21 October 1922
Rose’s Quarters
Late afternoon
Rose hadn’t been sure she’d be able to go right to sleep when they returned to her quarters, but she had. She changed into her nightclothes and got into bed, Gideon taking Fiona out for a few hours so she could get some good rest. Before falling asleep, she decided that she would definitely tell him that day, assuming their daughter would give them some time alone, and while she was excited for him to know, she couldn’t help but to feel slightly disappointed.
She’d wanted to do something special for Gideon because she knew how badly he wanted this news. But with how Roisin’s stomach was feeling and the exhaustion she was experiencing… there was just no way.
Hours later, Rose woke. Her eyes fluttered open and she laid there momentarily before sitting up. She could hear Gideon and Fiona’s voices in the sitting room. She smiled. Getting out of bed, she changed out of her nightgown and into some comfortable clothes; enough for them to eat dinner, but not to feel over-dressed.
Dinner. The thought both churned her stomach and also made it growl. This kid would be the death of her.
She patted her tummy, smiling to herself, before finally leaving her room. The two were busy playing tic-tac-toe and the girl seemed a little more hyper than normal.
“Hi, you two,” she said and Fiona jumped up while squealing. She squeezed Rose’s middle. “Sweetie, I need a moment with your dad. I need a smoochie kiss. Give us a bit, okay?” she asked and the girl looked horrified.
Squealing and giggling, Fiona ran off to her room and shut the door. She could hear her singing loudly in her room.
“What on Earth has gotten into her?” she laughed and made her way to Gideon. She pressed her lips to his. Yeah, she felt a lot better now.
The door to Rose’s bedroom opened and out walked his beautiful wife looking much more rested. Gideon smiled as she walked out and took a seat.
“Hi, you two, Sweetie, I need a moment with your dad. I need a smoochie kiss. Give us a bit, okay?” Gideon smiled at Fiona’s look, and laughed as she ran into her room to get away from the potential smoochie kisses.
“What on Earth has gotten into her?” Rose asked as she came over and gave Gideon a kiss. It was a simple kiss, not in the smoochie kiss territory yet, which wouldn’t do. As she began to pull away, Gideon pulled her close, holding his hand behind her neck deepening the kiss.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist. And sugar. Copious amounts of sugar has created a monster.” He laughed, pulling Rose down with him on the sofa. Having her in his arms, snuggled up, right where she belonged was exactly what he needed. Hours with a buzzing bee of a child had worn him out.
“This is nice. Lets just sit here for the rest of the night.” Kissing her again, slower, sweeter this time, Gideon pulled away and smiled down at his wife. Twirling a strand of hair with his finger.
“You look better. That nap must have helped. We brought dinner here so that we don’t have to go to the great hall. We have soup, sandwiches and some fruit. Are you hungry at all?”
Listening to Fiona sing and dance in her room, jumping around with all her energy made Gideon smile. “Do you think she’ll ever calm down?” Laughing, he pulled Rose close and sighed. Having her in his arms, Fiona happy in the next room, he couldn’t be happier.
Rose smiled against Gideon’s mouth when he deepend the kiss, her hand resting on his chest. When he finally let her breathe, she settled against him, her head finding the spot it had claimed as its own.
“Someone,” she said lightly, “cannot tell the little tyrant no. Six of each, Gideon. Six.” Rose laughed and shook her head, still smiling. She loved him for the way he loved her daughter, even when the girl was currently performing what sounded like a one girl theatrical production in the next room.
She’d sleep hard that night.
At least she hoped.
Soup and sandwiches sounded good actually. Rose’s stomach had settled considerably since the bath and nap, which was a relief.
She let silence envelope them for a moment, her fingers tracing absently along his arm. Fiona’s singing filtered through the shut door. She felt so at peace and so calm.
“Gid,” Rose finally said after a moment, her voice quiet. She lifted her head so that their blue eyes could meet. “I wasn’t sick today,” she said and spotted a brief hint of confusion in his eyes. She held his gaze, letting that land for just a second before the corner of her mouth pulled up. She lifted one of his hands and placed it on her stomach. “We’re having a baby.”
“Someone, cannot tell the little tyrant no. Six of each, Gideon. Six.”
He couldn’t help but smile, because she wasn’t wrong. He couldn’t say no to Fiona, like ever. It was a problem, but not one he wanted to change.
Rose’s fingers traced up and down his arm, he was turned a little towards her. His hands ran through her hair, just watching her in the silence. Fiona singing in the background, lending a soundtrack to their quiet moment.
