I secluded myself in my room for the next couple of weeks. Only really exiting to cook the meals and totake the twins out for a walk every afternoon with Tom. His mother sometimes coming along with us.
It was now the middle of March, and Narcissa had yet to give birth to her baby.
I sighed tiredly as I walked through the trail leading to the garden.
It was mid-morning when Bellatrix came running towards us waving her hands wildly in the air.
"Bella, what's wrong?" I asked, looking over at Tom, who had Adley bouncing happilyin his arms.
He was staring at Bellatrix, a scowl on his face, waiting for the answer.
She was leaning down, her hands on her knees as she gasped for air. Her dark curls pouring over her shoulders, and onto the front of her face, hiding her.
"Narcissa—she's having the baby. She said she needs you to be there." She gasped looking at Tom with wide eyes.
"You don't mind, do you, Tom?" I asked, bouncing a sleeping Tommy in my arms.
"No, not at all. Just slip them back into their pram... I'll stay out here with them, so they don't have to hear all the noise." He said as he put Adley back in the pram.
"Who would've thought seeing Tom Riddle push a pram around with his children in it could be so amusing?" Bellatrix whispered to me, cackling as we rushed back towards the house.
I giggled with her, "Don't let him hear you say that. It's enough that he offered to stay out here with the twins by himself. If he hears you, I doubt he'll offer to do it again any time soon." I giggled, as we rushed up the stairs that lead into the house.
The next three hours slugged by, Narcissa had incredible difficulty having her son. It seemed every time she contracted instead of pushing, her son went higher into her womb.
I finally decided to help by using the only thing I could think of. I pull out the phial of amber liquid, uncorking it before I put it to Narcissa's lips.
"Is that what I think it is?" Andi asked shocked, looking up at me with wide eyes.
"It is," I confirmed, my eyes never leaving Narcissa.
"But you said there was only that small amount from whatyou made left. Do you think it'll help her?" She asked me, as Narcissa let out another moan of pain.
"It should. He'll be here soon. I'll get the blood replenishing potion, healing potion, pain-relieving potion, and energy restorer while I am at it." I said, leaving the room.
I quickly made my way into my room and grabbed the four phials. I was just about to go back into the room with Narcissa and Andi when my path was intercepted.
"Why are you all letting her deliver your babies?" She asked.
"Because she studied to become a healer. She knows what she is doing. Now move out of my way, you daft twat." I said, pushing past her.
The moment the baby was born I quickly made my way over and gave her all four potions, one after the other.
Narcissa looked too pale, her breathing was labored, I worried she wouldn't make it if we didn't give her the potions.
Just as I was about to give her the energy restorer, she looked at me smiling.
"I did it." She whispered triumphantly yet exhausted, smiling down at her bald, red, wrinkled baby.
I smiled back at her and gave her the energy restore. Her face went from tired to relieved, and her breathing slowly became normal.
"I'll go get Lucius," I said, smiling at them.
Lucius quickly rushed to the room, leaving me in the sitting room. I smiled and made to the kitchen and washing my hands in the sink before I made my way back out to the garden.
Tom sat under a tree reading a book as the pram slowly rocked back and forth. The picture of content.
Shaking my head in amusement, I quietly crept around the trees, and slowly made my way towards Tom.
When I was an inch away I quickly threw myself onto his back covering his eyes with my hands.
"Well, hello handsome. What are you doing out here all by yourself on a beautiful day like this? Do you need some company?" I whispered in his ear.
He chuckled, pulling me into his lap, leaving the book he was read next to him, forgotten.
We gazed into each other's eyes for a while, loving smiles plastered onourfaces as we did so.
He leaned in to kiss me, giving me a small peck on the lips before his eyes flicked back towards the house. A wide smile spreading on his face as he looked.
"What's got you so cheerful now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him in question.
"Your father isn't too happy with me, at the moment." He muttered as I pulled him in for another kiss.
I shrugged, causing him to smirk at me, shaking his head before his lips met my own.
"He absolutely loathes me." He said cheerfully, causing me to laugh.
"Are we done here? Do you wish to stay out here longer or go inside again?" He asked me, a sly smirk beginning to pull on the corners of his lips.
Before I could answer we heard fast approaching footfalls in our direction, causing our heads to snap simultaneously in the direction they approached.
We were met with the sight of Tom's mother looking deathly pale as she rushed towards us.
