Chapter 27

"I don't have anything to give in the way of a dowry" Cillian told Warrington a few days later. They were in the main room of the bar, it was quiet but then it was the morning. Alicia were a few tables away talking about her pregnancy and health and from Alicia's expression and Montague's it was easy to tell she was suffering from Montague contantly baiting her and her patience was running low.

"I don't need nor want a Dowry. I only want your permission and blessing. Nothing more" Warrington said looking to Cillian as it was rare for the two of them to talk one on one as they had Alicia and Maura as a buffer between them.

"Well you'll have to settle for this" Cillian said as he placed a velvet square box on the table. Warrington opened the case and inside there were three rings. Two plain rings made from precious metal with Celtic saying engraved on the inside and an engagement ring. It was of a beautiful Celtic design with two brilliant cut diamonds sitting on the sides of a 7mm oval Emerald. The cut and clarity of the jewels were exceptional for their age.

"Is tú mo rogha. You are my chosen one" Cillian translated for him. "This wedding set has been in my family for generations the only possession we never parted with no matter how hungry we were. Now I know traditionally the wedding set comes from the groom's side but these hold great sentimental value and history. I was going to give them to my son but he died in second war before he had a chance to settle. I want you and Alicia to have them with my blessing" Cillian told him.

"I'm honoured to accept them" Warrington said, he thought the rings were beautiful and understated elegance much like Alicia. They would suit well and he preferred the plain cut of the wedding rings as all the Warrington Wedding sets were garnished with jewels and heavy designs.

"Be warned these are charmed rings. It's also of the reasons I'm giving you my blessing now"

"What kind of charms?" Warrington asked.

"Oh the usual fidelity charms but there are some special charms in place. It's old magic but strong, it will protect you both." he told him.

"How?" Warrington asked.

"I honestly don't know but I know that I don't want to bury my granddaughter. I've buried enough of my family in one lifetime, the next one in the ground will be me" he said gruffly. Warrington could tell it bothered Cillian greatly to be the oldest and only family Alicia had. He couldn't imagine having to bury anyone he loved as his family had the good luck of surviving. Well the females did, the men on the other hand were cursed to die relatively young at the age of 60. He hoped that he would survive longer due to his healthier lifestyle.

"Well hopefully we won't have to bury you for a few years" Warrington said.

"Awwh you growing sweet on me boy?" Cillian said.

"I feel there is no right answer to that question" Warrington said, Cillian laughed out loud at his comment.

"Well, now that's out of the way we should go over before my grandaughter makes something explode. I have very expensive stock on the shelves" Cillian said as he looked over to Montague and Alicia who now looked ready to murder him.

"Not a bad idea, Montague and Alicia are like oil and water" Warrington said, he pocketed the velvet box and rose from his chair.

"How are you feeling? I know I did a quick diagnostics test and everything is fine but we're talking mentally and emotionally" Montague asked Alicia. She moved onve on the bench she was sitting at to make space for Warrington.

"I'm fine" Alicia told Montague.

"Liar, you can tell me. I have served as confidante to many of my pregnant patients and they are never fine. They are usually freaking out about something" He said casually as he took a sip of single malt.

"I'm not lying. I'm fine" Alicia said through gritted teeth.

"Geez calm down Spinnet, I'm not interested in knowing how short your fuse is" Montague told her as the crackled around them. He felt sympathy for Warrington as he was sure if air cracked on a minor annoyance he could only imagine what kind of magic a full blown rage could produce.

"Yeah well I'm very close to hitting the reset button on you." She told Montague as Warrington sat down beside her and ran a hand down her back. the frustration she had with Montague lessened as she relaxed towards Warrington she didn't know how he managed it but he had the magic touch.

"Sounds dirty, where is my reset button?" Montague asked, Cillian who walked over to the table to join them heard the conversation smacked Montague up the back of the head. Montague looked shocked but otherwise amused as he smoothed the back of his head. Alicia smirked as her grandfather sat down at the table.

"Thank you for enlightening me" Montague said dryly as he hadn't expected to get clipped over the head.

"You shouldn't be so flippant. Now tell me what you're doing here" Cillian told him.

"Yes Sir, I'm here to check up on Spinnet. See how she's doing and make sure everything is going well as we are at week 7" Montague said.

"Why do I feel like you have me scrawled in your diary keeping track?" Alicia asked as she placed her hands on the table and leaned forward slightly.

