Dream Noir
Who: Lisa Turpin and (Grab Me!) Terry Boot, Verity Jones, Neville Longbottom, Demelza Robins, Millicent Bulstrode, Kevin Entwhistle What: Dreaming (in black and white) When: Friday Night Where: Dreamland Rating: PG-13 Complete//Closed
Lisa read the last few lines of the page of her novel over and over, eyes sliding closed. Her head rolled to the side against the pillows as she began to fall asleep...
The stove simply wasn't warm enough, thought Lisa with a frown. She pulled out her wand, tapping it once, then twice. "Oh, come on," she said with a small frown. She smoothed her hands down her printed apron before pushing her pin curls from her face. They always did get in her eyes. She placed her hands on her narrow waist, contemplating just what to do. Integrated kitchens were so fickle. Magical running ovens could just disappoint you right when you were about to start dinner.
She sighed a little, red heels clicking as she walked over to pick up her wand. Off to the side, a bowl and appropriate utensils were mashing potatoes, meanwhile, another boll was tossing salad. Lisa picked up her wand, tapping the top of it when it opened and began to heat up. "Lovely," she grinned, sliding in the sheet of bread rolls. She heard the pitter pattering of feet when she closed the oven. "Timmy, sweetheart!"
A little boy with dark hair and brown eyes, no older than four, walked into the kitchen. "Mummy," he said sheepishly, hiding his grin behind his hands. "Can I have a biscuit?"
"Oh, no, darling! You'll spoil your dinner!" She kissed his head, smoothing his hair back. "Dinner for you and William will be soon, don't you worry." She grinned as she ushered him out back to play. "Now go on out and play with your brother. Mind your father's garden."
Terry walked through the door, right away hearing his wife in the kitchen. He smiled removing his hat and suit jacket and placing them on the rack, with his shining leather briefcase on the floor beneath. He smoothed his hair back before walking to the kitchen. He saw Lisa standing at the back door, ushering Timmy out the door to meet William who was playing with a toy truck in a small sandbox. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and hips.
"I'm home darling." he kissed her cheek, "lunch was delicious by the way, like always." He remembered the envy on his single coworkers faces when he unwrapped the roasted chicken, salad, tea and biscuits, all packed with a small note and a napkin with a strategically placed red kiss mark.
Lisa smiled, "Terry, honey." She turned in his arms, kissing his cheek, then his lips. "How was work?" She asked him, wrapping her arms around him. She smoothed down his collar and straightened his tie. "Did you have a good day?"
The small jubilant cry of "Daddy!" Could be heard from the living room where the littlest Boot scampered forward arms open. Little Evan, a tiny two year old lifted his arms to his father.
Lisa smiled, "Honey, you woke up from your nap," she murmured. "I thought you'd at least be sleeping for another few hours."
The boy shook his head. Each one of them looked just like their father, with hints of their mother's chin, or nose, or eyes. They were a lovely combination of the two.
Terry happily returned her kiss. "It was wonderful. My boss loved the tie you chose." He kissed her again before he heard Evan call him.
He scooped up the small boy and gave him a kiss before settling him to one side. "Why are you up and how did you get out of your playpen?" The small boy smiled widely. "William showed me!" he was obviously excited with this new skill.
Terry smiled and kissed his wife's cheek once more. "I'll see if I can't get him back down. We may have to start charming the pen again." He looked at her a moment before adding. "Did you do something different? You look nice today."
"I tried something different with my hair," she declared, fluffing it just a bit. "But, nothing too unusual."
Lisa pet the boy's hair down. "Don't put him back to bed. We've got to feed the boy's soon so they can all get back to bed early. We have that dinner party, you remember?" She went to check on the bread that was in the oven. Just a few more minutes, now.
"Honey," she fixed the bow on the back of her apron. "Could you round up the boys for dinner? Have them wash up?"
Terry's brow furrowed slightly. "Hm, maybe you're pregnant again? You always did look gorgeous when you were pregnant." He smiled. He was saying it jokingly, but there was certainly some truth behind it.
As Lisa mentioned putting the boys to bed early Evan's head started quickly shaking his head back and forth, "No bed! No bed!" Terry smile, he knew the minute he was fed and laid down he would be asleep within minutes.
"Of course I remember, the Longbottoms, Kevin and Verity right?" He not so subtly watched he arse as she checked the bread.
"Of course dear." He adjusted Evan on his hip before turning to the little boy. "Come on, lets go get Bill and Timmy." He carried the excited boy out the back door to gather the other two.
He played around with the three boys for a few minutes, letting them tackle him to the ground and climb over him for a few minutes before gathering them up and bringing them in, making them brush off before entering the kitchen.
She hesitated, contemplating the fact that she could very well be pregnant. It seemed every two years she was. "Do you think?" She asked him with a small smile. Her hand rested on her stomach. It was too soon to tell, either way, but it was nice to think that she might be. "A fourth child would be nice. Ohh... maybe a little girl?" She had wanted a girl. "It might be time for a bigger house. Or maybe just a new wing in the house?"
She pulled out the bread and placed a charm over it before moving on to the roast she made. It was time to put it in again. "Millicent is coming," she added.
Terry brought the boys upstairs and helped them wash up. He sent the younger two downstairs while he changed Evan and washed up himself before bringing him down with him. He put Evan in his highchair in the kitchen with a small toy snitch before returning to Lisa.
"I'd love a little girl, especially if she looked like her mother." Terry smiled and kissed Lisa's cheek. "You're probably right. I know a few people at work who might be able to help us add on if you'd like that." Terry rather enjoyed the thought of another baby, and would be even more excited for a daughter.
