When Tonks asked Talia if she wanted to be the godmother for her and Remus's child, she said yes without hesitation, swearing to protect her and her child from any harm. Hell, she was ready to take on any mission as long as it ensured Tonks was sitting comfortably with her feet up and sipping on tea and juice with Remus by her side.

But as she was getting closer to giving birth to a beautiful baby, Remus was not the only one freaking out. Talia was as well, however she chose to internalize it so much to the point it was painful.

She knew mothers would pour all their love and adoration onto their children, however after being submitted to the countless tortures she had to endure from her parents, to say Talia was skeptic when it came to families was an understatement in itself. She knew it was not about her, however she could not control her subconscious despite giving her all to do so.

From December to April, she had trouble sleeping for days on end and when she did and she thought the nightmares stopped, they were back at it shortly, haunting her, several images macabre, others depicting her being pregnant and attacked, Constantine lunging at her with his blade just to hurt her and her unborn child. Then came the thoughts, the most aching ones, how could someone have a child in such circumstances, when death knocked from door to door, waiting for someone to just make a mistake and open up?

A newborn was not silent, it cried a lot, it was not good in case of an attack, certainly not where stealth was involved. A pregnant woman was vulnerable, slow, not fit for such a life "Oh my God, I'm turning into my parents." Talia groaned, hiding her face in her hands, jumping the very next second when the door to the terrace opened, Talbott stepping outside, shuddering slightly as the chilly April air nipped at his exposed skin.

His eyes landed on Talia's startled expression as he went and placed the coffee cup on the table in front of her "Have you slept?" however he knew the answer before she even shook her head in reply. Taking off his jacket, he placed it over her shoulders before sitting down, wrapping an arm around her "You can't keep doing this, you need to talk to me, let it out."

"It's stupid really." She groaned, snuggling closer to him, pulling her feet up on the bench "We are leaving in a few days for Shell Cottage and I just can't pull it together and I need to. I need to wait, I need to not think, to not let my mind wonder into all these scenarios."

Rubbing his hand up and down her arm, Talbott hummed in response, understanding somehow a fraction of her turmoil. If it were up to him and his own mind, he too considered a child to not be the best of ideas in such times. But then again this was not him, nor his decision "We need to be there for them. You are the godmother of the boy or girl that will come into this world." Pulling her closer, he kissed her temple as he whispered "And it's up to us to make a better future for the generations to come. For them to not know of death and its consequences until the right time comes and we all die of old age. We must prevail, we must be strong."

Strong. She hated the word. She despised it with all her being, but instead chose to create some distance and look into his eyes. He was weary, she could tell. She knew he too was worried and more thoughts than those he verbalized where making their way inside his bright mind.

He knew of her late night mumbles in her sleep, he would always wake up when she tossed and turned, but whenever he rubbed her back when she jolted awake and asked her what was wrong, she would always try to reassure him she was fine.

But when they reached the safehouse of Bill and Fleur, neither Talia nor Talbott showed any of the emotions that have been eating away at them. Talia walked inside with a neutral expression, eyes circling the kitchen, nodding to everyone present. When Bill offered her some tea, she accepted and Talbott winced internally when she actually drank it, making small talk.

He on the other hand nodded politely, offering a small smile of understanding to everyone there, especially Harry. He remained on his feet next to Bill, discussing small nothings, ignoring how Harry and Talia did their best to not look at each other in order to not discuss Snape. He kept it easy, casual, asking for Bill and Fleur's plans of the future, to where they wanted to travel to for their honeymoon once the war was over.

Despite the tensions, despite what another day would bring, that day was not reserved for dark things.

Getting up from the table, Talia walked over to Harry, her drawing in a breath as she reached inside her bag, pulling out a present "Here. I figured you didn't have time to go shopping for the little one. It should be good for a boy or a girl. A godfather must have a present."

Looking at her, he actually offered her a smile "Thank you, I actually don't know what to do in these situations."

Placing a hand on his shoulder, she dipped her head, voice lowering "Trust me, I don't know either. But it feels right to have a present. You'll be a wonderful godfather, believe me it's a very important job." She could see the expression on his face faltering, a glimmer of sadness clouding his eyes as his mind went to Sirius, however her grip tightened bringing him back to reality, Harry agreeing with her.

"Did you have a good godfather?"