"I have a secretary who is quite proficient at her job" Montague told her.

"Right" Alicia said.

"No, you're right. I sit up at night and scrawl your name next to mine in a note book along with baby names because we shouldn't have to hide our love. I know the baby is mine" Montague said in mocking fashion as he placed a hand on top of hers, but yanked his hand back hissing in pain as his fingers glowed red. "No need to burn me, I was jesting" he told Alicia.

"I didn't do it on purpose" Alicia said defensively, Warrington smothered a smile as he remembered his mother complaining about Montague's father being a flirt with her when she was pregnant and how she would electrocute the man. He wondered idly if it was just the Montague men who would suffer. It was comforting to know Alicia had some self defensive measures protecting her.

"You call yourself a healer and yet you know nothing of pregnant witches" Cillian scoffed.

"All of my pregnant patients want my advice and presence unlike Alicia here who doesn't want me anywhere near her lady bits" Montague said with a chuckle as he continued to touch her hand and purposefully burning himself and examining his fingers.

"Will you stop touching me?" Alicia snapped at him as she could see he was a mix of curious and amused something that irked her especially since she was the subject of interest. Warrington smothered a laugh as the two acted like bickering siblings.

"Sorry, it's rather amusing. Kind of like being told a plate is hot and not to touch it. But you end up with the overwhelming curiosity to see if that person is telling the truth" Montague said.

"I'll break your hands if you don't stop." Cillian told him, that stopped Montague in his tracks as he was sure Cillian would keep his word.

"Curiosity satisfied, tell me have you been purposefully using your magic?" Montague asked as he sat back in his chair and picked up his drink.

"No" Alicia told him.

"Accidental magic?" he asked.

"Some but just turning lights on and off"

"And burning me which means you'll have to find a healer from Gryffindor House or International school. You need a healer you can trust"

"I-"

"I'm not offended Spinnet, you don't know each other well enough to trust me in something as intimate as your pregnancy. In time you will hopefully let your guard down but for now and during the pregnancy you need to do what is best for you. As such I suggest Dr Kessell, she works internationally as a concierge healer, I catch up with her regularly. I'll send word to her and see if she has an opening for you, if you'd like?" Montague said.

"Uh sure, thank you" Alicia said she was momentarily stunned at seeing such an understanding and empathetic side of Montague.

"No problem, I'll let you know either way and if she can't take you on I'll make a list of other healers I believe would be suitable" Montague told her.

"Ok" she said with a nod.

"Look, your next healer will go through all the details you need to know about the pregnancy but I do recommend that you gain some weight you know a couple kilos just to round out the backside and get a nice rack going-OW!" Montague said as Alicia had stood up when he said backside and poked him in the forehead with her finger burning him making him curse in pain. She smiled satisfied with herself and sat back in her chair.

"I was wondering if it was both ways" Alicia said with a chuckle. The old Montague was back with full force but now she had a weapon to use against him.

"Seriously? Warrington control your woman" Montague said as he rubbed his forehead, there was a faint red spot were she had touched him.

"You deserved it" Warrington told him with a chuckle as he wrapped an around Alicia's shoulders, apparently his traits were starting to rub off onto her as he would have done the same to Montague if he were in her shoes. Cillian found it hilarious as he was laughing at Montague's burn.

"I was giving sound medical advice" Montague said defensively as he rubbed his forehead.

"Telling me to round out my ass and get a rack with a couple of kilos is not sound advice it's being a pig." Alicia told Montague.

"Same diff, but you do need to up your kilo joule intake as you'll need the energy for both you and baby, it doesn't give you a license to eat cake and other sugary crap. Just more fruit, veg and lean meats. Also more yoga ok?" Montague told her.

"Right" Alicia said.

"It's a good form of exercise that isn't taxing on your energy and will keep you lean. I have many beautiful and flexible pregnant women who said yoga helped them a lot during the pregnancy and the labour" he told her, he even moved back slightly as if to save himself from being burned by her.

"I'll keep that in mind" Alicia told him.

"Good, now as much as I'd love to stay and chat but I'm on call in London so I have to get back" Montague remarked as he checked his pocket watch.

"Thanks for coming out" Alicia said.

"Anytime, seriously just send an owl and I'll drop by. Take it easy Spinnet. Mr O'Loughlin. Warrington" he said bidding them farewell with a tilt of his head, Cillian nodded in return.

