(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

It's a nice, wintry sort of day, and Tonks is out enjoying the gently-falling snow. It's chilly, but the tea helps.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

A small distance away, Simon steps out the back door of Milliways and looks around with a slowly growing smile. Someone told him it had snowed.

It's beautiful out here.

[clumsy_auror]

Turning around at the noise, Tonks beams and waves. "Simon! Hullo!"

[simon_doctor]

He waves back, and heads in her direction.

"Ni hao, Tonks."

[clumsy_auror]

"How's everything?" The witch pulls her cloak more tightly around her. "Crew all doing well?"

[simon_doctor]

"Fairly well, yes." Simon puts his hands into the pockets of the heavy winter coat he's wearing. "How have you been? And Bernard? It's been a while since I've seen him."

[clumsy_auror]

"Doing very well. It's been pretty busy -- his parents are staying in the bar till after Anthony's born, so. Never a dull moment. And actually," Tonks adds, smile widening, "that reminds me. I've been wanting to talk to you about something."

[simon_doctor]

"Oh?"

He tilts his head a little, listening.

[clumsy_auror]

"Yeah." She winces a little, her hand at her belly, and walks over to sit on Kaylee's swing, which has been thoughtfully cleared of snow. Tonks beckons him to sit beside her. "You know about Bernard, right? About how he can't leave the bar?"

[simon_doctor]

Simon nods. "I understood you two were able to leave once, just after the wedding, but that was a special case...?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Yeah." She quirks a grin. "I think we'll get a bit of a break around our anniversary every year, but that's about it." She draws in a breath. "But, yeah. Makes it a bit difficult for Bernard to come to the hospital in my world where I'd have the baby ordinarily."

[simon_doctor]

"I see." Simon looks concerned. "That must be very difficult."

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks nods, and shrugs a little. "I certainly wish things were different, in this respect, but we've done a lot of talking and decided to have the baby here, if at all possible." A grin. "Which is where I'm hoping you might be able to help us."

[simon_doctor]

Simon starts to smile. "...I'd be honored."

A pause, then hastily: "You understand it's not -- obstetrics isn't generally my field, there are probably better-qualified doctors here."

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks laughs. "But you've delivered a baby before, right? See," she continues, "We know you. And that's important to us, too."

[simon_doctor]

"Ah ... once."

But his face is clear, and he's still smiling.

"I'd be willing, certainly."

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks beams.

"Really? Oh, Simon, it'd mean so much to us. It's been a really good pregnancy so far, no complications -- he's kind of big, but healthy as a horse, seemingly. Would you like records from my visits? I can get you those."

[simon_doctor]

"Medical records would be helpful, yes -- this is your first pregnancy?"

[clumsy_auror]

She nods. "Yup. No chronic medical issues. And being a Metamorphmagus doesn't affect the baby at all, so far as we know." A shrug. "The last one of my kind known to have a child, though, was something like two hundred years ago, so it's anyone's guess."

[simon_doctor]

Simon blinks. "...I'm sorry, being a what?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Oh, sorry, that's the technical term for the whole--" She waves her hand vaguely and scrunches up her nose, concentrating. Her hair goes green. "--the whole changing thing."

[simon_doctor]

"...I see."

A pause. "That isn't something all, ah, wizards can do?"

[clumsy_auror]

A shake of her head. "No, I'm afraid it's a bit of a rare thing, even for witches and wizards. Genetic anomaly." She scrunches up her face again, and her hair goes pink. "Not much of a green day today," she confides. "And I've got a true form and all, just... lots of other options, as well."

[simon_doctor]

"I see," he says again.

And with a brief flash of embarrassment, "You'd think I'd be used to this sort of thing by now."

[clumsy_auror]

"Why?" She shrugs. "This is one of those places where I don't think I'll ever get used to everything. And that's probably as it should be."

[simon_doctor]

"You may be right."

He looks around at the snow. "That's ... something of an unsettling thought, actually. Though I'm not sure the thought of getting used to this place isn't even more unsettling."

[clumsy_auror]

"That's probably true, too," she agrees. Then she smiles slightly. "Guess I'll find out."

[simon_doctor]

"I suppose so."

A pause. "So, medical records..."

[clumsy_auror]

"Right. If you just wait two minutes..." Tonks gestures around the lake and walks off through the snow in the direction of her back door.

She soon returns with a relatively full file-folder clutched in her hands. "Here, this is all of it. Sonograms, charts, weight gain, test results, the whole lot."

[simon_doctor]

Simon takes the file-folder and tucks it under one arm.

"Thank you. I'll look through these tonight."

[clumsy_auror]

"Excellent. Really, Simon, this is an enormous favour you're doing us." The witch grins. "And now, I reckon I'd better get in out of the cold. Buy you a cuppa?"

[simon_doctor]

"...That'd be nice. Xiexie ni."