Is Jordan going to write an overly long author's note again? Probably! Haha, you're all very eager for the Ophelia/Astoria confrontation. I don't know what chapter that will be, but be a liiiiittle patient for it. Sorry, I didn't mean to pump you up too early for it. To explain the questions on Freya and her reasoning for where she chose to take her class: convenience. I mean, it may not seem as convenient, but the Notts have direct access to the location (it's not really "all the way" to America when it's just a portkey away), and the fact that there is pretty much no magical activity in that area is exactly what Freya wanted. She could definitely manage going to school in England if she tried, but she'd be a lot more stressed out just because it's so close to home, and there are a lot more witches/wizards. Plus, she'd have to sneak into the muggle areas, and with the Notts having direct access, it's just easier. She also didn't tell her teacher which school she was going to, and that's including the location so it gives her more safety in that aspect. She also just deep down wants to have her own place to escape to, and this is her way of letting that out. It's completely cut off from her world. If the Notts didn't have such a convenient connection it's likely she wouldn't have bothered with it at all. Why don't people notice her disappearance? She can come back for things she needs to attend over the summer (she chooses to stay at the hotel the other nights because portkey transportation is unpleasant), and Joseph is going to be busy over the summer with his Death Eater mess. I actually had a scene planned for that bit. She spends all of her breaks at the Notts, and that's why her father/brother aren't too alarmed. Maybe I should explain this better in the actual chapter if it does seem unlikely? Lol, these characters are in my head and I know the reasoning behind their actions, so it's easy for me to forget to explain things that I myself don't need explaining. By the way, thank you for deciding to pick a name! You're awesome! Are there any movies coming up that you guys are interested in seeing? I really want to see the Zookeeper's Wife!

I don't own anything from Harry Potter.

Freya followed Abe out of their class days later, her head spinning in her frustration as it had been after every night of class. She'd never had a class so confusing and she had so many questions, too many. She had practically had her hand in the air the entire duration of the class, the other students mocking her accent obnoxiously whenever she spoke. Had these muggles never traveled to result in them finding people from other parts of the world so alarming to listen to?

Well, no, she supposed they hadn't. Abe had said they didn't get too many accents here. These muggles seemed incredibly closed off from the rest of the world it seemed. Was it truly that hard to travel as a muggle? It would certainly take longer, but not going anywhere besides this small, stuffy and hot town seemed quite outlandish to her.

Everything about these muggles seemed outlandish to her, but admittedly there was something quite thrilling about experiencing so many new things. She had never particularly cared very much about the extreme hatred for muggles that many pure-bloods had. She never disagreed, but she never found herself invested in the strong emotions towards anyone outside of their world. They were always simply separate; on the other side, the side she didn't need to bother with.

Obviously muggles weren't complete animals as they were apparently highly functioning with their confusing inventions and difficult academics. They were mostly intolerable, however. They were either sickeningly friendly or nasty and rude, and she couldn't understand the class dynamics. She recognized the poor from the lesser of the poor, as she could not find any families that would ever come near her own community of wealthy people, but still how they navigated themselves didn't make much sense with her. There was also a large difference how the muggles reacted to her presence when she was with her muggle and when she was without.

Her muggle was quite pleasant, and she was thankful he took the time to help her to and from their class together, but he puzzled more than any of the others. He offered her so much kindness, but truly seemed to expect nothing in return. He didn't express a large desire for her in a sexual sense, he received odd and negative looks from the muggles around them when he walked with her, he didn't gain anything from helping her. What perplexed her even more so was his eyes and overall demeanor. There was nothing behind his eyes that held any ulterior motive or coldness, no secrets or ill intent.

He was simply good.

She was not used to men such as him, and she didn't know what to make of it. She did know that she was starting to get too used to his company, and beginning to soften around him in a way she should not be softening around any man and of course not around a muggle. She was beginning to lose a bit of her edge, and she would need it for when she returned to the Nott's for the dinner party the Flints were putting on later in the week. Joseph's parents were rarely home, and if they were it was only to attend what they needed to attend. Freya spent the majority of her summer's at his home, and both her father and brother were in Germany at the moment. Her brother had been married in the previous summer, and his attention to Freya had lessened since then.

Freya's stomach growled and she glanced down at it irritably, looking back up and squinting into the night as she ignored it. She had eaten here and there, fruit mostly, though the options that the muggle services at her hotel held were definitely lacking in what she allowed herself to eat when she did.

