It was the next saturday and Neville awoke alone in his bed. Quite disoriented, he walked into the kitchen. There was where he found her: hair flying about and still matted on one side from sleep, twirling around the kitchen on tiptoe in one of his button up shirts to the song playing in her head. He couldn't help but laugh out loud. When she twirled back to his direction and saw him, she quirked up a grin and held her hand out to dance. Fits of laughter erupted from each as they sashayed around the kitchen, holding each other close. Stopping and catching their breath smiles still twitched upon their lips. Quickly though, Luna kissed him lightly.
"Sorry dear!" she rushed and broke away. He watched her scurry back. When she was out of sight he followed her path.
"Lu?" then he heard it, she was wrenching into the toilet. "Oh Lu." he sighed and pulled the hair back from her side, leaning against the wall until she was finished.
She sat back, sighing. Taking a breath she said "Sorry. I really don't know where that came from."
"it's fine" and he released the tangle of hair from his fist as she lay her head on his shoulder. Breathing was regulated again and she started laughing.
"Such a good morning, Nev." she giggled.
"Ha, yeah. Morning love." he kissed her forehead and stood up. This time it was he who extended the hand. She took it and they arose.
That evening Ginny and Harry Floo'd into the Longbottom's fireplace. Ginny's fiery red mane had been left down and when they appeared she was trying to untangle James' fingers from it while Harry was holding him. Luna laughed while hearing Ginny try to persuade the baby.
"James, you have to let go of Mummy's hair now. Please." Harry met Luna's eyes and they both smiled.
"Here Gin, let me help." Stepping forward she loosened his grip and the hair fell free. Ginny smoothed it down with her hand, "Thanks."
"Try it with two sometime." Luna sighed, and promptly took James onto her hip. Thankfully, her hair was held up in a bun, secured by her wand.
"Anyway," Neville said abruptly, "Same time as usual for getting back?"
"Yeah, thanks Neville." Harry told him.
"You do it more than enough for us." Luna chimed in.
"Well we'd better be off then." Ginny said, giving James a kiss on the cheek. "G'Bye!" the flames roared again and then disappeared.
"Now then, James. Let's go get Lorcan and Lysander." Luna said, bouncing him as she went. She found them levitating a toy broomstick, taking all concentration. Deciding not to bother them she left and went back to the living room and sat on the sofa.
Turning to look at Neville next to her she gave him a questioning glance. "Have you seen my wand?"
Instead of answering her, he simply plucked it from the pile of hair atop her head and watched it tumble down. "Here you are, love."
"Thank you, now take James. I need to go make some tea." She planted the baby on his lap and he gave her a look of nervousness. "Nev, it's a baby. Just hold him."
He laughed at her frankness and she skipped off. James however had already latched himself onto Neville's shirt and was giggling. "No, you're not any trouble at all are you?" he said with a smirk, untangling his clothes.
Luna came back in with two cups of tea, wand now tucked firmly behind her ear. Placing the cups on the coffee table she looked over once more. "I really do miss the twins being this little."
"I really don't see how you handled that by yourself though." he pointed out.
"We managed." she said it dryly, but nonchalantly as well. He would never fathom her train of thought, and as if on cue, she changed the subject again. "Boys! James is here!" she nearly shouted.
"Lu, what are you doing?"
"Trying to get them to stop levitating their toys and be sociable."
"Love, James can't even talk." she gave him a look and rolled her eyes. She got up and peeked in the doorway again. Lysander looked at her and grinned, Lorcan still totally absorbed.
Startling her yet again, Neville pressed his lips to her ear, "Leave them be love,"
She sighed, but kissed him. James fussed and she tiptoed to kiss his chubby cheek. Neville bounced him lightly and shushed him.
"See Nev, just fine." she kissed him again and went back to her tea.
James fell asleep on Neville's chest, and Luna rested on his shoulder. Lorcan and Lysander wandered out of their room finally in search of food and Luna directed them to the kitchen.
He overheard her through the open passage from the living room to the kitchen, telling them that they needed to be good because James had fallen asleep. Neville smiled, and studied the tiny hand balled into a fist around his shirt. It wasn't like when he first had the twins with him, they were well into toddlers then, and were a bit more independent- no matter how much Luna intervened. This was different, and even though he wasn't used to it, he liked it.
