Snapshot—Click!
The Growing Up of Teddy Remus Lupin at the Ripe Old Age of Twenty-Two
Okay, I think it's done. Finally—now hopefully Victoire won't change her mind again. I actually shouldn't get my hopes up—she probably will change her mind again. There was an anguished wail from the direction of the bathroom making me drop the paintbrush and sprint down the hall. I slid into the doorway, catching myself on the doorjamb just before I ate it on the tiled floor.
"What happened? What's wrong?" I gasped, looking wildly around the room—wand out and ready. Victoire was in front of the mirror in her knickers with her shirt tucked under her bra and was crying at her stomach.
"My bellybutton! It's popped out!" She declared, spinning towards me so I could frown at the expanse of her mid-section, her face was ruddy and there were clear tear tracks down it.
"Well it did that weeks ago, actually. But, love, you are pregnant," I sighed, pocketing my wand. Clearly she was in no danger.
"Weeks ago? I turned into this deformed crock weeks ago and you didn't tell me!" She wailed.
"Well I didn't think it mattered that much," I shrugged. Victoire let out a sob and plopped down on top of the toilet, putting her face in her hands. Hesitantly I kneeled down in front of her and pushed some hair off her forehead.
"What's wrong pet?"
"What wrong? Have you not been listening you daft git! My bellybutton has popped out and you didn't tell me! You didn't tell me that I've turned into this monstrous blob! I'm the size of the Giant Squid! How can you stand to look at me? My chin is all doubled, there isn't a day where I can walk without swollen ankles, my shirts are stained daily from the ruddy milk leakage! I'm a mess! I complete and utter mess!"
"Toire, pet, you're pregnant, that doesn't make you any less beautiful even if you are the size of Hogwarts at the moment," I sighed. Her head snapped up and her eyes narrowed.
"I am aware of that Theodore! I am aware that I'm pregnant—and you know what, it's all your fault!" she snapped. I faulted for a second, falling off my heels and onto my arse.
"I feel as if you had a part in this as well—"
"It's your bloody sperm that did this to me! It's your fault that I've grown to the size of Hogwarts as you so rightly put it! I want my body back. I want to be skinny again! I want my bellybutton to—not—stick—out!"
Her face was bright red and at her size I'm pretty certain she could squish me. But I hope she wouldn't because that would be quite a detriment to the baby. I really shouldn't have said that. But what else was I supposed to say? Tell her she was tiny—because that's not really how things go when you're carrying another human inside of you.
"Vic—love—calm down—"
"Do. Not. Tell. Me. To calm down! I want you out!"
I blinked as I stared at her. Out? But I can't leave her like this—not if I want to actually hear the end of it.
"Out? But I was going to show you the nursery—I just repainted it," I stuttered. She stood and glared up at me. "But I'll leave you here, in the loo, if you really want that," I added quickly.
"Not out of the bathroom! Out of the flat! Go! I can see you don't want to be around me and my vast circumference! You obviously want someone pretty and not carrying your child of all things. Well so be it Ted! You get your wish—now leave!"
"What? I never said that Vi—"
"Go! Geddout!" she declared, pushing me forcefully on the chest. I blinked at her. She was kicking me out? Suddenly there was a flash of light and I looked down to see my hands swelling to three times their normal size. When the bloody hell did she get a hold of her wand?
"Victoire!"
"Go! Before I do worse!" She screeched. I ducked just in time for one of her bottles of lotion to whiz past my head as she banished it, but it was closely followed by another which nailed me in the shoulder.
"Oi! Have you gone batty?"
The shampoo bottle from the shower came pelting towards my head. I ducked and it exploded against the wall—dripping in dark green streaks. So being the logical man that I am, I ran towards the fireplace. I sure as hell wasn't going to let her kill me. I'll just go somewhere and give her time to cool down. I went to reach for my wand so I could apparate but my hands were swollen to the point where I couldn't fit them in my pockets to get a hold of it. I stalked over to the fireplace—trying to keep my temper under control, mind you—and ended up knocking the whole of the Floo Powder to the floor in attempts to get only a handful. I paused now—while our fire flickered merrily in front of me—and thought of just where I could go.
Cameron's was the first place that came to mind. He and I had gotten rather close over the years being the same age and dating the two Weasley girls. His fireplace was connected to the Floo System so Dominique could come and go. But then I wanted to kick something because I remembered he was on tour so I threw the powder into the flames and went to the next best place.
"Teddy! What are you doing—why are your hands the size of Hagrid's pumpkins?"
"Hey munchkin—is your Dad around?" I sighed as Lily pulled away from the hug and looked at me skeptically. Her freckled button nose scrunched up briefly as she took in my appearance. I'm sure I looked a fright—covered in beauty products and soot with hands double the side of rubbish bins.
"Uh—I don't know, let me go check," she stated, furrowing her brow and running out of the living room towards the kitchen. She came back a few minutes later with James in tow. He froze in the middle of a bite of cereal and eyed me in amusement.
"Well don't you look rather—handsy. Aiming to quit the law enforcement biz and go out for Quidditch again. You could be quite a Keeper leaning on the size of those things," he snorted, setting down his bowl and pulling his wand out of his back pocket. He flicked it at me and my hands started shrinking down to their normal size.
"Thanks—what're you doing home?" I questioned with a small sigh.
"I could ask you the same thing. Why aren't you with Vic? I thought pregnant birds were rather high maintenance."
"Very tactful James. What would you do if you didn't connect with those caring feelings in life," Lily snorted from the couch. James shot her an annoyed look and muttered something about Lily hanging around Kaylie too often before looking at me expectantly.
"I asked you first," I pointed out. James rolled his eyes and picked up his bowl—shoveling a huge bite of Honey Pixies into his mouth.
"Victoire kicked me out," I sighed. Lily's eyes grew wide and she let out a small whimper. Oh bugger—I forgot she was here.
"Are you splitting up? But you just got married!" she whined. I sighed and bent down to her eye level.
"No—of course not. We just had a little tiff," I grinned, pushing her red hair out of her face. She calmed down considerably and went to go settle down in front of her books and parchment. That's probably why James is here—Al and Lil are back for Easter Holiday. I probably should be feeling guilty by now—I couldn't even make it to King's Cross to welcome them home.
"Your Dad in his office?" I questioned looking at James. He was still eyeing me critically. He gave me a slight nod and plopped down on the couch next to Lily.
"I expect an explanation later," he sang. I rolled my eyes. I don't know when it happened—but somewhere between James graduation from school and him moving out of the house we became more than the big brother/little brother relationship we grew up with. I found him to be one of my biggest confidants and closest friends, despite the four year age gap. He was actually the first person I went to when everything changed for me.
