an adult, and no longer the only teenager in the house,†she winked at him before leaning in to kiss him, her fingertips wandering down for a moment before she pulled her hand away. That would have to wait for later.
“You’d think it was my birthday with all these high praises you’re singing,†she laughed, sitting up as he kissed her, “No, I am not the gift, but I certainly am happy to be unwrapped,†she offered, “an entire week of unwrapping, with no one around to tell us otherwise, no appointments, no work,†she looked at him suspiciously, “no work and I mean it, Wolfie,†she added. “I am happy to take my nap after I’ve been satisfied if you don’t mind,†she smirked mischievously, leaning in to kiss again, moaning a little into his lips before a knock on the door interrupted them. Begrudgingly, she pulled away, wrapping the sheets around herself as she sat up from the bed. “What is it?†she called out, a young girl, a new maid perhaps, shyly made her way into the room, her eyes wandering about before they settled on Genevieve.
“Effie is with the baby and I—†she started nervously, "I--am here to help you get dressed," she added, trailing off as her eyes wandered over to Wolfgang as she stared. Genevieve, partly amused and partly annoyed watched to see how he'd react.