"Your stomach don't seem happy," Abe commented, nodding towards her body.

"It does that," she replied, eyeing the trees as they walked leisurely, enjoying the difference in scenery from her own home.

"Yeah. When you're hungry. What'd you eat today? You look awful skinny, I don't mean no disrespect, but I need to make sure they're feedin' you up in that hotel. I don't imagine you wanderin' very far from it."

"Oh, I had an orange. The food here confuses me, and there is really nothing that looks very healthy or appealing. At least at that hotel. I tried to get some tea, but what they gave me was not.. tea.." she said slowly, squinting as she remembered the strange drink they had provided her with.

"An orange," he repeated slowly. "Alright, let's go get some food in you."

"That's.." She started to protest before trailing off. She was getting tired of that room she had been stuck in, and she supposed it wouldn't do her any harm to explore just a bit more of the town. She had already befriended a muggle. The damage had been done.

"Now just a warning: I can't take you nowhere Calvin Smith can take you, so don't expect anything to match those earrings you got," he told her, grinning sheepishly as he motioned to her ears.

"Who?"

"Smith. The rich white boy, sits in the front of the class. Always got his nose up in the air, kinda like you 'cept it's not as pretty when he does it," he answered, giving her an innocent wink. "He was the one who suggested you should just pay for your own private class."

"Oh," she said flatly, wrinkling her nose slightly. "That one. Rich?" She snorted. "Where do you gather? I saw no evidence of wealth or class." Yes, he was one of the worst offenders of those who took their time looking her up and down as if she were a party favor every time she entered the room.

"His family owns all that property up the road. A farming family. That family has a lot of influence over the town, and they just love lettin' everyone know. What d'you mean no class? Class doesn't come automatically with money, honey."

"I'm not impressed, and I can assure you I wouldn't be impressed with wherever he would choose to take me to eat, should I ever let him near me. Which I would never, just for the record."

"Not sure whether to feel better that you're not impressed, or worse that you're turnin' your nose up at one of the richer families 'round here. He could buy my life, I hate to say," he said solemnly, his nose twitching. "Could never buy me though. I'm not up for sale."

"I could buy his," she responded simply before studying his face. "That's a good attitude to have. I hope you mean that. Too many people allow themselves to be owned by money."

"Money is powerful, but not as powerful as what's most important. I don't need power if I got my family and my dignity," he told her firmly, though his gentle facial expression kept the mood from growing too serious.

"Good. I don't have either, and I can tell you from experience that money doesn't fill those holes," she said softly, surprising herself with her vulnerable tone.

He stopped walking, watching her for a moment, concern growing in his eyes. "What does that mean, Freya? Explain all that. You can't say somethin' like that and just leave it."

Freya stopped walking as well, frowning at his reaction. "What do you mean? It's nothing," she told him.

"Like hell it's nothing. You never told me anything about having no family or dignity, and I would've never guessed it myself."

Freya shifted, uncomfortable by his alarm and worried expression. He barely knew her, and even those who did never acted this way when she made such comments. "Perhaps later. I thought you were going to feed me," she said, grimacing at an insect that flew around her face. "Come along then before I decide that it's a waste of my time."

He opened his mouth before closing it again, seeming to accept this answer before his face fell back into it's usual relaxed smile. "Waste of your time? C'mon, honey. You know all you'd be doing is sittin' up in that hotel room trynna figure out the homework that I know you can't understand one bit."

Freya gave him a withering look as they began to walk again, aggravated that his words were true. "I'm trying my best. I've never had trouble like this in a class before.. Especially this subject," she sighed.

"I see you tryin' your best. I admire it. I don't think you're stupid, don't think that. Actually, I reckon you're smarter than most of the folks in that room. At least you care enough to put yourself out there and ask questions. At least you are ambitious enough to get yourself in that class in the first place even though it seems to me like you'd never have to work a day in your life, and you're a woman at that. You don't see too many ladies in that class. Now, I won't say it makes sense, you don't make sense if I'm honest, but I will say it's respectable," he told her, looking at her with open admiration that almost gave her a shy feeling.

"So, what I'm gathering from that is 'it's cute that you try'. In summary."

A wide and slow smile spread across his face and he bobbed his head in a nod. "In summary. But I can help you, if you want. We can work on the homework together."

"That would be.. Yes, yes that would be good. Where? My hotel or your home?"

