Just about showing

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

It was about a month and a half since that morning when briar and Lilith had met in the toilets at work and had worked out that she was pregnant. Now even if she hadn't believed it then she had to believe it now. Although the bump wasn't big yet and people who didn't know her wouldn't notice it however those who knew her and knew she carried hard,y any fat normally would see that there was more to her stomach than their should be. It wasn't just tha bump that was different she often felt random emotions that she couldn't explain. Sure she had always done that and more since becoming a werewolf but now it was different ones. Ears not anger
This Saturday morning she was in obsidian harbor she just wanted a bit of space a little change of scenery maybe even try and figure out what she wanted to do with herself. Whe slowly wandered down the street looking in the shop windows. Occasionally going into the odd shop like quality quidditch supplies for a brows, the magical menagerie for a few treats for her falcon and the appothacary for wolfsbane ingredients. She had restarted brewing the wolfsbane ash and those she supplied required each month, before she had been getting it from the hospital but now she unintentionally was avoiding the place.
She reached the end of the street and there was the hospital building in front of her she stopped turned and made her way back along where she had come. Slowly meandering between shoppers.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy had no idea what he was doing up so early. He had worked Thursday and Friday, and when he had gone home Friday night, he had crashed...hard. At a ridiculously hour, he was awake though. With an angry sigh, he had kicked off the blankets and jumped into the shower. He'd dressed quickly and then hemmed and hawed about whether or not to shave. In the end, he had decided to not do so and he left his apartment with something more akin to an eight o'clock shadow than a five o'clock one. His life had returned to some semblance of normalcy, for a Healer anyway. He worked long hours and had little free time, but he wouldn't have it any other way. Jeremy was doing well at St. Mungo's and there had even been talk of him moving out of the potion-making department and permanently a ward. He was looking forward to the new challenge even if he didn't know exactly what it would be yet.

Heading into town, Jeremy had made a quick detour into a shop for a cup of coffee. He didn't feel human until he'd had at least one cup. Any more than that and it sometimes messed with his magic, so he tried not to drink too much. After, Jeremy spent the next few moments walking past shops, stopping to glance at the windows as he sipped at his coffee. The streets quickly grew crowded, wizards and witches out to do their shopping. Slowing so he wouldn't bang into the shoppers going in the opposite direction, Jeremy started when he spotted a familiar redhead. He turned around, having walked a step past her before realizing who she was. Moving forward, Jeremy took several long strides and then tapped her on the shoulder. "Briar?"

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar was in a world of her own. She let the general hustle and bustle move her along the street away from st mungoes. It was just a little distraction from the debate that she had been going on night and day for almost two months. It went along the line of what to do. She hadn't even recognised her friend and former class mate until she heard her name and felt him tap her on her shoulder. She turned and it look a moment to recognise him even then. He looked so tired. She remembered that he had looked tired last time she had met him outside work but she had forgotten, and at work amongst he thee healers you couldn't tell as many of them had the look that they hadn't slept for a week.
"Jeremy, it's been ages. How have you been?" she said. Although she did pop in to his work to pick up the potion and sometimes saw him there often she didn't and it had been two months since she had even gone to the hospital. Unconsciously her hand went to her stomach, she scowled at herself internally before readjusting the bags so both hands were full. "anything interesting happening at your end?" she asked trying to hide her former gesture though she hadn't thought that was likely he would ask her back.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

At first, Jeremy wasn’t sure that Briar even recognized her. It was odd, especially for her. The healer took a long hard look at the redhead. It’d been a while since he had seen her last and even longer since he had spoken to her. She was known to the potion-making department, being one of the people who came in every so often to pick up wolfsbane. He’d been so busy that he hadn’t really noticed until one of his colleagues hadn’t pointed out that she hadn’t been into the office for a while. Most of the other Healers hadn’t cared, but since he knew her, Jeremy had wondered if something was going on with his old schoolmate. As she finally spoke to him, a cautious, tired smile came across his face and he took a sip of his coffee. It had been made perfectly. The Healer’s eyes shifted down as she moved her bags and he thought he noticed that her shirt fit more tightly than usual. He was tired but not so tired that he wasn’t able to notice things. The Healer was intrigued, but answered her question quickly enough. Besides, he didn’t want to make any assumptions and possibly get jinxed for doing so.

