Chapter 14: Poseidon Charles

Two years passed since Apollo was born.

Stewart sighed tiredly as he sat outside of the bedroom that all four of his children had been or were being born in at his childhood home.

Athena paced outside with her grandfather while her brother slept soundly in the next room.

"Well this is some way to spend my first night home for Christmas Holidays," fourth year Athena replied.

"Staying up all night waiting on another little one to come into the world? You don't have to," Stewart replied looking at his daughter.

The older she got the more independent she got.

"I'm not going to sleep and wake up to a baby. I want to see it first!" Athena replied.

Stewart nodded smiling and pulled Athena onto his lap kissing her cheek.

"You wonderful young lady. You know you're a big help to your mother during the summer. She appreciates it so much," he replied.

"Yeah…she tries to make up for what she can't do when Apollo's asleep. She'll probably twice as hard now. Daddy…"

"Yes Athena?"

"Why does she try so hard? It's like she feels some sort of need to take care of everyone and make then happy," Athena sighed looking up at her father.

Stewart sighed and kissed her head holding her face.

"Do you remember before you started Hogwarts that I told you not to make friends with any of your cousins or even acknowledge them unless they say something to you?" he asked. She nodded and he looked at her sadly.

He couldn't put it off. He'd have to tell Athena; she was so clever he knew she'd figure out soon. He had to tell her what they knew about Katherine.

"Well that's because your mother's family is not very nice to her. She's afraid of them; but she continues to be nice because she is afraid. She faces her fears and it makes her brave…but it damages her as well," he explained.

"So she tries to be perfect because that was the only way she could avoid being hurt?" Athena asked reading between what her father was saying.

He smiled and nodded. "Yes baby that's right…but don't pity her. That is the worse thing you could do," Stewart warned.

"Just love her and be her kitten," Athena asked knowing it was true.

That was her father's answer for everything when it came to Katherine and her relationship with her children. Stewart preached it often enough that Athena could say it in her sleep. Sometimes she even wondered if her father was trying to brainwash her and her brother into blind devotion.

While the two were talking Rosalyn came out of the bedroom holding a small baby in a white and blue blanket. Stewart, Malcolm, and Athena looked and smiled as they saw yet another large chubby baby. This one though had large bright green eyes and quite a bit of black curls.

"Ha! Finally one that looks like its mother!" Malcolm clapped lighting a cigar.

"This is Poseidon Charles," Rosalyn smiled happily.

"So we're all going to be gods and goddesses then?" Athena laughed taking her little brother in her arms.

"I think your mother gives you all names that really show off your personality and strengths. Excuse me," Stewart replied bowing out of the hall and entering the bedroom.

He found Katherine curled up in the bed with her eyes closed. He lay on top of the sheets and scooted over to her tucking a curl behind her head.

She was now thirty-three years old and he was eighty-three. He counted himself bless for having her and tired to show it. He had once been a quiet and lonely child that preferred dusty books to the social scene. Marrying Katherine had changed him greatly; even though he was convinced his children would have knowledge and family. He'd set up his children just as he had been but he would include Katherine in it. The woman who knew his children better than they knew themselves.

Katherine opened her eyes and smiled tiredly at him.

"You've done it again my dearest Kat. Though it's quite odd they've all been rather large," he smiled.

"Odd? It's excruciating!" she exclaimed as her eyebrows rose to her hair line.

"I haven't a clue how it would feel but I am very glad you are willing to go through it to bring our little ones into the world," he whispered softly.

"Stay with me Stewart," she sighed as her eyes drooped again.

"Always and forever," he whispered kissing her head and pulling her close as they both fell asleep.

"Merry Christmas!" Allanah and the Potters greeted as they entered the McGonagalls' home that afternoon.

"Erry Istmas!" Apollo grinned running to Allanah and pulling her skirts, "Up, up Allie!"

"Up, up Apollo," Allanah laughed lifting the young lad into her arms.

"We have a new baby. Mummy has Oseidon," Apollo said excitedly.

"Oseidon isn't any god name I know?" Richard laughed as he shook Stewart's hand as the man greeted the family and led them into the sitting room where Katherine sat in her green chintz chair singing in French as she held the baby. Athena and her cousins sat around her listening intently.

"Apollo means Poseidon. That's what Katherine named him," Stewart said softly as they all took seats around the room listening to Katherine.

"She's a gem Stewart…always was. Oh sure she's a bit rough around the edges and ahead of her time…but she's special. She understands things like no one else does. Listen to her ramblings and you'll learn something," Richard replied.

"Oh I do," Stewart nodded.

Katherine looked up as she sang and smiled at Stewart before turning back to the children. He returned it as he smoked his pipe.

"You know Rosie I'm glad I listened to you about her," Malcolm grinned as his favorite daughter-in-law continued to sing.

"I am too. Had you not we'd have him married to that awful Lestrange girl," Rosalyn shuddered.

Malcolm nodded gravely as he smoked his cigar and listened to his beloved daughter-in-law.