“Gid, I wasn’t sick today,” she said. He looked at her confused, But she was sick, he had seen it. Her face was pale and also flushed. Hand pressed to her stomach.
“We’re having a baby.”
*Blink*
*Blink*
The reality came crashing down like a tsunami. Baby. She was pregnant, she was PREGNANT!
“Your…”
His eyes held the excitement that he hadn’t yet released. Suddenly, he was on her, mouth on hers, leaning her back on the couch, hovering over her, his hands buried in her hair. Pulling away, he looked down at the love of his life. “You're pregnant? You’re sure?”
Pulling back a bit, his hands fluttering over her, “Sorry, are you ok? Did I hurt you?”
His eyes found hers and sighed. Dreams were coming true, he had wanted children for years and she was here, pregnant. Keeping his eyes on hers, his hands found the band of her skirt, pulling her buttoned blouse out from the skirt. Pushing the shirt up, exposing her flat belly. With a sly smile, Gideon leaned forward kissing her right below the belly button. With a sweet whisper Gideon said quietly, “Hello there little one. I’m your daddy.” Placing another kiss, his voice cracking a bit with the last word. “I’m going to need you to be nice to mommy. Do you think you can do that for me?”
He blinked.
Rose couldn’t help but to let a smile cross her face. She’d been waiting for this moment for the past eight days, but life kept getting in the way. This time she had made sure the news made its way to him. And she’d remember his reaction for the rest of her life.
The confusion lasted only a moment before it was replaced by pure elation.
He kissed her after he pushed her onto the couch and she gasped out of surprise. He hovered over her, his hands in her hair, as he looked down at her and asked if she was sure.
All Rose could manage was a nod before he pulled back and asked if he hurt her. She laughed, shaking her head.
“No, you didn’t hurt me… surprised me is all,” she laughed as he pulled her shirt from the waist of her skirt so that he could expose her still flat stomach. He kissed her there and she relaxed, listening to him speak to their unborn baby.
For a while, Rose had begun to think something must have been wrong; they’d tried… over and over… but there had been no baby. Perhaps it had been the stress of the upcoming term that made things not work the way she’d hoped.
But now, here she was. Pregnant.
“I thought I was, but wasn’t sure. I confirmed it about a week ago when I went to London, remember? I said I had to go to the Ministry,” she said softly, her hands in his hair. “We are due in June,” she added, still smiling.
Pregnant.
A baby.
His mind was going a million miles an hour with everything he had to do. If she thought he was protective before, she was in for a shock over the coming months. Nutrition, vitamins, a nursery, a new house? Did they need a new house? Certainly, one in Hogsmeade so that on weekends Gideon could come see her and the children.
Children.
“June, why does that seem so far and also right around the corner?” He asked, with a wide smile on his face. It was mind boggling how happy he was and terrified all in one moment. A core deep need to protect Rose and the baby burned inside him. Spells were flowing through his mind that could make her life easier and safer.
She was going to hate this.
He didn’t care.
”You’re sick. Can I get you anything? What did the doctor say?” Gideon thrived on information. He needed all the details so he could make an informed decision on all fronts. The soldier in him was trying to take hold, needing to serve and protect.
Taking a deep breath, he got up and began pacing. ”Sorry, I promise I’ll calm down. I’m just so excited and I feel like I need to do something. Is that normal? Is the nausea normal? What stops it? Is there a potion? I can make you a potion. That's something I can do.”
Gideon stopped in the center of the room, hands rising to his hair, running his fingers through the strands. When his hands came away the ends of his hair were sticking in all directions. ”I’m very happy, but I think I’m losing my mind.”
Rose watched her husband, an amused smirk on her face, after he got up. She stood up and straightened her clothes, putting them back in place. The sounds of Fiona’s adorably confident and yet extremely offkey singing wafted through the room.
She couldn’t believe how lucky she was.
The thoughts going through his head that he was giving voice to were clearly those of a man who had never been through anything like this before. He had more experience in a lot of areas, but when it came to this, she was the one who had done it all before.
He finally stopped pacing and made a mess of his hair, which drew a laugh from Rose. “You are definitely losing your mind,” she said and made her way over to him. She pressed her lips to his and shook her head.
“I am not sick, I have morning sickness. Which… well, it doesn’t always happen in the morning. Sometimes it’s not as bad, but… yes, I do get nauseous. It’ll settle as I get further along,” she said, placing her hand on her lower abdomen.
“There are potions, yes. I will be fine, but I am not a delicate flower,” she said, looking up at him with a smile on her face.
“I love you, mo ghrá*.” Rose pressed her lips to Gideon’s again.
*My love
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