Warning: Some chapters in this work contain: Violence, gory descriptions of crime scenes, foul language, and sexual situations between characters. Please read at your own discretion.

I currently do not have an editor. All mistakes concerning grammar/punctuation/pacing are my own.

Thank you all for reading and I'll will be updating with new chapters at least once a month.

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~Provincetown, Massachusetts~

~March 11th, 1998~

Along the beautiful Cape Cod shoreline, a large, ivy covered, manor stood tall and proud all on its own as the mid-day sun shined down on the steep peaks of the roof and the large, yet to bloom garden that encased the property. From the outside, a gorgeous and quite setting, from the inside, cries of pain ripped through the halls as the mistress of the estate battled through her intense labor.

"You're doing very well, Misses Blossom. Just keep breathing and give me one more big push, the baby is almost here," The matronly healer urged as she dabbed Paulina's damp forehead with a cloth now soaked in her sweat. A copious amount of perspiration seeped into her long dark brown tresses as they laid fanned out on the silk pillow beneath her head.

Paulina's normally radiant tan skin was currently flushed and dull looking as she continued to struggle to bring the new life into this world.

"I—I can't do it…" Paulina croaked out in a weak voice, tears streaming down her pretty face. She stared up at the gold embellished vaulted ceiling as the room seemingly spun around her as she lay dazed and disoriented from the immense amount of pain.

"Come on, Darling. The baby is almost here, just one more push, you can do it —" Nicholas lovingly soothed his wife as he held her delicate hand securely within his strong palms.

Over the course of just a few hours, The couple's normally serene and luxurious sleeping chamber had become the scene of blood curdling screams and endless words of encouragement as Paulina Blossom née Lauder laid back on her plush bedding, shrieking in pain as she attempted to bring her first child into the world.

At the request of Paulina, the healer had set up an opaque tarp that draped over her rounded mid-section, sparing her husband from having to witness the gory sight.

"AGGGHHHHH OHH GOD, UGGHHHH!!"

Paulina squeezed her dark brown eyes shut as she bore down once more with all of the strength that she could summon. After one more pain-filled shriek, the Blossom family's first child emerged into the light as the healer quickly yet delicately lifted and cradled the infant.

While he should have been consoling and congratulating his wife on another successful delivery, Nicholas stared fixedly on the healer as she brought the new born over to a tub of water and a basket of clean linens.

The patriarch of the Blossom family waited in nail-bitting anticipation as the healer carefully washed the child, toweled it off and began wrapping it up in a blanket, all while her back was turned to the couple.

The healer turned around to present the couple with their new born baby, all wrapped up in a rosy pink blanket.

"Congratulations, it's a girl," the healer delicately said.

Upon first glance, the Blossom couple was extremely taken aback to see their new baby girl flaunting a full head of golden blonde curls.

As the newborn attempted to flutter open her eyelids for the first time, Nicholas derided at the sight of the child's pale blue irises.

Paulina lay exhausted in her exuberant bedding with the happy and healthy baby girl cradled in her arms while her husband's furious burrowed their way into her soul, making her feel culpable over something she did not do.

With an expression of extreme frustration, Nicholas let out a huff as he stormed out of their sleeping chamber, leaving his wife behind to let her imagination run wild in the worst way possible.

"Have you two decided on a name?" The healer asked with a tinge of awkwardness in her voice.

"Well, we have…," Paulina said shyly, still out of breath from her intense delivery. "But given what she looks like, I don't think the name we decided on is quite fitting—"

The healer nodded, "Yes, I've definitely seen my fair share of parents face a sudden change of plans once the baby had arrived. However, it is required by law that I have the name of the child recorded before I leave here today. I'm sure you understand."

Paulina nodded hesitantly, "Yes…Of course…"

Across the house, Nicholas stormed down one of the many spacious corridors of the Gargantuan manor, passing by the family's house-elf that was dusting off the dark wooden ledge of a large windowsill that over looked the massive garden that surrounded the property.

The enraged man continued his walk down the halls that were decorated with large enchanted portraits of important historical figures and past family members before making he made it to his destination. His feet stomped heavily onto the luxe garnet carpeting as his leg propelled him up the many steps that made up large grand staircase near the entrance of the manor.

Mister Blossom came to a large open room that was mostly covered in a wine colored wallpaper that looked as if it had a good amount of years on it.

The tall man swiftly walked over to the other end of the room, the wooden flooring creaking with every step. He soon stopped in front of the long eastern wall of the room which displayed an elongated painting of a tree.

Rather then leaves or flowers, this twisted tree was covered in the faces of the current and past Blossom family members, at which Nicholas was thoroughly examining.

