Closed Second Time Around

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby was terrified. She'd just returned from the doctor's, and her fears had been confirmed. She paced in her living room, waiting for Graeme to arrive. This is it. He's going to leave. The deal breaker. I can't do this again. I can't. I can't. Abby dropped into the kitchen chair, shaking and nervous. She'd managed to convince Graemes mother to pick up the boys, telling the woman there was an emergency Abby needed Graeme for. Technically, that was true. Abby did need Graeme. Desperately. But she felt sick, her stomach twisted in knots and her heart thundering in her chest. Abby didn't realize she'd started to cry, rocking gently in the chair, her hands tangled in her hair as she struggled to catch her breath.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme had been quite worried when Abby had contacted him, she'd wanted the kids to be with his mother, which had further worried him, but his mother had been happy to take them and assured him it would probably be fine. He just needed to speak to her properly and let her speak. So he'd taken them there and then headed to abby. When he got to her flat, he let himself in and spotted his girlfriend rocking gently in the chair. He rushed over to her, placing a hand on her back lightly. "Abby, breathe, you're okay," Graeme knew she had something to tell him and it was likely that causing the stress but he knew it would be best to get her to have her breathing under control first.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby leaned automatically into Graemes touch, even if she had tensed under it. She let out a gasping breath, struggling to pull herself together. "I'm not- I'm not okay," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I- I'm scared, Graeme, I'm so scared," she sobbed, leaning into his chest and crying harder.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme let her lean against him, and he was just very confused about it. Clearly something had happened, something was wrong but he didn't know what. Graeme put his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly. "Whatever it is, we can face it together," he assured her quietly, wanting nothing more than to take away whatever was wrong.

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby sobbed harder at his words, shaking and clutching at his shirt so tightly her knuckles had turned white. "Graeme- no, its- you dont," she hiccups. "Graeme, I'm pregnant," she managed to choke out, digging her fingers a bit into his back, terrified she would let go and he would vanish.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme was a little surprised but when she said what was wrong, he let out a little sigh. He knew that likely some of this was a lingering fear because of Zerrin and the experiences she had with that. He just continued to rub her back, "Okay, so we deal with that together, whatever you want to do, I'm here Abby," He knew he wanted more kids, and would love to have a child with Abby, but if she wanted to wait, hold off on it for a little while, or just wanted to know he'd be there. "But, you won't be alone in this, I'm not leaving you, I love you, and I'm not going anywhere. We'll deal with this together,"​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby clung to Graeme, sobbing, though it almost turned into sobs of relief at his words. Still she clung to him, burying her face in his neck. She wasn't sure how long it took her to regain some semblance of control. She clung to him, still shaking, and in a very soft voice she managed. "I'm having a baby, Graeme." Her fingers tightened in his shirt, and she burrowed closer. With or without Graeme, she was having this baby.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme was glad this seemed to soothe her, he continued to rub her back and let her just cry it out in the way that she needed to. Eventually managing to gain some control and then listened to her words, "I know you'll do the difficult stuff, but we're having a baby Abby," he told her, she would do everything, because he simply had done his part for the next nine months but whatever she needed, he would do. So it was a we, and he felt important to remind her at every turn that she was not alone.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby eventually ran out of tears, snuggled almost awkwardly into Graeme. She sat up, rubbing her sleeve over her eyes and sniffling. "Do, um... do you want to move to the couch or something?" She asked with a bashful smile, not actually waiting for an answer before moving to sit there herself. She grabbed one of the pillows off the couch and curled around it, holding it tightly. She stared at the floor, chewing nervously on her lip. Her mind was racing. She peeked over at Graeme, worry clear in her eyes. "I, um... I'm sorry," She apologized gently. "I... I might have panicked," She gave him a shaky smile.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme continued to just hold her as she needed to be held, not letting her go until she spoke again, his mind was reeling a little from the news of it really. He knew they were some time away and there was no guarantee things would go swimmingly but…they were having a baby. The little family was going to grow, and really though sooner than expected he was very very happy with it. He wanted this, especially since she wanted it too. He let her move to the sofa before getting up and moving over to her. He sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay Abby, you don’t have to apologise,” he said. “Past experience of this have not been kind to you,” he added. “So, I don’t need an immediate answer, and I respect if you’ll say no, because it’s a big ask, but would you and Zerrin like to move in with me…to my home on Skye?” Graeme knew that this would be no small move for Abby, she was fierce and independent, and to move in with him would mean her moving half way across the world. But he also felt asking it was right. He didn’t want her to be alone during any of this.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby shifted, snuggling into Graemes side. She was both surprised and not really surprised by his next question. She giggled breathlessly. "Actually, about that, um..." Abby bit her lip.

