*NOTE, I MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE PLOT. REREAD CHAPTER 5, PLEASE. BETH WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO HOGWARTS. If This is your first time reading this story o' mine, then disregard the caps.*
Please enjoy the highly anticipated eighth chapter of There's No Time Like War Time.
Oh yeah, I don't own any of this lovely world, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling
"I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches."
Alice Roosevelt Longworth
"How did it feel for you when September first came along and you weren't going back to school?" Beth asked quietly, as she stared at the floor of her kitchen.
It was September first, and Beth felt out of place still being in her pajamas and not going to Kings Cross.
George, who was making breakfast, paused. "It was strange, to be honest," he said slowly, flipping over the pancakes he was making.
"It almost didn't feel right not going back, but now it doesn't phase me anymore," he shrugged.
She nodded, sipping her mug of tea that she had on the counter. Although she had decided not to return to Hogwarts, she still decided to continue her studies.
"Breakfast is ready," George said, handing her a plate. She smiled and wondered if she would ever return to Hogwarts.
*
Beth and George decided to remain living at her house, claiming that it would be too crowded when the Burrow was deemed safe to move back into. She learned that prior to her birthday Remus and Arthur visited the property and placed several protective wards around it. They were as safe as the Burrow was. Deciding that they were going to live there, it also meant that Fred and David moved into the house as well.
Beth, although she adored the privacy of living with just George, she knew they would have plenty of living in an empty house after the war was over. She also couldn't bear to keep the twins apart in a time like this.
After hearing the news that Remus and Tonks were expecting, Molly and Beth had brought it upon themselves to visit her. With Remus slowly warming up to the idea of becoming a father, Tonks adored spending time with the Weasley matriarch and the younger girl.
Currently Beth was lying on the floor of Remus and Tonks' flat eating ice cream.
"I love ice cream," a pregnant Tonks said, smiling indulgently as she shoveled another spoonful into her mouth. Albeit Tonks had some rather bizarre cravings, like pumpkin pie covered in pickle relish, she always craved ice cream.
"Me too," Beth eagerly agreed. She always loved spending time with Tonks; living with three boys was rather tiresome. The two of them silently ate their ice cream perfectly content in the silence.
With a flash, the fireplace roared green and Remus emerged. He found the sight before him very amusing, considering both of them looked like they were in their own versions of paradise, and it was only because of ice cream.
A small smile crept onto his face; it was the little things that helped you through the day that mattered the most.
"Hullo, ladies," Remus said as he walked towards the couch.
"Hiya Remus. How are you?" Beth asked, staring up at him with her spoon still in her mouth.
"I'm good, you?" He asked, leaning against the back of the couch. He leaned over and gave Tonks a peck on the cheek.
"I'm content," the younger sighed happily, closing her eyes.
"You're lying down on the cold floor eating ice cream and you're happy?" the werewolf asked, amused.
She opened one of her eyes. "I'm with people I care about. I'm eating ice cream, and it just so happens that this floor is mighty comfortable. There's no where else I'd rather be," she said.
"Oh, I know where one place you would rather be than here," Tonks said, pointing her spoon at the young witch.
"Oh? And where's that?" Beth asked, sitting up.
"With George," Tonks said, winking.
Beth looked down at her bowl and felt her cheeks burn.
"I so set myself up for that," she thought.
"Speaking of George, what's he doing?" Remus asked as he moved around the couch and sat down.
"There's a small building of sorts on our property. He's converted it into his workshop and office. He's with Fred, going through the many piles of orders they have," Beth said. "He said that he wouldn't know what time he would be done, so I was sitting on the couch doing nothing. So I decided to check and see if the lovely Mrs. Lupin was doing anything."
"Was she doing anything?" Remus asked, eyeing his wife suspiciously. Even though he was still weary of her being pregnant, he still cared.
"Well, if you consider lying on the couch staring up at the ceiling something, then yeah. Once Tonks insisted that I come over, I wrote a note to George saying where I was, and now here we are."
