Summary: Astoria was hoping to get her project finished before the arrival of their child.

Rated: K

Genre: Family

Warning Tag: References Pregnancy and Medical Issues

Competition/Challenge Block

Written for/Stacked with: The Houses Competition (Year 8); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 4)

THC: Slytherin - Astronomy; Standard ([Color] Orange; [Item] Handmade Quilt)

MC4A: Fireworks [Little Rascals; All About Family; Tight Knit]; Garden [Lawn Sculptures (Needle & Thread)]

Word Count: 1,106

Beta: Dhrish, Ash, Hope

Capturing Sunshine

Astoria hummed You Are My Sunshine quietly to herself while she carefully threaded the needle with soft marigold-orange thread. Her hands shook ever so slightly at the task. They had been shaking more often lately, but she wasn't going to allow it to keep her from sewing. Dizzy made a new square to be added to the baby blanket, and Astoria was more than happy to add it so the house-elf could finish another patch, which turned out to be far more detailed and intricate than what Astoria could manage with shaky hands.

But hand-stitching was all she could do—once she got started, that is—because when her focus was on sewing, her hands didn't bother her at all, strange as it seemed. A sewing machine's vibrations aggravated her hands, otherwise she'd opt to use one instead. She knew that wouldn't last for long based on the progression of her illness as the pregnancy slowly approached the third trimester.

The small quilt that was draped over her lap had been constructed using various shades of orange fabrics. The small square patch Astoria was currently adding was a bright orange sunrise that was going to rest in between the two fruit tree patches consisting of oranges and apricot respectively. The first fruit trees that started her orchard, symbols of what she and Draco had lost, and memories to hold onto what had come since.

These particular trees were designed to illustrate the four seasons in each corner of its branches. The autumn leaves of burnt orange and browns cascaded to the ground below, their dormant branches were above, the vibrancy of spring yellows and greens bursting beside them with its flowers, and the deep summer greens and life flourishing, sharing the ripe fruit of their autumn counterpart to illustrate their harvest time.

Astoria flinched then, laying down the thread and needle to gently rub at the little bump of her belly hidden under the vibrant orange quilt draped over it. She smiled lightly, feeling her little one kick against her hand.

"You like that song, don't you? I am certainly glad that you had a nice nap, but you shifting and kicking up a storm after it is making it hard to work on this blanket for you, sweetheart," she spoke softly, lightly rubbing her stomach in the meantime.

She looked over the picture that had been created by the patches and felt her eyes tearing up at it. It looked so lovely, with the sunrays of dandelion yellow-orange, the swirly clouds with their gold trim, the blue birds contrasting brilliantly against the warm orange and yellow of the sunrise she was working on adding. She hoped that it would be finished before their arrival; there were still about four more patches that needed to be added. They were relatively simple little hills with baskets of various fruits in them. There were also plans of adding a little horse-drawn wagon with a child loading up the fruit, but she was waiting for her baby to be born before making headway on that. It would require a lot of detailed work, after all.

She flexed her hands, hoping to stave off the cold so she could finish the patch before bed. There was only one more side…

Astoria flinched again, letting out a little gasp as the baby kicked exceptionally hard this time. Of course, the amplifying charms Draco incorporated into the wards signaled him to Apparate to the sitting room she had tucked herself away in, and he quickly came to check on her. He was at her side in a heartbeat.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, carefully removing the orange quilt from her lap to get a better look at her.

She was wearing her nightgown, but the chill that came from the window had her shivering once the warmth of the quilt was moved.

"Y-yeah. Little one is being quite—" Astoria hissed between her teeth, her hand moving to her side. "Active… I think… they just kicked near my spine and… ouch!"

Draco wrapped an arm around her, offering support while he thought about what to do.

"Let's move you back to bed, which you should be in anyway," he gently scolded. "I'll get Dizzy to bring you a hot water bottle and some tea."

"I wanted a change of—" She flinched, swallowing back her protest. "Ye-eah… okay."

He shifted in a way in order to lift her up in his arms. She always was on the lighter side, and it was safer to walk than Apparating. Turning for the door, Draco cradled Astoria expertly in his arms as he started to move.

"Wait, my sewing," she said, trying to reach for the quilt and spool of orange thread.

"It can wait."

"No, it can't," she responded more firmly. "Just let me grab it, please?"

Sighing, Draco went back to the chair, moving close enough for Astoria to pluck the orange quilt, thread, and needle off the end table and placed it carefully on her bump.

"Thank you, love."

"Of course."

They exited the sitting room and Draco moved down the corridor back to their bedroom. He glanced down at Astoria, who now rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed.

"I'm sure you've answered this before," Draco said, pushing open the ajar door to their room with his other shoulder. "Forgive me if so, but why did you choose orange as the main color for the baby's blanket? It is such a bold palette choice. I know you love your cooler shades, is all."

"Because our little one is the sunshine in our lives," Astoria murmured, gripping the quilt in her hand. "And I want to have a physical form of that warmth for them to hold onto and build their memories with, so orange felt like a good choice."

Draco couldn't help but smile at that. "I love you and your beautiful mind, 'Stori."

He laid her down on the bed before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Now, please stay in bed, Healer's orders."

He helped adjust the pillows and handed the vibrant orange quilt to her with the needle and spool of thread.

"Thank you," Astoria said, flinching again as she adjusted herself. "I ho-hope I can finish it in time…"

"You will," Draco assured. "I'll have Dizzy up momentarily with tea and a hot water bottle. You alright if I…"

Astoria flexed her hands before she started to stitch the orange thread through the side of the patch. "Hmm?"

"Nevermind. I'll, uh, I'll be right back. Going to grab my work and have tea with you."

"That sounds wonderful, love."