Hey everyone. This story was written for the Pinata Club on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I wrote for the Slash Pinata. This is another part of the Nerves Universe that I am continuing to write. No warnings this time so I hope you all enjoy False Alarms (and Panic).
Regulus is nervous. He and James are going to be fathers for the first time ever. He'd been excited when they had been introduced to the two women who would be giving them children. Alice and Lily. Not that they didn't know the girls from years of going to the same school and all. But the fact that they'd all be connected for the rest of their lives now was something strange and special.
"Reg," James says seeing Regulus begin to pace, "we don't even know that it's time yet. It could be just a false alarm. You know like it's been the last two times." But he can tell that James is nervous too.
"But what if it's not a false alarm?" Regulus asks pacing back and forth in the room.
"Then it's not a false alarm," comes Alice's soothing voice. "It's going to be okay, Regulus. Lily will be fine. The baby will be fine." She winces a little as the baby she's carrying kicks. Regulus can see the foot as it goes across Alice's stomach.
"You're not nervous about this?" Regulus asks Alice because he's heard anything can happen in child birth. He knows that it's even possible for Lily to die. "You're not afraid that something bad is going to happen?"
"Of course not. You can't dwell on the bad things that could happen when something so pure and wonderful is about to be brought into the world. We'll deal with whatever happens after the fact. Alright?"
Regulus looks at James who is nodding encouragingly at him. He finds himself nodding too. He takes his seat back between James and Alice finding it a bit odd that both of them have at one point seen Lily Evans naked. He looks between the two wondering if they find it odd to be in each other's presence. If they find odd that Lily is having James' baby.
"Reg," James says kissing his cheek, "stop with that kind of thinking. I don't wish that Lily and I had stayed together. I'm happily married to you. I love you."
Regulus sees Alice trying to like she's not listening in on their conversation but he knows she is. James hasn't spoken about his and Lily's past since the day the girls had become their surrogates. And then it was only to ask if Alice was alright with the past relationship and James sharing a child with Lily. She had said she hadn't minded but he could tell that something was a bit off until now.
"Lily Evans' family," came the doctor's voice.
They all quickly stood up. The doctor gave a look of surprise and walked over to them.
"The baby's..."
"They are going to be the ones raising this baby," Alice tells the doctor pointing Regulus and James. "They deserve to know as much as I do. So whatever you have to say to me you can say to them too."
The doctor not used to be talked to like that took a step back.
"Alright then. Lily can go home now. It was a false alarm but if the contractions start again take her straight to the hospital."
James and Regulus thanked the doctor as Alice went to help Lily change back into her street clothes. Regulus feels a sigh he didn't know he was holding in leave his mouth.
"It's going to be alright, Reg," James tells him pulling him into a hug. "The baby's not coming yet. Everything is going to be alright."
Regulus felt a smile stretch his lips. He had some time left to start nesting at least.
I hope you all enjoyed False Alarms (and Panic).