"My house would be preferred. Here, let's go there instead. Mama will have food for you. Don't be stickin' your nose up at it though unless you wanna hear about, just a suggestion," he told her, changing direction.

"You want me to meet your mother?" She asked, glancing down at herself. "Well, this isn't really something I'd meet parents in."

"You're dressed like you're going to some snooty country club every day, Freya. The hell you on about?"

Freya pressed her lips together and said nothing, following her muggle into the same area of houses he had directed her away from the first night she had arrived.

"I thought you told me not to be in this area," she pointed out, looking up at him.

He smiled at her, nudging into her slightly with his shoulder. "You think I'd let anyone hurt you? C'mon, I got you. No one's gonna bother you with me around, promise."

"Hmm," she replied, grasping onto his upper arm as she looked around. The deeper they walked into this area, the more poorly lit it was, and she couldn't see much apart from shadowy figures.

"Now I'm just gonna excuse my mama now. She means well but she sure can be prickly, and she won't be expectin' you. And Faith. Bless her," he explained, letting out a low chuckle.

"Yes, Faith is your sister. I remember you told me," she answered, nodding. "She won't like me?"

"Faith? She'll love you. You'll see. Mama? Ehhh.. She don't like too many."

Abe opened a short fence to a path that ran up to an old and worn porch, waiting for her to step inside the fence before closing it again, striding up the porch to open the door for her. Freya stepped inside the small home, the smell of food coating her nose, food she could not even begin to recognize. The family obviously had very little money, and Freya supposed she should find the poor and small home distasteful, but instead she found herself oddly comforted. Abe motioned her over as he walked through the entrance, guiding her into a small kitchen that held an old table where a small girl sat, playing with the food on her plate with a bored expression on her face. She looked up at the sound of them and her eyes widened, a shocked smile spreading across her face.
"Mama! Abe has brought a white woman in the house!" She called loudly, glancing over her shoulder.

Freya scowled, looking down at her hands to observe the paleness of them. "Does everyone in this town refer to others by the color of their skin?"

The little girl giggled loudly, staring between her and Abe. "I like how you talk. What's that accent, miss? Sounds real proper like."

"I'm English, darling. It's nice to meet you," she told the girl, looking up at the woman who came into the room, towels piled in her hands.

"What in the world are you hollerin' about," the woman cut off when she noticed Freya, eyeing her wildly before looking at Abe accusingly. "What is this, Abraham? I was told nothin' of company let alone company from someone of this sort," she demanded.

"She's from England, mama. Isn't that somethin'? She's real pretty. Abe, is she your girlfriend?" Faith said excitedly, grinning at Freya.

Abe gave his sister a look before smiling at his mother. "She's in my class. She needed some help and some food, so I brought her here. Knew you'd welcome her as she doesn't have anyone to go home to. She's stayin' by herself. Need some help?" He asked her smoothly, going to take the towels from her hands before kissing her head as he towered over her.

He was quite tall, Freya observed now. Tall and well built, much stronger than the men she was used to. She did remember him telling her he worked outside.

"Oh, I see. I'm a restaurant now. Mmm," the woman said irritably, eyeing Freya again.

Freya smiled brilliantly and walked forward to kiss the woman's cheeks in greeting. "It's wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Johnson. I'm Freya Krat. Your son has been kind enough to help me in the past week, as I wouldn't know what I was doing without him in complete honesty."

She heard Faith giggle again and the woman stepped back, giving her the strangest look. "Abraham. Get the girl sat down please," she said slowly, still staring at Freya.

"Your hair is so pretty," Faith told her as Abe pulled a chair out for her before sitting down himself at the small table. "There's a girl in my summer school with hair like that. Her name is Annabelle. She don't like me much. Your hair is way prettier though. Longer too."

"She doesn't like you much," her mother corrected, grabbing dishes from the cupboard. "Don't talk like you're uneducated when I scrape together money that we don't have for you to attend as much school as I can manage."

"You talk like that, mama," Faith argued. "And this ain't school."

"Was I askin' you or anybody for backtalk? No? Then don't you give me any! And do as I say, not as I do," her mother snapped, setting plates of food down in front of both Abe and Freya.

Freya looked down at the food curiously, not seeing anything even remotely close to the whole foods she strictly put into her body. She glanced at Abe before thanking his mother politely, picking up her silverware slowly. She'd have to eat it. The woman already seemed angry at her presence as it was.