—Eight Months Prior—
So that was two breaches of contract, one person breaching probation, and three cases of muggle baiting that might need to go to the Auror apartment. I sat back against the back of the couch and rolled my neck around my shoulders. This has been quite the week. I'll have to speak to Jerome and the Director about the possibility of this muggle baiter being the same person and it ultimately going to Harry. There was a swift knock on the flat door. I stopped cracking my neck and glanced at the clock. Who the heck could be visiting at this hour? Victoire ran a late shift at St. Mungos so she said she wouldn't be coming by. I hefted myself up and pulled open the door, blinking in surprise. It was Victoire.
"Hey love! I thought you were going straight back to your flat tonight," I grinned, giving her a brief kiss and stepping aside so she could come in. She smiled briefly at me and shuffled past, looking around carefully.
"Yeah—I just needed to come over," she sighed, turning to me. Her clear blue eyes were wide and it was now that I noticed she was slightly off color.
"Are you alright? You seem a bit peaky," I started, taking her by the elbow and leading her to the sofa. She settled down and clasped her hands firmly in her lap. "Are you still feeling ill? I'll make you some tea."
"Teddy—wait," she gasped. I turned to look at her, my brow furrowing in confusion. I really looked at her. She said she hasn't been feeling well lately but she thought it was just something she picked up at work. "I—I need to talk to you."
"Vic—what's wrong. You're scaring me," I started, sitting on the coffee table in front of her. My stomach was twisting with fright. She wouldn't look at me like that unless it was serious. I couldn't think of anything being so terrible that she would tell me. If it was someone in the family Harry would contact me. If it was something with our relationship—that was it, it has to be something with us. I felt my palms go cold. It's been three years. Maybe she needs to see someone else. Try something new. Be young. I mean we're so young and we've only really ever been serious with each other. How was I going to act if she actually does say those words? How am I going to—
"Ted—I'm pregnant."
I felt all the blood leave my face. Pregnant? Pregnant! Well I certainly didn't see that coming. We were always so—careful, I guess you can say. But I guess that nothing is really foolproof—even the charms that Harry taught me about my fourth year. But we were using those muggle things too. Pregnant? I was going to be a father?
"Teddy—please say something—anything…or I might burst," Victoire squeaked, interrupting my chain of thought. I blinked and refocused on her face. It was as white as mine undoubtedly was and tears were coursing down her beautifully fragile face.
"Well—how long have you know, I suppose?" I managed to get out. Pregnant! Merlin—she's pregnant. Oh bugger me—pregnant! It seemed to be the only word in my mind that was actually making any sense right now. Pregnant.
"I've suspected for about a week now. I just found out today for sure—I took a test at work. I'm so sorry," she stated, finally breaking down into full sobs and burying her face in her hands. I slid from the table and kneeled in front of her, gathering her face in my hands and forced her to look at me.
"Don't be sorry, love, don't be. This is us. We're in this together," I stated, wiping away the tears with my thumbs. Victoire gave me a watery smile and placed one of her hands on mine. "Everything is going to be okay."
"I just—this wasn't in my plan! This wasn't supposed to happen to us! We were going to build our careers, get married and then become parents! How could I be so irresponsible?"
"Vic! We were responsible as anybody could be. It just happened," I soothed. She shook her head and averted her gaze from mine. I gently let go of her and stood up, briskly leaving the room. I roughly ripped open the drawer of my dresser and looked up—catching my reflection in the glass. My hair was snow white—as white as my face had probably been moments ago. I didn't know I did that. I screwed up my concentration and with a small internal pop I knew I changed. When I opened my eyes again to search I saw the bright blue that Victoire has always been partial to. I quickly shoved aside socks and undershirts and grabbed what I was looking for. When I turned around to go back to the living room Victoire was in the doorway.
Her eyes were still filled with tears but she was looking at me curiously. I palmed the small box in my hand and looked at her. Her long silvery blonde hair was still tightly plaited back from work and she had on a pair of jeans and a jumper. Probably what she had on her to change into after she got out of her work robes, but she could've been in a house elf's uniform and I still would've found her drop dead gorgeous. Her blue eyes were huge in the dark and that piercing blue that I can get lost in. My hair was the exact shade of her eyes, not that she knew that was what I modeled it after. She was slight, lithe almost, and everything about her was thin and delicate. She always seemed so fragile, like I could break her with a touch. But I knew she wasn't. She was one of the strongest most determined people I've ever known and I love her. Oh Merlin—did I love her. She had me wrapped around her little finger. I strode forward and fell to my knees in front of her. Her breath caught and her delicate eyebrows knitted slightly until I took her wrist and pressed the box into her hands.
"Toire, love, I was going to wait. Wait until we were a bit older. But I've had this, just sitting in my sock drawer, for a year. Because a year ago I knew, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Of course a part of me has always known—ever since we've been kids—but a year ago it just smacked me across the face. I didn't want to be without you. You and only you. It may not be under desirable circumstances—but I love you. You would make me the happiest man in the whole world if you said yes. Say yes—say you'll be mine—be my wife," I sighed as she opened the box. There were fresh tears coursing down her face as the sapphire and diamond ring glinted in the moonlight streaking across the room. Slowly she sank to her knees and gathered my face in her hands.
"Teddy—I've always been yours. Always," she gasped, pressing her lips against mine. I gathered her waist and kissed her back fiercely—feeling the silly grin break across our faces simultaneously. When we pulled apart I fumbled the ring from the box and pushed it onto her finger. It was simple. It was pure. It was perfect.
It wasn't until much later, when Victorie fell asleep, that the actual facts came pouring over me like a waterfall. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. It was all happening so fast. I stumbled out of bed, grabbed my wand, and made it to the living room before apparating with a crack. I landed smack dab in the middle of James and Kent's flat causing the protective charms to go off. The small sane part (and all my MLE training) of my brain was rolling my eyes—they really should have an anti-apparition charm on the whole inside of this apartment. There was some cursing from the direction of the bedrooms and James, Kaylie and Kent came stumbling into the room in various stages of sleep. Kaylie took one look at me, batted her hand in my direction, pulled up the hood to her sweatshirt and shuffled back to James' room. It took Kent a couple more seconds of pointing his wand at my chest before he blinked.
"Oh—hey Ted. Fancy seeing you at this hour," he yawned, giving me a wave and going back down the hall. James obviously still hasn't connected that I was here because he was looking quickly around the room, his wand held out in front of him. Finally he stopped, looked at me for a moment, and went directly to the kitchen. There was the whistle from the tea kettle seconds later so I followed him and sunk into a chair.
