Chapter 18: Forgiveness

Sunday, 16 September, 2018 (week 38)

"Jenna! Nick! How are you?" Victoire asked, hugging her two best friends and letting them into the Burrow.

"Great!" Jenna replied cheerfully. "Look at you! Just think only two more weeks and you'll be a mum!"

"I know." Victoire said "It'd be hard to believe, if it wasn't for this baby bump and those annoying pregnancy symptoms. I can't wait until he's out in the world." All around them, Victoire's cousins and siblings shrieked and chased each other around, but Victoire was used to the noise. Her grandma Molly had joyfully planned a baby shower for her, which she was thankful for because she didn't have to host it herself. The Burrow was even more crowded than usually, since her mother's side of the family, hers and Teddy's friends, and her parents friends were also there. Thankfully, the weather was nice for mid-September, so nearly all of the guests were outside.

The door to the backyard opened and Teddy came into the room. "Nick!" He shouted cheerfully, giving his best friend a pat on the back. Although they were a year apart, Teddy and Nick had been best friends since Nick's first year at Hogwarts. When Nick's adoptive mother, the Headmistress, introduced them, they had bonded quickly because Nick was a werewolf, just as Teddy's father had been, and they could relate to each other. They had been close ever since.

After a few minutes of talking the four migrated to the living room.

"Nick, Jenna, there's something we'd like to ask you." Teddy said suddenly.

"Yes?" Jenna asked, and Nick listened in.

Teddy looked at Victiore, indicating that she should take over. "Since my due date is so close, Teddy and I talked about potential godparents for our baby, and we decided it was a no brainer to choose the two of you." she said. "Would you being willing?"

"Of course!" Jenna replied, giving Victoire a hug. "I'd be honored."

Nick was overjoyed. "Me, a godfather! That's as incredible as you being parents. Of course we're willing!" He then turned to Jenna and kissed her on the cheek. "We're going to be the best godparents ever!"

"Oh, I don't know." Teddy said teasingly. "Harry's pretty hard to beat."

Everyone laughed at that, and the foursome soon joined the rest of the guests. The majority of them were milling around outside, laughing and talking. It was actually quieter than usual, since most of the Weasley cousins were at Hogwarts. They only two cousins still at home were Lily and Hugo, and they were quietly playing hide and seek with Victoire's younger cousins from France. Jenna and Nick found the rest of their group, while Teddy and Victoire moved around from group to group. As much as Teddy and Victoire loved their family and friends, they were relieved when it was finally time to go home.

Tuesday, 18 September, 2018 (week 38)

After a long day's work of helping the official aurors prepare for the trip to France, Teddy came home exhausted. Unfortunately, Victoire wasn't in the best mood either. "Teddy, have you seen the ketchup?" she called from the kitchen.

"I think we finished it yesterday." Teddy replied.

"Would you mind getting me some? Please."

"Vic, I'm exhausted. Can't you wait?"

"No, I can't, Teddy! I'm exhausted too, and you know I get stomach aches if my cravings aren't satisfied." Victoire snapped rather rudely. She had been having a rough day. She spilt Kingsley's coffee, dropped her pen on the floor and bumped her on her desk when she tried to pick it up, and her feet and back ached every time she stood.

"Do you know how hard I work to provide for our baby? I'm trying my hardest to do everything I can, and Harry's helping, but it's still physically and mentally draining. And you expect me to go out, right as I just got home, to buy ketchup?"

"It would be a nice thing to do for your very pregnant fiancée." Victoire muttered.

"So I'm just suppose to be your servant then?"

"I didn't say that…"

"You know what?" Teddy asked, tired of arguing. "I'm going for a walk."

Before Victoire could protest, Teddy disapparated. He ended up in one of the streets of Diagon Alley, and began to walk. As he walked, he thought about what had just happened. It was a stupid argument, really, and here he was, not even at home anyways. He didn't know why it happened; he just hadn't been sleeping well to begin with, probably because of his anxiety for the baby to be born. He began to feel guilty, and knew it be best if he returned home and apologized.

As long as he was out, Teddy bought a bottle of ketchup before apparating back home. When he arrived back, Victoire was waiting for him on the couch.

"Hey," she was all she said as he walked in, and Teddy sat down beside her.

"I brought you some ketchup."

"Teddy, you didn't have to do that." Victoire sighed, and Teddy merely nodded in response. "I'm sorry I acted that way. I'm just so stressed out with becoming a mum."

"You'll make a great mum." Teddy responded.

"You really think so?"

"I know so. And I'm sorry, too. This is stressful for me to, and finally I just snapped."

"I don't blame you. You work so hard Teddy, and I truly am thankful for all that you do. We're going to get through this. We're going to be the best parents we can be, and soon we're going to get married. We'll do it together."

"Together." Kissing Victoire on the cheek, he led her upstairs to bed.

Author's note: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter. I changed some things, and the result was a really short chapter.