Em stared in shock at where the portal had been. After Magnus had stepped inside it disappeared just as quickly as it had arrived, stuttering and sputtering out of existence until only a faint tingle of magic crackled through the air. She turned to Tessa, "What just happened?"

Tessa's face was blank. She shook her head, teeth worrying at her lower lip nervously. "I, um- I think we should go and sit down."

She led them back up the hallway Em had just come from and into the parlour. Usually, this was Em's favourite room, she found the pale green wallpaper, squishy leather sofas and book-lined walls incredibly relaxing. She'd spent most of her time in Idris in here, watching the world go by from the bay window that dominated the outside wall, observing the bluebirds nesting in the oak tree directly outside or propped up with a footrest enjoying one of Tessa's many Victorian novels. Right now though, Em noted as she took a seat opposite Tessa, she didn't find the décor even remotely calming.

The older girl shook her head again as she sat down. She looked up at Em reluctantly, "Magnus found out you were here."

Em stared at her like she'd suddenly grown tentacles.

"Yes," she deadpanned "I noticed that Tess". She briefly wondered if the portal magic had interfered with Tessa's brain, she had been standing very close to it. "What I meant is how did he find out where I am?" Even as she said the words, realisation dawned on her "Catarina."

"Yes, Catarina told him where you were. I don't think she told him about this, though," Tessa waved an arm in the general direction of Em's stomach.

Em placed a hand nervously on her bump. Despite warming to the idea of motherhood over the last three months, she still felt as if her body had been taken over by Martians. It didn't help that Tessa and Catarina clucked over her persistently, making sure she didn't do anything too strenuous, boisterous or fun while she was here. Every time Em complained during her weekly check-up, Catarina had explained that none of the tests she'd run had thrown up any red flags but they still couldn't be too careful. Tessa was almost militant in following her friend's advice, so Em's activities had been limited to reading, doing crossword puzzles or, if Tessa escorted her, walking around the garden.

Recently Em had been feeling more and more like a living sideshow attraction, and the way Magnus had just stared at her did nothing to help that. Her eyes prickled uncomfortably as tears blurred the edges of her vision.

"Why did he look at me like that? I didn't do this on purpose". She sniffed a little, "I never wanted to hurt him and now he hates me. Is having a baby really that terrible?" Em was dimly aware of the fact that she had been the one who had left Magnus, in fact, if she was being completely honest she had practically sprinted in the opposite direction. Even if her actions had been to protect him, she couldn't deny that some selfish part of her had also been trying to protect herself from rejection. She probably didn't have the moral high ground in this situation but right now she felt sad and tired and a little too hormonal to care.

Tessa stood up, concerned but not surprised by Em's sudden waterworks, it wasn't the first time she'd burst into tears over the past couple of weeks. She sat down beside her and placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. Em leaned into her. "He doesn't hate you", she rubbed her arm soothingly, voice calm, "he thinks you cheated on him". Em's eyes flew open and she jerked away.

"What?"

"Well look at it from his perspective," Tessa raised her eyebrows. "Magnus knows warlocks can't reproduce – usually can't reproduce" she corrected when Em glanced pointedly at her midriff. "You left him three months ago and here you are six months pregnant. The only way that would be possible in his mind is if you'd either managed to fall pregnant in the future and then travel back in time-" she noticed Em's curious expression, "not possible by the way, or if you cheated on him six months ago."

Em's despair was quickly being washed away by panic, "But I didn't!" she protested.

"I know that, but Magnus doesn't. Catarina clearly left that part of the story out."

Em was silent for a moment. Right now most of her wanted to just forget the past twenty minutes and stay in the safe confines of the manor, hiding and reading books, but the other part of her brain, the annoying bit, said she couldn't do that knowing Magnus was probably at home questioning their entire relationship. If he even cares, said a small voice in the back of her head. She shook it away, he'd looked hurt when he summoned the portal and you feel hurt if you don't feel anything to begin with.

She glanced at Tessa, "Can you get me to Brooklyn?"

. . .

Magnus strode blindly out of the portal and into his apartment. He walked through the rooms, searching aimlessly for a few minutes and then returned to the living room, dropping onto the couch with his head in his hands. It was empty, Catarina must have disappeared after he'd left, although not before tidying the place up. The collection of takeout containers had miraculously found their way into the bin, along with the potion phials, bottles and restaurant menus. He fleetingly considered summoning her back here and then just as quickly decided against it. He wanted to be alone and in this mood, he'd only end up shouting at her anyway.

He realised now, which was a little too late in his opinion, why his blue-skinned friend had refused to tell him what kind of medical care she was giving Em. The look of horror on his girlfriend – no, he corrected himself mentally - his ex-girlfriend's face was enough confirmation. All this time he thought she was avoiding him because of what he'd done. It never once crossed his mind that she just didn't want him anymore.

Really, he chided himself, staring balefully through his fingers, he was stupid for thinking it would turn out any other way. He'd convinced himself that his feelings for Em made this time different but he couldn't give her a normal life or a family and in the end, that was always what it came down to. He squeezed his eyes tight, refusing to let the tears that were threatening to spill over fall, and took a deep, slow breath. It was time to get drunk.

As Magnus made his way across to the kitchen he noticed, with mild annoyance, that Catarina had also removed all of the margarita mix from his apartment. He waved one arm, absently and a dozen full cocktail glasses appeared on the counter. After these were gone he'd summon more and more until he either felt better or was too drunk to care. He didn't really mind which, both options were a clear improvement on his current state.

He dragged out the stool next to the island, the one Em used to sit on whenever she watched him make brunch and settled on it. He'd managed to down almost four cocktails before the doorbell rang. He cursed as his arm jerked, sloshing the rest of the liquid over the side of the glass. He wasn't expecting guests and no one had rung the buzzer downstairs. It was probably Catarina coming to check on him, he'd given her a spare key but she must have left it here. He cast a wary eye around hoping to catch a glimmer of bronze, then picked up his fifth glass and walked over to the door.

He noticed that his thoughts had started to take on that fuzzy, shapeless warmth he associated with cocktails. Maybe it was good Catarina was here, shouting might make him feel a bit better and she definitely deserved a piece of his mind. He yanked the door open "Catarina," he bellowed "WHAT the hell did you think you were-"

He broke off, almost dropping his glass.

"Hi Magnus," Em looked petrified. "Is this a bad time?" her eyes strayed from the frozen expression on his face to the cocktail in his hand. He shook his head mutely, blinking at her. "Uh, then can I come in?"

A/N - Next chapter will be in a couple of days, I have family visiting so there's not as much time to write. Follow the story to get an email when it's posted!

Reviews, comments and criticism are all welcome!