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Special Request
Author: Isolde
Date: 06-06-20 16:57
"Uh oh, Py. Looks like somebody's got baby fever!" Aveline exclaimed from where she was seated next to Isolde on the couch. Isolde held baby Rebel in her arms and smiled dotingly on the infant girl.
Pyrrhus, pausing his conversation with Aveline's husband Maverick, grinned and remarked, "She's always said she wants to have enough to form a Quidditch team."
At this, Maverick clapped Pyrrhus on the shoulder and said, "You're five short. Better get to it!"
Isolde looked from the adorable baby in her arms to the space around her. The bungalow where she and Pyrrhus had lived for the past fifteen years fit the family of four just right, especially since Gio and Alexis were still small. It probably would feel crammed as Gio and Alexis grew up, especially if they had more siblings.
"I do want more children," Isolde said. It wasn't much of a joke that she wanted to have enough to create her own Quidditch team, though if she counted herself and Py as members of the team, then she was only three players short. "We'll either have to find a bigger house or add on to this one."
The sports anchors reporting on the quarter-final Quidditch match between the USA and Liechtenstein suddenly grew loud and excited, causing everyone except for Gio and Alexis to hush and listen to the coverage. American Seeker Darius Smackhammer charged for the Snitch. The opposing Beaters both had control of the Bludgers and aimed for Smackhammer, but he passed their onslaught without getting hit. Just when it looked like he might crash straight into Willi Wenzel, a burly Chaser for Liechtenstein, Smackhammer caught the golden orb where it hovered near Wenzel's ankle.
"THE USA WINS 450-290, EARNING A PLACE IN THE SEMI-FINALS! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! DID YOU EVER THINK THE AMERICANS COULD WIN AT QUIDDITCH????" shouted one of the announcers.
Aveline looked around the room and said, "So that means the USA, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Japan are in the running to win the Quidditch World Cup. Who's your money on, Isolde?"
"The Americans are on a roll," she replied with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "I think they have a good chance thanks to momentum and their huge fan base."
Pyrrhus had to lower the volume on the radio because the crowd in Patagonia was cheering so loudly and it also sounded like fireworks were going off.
"But," Isolde went on, "Bulgaria's pretty good too."
"It's a good thing you're not a betting kind of witch," Aveline said with a smile. "So, you were saying about maybe needing a bigger house? Is this something you've considered before?"
Isolde looked over at Pyrrhus and smiled before turning back to Aveline. "Honestly, not really, but I think we really should. Py's sister can probably advise us on buidling and expanding. I really like it here in Salisbury, but I also wouldn't mind a change. The kids are still young, so moving wouldn't be too hard on them if that's what we decide to do."
"Well, I can tell you that our family will probably stay small and the only move we'll make is into a retirement home," Aveline said with a little chuckle. "But speaking of family and home, Maverick and I have an important question to ask you, Isolde."
Maverick explained, "I've asked Ethan Somerset to be Rebel's godfather. Aveline was hoping you would agree to be her godmother."
Isolde grinned, feeling absolutely delighted. "Really? Of course I'd happily accept the honor, though I must say I'm a bit amused that my co-godparent is my old Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."
Maverick laughed. "I suspect he'll be okay with you calling him Ethan instead of Professor Somerset."
Aveline reached over and squeezed Isolde's hand, which was laying delicately on Rebel's blanket. "We've tentatively planned the ceremony for the last Sunday of the month. Our goal is to finalize everything this week so that we can get the invitations out."
"I'll keep the date open!" Isolde exclaimed. She looked down at the beautiful baby in her arms and felt very thankful for Avelline considering her for Rebel's godmother. Perhaps she should return the favor with her next future Quidditch player!
It's Late
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 06-06-20 19:20
"More coffee?" Briar asks, reaching for the cups and plates on which all that remains of frosted sugar biscuits are crumbs.
Ethan shakes his head even as he reaches to help. "No, it's late enough I shouldn't. Thanks.
Hearing the words it's late Jasmine, Xavier, and Lily all freeze in mid-game play, Jasmine's hand hovering over the board ready to drop die onto it, Lilly straightening her piles of game galleons, sickles, and knuts, and Xavier counting how many spaces he needs to get to a certain spot on the board his next turn. Those words are usually the signal that one of the adults will announce that the kids need to wrap up what they are doing or put it on hold. Time for a bath, time to put on pajamas, time to brush teeth, time for bed. If visiting at someone's house, as Lilly is now, it's also the signal that it's time to go home so that all those other things might be accomplished.
Sure enough Aunt Briar says as she passes on her way to the kitchen, "Hurry and finish or get to a good stopping point. It's getting late and you've school tomorrow."
Xavier asks, "Are Dad and Caerwyn coming back tonight?"
"Julian said if the match didn't end overly late where it's being played they probably would. It's four hours earlier there." Anticipating the next question she adds, "If back soon enough he'll come get you."
When Briar returns Ethan is telling the children, "Fifteen more minutes." She rejoins him on the couch where she taps a list of potential wedding venues they'd been discussing when the match ended. "Do any of the top three stand out for you?"
"I like each of them for different reasons. What about you?"
"The same. The gardens," Briar taps the second location on the list, "would be great in the spring or early summer when everything's in bloom. It's all going to depend time of year as to which I would prefer."
"So we need to hurry and pick a date."
Briar reaches a hand to gently squeeze Ethan on the knee. "Something else we really need to discuss and decide. Grace has asked several times where we'll live. We have enough room for here but I know you like your place. Here, there, or do we find a place that is ours from the start?"
Ethan makes a face, both of them noting that though she appears engrossed in the game Lilly is paying close attention to what they're saying. "Definitely something else to discuss." He looks to Lilly back to Briar and she understands he wants to speak with Lilly on the subject, just the two of them.
Briar nods, telling him, "I need to suss Grace out more on it." No matter what decision they make, this house eventually goes to Grace as does the property in Rome. Maybe knowing that will make Grace more amenable to moving if that's what they end up doing.
Before Lilly and he leave, Ethan and Briar spend the next few minutes looking at possible dates for the wedding. When they've gone Jasmine looks to Xavier. "She's going to say it's bath time. I get the big tub."
Laughing Briar confirms, "It is bath time and you got the big tub last time. It's Xavier's turn if he wants it."
Putting the last of the game money into the box he shakes his head. "I want to shower so you can have the big tub."
Jasmine soaks long enough that Xavier is nearly asleep when finally puts on her pajamas, brushes her teeth, and crawls into "her" bed when staying at Aunt Briar's. Despite claims of not being sleepy ten minutes later when Julian knocks on the front door, Jasmine is fully out as well. Julian peeks in on both the twins, kisses cheeks goodnight though neither is aware, and chats a few minutes with Briar before leaving with the promise he'll be by in the morning to walk the twins to school. Yawning, Briar heads to her own bed with thoughts of reading but like Xavier and Jasmine, quickly drops off.