I wrote this in a rush because I really wanted to give you guys something; so the diction is practically non-existent in this chapter. And it's unbeta:ed. It's mostly dialogue TBH.
"Mr Percival?"
"Yes, my boy?"
A pause.
"Do you have to buy me something today?"
Graves had to suppress a sigh.
Oh, if he had a sprink for every time Credence protested him spending money on him. Sometimes verbal, like now, but mostly it was a distinct frown that formed on the boy's face whenever shopping or food bills were mentioned. He was almost considering censuring the food menus with a spell during their luncheons.
"It's my christmas gift for you", he reasoned.
"I don't want to be the only one who didn't give you anything."
"But that's the thing", Credence persisted.
"I already have so many toys..."
Percival almost remarked that: A set of crayons, a quill, a few books and a Teddy bear surely couldn't be considered 'so many' toys, but realizing that that probably was considered to be a lot of toys to Credence he stayed silent. Instead he felt a growing determination to give Credence all the toys he wanted.
"Well, we still have a luncheon with Tina and Queenie scheduled, so there won't be any harm in taking a look inside the Unicorn Playbox while we wait for them…"
Credence frowned, knowing that the wizard hoped he would change his mind once they got there (as he almost always did when faced with magical items) but did take Percival's hand when they went to leave the apartment.
And hour later Credence was practically trembling in frustration as he had his brown eyes fixed upon an animated baby mobile.
Percival had to agree that it was very pretty to look at, but he would be lying if he said he hadn't expected the boy to me more interested in the animated train set.
The mobile in question was a group of handmade crystal unicorns. They were suspended in the air by thin, spider-web-like threads. The crystal unicorns trotted, or galloped around depending on what they felt like, in the air in endless circles. Sometimes they stopped to graze imaginary grass, scratch themselves or engage in some sort of play fighting or even nuzzle each other.
They were completely silent, but it was easy to imagine neighing, whining and clopping hooves.
Graves did not doubt that it surely came in handy for when wizard infants laid waiting in their cribs for their parents to come and pick them up.
Percival knew Credence wanted the thing. Wanted to look at it before he fell asleep, or when he was laying on top of his bed during the day. He also knew Credence knew he knew. And he knew that Credence knew that he knew that Credence didn't want to admit that he wanted it.
It was much due to the price tag hanging from one of the unicorns neck. Sixteen dragots and seventeen sprinks.
Not an impossible sum for a handmade toy, but it still managed to make Credence upset. Sprinks weren't even safe anymore after Graves' father had informed Credence of its money value - It was a tradition for the older Graves to hand out sprinks for the visiting children at Graves manor. Which had also made Percival realize that he ought to open a bank account for Credence now that he was a part of wizarding society. - and ever since Credence had kept track of every penny spent.
Still, the boy had been glued there for almost ten minutes. And whenever Percival voiced a suggestion of looking at something else, because surely that gobstone set looked interesting, Credence strained against his hand and asked for just a little longer.
Percival waved for his pocket watch and he frowned when he saw the time. The hour was nearing lunch and they were supposed to meet up with the Goldsteins.
"Have you made up your mind yet?", he asked the child.
Credence startled gently, and pursed his lips. He shifted from side to side, but not saying yes or no.
"You can always take lunch to think about it", he suggested.
Credence looked up at that. Then he looked back at the unicorn mobile, and then around him at the surrounding wizard children who were all running around trying to decide what they wanted as a picked-out gift. A distinct worry in his eyes.
Percival knew that look: Credence was worried that someone else might buy it while he was gone.
"Credence...", the wizard mused, carding his fingers through the boy's hair.
"If you want it so badly I'll just buy it for you."
Credence blushed.
"B-but it's for babies. I can't even play with it...", Credence protested, clearly ashamed with his own desire to have the mobile.
Graves picked him up then.
"But you know what? You didn't get to have one of those as a baby anyway, so I think it's long overdue."
He was both saddened and pleased at the wide eyes expression Credence gave him, confirming his claim.
He turned and waved at a store clerk, and gestured for the mobile.
"We'll take this one, please; boxed."
It didn't take them long to find the Goldsteins, and once they spotted them further down the boulevard, the two sisters were looking at a shop window Credence tugged on Graves hand.
"May I go ahead and greet them?"
The director didn't see why not.
"Just watch where you're going", he told him.
Credence nodded dutifully. Then, to the Director's befuddlement, Credence's little shoulder raised and lowered in an inhale; then he was off. His little feet took care not to slip on any ice on the sidewalk and not to knock into anyone, but it was clear that he was excited.
