A/N: Sorry it's late! Super busy week (doctor appointments and stuff) I wrote the chapter and slept on it. Only to hate it and scrap it. But here we are! The new and improved…well I think it's better lol..So Thank yous for the reviews! Please forgive and enjoy the clichés of storylines and fluff ahead! I blame the antihistamines...

Chapter 16

"She became luminescent?" Montague repeated as he wasn't quite sure he heard Warrington correctly. They were currently in Montague's office that he held in St Mungo's. It was more like study than a private healer's office with deep wing chairs and mahogany furniture and rich fabrics and big desk that Warrington was sure never saw a sliver of parchment work.

"All of her. Could it be the remains of the curse?" Warrington asked he had not enjoyed revealing that fact of his sex life to Montague. Sure as teenagers they did talk about sex and who was putting out etc. but now was different he did not want his friend imagining Alicia in that fashion as he was becoming more possessive of her.

"It could be a by-product of the treatments she has been receiving but I'll have to confer with Master Shikai and run some tests. If she is otherwise in any pain or glows again call me I'd like to watch" Montague said,

"I'm not allowing you watch Alicia and I engage in coitus" Warrington said darkly.

"Awwh you're no fun but I actually meant if she glows any other time other than after sexual release. Though I say as a strictly unprofessional opinion as your friend not a healer that you should shag her again with many varying positions and styles and see if she glows after every sexual release or if it was just a one off" Montague said with a grin.

"You're lucky Alicia isn't with me otherwise she would have slapped you for such a comment. Do you have any other theories that don't involve you indulging your inner voyeur?" Warrington asked.

"A few but you won't like them" Montague said. His theory being that Alicia had a surge of magical energy or performed accidental magic. Perhaps even neutralising any charms placed on her body such as the contraceptive charm that he was sure Warrington placed on her.

"Such as?" Warrington asked.

"Did I not mention you wouldn't like them?" Montague prefaced as he did not really want to share.

"When has that ever stopped you before?" Warrington asked.

"Ok, just remember I speaking purely in theory what I say could have and could not have happened without-"

"Just cut the corners and tell me already" Warrington told him.

"Ok, accidental magic or a surge of magical energy through her body"

"There's a difference?" Warrington asked in an exhausted tone.

"Well accidental magic means she could have 'accidently' performed a spell or charm without her conscious knowledge or effort on her part" Montague said carefully hoping Warrington might put the pieces together. Warrington kept a neutral expression so Montague continued "A surge of magical energy is just the magic reasserting it's magical pathways through the body but I've never seen or heard or any woman or man glowing from a surge of magical energy" he said.

"So you think it was her magic returning. You said it would take months"

"I was estimating we healers always throw out a larger time frame than what is necessary so there is a buffer for when we are wrong" Montague said dismissively.

"Ok so you're saying her magic is back. That's good" Warrington said but Montague made a face. "That's not good?" Warrington asked.

"Remember talking in theory and I did tell Alicia to control her emotions. As accidental magic happens from a loss of focus and emotions-"

"Dear Merlin just get to the point and stop pussyfooting" Warrington said as he rubbed a hand over his face.

"I think she may have nullified the contraceptive charm. Accidently" Montague stressed the 'accidently' as he didn't know how Warrington was going to react.

"So she could be pregnant" Warrington stated.

"If she is, I can prove my theory about pregnancy jumpstarting a weak magical core" Montague said with amusement. Warrington tilted his head to one side and made no reactions as he thought over the possible development. If it was true apparently not even a contraceptive charm was 100% safe. Even then for her to overpower his charm she had to have been completely overwhelmed with deep emotions. "Look mate, she might not be pregnant. We won't know anything until I exam her. So do you want me to drop by today?" Montague asked him.

"No, come as you have scheduled in two days" Warrington said.

"So what will you do if she is with child? Marry her?" Montague asked.

"Bit early to be making such assumptions don't you think?"

"You are glowing" Maura said with a sigh as she placed her tea cup down into its saucer. Alicia looked at her hands to double check it was just a figure of speech. After Warrington left for a board meeting Maura and Alicia had retired to the small courtyard to enjoy the sunshine and morning tea.

"I feel a lot better" Alicia admitted.