“ Um, nothing much. I might be moving on in my Healer training next month” he smiled, proud of himself for the accomplishment. “Speaking of, the other Healers were just saying the other day that we haven’t seen you in a couple of months. How are things on your end? Have you been taking your wolfsbane?” he asked, dropping his voice at the end so the other passersby wouldn’t hear. The Healer couldn’t help but be concerned, especially since Briar had always seemed to vigilant about taking her potion.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar saw jeremy looking at her as she moved and bit her lip. feeling a little uncomfortable. why the hell had she gone and got pregnant? her mind was stopped from its usual spiral into confusion by jeremy's news. he was leaving the potion department and moving into healer training which she guessed was on the wards. "Wow congratulations Jeremy." she said that was the best news she had heard in a while "do you have any idea what department you will be moving to?" she asked curiously. she had been to the hospital enough times to know the departments even if she had only visited a few of them her self.
When he asked weather she had been taking the wolfsbane because she hadn't been in she looked away briefly. "yes. I've been taking it. I thought you guys were busy enough without my orders so i have been making my own" she said lifting the bags in her hands as evidence as they were full of all the obscure ingredients of the only 'hard' potion she had managed to brew successfully. the others she never had the patience for. it wasn't the real reason she was not placing the orders at the hospital but it was as good a cover as any and she guess she did feel bad that the healers had to make her order when they were already (as jeremy was proof of) worked hard enough. "things for me have been interesting though testing as of recent." she said. although this was the truth she certainly sounded like she was hiding something.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

As the coffee filled his stomach, Jeremy felt himself wake up a bit more. He knew that it was all in his head and that it was unlikely that the coffee had produced its desired effect so quickly, but he wasn't going to argue with those results. As Briar congratulated him, Jeremy smiled back at her. He shook his head, allowing himself another sip before he replied. "Uh...I'm not sure yet. I know that there are openings in the Residential Ward and in the Artifact Accidents Ward, but we'll see which one I end up in." Jeremy was secretly hoping that he ended up in the accidents ward, but he wasn't going to turn down the other ward if that was what was offered. A promotion was a promotion and wasn't going to look at the bristles of a gift broom.

Briar's answer didn't seem all that genuine, and Jeremy had a difficult time accepting it. It was their job to make potions and if they weren't filling her orders, they'd be filling someone else's orders. It was the nature of the job of that particular ward of the hospital. "Oook...as long as you've been taking it" he stated and didn't add anything more. He didn't have to tell her about the importance of being on her potion and he could see something sticking out of the bags in her hand and recognized it as an important ingredient for the Wolfsbane Potion, so he knew she was telling the truth. What Briar said next was equally interesting, if not extremely vague. The Healer lifted his eyebrows. "Oh?" he questioned, wondering what that last part had meant. He looked pointedly at what her bags had been concealing, and then looked up quickly to her face, his blue eyes only slightly betraying what he knew he was seeing. "Ah...I see what you mean" he said, before quietly adding, "how long have things been this interesting and testing?"