"You know if anybody actually broke into your apartment your reaction times are less than desirable," I stated as James set the mug of tea in front of me. He pulled out a chair and sat down, yawning and scuffing up his bed head.
"What's up? Fight with Vic?" he questioned. I wrapped my hands around the mug and furrowed my brow. The warmth was nice against my palms. I didn't know my hands were so cold.
"I proposed to her tonight," I stated simply.
"Well—that's great, mate, but why do you have to tell me in the middle of the night?"
"You know I've been meaning to ask her for a while, right?" I plowed on. James eyed me critically.
"Of course. I went with you last year to pick out the ring."
"Good—I just wanted to make sure you knew I did it for the right reason," I sighed. James cocked his head to the side.
"Why else would you ask her Ted—what's the wrong reason?"
"Merlin you're daft James," I muttered. James narrowed his eyes at me.
"Yeah, thanks mate. You show up in the middle of the bloody night—interrupt my sleep. I even make you tea! And you insult me!"
"Sorry, I'm just—well, I don't know what I am—" I stated giving a small mirthless chuckle. James still looked confused so I heaved a sigh and looked him straight in the eye.
"She's pregnant, James."
James eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped open. His face then went through a series of changes. White with surprise and then it went to angry—his brows furrowing, his jaw clenching and his face turning a slight shade of red (it was his cousin after all and James wasn't anything if not over protective). And finally it slackened and turned a normal color—confusion and pure shock coating every feature.
"Blimey."
"You can say that again. I mean we're so young! She's only almost twenty one and I'm almost twenty three, not the best time to be starting anything—let alone a family. We shouldn't be thinking about being parents! And what's the family going to think when we insist on rushing this wedding so it looks like a honeymoon child? They'll figure it out! And then they'll hate me! And Bill—well Bill is going to kill me! James—I'm not ready to be a dad."
"Well—we're not going to hate you. You're family—you're only now just making it official. And we've all done the math for Granddad and Grandmum—Uncle Bill wasn't exactly expected. Speaking of—he'll be angry but it's not like you don't love her. Because it's obvious you do—I mean you get disgusting when you even look at her. Vic wouldn't let him do any permanent harm to you—she's bonkers for you as well. And about being a Dad—you kinda got nine months to get ready, yeah? That's all that I can really say on that subject. I'm not really experienced when it comes to that sort—but you're smart and I'll be here for you regardless. We're brothers after all."
I hefted a sigh. Of course all he was saying was right. It was logical. I did feel slightly better. James was being supportive. And it always made a small part of me glow with pride when he called me his brother. As welcomed into the family I always was there was that small, tiny part of me that felt a little secluded. That I shouldn't be taking this because it wasn't really mine. James always told me to shut my trap when I said stuff like that and that I was more of a brother than Al was. That was joking of course but it always made me feel better.
And he was right—it wasn't like I didn't love her. I loved her more than anything in the world. I would do anything to make Victoire happy. And it was going to make me the happiest man in the world to finally be able to officially call her mine. And this baby—it was ours—together.
"Yeah—I suppose you're right. It's just scary—yeah?"
"Well of course it's scary, mate. Kids are the scariest things ever. Have you been around first years lately? I went up to visit Lily during a school Quidditch match and watch Al play and all of the new first years are absolutely crazy. All titchy and annoying like. I'll love this baby—but no way in hell will I babysit—I wouldn't give my magic for that torture."
And despite the force of the world pressing down on my shoulders at the moment, I laughed. It was why I came here without even thinking—James will always be there for me. Whether it's to aide me in a ridiculous fight—because that happened one time, a healer at work was making Victoire uncomfortable and James came with me against my will to talk to him—or to simply make me laugh, James will always be there.
"Teddy!" Harry exclaimed when I walked into his office. He looked genuinely surprised to see me—which would make sense because I haven't really had the chance to come and visit lately. We mostly see each other in passing at work. He stopped whatever he was going to say next when he really looked at me. "Fight with Victoire?"
"You could say that I suppose. She kicked me out," I sighed, plopping into one of the overstuffed leather chair across from his desk.
It was so comfortable for me to be here. So many important things have happened here for me. Speaking to Harry about what I wanted to do after Hogwarts. Showing him the Quidditch Capitan badge I was so proud of. Talking to him about asking Vic out for the first time. The time he gave me the talk when I was fourteen and everything in between. This chair has held me when I was ashamed (he would always have to lecture me when I pulled a particularly bad prank on someone—Grandmother insisted upon getting it from his side as well) and when I was laughing about his stories from his school years. I've cried in frustration over not having my parents around in this chair and he's cried with me because he's been there too. This chair, with its cracked and worn leather, has held more memories then a pensive could possible hold. It was a comfort to me almost as much as my Godfather himself was.
"Kicked you out? Well, congratulations. You lasted longer than I did and certainly longer than Ron," he laughed. I blinked at him. I wasn't exactly expecting that. I was more expecting the chair to be the 'Chair of Lectures' this time around.
"Excuse me?"
"Hermione kicked Ron out of the house the first three months into the pregnancy. It took Ginny about five for me. But you lasted eight. Quite a feat."
"So this is normal," I questioned. "For pregnant birds?"
"Yes. What'd you say?" Harry laughed. I blushed and looked at my shoulder. It was covered in gray goop. I sniffed it cautiously. Lotion covered in soot. I busied myself with vanishing it while I answered his question.
"I might have told her she was the size of Hogwarts," I coughed. Harry sucked air through his teeth quite audibly.
"Well that was just stupid."
"It was more like 'I love you even if you're the size of Hogwarts'. See—she was wigging out that her bellybutton of all things was sticking out and then went on to talking about all this other stuff. She reached the point of talking about her breast milk for Merlin's sake. Wouldn't you put your foot in your bloody mouth at that point? So I told her to calm down. I was tired Harry. I had just finished painting the nursery for about the millionth time. And she was crying—so I tried to calm her down. And it didn't work. She just got more and more mad and then she hexed me and all of a sudden bathroom products were being hurled at my head—"
"Teddy! Breathe, son! I get it!" Harry laughed, reaching across the desk to place a hand on my forearm. I took a deep breath and stopped talking, looking wearily at my Godfather. He was still laughing at me.
"I thought we told you—rule one: never tell them to calm down? They always get worse when you tell them to calm down! And I thought you had better sense than to tell them they're not exactly skinny, Ted!"
"I just—I don't know," I admitted. "I don't know what I was thinking. She was just crying and I panicked."
