Home sweet home pt. 3
Hermione makes Thorfinn a gift. The Grangers meet Thorfinn. Thorfinn meets his daughter.
Hermione paced all night. It was a good thing she didn't have any classes to sub for the next day, nor did she have to work in the diner that night. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, she made a decision. If Thorfinn was really serious about settling down here in Summer Bay, getting to know Reina, this was the least she could do for him. She kept her mind totally away from the fact that he also wanted to marry her.
She pulled out a box of photos, some empty photo albums and began putting them together. At five am, a full three hours before she needed to have Reina at school, she was back out at Thorfinn's caravan, knocking loudly.
Thorfinn had just woken up when he heard loud knocking on his door. He climbed out of bed, donned a pair of jogging pants and went to answer the door. To his delight, it was Hermione. Her arms were full of books. He opened the door, pulled her into his arms, kissed her and guided her inside. She put the stack of books on his kitchen table. She picked up the smallest one and handed it to him.
He looked down at a baby book. There was a picture of a newborn on the front. The blue eyes shining back at him were distinctly familiar. He looked at them every morning in the mirror. "Reina?" he breathed softly. She smiled and opened the book.
"My first ultrasound. Her first picture. I put all of them in here. Every picture from the first right up until I delivered her. This is the first time I heard her heartbeat. I enchanted the pictures to move. Listen." She watched as he listened to his daughter's first heartbeat. He grew misty eyed as he stood there. She knew then she couldn't deny him the right to meet Reina. Her own problems with him could be fought out in private but the genuine emotion on his face showed that he was already attached to a daughter he hadn't even met yet.
"These are dated for each year of her life. I tried to keep them all strictly of Reina but there were a few that I'm in and I wasn't sure if you'd want those in there." She spread them out to show him she'd added a number to each cover.
"Why wouldn't I want them in there? You're her mother, Hermione, of course you'd be in there." He flipped through the first album, pausing at a picture. Hermione looked down at a picture of her holding Reina, having clearly just given birth. Reina was snuggled into her neck and Hermione had a peaceful look on her face. "I want this one by itself. It goes on the wall beside my bed. That's the first thing I want to see every morning."
He continued to flip through the books, pointing out other pictures he wanted a copy of. His last choice showed her and Reina on the beach, working on a sandcastle. He gazed lovingly at the little girl who looked just like him. "She has your hair, Hermione. She's beautiful."
"I'm going over to my parents' place to take her to school. We usually go to the diner with my parents to eat breakfast first. If you really want to meet her, be at the diner at seven thirty. I have to tell my parents who you are and why you're here. They'll want to meet you." Hermione prepared to leave. He suddenly moved, pinning her to the wall.
"Are you going to tell them we're getting married? That I'm going to be their son in law?" he whispered into her ear. He cupped her face, tilting it towards him. "I want them to know I have every intention of setting down here, taking care of you and Reina. I want them to know we're going to be a family." As he gazed into her chocolate brown eyes, he had to kiss her. He could feel her arms rise up around his neck. Her hands clenched into his hair. "Sorry, darling, there's not much hair to grab hold of yet. They cut all my hair off when I went into Azkaban. It hasn't had a chance to grow back in yet."
He reluctantly turned her loose to leave. He stood and flipped through the books some more, then went to get dressed. He had future in laws and a daughter to meet. He grabbed the doll as he passed the counter and stuck it into the pocket of his jacket. He climbed into the beater and headed for the diner.
Kim, Robbie and Tasha were headed into the diner when they spotted the guy, Thorfinn, sitting at the counter. He was watching the door and fiddling with a cup of coffee. As they walked passed him, Kim reached out and tapped him on the shoulder. "G'day, mate. If you're waiting for Miss Granger, she and the folks will bring the little ankle-biter back here. Come sit with us." Without a word, Thorfinn stood and followed them to their booth.
"Ankle-biter?" he asked, raising a brow. Tasha giggled and poked Kim in the ribs.
"Don't worry. The only one whose ankles she bites is Kim and that's because he won't let her ride on his surfboard." Tasha snickered. Robbie was fighting to keep from chuckling out loud.