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar was happy that jeremy had got a promotion. he was a smart guy and she could tell the potions weren't what he wanted to keep doing, yes he was good at it but she was pretty sure he would be better suited to somewhere where there was actual people as he was good with people. she didn't know anyone who had disliked him at school. he certainly had been the best and obvious choice of head boy in their seventh year. she had been the wild card. literally. "accidents sounds more interesting than residential, you will never know what you will find there" she said letting her thoughts out before she had processed them.
She watched as he looked down at her bags his eyes seeming to see something before coming back up and meeting hers. her green eyes locked his blue ones and a very brief though crossed her mind wondering what colour eyes her child the kid would have, green like her or pale blue like Dedericks. then she thought she was stupid for wondering that when she didn't want the kid, and stupid for getting herself pregnant in the first place. She would also be a coward if she did not telling jeremy, her friend, someone she trusted, and a coward was one thing Briar Rowan was not.
"things have been this interesting and testing since." she paused she couldn't stop now "well. since I found out I was pregnant" she said the last few words slipping together. which was around the start of january that I found out" she said, it was now the start of march. jeremy was the first person she had told. well other than Dederick, her family, and Lilith (who had technically told her). she fidgeted as she waited for his reaction wondering what it would be shuffling the bags back into one hand and running her now free hand nervously through her mane of ginger hair.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy nodded his head in agreement before taking another sip of his cooling coffee. He was already nearly halfway done and feeling more awake than he had been. As Briar continued to speak, Jeremy stood stock still, not wanting to give her any reason to stop speaking. It seemed that whatever she was trying to tell him was very difficult for her to say. As she finished in a rush, Jeremy’s blue eyes widened in surprise. In one sense, he wasn’t surprised. He had known Briar for years and had never seen her look even a smidge overweight, so seeing a small belly on her could only have meant that she was pregnant in his eyes. In another sense, he was completely astonished. They were so young, and Jeremy didn’t know about Briar, but he certainly wasn’t thinking about babies. That she didn’t seem particularly happy about the news made the guy wonder if she didn’t feel the same way.

“Um…wow. Ok. That wasn't what I was expecting...” he stumbled over the news, not sure whether he should congratulate her or offer her condolences. “Congratulations” he added awkwardly, halfway between phrasing the word as a question and making it sound celebratory. The Healer-in-training wondered how far along she was, figuring it couldn’t be too far along or he would have noticed when he had seen her last. It had been a while ago, but not that long. Jeremy mentally cringed at how awkward he sounded, realizing that he was revealing his own discomfort at the thought of having a child so young. He figured that it would be a bad idea for him to end up on a maternity ward. Obviously, his bedside manner for pregnant women needed some work. “Have the Healers told you whether it is a boy or girl?” he asked before they could lapse into an awkward silence.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar watched Jeremy's reaction to what she had told him. out side her family he was the first person she had told. this meant that it was sort of a crucial for her to see how he would react as if his reaction was a mirror of how the rest of society would reacts. his expression seemed to say exactly as she had felt. sort of surprised and not sure how to react. that wasn't too bad of a reaction she guessed. madlyn had been sort of well madlyn. shocked a little annoyed but exited for her. Iris had been great. so to had dederick, she could tell that it had been hard for him to take in but she really appreciated how he had decided to support her however she knew he was hard for him and she wondered how long it would be before he hit another low and everything spiralled out of control again. When jeremy said that it wasn't what he was expecting she raised one eyebrow and with a typically Briar wry smile said "yeah? It wasn't what i was expecting either". followed by a slight nervous titter.
god briar. pull your act together. a heck of a lot of people are going to find out you are pregnant so get used to it she mentally scolded herself. as jeremy congratulated her. "um, thanks. I think" she said just as unsurely. slowly a awkward silence started to build around them. she didn't quite know what to say to fill it. thankfully jeramy did have an idea. asking if the healers had told her boy or girl. she shook her head slightly. "no, you are actually the first healer i hve seen since i found out." she said. it hadn't actually been design to tell him first off, it was just that he was the first person she had bumped into since she had found out. "to be honest I don't care which, as long as its human" she said. most mothers probably would be anchoring after a certain gender or at least curious as to which the child would be. For briar it was a different matter. She didn't want the chid in the first place but if she had to have one (which it was starting to look like she did) she would not mind if boy or girl, she would just be mad if she had passed on the curse of being a werewolf. As although she was comfortable as one herself, it wasn't something she would wish on anyone. (not even the person she disliked most, though it would be ironic and she could see how she felt if she stuck posters around her workplace stating it)