"I'm sure your family will be relieved to know you are no longer cursed, or spell damaged and on the way back to being Healthy again. You know you never told me how your family was taking all of this" Maura said at first making conversation but at seeing Alicia's subdued manner made her curious.

"My parents died when I was young and my Grandfather doesn't know the true extent of my physical health. I was lost during the war, like many other witches and wizards. When I was recovered no one told him, so when I was kicked to the curb by St Mungos, I reconnected with him. I told him I was injured but I lied about the rest. I didn't want to burden him he's very old and retired, if he knew the truth he would have squandered his retirement trying to cure me and worrying about me. It's not fair to him after everything he's done for me." Alicia explained.

"Oh Alicia, he would not think you a burden. You have too much pride to show such weakness or rely on anyone long enough for help to become a chore." Maura said.

"Well my grandfather took care of me after my parents died, we didn't have a lot of money and he worked very hard so we could live comfortably and that I never want for anything. It's his time to retire and enjoy the remaining years he has left" Alicia said.

"I understand" Maura said with a nod though inwardly feeling sad for the girl as she had very little family to connect with and too much pride to allow many people to see her in such a state or help her.

"Anyway the curse is broken and I will recover my magic. Now that I don't have to take McCallum's potions I can save a large percentage of my wages and save for the future which is looking brighter every second" Alicia said with a smile.

"And what will you do?" Maura asked.

"I have no clue" Alicia admitted.

"Well luckily there is no rush" Maura said before she took a sip of her tea. Alicia gave a nod and sat up in chair, she looked at her empty cup and was about to move to pick up the pot when it levitated off the table and poured itself. Maura sat up in her chair watching as the tea pot poured the tea and settled on the table.

"Did you do that?" Maura asked, she knew it was not her magic doing the work and the tea pot was only charmed to stay warm. Nothing more, as Maura liked to pour her tea herself. Alicia looked bewildered.

"I don't know, I wanted more tea and it poured itself" Alicia said.

"You should try something else. Here take my wand" Maura said offering her wand but Alicia shook her head, she was scared of just performing wandless magic without concious effort. She used to do wandless magic all the time but not to this extent she still had to verbalise the incantations.

"I can't, I haven't performed magic in years… no, Montague said I shouldn't perform magic until I've spent a few days recovering and even then he said it would take days before I showed any magical abilities" Alicia said, she didn't understand as she didn't feel any surge of power from the use but she didn't want to push her luck by performing more magic.

"Just because he's a Healer does not mean he is right about everything. What's the harm in a little magic?" Maura asked.

"I don't know but better safe than sorry right?" Alicia asked Maura, the older woman nodded and disappeared her wand back up the long sleeve of her outfit.

"Indeed, why don't we shall partake in some lunch in Diagon alley and swing by your apartment and pick up your wand. So when you feel like having a try you have your wand?" Maura suggested.

"Ok but is it ok if we stop by the Twin's shop before lunch to let them know I'll be back at work next week?" Alicia asked.

"OH MERLIN! SHE LIVES!" Fred shouted when Alicia and Maura walked into the shop, she missed seeing her friends even though the twins were now suffocating her in a three way hug. They realised her and took a step back to look her over. "She looks good for a woman back from the land of the cursed doesn't she Georgie boy?" Fred asked his twin.

"And she brings another beautiful woman with her" George remarked dramatically as he gestured to Maura.

"Oh hush" Maura said blushing as the twins paid extra attention to complimenting them and putting on a show for their own amusement.

"Fred and George Weasley this is Maura Warrington" Alicia said making introductions. The guys pretended to fall over themselves to kiss Maura's hand in greeting.

"Warrington? As in Cassius Warrington's mother?" George asked in mock disbelief as Alicia nodded. The twins made a face of shock and then shook their heads in the negative as if Alicia was telling them lies.

"Can't be true look at that figure and that youthful face, Got to be his younger sister" Fred said to George.

"Agreed, Alicia is trying to tie one on with us…" George said as he and Fred continued their banter not paying them any mind at all. Maura leaned close to Alicia.

"Do they ever stop?" Maura asked Alicia in a low voice as they were chuckling at the twin's antics.

"Yes. Sometimes" George said before Alicia could answer. He looked to his twin for agreement as they heard Maura's question.

