Happy Christmas! Now guess what?

[Noelle Lurken]

It was Christmas day and despite the brand new knowledge of a little stranger, all was well. Her son sat on the steps outside of their home, awaiting the arrival of his father. The young woman would have been sitting with him but she would constantly have to get up and run to the washroom to be ill, it was the downside of pregnancy. The first trimester was not fun, with Peter or with this child however she had to get through this day without hinting anything to her ex-husband and when her son was put to bed then they could talk but for now she just prepaired for the meal they were to have and got ill in the nearest washroom.

Noelle was dressed far more casually then she was used to and her hair was pulled up into a pony tail to keep the remains of what was left inside of her away from it. When Millard did arrive she would take her hair down, she had spent a fair amount of time trying to make sure she looked nice and she was going to make sure she did look it.

Once everything was done and ready, Noelle walked towards the couch in her living room and sat down. She looked at the Christmas tree she and her son had decorated together and smiled before looking down at her stomach, she had worked so hard to get her body back to normal and now she would be gaining wait and having a child. She hadn't been ready for Peter and knew she wasn't ready for this child, how could she handle three children on her own?

House.
Dining Room.
Living Room One. (The one Noelle is currently in.)
Living Room Two.
Peter's Bedroom.
More links to come.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard couldn't remove the smile from his face as he made his way along the familiar path to Noelle's house, a few bags in his hands with Christmas presents for his family. The short period of time that he had been in New Zealand after finishing school for the Christmas break had no doubt been some of the best days of his life. He had gotten a chance to spent time with Noelle again and that was enough to make him happy. As he walked up the path he saw a small boy sitting on the step. Grinning broadly he walked up the boy as fast as possible. "Well how's my little man doing?" he asked Peter as he looked down at his son.

 

[Peter Lurken]

Peter jumped up as he saw his father. "Daddy!" he said excitedly, walking over to his father and hugging his legs with just about the widest grin. "Great!" he exclaimed, bouncing with excitement as he pulled away. He took his father's hand and began pulling, with surprising strength, the man into the house as he said, "Come Daddy! Mommy's inside and Santa came." He bore just about the biggest grin as he pushed the front door open and walked into his home.

With over-excitement the five-year-old let his father's hand go and rushed towards his mother but didn't sit beside her, he plopped down onto the floor with a wide smile.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle heard the front door creek open and she carefully stood up, taking extra measures to avoid any nausea around Millard because she didn't want him to find out when Peter was still around them. She took her hair out of her pony tail and let it fall to her sides and she walked over to her ex-husband gracefully. She stood a few feet away from him and said with a tired smile worn on her face, "Happy Christmas Millard."

The woman smiled, before turning towards her son and saying, "Don't touch those presents just yet Pete." She gave her son an amused expression as he turned his head towards her and pouted lightly, before sticking her tongue at him playfully to get him to smile.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard ruffled his sons hair as he hugged his legs, a smile becoming permanently plastered on his features. He knew today was going to be a great day, the fact he was spending it with his family was enough to prove that alone. Feeling Peter's tiny hand in his own Millard started to stumble forward as he was being pulled into the house, laughing at his sons excitement, so innocent how he missed those days. When the two entered the house Millard watched as Peter ran off into one of the rooms along the hall. With an adoring smile on his face (one only a father has when knowing their children are happy) he followed Peter into the room.

Entering the room Millard's smile changed, it was still a happy smile but one he only reserved for Noelle - his love. Leaning against the frame of the door as he took in the beauty of the room, and Noelle - who, Millard noticed, looked extra radiant today as of she glowing - Millard returned her words, "Happy Christmas Noelle." Millard watched as Noelle told their son to not open his presents yet, laughing at the two, He missed this, just the three of them together. Walking on into the room he stood beside Noelle, "Come on mummy, just one present." he said nudging her lightly.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle playfully glared at her ex-husband and said in the same motherly tone she had used with her son, "Fine, if you want to have your dinner cold, go ahead." She winked at Millard before turning around to see Peter's face light up with excitement as he waved over his father. She smiled as she put a hand on his shoulder, encouraging Millard to go with his son, Peter needed this time, they both needed this time.

