Growing closer, growing wise

What if Geralt had kidnapped Ciri when she was four months old, and accidentally involved Jaskier in the whole baby-rearing thing? Or also: the one Geralt and Jaskier spend the winter watching baby Ciri grow, travel half the Continent and fail to part from each other.

Geralt was a wonder to watch. He made faces at her so she could try and mimic him, he guided her little hands over the textured fabrics of Jaskier’s fancy outfits he’d graciously lent them just for this very exercise, and the more he made Ciri laugh, the softer his smiles became. Jaskier was completely addicted to the way his whole face lit up in wonder when she did something new or unexpected.