RP: Don't be ridiculous
Date: 29 June 2006 Characters: Miles, Liam Location: The Three Broomsticks Private/Public: Private Rating: - Warnings: - Summary: Miles is starting to wonder, after Liam asks a few pertinent questions.
For some reason, the past week had dragged interminably. Miles had managed to block out the rather short lived and impromptu little skirmish at Stonehenge the week before. Killing an auror was something now that made his gut churn, and knowing that Cass had been struck down too, almost dead, well, that just didn't help in the least. At least things had been quiet at the pub, with no death eaters seeking to contact the Lestranges. Everyone was laying low.
Still, he'd seen the Lestranges leave the field rather quickly; the very sight of a bloody and pale Rodolphus something that had both pleased and terrified him at the same time. He'd seen the severed arm on the battlefield; had cleaned it up lest someone get their hands on it and do Merlin knew what dark magic on it.
But in the end, he was just very grateful that he could come home to his wife, and to his family, and forget all about death and destruction for a while as he lost himself in what he once thought was the mundane details of a responsible existence. Now it was all he craved.
Actually, no, it wasn't all he craved. It seemed that all week at work, he'd been unable to stop eating. He'd asked the pub's cook to prepare all sorts of things. He'd barely given the food a second thought, until Liam had noticed.
"Ewww, Daddy, that's gross. Even Mummy Daphee doesn't eat that." The boy's nose was wrinkled in distaste.
"What'd you mean?" he asked. He'd only brought Liam to the pub to give Daphne some time to rest. Even though he'd barely slept this past week with a back ache. Of course, he attributed that to the stray hex from the auror in the battle. But at Liam's words, he gave his son a look. He'd inherited the Bletchley lack of subtlety.
Liam looked at his father smugly. "Mummy Daphee says it's for my sister. She says she eats funny stuff coz Tinkerbelle needs it."
Miles couldn't help but grin. Ever since he'd got his hands on that pirate book, he'd been referring to his little sister as Tinkerbelle. It amused him, even as he looked down at the plate of deep fried vegetables he'd smothered in sweet chilli sauce, and was now dipping slowly into ice-cream. He'd not realised how odd that was. He'd just been so tired, and so hungry now for days.
But really, could he just be sympathising with Daphne? Merlin, had she noticed? He'd been so caught up in worrying about her, and making sure everything went right that he'd taken no notice of himself for a few weeks now.
It had to be a side effect of that damn bond. How else could he explain it? Realising now how gross it all was, he pushed the plate away. Perhaps that churning in his stomach had nothing to do with death eaters, or his general disgust with things. Perhaps the spell was making him suffer the pains of pregnancy that Daphne was supposed to be feeling.
He hung his head in his hands. Surely this was the universe laughing at him and mocking him. "Has Mummy said anything to you about it?" he asked Liam.
Liam shook his head. "Nope, but I saw her giggling when you ate breakfast this morning." Liam's eyes sparkled with mischief. Putting marmalade all over his bacon and eggs had been something Liam could never have imagined.
Miles thought back, and his eyes widened. "Well, um, ok." He put Liam on his knee, wondering how he was going to explain this to his far too inquisitive son. "I guess I'm just helping Mummy out." He was glad Liam was calling Daphne 'mummy' - he knew how that made Daphne feel. "We all have to help her until your sister is born, and I guess I'm just making her not feel so bad about the funny things she eats. She can get a little emotional at times."
Liam thought on that for a moment. "But she's not here now."
Miles simply gave his son a look. Merlin why had he been gifted with an inquisitive child who wanted to know everything? "I'm just practicing," he smirked, dragging the bowl of ice-cream over for Liam. "I mean, I'd hate to embarrass myself in front of Mummy."
He handed Liam the bowl of ice-cream, seeing the grin and hoping that he'd quickly forget the interrogation. It seemed to work for a while, as Liam said nothing to him for ages.
But as the day wore on, and Miles was ready to take the boy home, Liam turned to his father. "Don't worry, Daddy, I promise I won't say anything to Mummy about what 'choo been eating. I don't want to 'barrass you." He had that complete look of innocence, even if his mind was full of mischief. He'd only promised not to tell Mummy. That meant he could tell Ella, and 'Cent, and all his friends at school.