A/N: Just to let you guys know – Adara means beauty.
Chapter 33 – Adara
Serena lay on the bed, waiting for the feeling of nausea to pass. Grinding her teeth in frustration, she tried to readjust herself into a more comfortable position. She closed her eyes and sighed as she traced her fingers over her still small stomach.
A little while later, she made a desperate run to the bathroom, which was followed by immediate relief and teeth-brushing.
She sighed as she dried her now clean mouth and watched her reflection in the mirror. She smiled at herself and looked down again to her belly.
She couldn't believe it. It was just such a crazy idea. She knew it would probably hurt, but she'd be ok. She could face the pain. Death by childbirth didn't even occur to her – she knew Tom would protect her.
Her smile faded, and she leaned against the sink.
Shit.
She knew she had to tell him, the only question was when. She knew he cared about her, but she didn't know how he would take to the news of her being pregnant.
Her nose wrinkled at the prospect of telling him.
It can wait. She decided, and setting off to make some tea to calm her still slightly queasy stomach.
---
The liquid slipped down her throat, instantly warming her. She had counted and would be due for the child in April. She smiled again as she realized she'd have a spring-baby.
She set the tea down on the table and stirred it while she thought.
She did have to tell him. There was no way around that.
But how? And when? She wondered. She blew on her tea before having another sip.
She pondered over the question as she drank her tea and came to a decision.
She would tell him the evening of their one year anniversary. Yes, that sounded good.
That's tomorrow! She thought with a grunt. Well…it was the perfect time.
But how would he take it?
Serena got up and placed her cup in the sink where it started cleaning itself.
She couldn't help frowning at the thought of him being upset over it.
It's not like there's anything he can do about it. She thought to herself, shrugging. He's just going to have to accept it.
She smiled at that. And he would. She knew it. She'd just have to think of a good way to tell him…
She shook her head and went about fixing herself something for lunch. She thought about sending a letter to her family and Heather and Eve announcing her pregnancy, but figured she'd wait until the birth. She would have an easier time persuading Tom once he held his child in his arms.
Her heart melted at the thought and she hugged the lunch materials she was holding to her chest.
She could see him now, holding their child. She knew he would be gentle and care for it as he did her; there was no question in her mind. She looked again to her stomach and placed her trembling palm over it.
She was pregnant.
She was going to have a baby.
She was going to actually have something that was a mix of her and Tom's flesh and blood.
She was going to be a mother.
And she'd make sure she was a great one too. Her child would want for nothing and yet she'd make sure she didn't grow up being as arrogant as her father.
Serena smiled.
Tom would be the father of her child.
She spent the rest of the day in a light-hearted daze.
When Tom came home, he was surprised to see Serena again glowing with happiness.
And he meant that literally. Her cheeks seemed to have a slight flush to them and her eyes were twinkling. He watched her as she cooked, humming to herself. It was a moment before she noticed him standing in the doorway, regarding her.
"Tom!" She cried, running over to him. She flung her arms around his neck in a large embrace.
He smiled against her hair as he slipped his arms around her waist.
She leaned in a kissed him, but even in her kiss he could feel her excitement.
Something was up.
He raised a curious brow as she leaned back against his arms, hers still lying around his neck.
"Did you have a good day?" He asked her, amused.
"Fantastic," She said, batting her eyelashes at him. "And yourself?"
"I'm expecting it will probably be a better night," He said, kissing his wife again.
She giggled and pulled back after a little.
"The food will burn," She murmured against his lips. He turned her and leaned her against the wall.
"You can make more," He replied, his voice husky. She giggled again, but slipped from his grip.
"No. I've been working on this all afternoon," She responded, placing her hands on her hips and throwing her head back in mock defiance. He smiled at her as she pulled him out a chair and got him a drink.
"Sit," She ordered, patting the chair as if he were a dog. But he didn't feel offended or insulted by her actions. Her happy mood was contagious and she was far too beautiful for him to be cross at, at the moment. So, he took his seat and sipped the drink she had made for him, watching her float around the kitchen, tossing in ingredients and stirring them around.
"May I ask what has made you so happy today?" He asked.
"Realizing that I'm your wife," She sighed, setting out some plates. He smirked.
"That would make my day as well," He said arrogantly, as he took another sip of his drink. She snorted and murmured something of an "I'll bet".
"What was that?" He asked.
"Dinner's almost ready," She said, laying out the table. Tom watched her graceful movements with a mix of arousal and admiration.