He hurried up to the two witches, and Percival saw how Queenie turned her head ahead of time, a smile already planted on her lips and she tapped Tina so that she would look as well.
Percival waved and Queenie waved back. Tina, however, was too focused on Credence to even notice. Credence came up to them, and Percival could see their mouths moving in conversation.
No doubt they wanted to know what he had thought of their gifts for him.
Percival, knowing Credence's excellent manners, wasn't worried the boy would neglect thanking them both.
What he was surprised by was what happened next.
Credence bounced on his feet, as he did when he got nervous about voicing his opinions, then brought his arms up
and hugged Tina's waist.
He didn't think he had ever seen the auror so surprised before. Her mouth hung open ever so gently. But it quickly passed, and at once she was beaming in joy. Not in the blinding, sunny way; that was Queenie; but more like an hearth. Softly glowing. Warm and safe.
She wrapped her arms around Credence, one hand brushing him over the hair.
Once again he wondered why Tina hadn't been the one to take in the boy. Yet, the feeling of complete uncertainty wasn't there anymore.
To his own surprise he realized that he didn't mind being responsible for the boy. Actually, he hadn't thought much about it for the last week at all.
Filled with this pleasant surprise he caught up with the others.
"Have you decided on a name yet?", Tina wondered.
They had gone to a nearby nomaj café and had managed to find a table to fit all four of them.
Percival was scanning the menu they had been given upon arrival.
Credence hummed.
"Major", he told her.
Queenie's eyes went wide.
"Oh, that's such a clever name!"
Tina looked from one to the other.
"Was it a military bear, or?"
Credence shook his head. A coy smirk on his lips, Percival noted.
The boy had been so very pleased with himself when he came up with the name. He had gotten the idea from the Astrology forecast.
"It's the constellation. Ursa Major", he told them.
"Ursa means bear", he elaborated, a certain pride in his voice, while he glanced at Graves; who had been the one to tell him about the Greek myth. Graves nodded, giving the boy a pat on the cheek.
"You're absolutely right. Now, I'm wondering what you'd like for lunch..."
They all had lunch, and treated themselves with dessert.
Credence and Queenie ordered a crêpe each, Tina got a piece of caramel pie and coffee, while Graves settled for coffee only.
He noticed how Credence had sauce in the corner of his mouth.
Percival almost summoned a handkerchief into his hand by pure habit, but thought better of himself. When he had reached inside his jacket to retrieve it manually, however, he looked up to meet eyes with Tina.
She had had a napkin in her hand.
She had beat him to the chase apparently.
An adorable pink colored her cheeks. He sat back, signaling to her to go ahead; he didn't have a reason to keep all the joys of domestic life all to himself.
Meanwhile Tina cleaned Credence's face the nomaj waitress came over with their orders. Percival asked her to bring them the bill once they were done.
"Oh, how sweet", Queenie mused as the nomaj left.
"What?", Tina said as she tucked away the napkin.
"That girl thought you two were married."
Percival almost choked on his coffee. Tina raised her eyebrows. Then they quickly looked at each other; equally worried for the other's reaction.
All Percival could do was cough, however. Though, Goldstein didn't seem too flustered by the assumption; actually he was pretty sure she was smirking a little in humour at their predicament.
The one who seemed the most upstaged was Credence who was looking between the adults to see their reactions.
Percival finally managed to clear his throat.
"Well, we can't really correct her, can we?"
"No…", Tina agreed.
"I'd probably assume the same, to be honest...", Tina admitted.
"We're probably going to get that a lot if we continue to take this little guy out, though", Graves said and gestured with his thumb towards the boy.
He realized a second to late that this implied that the two of them were going to spend more of their outings together. Then, almost at the same time, he realized that he didn't really mind the thought.
"You'll have to wear a sign", Queenie mused.
"Stand-in mom."
Tina blushed a little.
"If anyone's the stand-in mom it would be you. You spend way more time with him...", Tina protested; clearly a little dejected at the fact that her sister got to babysit Credence during the days while she and Percival performed their auror tasks.
"I don't mind having two of them!", Credence suddenly perked up.
When all adults looked at him a pink blush crept up his ears and he started fidgeting with the napkin he had placed in his lap.
"I-I mean… I wouldn't mind...", Credence said.
Percival had to smile.
"Of course you wouldn't."
Then he reached out and ruffled Credence's bowl cut. If anyone was suited for the job of stand-in mom it had to be the Goldstein sisters. And if anyone deserved two stand-in moms it was Credence.