"Trust me; I'm glad you came here because I thought I was going to die from boredom," Tonks said honestly.
The two girls giggled, earning a smile from Remus.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" Beth asked.
"We both decided on naming the baby Teddy if he's a boy. However, we haven't thought of a girl name yet," Remus replied.
"So you want it to be a surprise?" she asked.
"Yes, I think it would spoil the fun if we decided to find out," Tonks said.
"I dare you to name your daughter Begonia," Beth said, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Remus looked at her with a look of pure horror, "Absolutely not!"
"What about Samantha?"
"Nah," Tonks said, wrinkling her nose.
"Emma?"
"Eh, it's an okay name. But I'd want her name to be a little less common," Tonks said.
Beth thought for awhile, going through several names in her head.
"Jade?"
"Jade," Remus said, trying the name out. It appeared he liked the name.
"Jade Lupin," Tonks said. "It's perfect."
"Well, I guess we just solved the issue of naming our baby," Remus said, smiling.
"Yes it does, and honestly, I was starting to worry we never would have thought of a girl name. Thank you, Beth. Are you finished with your bowl?" Tonks asked as she sat up from the couch.
"It's no problem, really. Do you want me to help?" Beth said as she handed Tonks her empty bowl.
"No, no. I'll do them. I'm still perfectly capable of washing the dishes," the older woman waved her protests away.
"I'll help you clean the dishes," Remus said as he got up from the couch and followed his wife into the kitchen.
Sighing, she sat up from the floor and crawled onto the couch. With a big yawn, she stared at the old rug, thinking about when she would finally get the chance to pick out baby names. Her eyes got heavy, and soon she fell asleep.
Tonks and Remus both walked into the living room and discovered that their guest had fallen asleep on the couch, and draped an old patched quilt over her sleeping form.
*
Hours later, the fire roared to life and George stumbled into the Lupin's flat.
"Hullo George," Remus said as he entered the room, coffee mug in hand.
"Hey Remus. Where's Beth?" he asked.
"On the couch, she fell asleep," Remus said as they walked into the living room.
Smiling at his fiancée, he thought she looked adorably cute curled up on the couch. He walked over to the couch and gently picked her up.
"I'll see you at the next Order meeting, yeah?" George asked as he made his way back to the fireplace.
"Of course," Remus said, nodding his farewell.
"Okay, see you then."
With a roar from the fireplace, George and Beth were gone.
*
"George?" Beth asked quietly in their dimly lit room. She sat up in bed, and realizing she was still wearing her jeans, she stumbled out of bed.
"Yeah, hun?" he said, sticking his head out of the bathroom door, his toothbrush in hand.
"What time is it?" she asked, as she walked into her closet.
"It's only been a half hour since I picked you up from the Lupins' flat. Don't worry, David's safe and sound at Bill and Fleur's," he said before brushing his teeth. Since it was mid-October, it was deemed acceptable to ask if he could visit the newlywed couple. Bill had said that he was welcome to visit them, and would help him with his school work. Even Fleur offered to help and possibly teach him some new French spells.
She made a noise in response, and quickly changed into her pajamas, and soon joined him in brushing her teeth.
Sliding into bed, both of them got comfortable.
"George," she said, tracing a random plan on his arm that was draped over her waist. She turned around in the bed and faced him.
"How many kids do you want to have?" she said quietly.
"Ten," he said.
"George!" she hit him on the shoulder.
"Ow, I was kidding! But seriously, I'll be happy with however many kids you want to have," he said.
"Four. I want four kids. Two girls and two boys," she whispered.
"Sounds perfect, love," he chuckled, pulling her closer to him.
Sighing contently, she slowly fell asleep where she dreamed of children with red hair and blue eyes.
A/N- Teehee, I love how this chapter turned out. It was very dull and choppy at first, but I love adding all of the details. I hope you enjoyed as well. OH. And check out a one-shot featuring the ever so lovely couple. It's called Felidae. Check it outt. And I'd love your feedback on this.
What should I call this series? I'm at a loss as to what to call it. Help please?