Nicholas' chiseled face scanned over the Blossom family tree, starting from the beginning. As he suspected, all of the members had the same richly hued dark tresses and eyes to match. The only exceptions being the depictions of orange flames that stood in place of the members that were burned at the steak for their heinous behaviors that threatened to embarrass the family name. Should it be discovered that Paulina had an affair with another man resulting in her pregnancy, she would surely, at the very least, be eligible to suffer the same fate…

And the embarrassment. The Blossom family name would surly be made a mockery by the other noble families.

After some time, Nicholas returned to his place of slumber to find Paulina asleep peacefully in between the crisp, freshly washed sheets and blankets with their newborn daughter situated in a dark, Victorian-style wicker bassinet near her side of the bed. The space was once again a quite and calm safe haven, free of the pain and suffering that occurred not one hour ago.

Mister Blossom quietly walked over to the lavish crib, his tall, masculine frame loomed over the child with a subtle look of disgust and suspicion plastered on his usually handsome face.

There she lay, swaddled in a pink honeycomb textured blanket with a matching cap as a large mobile with various glittering flower pendants floated and spun slowly above her head.

Despite this precious sight, there was only one thing on Nicholas' mind, one burning question that he loathed to not already know the answer to—

'Who is your father, little one..?'

~ooOOOoo~

Paulina awoke to the faint sound of murmurs coming from just outside of her bedroom door that had been left cracked open.

Misses Blossom rubbed her eyes and yawned as she sat up in her bed. She smiled as she looked to her left to see her precious little girl, still sleeping peacefully in her bespoke crib under the twirling flowers.

As Paulina quietly delighted in her view of her baby girl, the whispers that sounded just outside of the door had once again caught her attention.

Paulina carefully slid out of her large comfy bed and gathered herself onto her feet. She slowly shuffled to the door as the whisperings grew louder and louder.

Paulina drew open the door to reveal Nicholas attempting to quietly converse with his mother, Selena, just outside of the door.

His mother was a woman of average height with mature looking beauty. Her dark brown hair was slicked back into a painfully tight bun to match the pristine black dress robes she was wearing.

"Oh, uh…hi, misses Blos—" Paulina stuttered out.

"Who have you been sleeping with?!" Nicholas' mother screeched out. The sudden yelling pierced into Paulina fragile head as she winced in pain.

The clear vases filled with ruby red roses rattled dangerously as Selena's angry voice echoed down the desolate hallway of the massive colonial style manor.

"Mother! Please, just calm down for a moment," Nicholas pleaded as he did everything he could to restrain himself from slapping his hand over her mouth.

"What's this about?" Paulina asked timidly.

Mister Blossom turned to his wife with an earnest look.

"Please, just tell me the truth…" he said calmly yet sternly, "Who is that child's father?"

Paulina's mouth fell open as she realized what her husband was insinuating. Of course she knew this accusation was coming, but hearing those words leave his lips was more than she was prepared for.

"Are—are you serious? You really think I would do something like that to you?" Paulina turned to face his mother, who still had a scorned look on her face. "Selena?"

Nicholas' mother crossed her arms and scoffed, "Well, blonde hair and light eyes don't just come out of nowhere…"

Paulina had succumbed to her loss of words as she frantically tried to reason with her skeptical husband and mother-in-law.

"But…I…I would never…Nicholas, please…"

"Thank Merlin your father is on a business trip," Selena said to her son, "He would be beside himself with anger right now!"

While he still had his suspicions, seeing the woman he loved with all of his heart in such a level of anguish, especially just after she had given birth, made Nicholas feel extremely upset with himself, as he felt that he and his mother were only worsening it.

"I'll send for the healer tomorrow morning," Nicholas said, "I'll instruct her to bring along a paternity brew and we will get this whole thing sorted out."

With saddened eyes, Paulina nodded delicately at her husband's desired course of action.

"Would you…would you like to see her?"

Nicholas hesitated, as he had already taken a view of the child earlier. He stood still briefly before silently agreeing with a subtle nod.

"You can come too, if you'd like," Paulina added in Selena's direction.

Nicholas' mother kept her agitated attitude as she and her son entered the lavish bedroom with Paulina.

The three of them quietly walked over to the far side of the large room near the substantial floor to ceiling bay window where beautifully made bassinet stood near the couples bed.

Selena's sour expression quickly faded after witnessing the adorable child sleeping soundly at the bottom of her cushioned crib. Her manicured hands rested softly on the edge of the bassinet as she marveled at the darling child.

"Assuming she is mine, I don't think Adria quite suits her," Nicholas stated as he peered down at the short tufts of aureate hair peeking out from the pink cap.

"Alyona," Paulina whispered with a sweet smile as she turned to her husband.

"What?" Nicholas asked in a perplexed tone.

"Al-yo-na," his wife repeated herself, "It means bright light."

