Backseat Driving
For Angela, because you love this pairing :)
Angelina loves her extended family, but sometimes it can be too much!
"You're going to look just like me." Angelina rolls her eyes as the redhead presses his cheek against her stomach. She secretly hopes the baby gives a good, hard kick, because it's the middle of summer, three fans are pointed at her (because spells just aren't hitting the spot) and her ankles are so swollen that she can't fit them into her favourite boots anymore. Not that she could lean down to tie the blasted boots.
"Fred, it's my turn," George grumbles, shoving his brother out of the way.
Angelina watches them from the chair, unimpressed. This is a daily thing. George of course invited Fred to come and stay to help out whilst Angelina is pregnant. What she really thinks that means is that they're giving her practice of how to deal with two children at the same time.
Maybe she could kick them and put it down to hormones? Not for the first time, she pities Molly Weasley for having to have raised them. Maybe one day soon she'll apologise to Molly for the argument the other day. Molly has already forgiven her - 'oh, don't you fret, it's the hormones' - but Angelina should appreciate the support the woman is giving her. After all, Molly has had a lot of kids.
"Angelina, you can't drink tea," Charlie says, walking out of the house with two cups of tea, a glass of lemonade and a glass of cold water on an antique brass tray that has the Prewett family crest engraved into it. He sets the tray down. "I read in one of those books that caffeine is bad for the baby, so I got you a lemonade."
Immediately Fred and George stop from where they're fighting on the floor. Angelina closes her eyes and whispers her numbers, counting to ten. It doesn't work, and her eyes snap open and Charlie is watching, a little confused.
Fred and George scramble away. They've both made the mistake of telling her what she can and can't do. She doesn't smoke, hasn't touched a drop of alcohol, and doesn't drink coffee. But she likes to have a cup of tea, and it's not harmful in the slightest. And she will destroy anyone who tries to tell her otherwise.
"I'm sorry?" she asks quietly.
"Oh, I'm just looking out for you," Charlie says. "I've a lot of experience in dealing with pregnant dragons."
The twins scramble away.
"I'm sorry. Are you comparing me to a dragon?" Angelina asks, eyes narrowed. She realises her wand is not where it was moments ago.
Charlie suddenly realises his mistake and is quick to shake his head. "No, of course not. Just dealing with pregnancy—"
"Charlie, you're my brother in law and I love you, bear that in mind, okay?"
He nods slowly, warily.
"Do not try and tell a pregnant person how to be pregnant," she snaps. "Unless you've got first hand experience - and by that, I mean unless you've got a baby growing inside of you, you don't tell a pregnant person what is best for them. Only my healer gets to do that."
He looks taken aback by her snap, and George meekly approaches, Fred cowering a little behind him.
"Luv, would you like a cup of tea?" George asks.
Angelina beams at him. "Thank you, I'd love one."
"We're good?" George murmurs. "I have cake."
Angelina grins. "Then I am your friend," she tells him. "I really fancy a piece of cake."
George laughs. "I know. Cravings. We know the little one is going to have a sweet tooth."
"You can't hold the baby for too long," Percy says from the other side of the table, as Angelina cradles her one-day-old daughter. "I read that babies can get really clingy if you do that."
Angelina turns her gaze to him and forces a smile onto her lips. She likes Percy… usually. Now, that's debatable. "Really?"
She can see her husband out of the corner of her eye. He's gesturing wildly for Percy to shut up, but Percy pays no heed. Instead, he nods his head.
"The book states that it's best to get them used to not being held too much, otherwise they'll…" Percy stops, a look of pain crossing his face. Angelina isn't sure who kicked him - Bill or Oliver, but he stops talking. Bill shoots her an apologetic look and Angelina smiles at him. Bill is her new favourite brother-in-law.
"I'm sorry," Percy starts, a little uncertain now, his eyes moving between her and George. "You think I'm wrong, but I know I'm right. I'm just saying what the books say."
Angelina sighs. "Can we please put a ban on book advice please? If I need it, I'll ask." She wants to be nice, but it's been a trying seven months - ever since she found out she was pregnant, everyone has been so bossy and controlling, telling her that they know better than her because they've read a book or seen a show.
"They sell special slings," Oliver suddenly says, reaching for his tea. "So you can fly on a broom with a baby. I mean, they need to be able to lift their heads, but I think we need to get her on a broom as soon as possible. Two of the best Quidditch players as parents… gotta get her started early. Am I right?"