"Go—buy flowers. Go home. Grovel some, she'll forgive you. Just always agree with them unless they're putting themselves down and then you praise their beauty like the sun shines out of their arse," he commanded with a completely straight face. There was no hint of humor in his eyes—he was dead serious.
"Is that how you calmed me down Harry? Did the sun really shine out of my arse?"
Harry's eyes widened as I turned around to look at Ginny leaning against the doorway. Albus was besides her trying to control his laughter as his Dad turned several shades of scarlet that could rival the banners in the Gryffindor commons.
"Of course not Gin! I would never, ever, play you like that. I always tell you the truth," Harry spluttered, standing so quickly his desk chair tipped backwards and fell to the floor with a loud crash.
"How about I walk you back to the fireplace, Teddy? Either she's going to start yelling or they're going to start snogging and frankly I don't want to see either," Albus coughed. I grinned and jumped up, slinging an arm around his shoulder.
"I think I have to agree with you there, Al," I snorted, giving Ginny a quick kiss on the cheek. I turned and gave Harry a small smile. He shrugged at me—warmth and love eminating from his eyes before he turned sheepishly to his wife. Albus grimaced slightly and pulled me out of the room and down the hall.
"Sorry about your fight with Vic. She's slightly crazy," Albus laughed. He was quite wise for only being fourteen. I rolled my eyes and scuffed up his hair.
"Yeah—but she's really just a raging ball of hormones," I replied.
"So I hear," Albus shrugged. I grinned at him as we got back to the fireplace. Lily was no longer working on whatever homework she had and was laying across the carpet playing a game of exploding snap with James. They looked up when we walked into the room and the cards exploded in their faces.
"Are you going to stay for dinner Teddy?" Lily questioned hopefully after she waved the smoke away.
"Sorry munchkin, I've got a very pregnant wife to go grovel to. But how about if we come over tomorrow for dinner? You can tell me all about your second term at school," I questioned quickly as her face fell. She brightened again, her brown eyes huge and hopeful. "I'll talk to your mum about it tomorrow."
"You know you two are always welcome Teddy," Ginny declared from the doorway. She was grinning brightly, a larger copy of her daughter.
"Right—see you then. Wish me luck," I sighed.
"Just keep repeating it. She'll come around," Ginny stated as I took a puff of Floo powder and took a deep breath. As I disappeared in a puff of flame and ash my last glimse of the room was my family smiling at me.
"Teddy?" Victoire shrieked as soon as I stumbled across the hearth. I was almost knocked back into the flames when she collided into me. "I'm so sorry! I'm so so so sorry! Oh, I was such a frigid bitch! It's just all these hormones get a hold of me and I turn into this raging dragon! I'm so sorry love! I thought you really would leave!"
"Oh shush—I was an insensitive prat and you should know that nothing you can say to me will get me to leave. Now watch it—you're going to make me drop your flowers into the fire."
She pulled away then, her eyes wide, as she looked at the bouquet in my hands. She took the bunch of violets from me and buried her nose into them.
"You brought me flowers?" she cooed, brushing her fingers across the petals.
"Well yeah, isn't that what a guy does when he's an arse, brings their girl flowers? I wanted to properly say I was sorry," I shrugged. Victoire beamed at me and stood on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to my lips. I grinned and cupped her chin, deepening the kiss.
"I'm sorry I was such a hormonal cow," she frowned, once I pulled away.
"I'm sorry I was an insensitive git," I replied. She beamed at me and took my hand, holding her free one across her stomach as she led me down the hall.
"Now, show me the nursery," she demanded, stopping at the door. I laughed at her and pushed it open, pausing to flick on the lights. She gasped and dropped her flowers to the floor so she could waddle in. She turned in a circle taking it all in. The off-white walls were complimented by the dark furniture. I'd recently changed it to this from yellow—then blue before that—then pink as the first color to grace these walls. The first was too girly if we had a boy, second too boyish if we had a girl and the third too gender neutral. This was perfect, according to her, because we could decorate the bedding and such according to whatever we have—we wanted to be surprised. I hoped her thoughts of perfection stayed the same—I think my arm muscles were going to disintergrate from all the times I've had to repaint this room (Vic refused to let me do it by magic because it meant we didn't care enough to put the work into the room).
"It's perfect! Absolutely perfect!" she exclaimed. I beamed at her and scooped up the flowers before conjuring a vase to put them in. Once they were settled on the dresser with the moonlight framing the purple flowers gracefully did Victoire settled in the rocker and clear her throat quietly.
"Teddy," she started. I repressed a sigh and turned to look at her. This is how it always starts—it's perfect for about two minutes and then she changes her mind. She had huge eyes and was clutching her stomach. She pursed her lips thoughtfully and furrowed her brow.
"The baby was just kicking like crazy—I think it wants ice cream," she whispered, her eyes sparkling. I rolled my eyes and bent down to give her a kiss on the forehead. Of course the 'baby' wanted ice cream just as I was going to collapse from emotional and physical stress.
"And what flavor does our little moppet want?"
"Chocolate with marshmallows," she answered automatically. I laughed and grabbed my wand off the dresser, starting for the door. I was just reaching for the doorknob to the landing when she shouted out again.
"And some bacon!"
I can't wait to get that little bugger out of her.
"VIC! LABOR! I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BLOODY HELL TO DO!"
I dropped the file I was working on to the floor and froze. James' wolf patronus was just fading away when his words actually registered in my brain. Labor? Wait—labor means baby. Now. Baby now. Vic—baby—now. Oh bloody effing hell!
"Teddy—" my partner Jerome's voice floated to me from a million miles away. I jumped out of my chair, which skidded behind me and hit the corner of my cubicle sending it ricocheting into the aisle. There was a loud shriek and a thump. I began to sweep across my desk, sending my pencil cup flying as I searched for my wand. I threw a handful of papers over my shoulder so I could check under them when something smacked me hard across the ear. I fell to the ground and glared upwards.
"What the hell was that for Jer? I'm trying to find my wand you bloody prick!"
"So you calm down, you twit! You're having a spaz attack," he laughed, carefully moving the file I dropped to the side and handing me my wand. It was under the bloody file. Of course it was under the bloody file.
"I need to go. Now! Vic—labor," I managed to get out despite the ringing in my ear. That was just fifteen precious seconds that I was missing! What if she already had the baby! Jerome laughed again as a huge silver wolf flew into the cubicle.
"SERIOUSLY, MATE! LABOR! BABY! CURSING WIFE! OH BLOODY HELL SHE'S SCREAMING AGAIN! I THINK SHE'S BROKEN OR IN PAIN! I DON'T KNOW! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU! WE'RE ALREADY AT ST. MUNGOS!"
