The morning after the wedding, the papers announced that the final would be between Appleby and Puddlemere, and noted the large number of celebrities and players missing from the game the previous day. It was not yet known by the media, but the reason for most absences was Katie and Oliver's celebrity packed wedding.
Katie and Oliver spent the first few days of their marriage quietly by themselves as Robert and Aileen and Burt and Bonnie were taking turns taking care of Davie. On Wednesday, they went in for their healer appointment to have their first ultrasound. Katie was excited, but Oliver was a little leery of the muggle technology.
"Well, there's your baby," said the healer, moving the ultrasound wand over Katie's stomach. "Ohh… and there's…"
"Oh Merlin," interrupted Katie. "Bonnie jinxed us!"
"What? What's wrong with the baby?"
"Nothing at all love. Both of them are just fine," replied Katie with a shake of her head.
"You mean it's twins?" asked Oliver.
"Merlin… Wood twins could be just as bad as Weasley twins…"
"Maybe they will be beaters!" exclaimed Oliver.
The morning of the finals against the Appleby Arrows was a typical grey English day, misting rain, cool spring temperatures. The game was being held at Puddlemere, and the family box was packed. Davie and Katie were sardined into a row with the entire eight member Russell family. Katie couldn't help but feel Bonnie's exhaustion watching her herd all seven of their kids into line. A whole quidditch team was just too much.
The snitch was nowhere to be seen, and the chasing battle was the most intense England had seen in years. Oliver was doing a magnificent job holding his own against the Arrows expert chasers, but Puddlemere was still struggling and the game went back and forth for several hours.
It was after an especially expert save by Oliver that the seekers began streaking toward their goal, hovering quite close to the referee's ankles.
The roar in the Puddlemere box as their seeker Lexi lifted the snitch in a tight fist above her head was so loud that Katie could feel the stands rumbling beneath her feet. Dancing around with Davie, the fans began to storm the field, an English quidditch tradition as the players took their victory laps.
Coach Russel and Oliver, along with the team flew up to the family box to greet their families, wide grins on their sweaty and bright faces.
"Hop on Davie!" exclaimed Oliver after one of the wives had tapped the glass with their wand allowing her to kiss her victorious husband. Without a glance to Katie, Davie swung up on the broom behind Oliver as Mikey did the same with his father. Oliver leaned down and kissed his newly minted bride before swooping back down toward the field with a squealing Davie behind him.
"Well we better get down there before they lose our boys," laughed Bonnie. Katie and Bonnie made it down to the field, arriving as the chaos died down and the players landed to accept the giant cup trophy that many a butterbeer had been guzzled from over the years.
Each player made a brief speech, and Katie's eyes welled with tears as Oliver thanked his beautiful wife, his parents, and his son for their love and support during the quidditch season with Davie perched on his shoulder. When they finally met up after the brief press conference, she didn't even blush as Oliver pulled her in for a kiss, Davie still on his shoulder. The cameras were of course clicking away, but she couldn't begrudge them their first public photos since their marriage the weekend prior.
How they managed not to lose each other in the crowd with all of the fans grasping to shake Oliver's hand, snap a quick photo, or beg an autograph was amazing. They finally made it to the locker room where Oliver bid goodbye to his adoring fans and Katie and Davie escaped down a narrow hallway to floo to the Russell's for the impromptu celebration that Burt had announced to the team minutes after the win was declared.
Katie could remember when they won the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup Oliver's seventh year, and she wondered if that was the last time Oliver had grinned quite that wide. That night at the party they danced, Oliver drank, Davie fell asleep under a table with Mikey, and Katie laughed so much she cried at the antics of the team.
That night, snuggled in bed with her husband, Katie couldn't help but feel so happy for Oliver that she started crying.
Startled out of his semi-drunken haze, he rolled over. "What's wrong luv?"
"I'm just so happy for you! It's the happiest day of your life! You won the English Quidditch Cup! And you're a shoe in for the National team this summer." she mumbled through her tears.
"Merlin, woman. The happiest day of my life was the day you married me. Sure, winning the cup is great, but we get another go next year. I only got to marry you once."
Oliver was a little bewildered when this just made Katie sob harder and mumble something about pregnancy hormones.
Katie's prediction came to pass as Oliver was announced as the first string keeper for the English National team. Practices started up almost immediately following the end of the English season, and Katie was starting to really gear up to take her HAREs- Healer Accreditation Residency Exams. With the stress of her exams and being pregnant, Davie spent quite a bit of time over at Bonnie' Russell's house when he wasn't at daycare. As summer set in, the games started, the first few rounds occurring around the globe before the final games were played in the host country, this year being hosted in Italy.
England's first round was in Sweden, and Oliver and Davie made a boys trip of it. Spending the week together as England played the first two rounds against Norway and Sweden. The next round was played in the south of France, which made for a lovely honeymoon trip. Katie and Oliver spent the week relaxing on a beach between the matches. It helped that her HAREs were taken the week before and she only had to wait on her results.
