Wallflower
Chapter Twenty-Five: Hope
Adelaide was unusually peppy the next few weeks (aside from her morning trips to the bathroom, where she came back looking less then pleased) and Sirius easily noticed a difference, especially when she would be smiling one moment and bawling on the floor the next because her favorite shirt had shrunk when it was cleaned. Little things made her happy, like Sirius offering her the last roll at dinner (which wasn't anything too new) and the smallest things sent her over the edge, like if Sirius forgot to tell Nobby to take out the trash. He blamed it on PMS, and soon the moodiness faded slightly and she entered an eternally happy phase. He left it to her grades, which were above average, and didn't think to ask what was up. So when Adelaide asked if she could have everyone over for dinner, he got slightly suspicious.
"What's going on?" he asked. She just kept smiling as she shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well, we haven't all gotten together just for the heck of it in a while," she said.
"Hey, I just hung out with Peter and James two days ago," Sirius defended. She rolled her eyes.
"I said all of us, not some of us," she teased, "I was thinking on the twenty sixth,"
"Of February?" Adelaide rolled her eyes with a grin plastered to her face; at this point Sirius found himself slightly wary.
"No, we're having everyone together two days ago," she said sarcastically, "Of course, February!"
"You could have meant March, or April," Sirius defended again, raising his hands out with a wry smile, "Are you going to tell me what has you so…peppy?"
"I just feel like something good is going to happen," she said mysteriously. Sirius raised an eyebrow and she just kissed him on the cheek before skipping off to the bedroom with a yawn. Another thing he noticed is that Adelaide almost always passed out around nine o'clock, and woke up very sluggishly. It was unusual, but again, he blamed it on school.
Sirius sighed and shook his head before moving towards the living room to rest, still unused to her sudden attitude adjustment.
Four weeks later, Adelaide was buzzing around and humming to herself; again, Sirius felt that he was completely oblivious. "You look like you've been put under a cheering charm," he mentioned as he finished buttoning his shirt, Adelaide forcing him into some 'nice' clothes. He had only grumbled under his breath for a moment before agreeing with her. Adelaide didn't even look away from the mirror, and he could see the large smile plastered on her face.
"I'm just happy," she said innocently, turning to face him with a sneaky smile, "is that such a crime?"
"You're starting to scare me," he joked, and she just kept smiling. She gave him a quick hug, causing him to raise his eyebrows, before she darted downstairs as the doorbell rang. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair before following her down. Remus and Peter were standing in the kitchen while Adelaide smiled at them, and Sirius could tell that her peppiness was slightly unnerving them.
"Did Sirius practice a cheering charm on you?" Remus asked pleasantly, while Peter watched in odd fascination as she continued to bounce on her heels. She shook her head, and pouted.
"Why is it so odd for me to be happy?" she whined. Peter backed up slightly, but she overall ignored him, "We just have to wait for Lily and James, then we'll be good to go!" She turned quickly and hurried off into the kitchen, and Remus stood beside an awed (and slightly scared) Sirius.
"Do you have any idea of what's going on?" he asked. Sirius shook his head slowly.
"Not a clue," he murmured. Remus laughed slightly at Sirius' expression, before the bell rang again. They didn't even turn their heads, and Adelaide had gotten the door with a large smile, greeting James and Lily with large hugs. James immediately looked to Sirius and Remus for answers and only got shrugs in response.
"I'm so glad you made it!" she said as she pulled them in to the kitchen with a large (and slightly creepy) smile. Lily raised an eyebrow.
"We're five minutes early," she commented. Adelaide waved her hands and dismissed the statement without a second glance. Lily glanced at James, who shrugged.
Sirius found himself on edge during dinner, though Adelaide calmed down enough to appear normal. Peter looked entirely uncomfortable, but it was easily passed off as uneasiness around a girl who despised him. James, Sirius, and Remus tried their best to include him in conversation, but even if Adelaide had liked him he would have had next to no chance of getting a word in with the rate at Adelaide was talking. She found random things to prattle on about, from her shirt shrinking to what she made for dinner the other night.
"Did you see the shirt Emmeline Vance wore the other day? It looked terrible, really, and Moody really must do something about his hair–."
It took a few hours, but she was finally the same (save for the permanent smile on her face) and they had moved to the living room and sat out some drinks, while Adelaide sipped at some tea and observed everything.
