May 7th, 1996
"Where's my baby boy?" Bridgette cooed as she walked into her parent's house through the front door 2 weeks later, eager to see Benny.
"In here, honey!" Tina called from the living room. Bridgette dropped everything and ran into the living room, taking Benny into her arms.
"Mummy missed you!" she exclaimed, kissing his forehead softly.
He grinned his toothless grin up at her and she kissed him softly again, "Was he good mum?" she asked as Cedric walked into the room.
"An absolute angel," Tina sighed, smiling at Bridgette and Cedric who were absolutely glowing. "He definitely takes after you, Cedric...we could never get Bridgette to sleep, she was always crying!"
"Thanks mum, I love you too," Bridgette said, laughing a bit. She handed Benny carefully to Cedric before walking out to the foyer and picking up the bags of presents she had gotten, "mum, dad, Diane, Amos, these are all for you."
"Oh, honey, you really didn't have to," Roger said.
"Please, dad, these aren't nearly enough for all of you...you've helped us out so much, this is our way of thanking you now here! Take these before I go to Italy and take them back!"
They laughed and each found their presents, opening them all and thanking Bridgette and Cedric over and over again, "I think it's time for us to get going, Benny's getting tired," Bridgette said as Benny started to fall asleep in her arms.
"Ok, but tomorrow, you are telling us all about your trip!" Tina exclaimed, standing up to walk them out.
"Well, most of it anyways," Cedric said, chuckling as they made their way to the front door.
Cedric took Benny in his arms as Bridgette got into the car, quickly starting it before driving off towards their loft and their new life.
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August 16th, 2008
"MUM! BENJAMIN PUSHED MEEE!" Lydia screeched, walking into the kitchen with an angry look on her face.
"Lyddie, don't tattle," Bridgette said somewhat sternly to her 10 year old daughter. Benny was now 12 years old, and Lydia was their 2nd oldest, after her Samuel, who was her twin brother, younger by 4 minutes, and then there was Victoria, their little 6 year old, and last but not least was Freddie, their 3 month old son.
Bridgette dried her hands on a towel and walked into their huge backyard. As promised, Cedric bought her a big house in the country for their first anniversary. "Lydia's lying, I DID NOT push her!" Benny exclaimed, swinging back and forth on the tire swing tied to the larger tree in the backyard.
"Benny, why would she lie about that?" Bridgette asked, pulling her hair back into a bun as she walked over to Victoria, who was asleep on the grass, picking her up.
"'Cause she just wants attention!" Benny exclaimed, sticking his tongue out at Lydia. "Hey, no fighting you two!" Cedric said, walking out of the house and into the backyard.
"Hey sweetie," Bridgette said, kissing him lightly, laughing as their 3 oldest started make faces at them.
Bridgette knew that in about a year or two though Benny wouldn't be making those faces anymore; it was a miracle he hadn't already begun to date, he was so handsome, a spitting image of his father, who was still irresistible at the age of 30.
"How was your day, dear?" Cedric asked, walking upstairs with her to the room that Victoria and Freddie shared. Bridgette placed Victoria in her bed, tucking her long red hair behind her ears. "Good...no broken bones," she said, laughing. She decided to be a stay-at-home mom until all the kids were off at Hogwarts.
"That's good," Cedric replied, kissing her softly once they were out of the room.
"You see, that's why we already have 5 children Mister," Bridgette said, her hand moving down to his very evident erection, "get rid of it before one of the kids see it."
"Only you can, baby," he said, kissing her fiercely. She grinned and pulled him into their bedroom.
She locked the door behind them, something they had done since Benny walked in on them at a not so opportune moment when he was 6.
She pushed him down onto the bed and kissed him passionately. "I'm going to be able to populate a small country by the time I'm forty," she said, repeating the words she had used back when they conceived Benny.
"You should've been able to by now, you're just lucky that I was so easy on you," Cedric replied, attacking her neck with his lips as she let out a soft moan.
"Easy on me? Since when have you been easy on me?" she asked, moving to unbutton his shirt.
"Hmm, good question. Too bad I don't care about the answer," Cedric replied, pushing her dress up her thighs and groaning when he saw that she had no panties on. He quickly undid his belt and pulled his trousers down before loving her body.
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December 25th, 2030
"Cedric! Benny and Lydia are here!" Bridgette called from the living room to Cedric who was in the kitchen.
"Juuust a second dear, these old bones can't get around as quick as they used to," Cedric said.
"Yeah, but I know somewhere that they're just as good," Bridgette replied, smiling at him. They were both now 52, both well over the hill. Since they were 31 they had 2 more children, Mary Katherine, who was now 19 and currently working as an Auror, and Greg who was only 15.