"I'll walk with you to the post office" Warrington said.

"Alright" Montague said, Warrington gave Alicia a brief kiss goodbye and rose from his seat and walked Montague out. Cillian continued to chuckle and shake his head.

"you should of slapped him" Cillian said.

"Next time" Alicia said, Cillian reached across the table and held her hand smiling at her.

"I'm glad you decided to stay, I've missed you" Cillian said to her.

"It's a trial period" she told him as she didn't want him to get attached to her being around permanently and also to remind herself that she and Warrington were just trying it out. She had been reticent in staying but now she was in Ireland, she found a certain amount of contentment had settled into her being.

It probably helped that she had Maura and Cillian around when Warrington was working, Cillian popped in for meals and Maura was a constant but comforting presence. She was still working for the twins via owl but luckily the paperwork was broken up by Maura taking her away for a walk or to do something with the renovations of the house.

"Still I'm glad you're here. Now would you like a slice of cake and tea?" he asked.

"In a moment" Alicia said.

"Ok" Cillian told her.

"Grandfather, why won't you give Warrington and I your blessing to get married?" Alicia asked him.

"Why is it so important to you both?" Cillian asked her.

"It's not to me but it means a lot to Cassius. Can't you see he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me? he could have any woman but he wants me-"

"And that child" Cillian told her.

"He also has been trying very hard to get along with you. So what is holding you back?" Alicia asked as she wondered what was making her Grandfather hold back in giving his blessing.

"Nothing, I'm just not ready yet" he told her. It was true he wasn't ready to let her go but he couldn't hold her back from what she wanted.

"Will you be ready soon?" Alicia asked he chuckled at the hope in her expression.

"Why are you so eager to marry?" he asked her.

"I don't know, I just love him and I can't wait, I also want what's best for my child. My parents were married when I was born-" Alicia started but Cillian cut her off.

"That was different" he told her.

"The only difference is that we put the cart before the horse. I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. Will you please give us your blessing?" Alicia asked him.

"When I'm ready, now do you want that cake and tea?" Cillian told her, he wasn't going to tell her he already gave his blessing as he'd rather let Warrington surprise her and for it to be special. If the boy failed he would have Cillian to answer to.

"Sure" Alicia said, Cilian smiled as he gave her kiss on the forehead and got up to get the tea and cake.

2 weeks later, Warrington rubbed a hand slowly down Alicia's flank and to her slightly swollen lower abdomen as she slept on her side. He didn't want to admit it out loud but he was finding her pregnancy an incredible turn on even though she was only 9 weeks. He found the thought of her growing with their child beautiful which was a real turnaround from his previous school of thought. But then he wrote it off to the vision he saw and felt, the emotional attachments that he now yearned for and wanted in the future. Feeling that sense of contentment, love was enough to sustain him.

He just wished he knew the crime that landed him in Gaol. Somehow he knew it had to be connected to Alicia. He had the power to stop her death but it meant sacrificing his freedom. It was a small price to pay and as such it meant he would have to cherish every moment he had with Alicia until then.

He was glad he had Cillian's permission to wed Alicia so that when Warrington was locked away their son would be a legitimate heir to Warrington Industries. It was important that Alicia and their boy would be set up for life. His boy, he still remembered every small and precious detail of his face. Now all he had to do was find the best way to propose. He figured once they were alone away from his mother and Cillian. He wanted it to be private and special which meant tonight as they would be alone in their London town house. They had floo travelled two days ago to London as they had to attend a charity event being held by the Malfoys, the whole of upper society were expected to be in attendance. To not show up would feed rumours that were true but Warrington and Alicia didn't want confirmed yet.

Alicia gave a throaty sigh as she shifted in her sleep and turned to face him. She moved her hands on to his chest he felt her right leg slowly come up to rest on his hip. Even asleep she was propositioning him with sex. The temptation was incredibly hard to resist as he slowly moved a hand to her right leg and slowly moved it up her thigh, enjoying the softness of her skin.

He watched her face as she slowly woke up with a smile curving her beautiful lips. "That hand better mean business" she said in a low and husky tone. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him with a sleepy gaze.

"Good Morning" he said to her as he pulled her hips close to his, making her very aware of his desire.

"Morning, so are you going to be a tease this morning?" Alicia asked him.