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy’s eyebrows rose at her comment. He had gathered from her reaction that she hadn’t been expecting to become pregnant. He figured that most people his and Briar’s age wouldn’t expect to become parents. They were practically fresh out of school and had just had the chance to be on their own. The idea of becoming responsible for someone else, someone who really couldn’t take care of themselves at all was beyond Jeremy’s comprehension at the moment. Add that to the fact that he wasn’t particularly fond of babies, and Jeremy was certain that he was going to do all in his power to avoid fatherhood for a while to come. Jeremy had seen Briar’s boyfriend at their graduation, but he’d never spoken to the man so he had no idea whether he might be more eager to become a parent than Briar was.

As Briar continued, Jeremy nodded his head as she stated that he was the first healer that she’d told but she hoped that the child was human. Coming from anyone else but Briar, the comment wouldn’t have fazed him a bit. He knew that she probably had fears of the child ‘catching’ the curse that she had. “I’m sure the heale…” Jeremy paused, a frown crossing his face. He was about to reassure her that the child would be fine when he really thought about what she’d said. “Briar…when you said that I’m the first healer you’ve told…you meant that I’m your first healer friend that you’ve told, right?” he asked, hoping that she’d clear that up quickly. He was certain that she could not mean that he was the first Healer that she’d seen because that would be incredibly foolish. The Healer knew that pregnant women needed to be monitored to make sure that everything was fine with the baby.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar really didn't know what to say to Jeremy. Sure she hadn't expected for no one to notice her pregnancy, and she assumed that she would tell people but she hadn't thought of what to say beyond I'm pregnant. She didn't know when her world would once again be flipped in its head and as long as she still had time she didn't care. Deciding that she had spoken e nought abut herself she was about to ask him how he had been however he started talking first asking if she meant that he was the first healer friend that she had seen stressing the friend. "that too, but but you are the first healer I have spoken to coincidence that you happen to be a friend too" she said pretty sure that she knew what was about to come. "none of my family went to see healers when they were pregnant, everyone just helped out, so even if I was a kid I remember the main bits and pieces" she said. Sure her family growing up weren't human, that was besides the point. She was old enough to look after her self.
She looked at Jeremy. He seemed a lot older than he had at graduation, even if it wasn't yet two years. "so other than being busy with work how have you been? she asked Jeremy desperately trying to change the topic. She wondered how things with him and Alyss were going but she didn't ask as the last time that had had a proper conversation that wasn't just about work she had got a slight impression that things were not going particularly well with the couple.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy was struck speechless for a few moments, though he was fairly certain that Briar wouldn’t notice as she was still talking about how her family hadn’t gone to healers. By the time she was attempting to move the conversation on, he had gathered his wits about him again. He knew that he had two options here: He could use her question to change the subject. He was fairly sure that she would appreciate it as it seemed that talking about her pregnancy was not her favorite topic of conversation. His other option was to continue the conversation and urge his friend to see a Healer. He was fairly close with a girl who was training in the maternity ward. He was sure that if he explained the situation that she would be willing to help. As he thought about it more, Jeremy knew that his Healer side was winning out. He couldn’t just let this go. With a sigh, he dug into his pockets, a task that took some maneuvering with the coffee cup in his hand. Once he had the blank slip in his hand, he fished around for a pen and quickly scrawled some information. “Briar…I’ll answer your question but you have to do me a favor. I get that your family never went to healers” he began gently. “But please…come in for a check-up. Just one to make sure everything’s ok” he was trying to keep his pleading tone light, but it was certainly there. “She’s just in training like me but she’s really nice, but if you’d rather not see her, come see me and I’ll see what I can do. Just see someone” he held the slip of paper, hoping that she’d accept it.