"Why is she even with James?" I choked out.
"Does that even matter? Get your arse down to the Floos!" Jerome exploded. I jumped up and pushed past him, charging towards the lifts. There were a few shouts of anger as I plowed through people but I ignored them—jamming the button repeatedly.
"Teddy! Pushing the button repeatedly isn't going to make it come faster! What's the matter with you?" Aunt Hermione snapped, rushing over to me. "People said there was some sort of commotion."
"Vic! Baby! Screams! James!" was all I managed to get out as the doors clanged open. I jumped in clutching onto the handholds. Aunt Hermione was gaping at me, her face bright red. "The Atrium! Double time!" I shouted at the box. I was just able to make out Aunt Hermione's promise to inform everyone before the lift careened backwards so fast that I was thrown against the back wall. I guess it really did listen to double time because it didn't make any stops at any other floors before reaching the main level. I scrambled out—pushing my extreme motion sickness aside—and flew into the fireplace barely managing to shout out St. Mungos.
When it finally spit me out I started running towards the stairs, ignoring the protests from the Healers as I went by. That man that was coughing up spoons will get over being pushed to the ground, my wife was having a bloody baby! I skidded to a stop in the lobby of the maternity ward and looked around. James was pacing back and forth with a very nervous Kaylie attempting to grab at him and force him to sit down. She was failing miserably.
"Finally you're here! She broke my hand!" James spluttered. Kaylie rolled her eyes.
"Hardly James, you're being a tad over dramatic," she sighed, smiling kindly at me. "She was visiting me—got a little restless being at home in bed. I've already lectured her about breaking bed rest. She's in room three."
I nodded and gave her a small smile of thanks before barreling down the hall. There was a large scream from the room and I froze, glancing wildly at the door before practically breaking it down.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" I shouted. The Healer at the foot of her bed looked up in shock but smiled when she saw me.
"Hullo—you must be the father," she smiled as Victoire glared at me. I furrowed my brow. Was she angry?
"Love, is something the matter?" I questioned, rushing to her side and pushing some of her hair out of her face.
"Am I hurt? Of course I'm bloody hurt! You try having a baby start to push through your vagina!" she snapped before slacking against the pillows and closing her eyes.
"She just had a contraction is all," the Healer explained, replacing her chart and leaving the room. I grabbed Vic's hand and gave it a quick kiss. She opened her eyes and blinked at me.
"Sorry—it just hurt."
"It's okay Toire. It's okay," I smiled, kissing her forehead. We sat there in silence for a moment before she began to squeeze my hand tightly. She clenched her teeth before a scream erupted from her mouth.
"That's it. You're doing great. It's almost over," I soothed into her ear. I didn't go to all those birthing classes for nothing after all. It ended and she was left panting.
"They're coming so fast! Teddy—I'm not ready!" she gasped.
"You're ready. I know you're ready," I replied.
"I'm scared!" she gasped, tears gathering in her eyes. I kissed her forehead again.
"So am I, but we're in the together. Remember?"
Victoire gazed up at me, her eyes wide and her lashes coated with unshed tears. Suddenly she was masked with pain again as another contraction ripped through her body. The Healer that's been handling us for the whole of Victoire's pregnancy bustled into the room during the middle of it. She paused and waited until it was done before coming over and lifting the end of her gown. She felt up for a few seconds before smiling brightly.
"Right then—your contractions are close enough now and you're properly dilated. When the next one comes along you're going to push," Healer Farmer ordered, casting a charm on her hands before tapping them again. White gloves appeared on her hands and the trainee medi-witch came into the room.
"No! No! I'm not ready!" Victoire exclaimed. I pushed her hair off her head as her Mum rushed into the room.
"Well Victoire, this baby is coming whether you're ready or not. You might as well help it along," Healer Farmer replied in a gentle voice.
"Am I too late?" Fleur questioned. Healer Farmer smiled at her and shook her head.
"You're right on time. I take it you're the mother," she questioned. Fleur nodded and immediately took Victoire's free hand. Healer Farmer waved her wand and Victoire's legs rose like they were bearing down on something mid-air. Victoire's hand began to tighten again.
"Alright—push dear! Push!" Healer Farmer exclaimed. Vic did as she was told—her screams ripping around the room as she did so.
"You're doing brilliantly, darling, just brilliant," I declared. Victoire flipped her head to glare at me. Fire was in her eyes and her face was beet red. I don't think I've ever seen her this angry at me—not even when I threw her into the black lake her fourth year.
"Shut up Theodore! Shut up!"
"Here comes another one!"
"YOU'RE NEVER TOUCHING ME AGAIN! I HATE YOU! OHH I REALLY HATE YOU!"
"Okay, relax. Do some breathing," I ordered—mimicking the proper breathing technique. Hee, hee, hoo. Hee, hee, hoo.
"I KNOW HOW TO BLOODY BREATHE! I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY TO SQUEEZE OUT SOMETHING THE SIZE OF A QUAFFLE OUT OF YOUR PRIVATES!"
"That was fantastic," Healer Farmer soothed. I looked at her—she was obviously trying to hold back her laughter.
"It's okay Toire, you're doing brilliant. I'm so proud of you. To think soon we're going to be parents," I declared, kissing her full on the mouth as she panted against the pillows. I pulled away and noticed that she didn't look any bit happy about the kiss.
"I thought I told you to shut—OH FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING MAGICAL! MAKE IT STOP—MAKE IT STOP! I'M CASTRATING YOU! I'M CASTRATING YOU, THEODORE!"
"I love you, Vic, you're doing brilliant," I squeaked. I wasn't quite sure if she was serious or not. She was squeezing my hand so hard I felt my bones crush together. Merlin—she was so mean to me. Harry warned me that this might happen. Everyone said to ignore everything that came out of her mouth during this time. I was just starting to understand how serious they were.
"Alright, the head is out. The next one is the shoulders—after that comes through you'll just have to give one more big push. You're doing brilliant Victoire—just great," Healer Farmer announced. Victoire squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her grip on my hands. Her mum was wetting down her face and whispering soft words of encouragement all while laughing at every facial expression I held.
"THIS IS WORSE THAN A BLUDGER TO THE STOMACH! THIS IS WORST THAN ANYTHING! I'M SURE THIS IS WORST THAN A CRUCIO! JUST KILL ME NOW! HONESTLY, JUST KILL ME! TEDDY, I HATE YOU! YOU'RE THE BANE OF MY EXISTANCE! I WISH YOU'D JUMP OFF THE ASTRONOMY TOWER! I WISH YOU'D GET EATEN BY A DRAGON!"
