Come As You Are

[Kiera Kaster]

Kiera Potter walked quickly up the stairs in her house having heard the baby upstairs crying in the nursery. It was hard to believe that the twenty eight year old had given birth only two months previously as she was as thin as ever. Maybe even more so. Not that Kiera had any trouble losing weight after the twins either. The brunette had been lucky in that way. She had a naturally petite frame, but she really didn't have much of an appetite these days. Kiera walked into the nursery, picking up her little baby and gently rocking her. Gradually, Jemma quieted and went back to sleep. Kiera placed her gently in her cradle, kissing her little face. She could see many of his features in her daughter. It made her feel sick to think that James might never know that.

Kiera went across the hallway to the twins' playroom. There she found Lyra and Link playing with a miniature train set that James and Kiera had given them as a christmas present last year. It was an elaborate thing with metal tracks, tunnels, bridges, and a working train that puffed little smoke as it went around the track. "Do you guys want to come downstairs with me to get a snack? Nina, Gus, and Isadora should be here any minute. I'm sure they would love to help you with that." she said with a smile. She was weary and tired, but she would never show that to them. She had to be strong and not let them know that she was worried about their father. They still asked for James every night. "Yes, mommy." Lyra said, politely. Link made a grimace of regret before giving his consent. "Okay. Maybe for a minute." he said. Kiera smiled. They were so very different.

Kiera went down to the kitchen with Lyra and Link. She rummaged around in the fridge before finding some fruit. She cut up bananas and apples and put them in a bowl along with some grapes and carrots. She took it into the living room so they could snack in there until Nina arrived. Kiera and the twins typically met Nina and her children at the park on a regular basis. However, since the press had found out about James, Kiera tried not to leave the house if she didn't have to. It was easier than being hounded by people. Kiera and Nina were now close friends, but at one point, they had hated each other. Mostly because they had dated the same guy and had differing opinions about what was good for him. However, they had grown up and moved on from petty drama. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Lyra and Link were up and racing to the door before Kiera could stop them. She followed after them, shaking her head and smiling. "Hello, everyone." Kiera said with a smile. "Come in!" the brunette said as she welcomed them into their home.
​

<i></i>

 

[Nina Patrokov]

It seemed to Nina that, while she had little to offer her friend in her time of need, at least she had her two children to occupy the minds of her friend's own. Poor Link and Lyra probably found themselves confused, sad and possibly angry during this time because they didn't understand what was going on. How could two three year old's possibly comprehend it when Nina could barely herself. If James was taken by Death Eaters or any other ill-wishers, this could only mean that there was a message to be sent and Nina, a muggle born, could understand it loud and clear. The woman felt for Kiera, she truly did. The day she had heard about James' disappearance had been as dark as the day she had found out that Gareth had run away, only she knew he was safe. It had been made very clear to Nina what his intent was when he fell off the grid - he'd run off like a boy from a man's job. Part of her couldn't blame him, actually. If she could run away too, she would have but she was stuck being a statistic. Now, she was all to happy to be one because during those five months of pregnancy she had sorted everything out but this was a completely different situation. This was much more nefarious because after a marriage and two children, it would be ridiculous to run away right before the third.

The young woman had half a mind to go to St. Mungo's and ask her (when applications resume I will apply for her to be a nurse again, yo) boss to check if any body arrived in any St. Mungo's that looked like James Potter and then to ask muggle authorities. They would have a harder time but at least it would be more eyes. Nina wondered if this would just be hope for nothing, though and could only sigh. It was indeed sad that her friend had to go through this when she and her children shouldn't have to.

Every night, after she had finally wrangled together her kids and out them to bed she was sure to hold them tighter than before and then await Gareth's arrival. Before it had been a visit once a week because he was kept exceptionally busy but now they both needed to see each other as much as possible, even if it did get in the way of is helping with his siblings and family get everything together but Nina didn't push to get Augustus and Isadora
moved there. She didn't want her little ones to lose anyone close from their lives which was most definitely going to happen if they moved to the house Gareth was raised in. Gus would still beg to sleep in her bed because there were monsters under his and needed to have his room enchanted with stars on the ceiling to give him some light while he slept and Isadora was trying to age Nina but she knew that under the exterior her daughter was still so young. She would be a poor excuse for a mother if she exposed them to that, knowing what she did. They still got to see their father as often as he could manage it and she would help them write letters for him to read. She did still feel guilty that they had both spent so little time with their father but Nina was hopeful that for now, she could do a good enough job.

It was for this reason that she hated to have to tell her children it was time to say goodbye. Although she knew that Link and Lyra needed company, it wasn't often that there was an unexpected day when Gareth didn't have anything to do but to be with his children. Even so, she did have to be the bearer of bad news when she told them that it was time to say goodbye. There had been a commitment made so after the two had said goodbye and packed away their things, Nina gave Gareth a loving kiss and then they were set off.

Apparating with a five year old was difficult but Nina couldn't help but smile as her little helper calmed him down. They sure were a funny pair of kids. The dirty blonde ram her fingers through her son's brown hair and kissed his cheek to soothe him as she walked with him in her arms and made sure that Issy didn't run off. It wasn't too much longer until they were at Kiera's house and by that time, Gus had wriggled out of her arms and was knocking on the door rampantly while her fair haired child rang the door bell until Nina stopped them. There was a babying the house and it was hardly a cinch to out one of the, back down for a nap.

The woman smiled gently at her friend and followed her children through the door, offering Kiera a hand on the arm as quiet comfort while still in the presence of four sets of young ears.

 

[Isadora Knight]

Dora couldn't help but whine when her mommy said that they had to say good bye to her daddy for a little while. As excited as she was to see Link and Lyra (mostly because as the big kid she got to tell them, and Gussy, what to do) she didn't like to say goodbye to her him so she scrambled up from the chair she'd been sitting in and gave him a big hug and made him promise to tell her a bedtime story with a princess when they came back and it was bed time. Of course she would sleep fine without one but she liked the, a lot and her daddy was much better at them than her mommy was. She always said muggle ones and they confused her.

With that she held her mummy's hand tightly, knowing that they would be apparating and also knowing that it wasn't a lot of fun like flying on her toy broom was or how using floo was. If this was the only way, she would do what her mommy said. It only took a second longer and Augustus was in one arm and when they landed, he started to cry like he always did when they apparated. He wasn't used to it yet and truth be told, neither was she but she had at least had three years apparating with her mommy and daddy instead of just doing it these past few months. So, like a good big sister she said, "Gus, look we're fine. It was just a pop. No monsters. See?" She knew that her mom told him there were no monsters out there but that didn't mean he would believe it so when he looked at her and smiled, Isadora was feeling like she'd done something right. "Mommy, can we go see Link and Lyra now?" She asked after another moment or two. The blonde child was excited to see them now.

It took much longer than Isadora would've liked to get to the Potter's house because her mommy insisted that she was too young to be exposed to what the media did to even the friends of famous children. She didn't like being called too young so she looked quite sullen the entire walk but her excitement returned full stop when they got to the door and she had rushed to ring the bell before her mom got the chance to.

When the door was opened, Dora remembered her manners and said, "Hello Mrs Kiera," in almost a sing-song voice and she giggled as her brother just said, "Hey."