"Zerrin and I... are already moving to Skye," she admitted gently. "We were going to surprise you and Fraser. My lease is up in two weeks, we've been packing. We hadn't... found a place to stay yet, but we had enough to last a month or two while we looked."

She peeked up at Graeme. "I suppose, um... if you really wanted us, we could just move in with you boys." She smiled shyly. "Zerrin would love to share a room with Fraser..."

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme was quite startled that Abby had been planning on moving, so much so, that she’s been looking for a place. He wasn’t too surprised that she hadn’t found anywhere there was not an abundance of places in Skye to live. “Oh wow..” he said before laughing lightly and nodded. “You should definitely just move in with us, the boys don’t need to share a room but they can, we can use magic the expand the house,” he said he was so surprised but it was going to be so good. Abby, Zerrin and the little baby. He let out a little laugh, mirth and surprise filling it. He couldn’t believe it but it was still amazing. He couldn’t find the words for it, his mind racing with all the things he probably should say. “Fraser is going to go nuts when he finds out,” Graeme said. “And Zerrin is happy with moving so far? He’ll still go to Hogwarts here in New Zealand right?” Graeme was thinking about it. “Are you thinking about what you’d want to do for work, if you want to work?” Really Graeme had expected Abby to need to think about more for these questions to be considerations but he was asking them now.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby smiled, pleased with how excited Graeme seemed to be. She set aside her pillow and shifted so she was nestled in his lap, stealing one arm to wrap around her back and taking the other, lacing her hand through his and pressing it to her stomach. She shut her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Unless Fraser is against it, Zerrin wants bunk beds and to share. Something about spending as much time with Fraser as he can."

She laughed lightly. "Zerrin still wants to go to school in New Zealand, yes, he's been absolutely ecstatic about moving. He won't stop talking about it." She sighed as he asked about work. "I'm... not sure anymore, honestly. I'd meant to find something local once we'd gotten there, but... my last pregnancy was so rough. I'm not sure what to expect anymore." She sighed, biting her lip. She could still find something, perhaps, but this pregnancy worried her in more ways than one