Luna walked back in, her wand back to holding a ball of hair, the twins not far behind. she stopped on the side of the sofa and began digging around in the basket full of books and magazines and newspapers. Neville watched her, strands of hair falling loose and tongue stuck out in frustration.
"Aha! Here boys, read this." tossing it the foot between her and Lorcan fumbled to catch it. "I'll help, come on." pulling them onto the couch with her she reminded them to be quiet as they each curled into one of her sides.
Luna smoothed the cover of the book with her fingertips, removing small specks of dust from it. Neville curiously looked at it, she hadn't read to them in a while. Shifting his glance he saw it, the children's version of The Tales of Beetle of Bard. They stumbled over some parts of the story that had been forgotten, but Luna guided them through it. In the midst of the story telling, James had awoken, but stayed calm. Neville sat him up and he watched intently at Luna turning the pages. She glanced up and smiled while Lysander had taken over the story of the invisibility cloak and smiled.
Eventually, the four year olds fell asleep and she carried them to bed, one by one. Coming back, she took James into her own lap, and propped up her knees.
"James Potter, you look just like your father." she stated, looking at him seriously. His dark hair was sticking up on one side to no surprise.
"Let's hope he's not as much of a magnet for trouble."
"No, that would be terrible Neville. Harry and Ginny won't let that happen to him."
Right on cue, there was a crack and a knock on the door. Neville went to answer it, assuming correctly that it was their friends. "Luna's got him on the couch."
"Are you sure he wasn't any trouble?" Ginny asked, she was never comfortable with leaving him anywhere.
"Ginny," Neville insisted, "He's a year old. We have two four year olds. He was perfect."
Overhearing, Luna had gotten up and was bringing James to them. Seeing Harry, his son beckoned for him and he came to get him.
"We'll have to bring Teddy over next time we have him, he closer to the twins age."
"How is Teddy, Harry?" Luna asked,
"Great actually, thanks to Anomeadra."
"That's good then. I hope you both had a good night."
"We did, thanks Lune"
"Anytime Gin."
The door was soon shut behind them and Luna and Neville were left to the quiet of their home in the night.
"I didn't know the towns knew those stories."
"I started telling them when they were babies, I don't know why but it made me feel less lonely. I guess because we all went through it together." Luna shrugged, and she was right. Neville had often thought of the old tales when he was lonely and his mind wandered back to his memories.
"Let's get some sleep Lu. You did have a bit of a rough morning after all." his hand reached out to her and he led them off to bed. They fell asleep with her hand splayed against his chest, long scarred by the Carrows, and his finger tracing the curve of her hip.
He awoke early that morning, confused as to why he was alone in the bed. His feet were on the floor, getting ready to go look for Luna when she waltzed through the doorway. Her porcelain face froze at the sight of him, something that he had never experienced before. Still in what looked like shock, she continued walking towards their bed.
"Are you alright Luna?"
"Don't be mad at me Neville." she whispered.
"Why on earth would I be mad at you love?"
Her eyes looked at the floor as her head hung low. "Luna." he lifted his hand so it was on her chin and pulled it up to face him. "What is it?" he matched her whisper.
"I think I'm pregnant." her eyes widened with terror as she whispered the admittance.
"What?" shocked was an understatement for how he felt. His mind rushed, trying to comprehend her attitude.
"Don't be mad." the blue eyes were rimmed with tears. He took her hands and drew her onto the bed.
"Luna, we're married, and if we may be going to have a baby, that's wonderful, and if not, that's okay too. Why would I be mad at you? It's not your fault either way."
"It's just that," Luna broke off and put her face in her hands crying.
He eased an arm around her shoulders and let her fall into him. "Luna, I'm not Rolf. You know that don't you?"
She shook in his arms. "I'm just scared."
"Luna, look at me." being nearly forehead to forehead, he saw the unshed tears collected in her lashes. "You're not alone."
Her smile did not reach her eyes, but it was there. "I'm sorry." her hand wiped at her cheek.
"Don't be, love." and he kissed her, soft and slow, just like when she first came back into his life. "We'll figure something out. Now go back to sleep, it's still early."
Luna nodded, eyes already shut, fingers entangled in his shirt. As she drifted off, he thought about all of the "what if's" so to speak. He was just as scared as she had seemed to be, even if he and tried to be comforting. And besides, he thought, Luna had already done this alone, and it was terrible for her, he didn't want to let her down again. He closed his eyes again and tried to go back to sleep.