"That was the shoulders dear. Just one more now—be ready—just one more big push!"
"I CAN'T!" Victoire gasped, tears streaming down her face and her hair sticking to her wet forehead and cheeks.
"Yes you can love, just one more. One more and we're parents," I soothed, kissing her hands and chancing a look around her gowns. Most of me wished I hadn't but there was a small part of me amazed. There was my baby. Right there. Oh Merlin—I'm going to pass out. Suddenly she clutched onto me and her mother, her face turned red as a Quaffle and then she went slack. Wails filled the air.
"Congratulations you two, it's a girl," Healer Farmer exclaimed, waving her wand around the tiny wrinkled being in her arms. Instantly it was cleaned. "Would you like to sever the umbilical cord, Dad? Just there." I blinked at her. Dad? She called me Dad. I'm a Dad.
Slowly I unpocketed my wand and placed a severing charm where she pointed. With another wave of her wand our little bundle was wrapped in a soft pink blanket and plopped into Victoire's waiting arms. Her mum gave her a very teary kiss on the forehead and murmured to her in French. I was still frozen. All I could do was look at my beautiful wife, who was sobbing with tears of joy, and the little piece of joy I was now responsible of. I bent down and gave Vic a long kiss on the mouth before gently tracing a finger over the curve of the baby's head.
She was so beautiful. So tiny. So perfect. I had to raise this creature. I had to make sure everything was right in the world for her. And I would. I know now and here that nothing would ever stop me from making sure that she was brought up right and loved and full. I will do anything to make sure she's safe. I will go to the ends of the earth for her. Victoire looked up at me, silent tears still falling across her cheeks.
"You did marvelously," I whispered. "Merlin, you're so beautiful."
"I was mean," she replied with a small giggle. "And I'm sure I look hardly beautiful right now."
"You had reason and you're wrong. You're the second most beautiful thing I've ever seen," I laughed, before looking at the baby again. Victoire made a disgruntled noise and I grinned at her. "This—this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," I explained, motioning to the bundle in Vic's arms. There was a soft sob and I look over at Fleur. She was trying to contain her joyous tears.
"I should go see the family," I sighed, looking fondly at my baby. I didn't want to leave her—not even for a minute.
"I'll go with you," Fleur declared, giving Victoire a kiss on the forehead before gazing lovingly down at the baby. I followed her out into the waiting room where a sea of red and raven hair was waiting expectantly. Most of the family was here—the only missing pieces of the puzzle still off at school. I was going to need to write them—Lily was going to have a conniption. They looked up at our footsteps and felt my face almost break in half from the smile.
"It's a girl!" I exclaimed earning a loud cheer amongst the masses. I was enveloped in hugs and back thumps for a second. Harry was suddenly at my side, unshed tears shining in his eyes. He clapped a hand on my shoulder for a second and I smiled at him. I knew now that I wanted to raise my daughter with everything Harry's taught me. I want to instill the same values and lessons that he's put with me for the whole of my life. I couldn't think of a better person to model my fathering skills after.
"Congratulations Grandad," I grinned. He cringed, stating he was too young for such title. James was by my side next, beaming with pride. Poor kid, Vic probably traumatized him. "Will you be her godfather, James?"
He blinked at me, clearly stunned before breaking into a spiffing grin.
"I'd be honored," he stated before quickly turning his face away and wiping at his cheeks. "She sounded frightening. I'll never look at either of you the same—not with all the threats to your manhood," he announced once he contained a grip on himself.
"Go be with Vic—Ted. We'll all be back tomorrow to meet our new family member," Grandmum Weasley ordered, fat tears dripping from her eyes. I happily obliged, practically running back to my family. My family—Merlin I love how that sounds.
Victoire was lying against the pillows with her eyes closed and our daughter nestled in her arms. I tried to close the door as quietly as possible but Vic's eyes flew open regardless.
"Sorry hen, didn't mean to wake you," I whispered, going to her bedside and tracing my daughter's face again. Her tiny little nose twitched and her mouth scrunched up—moving soundlessly for a moment before falling still again.
"Would you like to hold your daughter, Daddy?" Vic questioned. I felt my hands go cold. Hold her—I'll break her.
"Come here—support her head—that's right," she stated as the baby was placed in my arms. I felt my heart swell; filling my chest completely until I thought it might burst. I thought I loved her so much that I couldn't fit anymore in me—but nothing compared to the love I felt when I held her for the first time. She fit perfectly into the crook of my arm. There was a small tuft of hair just on her forehead but I couldn't tell what color it was yet—suddenly it turned the softest shade of pink and I gasped. She was like me—she was a metamorphous. She was like her grandmummy—her birth grandmummy. The baby's eyes opened, gazing up at me with that generic newborn blue and I could only wish she had her mother's eyes in the future. We just stood there—frozen in time—gazing at each other.
"What shall we name her?" Victoire asked quietly. "I was thinking Nymphadora for her middle name. After your Mum."
"I like Violet," I sighed—remember that night two months ago and how lovely the vase of violets looked bathed in moonlight. It seemed this child was based off of moonlight, those flowers for one and how I proposed to her mother in a moon-bathed room. Those flowers were nothing in comparison to the precious gift I held now. I heard Victoire sigh contentedly.
"I think it's perfect. Violet Nymphadora Lupin—our little flower."
Violet Nymphadora Lupin—our little gift from those watching over us. I gazed out the window and thought for a moment. Of my parents mostly and what I wouldn't give for them to meet the magic in my arms right now. Something tells me they would've been proud.
—Nine Months Later—
I was sleeping fully—a rarity these days—when a wail pierced the flat and jolted me from the seventh layer of slumber. My eyes flew open and I looked over beside me at Victoire. Her eyes were squeezed shut but the way her chest was moving I could tell she was feigning sleep.
"Vic—the baby," I groaned.
"You're turn," she answered automatically.
"No way—I feel like I just got into bed," I whined—chancing a look at the clock. Bloody five am! I had to be up for work in two hours. "I've got work! I need sleep!" I pulled the pillow over my face.
"No, really—I got up two hours ago to feed her," Victoire sighed.
"I'll pay you a million galleons if you do it. I'll do the dishes and the laundry for a month if you go," I tried. The rational part of me knew she had to get up far more than I did in order to nurse Violet—but my body was screaming in protest.
"I birthed her!"
"You can't use that excuse for the rest of our lives!" I shot back. Victoire sat bolt upright and yanked the pillow off my face. I expected her to be angry but her eyes were wide and pleading.