"Anyway, it doesn't hurt my feelings any. She just doesn't like me because her daddy is in the K-"

"Eat your supper, Faith. I don't want that talk at the table," the girl's mother cut her off, her voice low.

"I like your hair better, Faith," Freya told her, tilting her head. "A lot of girls have the same hair as I do. It's nothing special."

Faith blinked then smiled shyly. "That's awful sweet of you to say, Miss Freya."

Freya nodded in response, gathering food on her fork with her knife to force herself to take a bite, trying not to process the taste or the look of the food as she tried to imagine herself eating something less fattening.

Faith wriggled in her seat, sitting back straight against her chair, angling her shoulders back. "How d'you eat like that without making a mess of everything?" She asked, narrowing her eyes in concentration as she tried to bring her fork to her mouth without dropping her food in her lap.

Abe grinned beside Freya, watching his sister in amusement. "Don't mock my guest, Faith. You'll run her off if you keep makin' her feel like she sticks out."

"She does stick out. I've no idea why she's here, really. Didn't you say the Smith boy was in that class of yours? I'm sure she'd be much better suited at his dinner table."

"She is sat right next to you, mama. I'm sure she doesn't like being talked about like she's not here," Abe answered calmly, looking up at his mother before looking at Freya.

"I can assure you. I have no desire to go anywhere with that boy who believes he can look at me as if he has a chance with me," Freya sniffed, thinking of the less than impressive arrogant boy again.

"So he has made eyes at you? Is what you're letting on? Mhm. I don't like this, Abraham. They don't like when we try to take what's theirs. Don't be bringin' trouble to this house over some girl."

"I beg your pardon?" Freya asked, leaning back slightly in offense. "What is theirs? I am certainly not that boy's property." Freya felt her face come together in disgust at the thought of anyone believing she belonged to that ill mannered muggle boy.

"Yeah, because his daddy is in the KKK too. Most've the rich folks are," Faith said in a matter-of-fact way.

"The what?" Freya asked, fighting the urge to sigh. She was tired of being so confused.

"Didn't I just tell you that I didn't want that talk at the table? Keep your rumors to yourself, Faith Evangeline. I won't tell you again," Abe's mother warned, ignoring Faith's mutters about how her words were not rumours. "Why're you here, Freya?"

"Because I am not doing well in the class Abe and I share, and-"

"No. Why are you really here?" She asked slowly, focusing on her food.

"Mama," Abe sighed. "Why do you have to do this?"

His mother ignored him, going on. "What? Is your father running for mayor or some nonsense? You people get a gold star whenever you pull stunts like this."

"I'm sorry," Freya said slowly, her head spinning slightly from the questions this muggle woman was putting her through. "I don't have any idea of what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb, girl. I don't give a damn where you're from. No white woman covered in diamonds and expensive clothes with her nose permanently stuck up in the air comes 'round here and befriends a poor black man for no good reason. Why. Are. You. Here."

This fucking skin color nonsense again. Perhaps she was wrong to even bother with these muggles. What, they thought it would make her look good eating at a low class family's table? In what social pyramid did that work?

"I'm not sure how the 'rich' work in your world, Mrs. Johnson, but from where I come from dining with a family seen as much lower than my own would not gain me any points. In fact, it would cause quite the stir in my community and my family would be furious with me. Now, I am being completely honest when I tell you that I am only here for help with my class. Your son has been kind to me, and I do not feel comfortable with the other students in the class as I do him. Please do not assume I have ulterior motives when I do not," she told her, keeping her tone as polite as possible.

Why was she explaining herself to this muggle? As if she deserved her respect, after she gave her none.

The woman sat back, regarding her coolly before saying nothing and returning to her food. Freya felt Abe's eyes on her and she relaxed slightly, not wanting to upset him by getting into it with his mother. He had been more than kind to her, and she didn't want to lose her muggle.

"Don't mind mama. She's just mad about Mrs. Anderson's husband getting off with no prison time just because she put on this show of how their family has no problem with us. I hate that lady, she's plain fake and mean," Faith announced, stabbing at her food. "I don't think you're fake, Miss Freya, and I'ma great judge of character."

"We don't hate anybody, Faith Evangeline. I don't know how many times I have to tell you. We especially don't hate a woman who has to lie down next to a killer every night and try to wash the blood from his hands. No. We pity her and we pray for her. That's all."

Astoria looked to the redheaded witch in front of her, sitting calmly as she was assessed, assessing the woman in return. She recognized her faintly, though she wasn't quite sure from where.