Kim snorted and rolled his eyes. "That's not the only times she bites me. YOU try telling the child the water is too deep for her to play, see how long it takes her to bite YOUR ankles!" Tasha and Robbie both lost it. Thorfinn was hiding a smile behind his hand. It sounded like his child definitely was on the naughty side. He wasn't sure how bad of a child Granger had been but he had definitely earned every punishment he ever received. Whether he'd been blowing stuff up, bullying the other pureblood children or just driving his parents and the house elves insane in his own home, he'd definitely been a terror!
"So you're Reina's dad? Are you going to stay here? You're not going to steal Miss Granger away from us, are you? She's our favorite teacher! Are you going marry her? You'll like it here. It's a great town and everyone is friendly once they get to know you. Miss Granger's parents are very nice, too. They have bonfires with us. Go camping with us and everything. More than once, they've let us stay over with them when we were too upset to go home! Did you bring a present for Reina? Just to let you know, she loves dollies." the kids fired questions and statements at him rapidly.
"Whoa, whoa! Yes, I'm Reina's father. I do intend to stay here, so no I won't be trying to steal Miss Granger away from you. I do hope to marry her. I've heard good things about this town so I think I really will like it here. I didn't realize she was a teacher until she told me you were her students. I'm looking forward to meeting Hermione's parents. I want to talk to them anyway. It's customary to ask the parents for their daughter's hand in marriage. They sound like they'll be great in laws. Yes, I did bring a present for Reina, it is a doll." Thorfinn answered every question.
Just then the door opened. Miss Granger walked in, holding Reina's hand. They watched her look around then register his location. Her parents were behind her and came forward to question him. He stood to greet them. He smiled at Hermione as his eyes locked on his daughter.
Hermione headed to her parents' home. She was dreading this meeting. She'd tried not to talk about Thorfinn anymore than she had to and she'd never told them his name. Now she was going to have to tell them Reina's father had come back into the picture. Her dad and mum were already up, getting ready before they woke Reina up. "Mum, dad. I need to tell you something. I don't want Reina to hear this. I, uh, I didn't really tell you everything about what happened in Britain. I told you about the war and the last battle. I, um, I didn't tell you very much about Reina's father. He was on the opposing side. He went to prison for six years. He finished his sentence. At the battle, he." She ducked her head and took a deep breath. "He snatched me into a broom closet and we, um, we," she closed her eyes and blurted it out, "We had sex. I, it wasn't something I had planned on, believe me, but it happened. Right afterwards, he put a necklace, this necklace, on me. He told me to wait for him, he'd be back for me. Shortly afterwards, he was sentenced to prison for arson. He spoke to me, right before they took him away. 'He hoped we had someone in common.' He KNEW. He knew, suspected or just hoped that I was pregnant. Which I was. I couldn't stay there. There were too many bad memories. Too many nightmares. Ron was expecting to marry me but I couldn't. This necklace ties me to Reina's father. He's shown up. He's here, in Summer Bay. He wants to meet Reina. He says that he wants to marry me but I'm not sure how serious he is about THAT. He told me to tell you that he's intending to settle down here and take care of me and Reina. He says he wants us to be a family." She waited for her parents to start yelling at her.
"This man, did you know him before that big fight? How old is he? Did he go to school with you, Harry and Ron?" her father asked calmly.
"Yes, we went to school together. He was three years ahead of us, though. So, yes, I did know him before the big fight. His name is Thorfinn Rowle." Hermione answered.
"He definitely said he wanted to marry you, to be a family with you and Reina?" her mother was next.
"That's what he said." Hermione shrugged, still not believing Thorfinn actually meant to marry her.
"Well, then. We'd better get Reina up and ready. Sounds like we have a son in law to meet." Her father said decisively. Hermione's jaw dropped. Her mother laughed and sent her in to wake up her daughter. Reina woke up slowly, blinking sleepily at her mother. Hermione got her dressed, not mentioning the coming meeting. She didn't want Reina to be disappointed, in case Thorfinn did change his mind.
Hermione got Reina settled into her booster seat and headed for the diner, her parent's right behind her. She pulled in beside the old beater from last night. The Granger's pulled in beside her. They climbed out, Hermione collected Reina and they entered the diner. She looked around. She'd thought he'd be near the front. To her surprise, she saw him seated in the booth at the back with Kim, Robbie and Tasha. He looked up, saw her and came to his feet. He smiled as he saw Reina. Her parents brushed by her and headed straight for him.
