Family Affairs. The last time Cepheus had travelled to America was to visit his best mates Alicia and Thad several years ago, before he’d got married. He’d heard of their happy baby news and sent them a warm letter of best wishes. His own child had been born just a few months ago, little Rosalia Princeton. She was a lovely little thing, a brilliant distraction for his parents, but unfortunately not male. The pressure from his parents to have a child had decreased considerably, but he knew it wouldn’t subside til he had a son.
Cepheus arrived in New York, his stomach rolling from the Portkey. He brushed off his clothes and made eye-contact with his brother, who waited for him on the landing. Rupert stood there with a little girl at his side who reached about mid-thigh in height. She had dark hair and olive skin, and she stared as Cepheus approached with his holdall over his shoulder. Rupert’s hair had gotten longer, and he looked tanner and happier with the little girl wrapped round his leg. Rup knelt down briefly and said something to her, and they both waved at him.
“Rupert!” called Ceph. He returned the wave with a large smile, feeling relieved to see a familiar, genuinely friendly face. Other than his wife, it was a hard thing to come by in England. When he reached Rupert, he threw his arms around him.
“Good to see you here, Cepheus,” replied Rupert with a chuckle. “It’s been too long.”
“I could’ve sworn I saw you in Dorset just a few months ago.”
Rupert smiled. “That wasn’t on American soil. Welcome to my second home.”
The little four-year-old was hiding behind Rupert’s legs again, but he nudged her forward. She had wavy brown hair and large brown eyes that peered up at him curiously. “This must be the famous Clementine I’ve heard so much about,” said Cepheus, feeling a paternal tug. It was strange to be a father, but even stranger to see his younger brother as a dad.
“Yes, indeed. Say hello to Uncle Cepheus, Clem.”
Clementine didn’t let go of her dress or her daddy’s leg, but she managed to clearly say, “Hello, Uncle Cepheus.”
Ceph knelt down and smiled at her. “Hello, Clementine. It’s lovely to finally meet you.” He reached into his bag and pulled out a brightly-wrapped package. “I brought this for you,” he said as he handed it to her.
She didn’t take it, but looked at it warily until Rupert crouched down and received the package for her. “Here, Clementine. Why don’t we open it?” Together, they unwrapped a beautiful porcelain doll, and Clem’s dark eyes brightened as she held her.
“Isn’t that a lovely gift? What do you say?”
“Thank you, Uncle Cepheus,” she said, less timid now, and even gave him a little peck on the cheek. She wandered back behind her father’s trousers, unable to keep her eyes and hands off the doll.
“You’re welcome, love.” Cepheus grinned and stood up. “I’ve my wife to thank for that. I almost brought her one of the toy brooms we used to play with.”
“She’s still a bit young for that, but perhaps in a year.” Rupert grinned, standing as well. “With a father as Quidditch player, she’s got to learn soon.”
“Is she staying with you?” asked Ceph, watching as Clem played on her own.
“Temporarily, for the month of Jess’s honeymoon.”
“Jess is married now, is she?”
“To a wizard she met in California. He’ll be good for her, I think, but I’ve only met him once. She told me they’re very happy together, and he’s good to Clementine, so I’m glad for them.”
“And you and Kailey? How are you two getting on?”
Rupert’s face lit up, subtle enough that a stranger wouldn’t have been able to tell. “Really well. Married life’s been brilliant. I haven’t told anyone yet, but we’re pregnant.”
“Come off it! Congratulations!” Cepheus grabbed Rupert again, holding him tight. “You and Kailey have got to be chuffed to bits about it.”
“Yeah, we are. We’ve got a nice house here in New York, settled and ready to raise our family.” Rupert picked up Clem, who had decided to sit on the ground. “Clem’s got her own room as well whenever she visits us. I’m hoping I’ll be able to spend more time here now that we’ve got a child on the way.”
Cepheus kept his eyes on Clementine, watching as she brushed the doll’s hair. “I’m happy for you, Rupert. Really.” He swallowed down the envy that was bubbling up and shook his niece’s hand, thinking of his own daughter back home. Rupert was happier and freer than Cepheus would ever be, but at least his family would be considered proper; they fit into every pure-blood mould imaginable. Though Rupert and his pure daughter Clementine were accepted as part of the family, his wife and half-blood children would never be.
“What about you, Ceph? How’re Lucrezia and Rosalia?”
“Hm? Oh, they’re both well. Rosalia’s got a set of lungs on her, thank Merlin we hired a nanny. It takes a load off of Lucrezia as well.” Cepheus ran a hand through his short hair. “When she was born, I bought a yacht. Named it Bella Lucrezia and threw a massive christening party on it.”
“You and your bloody parties,” laughed Rupert, shaking his head. Clementine wiggled and Rupert put her down and took her hand as they began walking towards the train station.
“Let’s talk of other things.” Cepheus slung his arm over his brother’s shoulders, not wanting to think of home. “Does Kailey keep a good liquor cabinet?”
Rupert shook his head and laughed again. “Impossible, Cepheus, that’s what you are. I’d take you for an alcoholic if I didn’t know better.”