Laying in bed with Theo one night, Arik looked at her still growing stomach. Theo had his hand on her stomach and was gently drawing circles and random lines over her skin. Smiling Arik turned her head towards Theo and watched as he just stared at her stomach.
"Theo?" She asked him in a whisper snapping him out of his revere.
"Hmm?" he said as he slowly turned towards her his hand still drawing lines.
"What are you thinking about?" Arik asked.
"What's going to happen once the pregnancy is over, you know when we have those little babies. I know we don't get to keep them, but it would be kind of cool…" Theo said, his voice trailing off.
"You're already wrapped around their fingers aren't you?" Arik asked laughing lightly.
"Of course I am, how could I not when they come from you. I'm wrapped around your finger too; I'd do anything for you. You know that right?" Theo said as he turned onto his side and put a hand on her cheek.
"Of course I do Theo. Can I tell you a secret?" Arik whispered and scooted closer to him as he nodded, "I don't want this class to end."
"Why not?" Theo asked looking at her.
"Because I want to keep them. I know that we have a month left but I really don't want this to end." Arik said smiling up at him, "Besides I know you're thinking the same way. Have you noticed that they like your voice?"
Theo looked at her questioningly, "Feel right here," Arik said as she grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach, "now talk."
"Arik what are you-?" Theo started but stopped when he felt a kick come from her stomach.
Arik laughed, "You look like you just got shocked."
Theo placed both of his hands on her swollen stomach, "I felt them kick, I felt it!" He paused as he leaned down to kiss her stomach, "I felt it again!"
"I told you they like your voice, they love their daddy." Arik said as she watched Theo's smiling face.
Looking back into Arik's eyes, Theo leaned into her and gave her a long kiss.
The next day they had one of their final classes with Professor Young.
"With less than a month to go in this part of the project we will no longer be meeting every day. Instead we will be meeting once a week to figure out how you are doing. Because you fine ladies have so little time left being pregnant, we might as well start the next part of the 'project'. Couples, please come up one at a time to get your instructions on what to do next. Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Brown, you first."
Arik watched as Malfoy threw a disgusted look at his very pregnant partner and stalked up to see Professor Young. After the couple had gotten their paper, they were excused and the next couple was sent up.
"Potter and Abbot,"
"Zambini and Granger,"
"McLaggen and Parkinson,"
"Weasley and Greengrass,"
"Thomas and Bullstrode,"
"Longbottom and Lovegood,"
"Flannigan and Patil,"
"Cornor and Bones,"
Finally it was their turn.
"Nott and Williams."
Theo helped the very pregnant 18 year old out of her seat and down to Professor Young's desk.
"Here is your paper; you'll find it has all the instructions to fulfill the next part of the class."
As Theo and Arik left the classroom and made their way to their room, Theo carefully unrolled the paper that Professor Young had given them. On the inside were a set of rules.
Welcome to the second part of the project! In this part you will be creating your nursery. Here are just a few guidelines:
You don't know the sexes of the child(ren) so do not choose a gender specific color just yet.
Make sure you have enough supplies for however many children you'll be having
But don't forget that you may be receiving some baby shower gifts
There is a book waiting at your coffee table that has nursery ideas and themes. Both of you need to agree. When you have reached a selection just write it down and the next day you will find a new door in your center room, it will lead to your brand new nursery.
Happy pickings and the final choices will be due in a week and a half to let you get used to it before the children arrive.
When the couple came to the painting they saw the two lovers embracing each other and staring into each other's eyes.
"I feel like they've moved since we first got here." Arik said in a slightly puzzled and tired voice.
"How have you not noticed that yet? You're supposed to be the smart one." Theo said with a laugh as he said the password.
Shrugging, Arik walked into their common room and sat on the couch. "So what does the paper say?"
"Basically, we have to look through this book," Theo said gesturing to the book on the table, "and figure out what we want the nursery to look like."
Reaching out to get the book Arik looked at Theo. "We have to agree on everything I'm assuming?"
Nodding Theo sat down next to her, "Yupp, they won't set up the room without both of our consents."
Leafing through the pages Arik felt her eyes start to droop. Noticing this Theo took the book from her and helped her stand up. "We don't have to decide at this very moment. How about we put you in bed and I'll look through the book and mark what I like and when you get around to it you can look and see what you like. Ok?"
Nodding slowly, Arik let herself be pulled along until they reached Theo's bed. Carefully, Theo tucked her in and gave her a kiss on the forehead and then on the belly. "Sleep well you all."
He took his spot next to her and began to look through the book marking all of the ideas he liked and smiling to himself until he too fell fast asleep.