Here is a legal map for the Dems to fantasize over after the next census. Beyond having to take control of the trifecta, the only other little problem for them is that it runs the risk of an all white Congressional delegation.
VA-08 (the grey CD - I can't get the CD labels to move for the moment - that utility comes and goes for me for reasons unknown) is about 3% or so Dem PVI assuming Prince William has moved about another point Dem since 2008. If it crossed into Fairfax, it could be made totally safe. VA-04 is about 3% Dem PVI. The Richmond metro area is not quite Dem enough yet to draw 2 safe Dem seats there. But Charlottesville comes to the rescue to just about get the job done.
Anyway, odds are it would elect 8 Dems and 4 Pubs.
Perhaps neither side will be in control, and a federal court will draw a 9:3 GOP map (or perhaps 8-3-1).
First they will decide the 12th district will go in NOVA, based in Prince William. The other districts will be contracted to provide room. Logically this would begin with VA-2 and VA-9 in the furthest corners. So VA-2 shifts some of Norfolk to VA-3. VA-3 in turn does not change much. If not for the added 12th district, VA-3 would be underpopulated. Creating, the 12th district is equivalent to giving every district a 9% boost in population (or alternatively, the district size will be 8.4% less).
So there might be a minor tweak of the Richmond-Henrico interface with VA-7.
VA-9 and VA-6 will slide south, which will pull VA-10 more into the Shenadoah Valley. The new district may have to go out into Fauqier. The judges might deliberately make it competitive so as to avoid taking sides in the party battle.
Or maybe the Court will draw a 50-50 map to properly reflect the voting population of the state...no way!
Anyway, it's hilarious how much Republicans are in love with gerrymandering, but I really think those days are kinda numbered, at least in Virginia.
Ehh, to be fair, Virginia really is a state where Democrats are rather packed in by geography. Tbh, I'm not too up on the specific legal muckedy-muck of all this VA-wrangling, but in all likelihood a fair map would probably have
-2/3 safe D districts in NOVA
-1 safe one in Hampton Roads (black influence)
-A fairly strong D-leaner in Richmond
There also might be a tossup or two in NOVA.