Family life

[Lucien Embers]

Lucien's footsteps echoed in the silence as he stomped through the snow and pine needles. His arms were heavy with wood and his ears were open. As Lucien drew closer to the small cabin he breathed in the night air. As was every other day he could smell that they were alone in the forest; he could also smell spring coming. Approching the threshold of the cabin, Lucien smiled. He could hear Colin giggling and knew that Adriana must be making the pots and pans dance again. After stamping his feet on the front step, he entered the house.

Adriana, as always jerked her head toward the door and lifted her wand, then when she saw Lucien's face, she smiled and relaxed. Colin was already on his small feet and running to Lucien. "Hello, little one!" Lucien cried dropping the wood and scooping Colin up into his arms. As he looked into the small boys eyes, Lucien felt a pang of guilt.

After leaving Hogwarts New Zealand, Lucien had begun his search for Drago. After several months, the trail got cold and Lucien felt like giving up. He had stopped at his old family home to pay his respects to his parents and was surprised to see Adriana there. He was happy to see her, but she was very angry at him for leaving without saying anything to her. After quite a bit of arguing, Adriana joined Lucien in the search of Drago. In a small amount of time Adriana was pregnant and then nine months later Colin was born.

Lucien's sadness for his son came from the fact that he felt running all over the world looking for Drago was no life for the little boy. But Adriana assured him that she could make life normal for Colin. Lucien had been travelling in a charmed tent that had the interior of a small house. When Adriana came along, she used her skills in Transfiguration and changed the appearance of the interior and exterior. He was always amazed at what she could do with that wand of hers and he looked at her with love and admiration.

Pulled back to the present, Lucien tickled Colin until the cabin was filled with the music of the little boys laughter. Then he noticed the bubbling cauldron on the fire. "What's for dinner, hon'?"

 

[Adriana Larkin]

Adriana shook her head. He's forgotten again. "It's your Wolfsbane potion. Tomorrow night is the full moon, but of course if I didn't remember you'd never have the potion." She laughed then waved her wand at the pots and pans that had scattered over the countertop and they tucked themselves neatly away in the cupboards. "Dinner will be ready in a bit." She pointed to a steaming pot on the stovetop, a spoon stirring around inside the pot as if by an invisible hand, and smiled, "Pot Roast." She anticipated the eye rolling and groaning which came from Lucien. They had been eating pot roast seemingly non-stop since they had left Bolivia. Now they were back in the New Zealand wilderness and she figured they would be returning to her parents home in England and then they could re-stock on supplies. Every time there had surfaced a hint of Drago's location, they had packed up their home and Apparated. Rumors had surfaced that Drago was back in New Zealand but so far there had been no sign of him.

Adriana hadn't realized her mind had wandered until Colin started tugging at her leg. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey." She scooped him up and kissed his cherub cheek. "Don't worry Lucien, I have a nice steak for tomorrow for you after the moon comes out." She put Colin back down. "Go have Daddy help you get washed up for dinner. It's just about ready." She said it loud enough so that Lucien would hear. Before washing up, though, Lucien strode across the room in three long legged steps and embraced Adriana. She closed her eyes and breathed him in, never feeling more safe or secure than when she was in his sturdy arms. After years of being together and with no one else, Adriana was still very much in love with Lucien. Not wanting to leave the embrace, but knowing she had to or dinner would be ruined, Adriana pushed away, but first stood on her toes to kiss Lucien's bearded face. She giggled as the whiskers scratched softly at her cheek. "I think it's time to shave again." She put a hand softly on the side of his face with love bubbling over in her eyes, then turned away to continue cooking. "Now get cleaned up you two."

 

[Colin Embers]

"Eww...Mommy Daddy! That's gwoss!!" Colin waved his tiny arms then covered his eyes. "I wanna play Daddy! I don't wanna eat!" He then squealed and ran through the small cabin, giggling wildly.

 

[Lucien Embers]

Lucien sighed then beamed a smile at his wife before hunching over and chasing his son. He made comical growling sounds which made Colin squeal louder. Lucien picked him up then tossed Colin into the air; catching him expertly and kissing his sons cheek. "Let's get ready or Mommy will get us." He tickled the small child, then set him down. They walked off together to the washroom. Lucien chuckled to himself as he saw that Adriana had changed the appearance of the room yet again. He shook his head lovingly and helped his son get washed up.

By the time they had returned to the small but cozy kitchen, Adriana had already set the table and served up the roast. She helped Colin into his seat and tied a bib onto him.

Dinner conversation and laughs came easy to the small group as they ate. The laughter was broken as they heard a distant howl. Adriana's eyes flew to Lucien's face and Lucien sat up straighter and glared at the doorway. It could be him....but I don't think it sounded like him. Lucien finally relaxed his tensed muscles and turned to Adriana. He put on a smile, but knew that the mood of the dinner had been ruined. Even little Colin could feel his parents mood change and they ate quietly.

Until Drago was caught, the family could never truly be safe or ever truly feel normal. There were interludes where they seemed like an ordinary family but sometimes the truth was hard to ignore. "Uh-oh, Daddy! I gotta poopie!" Colin announced this statement and it was perfect timing. Adriana covered her face with her napkin and laughed. Lucien roared with laughter and picked up the confused little boy. "Ah, Colin, Daddy loves you."

 

[Adriana Larkin]

Adriana rose and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and gathered up the dishes, dropping them in the sink and setting them to wash with her wand. Her eyes moved to the window and stayed there. She thought she saw movement, but as she stared saw it was only a deer. Her pulse slowed to normal and she turned away from the window. She knew she would have trouble sleeping this night; as she often did on many nights. Her greatest fear was that Drago would find them before they could find him. She had had many nightmares of the monster entering their house and killing them in their sleep.

Adriana blinked hard and shook her head in an attempt to erase the images from her mind. He could be out there right now. She heard footsteps and knew that Lucien and Colin were returning to the room. She put on a bright smile and turned to them. "All set then? Great, well, Colin, why don't you play in your room for a little bit then it's bathtime and then off to bed with you." Colin clapped his pudgy hands and then ran into his room. Adriana walked to Lucien and slipped an arm around his waist. On instinct Lucien's strong arms slid around Adriana and pulled her closer.

 

[Lucien Embers]

Lucien could tell what was on Adriana's mind and he knew nothing he could say would make her feel better; there was nothing he could say that he hadn't said at least a hundred times to her already. Instead, he pulled his wand out and lit a fire in the fireplace and guided Adriana to the couch. They sat together in silence, both gazing into the fire and holding each other. The silence was often punctuated by Colins giggles.

After some time passed, Lucien squeezed Adriana and stood up. "You relax. I'll give him his bath." Lucien grinned at her then turned to get Colin.