Leaving the father and son for only one moment, Noelle went to get her wizarding camera and returned smiling down at the seen, relieved that Peter hadn't yet opened any of his presents.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard chuckled at Noelle's comment, knowing she wasn't serious but the words just made it seem like a proper family Christmas, well that is what we are having he thought to himself, a content smile forming on his lips. Millard followed Noelle's gaze and his eyes landed on his son. Millard grinned wider at the excitement on his face, dropping to his knees he sat over beside Peter ruffling his hair affectionately. Looking up to Noelle he saw that she had a camera in hand, rolling his eyes he wrapped his arms around his son and pulled him up to his knees so Noelle could take a picture of the two of them, he reminded himself to get a copy of it before he left.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle turned the camera on as Millard took a picture of a part of the family, in it Peter was shyly hiding behind his arm but still having his face showing for the sake of his mother. She smiled and put it away as she carefully walked towards her family. Noelle kissed the top of her son's head and said, "Go ahead and open your presents ducky."

Noelle sat down on the ground beside Millard, as she watched Peter search through the presents that he had already seen that were for him until he found possibly the biggest one. He scrambled to open it and his smiled widened more and more as he saw what his present was. He had gotten a red children's broom, it was from Noelle's parents because he had always complained about being able to fly when he was there but not when he was at home with her. "Mummy. Mummy look what I got!" he said, tapping the box that held the broom to show her and she nodded with a smile.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Later that night...

Millard lingered at the door as he watched his son sleeping peacefully. The whole day must have been too much for him as he was out for the count before you could say Quidditch. Turning off the light Millard closed the door over and made his way back to the living room. Today had been what he had hoped for and more, by far one of the best Christmas' he had had in a long time. Millard grabbed his coat and waited for Noelle to join him, he knew he should head off, the day had probably worn Noelle out too, she had put so much effort into it all.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle waited for Millard to return down to her as he wished their son a good night but as she waited a wave of nausea crashed over her and she rushed to the washroom with a hand on her stomach. After ridding her stomach of what little food she had ate during dinner, Noelle washed her face and hands and left the washroom to see Millard reach for his coat. "Oh Millard," she said softly, her voice hoarse from being ill, "Would you mind staying for a little? There is something I want to talk to you about."

Noelle tied her hair back, away from her face with a ribbon as she headed towards the living room again. She needed to talk to him and would not take no for an answer because if she didn't tell him now she would loose her nerve and likely wouldn't until he could figure it out for himself.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard heard Noelle coming from the washroom, Millard wouldn't find it strange if she hadn't been going a number of times throughout the day. She hadn't even ate that much at dinner but Millard just expected that the chef could never really appreciat their own food, after spending all that time and effort cooking it. "Sure! What's up?" he asked as he set his coat down again. To be honest he didn't really need to be asked to stay, he was trying to find any reason for him to stay just a little bit longer with his love.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle sat down on the sofa and waited for her love to sit by her as she said, "Nothing big." She knew that having another child was a huge deal but their child was not big, not yet anyway, so she put that as telling him the truth. She smiled tiredly as she subconsciously rubbed her stomach softly, there was nothing showing yet but in a few months time she would clearly be with child.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard moved around to the front of the couch and sat down beside Noelle, as close as possible as he placed his hand on the small of her back. "Well what is it then?" he asked as he heard her reply. Being this close to Noelle it wasn't hard to miss her placing her hand on her stomach, he also noticed how tired she looked. "Are you sure this can't wait? You don't look so good." he said cautiously, not wanting to offend her, but he had her best intentions at heart. He raised his free hand to place a stray strand of hair behind her ear, before stroking her cheek softly with his thumb.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle looked into Millard's eyes softly and smiled as he comforted her. She had missed this so much and now being pregnant, she needed physical contact. "This can't wait," she said gently yet firmly as she closed her eyes at the touch of his thumb along her cheek. "Well I guess it could wait nine months," she said once again looking into Millard's eyes, smiling shyly as she waited for him to deduce that she was in fact pregnant with his their baby.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard nodded his head softly as Noelle confirmed that the news couldn't wait. He frowned slightly, Noelle was acting a bit off, he had no idea what the news could be, he hoped it was nothing bad. The past while had been great for him, spending time with his family was exactly what he needed to keep his life at a good balance. Being in his profession he was surrounded by so much darkness and evil on a daily basis, being with his family is what kept him from totally submerging in that darkness.