"Rowle? Thorfinn Rowle?" Thorfinn cocked his head and nodded. "William Granger. This is my wife, Jean. We're Hermione's parents." William held out his hand.
"It's good to meet you, sir. I've been looking forward to this. The kids." He gestured behind him. "Have been telling me all about you both and Reina."
William laughed. "Only good things, I hope. It wouldn't do for them to scare off my future son in law, now would it?" Thorfinn relaxed slightly. He wasn't sure but he thought he detected approval from her dad. Hopefully, it was because the man sensed he truly wanted to marry Hermione. Her mother still looked slightly disapproving.
"So how was it that, in the middle of what Hermione described as a huge battle, you found the time to hide away in a broom closet and get intimately acquainted with our daughter? So much so that she had your child?" she pursed her lips as she waited for him to answer THAT awkward question.
"I'd been waiting three years, ma'am, for your daughter to come of age. That necklace stayed in my pocket for three years. I just missed her time and again until the battle. I knew I was going to prison, there was no way around that, but I knew I had to claim her before I went. It was the only chance I had so I took it. I grabbed her, laid my claim and then told her I'd be back for her. And here I am. I did the crime, I did my time and now I'm ready to move on with my life. I'm ready to be a husband and a father. I want to be her husband, Reina's father. Nothing more, nothing less." He told her sincerely. Her expression softened into a smile. 'Two down, now to see if I can win my daughter over.' He thought. He knew if he could get her folks and his daughter on his side, it'd be easier to convince her that he really was here to stay. He'd already undergone the third degree from the teens. He'd patiently answered every question they'd thrown at him.
Hermione approached slowly as Reina gazed at the stranger talking to grand mum and grandpa. She wasn't old enough yet to recognize how much she resembled him. As she stopped and looked up at him, he hunkered down to her level. "Hello, Reina. My name is Thorfinn. I'm a friend of your mum's. Tasha, Robbie and Kim have been telling me about you. They said you like dollies. I've had this doll a long time but I don't play with them. Would you like to play with her instead?" Reina's eyes widened as she looked at her mother. Hermione gave a slight nod and Reina happily accepted the doll.
"Reina, dear, what do you say?" Hermione gently reminded her. Reina threw her arms around Thorfinn's arm and leaned on him, kissing his cheek. "Thank you for my dolly, Thorfinn!" she spoke slowly and shyly.
He patted her back and kissed her on the forehead. "You're welcome, baby girl." He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around his child and never let go. She was an adorable little princess. His only regret was that she would never meet his mother. The woman would have been in seventh heaven over this child! He sat down beside Kim and Hermione sat across from him with her parents. To all their surprise, Reina opted to sit in his lap to eat breakfast.
Hermione checked the time as Reina ate. It was almost time to have her at school. Reina finished her breakfast and chose that moment to pick a topic Hermione had hoped to avoid. "Mr. Thorfinn? Are you Kim's daddy?"
"No, sweetheart. I'm not." Thorfinn answered her, puzzled by the question.
"You look like him. Are you his brother?" she persisted. Kim and Robbie had both frozen and were staring wide eyed at the child. Thorfinn smiled slightly.
"No, sweetheart, Kim and I might look like each other but we're not related." He told her.
"I asked Kim and Robbie if they were my daddy and they said no. But I really want a daddy. Everyone else has one. Are you my daddy?" Reina asked him hopefully. Now Hermione was frozen in place. Every one of them was looking at her expectantly. Reina was looking at Thorfinn and Thorfinn was staring at her, silently pleading with her to let him claim Reina. She closed her eyes. She'd really, really hoped to avoid this happening! She didn't want Reina to know her father was in town until she was positive that Thorfinn actually intended to stay for good. That plan had just been derailed with one innocent question. She opened her eyes and nodded. With him looking at her like that, she couldn't deny him the right to claim his child.
"Yes, darling, I AM your father. And I am so glad to meet you." Thorfinn laid his hand on the little girl's shoulder. She hugged him, then pulled back. "Daddies and mommies are supposed to live together. Why don't you live with me and mommy?"
