Monday for Victor started out quietly, except for the obvious.

“On Friday, time to think over the weekend was requested. Your time is up.” Meredith asked as they met in her office for the morning.

Victor stayed still for a moment soaking in her gaze. He felt strangely calm but stiflingly hot nonetheless. “Have you bought me a ring?” He started.

Meredith didn’t even blink. “Your answer?”

Victor continued undeterred. “Maybe someone should be here to annotate our agreement? I would like this on paper.”

Meredith paused, then reached over and called Jan in. “Please come in, this will only take a moment.”

Jan walked into the office stupefied.

Meredith turned to her. “Jan, I have an agreement that will need to be notarized could you please take notes.” She stopped and turned to Victor. “She stays.”

Victor sighed and began. “Where do we live?”

“Our best situation for our ideal is to have you move into my property.” Meredith rattled still keeping eye contact. “I value my space however I was always planning to have permanent company.”

He prodded her. “Expectations?”

“I expect your attentions and at times your undivided energies. I expect to have a continuance of our preceding time together.” She said simply.

“Others?” He breathed.

Meredith’s eyes flicked up to him. “Who?”

Victor looked up at the ceiling remembering Taris. “To be determined.” He offered wonderingly.

Meredith considered and pulled at her hair. “I have not given thought to sharing inside the home. I will not stop sharing of women with you, however I would be…very concerned if it happened away from my presence.” Meredith paused for the next set of words to form. “Marriage is an ideal that protects the home from the division resources by outside interests and disease. Historically, multiple marriages, or supplicants were common. While no other sexual contact outside the home would be preferable, condoms would be a minimally acceptable secondary. Marriage wasn’t intended so there could be children outside the home.”

Behind them, Jan shifted quietly.

“Timeline?” He asked next.

“Your lease is up in four months.” Victor’s eye jumped but he remember it was public knowledge.

Victor dryly asked. “Any other announcements?”

“Prenuptial contract in effect after the first year.” Meredith supplied.

“Division exactly by individual earned value over the period.” Victor said remembering her nasty divorce.

Meredith nodded and arched her fingers. “Agreed. No accounts shared.”

Victor conceded. “Announcements of the ceremony?”

“Next week if that is all.” She finished and stood staring blankly at him.

Victor himself had trained her never to offer a shake until the client did, or it was verbally agreed. Of all her slips, that one would be disastrous.

Victor stepped forward but didn’t offer his hand. “I know you don’t feel, and likely you don’t understand love. But that is what I want between us Meredith. If you can’t love me than all this will fail.” Victor said and leaned in onto her desk. Jan caught his eye as she stared at them like they were crazy. “Write that down too. Meredith should know she’s raising the stakes.”

Meredith kept her eyes on him and tried to stay still and aloof and not study what his body was doing as she always did in that way of hers. After a silent minute, he offered a hand. “I mean it Meredith, if this doesn’t work then what will we have left?”

She took his hand and the world froze just before Jan jumped into it. She made the hysterical wheezy screams of an excited pre-teen complete with giddy hopping and a huge smile. “We have to celebrate! Oh the girls have been waiting for this forever.”

“We can have dinner then.” Victor offered. “We have an appointment though and we should’ve been off already.” Hastily he pried off Jan and pulled Meredith from her grip.

“Tonight we’ll celebrate at Chez Alasco, I can’t believe this, congratulations!” She waved as they made their way down to the elevators.