"The media...?" Vincent asked.

"Hmmm." he mumbled. "Normally I pay attention to the news..." he said. And it was true. He did. Current affairs, world news, the big things. But he always had a blind spot to fashion. One of the few areas he ignored.

And it was lovely that what was happening with her just happened to be in one of his few blind spots.

"Well, whatever is happening with you, I hope you manage to keep it going." he told her.

"Because you seem happier than ever."

Vincent just placed a hand on her shoulder.

"The beauty is, they won't have to 'power through it'." he told her. "They'll have a support network. They'll have friends and family that know what it's like, and they'll be able to lean on them for support." he said further.

"And that will work wonders." he continued.

"Plus, we'll all be here for you if you need it." he went on, before pausing.

"And I certainly hope Marcus will be involved, yes?" he then asked.

Vincent could only laugh in response.

"Hah! Good!" he exclaimed.

"...though I admit, if you suddenly didn't want him to be a part of your child's life, then I would have some very serious concerns about the sudden status of your relationship with him." he then admitted seriously.

"Still. It's good that Marcus seems to be moving on." he then said.

"Wanting to be a part of his grandchild's life is a very big thing. Shines him in a good light." he reasoned.

"And we already know Sydney and Dom will be there for them as well." he added with a chuckle.

Vincent could only smile.

"That... is some of the best news I've heard about him." he said. "I'm glad he's finally learning not to be shackled to his past, and that he needs to move on from it." he went on.

"I'm willing to bet Jasmine helped him realise that?" he asked.

"He told he she finally got through his head and convinced him to seek a therapist, yeah." Desiree responded.

"...that woman deserves a massive fruit basket or something." Vincent replied. "She's been the one to finally get him to move forward." he went on, shaking his head lightly.

"Bloody miracle worker." he chuckled.

Vincent stopped an raised an eyebrow.

"Ah..." he stammered. "Hm." he then mumbled. "I always knew she was young, but... admittedly, I didn't think she was THAT young." he admitted to her, thinking about it some more.

"Younger than you..." he went on, pondering it some more.

"Meaning your child will have a grandmother younger than her mother." he voiced, seemingly just now realising it.

"...don't know what that says about my own family, but in comparison to my own relations and family tree, that... isn't so bad." he then said to her, looking a little... incredulous about it.

And it was true. If one were to look as Vincent's lovers, and the children he'd sired with them over the course of his life, while nothing illegal or immoral had happened, and there was no weird DNA shenanigans happening... it would still look a little suspicious.

"....hm." Vincent mumbled.

"Parents should never outlive their children." he said.

"You... may want to talk to Jaden about that." he told her. "Seriously. The last thing Marcus needs is to outlive you." he went on. "And I'm sure your human lifespan won't be good for Jaden and your child later in life." he went on.

He then paused and shook his head.

"But that's just me thinking out loud, I suppose." he muttered.

"You two do whatever you feel is best."

"...very true, sadly." Vincent agreed.

"However, it's a conversation that needs to happen." he told her. "Seriously, as uncomfortable as it will be, it is something that will have to be brought up. It will be unavoidable." he continued.

"Whenever you do it IS up to you, however." he then stated.

"Regardless, for now, I reiterate what I said before; congratulations." he went on, smiling again.

"And I mean that, I'm glad you finally seem to be truly happy." he told her. "And I know it's not because of the money." he quickly clarified. "I'm merely stating how at peace you seem to finally be now."

Vincent nodded in response.

"I understand." he said.

"You put up with him for FAR too long. Longer than anyone should have had to." he told her. "But... that is the past. And we must put the past behind us." he then reasoned.

"Instead, live in the present, and look to the future." he continued, and then paused.

"...when did I start sounding like a bloody fortune cookie..." he mumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"For the record, that sounded FAR less cliché in my mind." he told her.

He chuckled again.

"Of course." he responded.

"I'll see if Aimee or Lex know of any places in France." he told her.

"It IS lovely there." he reasoned.

"But beyond that, I'll do some scouring." he promised. "I'll have some options for you in the next few weeks."

Vincent thought for a moment, before shaking his head.

"Well, firstly, things have been fine here, thank you." he told her. "Yes, busy, but we've been managing." he assured her. "Overall... things really haven't been better." he stated.

"And... I think so?" he then answered.

"I mean, I'm sure we all have SOMETHING... probably..." he went on, trailing off a bit. "Admittedly, it's been a while since any of of dressed up for a truly formal occasion." he then sighed.

"So the answer could very well be...... no..." he admitted sheepishly.

"Why?" he asked.