"Please, Teddy," she begged. I groaned. She knew she won there—I can't resist those eyes. I threw back the covers as Vic gave a cheerful squeal and burrowed underneath the blankets. When my feet hit the ground I shuddered—the floor was freezing. It took a couple seconds of me hopping around before I could cast a warming charm on my feet and make my way down the hall to the nursery. The wailing increased tenfold. Violet was sitting up in her cot—a rather recent development as she was now able to hold herself upright—and was banging her chubby little fists against the mattress. Her face was red and her cheeks were wet with her tears. Her ever-growing hair was the a shade darker than her face in anger. I suppressed a sigh and reached in hefting her onto my hip.
"What is it love? What's got you in a tizzy?" I questioned, bouncing her with one hand as I felt her nappy—wet. Of course, it sounded like her 'change me cry'. Quite different from her 'feed me cry' and her 'I'm very bored cry'. "Ah—I see why the tears are there. Who wants to sit in that? Come now—let's stop crying and Daddy will change you."
I lay her down on the lavender pinpricked pad of the changing table and deftly undid the bottom of her pajamas. Her cries were smothering down to soft hiccups as I continued to chat with her. She was now beaming at me and smiling a big toothless grin only punctuated by a hiccup or two. I finished the new nappy with a flourish and hefted her up as she babbled in my ear.
"Da-da," she sighed, fisting her hands in my hair. I felt my face break out into a smile as I did a dance of sorts around the room. I couldn't get enough of her saying Da-Da. She was developing quickly and could do all sorts of things that entertained the family to no end, such as blowing kisses and waving good bye. She understood when we said no to her and she knew exactly who Vic and I were. She even recognized James and Harry rather well. She had the whole of the family wrapped around her micro little fingers. They would do anything to please her.
"Bun-bun," she declared suddenly. I looked at her in surprise—that was a new one. She was waving the hand that wasn't tangle in my hair back at her cot where the soft pink bunny that James got her was sitting. "Bun-bun," she demanded. I laughed and grabbed the bunny the best I could without having her rip my hair out and held it in front of her. She let out a peal of giggles and I laughed with her, burying my face in her wispy hair. It was blue—the same color my hair was currently. She's been doing that—changing her hair color to match those holding on to her.
"Da-da…bun-bun!"
"Yes pet, that's your bunny. You clever, clever girl you!" I exclaimed, bouncing her in my arms. She buried her face into my neck and blew out of her lips making me laugh again.
"And who's Daddy's little flower?"
Violet let out a loud and happy squeal.
"That's right. Daddy will always protect you. Nothing will pluck my little flower," I declared, giving her a soft kiss on the top of her head. She was sighing now as I sat down in the rocker. She pulled away and looked at me, her thumb in her mouth and her hand still in my hair. Her eyes had in fact changed to Victoire's color and all I saw when I looked at her was her mother's eyes. She blinked; her long lashed brushing her cheeks and then buried her face into my neck. I let out a small content sigh and stood up again. I wasn't going to fall back asleep any time soon.
I made my way into the living room and flicked my wand at the fireplace—making a fire erupt and warm the room. I settled onto the couch and positioned Violet so she was lying across my chest. She had drifted off to sleep—her hair changing back to sandy blonde in dreams. It was like my Dad's and my natural color. Absentmindedly I traced patterns across her miniscule back and let the fire lull me to sleep; my daughter's breathing matching my own. All I thought of as I drifted off was how happy and in love I was with my life at the moment. I still made mistakes—I still had growing up to do, but I think I was doing pretty well, if I do say so myself.
—Three Years Later—
"Violet! Get your tush back in here!"
I looked up from the Daily Prophet and in the direction of the bedrooms. There was a pitter patter of tiny feet and something crashed into my shins, grabbing on for dear life. I put the paper aside and glanced down at the wet head of sunflower yellow hair—ah that was her color of the day. She must've modeled it after the vase of flowers in the bathroom.
"Poppet—isn't your Mummy calling for you?" I questioned. Violet's head snapped up and her blue eyes were wide as she looked at me, wiggling her naked tush slightly. No matter how much she changed her hair color—she never changed her eye color. She could—we've tested, but she never seemed to want to.
"Shh—I hiding Daddy," she whispered loudly as she buried her face back into my shins. There was a clack of heels on wood and I looked up to see Victoire framed in the living room doorway. She raised her eyebrows at me and folded her arms across her chest.
"She's hiding," I shrugged, taking the paper and holding it in front of her. There was a small giggle from Violet. When I looked back at Victoire she obviously was trying to hold in a laugh.
"We're going to be late for lunch at The Burrow," she sighed impatiently. "And we very well can't go with a naked child. What would everyone think?"
"Well they would probably laugh," I shrugged. Victoire gave me a look and I chuckled, setting aside the paper and picking up the squirming toddler.
"C'mon Vi—let's go get dressed so your Mummy doesn't get mad at me," I declared, hefting the squirming girl upside down. She gave a delighted shriek.
"Ted! Be careful!" Victoire sighed following us to Violet's bedroom.
"Daddy careful Mummy! Daddy will never drop me!" Violet declared as I set her onto her bed. She immediately began jumping up and down and tossing her stuffed animals into the air. "I fly! I fly like on broomstick!"
"Are you going to be a Quidditch player?" I questioned, catching her mid jump and spinning her around. She laughed and clutched at me.
"Yes! Like Uncie Al and Aunty Lily and Aunty Roxy and—"
"Yes dear—we know the vast majority of your Aunty and Uncles are Quidditch players," Victoire laughed pulling open the wardrobe. "Now what would you like to wear, dear?"
I grabbed her before she could scramble off to Vic and forced her into some knickers before setting her loose.
"Dis!" she commanded, pulling out (and knocking down several other things) a pair of leggings and waving them over her head. Victoire caught them and laughed; helping her pull on the pants printed with large sunflowers—made sense. I waved my wand and caused the mess of clothes on the ground to refold and put themselves away as Victoire tossed me a chocolate brown t-shirt. I managed to wrestle Violet into it. She looked down at it, back at me and scrunched up her face. When she opened her eyes again they matched the shirt. I beamed at her.
"Brilliant baby! You're so clever!" I cooed, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She beamed at me and flounced over to her mother, fluttering her eyelashes.
"Look at that—my little flower looks like a sunflower!" Victoire laughed, picking her up and setting her on the bed so she could put on the bright yellow wellies since she would be playing outside and it rained recently. I was in the process of stuffing her dragon printed pajamas (from Charlie), a change of clothes and shoes, and her little denim jacket when Violet launched herself onto me. I stumbled forward a bit but hunched forward enough so she wouldn't fall off my back.
