Closed Enceinte

[Analei Westwick]

The first clue had been while Analei had been walking through Obsidian Harbour. A woman had approached and stopped her, and though the lady assured her it was a happy vision, they were near Bleak Street, so Analei just brushed it off as an odd occurrence. She didn't think about it again until two consecutive mornings of feeling ill. Analei hardly got sick, so she stopped by a mediwitch on the way home. The news hadn't really sunk in yet.
Getting home before her husband, Analei mindlessly used magic to prepare dinner, putting it in the oven before sitting at the table, waiting for it to cook and for Edmund to get home, her mind and eyes just staring into space.

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Edmund would be the first to admit that sometimes his work sat heavy on his shoulders. The Department of Mysteries held some of the darkest secrets known to wizardkind, and by nature of the job, there was no one he could unburden his mind to other than his colleagues. He had known what he was signing up for as soon as he settled his mind on the department as a future career goal, but it was still a burden at times. Today, thankfully, was not one of those days. Work had gone smoothly, and he was coming home in... what passed as a cheerful mood by his standards. He was whistling as he stepped out of the floo, stopping immediately at the sight of Analei's expression. "What's wrong?" He asked, nerves on edge immediately. In all their time together, he didn't think he had ever seen his wife rattled this way.

 

[Analei Westwick]

As someone who was usually on top of her game, and who's job entailed her to be observant, Analei was surprised to hear a voice in the room, and her hand flicked to her wand before realizing it was Edmund. She wondered how on earth she didn't hear him arrive. Analei immediately stood up and walked to her husband, embracing him in a hug, holding it for a moment before taking a step back, wondering why she was suddenly feeling nervous. It was big news, and though one day she knew she wanted children, she was quite surprised that the day had come so quickly. Wanting to make it a special moment for Edmund, Analei took a deep breath and smiled at him. "Dinner is almost ready...did you want a drink?" She asked, moving to the kitchen, taking out a couple of wine glasses before remembering herself and putting her one away, grabbing a normal glass instead.

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Empathy wasn't something people often accused Edmund of, but after so many years together he knew his wife's moods inside out, and he didn't think he had ever seen her this unsettled. He hugged back tightly when she embraced him, kissing the side of her head softly. The fact that she hadn't answered his question only set him on edge more. "A drink would be good." He said with a nod, watching her wistfully. "Are you alright?" He asked gently, a lump in his throat. There weren't many people in his life he loved, but Edmund knew without question that he'd do anything in the world to make Analei happy.

 

[Analei Westwick]

"Hmm?" Analei responded absent-mindedly, when Edmund asked if she was alright. "Yes, I just need to - um - do this..." She trailed off, gesturing at the dinner cooking, wishing she had already had dinner done for the minute Edmund walked in, that way the moment would have been perfect. Now she was just mucking around. Analei poured wine in both glasses, taking it over to Edmund, and holding her glass up as a toast before realizing she had poured wine in hers. "Oh s**t." Analei cursed, bringing her glass back down and staring at it for a moment. "I can't drink this." She said, before looking at Edmund, unable to hold it in any longer. "I'm pregnant. We're having a baby. We are - you and me, are gonna be parents." Analei said with a grin before furrowing her eyebrows - holy merlin, could they be parents?? She looked back at Edmund. "We'll be good parents right?"

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Edmund's heart skipped a beat when Analei said she just needed to do this. Do what? The floor threatened to drop from his world for a moment - things between them were good, but he hadn't always been good at reading people. Was she... planning to leave him? His throat was choked with fear as he took the wine she handed him, raising his to toast uncertainly. Her cursing caught him off guard though and he lowered it, watching his wife in concern. As she spoke again his life turned upside down all at once, in a way entirely different to what he had feared. A baby. "Oh..." He breathed, still processing the thought. If you had asked him when he was younger, Edmund would have said firmly that he never wanted to have children. That had all changed in an instant when he met Theodore's twins. There was something so special, so precious about creating new life, about bringing a person into the world. As terrifying as the thought was, his heart soared, giving a disbelieving laugh. "Oh..." He said again, pressing a hand to Analei's stomach almost unconsciously. His child was in there. "Wow." He breathed, pulling himself together to answer her question. "We'll be good." He nodded in agreement. Edmund had seen Theodore and Zoe struggle, as young as they had been when the twins were born, and he felt like he had learned a lot from the experience. "We'll be so good." He affirmed, leaning in to kiss her softly.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei watched Edmund as he uttered just one word, and her brain went into panic mode. For a moment, she forgot just how much the two really loved and knew each other and had no idea how Edmund was going to react. Her breath hitched in her throat, her eyebrows still furrowed, before, thankfully, Edmund laughed. Analei placed her hand over Edmund's hand, a grin growing on her face. Her mind settled, the panic changing to excitement as Edmund said they'd be good parents. She had learnt a lot from spending time with Zoe and Theodore's kids, and Edmund must have as well, as he leaned in to kiss her. Analei returned the kiss. "I'm only like, six weeks." Analei said pulling back. "Are you sure you're ready for nine months of pregnant Analei?" She asked with a small grin, knowing how grumpy she could be on a good day.

 

[Edmund Westwick]

Emotionality wasn't a thing Edmund entirely understood, and certainly not something that came easily to him. He couldn't even come close to remembering the last time he had cried. He had certainly never cried out of happiness before. So it was a surprise to feel a couple of tears at the corners of his eyes, and he couldn't bring himself to brush them away. He laughed fondly, overwhelmed all at once by how much he loved his wife, and how ready he was to love their child. "Bring it on." He grinned. "I'll be there every moment."