He watched his wife move about the kitchen, gorgeous in he dress and red pumps, her hair curled perfectly and lips as red as her shoes. He walked behind her and again wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands over her stomach, still thinking about a baby. "Your an amazing woman Lisa. And, you know, even if you're not already pregnant... we could always give it a try." He kissed a trail behind her ear and down her neck.
"I would like that," she smiled, kissing his lips, her lipstick remaining on his lips. She smiled rubbing it off just a little. Lisa walked over to the counter and began to prepare a delicious meal for her little ones. "Okay, sweethearts," she said, serving each one, one by one, a kiss on each of their heads. "Alright, eat up." They were all given milk with their meals to help with their 'strong bones'. "Drink up your milk so that you can grow up big and strong," she smiled.
After a long day of cleaning the house, taking care of the children, and generally looking pretty and fluffing her hair, Lisa was pleased to have a moment's break. "After I put the boys to bed, I'll get ready. I just have to freshen up my makeup and change my dress. I shouldn't be too long."
Terry sat at the table, reading the Prophet as the boys ate. Talking to them or Lisa occasionally as they chatted through their meal. When Lisa ushered the little ones upstairs to put them to bed and freshen herself up Terry finished his paper and fixed both himself and Lisa a drink, scotch on the rocks for him, and soda water for her, if they thought she might be pregnant he didn't want to take any risks.
Once finished he turned on the wireless and sat in his favorite chair, enjoying his drink and listening to the news, waiting for his wife to return, even more beautiful than before.
Lisa went upstairs tucking in each of her children. She read to them, sang to them, and eventually kissed each one on the head, just as she always did. Finally, after closing the last door, she breathed a small sigh of relief.
Lisa walked to her and Terry's bedroom to get ready for the party. She pulled out her new dress. It was a lovely sweetheart dress with beaded sleeves and pockets, fitted down to below her knee. She changed her clothing, sliding into her dress before sitting down at her vanity. Lisa hummed lightly to herself adding a bit of perfume when she noticed something off with her reflection; it was moving just half a second after she was. Lisa froze, setting down her perfume. She stared into her reflection, taking a breath, her reflection did not.
"The baby is crying."
It wasn't Lisa who spoke. It was her reflection.
Her reflection stared back at her, leaning in. "The baby is crying. Aren't you going to get the baby?"
Lisa gasped, her heart racing.
"Isn't that what you want? Go take care of the baby," her reflection's face hardened as she stood, leaning in closer. "Go get the baby!" Arms reached out from the mirror, grabbing her hair and tugging her. Lisa screamed before everything went blank.
She opened her eyes, dressed just as she was before in her blue dress and pin curls. She was on the bed, breathing heavily. Was it a dream? Lisa sat up slowly, eyes meeting her reflection on the vanity. It moved in time with her, now. It was just a dream.
As she walked out of the room, she turned her back to the vanity. Lisa didn't realize her reflection wasn't moving.
Terry heard Lisa's heels click against the wood of the stairs and stood picking up her drink. He met her at the foot of the stairway and handed it to her. "You look beautiful dear." He said kissing her cheek. "I've always liked you in blue."
She offered him a gentle smile, kissing his lips. "I thought you'd like it." Lisa took the glass, thanking him as she did, and took a sip before taking his hand, walking down to the foyer. "Oh, I think they'll be here any minute," she said, walking to the front where she went to fix the flowers right before the mirror. She set down the glass and straightened the stems. "Do you like these? I just cut them today from the gard-" Her words were cut off by a gasp as she saw her reflection staring down at her with black eyes. Lisa's hand swiped the glass on the table as she jumped back. It shattered into a million pieces against the floor. A moment later, her reflection mirrored her own expression, as it should. She breathed, clutching her chest. She was terrified, but determined to hide her fear. Still her hands trembled as she bent down to pick up the pieces of broken glass.
Lisa nearly swore as she cut the tip of her finger on a broken shard. "How could I be so clumsy," she murmured, trying her best to brush it off, she cradled her bleeding fingers so as not to drip the blood on the floor.
Terry jumped as she gasped, reaching out to grab the glass but missing it. "Lisa! What's wrong dear."
He bent to help her gather the glass and saw her cut her finger. "Don't worry about it honey. He pulled his wand from his pocket and cast both a cleaning and a healing charm on her fingers. "It happens to the best of us." He kissed the tips of her fingers and held them up to her. "See, all better. Now you watch the door, I'll take care of this." He used his polished shoe to gather the pieces before levitating them to the garbage pail with his wand.
She smiled softly, thankful for him. He was so careful and patient with her. "Thank you, Terry." She straightened herself up and smoothed out her dress before waiting for the door. She turned her back to the window as she fixed the curtains in the foyer. There was a low ringing in her ears, something she thought was from the sound of the shattered glass. Perhaps it was just a headache coming on? Yet, the ringing became a little louder... and began to change? Was that crying?
"Terry? Can you go check on the boys? I think I hear crying." But, it sounded like a baby, not one of her boys. Still...
Terry didn't hear anything but did as she asked anyway, checking on the children. When he peeked in their rooms he saw all but William already asleep, and even he was obviously on his way, only groggily looking up when Terry opened his door.
"They're all still in bed dear. Evan and Timmy are even asleep already." He put one hand on the side of her face. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm..." She was quiet for a moment. "I'm fine." She pressed her hands to her ears for a moment, as if to fix her earrings. In truth, she was trying to rid herself of the shrill crying.
She took a breath, "I think I see someone coming," she said, unlocking the door.