"Krix, could you put everything out in the garden tonight? I could use the fresh air." Aisling was balancing a tray filled with cream and pale green dishes in one hand as she stood at the entrance to the garden. It had just rained, and water droplets were still poised atop the leaves and petals, quivering whenever the wind moved them.

A bit of water had been brushed onto the long fringes of her cloak, leaving faint damp marks wherever it had touched the fabric. "She should be here soon." It was a good thing, to have contact with the Hogwarts staff, and the counselor had seemed a very pleasant sort when last they'd spoken.

"I'll just check the charms in case it rains again. Wouldn't do to be soaked." She smiled down at the young house elf, then moved to set the tray down on a table that had been set out nearby. What was the point of a lovely garden if you didn't spend time in it, after all?

Maiko had been looking forward to this dinner for a while—people didn’t usually invite her over, she was usually pestering them to come over and be fed in either her office, or her home. The Knights were an affluent family—Maiko’s muggle grandparents were wealthy, but they were her grandparents! It was different being in one of their large homes than it was being invited to the home of someone she did not know very well. This was an opportunity to learn more about someone, and perhaps build a friendship.

Aisling had said that Mai could bring her dog along—Maslow was fairly well behaved, if energetic—but Kohaku had worn him out earlier today by taking him on a run after Abby had already walked him.  Mai was thankful for that; he was growing quickly, and a large dog full of energy could lead to a catastrophic evening. She approached the front door and knocked loudly. Maslow’s tail was wagging so hard, that his entire behind was shaking with it.

“Behave yourself.” She said to him sternly, and the dog looked at her briefly before focusing his eyes on the door. Waiting.

With everything assembled just a few minutes before, Aisling had made her way to the front entryway to wait near the door. Krix greeted most of their guests, but Ms. Biladeau-Yukawa was hardly the usual sort of guest. Aisling tended to meet most of her friends and colleagues elsewhere, and those of Tarron's family who would visit were still of a certain sort more used to stiff propriety.

The sharp knock on the door would have been hard to miss, and so she slid the door open and smiled at the two figures beyond it. "It's so good to see you. Do come in." She stepped back to let them in, then motioned down the hall. "I thought we could eat in the garden. Some of the roses are blooming again and there's plenty of room."

And it would feel much less empty than the dining room would, with just two of them. The house was achingly empty enough as it was, quiet and touched with the smell of old books.

She greeted Aisling with a large smile, “Thank you for letting me bring Maslow. And, thank you for inviting me over.”  She entered the house and looked around in awe. This place was huge—and so put together. This seemed like a home that Aileen would be comfortable in. Mai’s own home was much more homey and cluttered, but then again she didn’t have a house elf. Nor was she herself wealthy. Mai wasn’t the sort who was comfortable in homes that felt like museums—even her wealthy grandparents had some clutter when they weren’t expecting company. Maybe that was it—Aisling was expecting company!

Maiko followed her host into the garden and sat down  at the table in the garden. She was much more comfortable here. “Your garden is wonderful. I’m rubbish when it comes to growing plants.” Maslow sniffed at a few plants but then flopped down at Maiko’s feet, uninterested in the many different plants.

“So, how are you doing? Anything new since we last saw each other?” She was just waiting for Aisling to know she was pregnant—she didn’t want to be the one to break it to her!

"Oh, I'm so glad  you both came. I hate to have dinner alone, and Tarron had Wizengamot matters to attend to." It was a rather straight path back to the garden, and Aisling occasionally turned back to smile at Maslow as she led them both there. She was grateful she'd put up the charms for managing kitten hair previously, as they'd work equally well if Maslow did a bit of shedding.

The garden was filled with herbs and rosebushes, all of which showed the signs of new growth, though only a portion of the roses were blooming. The table had already been set with food, soup and fruit and salad, with trays of desserts set to the side on another. There even small dishes on a slab of stone for Maslow. "Thank you. My parents had a farm when I was young, so I picked up a few things. And I've had a bit more time for it recently, with the girls at school."

She slipped her cloak off and set it on the back of her chair, then sat down opposite Maiko. There was something new, very much so, but she wasn't certain if she wanted to share it, yet. But it would come out eventually. "There is something, actually. I'm still not sure how I'm going to tell my daughters about it."

Eek. Dinner alone. That was unpleasant—she knew her younger brother often ate dinner alone, but he also wasn’t the social butterfly she was. He was content, sitting in his room and doing homework while munching on an apple or drinking the last bit of milk from his bowl of cereal. She looked at all the food, and was frankly, quite impressed. Usually she was putting on a food show for others, and it was almost weird to her to see other people putting that much effort for her. Mai was in a position that she was not used to as a guest. Yes, she had visted Aileen’s home once or twice, but it was never for dinner!
“My father had a farm!” She exclaimed, more than just a little bit excited. “I didn’t inherit his green thumb. I did well with the baby goats, though!” Mai flushed a little—the words had just blurted out, and she didn’t mean to sound so exuberant.