"Violet Nymphadora Lupin! How many times have I told you not to jump off your bed," Victoire sighed, removing my little snare. I grinned at her as she flicked her wand at Violet's hair and making it plait itself into two neat pigtails.
"Shall we go see Grandmum Weasley?" I questioned, hoisting her over my shoulder. She giggled loudly in my ear.
"I see Popie and Nana? And Grandmère and Grandpère? And Uncie James! Uncie James come? I see Uncie James?"
"Yes darling, everyone is going to be there! Even Uncle Al and Aunt Lily!"
"EEEE! I throw powder. I throw!" she declared as I reached for the Floo powder.
"Not if you ask like that."
"Pwese," she huffed. I grinned and poured a bit into her outstretched palm. She threw the glittering powder into the flames.
"The Burrow!" I declared, holding onto Violet tight as we spun in the flames. We landed and Violet coughed, burying her face into my neck.
"No like—no like!" she whined. I waved my wand at her as she began to cry, cleaning her off instantly. No matter how much she liked to throw the powder—she didn't enjoy the actual sensation of Flooing.
"I know dear," I cooed.
"Here Violet have a biscuit!"
That stopped her tears. She started to struggle to get out of my arms and to Lucy who was removing a tray of cookies from the oven. She waved her wand over them—cooling them to eating temperature. I eyed her apprehensively and Lucy blushed.
"I mean if it's alright—" Lucy coughed.
"One Violet," I commanded, setting her on the floor so she could dash towards Lucy.
"Hey it gets her to stop crying," Lucy shrugged, handing her a chocolate chip cookie the size of Violet's head.
"A cookie!" Victoire exclaimed behind me.
"It good Mummy," Violet insisted, her eyes wide and her face smeared with chocolate. Vic gave me a sharp look and I merely shrugged, giving her a silencing kiss on the lips. It was family lunch—she gets treats.
"Popie! Popie!" Violet shrieked at the top of her lungs. She was a blur of yellow and brown as she careened herself into Harry's shins. He was surprised for a moment before he scooped her into a large hug.
"Well if it isn't my tiny little bud! Who gave you that biscuit?"
"Aunty Lucy give me cookie! But look! I change eyes today. I change eyes," she declared, pulling a face and popping her eyes. It looked quite frightening on her with her face all covered in chocolate.
"Well aren't you the most brilliant little thing I've ever seen in my life," Harry declared. Violet shimmered with pride as she gave him a gigantic sticky kiss. Harry just laughed. He adored her. Everyone did. People were trickling into the kitchen as the word of our arrival spread across the grounds. Violet was insisting on changing carriers so quickly, everyone got barely a second to hold her. She was positively beaming.
"Uncie Al! I flew on the bed today!" she was chattering as Albus cradled her.
"Is that so squirt? I'm sure your Mummy loved that," he declared, looking up at his cousin. Victoire rolled her eyes as Violet insisted on being transferred to Cameron and Dom. They were grinning from ear to ear as she sang them a song she learned in nursery school this past year.
"That child will be the death of me," Vic huffed. I laughed and placed a kiss on her temple. Suddenly Violet was shrieking and speaking so fast that nobody could fully understand what she was saying. It turned out to be James' name over and over again. He had just stumbled out of the fireplace closely followed by Kaylie and Kent. It was like nobody else was there to be greeted. Forget his siblings who just got back from a year at school. Forget his father. Forget his Grandmum. It was just Violet. She was clutching him and talking rapidly—but surprisingly James seemed to understand what she was saying. Violet's love for her Godfather rivaled that of her love for her parents. The sun rose and set on James. And despite his early warning—he has in fact been one of our main babysitters. He moved to the living room—tossing Violet up in the air in the process and slowly everyone distributed to their own corners.
Albus, Rose, Lily and Hugo were talking about how weird it was to be the only ones in the family left at Hogwarts. Lucy had gone back to baking—now assisted by Roxy. Fred hadn't arrived yet—but I don't know if he was back from America yet. Louis was Merlin knows where—that boy runs on his own clock. Molly and Dominique were chatting nonstop. Cameron made his way over to my side and grinned at me. "You should see the way you look at that little thing. It's quite pathetic," he laughed. I gave him a genial shove on the shoulder and shook my head.
"You wouldn't get it. I may sound like a bird here—but everything revolves around that cheeky little bludger. She and Victoire are—"
"Your world—I get it," Cameron smiled, before looking fondly over at Dominique. She gave him a slightly annoyed look and Cameron laughed. "She doesn't approve of loving stares. They creep her out."
I laughed as he made his way over to Grandmum and gathered Victoire in my arms. She had just came out of the living room and looked quite surprised at my sudden hold.
"Yes dear?" she questioned, arching one fine eyebrow.
"I love you—you know that right?" I questioned, pressing my forehead against hers. A grin melted across her lips and she caressed one of my cheeks.
"More than you know, love. More than you know. You are a brilliant husband and a perfect father," she declared, kissing me gently. I mulled the statement after she pulled away and extracted herself from my grip to greet her newly arrived parents.
I wasn't the perfect father—but I guess I was as close as I could get. Yes, I still made mistakes but that was a part of learning. It was once I truly realized that that I knew I had really grown up. It didn't start this way—this wasn't how I planned my life to go, being a father of a three (almost four) year old at twenty six. But I wouldn't want it any other way. I had a gorgeous wife and a perfect little daughter. I was as far from grown up as I could be when this started—it took time. But I could confidently say that I was now an adult—as adult as I could ever get anyways. It was knowing that it was okay to make mistakes and to learn that made being fully grown a reality. Life wasn't how I expected it. But it was how I wanted to be—because it was those unexpected moments that made my life rich and full in the end. I wouldn't have it any other way.
A/A: So, that went far longer than I expected it to, but I just kept wanting to write more. With the family—with a toddler—with moments that I wanted to capture in Teddy's adult life as a father. I hope I did him justice—I've never written him before. I see him as someone that has this endless capacity to love and live life to the fullest because of what he's gone through. I hope the birthing scene wasn't too sappy—but it's his first child, every guy turns to mush really.
Even though it's rather long I tried to break it down to manageable portions so you could read it without getting bored. It's like chapters, I guess.
Keep an eye out for the next story which will be Victoire (I'm going down by age). Let me know situations you want to see for the rest of the cousins. I plan on breaching many time points. Going in the future, like this one, and even venturing into the past for others. If you want to see a certain sort of story let me know and I hope you liked this one! I had fun writing it and this little set of stories will be more for me than you. It'll be all I want to see out of the Next Generation. So if you actually enjoy it—all the better in the end!
Forever yours magically,
Emily