"But only when we are eating-" Fred started.

"Or sleeping" George finished.

"Your older brother Warrington is quite a amiable chap to our Alicia, do forgive our dramatics we just like to poke a bit fun at ol' Cassius" Fred said with a smile. Alicia shook her head at the twins as they always took flattering to the extreme.

"What brings you lovely ladies to the shop?" George asked.

"Here for business or to play?" Fred asked.

"Just a visit. I thought I'd drop by and see how you were before Maua and I had lunch" Alicia said.

"When you coming back? We miss you terribly" George said with a pout.

"Next week boys. No sooner" Maura told them firmly enjoying the frivolity of the twins' behaviour in how they kept everything light and amusing.

"Rightio, shall we close the shop for lunch and a spot of tea with the ladies?" Fred asked George. The two looked at their watches and around the store that was empty due to the hour of the day.

"I don't remember inviting you" Alicia said.

"Please we all know you can't hold a conversation without us and we aren't going to pass up a chance to hear all about Warrington as kid or discuss your future nuptials" George said.

"Yes, you see Mrs Warrington or may I call you Maura, it's a lovely name" Fred said as he moved to Maura's side George took her other free side.

"Maura is fine" Maura told Fred.

"George and I are Alicia's 'work' parents as such Warrington has to ask us for Alicia's hand. We are very traditional people" Fred said, Maura nodded and tried to keep a straight face and not laugh at him.

"As such all this bed hopping business between them that's been going on I think is positively scandalous. These two kids should get hitched as it's only proper as Alicia has to maintain her impeccable reputation" George said.

"Oh of course I couldn't agree more" Maura said in a mockingly dry tone as Alicia was completely mortified and flustered by the conversation.

"Excellent, now let's take our little munchkin to lunch before she passes out from hunger and we can discuss the details" George said he tried to pinch Alicia's cheek but she slapped the hand away while pursing her lips not impressed at all.

"Yes, we'll go to Alicia's favourite café. You can order whatever you want-" Fred tarted only for George to cut him off.

"Within reason mate. Remember they wouldn't let you order that Badger and codfish soup" George reminded him.

"Too true" Fred said as he offered Maura his arm.

Warrington arrived home to find his mother and Alicia out in the back courtyard of his townhouse sharing tea. The two women were laughing hysterically about something when he stepped out to say hello.

"And what is it that you two ladies are laughing about?" Warrington asked as he kissed his mother on the cheek in greeting before kissing Alicia briefly on the lips in a more intimate greeting. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to Alicia.

"I was telling Maura about the time Fred and George tried a temporary sex change potions. It was an adaptation of the polyjuice potion. Anyway in the 24 hours they were 'ladies' and I use the term loosely" Alicia said as she Maura started laughing again "They learned a new appreciation for the female species"

"I'm sure" Warrington said as picked up a scone and cut it in half using Alicia's plate and utensils to ladel jam and cream on it.

"So how was your day?" Maura asked.

"Good, everything is going smoothly. The business really runs itself" Warrington said.

"As it has for many a century" Maura said.

"Indeed, so what else did you ladies get up to?" Warrington said before he took a bite of his scone.

"Well Alicia here performed a small bout of magic today. It was quite impressive" Maura said, Warrington looked to Alicia who made a face like she wasn't entirely impressed with herself as Maura was.

"I lifted a teapot and poured a cup of tea without thinking" Alicia said with a modest shrug.

"It is a good start and I applaud you for not making anything explode" Warrington said in a teasing tone.

"I think it was only luck" Alicia said.

"She too modest, I tried to encourage her do more but she refused to even try" Maura said

"Well Montague said she should rest" Warrington said as he saw Alicia was uncomfortable with the topic. He had spent the better part of his day doing business and contemplating the 'what if's' of their future. He loved her and having her in his life, pregnant or not he was going to marry her though if she were pregnant the marriage would have to come sooner than the months down the track as he had planned. No child of his was being born out of Wedlock as it was frowned upon greatly in the Wizarding World.

"Yes, he owes me 50 galleons" Maura remarked.

"Why?" Alicia asked.

"He said he could sell you both on the having a child to make Alicia magical again spiel" Maura said with a teasing smile.

