Disclaimer: Not Rowling, not one of those people who think dreams divine the future, but it's fun to think they could, especially when Severus is dreaming of his children!
Don't Call Me Daddy
Chapter 15- Fatherly Love
Reaching down to snag a fallen pillow from the floor and place it beneath his head, Severus lay on the bed, feeling boneless, watching his wife get dressed. He pondered aloud,
"How can I be moments away from a comatose state while your energy has increased?"
Pulling on form-fitting white trousers, Lorelei did a shimmy while lifting a white embroidered tunic and sang,
"Mamma Mia, Here I go again…" Laughing at his raised eyebrows, she explained, "Rosmerta's bringing back Disco Karaoke. I'm excited because Tonks and I have convinced our poker group to come cheer us on as we battle to keep our title!"
She danced around the room, doing the monkey, the locomotion, and disco points while dressing. If he'd had the energy, Snape would've laughed. Instead, he pursed his lips and drawled,
"ABBA returns, eh? Which one are you again? Anita?"
Giggling while she employed a charm to transform her hair into straight platinum strands with a long fringe, the siren gazed at him in loving exasperation and chided,
"Anna, darling- Tonks is Frida." Her gaze swept over him. She sighed, "My, my, how can I resist ya?"
Sleepily, he asked,
"Is that the song you're going to sing?"
Slicking on lip gloss, her reflection smiled at him in the mirror.
"Mamma Mia? No, we're going to sing Take a Chance on Me."
He noticed the direction of her gaze and smirked,
"Are you sure that you don't want to stay home and take a chance on me…again?"
Whirling around, Lorelei moved to the bed, slithered up the body that would make chance a fine thing…after a nap…and kissed him lingeringly.
"Hold that thought, because I'm going to be in the mood to celebrate when we return from the pub victorious." Winking, she kissed him again briefly before bounding off the bed. Looking down at her lovely…if no longer gi-normous…chest, she exclaimed, "Merlin, I almost forgot!" Within minutes, his energetic wife had expressed a bottle of milk, placed it in the stasis chamber, blown him a kiss, and hummed her way out of their quarters.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he murmured while allowing heavy eyes to close,
"Mamma Mia, indeed."
The room was completely dark when Septimus began to cry. Fastening his robe, Severus went to fetch the bottle, calling,
"Yes, you're hungry, or wet, or bored, perhaps all three at once. I assure you that I hear and obey."
Over the months, all three of them, the first-time father had discovered that his son would stop crying and wait patiently if he heard a parent's voice. Not overly fond of the sound of crying, Severus spoke to the infant at every opportunity. In the beginning, it had felt awkward to hold a one-way conversation, but he'd soon begun to pick up Septimus' body language and realized that the boy was really listening and responding. What had once seemed strange was now extremely satisfying.
Inside the nursery, Septimus was lying on his stomach doing what looked like a mini pushup in order to watch the seals toss a black and white ball back and forth on the wall next to him. Snape had read that infants responded to black and white patterns best and had immediately asked Albus to enchant the painted ball once he'd pried Malfoy away from his girlfriend to come paint it. Listening to his son's gurgling laughter, Snape smiled and then stared in a mixture of pride and dismay, realizing, Septimus rolled over! And I missed it! He hurried over, gently turned the boy onto his back and snatched the camera off the nearby dresser, instructing,
"Be a good boy and roll over again, Septimus, your mother will want to see this." Tiny hands batted the air like they were reaching for the ball. Severus tried again, "Please roll over."
Turning his head to smile at his father, the child waved plump little arms. Sighing, Snape resorted to, "Please roll over for mum and dad…Ari…"
He almost didn't get the picture, Septimus started to roll so quickly. It was amazing to watch. The wizard had never realized what incredible co-ordination an infant needed to possess to perform such a feat. Lifting his head and shoulders in that push up manner once more, his son smiled, and then promptly frowned and started to cry.
"Remembered that you're hungry, did you? I'll take care of that."
Carrying the boy to the changing table, Severus first dealt with a wet nappy before sanitizing his hands and reaching for the bottle. Sitting in the rocking chair, he huffed in amusement at the disgruntled expression on the tiny face.
"It's not exactly what you're used to, but make do, son, because your mother has gallivanted off with a pack of witches." Septimus' eyes stared fixedly as he sucked. Severus' lips quirked, "Not that I begrudge her a night out, or that I don't enjoy being part of the food chain now and again…" A dribble of milk trickled from the corner of the baby's mouth as he smiled around the nipple that was a poor substitute for his mother's. Softly wiping away the moisture, Severus supported his son's chest with one hand while gently patting his back. The strength of the burp that erupted was startling. "We should reconsider taking you to the pub if you're going to emulate Gimli."