"Mrs. Malfoy. I'm pleased to speak with you. May I call you Astoria? My name is Novalie," the woman said, smiling at her from her seat.

"Astoria is more than fine, Novalie," Astoria replied, smiling back with the same amount of false warmth.

"I'm just going to jump straight into the questions, if you don't mind."

Astoria motioned her hand for her to continue, already irritated with the woman. She couldn't stand being patronized by other women, and somehow this woman was already grating her nerves even more so than the Aurors did. It was a different type of patronizing.

"How would you say your husband treats you?"

"Well. I'm very happy with Draco. I couldn't have asked for a more suitable husband," Astoria said smoothly.

"Lovely. I'm happy to hear it. What makes him suitable?"

"We are both quiet and don't like anything out of the ordinary. We are both simple people, who want similar things in life."

"Simple," Novalie repeated, nodding in approval as she wrote. "Good! And what do you think of Draco's past?"

"I don't have much opinion of it. I know it haunts him, and I know he prefers not to think of it. I was never involved with the Death Eaters, so I couldn't give much opinion on them other than the fact I disapprove."

"And why would you say you disapprove?" She asked, her eyes thoughtful.

"Because it's a waste of time and creates unnecessary conflict as well as violence. We lose people of our own, and there is no reason to create tension between our world and theirs. It's best if we left each other alone and kept to our own business," Astoria told her, the irritation of not being able to remember exactly where she knew the woman from prodding at her.

"Do you believe the ideas that the Death Eaters had were a waste of time truly?"

"Yes. That's what I said."

"But wouldn't it be easier if all of the muggle-borns and so on were gone and marriages were regulated for blood control?"

"It would be impossible. There are too many of them."

"Ah," she said, smiling. "But what if it were possible?"

"I don't really see it necessary to murder them. I'd rather just live separately." Astoria kept her voice neutral and polite. These questions were just as ordinary as all of the ones the Aurors had already asked.

Novalie nodded, jotting down some notes before pausing and sitting back to look at her for a few moments before tilting her head to the side. "Are you sure you have no desire to simply be rid of those you see so below you? I mean, we see many pure-bloods leaving your side to have relationships with those who are not of your own. Should they be controlled, that problem would end, no? I'm sure you personally can see the appeal in that," she told her, her voice soft and suggestive near the end. "Can't you?"

Astoria stilled, feeling a sharp coldness wash over her at the woman's implications. She took a few moments to respond, controlling her reaction, the reaction this woman was certainly trying to get out of her. Astoria's polite smile returned to her face, slightly more stiff than it had been when their interview began.

"Novalie Eld," she said, the name clear in her memory now. "Yes, that's how I recognize you. I've seen you before in Germany I believe, though I can't place exactly for what reason.. I recognize the family name though, of course. I'm sure my father would recognize it much better than me. Odd.. What are you doing here? Working with the Aurors in attempt to imprison your own." Astoria frowned, feigning innocent concern and confusion.

The woman visibly tensed and Astoria ignored the smug expression that fought to take over her face. She had been wondering why no one had addressed the woman by her last name and why she had not stated it herself. Foolish woman, perhaps most pure-bloods wouldn't recognize her or her name in this area of the world, but families such as Astoria's kept better track than most.

"I do believe I'm interviewing you, Astoria. You're right, I'm from the Eld family," she replied, her voice still light and calm though there was a bit of an edge to it now.

"Surely your family does not approve of this.. Have you left them?" Astoria asked curiously.

"It says here that there were bruises on your neck the first day Miss Granger came to see you," Novalie sighed, flipping through her file. "And that you have a nervous habit of holding your breath.. That you were not present for many meetings.. Hmm. These are not good signs, Astoria. I may have to recommend your removal from this home for the time being, perhaps your husband as well."

"Do you want to play this game with me, Eld? I'm prepared to play, I can assure you, and I do not fancy threats," Astoria responded lightly, watching the woman intensely.

Novalie stopped, meeting her gaze for many moments before she relaxed in her seat, her kind smile returning. "No threats, Astoria. Now, let's move onto lighter subjects, shall we? Are you and your husband planning on a specific time to have your children, or are you just allowing it to happen whenever it decides to?"

Yes, Astoria thought as much.

"No. That's possibly the worst idea you've ever come up with," Ophelia Greengrass expressed to her best friend who had remained her friend through the years though never failed to give up her attempts to influence her horribly.