"Merope, is something wrong? What's going on?" I asked, my eyes flicking briefly to Tom, only to be met with his confused gaze.
"It's--it's Leilah, she left last night. She wouldn't say where she was headed, she just—she just left. I—I just received an owl from—from St. Mungo's, saying that she was found unconscious. She's was badly beaten, beyond anything they can do. This morning when the nurse... they say she may be—she could begone." She said, looking at me, tears streaking her pale face.
"What was she doing all the way over there when we're all out here? It doesn't make sense. Who would do this to her?" Tom asked, as his arms tightened around me.
"I have an idea who," I said, looking at both of them as I moved out of Tom's hold and got to my feet.
"The Russian bloke who attacked us two years ago?!" Tom growled, getting to his feet too, almost dropping me onto my arse.
"This is getting out of hand. I'll summon everyone to be here by tonight. We've got to do something before he begins his killing spree once more." Tom said, his fists clenched tight.
I nodded, placing the tips of my fingers to the back of my neck, concentrating as I began to mutter 'Morsmordre'. I watched as the sunny sky began to turn gray, black pitches of smoke traveling through the gray sky, as our familiar friends began to appear with black smoke around them.
They all eyed us, curiously as they stood around us in anticipation.
I walked over to where the pram stood. My eyes automatically scanning my sleeping babies, before I turned to facethe group that had just arrived.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why you were all summoned here... To make this brief, I'm sure you all recall the bloke we fought two years ago..." I said, looking over at Tom, silently telling him to continue.
"He's back. We need to gather everyone who fought with us last. Be on the lookout for Peter Pettigrew, we believe that he's now working with the bloke. If you happen to run into him, you are to bring him to me. You may inflict pain, but he is to be left alive. I want the pleasure of killing him myself..." He said as he paced before us, his hands behind his back.
"My Lord?" Dave Dolohov asked.
"Yes, Dolohov?" He asked, rolling his eyes as he answered.
"Who is the woman? Can she be trusted?" The man questioned, hesitantly.
"That Dolohov is my mother," Tom replied, distantly. "As it turns out I also have, had a twin sister. I say had because as it turns out, she may now be dead, thanks to the stupid bloke we all fought two years ago. Need I tell you what this means?" He asked.
"No sir." Everyone answered simultaneously.
"Great, nowleave. Remember to be on the lookout for Pettigrew. He is not to set a foot into headquarters. If he does, you bring him to me. Immediately. Are we clear?" He commanded in a calm voice.
"Yes, sir." The group replied.
When everyone was gone I turned towards Merope to find her staring down lovingly at the twins.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I watched her. Before I could even stop myself, I felt as my lips began to move of their own accord.
"Would—wouldyou like to hold one of them? They are your grandchildren, after all." I offered, picking up a sleeping Adley in my arms before offering her to Merope.
"They truly are the most beautiful children I've ever laid my eyes on. That's saying something since I have Tom and—and Leilah." She said as she gently pulled Adley to her.
"What's the little darling's name?" She asked as she gently rocked her in her arms.
"Mia Adley Marie Riddle.." I said, shrugging.
She gave me a sad smile as she gently bounced Adley in her arms, whispering things to her as she lightly bounced her in her arms.
"Looks like she really loves her granddaughter," Tom whispered.
"Hmm," I replied distractedly as I watched her interact with Adley.
I felt as Tom pulled me flush against his body, his hands on my hips, leaning down andkissing the top of my head before he spoke.
"Now, why is it that you're allowing my so-called mother intermingle with our daughter, yet you keep your own away?" He asked, wrapping his arms around my waist as he put his chin on my shoulder.
"I can relate to a few things that she's been through, Tom. She was practically forced to leave you at that dingy orphanage. Though I completely understand what she went through having being separated from you, yet was able to keep your sister, I don't understand the other woman's reasoning." I explained, before shaking my head.
How does that make any sense? Take a child, and leave another. It just doesn't make sense to me.
"I've meant every word that I've uttered about her. Though I do wish that I had been able to have my parents growing up then, now I'm not entirely sure anymore. Not when—when I now know their motives." I explained, looking up at the stormy gray sky.
Within second thunder began to roll and lighting struck in a far clearing extremely close to our home. Heavy raindrops began to fall as all of us began running. Ipulled Arlo into my arms as I ran towards the safety of the house. Tom and Merope quickly rushing behind me with Adley in Tom's arms.
As we walked into the house,it seemed chaos had struck once more. This time with the Blacks...