"Maybe, I do enjoy watching you squirm." He said as Alicia's breath quickened slightly as he moved his hand slowly and tantalizing trail up her inner thigh and slowly drawing back before moving forward again.

"You're a cruel man" she told him.

"Oh yes I'm very cruel, now kiss me" he told her as he rolled his hips making them both moan from the contact but it wasn't enough. The pyjamas and Alicia's knickers an annoying barrier between them that would have to go.

"Bossy too" Alicia told him before she kissed him in a slow and languid manner as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. Warrington groaned in pleasure from the contact as it was incredibly intoxicating but before he could enjoy it Alicia pulled out of his grasp and ran to the ensuite. He winced as he heard Alicia upending her stomach, it definitely killed his libido and concern took over as he was finding it hard to cope with her morning sickness which was really all day sickness as she was sick on and off during the days and parts of the night.

He got up and out of bed and walked into the bathroom and pulled Alicia's hair away from her face. Luckily for him, it seemed that she hadn't been able to bring anything up yet but unlucky for Alicia as her body kept dry retching against her will. He rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

"Oh why can't I be a glowing pregnant glamazon of a woman with no symptoms?" she groaned as her body slumped from its effort giving her a minor reprieve.

"because you didn't start this pregnancy completely healthy. I've read that most women suffer nausea and many other unpleasant symptoms in the first thirteen weeks. Some suffer it the entire pregnancy" he told her. Alicia's eyes went wide at the sheer thought of suffering longer than thirteen weeks.

"Oh no, that's not on" she told him.

"I don't think you get a choice, there's also a lot of talk that baby boys make the mother more nauseous due to the extra testosterone-"

"That utter bull" Alicia told him, her eyes glazed over and Warrington held her hair again as she turned to the commode. She paled and took slow breaths for a few minutes it was almost like a countdown before colour filled her cheeks. "False alarm" she said slightly relieved as she sat back on her feet.

"Think you're ready to go back to bed for a rest while I rustle up a light breakfast?" he asked her.

"I won't say no" she said, Warrington held out his hands to her and she gratefully took them. He lifted her up off the floor.

"We don't have to be ready until ten as Dr Kessell is coming directly to us. You can relax" Warrington told her.

"Is Montague coming along?" Alicia asked.

"No, he's busy with Quidditch season." Warrington said.

"that and he's afraid I'll burn him for his rude comments" Alicia said as Warrington helped her back into bed.

"It is rather amusing to watch you and Montague quibble over inane subjects before you burn him for taking it too far. You know he is still sporting a hand print on his face" Warrington said with a chuckle as he found out the mark took three days to disappear and Montague had to use muggle make up to cover it as no spell would cover it.

"That's what he gets for calling me flat butt" Alicia grumbled, her mission of putting on weight was not going well with the morning sickness kicking her butt. In fact she was incredibly disheartened by the fact she couldn't put on weight but Maura assured her the weight would come as soon as she learned to relax and take things as they came.

She was glad that Maura was around as she had experience being pregnant and as a mother that she shared with Alicia. Information and tips Alicia would have gotten from her own mother if she were alive. She tried not to think about the fact her parents weren't around, it made her feel a deep sense of loss as she missed them for not being around to see her grow up but also missing her future. She knew it was not their fault they died but it made her sad to think of them. Instead she focussed on what she had in her life. She had Warrington that if someone told her months ago would happen she would have told them to check her into St Mungo's for a head check. But he was turning out to be one of the best people to walk into her life.

He had turned her life around for the better, gave her everything she needed and wanted. Maura was a godsend for her as she seemed to be able to calm Alicia from her crazy moments and they gave her a chance to reconnect with her Grandfather. She loved the family they had formed even if Cillian was good at riling Warrington and still hadn't given his blessing. Something that frustrated Alicia as she knew it meant a lot to Warrington as it meant Cillian accepted him into their side of family. Maura of course was automatically accepted and well loved by Cillian as he kept showering her with compliments and charm. The two had become good friends and quite the team in riling Warrington for amusement sake.

"I couldn't agree more" he said.

"You don't think my ass is flat?" Alicia asked him as he tucked her into the bed.

"Your ass is fine and I would love it no matter what size it is" he told her.

"Good answer" She told him. Warrington chuckled.

"I'll be back with breakfast" he told her.

TBC-Hopefully cya all soon and thank you for all the reviews! :-D