As much as Nicholas' face kept it hidden, he couldn't deny the fact that the more he looked down upon the child, who was slumbering peacefully without a care in the world, the more he hoped and prayed that the tomorrow's test results came back positive. Maybe the fact that he was already falling in love with this little girl, meant that she truly was his daughter.

"Very well," Nicholas murmured, "Now all that's left to do is to await the healers arrival tomorrow morning, I'll send an owl out momentarily."

Nicholas discreetly glanced at his wife to determine weather or not his latest statement had caused any form of panic or worry in her facial expression, but alas, Paulina seemed unphased as she silently admired her daughter from above the crib, not caring weather or not her husband believed her…

~ooOOOoo~

After a night of well deserved rest, Paulina arose to the faint bit of morning sunlight shining through the extravagant, floor length, scarlet colored curtains that hung in front of the massive bedroom window that encompassed nearly the entire eastern wall of the large sleeping chamber.

Paulina looked over to her husband, who was still sound asleep on his side of the bed. She slowly pushed herself over to the end of the bed and carefully got to her feet before glancing over the crib to admire her baby girl, who was also deep within her own slumber.

Paulina tiptoed over to the curtain covered window and slid between the fabric and the glass to take in a morning view of the beautiful blue Atlantic ocean that served as the background for the Blossom's extensive garden.

Paulina couldn't wait for the lovely plants to begin budding and blooming. It was only a matter of time before she could bring her new daughter out for a mid-day garden stroll along the cobblestone path and show her all of the beautiful flowers for the first time.

Beyond the perimeter of the garden, Paulina watched the dark blue waves ripple and crash onto the pale sand beach that made up the shores of Cape Cod.

Nicholas tightened his grip, expecting his lovely wife to still be where she had been when they both drifted off to sleep, but alas, he found himself just clutching the air.

Mister Blossom awoke to the sight of his wife's curvaceous silhouette behind the red curtains. After taking a moment to admire her shape, he quietly called out to her.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Paulina maneuvered her head around the draping fabric to look at her husband. "Everything's fine. I just wanted a morning view is all."

Nicholas gave a sweet smirk as he shifted his head to look at the large gilded clock that hung high against the dark, damask wall near the bathroom door.

"It's nine-thirty, we slept in rather late this morning," he said, "The healer will be arriving within the next thirty minutes."

Paulina sulked as her delicate hands rested against the windowpane.

"Oh, right. Of course," she responded, "I'll start getting ready."

As Paulina quietly shuffled off to the bathroom, Nicholas scooted himself over in the bed to view the sleeping bundle of joy. As the baby girl was lost in her dreams, Nicholas admired the luminous skin that she inherited from her beautiful mother. He searched for qualities that the newborn may have inherited from himself, but alas, it was too soon to tell.

'I truly hope you are mine, little one…'

~ooOOOoo~

Knock—Knock—Knock

Nicholas, dressed in his fine, traditional black garments walked with his wife up to the front entrance as the their little house elf used it's magic to open up the front door.

"Ah, Doctor Leigh, thank you for agreeing to come back on such short notice," Nicholas greeted.

The healer was a very kind woman, but she certainly didn't look it. She was tall and frail looking, with her mousy brown hair pulled back into a white bonnet. Her green eyes looked lifeless and dull as they rested in a heavy lidded manner.

"It's no problem at all, I always have a case packed with what I can for emergencies like this. They happen more often than you'd imagine."

The couple welcomed the old woman into their home and guided her upstairs to the third floor were their bedroom resided.

Paulina was also dressed in her traditional black garments, bar the corset she typically wore under her dress, as the bodice portion was quite fitted enough without it.

The sound of Paulina's black stilettos striking the ground echoed around the large corridor as the skirt of her knee length dress swished side to side with every step.

"So, how had your first, almost full day postpartum been? Have you felt any complications or noticeable pains?" The healer asked.

Paulina shook her head and assured the woman that she had been feeling perfectly wonderful since the birth, not disclosing that the only pain being the emotional stress her husband was causing her.

As the three came to the couples bedroom, Nicholas quietly pushed open the large, rosewood door to allow the healer access to the space.

"Alright then, I'll just need a tiny blood sample from all three of you and we'll have our results shortly," the healer said delicately as she began to set out the supplies on the dark wooden dresser. The old woman picked up a pricking tool and held in front of her face, checking its cleanliness.

Paulina looked conflicted upon receiving the healers request.

"A blood sample from our daughter? She's only just been born, she's fragile. What if she's hurt from it?"

The healer gave Paulina a sympathetic half smile, "Oh dear, you have no need to worry about that. Come, I'll show you—"

The healer glided over to the sleeping child, followed closely by the Blossom couple. The old woman once more inspected the instrument with her dark green eyes before carefully undoing the snuggly wrapped blanket that encased the baby girl.