Septimus hiccupped, and a warm gush of milk slid over his father's hand. Grimacing, Snape wiped his hand and told his cooing baby,
"You need a bath."
Midwitch Leach had recommended Healer Brazelton for Septimus. The venerable older wizard had smilingly told them at the first month checkup that until babies crawled into messes, they didn't actually need a bath every day as long as their faces and hands were kept clean. Seeing the frown of his small patient's father, the pediatric Healer had amended that there was certainly nothing wrong with daily bathing, however. Severus had narrowed his eyes at the intimation that pleasure, not cleanliness, impelled his son's baths, but the truth was that he and Lorelei enjoyed taking care of their child. Whenever Snape had to give the child a bath without her, though, he took the easy way out. He took Septimus into the tub with him.
Handling a slippery, soapy little body was much easier when they were both wet. He could take his time and play with his son without back strain. If he was splashed with a substance other than water, Severus washed himself as well. It was an efficient and beneficial arrangement for all involved.
Currently, after using a mild soap to prevent dry skin, the man relaxed against the tiles and engaged the infant in their newest game- the staring contest. Leaning back against his father's supporting thighs; Septimus contemplated the face looking into his without blinking. Snape's eyes were beginning to burn when his hair was yanked. He flinched. Bringing the long black strand to his mouth, the baby gurgled. Severus said accusingly,
"You cheated." Suddenly, lean, clever features softened. "How very Slytherin..." Leaning forward, he brushed a kiss across downy black hair.
A few hours later, Lorelei returned from her carousing. Stripping off her tunic the moment she entered the lounge, the siren changed her hair back to raven spirals and told the males watching her with upraised brows from their seat the sofa,
"I feel like one of those bloody cows in the field outside the village." Yanking off the decorative brassiere that was unsuited for nursing, she sat beside her husband and reached for the baby saying, "I hope you're hungry, Ari." He was. She sighed, "Merlin, what a relief. I was about to start lowing."
Smirking, her husband stated,
"In need of milking, were you?"
Lorelei pointed a usually desirable, now dangerous object in his direction.
"Would you like a shot in the eye? I'm telling you, I could ruddy well shoot milk across the room."
He chuckled. She smiled and told him about her narrow victory over Orlando.
"If he'd sung Stayin' Alive instead of How Deep is Your Love, we might not have won, but Scotsmen don't like torch songs that make their partners sigh like teenagers."
Severus could well imagine. He didn't much care for the mental image either. Lorelei switched the baby to the other side to nurse and giggled,
"Don't be jealous. The BeeGees never did it for me. I'm more…Jim Morrison…"
Noting her sparkling eyes, he said levelly,
"Albus told Minerva the title of the song they heard me humming and she passed it on to you, is that it?"
The way her eyes slid to the left made him suspicious, even before his wife said evasively,
"Something like that." He gave her the stare that had compelled many a student to confess wrongdoing before bursting into tears. She tried to hold out, but after several minutes of tense silence, Lorelei blurted, "Why did I bring it up? I should've known you'd act like this." Facing him squarely, she said, "Fine, I'll tell you exactly what happened. Right before I left, Jack Sparrow got up and sang some awful disco pirate shanty. Minerva, who'd had a few too many drinks with itty bitty umbrellas in them announced that 'Even Snape can hum better than that'." Viewing his nostrils flaring made her look away and finish hastily, "Pomona and Poppy demanded that Minerva tell all, and she did." Gazing back again, she declared in righteous indignation, "I told them it wasn't funny and that your voice can ensnare the senses better than any potion!"
The fiery sparks in midnight eyes as she placed the baby on her shoulder and rubbed his back were very affecting- or maybe it was the view. Regardless, he was amused instead of angered. Idly curious, he asked,
"What was the response to your little declaration?"
She stood up abruptly.
"Oh look, Septimus is asleep. I'll put him in the cot."
He followed, trailing his fingers down her spine. She shivered and put the baby down before marching toward their bedroom with her arms crossed defensively. In the middle of the lounge, she turned and placed her hands on her hips, answering,
"I don't know, alright? They were still laughing when I stormed out of the pub."
A bark of laughter escaped before he could help it. Lorelei's lower lip began to pout. He slid his hands up her arms and said,
"I don't care what those witches think about me." Lowering his voice to dark suggestion, he continued, "So I ensnare your senses?"