Both Benny, 35, and Lydia, 33, were married to wonderful people, Benny with two children, little Madeleine who was 5, and Emily, who was 10, and Lydia had one child, David, who was 9.
Benny was the head of the department of mysteries at the ministry of magic, and Lydia was a stay at home mum, like Bridgette was.
"Hey mum, hey dad," Benny and Lydia said, hugging them both. "How are you holding up?" Bridgette shrugged and smiled, looking sadly over at Cedric who slid his arm around her waist.
Samuel had been killed in a car crash six months ago and it was their first Christmas without him. "I spoke to Freddie and Victoria, they should be here soon," Lydia said, breaking the awful silence. Victoria was an international superstar: Seeker for the Wimbourne Wasps while Freddie was the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts.
"Why don't you guys go take the kids upstairs so that they can play with Greg, he's in the rec room," Cedric said to them.
"Sure, dad," Benny said and he and Lydia left the room.
Cedric turned to Bridgette who had tears in her eyes. "Are you gonna be ok, Bee?" he asked, putting his arm around her.
"Yeah, don't mind me, I'm just a big bag of hormones, I'll be alright," Bridgette said, wiping at her eyes and sniffing as she went back into the kitchen, pushing her still red hair behind her ears. It was now only shoulder length, she cut it after deciding that it got in the way, but it was still as red as ever, not one gray hair in it. Cedric's though was beginning to show flecks of gray.
After about ten minutes, the front door burst open. "Anyone home?" Victoria shrieked, walking into the house.
"Where's my superstar?" Bridgette exclaimed, holding her arms out for her daughter.
Victoria squealed and hugged her tight. She had always been very dramatic and quick tempered, just like her mother. She, out of all of the girls, was the only one who had red hair like Bridgette, Lydia and Mary Katherine both had dark hair like Cedric.
"I've missed you!" Victoria exclaimed, letting go of Bridgette and grinning.
"How are you?" Bridgette smiled and returned to preparing dinner. "All right...how are you?"
"Fine...Quidditch is going great! We may even make it to the world cup!" Victoria said, helping her mother with dinner.
"What? That's amazing!" Cedric suddenly exclaimed, walking into the kitchen, "you know you'll have to get your old man the best seats of the house."
"Of course daddy!" Victoria exclaimed, hugging Cedric tightly. "I'm so sorry I haven't been able to visit sooner, things have been absolutely crazy!"
"I can understand that," he told her, grinning at her. Out of all 7 of their kids, he and Victoria had always gotten along the best for some reason or another, whereas Bridgette and Benny had always been super tight, perhaps it was because he was her first child, but she didn't know.
"Knock knock!" came Freddie's voice from the living room. "Anybody home?"
"In here, Freddie!" Victoria called.
"Hey hey hey!" he exclaimed, walking into the kitchen and pulling his sunglasses off before hugging Bridgette and then Cedric.
"Where's Pete dear?" Bridgette asked.
"Here I am mom!" Freddie's partner said, walking into the room and kissing her on the cheek, shaking Cedric's hand.
Freddie had first told Bridgette and Cedric about his sexuality after he met Pete in his fifth year of Hogwarts. Most parents would be shocked and upset that their son was gay but Bridgette and Cedric we're fine with it, as long as he was happy. That's all they ever wanted for their children.
"Tell them Fred," Pete said, nudging Freddie, who looked like he was about to burst with excitement.
"We're adopting! Her name is Gabriella, and she is just the cutest little thing you have ever seen! We're making it final as soon as the papers are ready," Freddie said.
"Oh my God, Freddie!" Bridgette exclaimed, hugging Freddie tightly. "That is so wonderful! Congratulations!"
"Thanks mum," he said.
"Yeah, congratulations!" Cedric and Victoria exclaimed at once, both beaming. "Oh, Benny, Lydia, just in time! Freddie and Pete are adopting a baby girl!" Bridgette exclaimed as they came back down.
"That's wonderful!" Lydia exclaimed, hugging Freddie and Pete tightly.
"Yeah, congratulations," Benny said, rather unenthusiastically. Benny never really liked the idea of his little brother being gay.
"Oh loosen up you big bear!" Freddie exclaimed, hugging him. Luckily at that moment Mary Katherine came skidding into the room, her appearance somewhat in a disarray, her boyfriend, Lucas, walking in behind her, that same look about him.
Bridgette barely restrained a giggle when she thought about what had probably just happened. Though Mary Katherine looked more like her father, her personality was all Bridgette.