"What is it with everyone wanting Alicia and I to produce a child so quickly?" Warrington asked casually as Alicia's response to Maura was to give a small groan of frustration and drop her head on Warrington's shoulder.

"Well I think I clearly stated before that I'm not getting younger but really I just enjoy watching you both react to my goading. Though let's be serious are you two planning on settling down?" Maura asked leaning forward with a conspiring look on her face as if someone would overhear them. Warrington leaned forward with a wicked smile.

"Well Mother, not for a while as I see no rush and I think Alicia would appreciate some time to enjoy the freedom of having her life back and with it the doors it will open. We are relatively younger than you Mother and as such have time to enjoy our youth" Warrington said before sitting back in his chaire casually taking a bite out of his scone. Maura chuckled as she looked from her son's impudence to Alicia enjoying the glow of the young woman's love for her son and vice versa.

"Alicia, you're late" Montague said as Alicia came into Warrington's Study two days later. She had to admit she enjoyed the luxury of having a healer come to her even if that healer was Montague. He sat in a wing chair by the fire looking completely relaxed and at home.

"You're early" Alicia told him, Montague looked at his watch and gave a shrug as she was indeed correct. She had spent the last two days resting in bed as her first day out bed had been a bit too much for her. She had already been chastised by Warrington about taking it easy as he made her promise not to leave the bed. So she obliged the first day as she had been incredibly tired and the second she enjoyed being positively lazy as she was not as fatigued. She answered letters to her friends and made plans to catch up.

She had even received a heartfelt apology letter from Angelina. She wasn't sure how she was going to face Angelina again as she was sure the woman would have a fit over the developments with Alicia and Warrington.

She and Warrington had a honest and serious conversation last night about where they felt they were heading. Alicia being a complete novice at having such a discussion listened to him and felt herself agreeing with nearly everything he said. He said he wanted to marry her and have kids but there was no rush as he knew she was just getting her bearings back and recovering. He didn't want to tie her down with commitments only that she should know he was very serious about her. She admitted she wasn't sure what was happening with her or what she was doing as everything she was doing in life generally was going with the flow. She did however make it very clear she was serious about him, it was the closest she could say to 'I love you' without saying. She was too afraid of rejection to say the words.

He asked her to move in with him and joked it was just for easy access to a warm and willing body to which she had laughed until he told her in all seriousness that he wanted to wake up with her every morning in his arms. She of course said yes and they celebrated in many intimate and pleasurable ways. She had unnervingly glowed again, it was becoming a thing for her but Warrington made no comments other than a smug one of how he loved that he was the only one who could make her do it.

Either way, mending fences with Angelina would be difficult as the woman disliked Warrington immensely for whatever reasons she had. Though Alicia didn't understand why she had to pay for it. It wasn't like Alicia was asking Angelina to have dinner with Warrington and her or to even socialise with him. She just had to accept that Warrington was a part of her life. Something easier said than done with Angelina.

"Well have a seat and we'll get started. You look well" Montague said he gestured to the chaise lounge and Alicia laid down on the chaise lounge.

"I feel well, where's Warrington?"

"Finishing up some business deal. Not to worry he sent word saying he'll be home for dinner. Though I don't know when I became you social secretary" Montague said with a shrug. He murmured the diagnostic incantation as Alicia said nothing anf laid there patiently as the swirls of white luminescent smoke swirled around her person for a few moments before disappearing.

"Spinnet, everything looks good" he drawled Alicia looked at him.

"Why do I hear a 'but' coming?" she asked.

"Do you want to tell me something, anything?" he asked.

"No" She said as there weren't enough galleons in the world to make her confess she literally glowed after an orgasm to Montague. Ok she did want to ask as she thought is weird and she had no clue where to start looking for answers. But she didn't as it was Montague, he'd probably make a crass comment that they should have sex or worse that he could only answer her if he watched. They both eyed one another oddly as if they both wanted to say something but didn't know how to or didn't have the courage until Montague spoke.

"Ok, I think I might take a few steps back first for safety reasons before I say something" Montague said Alicia felt confused as she watched him put some distance and a wing chair between them like he was ready to take cover. Alicia felt her patience wore thin when he turned the back of a wing chair to her as if he was creating a barrier or cover for himself.

"Montague!" Alicia said.