"We should take a picture," she said suddenly. Lily blinked in surprise.
"Why?" she asked. Adelaide shrugged, but kept smiling.
"We need to make memories!" she exclaimed, waving her hand to express exactly how resolute she was, "how many pictures do we have of all of us, together, since Hogwarts?" there was silence, and that was enough of an answer for her. She sat her tea down and summoned a camera from upstairs (that Sirius had no idea she even had) and politely told everyone to stand in front of the fireplace. She raised the camera to her eye.
"Why don't you get Nobby to take the picture? That way you can be in it." Remus asked. Adelaide didn't waver.
"I can get one with me later," she said nonchalantly, "Now, everyone say September 24!"
"September 24!" They said, not really realizing they said it or bothering to ask why she chose that specific date. She smiled.
"I'M PREGNANT!" She screamed, before clicking the camera. There was a bright flash of light, and everyone felt their jaws drop to the ground while Sirius barely kept himself from falling into the fireplace.
"OH MY GOD!" Lily screamed, breaking away from the group to run at Adelaide and hug her, causing them to topple backwards, but otherwise remain upright. Sirius gaped for a moment, before he smiled widely. As Lily detached herself from Adelaide, he hurried foreword and took Adelaide into his arms, kissing her firmly on the mouth.
"I love you," he murmured. She giggled, dropped the camera, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He ran his tongue along her lip just as Remus coughed into his fist, breaking them apart with wide grins.
"I think this explains your odd behavior," James said with a shake of his head, "You two have barely been married for six months."
"So?" Lily asked, "I think it's wonderful!"
"I never said it wasn't!" James defended, "It's just I can't picture Padfoot being a father; especially the first of the marauders to become a father!"
"Expect the unexpected," Peter offered in a meek voice, averting his eyes from Sirius and Adelaide, who were promptly ignoring their friends and snogging in the middle of the living room.
In March (which Adelaide revealed was the end of her first trimester) Adelaide and Sirius were closer then ever, and Lily was constantly dropping in to say hello, and in turn James was in and out almost as often. Peter was absent almost all the time (not that anyone really noticed) and Remus popped in at fairly random intervals. Adelaide still pushed Sirius to have his monthly night with Remus, James, and Peter despite his wishes to stay with her, even though it was hard for Sirius not to worry about her.
"Go," Adelaide murmured against Sirius' lips the following month, "Remus needs you right now more then I do." Sirius shook his head and pouted, causing her to giggle.
"The doctors said that he might start kicking," he protested. There was now a noticeable bump, and you could tell she was pregnant. Sirius thought she pulled it of well, while she thought she looked like she swallowed a quaffle.
"It won't be the only time he kicks," she reasoned, gently pushing him away even though she craved his warmth, "and I'll tell you if he does kick, alright?" Sirius kept pouting, and Adelaide groaned as her resistance began to fall. Sirius pushed himself up so he was straddling her legs and pressed his hands to her stomach with a determined expression. Adelaide sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Are you being serious?" she asked, her eyebrows disappearing into her bangs. He smirked slightly but refrained from making a joke, and stared intently at her stomach, causing a blush to move up Adelaide's neck, "Sirius," she whined, "Remus needs you!" He kissed her chastely, but quickly returned to staring at her stomach. She growled in annoyance.
"Don't worry, I have time," he said with determination. She rolled her eyes again, "If you keep doing that, they'll get stuck there and then I'll never be able to see your pretty eyes again."
"Jackass," she murmured, but continued before he could make a retort, "You have to take a shower and get dressed, because I'm almost one hundred percent sure that they wont appreciate the smell of sex OR seeing you naked as much as I do."
"You never know, "Sirius said with a small grin, "I've always questioned Remus' sexuality; he's never dated anyone before, and sometimes the way he looks at me…" Adelaide erupted into laughter and smacked his chest.
"You cocky bastard!" she snorted, and Sirius just raised his eyebrows.
"You swear more when you're hormonal–,"
"I am absolutely positive that Remus likes girls!"
"–I think it's really sexy." She blushed again, and he leaned down to kiss her. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck again and he began to trail kisses down her neck. He prepared to move his hands further up, when she gasped loudly.
