Welcome to February everyone! I am so glad to get January behind us. It always seems to drag after the business of December. This month I plan to get back on track with some things and that will be a relief. My January kinda got lost with the wisdom tooth extraction but I'm fully better now and hope to be writing lots this month.

Stay safe.

Lots of love,

LM xx


Breaking Traditions-Part 38:

Lucius and Narcissa began to settle down… or rather try to settle down with Rosalie but it was slow going. The little girl would only settle if she was being held and this made things awkward for Narcissa as it meant she was often sat in the rocking chair by the window, rocking her daughter gently. She had insisted that Lucius slept as he was backwards and forwards from the Ministry with meetings.

It was the first night and Rosalie woke up and Lucius happened to be awake so he went to rise from the bed and he looked at his wife as he saw her hand on her chest.

"Sleep my love," she said softly as he looked at her, "I've got this," she whispered and kissed him softly before getting up and moving to the chair to feed and get Rosalie back to sleep. It was hard work but she looked down at the little baby and it made it worthwhile… all the effort and heartache had been rewarded with the bundle in her arms.

Lucius had tried to move Rosalie back to her crib in their room so Narcissa could get back to bed but every time that happened their daughter would start crying so he just rested a blanket over his wife and daughter to make sure that they were warm but both remained asleep.

The second day was better and Rosalie was settled throughout the day. Both Lucius and Narcissa knew that Priscilla, Abraxas and Cygnus were desperate to meet their granddaughter but were respecting the wishes of their children and were remaining away. Getting their granddaughter settled was most important to them in that moment in time and they did with updates from either Lucius and Narcissa when one ate with the elders.

"We are getting there. She's most unsettled at night," Lucius explained, "Narcissa is tired but she won't let me tend to Rosa in the night; too stubborn that I remain fresh for these Ministry meetings I have currently," he said.

"They are rather important meetings Lucius," Abraxas said, "you'll have your turn. Your mother was the same with you when you were a child," he said softly, "mothers think they know best. All you can do is be there for her and help when you are around." Lucius sighed; he'd hoped that his father would have told him to step up and take some responsibility. Instead the reply was confusing but he nodded and ate slowly and was soon lost in thought.

The second night went much like the first but Rosalie had slept in her crib a little more. It was worth it in his eyes, just like his wife's, as he watched their daughter sleeping more. He did want to pick her up but when Rosalie was settled Narcissa slept and he knew how important her sleep was these days. He hoped that somehow the baby would begin to settle and that Narcissa would be able to sleep normally once more.

The third day after Rosalie's arrival and there appeared to be some progress at last. The little baby slept on her own in her basket that Narcissa took everywhere with her, possibly a slight fear of her daughter somehow being snatched, or the more obvious answer was that when Rosalie needed feeding she was close to her little daughter. The night had gone much better… well better to the other two at least and Narcissa had slept in his arms more than in the rocking chair so that was progress in Lucius' mind at least.

The days began to pass and Rosalie began to settle down and it was a couple of weeks later when Rosalie began to settle in her crib after being tended to in the night, much to the relief of everyone. That was progress indeed softly.

Lucius had kept the Minister informed of the progress with Rosalie and then he said the next batch of meetings had been delayed so Lucius could spend time at home with his wife and daughter. He'd barely been at home since Rosalie had been home and the Minister wanted hm to spend time at home.

It was that afternoon when Lucius got home that he was met with a sight that melted his heart. He stepped out of the fireplace and caught sight of his daughter laid on her mother's chest. He stood there for a while before walking over to them and gently moved his daughter to her basket before sitting down on the sofa next to Narcissa. He laid his wife's head on his lap and he just sat there, reading the Daily Prophet before he began to feel tired. He looked down at his daughter and shook his head. No he would stay awake and tend Rosalie so Narcissa could sleep. The two had been losing sleep and were now slowly beginning to get it back but he longed for Narcissa to sleep properly whilst their daughter slept.

It was a couple of hours later and Narcissa began to stir. She went to sit up but found a hand stopping her.

"Where's Rosa?" Narcissa asked.

"She's in her basket on the other side of me," Lucius said softly, "I've been back a couple of hours and sat here trying not to fall asleep and watching you both sleep," he said softly, "she's so precious when she's asleep," he said softly before allowing Narcissa to sit up and rest her legs over his lap.

"When do you go back to the Ministry?" Narcissa asked as her eyes fell on their sleeping daughter.

"Not for at least a couple of weeks so if we can get into a routine with Rosa then people can start meeting her whilst I'm off," Lucius said, "the Minister has said that he's delayed the meetings for a couple of weeks so I can spend time with you and our daughter," he said softly and that caused a happy sigh to leave Narcissa's lips.

"That is wonderful. I've been wanting to take her into the Gardens bit we have been waiting for you," Narcissa said softly and she looked at him and smiled softly, "looks like we can do that now."

"Yes we can. Routine and Rosa starts meeting people," Lucius smiled softly, "those are the next steps."