Full lips turned up.
"Bewitch my mind, too."
His fingers sifted through her hair, tilting her head for his kiss. He whispered silkily,
"Why don't you let me send desire through your veins…in the bath?"
Leaning against him while he led them backwards, Lorelei's smile held a delicate power greater than any liquid known. She sang softly, "I can't let go, because I love you so."
"Take a Chance on Me?" Severus asked with a smile. Her response was as passionate as the kiss that followed.
"Always"
In the middle of the night, when Lorelei got up to take care of Septimus, her husband rolled over and continued to slumber. A short while later, he drifted into a deeper stage of sleep and began to dream…
"Why is this ridiculous event taking place again?" Severus groused as he fastened the cuff on his tailored black shirt. Lorelei straightened his collar and smiled,
"It's customary, darling."
His dark gaze flickered over the black and white dress that showcased curves he'd rather explore than sit beside while forced to engage in small talk. The corners of his mouth turned up as he caught her hand and lifted it to his lips.
"All that's best of dark and bright, meet in her aspect and her eyes."
She gave him a melting look.
"I remember the first time you quoted Byron." Her expression turned teasing. "Are you trying to seduce me into breaking our engagement? It won't work. We're going to this dinner."
He pulled her against him, brushing aside raven spirals to trail kisses up her neck. "Must we?"
"We could be late"
Severus' lips curled in satisfaction. His expression turned sardonic when a feminine voice called impatiently,
"Mum, dad, are you ready?"
Muttering 'I was', he stepped reluctantly back from his giggling spouse and gestured to the door. Winking, Lorelei sashayed out of the room and down the stairs of their London home. In the entry, a young woman stood talking to their house brownie. Snape took one look at the midriff baring outfit his daughter had on and snapped,
"You're not actually wearing that, are you?"
The nineteen year old girl rolled her dark eyes, looking uncannily like her mother.
"Dad, please, let's not debate fashion again." Reaching up to kiss his cheek, she said impishly, "You know how you hate to lose."
"Arwen's right, dear. We need to be going." Lorelei hugged her daughter, who said,
"The ads came out fab, mum."
Severus turned from bidding Donn good evening and demanded, "Ads?"
A bright smile couldn't disguise the blush of guilt on his wife's face. She picked up a glossy magazine off the hall table and held it out.
"I told you about the 'Eternal Beauty' cosmetics line, didn't I? That I was asked to help?"
He found the ad displaying his daughter, wife, and…good gods…mother in law…in Grecian gowns. Snape shook the magazine.
"I thought you meant testing, not modeling!" Giving his daughter a withering stare, Severus grated, "If you choose to be objectified, that is your decision, but don't drag your mother into it!"
"Merlin, you're a hopeless case, dad." Arwen shot back. "So I do a little modeling for the company. Jean-Luc says I'll be running the lab one day, I'm that good, so stop acting like I gave up potions to become a prostitute!"
His gaze narrowed, "As always, you exaggerate and attack when there is no defense for your actions."
His daughter's expression mirrored his. It reminded him of when she was a baby. How adorable it had been…then. Lorelei intervened.
"Darling, this is Siren Cosmetics, not Siren's Secret. I'm sorry if I didn't explain fully, but there's nothing inappropriate about the ads, and if you think they make me look like a sex object, then…well…thank you."
"Humph" Grudgingly appeased, he looked down at the advert once more. Severus conceded, "Perhaps it's tolerable." He tossed the magazine aside, "But if any man asks for your autograph…"
His wife and daughter both laughed at his menacing expression. Preparing to floo to their destination, Arwen shook her long, black spirals.
"Men don't want models' autographs, dad. They want to chat them up."
The scowl that lingered as he stepped out of a hearth and into the spacious lounge of his hosts' London flat caused the man watching to exclaim,
"You haven't changed a bit!"
Schooling his features into impassivity, Severus responded,
"Neither have you, Mr. Weasley."
It wasn't quite true. Ronald Weasley was definitely a grown man with a know-it-all wife and daughter, as well as two younger sons. Their respective womenfolk were currently talking animatedly on nearby sofas. Accepting the offer of a drink, Snape asked civilly,
"How are the Cannons doing this year?"
A wide smile lit the freckled face. Blue eyes brightened with enthusiasm.
"Now that I've been made Head Coach, I've got every confidence we'll take the championship. We've just signed the best young Chaser to enter the league in years and…"
Like the rest of his redheaded clan, Weasley could rattle on for ages. Assuming a mien of polite interest, Severus allowed the flow of Quidditch statistics to wash over him while he observed Healer Granger and the daughter that was soon to follow in her mother's footsteps. He supposed they were attractive and personable enough, although he found people who thought they knew best and always corrected others very irritating, personally.