"Did you feel that?" she asked, causing him to move his head away and look at her curiously.
"Feel what?" he asked.
"The baby! He kicked!" She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling happily. Sirius grinned, and Adelaide quickly repositioned his hands. There was a heartbeat of silence, before she jumped, "Did you feel that?" she asked. He shook his head, and she moved his hands again. The game of cat and mouse continued for about ten minutes, before Sirius threw his hands up with an annoyed growl.
"My kid hates me!" he exclaimed. Adelaide giggled nervously.
"He just kicked where you used to be," she said in amusement. Sirius frowned, before growing determined and keeping his hands firmly placed on her stomach. She sighed and watched the ceiling, slightly bored of the fixed stare on her stomach when they could be doing something much more productive. They sat there for another minute and Adelaide had completely zoned out when Sirius let out a loud cry of success, causing her to jump out of her trance.
"I felt it!" he said. He placed his hands on her stomach again, and continued to stare in amazement. He grinned as he felt it again, and Adelaide groaned in annoyance.
"Sirius, I want you to stop staring at my stomach and start staring at other, more important aspects of my body!" she protested. He glanced up at her, before moving his attention back to her stomach. She whined pathetically and shifted under him.
"Sirius," she moaned, sounding like a whiny two-year old. There was another kick, and he grinned in success before kissing her. She prepared herself for something mind blowing, but was sorely disappointed as he pulled away and walked to their closet and began to get dressed. She watched him incredulously, "What the hell!?" she asked. He made his way to the door.
"Well, you did say that Remus needed me tonight," he said, clearly amused. She sputtered for a moment, pushing herself up onto her elbows.
"You never turn down sex!" she said, "Even when we spent the night and James and Lily's last week!" He just turned and smiled at her.
"But I lost track of time already," he explained, "I'll be late as it is."
"Then be a bit more late!" she whined, "Sirius! Don't do this too me! You know my libido has kicked in!" But he was already walking through the door.
"Bro's before hoe's!" he said with a laugh, before apparating with a pop. Adelaide stared at the door incredulously (she had been doing that a lot lately). She whined and pushed herself up fully, propping her head up on her hand.
"If that bastard values his life, he'll stay with James for the week," she growled under her breath. She hesitated for a moment, before glancing down at her hand with a dejected sigh, "So we're back to this. Hello, I don't think we've been acquainted in a while," she said sarcastically, before sighing. She heard another pop and glared at the door as Sirius walked through with a grin. He hesitated though at her menacing glare. He chuckled nervously.
"Haha?" he asked with a small smile, "It was a joke, Addie, you know that right?"
"You called me a hoe," she said blandly, glaring at him, "and left me for Remus after hours of asking to stay here with me. What. The. Fuck?" He pouted and crawled back onto the bed and brought his face close to hers, brushing his lips against hers.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, "It was a joke. Haha, right?" She glared at him, and he kept pouting. She didn't waver. He pressed closer causing her to fall backwards onto the bed and began trailing kisses down her neck, "You'll forgive me, right?" he asked. Her resolve wavered and she sighed in defeat. He grinned before allowing his hands to wander, and since she was so kind hearted (As she said) she decided to put aside their differences at the time and let him ravish her.
But he'll pay for it in the morning, after he comes back from Remus', she thought with a silent laugh, Oh, he'll pay.
When her birthday approached in May, she wanted nothing big and just simply have her friends at her house with minimal presents and a big, marble cake with butter cream frosting. To her, the cake was without a doubt the most important part. She ended up getting her wish (with the added bonus of strawberries on her cake as well) and her friends left around eight after they all got to feel the baby kick at least once (In Lily's case, ten times). The rest of the night was spent with only Sirius, locked up in their bedroom.
As her second trimester came to a close at the end of June, Adelaide was immensely relieved when she didn't have to make such frequent trips to the loo. Unfortunately, it was replaced with somewhat constant nosebleeds. The one thing that benefited both Sirius and Adelaide was her libido, which was normally fairly active, and now was taking up most of her thoughts.
"Sirius," Adelaide whispered softly, her breath tickling his ear, "you need to get up. It's noon." Sirius just groaned slightly and cracked open an eye to look at her.
"I'm tired," he whined, "we were up all night, if I remember correctly."
