Four Months Later
"I'm glad we decided to send them home for Yule celebrations," Salazar said. He sat in an overstuffed chair in Godric's office, feet rested on the mahogany desk.
"As am I," Rowena said. She sat very near Salazar and Helga took notice.
"I'm sure you two would love to be without the presence of children," Godric said with a small smile.
Helga laughed.
"Whatever do you mean, Ric?" Salazar asked.
"Nothing, Salazar. It has just been apparent that Rowena and yourself enjoy each other's company."
"Well, yes," Rowena said, "but no more than you enjoy Helga's."
Helga made a retching noise while Godric's smile twisted into a disgusted grimace.
Rowena laughed, "I know what you two are hinting at, and I don't find it amusing."
"Neither do I," Salazar said.
"Fine, we shall not talk about your budding relationship." Helga said. She stood and said, "I'm going to bed. We have a long day of grading essays ahead of us."
"Very true. And the essays will be more extensive next semester. Fifty more eleven-year-olds have signed up for the roster."
"Ugh. Joy," Rowena said sarcastically.
Godric stood and made his way up the staircase that led to his bedroom. Salazar and Rowena took heed and left the office, making their way toward the grand staircase to part ways.
"They know," Rowena said.
"Yes," Salazar said.
"Do you care?" Rowena asked.
"No," he said.
"Your room or mine?"
"My room is closer."
"Rowena this is getting ridiculous. You have no fever. You aren't sweating. You are pregnant," Helga said as she held her friend's long dark mane of hair as she emptied the contents of her stomach into a basin.
"No," she said as she wiped her mouth, "That is not possible."
"Isn't it?" Helga asked. "Why lie to me Rowena? I know about you and Salazar. You know I know about you and Salazar. Why lie?"
"I… I…" she began to sob.
Helga held her friend, because in the end, that's all she could do.
"The children are noticing," Rowena said as she draped her blue robes around her ever-expanding stomach.
"The children, especially your children, are very perceptive for their ages. Twelve isn't too young to know about pregnancy. Have you told Salazar?" Helga asked. She grabbed more fabric from Rowena's bed and magically set her needle to work, sewing bigger robes for her friend.
"No. I don't plan on it," Rowena said decisively.
"Rowena. You are a very smart woman. You obviously know in a little less than five months-,"
"Yes, Helga, I am perfectly aware. I will tell him as soon as he asks me. Surely he sees my broadening waist. Surely he sees my spreading feet. Right?"
"Men are quite stupid."
The two girls laughed.
"Salazar!" Rowena yelled.
"Yes?" he asked. He looked up at this woman who was much taller than he was. He was on his knee so the height difference was much more apparent.
"Are you serious?" she asked. Rowena was never one to gush but she was doing so now.
"Quite. You are the mother of my future child, and you are the woman I love. Why wouldn't I be serious?"
"Yes. The answer is yes," she held out her left hand. Salazar tapped his wand upon her finger and a gold band materialized. He then tapped the band and a sapphire gem sprouted in the middle of the ring.
Rowena, the one who never gushes, cried as she hugged her new fiancé.