He knew now that he’d have to give her some information to show that he was holding up his end of the bargain. With a sigh, he sipped at his coffee cup. There was nothing but dregs left though. “Alyss and I broke up…a while back actually. It just wasn’t working out for either of us” he stated with a shrug. It was old news now, though it was still just as easy to speak about it as it had been when it was fresh. “Then, I was sort of dating this other girl but we decided that it was just better to be friends. And now I’m…” he trailed off, not sure how to explain his situation. He wasn’t exactly looking for another girlfriend. His relationship with Alyss had been nice, but he’d always felt like something was missing. And he and Faxen had never gotten serious. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, only that he hoped he would know what it was when it found him.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar didn't notice that jeremy seemed to almost stumble on his thoughts she was caught up in hers. soon his voice came through. he wasn't the first person to say that she should go to the healer. she lowered her head slightly and accepted the paper. "fine. I will go. how about i go make an appointment this morning if you and most other people seem to think its a good idea. as you are a healer i assume you know best" she said. healer Koshiba was probably her preference. and she guessed the lady would most likely be free as she did have a slightly scary feel about her. if she couldn't get to see her it would be healer Chevalier most likely as she was who had helped her after she had been bitten. she would also be willing to see jeremy but she had a feeling he wasn't really that comfortable with pregnant people, and although she trusted him she didn't want to make him too uncomfortable. "thank you for the suggestion but I think i would rather see someone who knows I'm a werewolf and who i've seen before" she said.
when jeremy her friend had said he and Alyss had broken up she felt sorry for him. she remembered when Dederick had broken up with her clearly. that had been a rough few months, a very rough few months. To be honest she had never thought Jeremy and Alyss were the most well matched of couples, though sometimes non ideal couples worked best. she knew that first hand. It was still a shame, she knew jeremy had been happy. "oh" she said not sure what to say. "i'm sorry" she didn't know how long ago it had happened. and although she was more into romance now than she ever had been she didn't really care for gossip and felt no need to ask what had happened. it could have been months ago for all she knew. "but you are doing okay now right?" she asked. he was a great guy and he deserved to be happy if it be another person, his job, or just being alone and comfortable that made him so.

Out of Character:

sorry it isn't the best. my muse isn't quite working 100% this evening

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy had been expecting far more resistance from Briar, so he was pretty stunned when she easily accepted his request. He listened to her in silence, afraid to say anything that might make her change her mind. Even though he hadn't taken her suggestion on the specific healer to see, Jeremy didn't take offence. "I completely understand" he stated with a small smile. If he had been more trained in obstetrics, he might have offered to help. But, he was sure that whoever she had in mind was well trained in that area.

As the conversation moved forward, a change that Jeremy was willing to accept this time, he shrugged his shoulders once more at her apology. He knew that people expected him to be more upset about the breakup, but it had been a while ago already. He was over it for the most part. With a nod, he confirmed that he was doing well at the moment. "Yea, I'm doing fine now. I just...I don't think we were right for each other" he stated diplomatically, not getting into any more details than that. He knew that many couples broke up because there simply was no compatibility and while that wasn't necessarily the case with him, he knew that it would work as a reason.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar didnt know why exactly she was so opposed to seeing a healer. even though she said she would book an appointment she knew she was already in half a mind to cancel it once she had done. she guessed that it was to do with not wanting to be pregnant. if she saw a healer about it it would be more real where as until now it was easy to hide. today was the first time she could tell anyone had suspected she was by looking at her (short of when she had been throwing up). soon there would be no hiding it or denying it that she knew. but until now she was happy living in denial for a few more days or weeks.
Briar could tell that jeremy didn't seem too upset about things which was good. it made her thing it happen a while ago and he had gotten used to it. his explanation confirmed that. "yeah, at least you realised that before you got in too deep." she said. before continuing "to be honest i never thought you two as being that good for each other i don't know why." once again speaking her mind wen it probably wasn't the best time. realising that she had probably said something she shouldn't the looked down. thinking on what else she could change the topic to. they had talked about his work, herself and him. talking about her work would be boring for him no doubt. what else did they have in common. small talk wasn't really briars thing. of course. the thing that they had in common. "so have you seen anyone else from school recently? i have hardly seen anyone since graduation" she said.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