Her husband was currently not home, which was good considering the two of them were not the best of friends, off doing his private accounting work where he usually worked with overly rich, foreign wizards and witches. It always sounded quite boring to Ophelia, but Edric wasn't the type that needed an exciting job.

"It's really not a bad idea, Fee. Come on, this is perfect! It's not as if she'll know who you are, and plenty of half-bloods attend Pucey parties. It would be too easy to pass you as a half-blood!"

"Do you know what Edric would say to this brilliant plan of yours?" Ophelia demanded, thinking of his reaction herself.

"Screw your boyfriend, Fee-"

"My husband," she corrected, rolling her eyes at her friend's childishness. "Isn't this about him? Seeing as it's his sister."

"Yes, exactly. It's about him. Look, I get the pure-bloods and their little rules better than you do, but ones like the Puceys are just a bit looser on their rules. You could get away with sneaking in. What if you meet her and she likes you? What if you could actually get her to communicate with Edric again in secret? You say he's still upset about it, so why not try to do something about it?"

"It's not my place, Violet. That's completely crossing the line, and I don't want to disrespect him like that or hurt him. This isn't a game to him. He hurts for his family. I can't just sneak around and disguise myself to try and get a look at his sister."

"I know it's not a game. You won't be exposed, and you don't have to tell him," she insisted, her face serious.

"I'm not going to sneak around! As if that would even be possible!"

"Oh, please. You said he hadn't set your marriage bonds in that strongly. You won't be sneaking around, you-"

"It's not about the bonds. It's about him. He'd know. He knows me, and I'm not a good liar."

"You won't be lying! Since when do you let him control you so much? I thought you wanted to keep some of your independence," her friend accused, scowling at her.

"It's not control. It's respect. I can't understand why you don't see that. It would hurt him."

The same way it would hurt Daphne should she ever find out her husband came to see Edric.

"It wouldn't hurt him if it worked. I think it could if we tried hard enough. I've seen her and she looks vulnerable, and from what I've heard she's fucked up the rules before. Once you break one rule, it's much easier to break them all. Look at Edric. He spiraled all the way down after he got a taste of rebellion, didn't he?"

"I wish you wouldn't describe him as 'spiraling down' because of our relationship. I feel horrible enough as it is," Ophelia sighed, walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Exactly! You still feel horrible! It's been what? Nine years? You shouldn't still feel horrible about your own marriage!"

"I don't feel horrible about my marriage. I just feel horrible about what I caused, no matter how much he denies it being my fault."

"But you can undo some of what you supposedly caused if you'd just try to take my advice. At least try. At least get a look at her."

"Get a look at her? She's not my sister. That would be almost be.. Stealing from him. He deserves to look at her, not me."

"But he can't! You can! How much do I have to argue this before you agree?" Violet pressed, grabbing her arm.

"I'm not going to agree, Violet! I said no!"

"No to what?" Her husband's voice entered the kitchen, and her heart jumped into her throat in fear he had heard what they were discussing.

"I'm trying to get her to come to a party with me," Violet answered, rolling her eyes. "As usual, she's being as boring as a doorknob."

Well, it wasn't exactly a lie.

Ophelia turned to greet her husband, entering his arms as she tilted her head up for him to kiss her hello as Violet hummed impatiently behind her.

"I'll be off then. Don't need to be here for this. I'll be back tomorrow, Fee," Violet said firmly, exiting the kitchen.

Hopefully she wasn't really back to bother her the next day, she didn't want to deal with a repeat of their argument.

"How was work?" Ophelia asked, wrapping her arms around Edric's neck loosely as she looked up at his eyes, admiring how stunningly attractive he was. She never seemed to grow used to it.

"It was work just as it always is," he replied, running his thumb along the length of her jaw.
"Maybe you should quit. You'll be my househusband. It will be adorable."

"Hmm. I'll have to decline," he answered, an amused look crossing his features and he kissed her temple. "Though I'm quite sure I'd make a better housewife than you."

"Well, someone will have to stay home with our children!"

"Yes. You," he said firmly before looking down at her stomach between them. "You know that. Now don't be ridiculous."

"Yes, yes. Don't panic. I won't force you to stay home and take care of crying babies all day by yourself. My mum can help you!"

Edric grimaced before he rolled his eyes at her. "Your mother would be on my side."

"She would not! Why would you think that?"

"She's always on my side," he chuckled, grabbing a piece of her hair between his fingers before smirking. "Women are always on my side, love."