"Hey, everyone!" she said, pulling her long dark hair into a messy bun. "Let's get out of this stuffy kitchen, too crowded!" Bridgette suddenly exclaimed, ushering everyone out.
They all moved out into the family room after Bridgette called Greg and the kids down. She sat down on her piano stool, Cedric had given her the gorgeous baby grand for their 10th anniversary, pulling Madeleine up onto her lap and braiding her short blonde hair, "Benny, where's Suzanne? And Lydia, where is Tony?" Bridgette asked a moment later.
"Suzie's away on business, mum, I thought I told you?" Benny told her.
"And...Tony left about a week ago," Lydia mumbled.
"Oh my...Lyddie, why didn't you tell us?" Bridgette asked; an awe-struck expression on her face.
"Well, I thought with Sammie and everything, I would wait," Lydia replied, obviously on the verge of tears.
"Oh dear, Maddie, why don't you go and play with David and Emily," Bridgette said, setting her down on the floor before walking over to her oldest daughter and embracing her.
Lydia wrapped her arms tightly around Bridgette and started to cry. "And...And it's really all my fault!" she exclaimed. "He...he caught me kissing my ex...I really didn't mean for it to happen, but it just did!"
"I'm sure it'll all work out in the end, Lyddie," Bridgette said comfortingly.
"H...he was really mad mum, I had to get out of there with David...it was scary, and I...I just don't think it can work out, "Lydia sobbed, "oh look at me, I'm a blubbering mess, don't worry about me, I'm a strong woman."
Bridgette kissed her forehead lightly and went over to sit next to Cedric. He smiled and put his arm around her, rubbing her arm gently.
She sighed and searched around in her mind for a topic that could bring up the mood, but Cedric beat her to it, "I have a surprise, well for your mum at least," he said, a twinkle in his eye, "as you all know...hopefully, this coming April 23rd is going to be our 35th anniversary aaand I plan on taking your mum to...St. Bart's." Bridgette gasped as she looked up at him.
"Cedric!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.
"And...I would like to invite all of you; I mean all of you, to come along with us. In separate rooms of course," Cedric added a moment later after kissing Bridgette. They may be aging, but their love for each other was still strong, and their aching joints definitely didn't get in the way of their "alone time".
"I would hope so!" Benny exclaimed, his face darkening a little as everyone laughed. They all knew of the time when he was six and walked in on his mother and father. "I've been scarred for life!" he would often say.
"Dad, please tell me I don't have to share with you and mum," Greg whined. He hated being the youngest because he was often treated like a baby in his opinion.
"Of course not!" they both exclaimed.
"Believe me, Greg, you don't want to share a room with them," Benny mumbled.
"Oh you hush," Bridgette said, her face red as she laughed.
"Well, I think I'm going to check on dinner," she said, standing up and walking back over to the kitchen.
"Mum...there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about...but I didn't want to say it in front of everyone else and we...well we've always gotten along so well..." Benny began to say, following her into the kitchen.
"What is it dear?" Bridgette asked, putting on her oven mitts and checking on the turkey.
"I'm...well we're moving," he told her, "I got a wonderful career opportunity; the only problem is...they want us to move to Los Angeles...in America."
Bridgette closed the oven door and turned around, sighing. "America?" she asked.
He nodded, "America," he said, sighing, "I really don't want to move, especially with Emily entering Hogwarts this fall...she's really been looking forward to it, but it's a 10,000 galleons a year raise, and that could really help us out."
"You know, I moved to America when I was three," Bridgette said suddenly.
"You did? Then how did you meet dad?" Benny asked.
"I'm going to tell you something I haven't told any of your brothers or sisters...don't tell them though or you'll be here all night," Bridgette said, laughing slightly and summoning two chairs over to where they were.
"Of course, mum," Benny said, sitting down beside his mother.
"You father and I," she began. "We...everything wasn't always the way it is now...I actually hated him for nearly a year."
"Really?" Benny asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
She nodded before continuing, "You see...when we were both 3 we were the best of friends, our parents were best friends also, and we all lived here in England. Well, your grandpa got a job in New York that we couldn't pass, so we moved, and we didn't move back here until I was 15. You can imagine how I felt about that, and to top it off I felt like my parents were trying to force me into a relationship of some sorts with your father," she told him.
"So I met a guy...his name was Brent," Bridgette recalled, grimacing. "And he broke my heart...he slept with me and then left."
"Oh my God, mum!" Benny exclaimed.
"I know," she said, sighing. "Anyway, your father was there...he was always there, but I never noticed. Time went on and I got back together with Brent while your father kept trying to persuade me to be with him, which I wouldn't hear of I was in love with Brent. Then, Brent did the unthinkable...he cheated on me with my best friend, your Aunt Lexi."