"You're pregnant" he informed her. Her jaw dropped in shock as that was the last thing she would believe him to say, he was even prepared to take cover behind a wing chair but still had the good graces to not duck yet.

"What?! No, impossible" Alicia said shaking her head refusing to believe him. He was playing a game, he had to be but he didn't smile as he knelt on the wing chair seat and rested his arms on the head of the wing chair.

"Actually it's very possible if you are a strong willed and very powerful witch which you are" Montague told her.

"No, he-we… no… There were charms used. I don't understand how this could happen" Alicia stuttered as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Well I've been reading up on a lot of research into the field of magical indexes in relation to a witch and wizard's overall health and longevity. There is a correlation between a magical being's power and their expected life span. Laymen's terms the more powerful you are magically the longer you'll live. Plenty of studies have proved this fact which is why I think you also survived that curse and all the drama thrown at you after because if I remember correctly you ranked second in our grade at school after Brenton which tells me your index score is incredibly high." Montague said,

"Brenton died at 20 years of age" Alicia told him. Magical index was the scale used for children when they started to display bouts of magic. The higher the child's score the more powerful they would be in their adulthood it was only a guideline to help the teachers at school understand the needs of the students better. Those with higher index scores had no trouble performing spells with little practice while others with a low index score tended to struggle more and needed more attention. A good example was Hermione Granger who had a higher magical index in comparison to Ron Weasley who was on the low magical index with Seamus Finnigan. Those with a higher magical index tended to excel in school and in the magical world.

"Brenton was killed in the war. But if he lived he would have lived to well over century and more. If he had kept a good diet and exercise regime but that is beside the point. The point being is that you still have magic coursing through you. Just not enough for the minimum requirements to perform any practiced magic or so I hypothesised. Which is why I warned you to control your emotions as your magic will act up to your subconscious wants and desires" Montage said.

"Are you saying I made myself pregnant?" Alicia asked feeling her ire rise.

"No, Warrington did that. Well both of you together but the point being is your magic knocked out the barriers allowing the pregnancy to occur because subconsciously you want to have Cassius's babies" he said, he ducked as Alicia tossed a pillow at his head. He felt lucky she wasn't exploding glassware and making books fly. Yet.

"You said it would take months for my magic to come back. That I might experience some uncontrolled magic but when you said that I thought you meant exploding glassware and flying books. You said NOTHING about me actually performing complicated spellwork unconsciously!" Alicia exclaimed as she was feeling angry at herself, angry at Montague for acting like it was all fun and games. She was also upset that she had made it happen but felt completely out of control.

"Well you are the first adult patient I've had with this type of curse and long term inability to perform magic. We are in new territory, not everything I say is going to happen, just majority of. So look at the bright side I'm going publish an original paper on this-"

"You will do no such thing" Alicia told him. Montague pouted.

"Spoilsport, you should be looking at the bright side. You're getting your magic back and you can rope Warrington into marriage outlive him like Maura did his father and live life how you want to on the Warrington riches. Though Warrington lives a healthier lifestyle than his father so you might have to wait a century" he mused.

"Don't be such an asshole. I don't give two shakes about Warrington's money and I never have" Alicia said shaking her head.

"Yes, I know. You love him and he loves you blah blah which is what got you knocked up with his kid" Montague said being his flippant and hedonistic self.

"I'm going to strangle you in a minute. If you don't shut up" Alicia said, she was pregnant for all of three days it was like someone had pressed fast forward on her. She just got back her life and while she wanted a family she wanted to do things she missed out on the last 4 years before she settled down. Looks like her body and unconscious desires had other plans for her. There was the fact she'd have to tell Warrington and it would change everything, she started to panic and hyperventilate as it was all too much.

"Hey, it's going to be fine. No need to hyperventilate you're breathing for two and anyway you should relax it's still early. But if you plan on keeping the love child we gotta start a regime of diet and potions today" Montague told her as he left his barricade and joined her on the lounge he leaned her forward and rubbed her back as she calmed down slightly.

"Your bedside manner needs work. How can I be pregnant?" she said, it was just one of those bad jokes where the girl doesn't have sex and the first time she does whammo! She's knocked up.