With one swift and gentle poke to the arm of the baby, the healer gathered the drop of blood she needed before placing a tiny bandage to the pricked area.

The woman them expertly swaddled the infant once more and turned around to face the couple.

"See? All done, and she didn't even wake."

The couple nodded as the healer walked over to the tiny cauldron that was sitting on the wooden dresser and placed the drop of blood into the clear liquid, only for it to seemingly vanish.

"Alright, if your blood sample dissipates into the mixture as well, you are indeed the father of the child," The healer said.

Nicholas looked hesitant, "And what is the accuracy rate of this form of test?"

"One-hundred percent, Mister Blossom," the woman responded kindly.

With that, Nicholas received the same prick to his middle finger and squeeze one singular drop over the cauldron. Time seemed to be moving ten times as slow for him as the red droplet fell at a sluggish pace toward the clear liquid.

Almost as soon as his blood hit the surface of the brew…it vanished into nothingness.

Nicholas felt as if a the weight of a one ton concrete block had been lifted from his shoulders as he sighed in utter relief.

Mister Blossom turned to his wife with a gentle smile as he was met with her look of contempt.

Nicholas swallowed thickly as he knew he was in for it now.

The Blossom couple thanked the healer for her services and watched as she walked out of the large double doors at the front of the manor, only for Paulina to storm off the second the doors closed them off from the view of the outside world.

"Darling, please! I'm so sorry," Nicholas pleaded, "surely you must understand why I felt the way that I did."

Paulina spun on her heels to face her husband just before she made it to the grand staircase.

"I should leave you for how you've been behaving toward me for the last day and half! Go tell your mother the news as well, I don't want to hear her run her mouth about it anymore either!"

And with that, Miss Blossom began to storm up the stairs as fast as she could in her fragile state as she yelled: "Scraps!"

A sudden and short whirling sound was followed by a little house-elf dressed in torn scarlet rags appearing at the top of the stairs.

"Yes, Mistress Blossom," the little elf softly spoke.

"Make me a latte, please," Paulina requested in an irritated tone, "And try to have it ready by the time I get to my bedroom.

"Right away, Mistress Blossom," the elf said before immediately apparating to the kitchen before she could even finish climbing the first set of steps.

As his wife rounded the corner and disappeared down the hall, Nicholas hung his head in shame at his previous actions. The massive chandelier-lit entryway he was standing in was nearly dead silent, only to be disturbed by the sound of Paulina's high heels as she continued to make her way to their sleeping chamber.

~ooOOOoo~

After a while of lamenting over his harsh actions, Nicholas left the confines of his study that he had decided to sulk in and make his way back to the bedroom.

The feeling of anxiety riddle his mind as he grew nearer to the door that his wife was on the other side of. Nicholas swallowed thickly as he twisted the knob and pushed open the hinged barrier and entered his sleeping quarters.

Sitting near the window at the edge of the bed was his mother, a bright and cheerful look on her face, and Paulina, delicately cradling her newborn.

The two women clearly looked as if they had reconciled as they sat closely to one another, fawning over the swaddled child.

Nicholas eased his way over to the pair and sat down beside his wife, staring longingly at her. Paulina glanced up and gave him the same noticeably upset look as before, which made mister Blossom's heart sink in his chest.

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart," he said. His voice cracking with genuine sorrow, "I'm so very sorry."

Looking unfazed by his words, Paulina turned her glance back down toward her daughter. "I'm not the only one you should be apologizing to…"

Nicholas looked down at the little girl, his heart filling back up with love and joy.

"Alyona, was it?" He asked, to which his wife nodded.

"Would you like to hold her?" Paulina asked in a slightly more pleasant tone than before.

Nicholas nodded without hesitation as his wife carefully passed him the child.

Aside from his wife, Nicholas had never felt so in love with anyone in his entire life. He was already so proud of the little girl he was holding, despite her having done nothing but eat and sleep the day and night away.

In what seemed truly like a magical moment, the little girl leisurely opened her eyes and looked blankly up at her father, making Nicholas' heart flutter.

Paulina delighted in seeing her husband finally enjoying his child as she finished the last remaining remnants of her second latte.

"I bet she'll be a thunderbird," Paulina playfully goaded, referring to one of the housing mascots at the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry, Illvermorny.

Nicholas chuckled, "Well, if she takes after you, that is."

Mister Blossom smiled as he held his new daughter, a tear of pure joy nearly escaping his eye. It was at this moment that he promised to spend the rest of his life making up for his previous behavior toward her, even though he felt as if he would never truly be able to redeem himself in his own eyes.

'I love you so much, little one…'

Thank you for reading. Chapter two will be out soon :)