The attempt was unsuccessful, and now he too found himself staring at the swirls of paint just as his wife had. He was remembering; Luna unexpectedly showing up in his life that day, just over a year ago, and now they were married. Had he rushed into it? No, he couldn't have, he'd never been happier. He remembered how the twins had taken to him, partially from their mothers complete trust in him. He remembered overhearing her talking to them one night and expelling everything to their curious minds. And their wedding, the memory still took his breath away, not to mention that from that day on, he had legally became a father. He felt so many memories well up inside of him and the thought of being able to make so many more was overwhelming. Not to mention the thought of actually being a father to make those possible memories. Sleep was impossible, and so his Sunday started at six am with his wife telling him that they may be parents.
Just an hour after that, Luna rushed off to the bathroom again to wretch her guts up. He sat on the floor with her, the second morning in a row.
"You need to go to 's tomorrow." he said, pulling the hair back again.
She nodded calmly, "I know."
"I can go with you after work if you want me to,"
"I think I'll go alone. I've been wanting to see daddy for a while anyway."
"It has been awhile."
"Only since Halloween when we took the boys. But I worry about him."
"I know you do love." he brushed the hair out of her face and helped her up.
The next morning he set off for work, kissing everyone on the cheek goodbye, he apparated with a sigh.
Luna however was still feeling nauseous but got up and made the twins breakfast.
"Boys, we're going to see your grandfather today, you have to behave. " she did not mention that she was going to see a healer herself, but the time would come. She had set up an appointment earlier and had gotten in at eleven. By the time they had arrived at the hospital, she had an arrangement made for another healer to stay with the twins and her father while she went in herself.
Checking in she headed straight for her fathers ward. Pushing open the door, she found him in his usual place, rocking in his chair.
"Daddy?" she asked tentatively.
"Oh, Luna. How are you?" he smiled in his childlike state, but the twinkle in his eye was unmistakable.
"I'm fine daddy, but listen, I need to go to an appointment with a healer very fast for a check up. The twins are going to stay with you and your Healer, is that alright?"
He smiled innocently up at her, "Of course it is." she really doubted if he understood much, but he knew who she was and was able to hold simple conversation. He knew that he loved his daughter.
"Thank you Daddy. I'll be right back. I love you. Boys, be good. Please." she begged and whisked herself away, running a bit late, but more so of anxiousness.
Turning into the maternity ward she singed in at the desk and took her seat, waiting. The clocks couldn't tick fast enough, and thank Merlin that she didn't eat breakfast because she'd be on her knees right now if she had. Why did she feel like this? It was nothing like last time. It was with the man she truly loved all of this time, her husband for crying out loud. She should be excited, but she was so scared.
Hearing her name being called startled her out of her thoughts, cutting her off from dreams and into reality. "Luna Longbottom?"
Rising from her seat she looked at the caller, a middle aged Healer with sandy shoulder length hair and hazel eyes. "Yes," she answered and followed her as she nodded and turned down the corridor.
Leading Luna into her room the healer introduced herself as Evelyn. "Now, what brings you here today?"
Luna blushed slightly and told her of her assumptions.
"oh, I see. Have you been through this before?"
"Yes, I have twins."
"Well alright then, let's get you tested." Luna nodded and gulped. She was twenty six, married had twin four year olds and ran part of a magazine, what was wrong with her?
Twenty minutes later her name was called from the waiting room again. This time however she didn't have to go all of the way back to her room. Meeting Evelyn at the door she showed the results.
Pregnant. Seven weeks.
Smiling a nervous smile she thanked her, payed her dues and swept off towards her father's room. Deciding to calm herself Luna stayed and talked to her father for a bit and decided to go visit her in-laws as well. They were as they always were, happy to be with one another and to see one of the few familiar faces. Luna hugged Alice with a sigh and the woman slipped a gum wrapper into her hand. Luna smiled with tears rimming her lashes, thinking of Neville. He would be so happy. This would be a good thing, she was not alone this time. She was truly loved. And he would have a family.
Slipping the wrapper into her pocket she gathered up the boys and decided to find the Knight Bus. Now that she at least knew she was pregnant she would be precautions. Giving Ernie the address she paced the boys in the seat and scooted in next to them.
"Hang on boys," and she was right, as always it was a bumpy ride, but they safely arrived to the end of the drive.
Opening the door to her home she decided that this was going to be a positive change in her life and she wouldn't want it to happen with anyone but her husband. And that they needed another bedroom, but that could wait.