"So? Get Nobby to fix us something to eat," she offered with a shrug, "He's walked in on us enough to not care that we're completely bare under the sheets."
"Just because you get louder as time goes on," he began. She hit him lightly.
"I blame him, because he thinks that every sound I make means I'm in pain, even if that is definitely not the situation!" He chuckled before setting up and trailing soft kisses along her neck.
"Even you have to admit that you're loud," he murmured, "You were loud before you were pregnant, why should now be any different?" She sighed as he trailed his kisses down to her stomach, before tracing his fingertips over the faint stretch marks on her hips. She frowned.
"I was hoping that I wouldn't get stretch marks," she said dejectedly. Sirius looked up at her and continued to trace over the marks.
"I think you're beautiful," he murmured, "I always have." She snorted.
"Yeah right," she murmured, "I'm a fat ass."
"No you're not," he protested, raising himself so he was eye level with her, "I think that you are by far the best looking women on the planet and that any man would be lucky to have you. I love every part of you, and you are most definitely not fat. You are carrying my child, and nothing can make you more appealing then that."
"Except for that red dress I wore when you proposed," she said with a soft smile. He laughed and agreed.
"Yes, except for that dress," he agreed. She sighed, content, and he continued to run his hands over her, "Should we wait for breakfast, or should we risk being interrupted by a nosey house elf?"
"I say we live on the edge," she said with a grin. He chuckled and ran his hand along her thigh, his mouth moving back to hers. She moaned, and a sharp crack interrupted them.
"Nobby wanted to – EEK!!"
"Nobby!!!" Sirius groaned, pressing hie forehead against Adelaide's shoulder, while Adelaide stared blankly up at the ceiling.
"Nobby is so sorry!! Nobby just wanted to tell you Master Remus flooed. Nobby will leave right away!" There was another pop, and the two were left in silence. Adelaide sighed.
"He tends to ruin many good moments," she said dejectedly," I mean, after that little speech of yours I was positive that we were going to have mind blowing sex. It would have been like a fairy tale." Sirius snorted.
"I don't know what fairy tales you've been reading, but I'm most positive none of them involve mind blowing sex," he said. She shrugged with a coy grin.
"We should write a fairy tale then: tons of mind blowing sex."
"What, would that be the title?" he joked. She snorted, before kissing his cheek.
"Go find out what Remus wanted," she ordered, "I'll wait right here for you to return with news. If you don't have to leave, you can ravish me. If you do, you can ravish me and then leave. Does that sound like a plan?" He winked.
"Definitely."
To make a long story short, Sirius was able to stay and Adelaide was able to give him several ideas for that fairy tale idea.
The third trimester started in July, and both Adelaide and Sirius had done enough research to become completely enthralled with what was going on in her stomach. Now he could hear what was going on, even if it was muffled, and he could see whenever there was light so he was already getting accustomed to their sleep schedule. Sirius ended up spending his time talking to her stomach, which she found completely adorable and absolutely ridiculous at the same time. It didn't help that their friends all visited more often, which resulted in more cooing at her stomach.
"Hey baby," Lily cooed with a smile, while Adelaide met James' eyes and rolled her eyes, causing him to smile in amusement. Lily didn't notice the exchange, "I'm your Auntie Lily, and you're going to love me the most!" Adelaide snorted, but was overall ignored by her red headed friend.
"Lily, I think she's taken all she can of your baby talk," Sirius said from across the room. Lily just stuck her tongue out at him before standing with a sigh.
"We have to leave anyway," Lily said with a frown, "James' parents are still in St. Mungo's, and they don't seem to be getting any better." Sirius gently patted James' back while Adelaide gave them a soft smile.
"What is meant to be will be," she said softly. Lily's eyes glistened, while James, moved to stare out the window. Lily hugged her friend tightly, before hugging Sirius and grabbing James' hand.
"I'll see you again soon," Lily said with a smile, "I'm sure that baby will miss me and kick the living daylights out of you until I visit again in a week."
"I count on it," Adelaide said dryly, mostly because Lily was right and every time no one was talking to him he would kick her. Luckily, you didn't actually have to talk directly to him. As long as someone was talking he was happy.
