"So, this is nice." said Lily as Rose and the three siblings waited for their meals to arrive. "But what's the reasoning behind it?"
"Lily." said James. "Can't a man and his pregnant cousin just take two of their favourite people out to dinner without needing to have a reason?"
"James." admonished Rose. People had looked round at that comment. Because James worked there, Casey's Cauldron had barred the press from entering the restaurant tonight, but Rose thought that it was unnecessary to flaunt their situation. "Actually, there is a reason." she smiled at her cousins. "James and I wanted to ask you if you would be Noah's godparents.
Lily shrieked and knocked over her pumpkin juice. "Rosie! Seriously?" she jumped and up and came around the table to hug Rose. "Hear that Noah? I'm your godmother."
"Wow." said Albus. "Us? Really? Why?"
"You were there for us. So we know you'll be there for Noah." said James simply.
"Well, I know Lily was always there to support you guys, but what exactly did I do?" asked Albus.
"You promised not to hate me. You had no idea what had happened, but you promised, and it gave me enough strength to tell Mum and Dad. I didn't know what they would say. At that point I didn't even have Rose, at least not like I do now." James smiled at Rose.
"Hopefully Noah won't need anyone like that." added Rose. "If we've learned anything, it's to be there for your children, because everyone makes mistakes. But if he does, that's what you're there for."
"Wow." repeated Albus. "Okay well then, for my first official act as godfather, I would like to present you with this." Without any further warning he pulled out a sack of galleons and plopped it down on the table.
"Albus!" exclaimed Rose. James was speechless. "What is that?!"
"That," announced Albus "is your advance payment for agreeing to publish in Transfiguration Today."
Now Rose was speechless also.
"How much is it?" asked Lily.
"500 galleons." answered Albus.
"Merlin's pants." whispered Rose softly.
"All you have to do is write a paper and let them publish it." explained Albus.
"Albus." said Rose, recovering from her shock "You finished it. I can't write a paper without you. You take this." She pushed the sack towards him.
"Rose. I told you. I'm doing this as Noah's godfather. We can definitely work on the paper together, but I don't need money now. I can get a share after when they pay us the rest." said Albus. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was doing this Rose," he continued "but I knew you needed the money, so I contacted them."
"Al." said James. "This is...this is... thank you."
"You'll be famous." said Lily.
Albus looked at her. "Yeah, I guess so." he said as realisation spread across his face. "Huh."
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their meals.
After bidding Albus and Lily goodnight, Rose and James returned to James flat.
"I suppose you want to go to bed now?" asked James. He had been waiting to be with Rose since she got back from school.
"Yes. Definitely." replied Rose.
James turned around to lock the door and hang up his cloak. "Okay well I'll..." he trailed off as he turned around and saw Rose was no longer in the room. He entered his bedroom and saw that Rose had lain down on the bed and gone straight to sleep. James sighed. He knew that Rose couldn't be blamed for anything when she was pregnant, but he was aware that her exhaustion likely had more to do with her lingering depression.
"Okay." said James to himself. "I guess I'll go take a shower. And make it a cold one." he added as he looked down at the sleeping figure before him.
But when he awoke the next morning and saw the damp patch on the pillow under Rose's cheek, he forgave her entirely.
"Rosie?" James said softly, nudging her. "Wake up."
Rose blinked. "Is it morning?" she moaned groggily.
James pulled her up so she was resting her head on his shoulder. "Yeah it's morning. I have to go to work."
"When are you off?" asked Rose, rubbing her eyes.
"Well... I'm taking a few extra shifts so I can get leave later. I'll be home around nine." he replied.
"Mmm kay." said Rose, sitting up more.
"So what are you going to do today?" asked James.
"Um... oh right, I have to go round up everything that we're borrowing." remembered Rose. "I need a nursing pillow from Aunt Fleur, a carrier from Aunt Audrey, my old high chair, and a stroller and crib from your mum. Grandma said she had a bunch of things I could pick up too."
"Can't this family keep all of its baby stuff in one place?" asked James.
"Do you know how many babies this family has produced?" asked Rose. "We would need a whole other house."
"Yeah, that's probably true. Okay, well I have to leave now, but I brought you some tea. Oh, and don't bother with the crib, I'll take care of it later." instructed James.
"Alright." said Rose, though she wasn't sure why James was concerned with that one item specifically.
Once he was gone Rose set down her tea cup and went straight back to sleep.
"Hi Grandma." Rose greeted Molly Weasley Sr. affectionately.
"Oh, hello Rose darling!" replied Molly cheerfully. "Have a seat. I just made lunch."
"Thanks." said Rose.
Molly ladled large bowls of potato soup for herself and Rose, and set out a platter of bread and cheese as well. "Pumpkin juice, dear?"
"Yes please." Rose nodded. "Where's grandpa?"
"Oh, he's out tinkering in the shed. He said not to wait. So did you manage to round everything up?" asked Molly.
"Yep, it's all back at the flat. It was hard to find space to put it all." said Rose.
"Well, that will be easier in your new house. When do you expect to move in?" asked Molly.
"Mmm." thought Rose "After Noah is born. I was hoping for before so we could be all settled, but I guess it won't be happening."
Molly patted Rose's hand sympathetically. "Look at it this way dear, now you can be all settled with the baby before you have to move in."
Rose smiled slightly. "I don't expect to be all settled with the baby ever."
"I suppose every week does bring something new in these early years. But you'll get used to it." said Molly.
"I hope so." agreed Rose. She sighed.
They continued chatting until lunch was over, and then made their way up to the second floor.
"Grandpa already brought everything down from the attic." explained Molly "You can look through those boxes and take anything you want too, but clothes are over here. You can make a pile of what you'd like, and I'll go through the rest, because it's probably time we got rid of some of this old stuff."
Molly had hoped to spend a pleasant afternoon bonding with her granddaughter, but Rose seemed a little off. She had conversed properly during lunch, but she wasn't saying anything now. It wasn't until after Rose left with her box of stuff that Molly realized Rose had been sadly setting all of Ginny's old things in a separate pile.
James returned late that night as he had said, and climbed into bed where Rose was reading.
"Did you have a good day?" he asked.
"It was okay." replied Rose. She glanced at James, and then set down the book.
James rolled over on top of her and began kissing her collarbone. "James." she said tiredly. He ignored this, and made his way up to her lips. When she kissed him back he kept going enthusiastically.
After their pyjamas had been discarded on the floor and they were progressing with their activities, Rose suddenly burst into tears.
"Rose?" exclaimed James worriedly. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Rose shook her head. "No, I just... I can't. Don't be mad, please." she begged.
"Rose!" exclaimed James. He lowered his voice. "I want to be very clear about this. I will never ever get mad at you for not wanting to have sex. I promise. But you have to tell me what's wrong."
She sniffled. "I don't know, I just can't."
James pulled her close to him and cuddled her tightly. "It's okay. Just tell me. Whenever you're ready. "
"It... doesn't feel right. To... be happy ...when Eadlyn can't. Or... have sex. When she never will. Or it just feels... wrong. Like people will say 'you had sex right after your baby died?!'"
"Hey." said James "Hey. Don't think like that. Eadlyn wants you to be happy. I want you to be happy. And nobody else matters. It's perfectly okay to have sex. And it's okay to feel sad, but that doesn't mean you can never be happy."
"I know." replied Rose. "But don't think I can yet. Sorry. I just want to sleep."
"Alright." said James soothingly. "Don't apologize. Lay right down and I'll cuddle you until you fall asleep."
So once again, the pair drifted to sleep, Rose crying gently, and James wishing desperately for her to feel better.