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme was sure that bunk beds would end in disaster but he wasn’t going to stop it. They’d just have some protection spells on it. Graeme was looking towards Abby and every so often glancing to his hand. He had missed on all these parts with Fraser, and he was going to soak up all of it. But he nodded to what she said. “Well, you won’t need to work..” Graeme said, “if the last pregnancy was rough, and since the house is paid for and I make too much money anyway, you wouldn’t need to…” he said to her with a little smile. He glanced back down at his hand and thought about Zerrin, though the boy was probably excited about the move, he knew a move, plus the baby would be hard. Fraser would be better place since he was already his son, but Graeme didn’t want Zerrin feeling like an extra part. They would be a family. “Abby….I’d…I‘ll ask Zerrin before anything, but…With the baby, and moving to Scotland, I don’t want Zerrin to feel like an extra part to the family since you are integrating so much with my side…Would you, I’d love to adopt Zerrin, if you’d be okay with me doing so,” Graeme knew it was likely a big decision, and would be up to Zerrin to say yes, but he wanted Zerrin in his life, wanted Zerrin to feel like he was 100% part of the family, to carry the family name, have access to the Fergusson family fortune and access to the privileges the name would allow.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby bit her lip, debating on what he said about working before sighing heavily. "Alright, alright. I... I'll stay home. At least for now." She agreed. She sighed, rubbing her thumb gently over the back or his hand. She was surprised to hear him start talking again, like he was nervous about something. She sat up a bit, reaching up to brush back his hair. She let him get everything out, her eyes widening at his words. "Oh, Graeme," she breathed, leaning forward and catching him in a tight hug. "Graeme, you absolute sweetheart," she giggled, tears in her eyes again, and shifted to steal a happy kiss.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme wasn’t sure what he expected, he knew that he wasn’t really replacing anyone since Zerrin’s actual father had never once been in the picture but it was no less nerve wracking to ask because if she didn’t want him to or didn’t think it right then he’d not do it. There would be ways to make Zerrin feel like part of the family but it was equally as easy to have him be part of his family in the eyes of the state. But he didn’t expect the hug, he returned her and gave a little confused smile. Before figuring this meant yes. “He’ll have to say yes first,” he said before letting her kiss him. He felt the joy she felt, how good all of this was. And such a contrast to the fears that had plagued him when he’d first gone to meet Abby.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby smiled and shook her head. "He won't say no." She countered easily, tracing her fingers over Graemes jaw. "You know he loves you. I love you," se sighed happily, kissing him again. She snuggled closer to him. "You know, um... now that I'm not freaking out," she laughed lightly. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked him. "I know... you didn't get the chance to be very involved last time." She settled back in his lap, taking his hand again and holding it over her stomach.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme felt warmed by her sentiment that Zerrin wouldn’t say no. It was somewhat reassuring but it did not make it guaranteed. But she did know her son best so perhaps it would be worthwhile to just trust her on it. Graeme gave a nod of agreement, leaning into her touch and smiled. “I love you too,” he immediately returned. And gave a smile at it, he let her speak and let his hand be guided on to her stomach. He wasn’t what there was to discuss, and just smiled fondly at his hand on her stomach and then back at her. “Anything you or the baby needs I’ll do, appointments, cravings, hugs, kisses, singing…just this, our family, you are more important than anything else in my life,” Graeme told her. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to talk about it but he didn’t know what he was supposed to say. “I just can’t wait to meet them,”​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby smiled, running her fingers over the back of his hand. She giggled at his words, kissing his jaw. "That does sound nice." She told him. "If I asked you to name our baby, would you?" She asked him. "Anything you want." She smiled, placing her hand over his again.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme considered the question, he had not named Fraser but it didn’t escape him that Maya had picked a Scottish name for the boy. He considered what he would name a new child, a new baby. “Yes, I would,” he replied to question, “If a boy…maybe Henry, spelt the Gaelic way, and a girl…Floraidh, spelt the Gaelic way,” Graeme said speaking the names fondly. “Flora is the name of a rather important historical figure on Skye,” though he didn’t really need to explain it.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby giggled, nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck. "Henry and Floraidh, I love them." She kissed his skin. She yawned, relaxing more into his arms. "How do you think the boys will handle this? Or your mother?" Abby fretted, her brow furrowing again. She had a thousand new worries flooding in to replace the old ones.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme gave a little smile as she repeated the name, he thought they sounded good on her tongue. Floraidh would forever have her name spelt wrong, but it was a beautiful name. The man laughed lightly. "My mother is going to be over the moon, even more children for her to spoil," Graeme told her with a little laugh. "And Fraser, well, he's gonna be so excited. He loves having Zerrin around, so having another sibling would please him," The man laughed, "They're all going to be so happy," he assured her. He knew nothing else would matter but them.​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby smiled at his reassurances. "What about you?" She asked gently. "You're being very supportive, I know, but... I don't know..." She sighed, biting her lip and shifting a bit to look up at him. "Do you really want this? It... it's a lot. A lot of big changes for us. Moving in, a baby, Zerrin and I... will you and I share a room? We don't have to, I don't want to impose, I don't need much space, I could make do with like... a walk in closet or something, nothing too much..." She fretted.

 

[Graeme Fergusson]

Graeme gave a little laugh as she spoke, spirraling a little as she did so. But as she kept going he shook his head at her. "Abby," he said softly holding his arms around her and saying it with a fond tone. "I want this, I want us, I want Zerrin. I want to wake up to you in the morning and be the last thing I see at night, I want to spoil you with breakfast, take you out to dinner whenever, I want to go dancing and come back to our house. On the days when the weather sucks, I want us to sit by the fire, with the baby in our arms, with Fraser and Zerrin in close reading a story together," He assured her warm, "There is no part of what you described that I don't want. I promise you Abby, I'm in it, for you, for the baby, for Zerrin, and because it's gonna make me so happy." ​

 

[Abigail Cromwell]

Abby stilled as Graeme said her name, peeking up at him through her hair. Her breath caught as she listened to him speak. She smiled shyly as he finished, leaning in to try and steal a kiss before nestling back down in his arms, hiding her face in his neck. "I love you, Grae," she whispered softly, shutting her eyes. She had never expected to find love again, but she was eternally grateful for the man that held her right now.