By the time England made it to round three, after soundly beating the French and the Russians, Katie was too far along in her pregnancy to travel internationally. Davie and Oliver headed to southern Italy for the final round before the World Cup Finals. England ended up losing a spot in the final game to the would-be victors from Egypt.
Ollie and David stayed and watched the final game play out between Egypt and Denmark, an amazing 2 day match up that went nearly thirty hours without a single snitch sighting. Oliver and Davie became convinced gelato was the solution to the world's problems. The two went through gallons of it in the ten days they spent on the Amalfi coast, bringing back a souvenir tub of it for Katie.
In addition to his commitments to the English National team, Oliver managed to coach the Woodchucks again with Davie and Mikey on the team. Whenever he couldn't make practice, Katie managed to take off work and captain the team, her experience as a chaser helping tremendously although her advanced pregnancy meant she couldn't fly during practices.
By late August, the Wood twins were due to arrive any day. Davie wasn't back at school yet, but Puddlemere was practicing again with their first games already won. Aileen was spending a few days a week with Katie and Davie, helping Katie with the heavy lifting and generally helping her out at the pregnancy approached term and became more exhausting. It was nice to have a mum to take care of things for her, and Katie had really connected with her in-laws in the past six months. Davie had warmed up to the older couple as well, calling them Gran and Grandad.
August thirty first, found Katie reclined on one of the sofas with a fan blowing over her. It was unseasonably hot, and she felt incredibly uncomfortable without a fan and a cooling charm these days. Davie and Oliver had gone to the park for quidditch practice and were due home soon, and she was trying to nap a little before she got up and made some dinner. She was pretty sure she had a casserole in the back of the icebox.
She heard the boys arrive with a whoosh of the floo in the other room and the pounding of small feet indicated that Davie was probably off to his room. She kept her eyes shut, not bothering to look as she heard Oliver enter the room slowly and quietly. She could hear him walking around, but just resting with the cool breeze was so pleasant she didn't have the strength to open her eyes.
Finally opening them, she lifted her head to see Oliver pacing in front of the window, a somber expression on his face as he stared out at the London skyline.
"What's wrong luv?" she asked, propping herself up with a pillow.
"The twins are going to miss the express!" Oliver finally announced the reason for his distress.
"Well I was hoping they would. They will get to stay home with us another year," she replied, rubbing her very distended belly.
"I didn't think of that… I was just thinking they wouldn't want to miss it. Plus then they will be home to play quidditch a whole extra year!" joked Oliver.
"Sometimes I swear quidditch is all you think about," laughed Katie. "The twins will get here when they get here. Probably a few more days at least."
September fifteenth found Katie flooing to St. Mungo's. Oliver and Davie were at Woodchuck's practice, so she had left a letter on the table letting them know she was in labor and to meet her at the hospital. Her back had been aching all day, but that was usual, so when her water had broken late in the afternoon, she had grabbed her hospital bag with the aplomb of a witch who had given birth hundreds of times and left for the hospital. So maybe she hadn't given birth before, but she was a healer who had assisted at hundreds of births, especially since she was planning to specialize in obstetrics.
Oliver and Davie arrived back from practice sweaty and hot, but laughing as they apparated into the kitchen. Oliver could immediately tell that Katie wasn't home and spotted a letter on the table. Quickly perusing the contents, he immediately went into a panic.
"Let's quick scrub up, Davie," he said walking to the sink and sticking his head under the faucet. Washing his face and his hair with dish soap. "Mum's off to the hospital to have the babies and we had better meet her there." Davie obediently went and washed his hands and face in the bathroom, while Oliver continued to make a mess in the kitchen. Oliver ran around the apartment quickly, grabbing the camera, but forgetting the film.
"Ready to go?" asked Davie, his Marvin the Mad Muggle toys in a small lunch box. He wanted to show them to the new babies.
"Probably forgetting something, but we need to be going, I'll just send an owl to Gran and Grandad."
They floo-ed into the Lobby at St. Mungo's, still wearing their Woodchuck's practice clothes, Oliver's hair still damp. Oliver had the camera slung over his head and Davie was carrying his Marvin the mad muggle lunch box. Oliver hurried toward the elevators to press the button, but was distracted by the fresh floral scent radiating from the small gift shop.
"Let's get some flowers for mum," he said, steering Davie into the little shop.
"How about some flowers for my little sister?" asked Davie.
"Wood's always have boys," laughed Oliver ruffling Davie's hair. "We don't have to worry about that."
"Since Katie's more my mum than a sister, it would be nice to have a little sister though," replied Davie eyeing a bouquet of daisies. "I want to get a bouquet just in case."
"One bouquet of red roses, and the daisies for the little man," laughed Oliver.
