Chapter 25: ──twenty two

"THERE'S ONLY ONE BED."

"Yes, I can see that. I have eyes."

James can only roll his eyes at the woman's sudden shift in mood considering not a minute ago, she had been excitedly telling him all the things she and Euphemia had done in the muggle mall.

"I can stay in the guest room if you want," he offers. "I'm sorry about my parents. They're convinced we're dating."

Olivia, who lay spread in the middle of the bed lifted her head to meet his eyes. "It's fine. Remus is right. We've already fucked. There's really no point with staying in different rooms."

Okay. So she's tired. He has spent so much time studying her and observing her that it's very easy for him to tell what she's feeling by the way she talks and the sound of her voice.

He walked over to where her legs hang at the end of the bed, taking off her shoes and placing them by door.

"Will you take a shower first?" He asked her as his hands massaged her sore feet. Who knew being pregnant caused your feet to sore?

"No, but I'll change." She holds her hands up for him to take, her baby bump making it very hard to pull herself up. "Help me up."

James did as he was told and helped her to her feet. Olivia grabbed her sleeping clothes from her trunk before heading to the bathroom.

He can't help but think how easy this is. They work well together and he can't stop himself imagining a life where this is their normal. Hopefully, in the near future, it will be but for now, James is content with what he has.

"Do you want snacks before going to bed?" He calls after her as she shuts the door.

Almost immediately, the door cracks open as Olivia pops her head out, a childish smile on her face, one completely different from the tired frown she wore a few minutes ago.

"Do you have avocado?" She asks and James is sure that if she had been a dog, her tail would be wagging excitedly.

Trust food to bring Olivia Kinsley out of her pregnancy moods.

"I'm sure there's some."

If possible, her smile widens. "I would love an avocado milkshake."

James' eyes drift to the giant wall clock that shows it's way past 12 AM. Everyone is sure to be asleep by now and definitely not the time to be making milkshakes.

However, the hopeful look in Olivia's eyes made him nod his head. "Sure."

With another smile from her, the door shuts again and James quickly heads to the kitchen. As he predicted, all lights have been turned off. He quietly grabbed the milk, avocado and ice from the fridge as he fixed the blender.

"Cravings?" A soft voice said, almost making the Gryffindor jump as he found his mother standing by the edge of the countertop, a warm tea in her hands and a comfortable robe wrapping her body.

"Yes," he answers. "Her mood swings are all around, but thankfully, she doesn't have morning sickness anymore."

The woman smiles proudly at his son, seeing the sleepy way in which his eyelids flutter. He's tired, it's obvious, but here he is at almost one in the morning, preparing a milkshake. "You should try making her listen to music to make her relax. It helped a whole lot for me."

The younger Potter nods as he adds the avocados. James can't help but feel slightly nervous to be in the presence of his mother alone. This would be the first time they got to talk face to face since he found out he would be a father. A part of him is terrified that he had let them down. Perhaps now is the time to talk about the things they never could talk about in letters.

"Mum," he calls quietly as he runs his hand through his hair. "Did I disappoint you?"

"What do you mean, darling?"

"I got a girl pregnant, mum," he says. "Did my actions disappoint you?"

Euphemia smiles proudly at her son. Her baby. She smiles as she sees the man he's grown to be. "We were shocked at first, of course. It's not something as small as failing a test or getting a detention. What you did had lifetime commitments, sweetheart and truthfully, we doubted if you're ready for that, but seeing you now, I can only be proud. Proud of the fact that you had acknowledged what you had done and the consequences it entails. I'm proud that you stepped up on your role as a father instead of just abandoning that beautiful girl upstairs. I'm proud of how matured you've become and that you grew into the man I knew you were capable to be. To answer your question, no, darling. You did not disappoint me. In fact, you've made me the proudest I've ever been."

At that moment, James felt like a five year old again. He wanted to curl up on his mother's lap and have her stroke his hair. He tries to slyly wipe the tears at the corner of his eyes as he smiles at his mother. "I love you so much, mummy."

Tears fell to Euphemia's cheeks upon hearing the simple words but she was quick to wipe them away as she reached out and ruffled his hair. "I love you too, darling. Now go bring that to the pregnant lady upstairs."

James nods as he places the milkshake in a tumbler. He made sure to plant a kiss on her cheeks as he walked past her before heading to his and Olivia's room.

The Slytherin sat on one of the arm chairs as she brushes her hair, her strikingly grey eyes lighting up as soon as James enters the room with her requested drink.

"Thank you," Olivia says happily as she childishly drank her shake.

James only smiled in response as his eyes traveled to her baby bump that's very much prominent under her sleeping clothes and his breath shakes. His hands fidget with the hem of his shirt as he looks up to meet Olivia's eyes. "Can I?"

Olivia only nods in response before allowing JAmes to place himself between her legs, his hands reaching to touch her baby bump. She can hear the sharp intake of breath he takes as his fingers unbuttons her shirt to reveal her bump.

