Chapter thirty two.

"Ayla dear wake up! Wake up! Come on!", a voice shouted.

Ayla had fallen asleep on the sofa. She was exhausted from spending half the night thinking about her life.

"Huh, wha?"

"Get up Ayla!"

She opened her eyes and the room slowly came into focus. Her cloak on the floor, the coffee table groaning under large quantities of chocolate, and her mother's head in the fireplace.

"Oh for heavens sake Ayla. Don't make me get out of this fireplace."

"What? What's going on? What time is it?", she mumbled.

"Its five thirty and your little sister has gone into an early labour."

"What?"

"Look I've owled Mike to say you won't be in work today. Clean yourself up and get over here. The family's having a celebratory breakfast and so are you, as you're part of this family. So get moving."

"Yes mum."

Ayla got to her feet. When did her life become baby-central? Her sister wasn't due for another month. She got changed and apparated to her parents home. Standing outside the front door she knew that now was as good a time as any to tell her family her news. She walked through the front door and was hit by a wave of noise.

Her whole family was there. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and all manner of extended family was jam packed into the large house. Now was definitely not that time. Even her neighbours were here. Ayla skirted around the noisy mass, knowing her mother would be in the kitchen.

"Ah there you are dear. I've just spoken with Sarah. She just has to feed and bathe little Gerry and then she and Melvin will be along."

"Right. Mum, why are there so many people here? You've even invited the Fisher's."

"Well dear it's a celebration. And I bumped into Doreen this morning when I popped out for more food."

"Ok I guess that makes sense. Is Adam here?"

"Oh yes, he's around somewhere."

"Great."

"Oh darling isn't it wonderful? Aren't you excited for your little sister?"

"Yeah, yeah of course I am."

"Well Goldie's out in the garden, go see him. I think he's a little scared about the whole thing."

"Why isn't he with Tansy? She isn't alone is she?"

"No, no she was with your sister when she went into labour. Zara's with her. They wouldn't let Goldie go in after she was admitted."

"Oh ok."

Slightly perplexed Ayla went out to the garden to find her brother in law. Had her sister been at the hospital while she was there? When she found Goldie, she also found her father. The two were discussing the odds on the baby's sex.

"It's fifty-fifty as far as I know."

"Yeah, well obviously it's gonna go one way or the other mate.", her father's voice agreed.

"I do hope the pair of you aren't placing bets on what the baby will be.", she teased.

"Of course not dear."

"Yeah kiddo, we wouldn't dream of it.", Goldie said, winking.

"Good. How you doing big guy? Ready to be a daddy?", she asked.

"Damn right. I can't wait."

She grinned at him. Was it too much to hope that Oliver would be this excited about his own child?

"I'm gonna go get some breakfast. Do you guys want anything?"

She couldn't deal with it all right now. Seeing her brother in law so happy and optimistic about his first born. Knowing that Oliver could react in a completely opposite way scared her.

"No thanks, dear."

"No ta Ayla love."

She headed back into the kitchen, knowing she wouldn't really escape the talk of baby's. She needed to tell someone. But who? Her mother would go nuts and tell everyone. She didn't want to take the attention away from Tansy and Goldie. And then she saw him. The one person she had to tell. Oliver. It wasn't perfect. She wanted to tell him alone, somewhere quiet, private. But he deserved to know. It was strange that he should be here though. Had her mother just invited all the guests from Sarah's shower?

She started towards him, intending to take him out to the front garden for some privacy. Something happened to stop her however. Kate appeared at his side. She was clinging to his hand and ruffling his hair, gazing adoringly into his eyes. Now that was odd. Did Oliver mind her fawning all over him like that?

"Hey sweetie!"

"Sarah! Oh Merlin I'm so glad to see you. I need to talk to you. Now."

"Sure, what's wrong?"

"I, well, I should probably tell Oliver first. But I, and she's… Do you think they're a couple?"

"A couple of what?"

"Sar' be serious."

"Ok. Look what's wrong with you? You're being really odd."

"I, well, oh it's nothing. Don't worry."

"No way. What can you tell Wood that you can't tell me?"

"Honestly, just forget it. It's no big deal."

"Has something happened? I haven't even seen you since Oliver's party. That was like a week ago. You're hiding something from me and I don't like it. What is it? Has he upset you? Just tell me!"

"We, uh, we slept together.", Ayla winced, knowing what was to come.

"You did what? With him! And what, he hasn't bothered with you since has he? I'll kill him."

Sarah started off in Oliver's direction. She had been waiting for him to break her friend's heart for a while now.

"You!", she shouted. "Are dead!"

"Sarah please don't. Not here. Not now. Not in front of my parents."

Ayla was trying to drag Sarah in the opposite direction. She knew the older girl was ignoring her pleas.

"Sarah, please you're making a scene. This is meant to be a happy day. Now what on earth has gotten into you?"

Ayla's mother had now joined the two, attempting to keep the peace.

"It's nothing mum, really. We'll just go outside.", Ayla said.

She threw her whole body against her friend, knowing it was the only way to get the other girl to move. Once they got into the garden Ayla knew it was time to explain.

"Look it's no big deal ok? Really."

"He can't do that to you. He just can't use you like that. I know I don't like him, but you did. He should respect that."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Always."

"When you're with Melvin, what's it like?"

"Excuse me?"

"I mean, how does it feel? No, not like that. Does it feel…right?"

"Well yeah. You think I'd have married him and had his child if it didn't?"

"I guess."

"Why?"

"It's just, with Oliver, well I was drunk but it just…it didn't…well I don't feel like I want to, again"

"Really? That's awesome. If I'd known that was all it'd take for you to get over him, I'd have gotten you two together ages ago."

"Oh very funny"

"Ah come on, he was never right for you. And now we never have to talk to him again!"

"Well I'm glad you're happy."

"Oh come on, it could be worse. You could be pregnant."

"Er…"

"No! No way. Don't even joke about it Ayla!"

"Umm."

"Please, please, please tell me it's not true. Please Ayla."

"I can't."

"No, no, no. No, that's just, it's wrong."

"Thanks."

"You know what I mean. Are you going to keep it?"

"Yeah."

"Do your parents know?"

"No and please don't tell them."

"Ok. Who else knows?"

"Well you, me, a Healer at Saint Mungo's and Marcus Flint."

"You what?"

By the time Ayla had finished explaining Flint's involvement in her surprise news a new addition had been brought into the family. At roughly eleven o'clock Owain John Dorato was born. As Ayla's family gathered to toast the birth, she couldn't help but feel relieved. The attention was not on her. Sarah knew and a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"I still can't believe you fell on him.", said Sarah, giggling.

"Shut up."

"It's just so funny. What is it with you and Quidditch players? Are you trying to take them down one at a time?"

"You aren't funny you know."

"Yes I am. You're smiling."

"I hate you."

"No you don't, you love me. Come on, you're coming home with me."

"What to learn how to change nappies?", Ayla said jokingly.

"Yup. Now go say goodbye to your family.", Sarah said and left before Ayla could protest.


Ok I'll admit it. I got bored. I'm two day's into revision and I got bored. Psycholinguistics is not that interesting, believe me. But I must crack on...tomorrow.