"Wait, Aunt Lexi? But she's your best friend," Benny exclaimed.
"Yeah...we didn't get past that bump for a long time. Well...it took me some time but finally I decided to give your father a try, but we took it very slow for a long time. I didn't want to be hurt again," Bridgette continued, not noticing the 3 people standing in the doorway behind her as she talked.
"I fell completely and utterly in love with him to the point where we were together constantly. I didn't think I could live without him," she sighed, smiling fondly. "But I did something absolutely horrible and it broke your father's heart."
"What?" Benny asked, practically on the edge of his seat.
"I still can't believe I did it, even today," Bridgette sighed, "Brent came back, making up some stupid reason to try to get me back with him, and I ended up kissing him somehow, and well your father saw it. After that night he wouldn't talk to me or anything, and I began to get thin."
"And my grades were slipping...everything seemed to be going downhill," she continued, her voice barely audible as she fought back tears. "I tried to get your father back but he had moved on with someone else...Cho Chang."
Benny simply nodded, tears beginning to form in his eyes, "Well...all this continued until about February...yes, it was February and the 2nd task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It turned out that I was the treasure he had to rescue at the bottom of the lake...not Cho...and after that we realized how much we needed each other," she said.
"Oh mum," Benny said, reaching out and touching her comfortingly on the shoulder.
"That's not all," she said, laughing a little. "As you well know there are three tasks in the Tri-wizard tournament and before the third tasks he gave me a letter, in case he didn't make it out...alive."
"Well...the third task came, and I was so worried that something was going to happen. I was pregnant with you at that time, 2 or 3 weeks pregnant, your father and I decided we wanted to have as many kids as possible, and start as soon as possible. Well...your father he...he was..." she said, breaking off as tears fell out of her eyes at the memory of what happened to him in the maze reached her mind.
"You don't have to go on, mum," Benny said softly.
Bridgette shook her head. "I want to tell you," she said, wiping her tears. "It turned out that the Triwizard Cup was a portkey and it took him and Harry Potter to a graveyard where You-Know-Who tortured your father...almost to death."
Benny gasped, his hand flying to his mouth, "He...he was in a coma for 8 months, but I almost didn't get to see him wake up. On the first day he was admitted to the hospital I almost threw myself off of the roof of St. Mungo's...luckily your grandparents were there to save me. But then when he did wake up...we almost weren't together," she said softly.
"While he was in the coma," she continued, biting her lip to keep from crying. "I met someone else and I thought I loved him...I think I wanted to believe that I loved him because I never thought your father was going to wake up. Then I realized that your father...I could never ever live without him."
"Luckily he took me back...your father is such a good man. No matter how much I fuck up, he always understands. I don't know where I'd be without him. Well, I had you shortly after we made up, and oh my god did it hurt. I remember telling your father that he was never getting me pregnant again a few weeks afterwards, but we loved you, so so much. That April we got married, and well, you know the rest," Bridgette finally finished.
"Oh mum," Benny said, throwing his arms around Bridgette. Victoria and Lydia, standing in the doorway let out a small sob and Benny and Bridgette turned around, seeing everyone standing there.
"Oh my...how long have you all been there?" Bridgette asked, wiping her tears away as she stood up on shaky knees.
"Since the beginning," Cedric said, taking her into his arms.
"I'm sorry you all have to see me like this," Bridgette said, wiping her eyes once again, "the turkey is about done, so why don't you all round up the kids and I'll be out in just a moment."
Benny, Victoria, Lydia, Freddie and Pete, Mary Katherine and Greg all walked out, leaving Cedric and Bridgette alone. "I'm sorry, Ced, but the time just felt right," she said.
"It's alright darling, I'm not mad, sort of glad that you finally got it all out really," Cedric said, chuckling and rubbing her shoulders softly, "now let me help you with the turkey, it needs a man carving it."
"You go find me one then," she said, smirking at him.
"I'll make you pay for that later," he whispered, kissing her softly before carving the turkey. Neither of them believed in cooking magically.
"I'm looking forward to it," she said, giggling a little.
He smirked and put the turkey on a platter before helping her with the rest of the dishes, magically levitating them into the dining room.
"Ahhh, food, thank God!" Victoria exclaimed, sitting down at the table with everyone else. "I'm starving!"
"You have a right to be, with all that practice," Cedric said, beaming down at her before sitting down at the head of the table, which had been his seat from the moment they bought the ancient table.
Bridgette took the seat opposite him and said, "Everyone dig in! There's plenty to go around!"