"What has really put you in such a fine mood?" He asked, as she dished out the food onto the plates. She paused and looked over at him, smiling brightly.
"It's our anniversary tomorrow," She said, beaming. He smiled as he rolled his eyes.
"Was that all?" He asked. It was Serena's turn to roll her eyes as she brought over the plates. She set one in front of Tom and the other in front of her chair before sitting down.
"It's a big thing," She said, picking up her fork. He smirked.
"I guess I would be this excited if I were married to such a handsome, powerful man," He said. Serena shook her head, smiling.
"I wake up everyday and I can't believe it," She said sarcastically, yet actually telling the truth. She still had a hard time believing he had actually come back and married her.
He laughed and took a bite of his dinner.
"This is good," he exclaimed.
"You sound surprised," She commented, feigning indignation.
"I just didn't expect to like it so much," He said suavely. Serena kicked his leg lightly.
"Bastard," She mumbled. He just shook his head.
"So," he said after a little. "what would you like to do for our anniversary?"
She cocked her head to the side, thinking.
"I'd like to get out of this house a little. I'm about ready to go insane," She said. He smiled.
"Good, then you'll like what I have planned," He said. Serena looked at him, her heart aflutter.
He already has something planned!
She felt herself blush slightly and turned her gaze back to her food.
Even after a year, she was still as much in love with him as she had been her sixth year of Hogwarts.
After dinner, they cleaned up before making their way to the bedroom. It was a while before either of them fell asleep, exhausted, spent, and sweaty.
An hour later, Tom left his sleeping wife and snuck downstairs.
He wandered into the kitchen and got the roses he had bought earlier and placed them in a crystal vase on the center of the table. Even in the moonlight, the roses were beautiful. He smiled at his work and left the kitchen, sneaking back to the bedroom, careful not to wake his wife.
0-0-0-0-0
Serena awoke on the morning of their anniversary, bursting with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She hoped he'd take the news alright.
It was still early as she wanted to make Tom breakfast before he left.
She snuggled against his chest for a minute, savoring in the feel of his arms around her. She felt so safe with him.
No, not just safe.
Happy. Content. Like everything would always be ok if they were together. Like the world was finally perfect. Like all that mattered were each other.
Like he loved her as she loved him.
She smiled into his chest before kissing his still sleeping lips. Quietly, she slipped out of the bed to get changed.
After she washed her face, brushed her hair, etc. and had downed her robe, she left the bathroom and snuck out of the room.
She practically skipped downstairs.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see a vase of red roses sitting on the table.
When had he put them there?
Probably last night while she was asleep.
She sighed with happiness as she sauntered over to smell them.
Many were already in full bloom, but there were still quite a few which hadn't opened yet.
She fingered the velvety petals softly, reveling in their softness. She bent down and inhaled, comforted by the classic and yet still wonderful perfume. Smiling, she left the bouquet and fed Lyonette, before starting to fix breakfast.
A half hour later she saw Tom stroll into the kitchen wearing his robe over his pajamas. Her heart fluttered at the young, innocent that he looked just then. His black hair was a mess and he groggily rubbed his eyes as he took in the scene before him.
"You're up early," He said slowly, stifling a yawn. She smiled and continued with her cooking.
"Well I wanted to make you breakfast," She said. Tom wandered around the counter so that he came up next to Serena.
Gently he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck softly. She giggled as his lips caressed her skin with feather light kisses.
"Happy anniversary," He whispered in her ear. She turned in his embrace to hug him back.
"Happy anniversary!" She agreed, nuzzling against his chest. She looked up into his eyes and smiled.
"Thank you for the flowers," She said. "They're beautiful."
"I'm glad you liked them," He said, kissing her softly.
After a little, Serena started smelling burning, and quickly pulled away with a "shit!"
The food hadn't burned too badly, and Serena ordered Tom out of the kitchen if he wouldn't stop distracting her. So Tom went off to make mimosas in celebration.
After a little, the table was set and breakfast was ready and they sat down to eat.
After breakfast, Tom showered and changed and told Serena he'd be back at 6:30. That gave Serena the rest of the day to plan on how she would be telling Tom about their child.
0-0-0-0-0
6:30 came around much faster than Serena would have preferred. She had just taken a shower and was drying her hair when Tom came home.
There was a knock on her door, before Tom opened it.
"It's already 6:30?" She asked. He checked his watch.
"Actually it's 6:45," He said. She rolled her eyes. Shit! She'd have to tell him soon.
"I just came to tell you to wear something nice," He said. She looked up.