Armed with their flowers, the two headed up to the maternity ward, getting directions from a little witch at the entrance to the unit. As they approached the door, Oliver felt himself shaking with nerves before a small hand clasped his comfortingly.
"It's okay, Dad. You're going to be great," said David grinning up at Oliver. Feeling tears in his eyes, Oliver bent down and pulled Davie into a tight hug. He could tell Davie had been working up the nerves for this for a while, as the boy had continued to call him Ollie or Oliver or even Coach. They had long decided that the twins would be raised with Davie as a brother, not an uncle, but they had never officially established that Oliver would be called Dad. That was up to Davie, a personal decision. Obviously with the new babies, he had decided to give the title to Oliver.
"Thanks, you're going to be a great big brother, son," he said into Davie's soft golden blond hair.
Hand in hand, the two headed into the room after a short knock followed by a call to enter to find Katie already glowing with motherhood. A bundle in each arm, she looked tired but content as the healers bustled around the room taking care of charting and getting things in order.
"I missed it!" exclaimed Oliver, startling one of the healers, but not either of the babies who were apparently used to his booming voice from their time in the womb.
"Sorry luv, maybe next time," laughed Katie. "You're just in time to see them all cleaned up. Get over here and say hi, Davie."
Davie scurried across the room, forgetting he was eight, and much too big for kisses as he pressed one to Katie's cheek.
"So this is your brother," said Katie, showing off a small bundle wrapped in green, his bright eyes already showing signs of turning green like his mother's, a patch of dark hair on his head.
"He's gorgeous, Kate," whispered Oliver, setting the flowers on the bedside and leaning over to kiss his wife.
"He's handsome," scolded Katie. "She's gorgeous." She lifted the little yellow bundle in her left arm so Oliver could see the perfect rosebud mouth and the delicate blond hair of their daughter.
Oliver reached out and lifted the bundle. "It's a girl?" he whispered, leaning down so Davie could see his new sister.
"I brought her some daisies!" exclaimed Davie, grabbing the bouquet from the stand as the little girl's eyes popped open, taking in her older brother for the first time. "I'm your brother," he informed her, smiling at her. Her little mouth moved as she focused on him, before her cloudy grey eyes turned a bright green. Gasping, Davie stepped back and dropped his flowers.
"Her eyes!" exclaimed Oliver. "They changed!" He pulled the baby back to look closer and the family gasped as the blonde hair wavered to match Oliver's chestnut.
"She's a metamorphmagus!" laughed Katie. "Well we know she'll be going to Hogwarts."
"What should we name her?" laughed Oliver as her eyes changed color to match his bright blue eyes.
"I always wanted an Olivia," said Katie. "With Wood's being so prone to boys, I had better name this one Olivia, who knows if I'll get a second chance."
"And the boy?"
"I know you were set on Oliver Robert, I'll name the next one," laughed Katie.
"But we're going to call him Robbie," announced Davie. "And Livie. Robert and Olivia are much too big names for babies."
"Perfect," laughed Katie, smiling at her husband still holding their tiny daughter in awe.
"How soon can we teach them quidditch?" he asked, causing her to roll her eyes.
Seven years later:
A fifteen year old Davie streaked across the yard on his broom. He and Oliver were practicing again, making up moves for the quidditch team that Davie had made captain this year. They had been at it all summer long, and Katie wished they had spent a little more of that time inside, helping her.
Robbie and Livie were pouting in the house. Kenny, their four year old, had been fighting practically non-stop with their three year old Quinton. It also didn't help that she was pregnant again. Merlin help her if it was another boy. Turning away from the kitchen window she watched Olivia sneaking up on her older brother. Laughing, she watched her tackle him and steal the quaffle he was playing with and run from the room.
Within a few hours all five of her kids would be out on their brooms with Oliver, playing quidditch. Little Kenny fancied himself a keeper and Robbie and Livie weren't really much of a chasing threat yet. Quin was just along for the ride.
Rubbing her stomach absently, she wondered if this little one would love quidditch as much as his siblings (he was sure to be a boy). Maybe he would be a beater, the way he smacked her bladder around all day. With a sigh she headed for the bathroom. She was exhausted on a daily basis, worn down from raising five children and working thirty hours a week in the maternity ward at the hospital. However, she didn't have any complaints because she had a husband who loved her, and was pretty good about cooking dinner and helping clean the house, and five adorable munchins that she loved to death. Life wasn't too bad.
"Mummy!" she heard a shrill cry. Turning, she spotted her youngest two fighting over one of the toy brooms. "Wanna pway k'ditch!" exclaimed Kenny. What would she do with all these Woods?
Thanks for reading! I have a story all about Livie and Robbie planned and 14 chapters already written! Fans of my maurauders story will recognize a few characters from the next gen, but it's a stand alone fic. It's probably one of my favorite things I've written, and I hope you check it out! It will have a bit of Katie and Oliver, and a whole lot of fun. First Chapter is up today! Thanks for continuing to read and review! E.A.