July passed, and it was to Adelaide and Sirius' relief that Adelaide graduated early, as expected, in the top of her class. It made their life that much easier now that they didn't have to worry about her grades, which had always been very important to her. That and she knew more about what was going on then several people did, so she was like a walking encyclopedia for the next two months.
"Sirius, I'm tired," Adelaide murmured into his shoulder as they stood in the kitchen, "do you think you can carry me to bed?" She was joking, so she was surprised as he picked her up. He took a step, and she stiffened in his arms.
"What?" he asked. She swallowed.
"I think my water just broke."
-
"Take a deep breath, and push," the doctor instructed for the (what seemed to be) fiftieth time. Adelaide grunted, her face pink, and did as instructed, biting down harshly on her bottom lip. She tightened her grip on Sirius' hand, and gasped out as she felt her strain lift, and the doctor smiled from behind his mask as he pulled out the newborn. Sirius tightened his grip on her hand for a moment, and while they cleaned up their child, he gently kissed her forehead and she smiled up at him.
"I love you," she murmured, "Even if it's you're fault I had to go through that." Sirius laughed good-naturedly, and gently kissed her again.
"I love you too," he returned with a smile, and the doctor came over and placed the newborn into Adelaide's arms carefully.
"Congratulations, it's a girl," he said with a kind smile, and Sirius felt his heart swell up. She had wisps of black hair, her fathers nose, and her mothers eyes and lips. She was perfect. The doctor coughed softly, before speaking again, "what would you like to name her?"
"Aludra Hope Black," he responded, watching his wife with adoration. They had decided on the name last week, if it were a girl (Adelaide had wanted it to be a surprise) it was going to be Aludra Hope. Aludra was a star in the Canis Major constellation, the same as Sirius, and meant maidenhead, or purity. Hope came from everyone's hope that The Dark Lord would be defeated, and that she would grow up in a peaceful world.
"A beautiful name," a nurse said from Adelaide's other side, a smile on her face. The new parents smiled kindly at her, before Adelaide passed Aludra over to him. Sirius took her shakily, holding her close, and smiled down at her with pure adoration. Adelaide kept her sleepy eyes glued to the two as the door opened and James, Lily, and Remus stepped inside.
"Boy or girl!?" Lily asked immediately. Adelaide laughed softly.
"Girl. Her name's Aludra Hope," Lily sighed and quickly hugged her friend.
"Ew, you're all sweaty," she joked. Adelaide rolled her eyes.
"I feel so freaking tired," Adelaide groaned, "Twelve hours! I feel as if my head is going to explode!"
"And here we thought the baby would be early," Remus said with a smile, "She's right on time."
"We've been thinking about it," Sirius said slowly, glancing at Adelaide, who nodded, "We want to name James and Lily the godparents." Lily gasped and tears sprung to her eyes, while James smiled.
"We'd love to be her godparents," Lily said happily, before rushing over and hugging Adelaide tightly and James patted Sirius on the back.
"Congratulations, mate," he said and Sirius smiled appreciatively as a warm bubble began to fill his chest, "How does it feel?" Sirius didn't even hesitate as he answered, staring down at his daughter with awe.
"Like I'm the luckiest man in the whole world,"
-
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all things concerning belong to J.K. Rowling. I own Adelaide Vicknair, Vanessa Wolfe, Caryn Gree, Elise Barnes, Madeline Vicknair, Annalisa Bertucci, Professor Sicily and Jean Vicknair.
A/N: I didn't come up with how Adelaide broke the news on my own; I was googling pregnancies (I was paranoid my parents would walk by and think I'm pregnant) and it came up with a list of what other people did to announce their pregnancies, and that idea stuck with me b/c of the Wizarding pictures would move, and show their expressions.
This might have been the longest chapter yet; originally it was going to be even longer, but it would have been ridiculous!! So, how did I do? I've never written something like that before either. I learned a lot though. :D
I also have another SiriusOC idea (that I find farely unique) and I'll probably post it after I finish this, to give myself something new to work on and to give me time to work on Edelweiss, which has been completely revamped. It was a lot of work, but I think it'll turn out OK. Here's the summary:
Sirius Black didn't expect to find the woman of his dreams in a local supermarket, dressed as a muggle, and six months pregnant. Life is just full of surprises.
I've finaly come out of my little slump, so expect more chapters. :D
Yours truly,
B.E.N.
