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[clumsy_auror]

*The door to the flat opens, and Nymphadora walks inside, steadying Crowley as she goes.

Bernard's made up the sofa with a sheet and pillow, plus extra blankets at one end, and the witch steers Crowley over to it.*

Comments

[aj_crawley]

Sitting himself down, he makes a half-hearted attempt at shooing her off, even as she starts fluffing the pillow.

"Alright, alright, I'm not a cripple, I just - okay, shut up. I just haven't hand, you know, limbs for a while."

[clumsy_auror]

*she grins*

You shut up, I'll mother you all I like.

*Nymphadora sits down next to him, leaning her head on her hand.*

Need anything? Are you hungry?

[aj_crawley]

"Um, I think I might leave off trying to eat for a while. Precautionary measure."

[clumsy_auror]

Probably not a bad idea. Good thing, I'm really not sure what I would've made you, anyway.

[aj_crawley]

He pats her on the head.

"It's for the good of mankind."



And somewhere along the way, that head-patting has turned into a loose hug.

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora leans against him, her head on his shoulder, and her eyes slip closed.*



We were so scared.

[aj_crawley]

A quiet snort.

"You were so scared? I had the Vengeance of the fucking Lord running me down, and about three tables away from you lot to boot. Talk about my hair turning white. Er, metaphorically speaking."

[clumsy_auror]

I know. I remember it all quite vividly.

*she takes a deep breath*

And Aziraphael told us you'd be back, but we didn't know when, of course, and I kept telling myself I'd see you again, but--

[aj_crawley]

"Sssshh." The sound is softer, more sibilant than usual, coming from Crowley. "Turned out alright in the end, didn't it? Always does."

[clumsy_auror]

Yeah, it did. Does.

*She smiles again, squeezing him tighter for just a brief moment.*

We weren't gonna have the wedding without you.

[aj_crawley]

"Rubbish. Show must go on, et cetera. Which is not to say that I'm not grateful, because now I have an excuse to buy a new suit without Aziraphael on my case for wastefulness."

[clumsy_auror]

Hmmm. Indeed.

*There's a slight gleam in Nymphadora's eye at the mention of 'suit' and 'Aziraphael,' but she presses smoothly on.*

We'll have to tell everyone it's still on for Saturday, then. Can you stay around for the week? I should think that 'recovering from discorporation' would be a really good reason for some time off.

[aj_crawley]

"Plus, bureaucracy. Re-assignment orders probably won't catch up with me for a while. Haven't got time to go 'round invalid-ing, though, if the wedding's on Saturday."

There may or may not be a slight tinge of alarm to Crowley's voice.

[clumsy_auror]

Don't worry, there's not much to be done, yet -- we've got the rings, and we've worked out most of the details... unless you've plans I don't know about?

*She tilts her head to one side, eyeing him.*

[aj_crawley]

"Well," he ticks them off on his fingers, "I've to get presents, organise a bachelor party, cobble together some kind of speech..."

No mention of practicing his dancing in there. Crowley's hoping to just gloss over that bit, for now.

[clumsy_auror]

*a laugh*

Blimey. Well, okay. You know you don't have to get presents, if you don't want to.

[aj_crawley]

Awkwardly, he tucks one foot under him, grinning.

"I actually know what I'm getting, even. I just have to get it organised."

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora beams, looking pleased.*

I look forward to it.

*She's quiet for a moment, and then her smile fades.*

Maybe now that you're back, Sunny'll start to perk up a bit.

She's had a rough go of it, lately.

[aj_crawley]

"Anything in particular, or just," a vague hand gesture, "...general toddler-stuff?"

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora sighs a little.*

Well, the baby's a big part of it. She's convinced we're going to love her less, or give her up or something, once he comes along. Stopped calling us Mum and Dad.

And then you left, and then I was taken, and... yeah.

She's feeling adrift.

[aj_crawley]

A contemplative silence.

"Well, if it helps, when she spotted me earlier, she went off shouting for Mummy and Daddy to come look, the demo' was back."

[clumsy_auror]

Yeah?

*she looks at him hopefully*

That's a good sign.

Bernard said she was really bad while I was gone, but then was much better for the first few days I got back -- I was in bed most of the time, and she was with me a lot -- but then she sort of... curled back in on herself, again.

[aj_crawley]

Deep in thought, Crowley pinches his lip - an unconscious gesture he's probably unaware he picked up from Aziraphael.

"Well... I dunno what you could do now, but... You'll have maternity leave when it's, you know..." his eyes flicker down to her belly, "nearly time, right? Be spending a lot more time at home, with her, and getting her used to the fact that there'll be a baby, soon. Should probably help, shouldn't it?"

[clumsy_auror]

It should, yeah. And that'll be in just a couple more months, that I'm home for the duration. I'm on desk duty now, anyway, and I've been halfway-benched when it comes to Order things already. Of course, after what happened in June, I figure this baby is bound and determined to come into the world, but I understand not tempting fate.

*Half-smiling, Nymphadora leans her head back on the couch, one hand resting lightly on her belly. Then her smile grows rueful.*

Sort of glad you weren't around for that, actually. You're lucky you missed it.

[aj_crawley]

"What... I mean, how did it happen? How'd you get out?"

[clumsy_auror]

*a deep breath*

Remember the quidditch match? How we thought they were going to attack it?

Well, I got myself reassigned to the control centre in Hogsmeade, when I found out about the baby... and they attacked the village, instead.

I found them in the street, hexing Bill Weasley, and I didn't see one of them in time. We both got taken. We were there for... two days? Three? But most of it was on the run, in disguise, stealing around this Death Eater's castle.

They got my ring, though. Lucius Malfoy sent it to Bernard. Told him it would fetch a good price.

Anyway.

They came after us. Aziraphael and Roland, Tim, Faith, Fleur, 'Bert, Hagrid, Raven, Raph, Ophelia... they stormed the castle. Got us out.

Killed them all, except Malfoy, I think.

[aj_crawley]

Crowley sits back, clearly trying to process all this.

"O...kay. And they -? I'm. Sorry. You're alright?"

[clumsy_auror]

Yeah. I'm fine, I promise. There were a couple of hexes, and I sort of-- fell, and there was a apparently a close call with some guns -- which I won't go into tonight -- but I'm fine. Aziraphael healed me right away, when we got back.

[aj_crawley]

He massages the bridge of his nose, sighing.

"I do have a sense of timing, I swear."

[clumsy_auror]

It's all right.

*She nudges his knee with hers, gently.*

It'll be all right, now.

*And there's a bit of light that's been missing from Nymphadora's eyes for some time, now, that finds its way back home.*