"Hi, little nuggets," he says softly. "It's your daddy here. I can't wait to meet you guys. I can promise you that you will be loved and protected. I will lay down my life for you. But for the meantime, be good in mummy's stomach, okay?"

Olivia can't help but place her hand on his hair, gently playing with them as she watches the emotional scene unfold. She's afraid he'll be able to hear the beat of her heart with how loud it's going.

"I know we haven't met yet," James continues. "But I love you guys so much already. And I know I'm younger than most daddies, but I'll try to be the best father you guys deserve."

James then wraps her arms around her waist before placing his head on her stomach. At that moment, he has his whole world in his arms.

"James," Olivia calls softly, though the slight shake in her voice is evident.

"Hmm?"

"Do you still want me?"

He was quick to lift his head to meet her eyes, wondering what brought on the sudden question. "Why do you ask? You know I do, baby. I adore every inch of you."

Olivia smiles softly as she cuffs his face. "Just making sure someone will catch me as I fall."

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AMARA KINSLEY ISN'T SURE WHAT SHE'S DOING IN HOGSHEAD. She was intrigued by the man and truthfully, a part of her longs to get to know him better.

It's his aura that pulls her in. He radiates kindness and warmth, things Amara isn't exactly very familiar with. She had been trying to avoid it since she met him. Alexander Wood had no business getting involved with someone like Amara Kinsley. Whereas Alexander is the sun, Amara is the cold air of the night.

Though, unlike her sister, Amara is not oblivious. She's not stupid in the ways of emotions. She's intrigued because she's attracted and going to Hogshead to see him will do nothing but get her attached and attachment is not something Amara is good at.

In fact, Amara is proud to say that there's only two people in the world she cares about and that happens to be her siblings. And truthfully, Amara is not looking for adding anyone else on that list so what the hell is she doing here?

"Aye!" Alexander calls cheerfully as soon as Amara enters the pub. "You're the bitch. Amara."

Amara grimaced at the introduction, her eyes scanning the pub to see that not many people are in. Only three, in fact. A part of her had hoped that Alexander wouldn't be here, that he'd be at home with his family like everyone else. Because if he wasn't here then Amara would let it go. She's able to convince herself to just forget all about the man that rivals the light of the sun itself with his boyish smile That would surely save her all the emotional chaos she'd most probably put herself into. But alas, Alexander stood there, less than five feet away from her, sporting the smile she couldn't quite forget and she can't help but abandon all thoughts of right and wrong as she stepped towards his light.

"That'd be me," she says, shrugging off the snow that had fallen on her coat. "And you're Alexander."

He nods, seeming pleased that she remembered his name. "You can call me Alex. Now, what are you doing here this fine morning?"

"I could ask you the same question. Shouldn't you be with your family for the holidays like everybody else?" She asks, avoiding the question. She can't exactly tell him that she's here because she can't get him out of her head.

Just this once. Amara convinces herself. You're allowed to have this one then you never come back. You forget him and get on with your life.

But as the smile on his lips stretches, Amara knows she's lying to herself.

⋅•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•⋅

WHEN JAMES WOKE UP WITHOUT OLIVIA BY HIS SIDE, he hadn't expected her to be belting out the lyrics to the wizarding group his mother listens to, The Weird Sisters. He also hadn't expected her to be in the kitchen learning how to cook.

But that's exactly what he woke up to. Not that he's complaining, of course.

"Good Morning," he greets as he takes his place on the table. "Where's Sirius?"

"At Kat's," Olivia answers. "He's missing out on my masterpiece."

"I'm sure James will eat enough for the two of them," Fleamont chimes in with a smirk as James watches Olivia place what's supposed to be bacon on his plate.

"Tell me if you like it," Olivia says hopefully, taking her seat next to him.

James forced a smile as he used his fork to scoop up the bacon. He tries not to gag as the overpowering smell of burnt coal fills his nostrils.

The last thing he ever wants to do is put that thing in his mouth, but the look on Olivia's face reminded him that she is currently carrying his two children. The least he can do is eat the food she cooked. And so with a deep breath, he shoved the inedible food in his mouth, forcing himself not to vomit as he didn't bother chewing. He was quick to grab a glass of water and drink it all in one go to wash out the bitter taste of burnt coal.

"How is it?" Olivia asks hopefully.

James' brain worked a hundred miles per minute as he tried to find the nicest way to tell the truth.

Thankfully, he was saved by the bell as the doorbell rings, making the occupants of the house stop eating.

"I'll get that," he quickly volunteers, slipping out of his seat as he walks to the door.

However, James hadn't expected to see a shivering eleven year old with his hair covered in snow and his thin coat barely protecting him. "Lucas?"

Lucas looked at him with big brown eyes filled with tears, instantly breaking James' heart. "I had to leave."

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!