"Why?" She asked excitedly. He smirked.
"You'll see," He said, exiting the bathroom, leaving her to finish her hair wondering where they were going.
Fifteen minutes later, she left the bathroom he hair and makeup finished. It took her a little while to decide what to wear, but finally decided on a nice blue dress. It was dark, dark blue, almost black, silk, halter dress that ended a little above her knees. But it was still very formal and draped across her chest, showing cleavage without showing too much.
Satisfied with her dress, she dumped her towel on the bed, only then noticing a small jewelry box.
She smiled and sat down to open it.
Inside lay a diamond bracelet. Her heart faltered for a minute as she put it on her wrist, admiring the twinkling jewels.
She slipped on some shoes, put on the diamond necklace he had given her for Christmas that matched the bracelet, grabbed a purse and ran down to meet Tom, who was waiting at the end of the stairs.
"You look beautiful," He said, kissing her hand.
"The bracelet is beautiful," She said. He smiled.
"Thank you," She said, her brown eyes shining.
"I thought it went perfectly with your necklace," He said.
"Me too," She said, smiling. They stepped outside the house (because apparently one couldn't apperate while inside), and disappeared.
Serena found herself at a very expensive restaurant, with Tom leading her inside.
An older witch seated them at a table at the back of the restaurant and left, before returning to get them a bottle of wine.
Once the wine had been served and the food ordered, Serena knew the time was getting close to when she'd have to tell Tom. And she was dreading the minute.
Finally their first course arrived and the couple set about eating. Serena knew it was going to come after this course was finished and her heart had already started beating faster.
Stay calm. Stay calm. He'll be happy if you are. Stay calm.
And before Serena knew it, the waitress had come and gone, clearing their dishes away.
"and I thought that it was really stupid of him to think that …Serena?" He stopped, looking at her. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry," She said. She had been lost thinking about how she would break the news.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes I'm fine," She said, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face.
She was nervous and he could tell.
"What's wrong Princess?" He asked. She smiled softly.
Better go for it.
"I'm pregnant," She blurted out before she could stop herself.
Tom choked on his drink.
Serena felt herself growing red as he went into a five-minute long coughing fit. The waitress came over, wondering if he was ok, but Serena had snapped at her telling her he was fine.
"Are you quite finished?" Serena asked him as he regained his breath and took another sip of his drink.
He swallowed.
"Come again?" He asked her.
"I should have told you sooner, and I mean I know this may come as a shock Tom, but I'm so happy. I mean…" She said, pausing. She searched his impassive face for any sort of a sign. But he revealed none.
"We're going to have a child Tom," She said softly, watching him. He frowned lightly.
"And…and you're happy with this?" He asked slowly. Serena smiled.
"I am Tom! You know I've always liked children and to be having one of my own…well that's something, but to be having it with you…" She said and then stopped. "Are you?" She asked.
He looked at his lovely wife sitting across of the table. He could see her cheeks had reddened and not due to the makeup. Her eyes were dark and searching. She was waiting for his response, but he wasn't sure what to give. He was having a difficult time imagining Serena with a child, especially his. He couldn't even imagine the idea of him having a child. It was too much. It was completely wrong. He couldn't be a father. He wouldn't know how to take care of it, how to raise it properly, or what to do with it.
He met her eyes and took in her nervous look of expectation. She knew how he would be feeling. She understood his concerns. And yet, looking at her face, he knew that she would make a great mother. He knew she would never abandon her child as his own mother had he. He knew she would love and care for her child and her love and care would make up for everything that Tom couldn't do for it. And with her help, he was sure the child would turn out fine. It might even help him in his quest for power. If started at a young age, it was bound to have its loyalty be to Tom.
But aside from everything else, he knew that her having this child would bring her immense joy, and her joy meant his joy.
"Yes," He said, smiling slowly. "I am."
---
A few months later, Serena gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Tom had kidnapped an old witch to assist with the birthing and had charmed her mind afterwards to forget everything.
Serena lay in her bed, nursing her daughter when Tom came in (having come home from returning the old witch to her home). He stopped at the bed and watched them for a moment.
Serena's hair was in a messy bun, loose strands falling out all over the place. The pillows were pilled up behind her, and her eyes were glued to her child. She was beautiful, and completely at peace, smiling softly at the child in her arms.
And as Tom watched them, he breathed in, happy, proud, and scared all at the same time. And yet, watching his daughter and his wife, he knew that the world was for once, perfect, and he didn't wish for anything else.
They named her Adara.