"You're not wrong," Angelina murmurs, more amused by this nonsense advice, because this isn't from a book or from experience with dragons. This is just how Oliver's mind works. Maybe he's just bringing this up as a distraction, or maybe he's just got Quidditch on the brain. "But I'm still going to give it a few years."
Oliver nods slowly. "We can still teach her the rules of Quidditch, so when she starts playing, she's ready," he says. "But one Weasley isn't going to cut it. We need more if we're going to have Gryffindor win the house cup when they're at school."
"If she's a Gryffindor," Angelina says sweetly. The chaos around the table at the very idea Roxanne Weasley won't be a Gryffindor is beautiful.
She smiles down at the beauty in her arms, and George moves to sit next to her, an arm around his shoulder.
"Wreaking havoc, or you don't think she's Gryffindor material?" he asks, quietly.
She smiles at him. "A bit of both," she admits. "I'd love it if she followed in our footsteps. But… I'd be just as proud of her should she be in any other house. Yes, even Slytherin."
George gives the baby an adoring look, leaning in and pressing his lips to her forehead. The baby lets out a squeal and a fat little fist waves in the air for a moment.
"I'm sure she's a Gryffindor," he says. "But… yes, I'd be proud no matter what." He glances up hopefully at his wife. "But we're decided on her playing Quidditch, yes?"
Angelina laughs at this. "We'll get her a children's broom when she's a bit older, and we'll take her to some games and see how she fares. But it's upto Roxanne to find what she loves. She might like playing pranks more, she might prefer reading and studying. Let's not rush this, nothing has to be decided in this moment."
Her gaze moves across the table. Percy is arguing with Ron about the benefits of being in Ravenclaw, and Ginny and Charlie are enthusiastically drowning Bill out, making up chants about Gryffindor, all because Bill said it wouldn't be too bad to have a Slytherin in the family.
Fred moves to Angelina's other side and rests his head on her shoulder. "So… how's our girl."
Angelina turns back to George.
"How long is he staying at our house again?"
George laughs. "You love it," he says. "You love us."
"I do love you. And to prove it to you, I'll kill everyone here. Then we don't have to listen to them telling us what to do all the time." She glances down at her daughter. "She's perfect, isn't she?"
George grins."Practically perfect in every way," he confirms. "Her bottle should be just right now."
Angelina watches him check the temperature, before handing it over. She tucks a beige muslin square under Roxanne's chin before she brings the bottle to the baby's lips.
Angelina rubs her stomach and leans back in the comfortable chair. "It's really quiet," she says. She shivers slightly and George is there with a blanket, draping it over her.
"You warm enough?" he checks.
She smiles tiredly at him. "I am, thank you. Just a little worn out today, what with the Healer appointment." She glances around. "It's empty here."
"Yeah. Nice and quiet, just like you like," he says. "Even Fred isn't here."
She smiles. "It's because of the last pregnancy, isn't it?"
George hesitates. "Yes and no. I didn't want you to be stressed so I banned them from the house. Well, all except my mum and Fred. Because that's my mum and I can't tell her that, and Fred is Fred."
"No more back-seat parenting?" she asks. "Or pregnancy advice?"
"No more," he assures her. He leans in and their lips meet softly. "I mean, Fred is going to stop in, but when is he not here? It's going to be a nice, quiet pregnancy, and we'll see them on our terms, okay?"
She smiles. "Yeah, that sounds amazing."
"So... since you're in a great mood, I think I need to tell you. Me, Fred and Lee made some bets. I won't go into details, but long story short... Lee and Fred get to pick the name of the baby."
Angelina fixes him with a look and he takes a step back. "And of course I'll tell them that they have to discuss it with you."
Seasonal
Day of the Year: May 18th - Visit Your Relative Day - Family fic
Aquarium Month - 6. Write about someone cold being warmed up
Theatre - 8. 'I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love'.
Crayon Day - Antique Brass
Children's Book Day - 23. "She's practically perfect in every way."
Zoo Lovers Day - 9. Lion: Write about a powerful female
Spring Colours: Beige
Spring Flowers: 7. "I have cake." / "Then I am your friend."
Pinata: Hopeful
Dragon Breeding
Writing Month
Writing Club:
Written in the Stars - 19. "You think I'm wrong, but I know I'm right."
Showtime: 3. (action) kissing
Liza's Loves - George/Angelina
Scamander's Case - 18. Family: Weasleys
Lyric Alley - 10. Taking my sulking to the masses
Funfair
Urban Safari - 6. Stork: Mother/child
Paint a Rainbow - Orange: George Weasley
Teddy Bear Picnic -Banana Sandwich: A blanket
Spring Petting Zoo - Sheep: Family