Millard raised his eyebrows lightly as he heard Noelle talk again, by starting of saying the news could wait, which is it? he pondered, until his train of thought was brought to a halt as he heard just how long the news could wait. His eyes widened as he stared at his love. "Noelle!" he exclaimed, barely able to contain the excitement in his voice. "When did you find out?" he asked, he could take a wild guess as to when it happened.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle smiled brightly at Millard as he seemed excited at her news. She rubbed her belly softly as she said, "I went to my doctor a few days ago." She put a hand on her love's cheek and asked softly, "You're happy right? You want to have this baby too?" She leaned back onto the couch and put a hand over his as it rested on his cheek. She curled her fingers through his hoping that he would be just as happy at the news she had received as she was about the whole thing.

This baby, like Peter had been, was so special even in the first month pregnancy and she could not part with it, even if her love didn't want it but she couldn't imagine not wanting a person they produced.

 

[Millard Lurken]

A broad grin spread across Millards features as he saw Noelle's brighten, it was like when they found out they would be having Peter all over again, excitement with less of the fear of having their first child. He let out a light scoff at Noelle's question, "Are you serious? Of course I'm happy!" he exclaimed, telling her the truth. "I want nothing more than to have this baby with you." he added sincerely, giving her a soft kiss on the lips, he was serious about this, and even though they were married like last time he was determined to make it work. "Does Peter know?" he asked curiously, the chances were Millards son didn't know about the baby yet, if he had he wouldn't have been able to contain the news.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

Noelle's brown eyes warmed as Millard confirmed her hopes for them as the odd family that they were. She gently leaned into her love's kiss and smiled adoringly at him as he pulled away. She wrapped her arms around his waist and answered his question, "No. I wanted to tell you first." She took his hand in hers and placed it on her stomach that, although was still flat, carried their second baby. "I love you Millard," she said softly with a bright smile. "Can you believe it? Another baby! I'm ecstatic," she said but the yawn the came out shortly after her words didn't show it.

Noelle was just exhausted and couldn't wait to go to sleep, it had been such a stressful day, literally trying to keep everything in. She rested her temple on his shoulder and yawned once more. "Can you stay home tonight?" she asked quietly, hoping that they could just stay wrapped up in each other.

 

[Millard Lurken]

Millard nodded in understanding, of course Noelle would want to tell Millard first that he was going to be a father again rather than tell Peter he was going to be a big brother. He wondered how his son would take the news of being a bigger brother, well that would become clear soon enough. Millard looked down at Noelle's stomach as Noelle placed his hand on it, clearly there was no signs of the baby growing inside her yet, but still the thought of it was enough for an excited laugh escape the father-to-be's lips.

Moving his eyes from her love's stomach to her eyes, a clam expression came over as he stared fondly into her eyes, "I love you too." he told her, "Me too! It's perfect." Never speaking a word of a lie. Seeing Noelle yawn a soft smile dawned his lips, this may be great news but he knew how it was going to take it's toll on Noelle, but he would be there as much as possible for her, looking after Peter and being pregnant was going to be tough but he knew Noelle would do both with ease. Stroking her hair as he head rested on his shoulder he heard her request, without having to think he kissed the top of her head, "Of course." he answered, wrapping his arms around her, holding her, here with her he was home.

 

[Noelle Lurken]

This was perfect, she could finally breath a sigh of relief when Millard's arms wrapped around her. Noelle sunk into his chest and sprawled her legs out on the couch but kept in his arms as her eyes closed. Times like these were when she truly missed calling him her husband but right now she was so exhausted that even having that battle with herself was not going to happen. Slowly she allowed her muscles to relax and snuggled in close to her love.

It didn't take a long time for Noelle to fall asleep in Millard's arms. As she slept instinctively her hands wrapped around her stomach. Her dreams of their child, imagining another little boy or girl in their small family and being back with the love of her life.