Her eyes bore into his, Talia nodding "Yes, I still do, he is alive. He is more of a father than Constantine ever was or could be. Trust me Harry, you'll see it too one day." The boy blinked in surprise, question dying on his lips when the door to the cottage opened, Remus announcing it was a boy after his eyes fell on everyone waiting on the news.

The room instantly filled with cheer, everyone congratulating him. He was drunk on happiness, a sight welcomed by all as he told them both Teddy and Tonks were alright.

In a few days Talia managed to visit them, Tonks actually placing Teddy in her arms as she rushed to the loo. He was sleeping soundly, fact for which Talia was grateful as she had actually no idea what to do with an infant, apart from words from books she had managed to read on.

But nothing could have prepared her for what she felt as she looked down at the small human in her arms. There was nothing but purity. Bliss. Innocence. Something so small needed to be protected at all costs since a child could not do that on its own.

She held in her murderous, blood soaked hands something so fragile, Talia was afraid to properly breathe as to not startle the boy. It was a foreign feeling, conflicting, how hands that carried destruction were allowed to hold the life of something so precious without even a second thought. No one should have trusted her with Teddy, yet they did.

Gently rocking him, she walked around the small room, back and forth, forth and back as she hummed a tune, softly singing, feeling years of pressure and pain dissipate as she watched the blissful face of the baby.

Children at that age knew nothing of horrors, of what was happening nor did they care and it was such a beautiful thing to think about. And at the same time such a devastating one.

When she returned back home her mind was in shambles, however it was the clearest she had been in a long time. It was as if a realization suddenly hit her, setting her in overdrive, urging her to move forward and actually take action.

Sensing the tension radiating off her, Talbott followed her steps up the stairs and inside the room they shared, witnessing her taking her already made-up bag in case of emergencies "Talia what's going on?"

Right, she could not just ignore his questions or the worry his eyes were emanating when she turned around to look at him "There's talk about assembling soon and I need to ensure those that are on the outside are informed. I need to leave."

Walking inside the room, Talbott took the bag from her hand, placing it on the bed, leveling the woman in front of him with a steady stare "What made you suddenly want to run in search for trouble?"

She shook her head, almost mad he did not understand, a tad disappointed in everything and everyone at the same time "Trouble will always find me Talbott. I was born to fight and I have been putting it off these past months for fear of losing myself. But I have, I have lost more of myself when not out there, than when I came back with torn clothes and blood on my hands. So no, I am not going to run in search for trouble, I will become trouble for others."

"Why, what changed?"

"I will continue to collapse within myself and before I know it everything will be different once more and I won't be there to catch it. I need to do what I was born to do. I will always have to fight, always. It won't end with the second war, it won't end with Voldemort. If I want even a fraction of a normal life I need to fight. I need to erase traces, I need to create new paths. I need to fully allow myself to be what I was meant to be and what I still have to be in the future."

Seeing such certainty in Talia's eyes was not new for Talbott, however he always saw her keeping things close, short term instead of thinking so far off in the future. She was certain, finally adamant on what her role was and that no matter what, she had a part to play for years to come.

"Talia" her name leaving his lips was soft, as if he was afraid to even utter it. His eyes searched hers, trying to find answers to question he did not want to ask, but he was not a mind reader "do you know the outcome of this war?"

She slowly shook her head "No, I don't, I wish I did. I just know that I will survive it. But if I want to ensure more do as well, I need to make sure everyone is ready. England is alone Talbott, no one from the outside is here to help. We are completely and utterly alone."

It was a reality that hit him in that moment, despite him having knowledge of that information. No other countries offered any aid, as if they all just fell off the face of the earth. They cut ties, they remained silent, hidden, watching the tragedies unfold, afraid as if to even look their way. As if Voldemort had the ability to look back at them and see. It felt that if they lifted even a finger in order to aid them, then he would turn his rath onto them.

When it came to Death Eaters, all those that were hiding, heeded the Dark Lord's call and travelled back to England in order to join his cause, but the so called good guys decided to remain in the shadows all while Wizards and Muggles alike were being slaughtered, innocent lives being taken, families broken apart.

"I need you to promise me something." Cupping her cheeks, he pressed his forehead against hers "Promise me you will try to reach out, let me know you're safe. But also promise me that if you feel like it's too much for you that you won't come back. That you will leave the fight to us. Don't do this if it means I will lose you. Alive or not, people are lost in more ways than one."

"Then I promise you Talbott that I will come back only if I can truly deliver and live up to my name."