"Septimus!"
"Athena!"
His son had arrived. Watching the newly engaged pair embrace like they'd been parted for years instead of hours, Severus rolled his eyes. He was surprised to hear Weasley admit a thought similar to his,
"I just can't get my head around my little girl marrying a Snape."
Sparing the perturbed man a glance, he returned,
"Why not? He's rich, handsome, and already established in the family corporation."
The other wizard's face scrunched unhappily.
"I know…and he's madly in love with her…but he's a Snape…sorry, no offense."
"None taken" Severus replied dryly. Observing Ron's open unhappiness and Hermione's tight lipped 'let's make the best of it' expression, the tight feeling in his own chest eased. When his son raked long black strands back from a face that had earned the title 'Sexiest Boy Alive' seven years running, a Hogwarts record, he smiled. Catching sight of his father, Septimus grinned.
"Dad! We need your opinion…"
Strolling over to the group, Severus nodded amiably and listened to the group debate neighborhoods the young couple should consider for their first home. He told his son that he would support whatever decision they made, causing Athena to exclaim,
"Why can't you be like that, mum?"
The annoyance flashing in Healer Granger-Weasley's eyes was gratifying. How galling for her to be compared to a malevolent bat and found wanting! His eyes met Lorelei's. She smirked. He had to excuse himself before he succumbed to inappropriate levity. Stepping out of the room, he decided to see what smelled so good and followed the aroma to the kitchen. Severus' footsteps halted abruptly when he heard the unmistakable sounds of snogging. Silently, he moved forward until he saw that his instinct had been correct. Arwen had not left before him to find a loo. She had snuck off to meet Harry-bloody-Sirius-Potter, who was no doubt 'visiting' his mate Arthur Weasley. The boy stopped bending her back over the kitchen table to hold her tight against him and groan,
"Gods, I thought school would never end. I've been counting the days."
Closing his eyes to block up the resumed display of affection, Severus opened them again when his own 'little girl' said throatily,
"Has it been so hard, having a long-distance girlfriend? I came to see you every Hogsmeade Weekend."
The youth cupped her face in his hands.
"It was torture, but sweet torture. I lived for those visits and your letters…"
"What about my photographs?"
Snape almost revealed his presence when the teen's hands started caressing skin most likely bared for just that reason. He waited when the boy who was called 'Sirius' chuckled.
"I hated it when my mates drooled over your ads, but I couldn't blame them. You're so beautiful. I'd look at those pictures and wonder why you want me, when you could have anybody."
That's what Severus wanted to know. Arwen smiled so radiantly that it caused a pang in her father's heart.
"I love you Sirius. I always have, and I always will."
Averting his gaze as more heated snogging commenced, the wizard started to back away when Potter declared ardently,
"I've loved you since the moment I saw you, Arwen, and I don't care that my dad disapproves, says I'm too young. He can rant all he likes that I should get my career with the Cannons established first before I think about the future. I'm telling you right now that as soon as I get a few things worked out; I'm going to have a talk with your father."
Slowly retracing his steps to the lounge, the pang that had struck the Potions Master's heart faded. Perhaps it was because he'd been handed another golden opportunity to have the child of a former nemesis measure his father against a 'greasy git' and find his parent wanting. Maybe it was knowing how much he was loved, by his wife, by his children, and discovering within himself the desire that Septimus and Arwen experience that kind of love as well. Whatever the reason, Severus' attitude about the evening altered. He didn't raise a brow when Sirius escorted Arwen into the lounge. He was unfailingly polite…and secretly amused by how his behavior disconcerted everyone. Except his wife, who returned his slight smile lovingly and slipped her hand into his, giving his fingers a gentle squeeze.
A baby's hungry cry awoke the wizard. He shook his head over the vivid, bizarre dream he'd had. Throwing back the covers, Severus went to fetch his son without realizing that he was still smiling.
A/N: Couldn't resist another LOTR baby name! For this story, I use a 'Baby Milestone' chart that's been quite helpful in breaking down each month's developmental milestones into 'what most children can do', 'what some children can do' and 'what a few, advanced children can do'. I think we all know Septimus is in the advanced group, lol. For those of you who read 'Matchmakers', I hope you enjoyed the return of disco Karaoke! Had to have Orlando as competition- to have a 'real' Legolas this time, heh heh…