Chapter twenty four.

Having no real family of her own, it fell to Ayla's mother to throw a baby shower for Sarah and Melvin's new child. Not that Beverly Jenson was complaining. Sarah was like a daughter to her. Which of course made little Geraldine practically a granddaughter. The opportunity to make a fuss over this new addition to the family wasn't going to be dismissed over a silly thing like blood. So, two weeks after the birth, when both mother and child had had time to settle into a new routine, Beverly began organising. This also meant that she began to drive Ayla crazy.

"Ayla dear, I'll need a list of friends and relatives for the party."

Ayla grimaced. Her mother's head was in her fireplace again.

"Ok mum."

"Oh and do you know if any muggles will be attending? Just so I know to put no magic on the R.S.V.P's. Oh and do you know of any allergies in Melvin's family? Wouldn't want to go poisoning anyone now would I? Dear me there's so much to do."

"I'll find out for you mum."

"Yes well make sure you do it soon. You know how I hate procrastination. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing immediately."

"Yes, mum."

"Wonderful darling. I can't believe how big the family's getting. Your sister will be next you know."

And with a pop she was gone. Ayla couldn't help but thank Merlin. She loved her mother and everything, but right no she was a woman on a mission. And nothing and no-one could stop Beverly Jenson when there was a new baby to be welcomed into the world. Knowing that in a few more minutes her mother was likely to return with more demands Ayla grabbed her wand and apparated to Sarah's.

"Oi, oi! I've got a list of demands from my mother. She's really getting into this shower thing. It's like an addiction or something."

Sarah walked in to the room, Geraldine cradled in her arms and a huge smile plastering her face.

"Aw hello Bubba! You're Great Aunty Bev is driving me mad. Yes she is. I think I should send you to distract her so I can have some quiet time. 'Cos' she just loves you Bubba, yes she does. The crazy lady loves you." said Ayla in a soft voice. It was impossible not to, every time she saw Geraldine a small babyish voice came out of her mouth. It was getting quite embarrassing really.

"Still with the baby voice? Ayla seriously give it up. It's making me feel sick and I'm her mother!"

If Sarah hadn't been holding a baby Ayla would have punched the other girl playfully in the arm.

"I can't help it. She's so little and cute. You know, I think she has my eyes. You do Bubba, you have your Aunty Ayla's eyes."

Sarah rolled her own eyes. "You know that's impossible right? And you know you aren't technically her Aunty, don't you? 'Cos' I'm beginning to worry, this is a whole other side of you that I didn't know existed. It scares me."

"Oh pish tosh! Blood doesn't matter you know, does it Bubba?" said Ayla grinning.

"Pish tosh? What the hell's happened to you?"

"Well I can't very well swear in front of Bubba now, can I?"

"Right. Oh and another thing, stop calling her Bubba. She'll think it's her name. It's Geraldine. Ger-ald-ine."

"I know what her name is. And so does she. Besides I call all my nieces and nephews Bubba. It's tradition."

"Yes, but it's not her name."

"It is."

"What?"

"It is her name. Geraldine Bubba Melvin."

"That is not her middle name. You dare tell anyone it is and I'll hex you into next week."

"There's nothing wrong with Bubba."

"Of course not." said Melvin, joining the two women. "My Bubba's just perfect. Yes she is."

He picked the baby up out of Sarah's arms and began fussy over the little girl.

"Not you as well! I thought calling a boy Hilary was bad enough. Now you're going to call our little girl Bubba? Are you trying to torture me?"

"Yeah but that's not the point right now. Mum needs to know a few things for Bubba's party." said Ayla, not looking up from the small creature cradled in Melvin's arms.

"What else could there be? I replied to her owl about muggles and allergies. And the one about how many guests we're expecting. Not to mention the one about which decorations I'd prefer." Sarah asked looking puzzled.

"Wait she owled you?"

"Yeah, said she didn't trust you to remember everything."

"Oh well that's nice. Hey wait it is nice, one less job for me. Woo!"

"Lucky you."

"I know. Now I can stay here with my favourite girl."

"I'm sure you meant girls, as in me and Bub I mean Geraldine."

"No she's my favourite girl and you're my favourite, uh, woman who just gave birth. You can't be a girl anymore, you're a mother now. You're a woman. There's a difference."

"So what you're saying is that now that I'm a mother, I'm automatically old?"

"Yup that's the sum of it."

"Gee thanks, that's cheered me right up."

"Aw good, you know I'd do anything for you." Ayla said while pulling Sarah into a hug.

"Oh Ayla I'm glad you're here actually. Could you ask Wood to the shower for me? He'll probably be too busy but it's nice to ask him. I mean considering what he did." Melvin said.

He too, had his eyes glued to the baby in his arms. As such he missed the look his wife was currently giving him.

"And what exactly did he do? 'Cos' it sure as hell wasn't giving birth. And it must be important for him to get an invitation to our baby's shower?" Sarah's voice had taken on a dangerous edge. Ayla knew that edge well, it wasn't a good one.

"Well he got you to the hospital didn't he? I wanted to thank him. Without him-" Melvin began to explain.

"Without him what? I do hope you weren't going to say without him the baby wouldn't have been born. I definitely do not remember him in the delivery room."

"Uh well without him, you might not have made it to the hospital in time is all."

"I was there too you know!" Ayla joined in.

"I said might." Melvin tried, knowing it was useless. He was backed into a corner, with no view of an escape route.

"Mmm. I'll be honest I don't really want him there. But I suppose seen as she is your daughter too, that you can have one guest. Just one mind."

"My word Sarah! That's quite generous of you." Ayla exclaimed.

"Yeah well, don't expect me to talk to him or anything. I'm still not his number one fan."

"Well thank you anyway darling. I know it must have been hard, allowing me one guest who is not a member of my family." Melvin said whilst handing Geraldine back to her mother. "Now if you'll excuse me, Daddy has to go to work so he can buy his princess lots of beautiful things. Goodbye sweetpea."

"So when is my mother throwing this party? Because I've been told everything but the date it seems. I am invited, aren't I?" Ayla asked.

"Yes, the day after tomorrow. Why? Is Oliver busy? It really doesn't matter if he is." Sarah said, an excited look crept across her features.

"Funnily enough I don't know his exact schedule. I'll owl him for you now. Wouldn't like to keep you in suspense."

Ayla left Sarah and the baby in the kitchen and went in search of her friend's owl. When she returned Sarah still looked hopeful.

"You'll let me know as soon as he replies, to say he can't come? I mean only so I can let your mother know. For the numbers that is." she said.

"I promise, you'll be the first one I tell."

As it was, Oliver's reply came back the very same day. Much to Sarah's annoyance he said he'd almost certainly be at the party. And was looking forward to seeing the newest Puddlemere fan.