(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

"A week, he's been sleeping just fine for a week," says Nymphadora, looking at the Extremely Cranky Infant lying on the center of the bed, her eyes a little wild. "And now it's bloody midnight and he won't even settle down."

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[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"...Yeah," Bernard replies, his entire self askew. "I noticed."

[clumsy_auror]

Anthony, who's been relatively quiet for a few minutes, kicks it up again after drawing a deep breath.

Nymphadora flails and leans over the baby, gently stroking his hair and shushing him. "No, sweetheart, nononononono, you're okay."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

But the little guy's redfaced and hollering like he's just been dipped in boiling oil.

"Jesus." Bernard flops onto the bed beside him and buries his face in the pillow for a second.

"Maybe he has a fever?"

[clumsy_auror]

The witch fumbles for her wand on the bedside table, and holds the tip under Anthony's arm. "Febricula." The wand glows a cool blue, and she shakes her head. "Normal."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

A heaving sigh, and Bernard sits up, picking the baby up and cuddling him as best he can. He gets a flailing fist to the cheek for his efforts.

"Okay. He's eaten, he's not got a fever, his nappy's like new. Doesn't want to play, doesn't want to sleep." There's a pregnant pause as Anthony stops, his chest heaving, but then he just starts up again. "He's possessed. Clearly."

[clumsy_auror]

A kiss to the top of Anthony's head. "Maybe he just needs to cry it out for a while? I mean, he'll get tired eventually, right?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Right." He looks Anthony in the squinty eyes. "You go ahead and cry your ass off."

Anthony lets out an ear-piercing shriek.

"I think he got my temperament after all."

[clumsy_auror]

"Well, I'm no angel when I get upset either, so. I think it could go either way."

Nymphadora carefully takes him and settles him against her shoulder, jogging him as she paces back and forth at the foot of the bed.

"Thank Merlin I recasted the silencing charms on the bedroom."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Oh my God, no shit." He's flopped over again, so tired he actually feels a little ill. "Last thing we need's a cranky Sunny stopming in here."

[clumsy_auror]

She glances over at him again, biting her lip. "Bernard, you look awful. Go kip on the sofa and get some sleep or something."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He looks at her like she's crazy.

"And leave you here?!"

Well. Anthony's roaring kind of like a lion.

[clumsy_auror]

"C'mon, Anthony," she murmurs, her lips against the baby's temple. "It's okay, honey. Mummy's here."

The decibel level in the room decreases minutely.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Despite himself, Bernard smiles.

"You are so good with him. Even when he's being a shit."

[clumsy_auror]

"Well." A tired grin back. "He's used to me. It's instinctual for him to respond to me, really. Not much that I'm doing."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Bullshit." Bernard sits up with an effort, his neck popping. "You're a good mother."

[clumsy_auror]

"I'm doing pretty okay so far, yeah. And so're you, I might add."

She shifts the baby lower in her arms, now, and he immediately latches onto her finger, gumming it vigorously and quieting. "...Ooohh. Get the wossname, we'll try it again. The pacifier."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Frantic searching.

"Where is it?!?!"

[clumsy_auror]

"I don't know! Check his room, maybe the changing table?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Right." He scampers off the bed and out the door. After a moment, he's back, pacifier in hand. "Eureka. Or whatever."

The pacifier is inserted, and, oh, happy day.

Anthony is pacified.

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora's shoulders sag. "Oh thank God."

Anthony peers up at them confusedly, as though asking why on earth his parents had gotten themselves so worked up.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

And once again, flopping. "C'mere."

[clumsy_auror]

She shuffles back over to the bed, crawling in and laying Anthony between them.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He presses a kiss to Anthony's bobbing cheek. Anthony's hand flops against his chin sloppily.

"You're fine now. No reason to kick up such a fuss, was there? No."

[clumsy_auror]

"Well, he's had a long week," she murmurs, one hand on his warm tummy. "Lots of new faces. Exciting time in the bar this weekend, and all."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Anthony's eyes start to blink closed and open slowly as he looks from parent to parent as they talk. Bernard lowers his voice accordingly.

"This is true. Give him another week and it'll all be old news. Kid grows up here, nothing'll surprise him after a while."