"Didn't Professor McGonagall tell you how when a mummy witch and daddy wizard really love one another they have special way of 'hugging'- Ow Geez Spinnet!" Montague said as Alicia had punched him hard in the arm. He rubbed his arm looking at her with amusement.

"I know the logistics of copulation" She told him darkly.

"Look I know neither of you were planning on having a child but look at it this way-" Montague started only to be cut off.

"You are not delivering my baby. Let's get that one out of the way" Alicia told him firmly.

"Why not? I'm a highly sought after Healer. I get showered with gifts and bribes to deliver babies all the time" Montague said looking offended.

"I don't want you seeing or being anyway near my lady bits" Alicia told him.

"I'm near your lady bits now" he told her as he tried not to laugh.

"Montague, you know what I mean!" Alicia told him.

"I've seen lady bits before" Montague said before she punched his arm again. "Ok stop hitting me, I take it you are planning to keep the kid. Which is good because your genetics and Warrington's mixed together will make one incredibly cute baby and if it's a girl she will be smoking hot when she is 18-Ow ow ow" Montague said, Alicia grabbed him by the ear making him wince in pain.

"If I have a girl and she is completely off limits to you. You lecherous man" Alicia told him before releasing his ear.

"Geez you've only been pregnant for three days and you're already a violent little viper. For the record I would never date my oldest and closest friend's daughter no matter how hot she is. There are some lines I won't cross. That and I'm going to be Godfather so it just wouldn't be right" Montague said making a face at the thought. Alicia looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Godfather? Don't you think it's a little premature to be making such statements?" Alicia asked.

"No especially with my success rate of baby experience" Montague said.

"Because I personally would rather have Lee as the Godfather of my child than you" Alicia said.

"He can be Godfather to the second kid. I already shotgun this one" Montague said with a smile as Alicia gave an exasperated sigh.

"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you of all people" Alicia whined as she dropped her head in hands.

"Awwh but it's fun" Montague said.

"Don't make me punch you again" Alicia warned him. He held his hands up in surrender.

"Well before you get violent I should mention you'll have to find new employment"

"Why?"

"Because potion brewing and pregnancy do not mix. The fumes from a lot potion ingredient interactions can be devastating on the development of children in the womb." Montague told her.

"You just keep making my day better" Alicia told him dryly.

"Hey you did it to yourself. Well Warrington helped too, don't forget to spread the blame around for this" he told her as if it was really good advice for the current situation. Alicia stifled the urge to slap him over the head.

"Thanks for the advice. Anything else I should know?" Alicia asked dryly.

"Mmm yes, I'm going to write you a prescription for Prenatal Potions. Take a shot glass of it every morning with breakfast. I'm told the most popular flavour is chocolate mint though personally I'm a fan of blackberries and cream"

"You have taken Prenatal potions before?" Alicia asked in disbelief

"I was in a healer program and all the cool kids were drinking it" he said mockingly before he moved to the desk and pulled out a piece of parchment out his bag that was sitting on the desk. He picked up a quill and started scratching away. "You'll have to take it religiously throughout the pregnancy and after if you decide to breastfeed. It's all just vitamins and minerals no harmful chemicals or anything that would harm you. You'll feel good for taking it. Anyway the good thing is you'll have the time to figure out your favourite flavour"

"Yes because that's my biggest concern is choosing the right flavour" Alicia told him sarcastically.

"Trust me it will be difficult. Just remember every morning and tell the Weasley twins you can't brew potions. Stock shelves or anything else but no brewing. Tell them doctor's orders as I want you to recover fully before you start inhaling fumes of whatever they make in that shop" he told her as he finished scribbling out a prescription for her.

"Are you going to tell Warrington?" Alicia asked. Montague handed her the prescription.

"No, not unless you want me to until then I'm bound by healer patient confidentiality. But if I were you I'd tell him today just to see his reaction. That and you don't have to lie about the potions. He loves you" he told her as he stood up from his seat beside her. He straightened his cloak and moved to pick up his bag, he turned to face her with a smile. "Oh before I forget. Congratulations" he said before he apparated with a small popping noise leaving Alicia to her thoughts.

TBC~ Next time…We will see how Alicia mends fences with Angelina… catches up with her friends and who will she confide in first about her pregnancy? How will she tell Warrington? How will he react? Until next week :-)