"Oh well, um, well, uh…We uh, we were just…just…uh…"
"Checking for bugs!"
"Yeah! Wait what?"
"Bugs. In case Adam's trying to get to you Flint. Right Kris?"
"Exactly. And there aren't any. So we'll just be going right Sarah?"
"Right yeah. I'll just take my daughter if that's ok with you Flint and we'll be going." Sarah said, taking Geraldine from his arms and hurrying towards the door.
"Nice seeing you again." Kris called from the garden.
"Wow quick thinking Kris." Sarah whispered.
"Thanks, you find anything?" she whispered back.
"Nope, you?"
"No, guess he might be a good guy after all."
"Best to keep a close eye on him though right?"
"Definitely."
"Well it's late, well past Gerry's bedtime. I'd best get home before Melvin send out the search party."
"Yeah Ayla will be wondering where I am too. Bye!"
"Bye love."
And with two quick pops they disappeared from the alley behind Marcus Flint's house.
"There you are. How long does it take you to learn to change a nappy Kris? It's not that hard."
"Uh I learnt about feeding too."
"Oh. Wait a minute, why are you dressed like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like that. All in black. You weren't wearing that when we went out."
"Oh well we had a little accident and I had to change."
"I see. You look like you've been sneaking around someone's house. Doesn't she Marcus?" Ayla said, calling the last part out to the kitchen.
"Ha ha Mar- what?"
"Hello again." Marcus said strolling into the room. "Cup of tea?"
"Ha ha uh no thanks. Whatever are you doing here so late?"
"Just returning the favour. Paying a friend a visit and rummaging in the kitchen cupboards while I'm at it."
"Ha! That's a strange thing to say."
"Kris, you're busted. I know when you're lying. You do that nervous laugh that you keep doing right now."
"Ha ha no I'm not."
"Kris."
"Ok I am."
"So come on spill. What were you doing sneaking around Marcus's in the middle of the night?"
"It wasn't my idea! We just wanted to make sure he was, you know, ok. Not dodgy."
"What were you looking for? His list of evil plans spellotaped to the fridge?"
"Something like that."
"Ah you should have checked the bathroom, that's where I keep all mylists of evil plans."
"What?"
"Joke, whoa calm down."
"Look Kris, I trust him ok. What's he going to do, steal my baby?"
"Hey you never know."
"Look I'm not after anything. I just want to help ok?"
"That's it?"
"Yes, that's it."
"Told you. Now apologise."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes!"
"Sorry." Kris mumbled. "Someone's mothering instincts are really kicking." she added under her breath.
"Really though what did you think you were going to find?"
"I don't know. Something."
"Right, provided no one had any problems I'm going home. That ok?" Marcus asked Kris jokingly.
"Yes that's fine. And I promise no more midnights raids. We'll come during the day, when you're out. So as not to disturb you." Kris replied cheekily.
"Uh thanks?"
"No problem mate."
Marcus disapparated with a small smile at Ayla.
"You could have told me he was here!"
"Why? I wanted to know what you were up to."
"How did he get here so fast?"
"He apparated as soon as you'd left his. Honestly Kris, why is any wizard going to be interested in me when I'm carrying another man's baby?"
"Adam's still interested."
"That's Adam. He's a couple of ingredients short of a sanity potion."
"That's true. Boy you sure know how to pick them."
"What do you mean?"
"Well first Adam, then Oliver and now Flint."
"I've told you, Flint's not interested in me."
"Yeah right. What was that smile he gave you before he left about then?"
"It was just a smile. He's a friend. Nothing more."
"Yeah right! Just you wait and see."
"Oh shut up and go to bed." Ayla barked.
"Yes mother, would you like me to clean my room while I'm up there?"
"I'm sorry. I know I should stop snapping at you. I'm just worried about tomorrow. And this doesn't help."
"What's tomorrow?"
"Another check up at Saint Mungo's." Ayla said flopping down on the sofa at last. She didn't have the energy to stand and argue anymore. It was one or the other.
"Oh cool. Want me to come along?"
"Please. If you're not too busy."
"Course not. I'm never too busy for my godchild."
"Godchild?"
"Yeah I think you should get the little onechristened."
"Why?"
"I dunno. It just seems like a good idea. Most people do it. And then I get to be a godmum."
"Yeah but I'm not most people. And I don't really believe in all that stuff. It seems a bit hypocritical of me to have a christening for my little Bubba."
"I'm never going to be a godmother am I? You people are all against me."
"Kris mate, you're nuts. Look if it means that much to you, you can be an unofficial godmother. How's that sound?"
"Cool cheers mate. Well we'd best get some sleep. Big day tomorrow!"
"Thanks for reminding me."
"You're welcome. Night!"
"Night."
Ayla woke early the next morning. She'd had a restless night and the dawn chorus outside her window woke her earlier than she would have liked. Still the sooner she got the check up done, the sooner she could relax.
Kris was a bouncing ball of energy in the mornings, today was no different. It was an annoying quality to Ayla at times, but she knew it was never intentional. It was just Kris. Some people are built for mornings. Others aren't.
"Now do we need to take anything with us?" Kris asked.
"To the hospital? No they aren't too fond of presents, they tend to see them as bribes."
"Oh ok then. Are you ready to go? Or is it still too early?"
"No let's just get this over with."
"Ok. Are you ok to go by floo? Or are we apparating?"
"Floo. I don't feel up to apparating lately. I get a feeling like I'm going to leave the baby behind."
"That's silly. The baby's still really titchy isn't it? You couldn't leave it behind if you tried."
"Well that's how I feel."
"Ok then we'll floo. Come on, chop chop."
Ayla stepped into the fireplace first. She was beginning to dread magical transport. It didn't seem like a good idea to go whizzing about so fast. What if it affected the baby? What if it ended up with an elbow on its forehead? Or something else equally as worrying.
Kris followed her worried friend, appearing a few seconds later in the reception of the hospital.
"Right where are we going?"
"Sixth floor."
The two climbed the endless flights of stairs in silence. In a way Ayla wished she could skip these check ups. A small seed of worry was sprouting inside her. What if the baby wasn't as healthy this time? What if it was all a mistake? That seemed so much worse. Ayla knew that she wanted this baby now. To be told that this was all a big mistake would be devastating.
When they reached the sixth floor they found a short, curly haired wizard was waiting in the corridor for them.
"Miss Jenson?" he asked when he spotted the two girls.
"Yes."
"I'm Healer Stamford. I'm afraid Healer Wilks can't be here today. So I'll be looking after you."
"Oh ok then."
"If you'd just like to come through and pop up on to the bed. We'll take a look at the little one."
Ayla did as she was told. Having a different Healer was making her slightly nervous. But the short man did his best to calm her.
"Right then, very straightforward today. I just want to ask you a few questions and have a listen to both yours and the baby's heart beats. That ok?"
"That's fine."
"How are you coping with the morning sickness potion? Is it working well?"
"Yes it's fine, but it tastes and smells awful."
"Ah yes well there's nothing we can do about that I'm afraid. And how are you feeling in yourself?"
"Fine."
"Good, good. No aches or pains? Nothing out of the ordinary?"
"Nope, nothing."
"Marvellous. Well you heart is going strong. Ah and so is the little ones. Well everything seems to be in order. Would you like to ask me anything? It says on the chart that you don't know what the baby is yet, would you like to know now?"
"Please."
Aha a little cliffy for you there. I'll save you all the trouble of asking, you won't find out what the baby is until the end. Hope you enjoyed!