"Yea, I guess"he said in a non-committal tone. He thought that they were in fairly deep, though he suspected that most people would disagree since their relationship had only lasted a smidge over a year. It was the deepest relationship that Jeremy had been in thus far, so he had nothing to judge it against. As Briar shared that she had never thought they were good together, Jeremy wondered how many other people shared that opinion. His mother had only taken the smallest interest in his girlfriend, but he expected her to be that way with any girl he brought home. "Oh" Jeremy stated, a small frown tugging on his lips. Not wanting to hold on to his empty cup, Jeremy used wandless magic to send it to the nearest trash can.

Glad when the subject changed once more, Jeremy nodded his head. "I haven't really seen anyone from our year, but I hang out with Faxen on occasion" he stated, figuring Briar would know her since they had been in the same house. "We sort of dated for a bit" he added, hoping that Briar wouldn't go into the fact that Faxen had once dated Jeremy's friend, Dymetris. It was a long story, one that wasn't really his to tell. "And I work with a couple of people who used to go to HNZ" he added. It was to be expected of course since the school wasn't too far away from the hospital. "We should catch a quidditch game some time. Maybe I'll invite Faxen" he mused.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar could tell that jeremy wasn't convinced with what she was saying. she guessed in too deep cold be taken many ways. in her mind when she had said it is was into the situation she was in now. having a stupid kid was in too deep, that was for sure. she realised that she may have said the wrong thing. "sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude" she said, she said hoping she hadn't. she had never been that good at filtering what she was saying and now she also had other things starting to spiral in her mind again. glad that she subject had been changed she nodded when Jeremy said that he hadn't seen anyone from their year but had dated Faxan. although she had been in the same house as the girl and they had both been prefects she hadn't really known her that well. "thats good, how is she?" she asked. the last she had heard of the girl was that she was dating Dymetris who had proposed to her. but that was about a year ago now and a lot could happen in a year. "I don't really keep up with many people mainly madlyn. though i did see Lilith the other day at work." she said. Lilith had been in their year for only a few months however she had been in most of the classes with them.
At the suggestion of quidditch game she seemed to come alive. ever since she had joined the house team when she was in second year she had loved quidditch and although she didn't play pro any more she kept up to date with the matches, and still played in a local semi pro team, near where she lived, the wagga wagga werewolves. "that is a fantastic idea. this season is really good" she said. her favourite team the thunderers was doing well. The Macaws who were the team she used to play for were not doing bad either.

 

[Jeremy Thorne]

Jeremy waved his hand to dismiss her comment. "Don't worry about it" he stated easily. As the conversation moved on, Jeremy was able to relax again. Now, he was back to being a guy hanging with his friend. "She was doing well last time I saw her. It's been a while though. I have to text her later" Jeremy noted. He would have to find his cell phone first. Faxen had helped him to purchase one during the brief time that they had dated and she'd even taught him how to text. He'd learned a little during Muggle Studies, but when he had the phone in front of him it was as if he had never learned a thing. Thankfully, Faxen had been a good teacher and had been able to set him on the right track.

It took the Healer a moment to figure out who Madlyn was. Then, it came to him. How could he have forgotten the half-giant girl? Nodding his head, he was glad when Briar seemed to like the idea of the game. " Great! I'll send you an owl once I hear from Faxen" Jeremy said with a grin. He had to get back to his apartment and do some cleaning before he got to some other stuff. Glancing down at his friend's stomach, he looked back up as he got ready to leave. "Take care of yourself, Briar" he added.