"I've lived in another country until last week. I was in a great deal of trouble a while back and I had to go to jail for a very long time. I served my time and got out. Then I came to find you and mommy." He told her gently. She thought it over and nodded.
"You don't have to go back to jail? You can stay with mommy and me now?" she questioned him.
"No, I don't have to go back to jail and l intend to stay right here with you and mommy." He assured her. She smiled happily and hugged him again. He pulled her close and just held her.
"Are you done eating, sweetie? It's time to go to school." She looked at Thorfinn. "Would, um, would you like to go with me? See where she goes to school?" Thorfinn was staring at her in shock. Then he quickly accepted before she could change her mind. She told her parents she'd see them later as she didn't work today.
Thorfinn stood and followed them out to Hermione's car. She got Reina into her booster seat and herself fastened in. He reached between the seats and ruffled Reina's hair as she giggled. Hermione drove them over to Yabbie Creek. "Today is parents' day. We get to sit in on show and tell." She mentioned briefly.
When they got there, all the other parents stared at the sight of her young daughter tugging the huge blond man around by the finger, showing him all the drawings she'd done in class. Thorfinn loved each and every one of them. Hermione knew the others were wondering who he was. Soon the teacher came in and got all the students into a circle. The parents all stood near the back. Everyone was still keeping a wary eye on Thorfinn. As it happened, Reina was the first student called for show and tell. They could see her excitement as she stood up, holding the doll. "This is my dolly. Her name is Reina, too. That is my daddy. His name is Thorfinn. He was in jail for a long, long time but now he's come home to me and mommy! Thank you!" and she sat back down as the other parents started muttering loudly.
Hermione had her hand over her mouth. Thorfinn stood at ease. He wasn't about to cower into a corner somewhere. It was like he'd told her. He HAD done the crime but he'd also paid his debt to society with his six year sentence. If they wanted to pass judgment on him, let them. Their opinions weren't important. The only ones he was worried about were Hermione, Reina and her parents. If they saw nothing wrong with having him in the family, screw everyone else! Hermione relaxed as she realized he wasn't going to lose his temper. She smiled and rested against him. He looked down and pulled her close, waving at Reina as he did.
As show and tell proceeded, Hermione could still see all the parents giving her and Thorfinn sideways glances. This was where she'd first started subbing after she got her teaching certificate. She wondered now how many more times she'd be asked to sub and how long it would take for the aftermath to reach the high school. She wasn't worried, though, simply because Thorfinn wasn't bothered by it. He'd been honest about his past with her parents and Reina. If he hadn't wanted it known, he would have tried to hide it.
Once show and tell was over, they hugged Reina goodbye, told her they would be back to pick her up after school and left. She drove them back to the diner to his car. He asked her what time he needed to meet her to go get Reina. She didn't answer but grabbed his hand, pulling him across the street to the path leading to the beach.
They walked down the beach, playing in the surf, splashing each other. Then they came to a large rock at the end of the beach. Hermione climbed up on it and patted beside her. Thorfinn joined her. "That was some show and tell, aye?" he asked teasingly. She smiled at him and he couldn't resist any longer. Those brief kisses this morning had only been a taste. He laid her back, pillowing her head on his arm, his hand going into her hair as he kissed her again, going in deep this time. They laid there a long time, kissing. Deep kisses, shallow ones, tracing down the jawline and back. He couldn't get enough of her kisses.
Gradually, she thought to check the time. "I was supposed to go to mum and dads after I dropped off Reina. Do you want to come with me? It'll give you more time to bond with them until we go back to get Reina." Thorfinn, who had gradually been moving lower and lower with his kisses, slid a hand under the hem of her shirt. The higher up his hand slid, the faster he could feel her heart pounding. He watched as her eyes grew darker and darker. Finally his hand met the strap of her bra. Instead of unfastening it, he simply squeezed gently through the bra before removing his hand. She was breathing heavily by this time but so was he.
"I like this spot. We need to come here again." He breathed into her ear. She blushed a bright red. He chuckled, jumped down and plucked her off the rock. He was glad he'd put on his loosest fitting jeans because he definitely needed the camouflage for a few minutes. He took her hand as they moved up the path back to her parents place.