"There is something, actually. I'm still not sure how I'm going to tell my daughters about it."

She gazed at Aisling curiously, though she thought she knew what Aisling was talking about.  Still, perhaps there was something else going on-- a pet died? If counseling had taught her one thing, it was to never assume. “I’ve learned that usually, it’s best to just be open and honest.” Mai wasn’t a parent, but she had taken in her younger brother when she was only eighteen. She also remembered her parents telling her that she had a brother. She was frustrated that she didn’t learn about it earlier, but then she realized she learned about him within days after her parents found out and the frustration towards them disappeared.

“Especially if it’s something that will affect them directly.”  Mai added, “I don’t mean to pry, but what is it?”

"Oh, baby goats are lovely. The only animals we've had about recently are kittens, and those returned to school with the girls. After getting into everything, of course. Especially Rowena's kitten. I could see why she chose that one." Though it did leave little tears in her dresses from tiny claws. As if Rowena's clothing didn't go through enough turmoil.

Aisling poured them both tea, and placed a rather large quantity of fruit and salad onto her own plate. It felt as if she were eating far too much and yet she still found herself feeling hungry. "I'd just hate to make them worry more, Sophia does so much of it already. And I don't-"

She forced herself to pause, to refocus. There was no use to being entrapped in possibilities. "I'm pregnant. I only found out a few weeks ago, and it was very much a surprise." The warmth in her smile, the light in her eyes, they couldn't overshadow just how tired she looked as she spoke of this.

Mai chuckled when Aisling spoke of Rowena’s kitten. In her opinion, most baby creatures were little jerks, but she loved them anyway! There was something so cute and somewhat innocent about them that was redeeming.  She thanked her host and took a sip of her tea, listening to what she had to say next.
Bam!

Now she ‘officially’ knew that Aisling was pregnant!

She let out a little squeal. “Ah, congratulations! Do you know if they’re boys or girls yet?” Mai exclaimed, but then shifted her tone. “Or, is it a congratulations?” She eyed the other woman carefully, to see whether or not she was excited about this pregnancy. Pregnancy was difficult, even for younger women, and triplets was bound to be difficult in and of itself. Aisling was already beginning to look tired—but wasn’t fatigue an early symptom of pregnancy?
Hell, it was an early symptom of everything! Sometimes, Mai wondered if fatigue was a side effect of living.
 

Aisling choked on her fruit, coughing harshly until the piece had shifted enough for her to breathe and then massaging her neck with one hand. "They?"

It was such a strange first thing to say. Her voice was still hoarse, a little strained. "We don't know yet, I'm not even into the second trimester. The Healers think that it may be twins again but they can't truly tell at this point." Now, her voice was calmer, as if the cough had dissipated enough for her to properly breathe.

"I'm hoping some Muggle tests will let us know sooner, but still." She lifted a curious eyebrow. "I'm surprised you said 'they', most people assume just one. Even with the girls."

She took another bite of the fruit, this one smaller and delicate. More difficult to choke on if it came to that.

Mai tilted her head to the side. “Yes, they.” She said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world for a human woman to have a multiple birth. “I mean, I guess you’re surprised—twins was hard but this will be much—“ Then Maiko’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth quickly.

“I—I just put my foot in my mouth. I am so sorry!” She exclaimed, “You didn’t—merde! You thought it was one baby. You—I am so sorry! It wasn’t—I wasn’t supposed to tell you.” Mai covered her face with her hands and rested her elbows on the table, trying to hide her embarrassed cheeks. She spread the fingers of one hand and peeked at Aisling.
“Are you okay?” She asked, her mouth slightly muffled due to her palm being in the way.

That was even odder. Aisling was struck silent for a moment, her hands twisting together. To say that this made no sense would have been far too generous, there were some matters that could not be ascertained this early, at least not by any methods which would apply in this state.

"I am well," she said finally. "Though I fear that I do not understand. What is it you were supposed to withhold from me? Why? How?" She pressed her thumb against the ring on her finger, the slight pain cutting through just a bit of the confusion.

"Would you like some more tea? I...." There wasn't really much to say. At least not that was coherent.

Mai realized that she was now digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole.
She wasn’t being clear or concise. She wasn’t being direct. No, Mai was being vague and confusing and incoherent. That was exactly the opposite of good communication.

Mai groaned softly and took her hands off her face, and leaned forward to rest one of her hands on Aisling’s folded ones.

“I am so sorry.” She said, her earnest tone and apologetic expression only emphasized her sincerity. “Really. I am. Let me start over.” She took a deep breath and leaned back into her chair, folding her hands onto her lap.

“I don’t really hide this—so I assumed you knew? But I don’t go around announcing it to everybody, so there’s no reason you should know.” She began, “I am a seer. Have always been a seer, will probably always be a seer. I usually keep my visions quiet, and for some reason I assumed you already knew this information…” Mai cleared her throat.

“Aisling, you are pregnant with triplets, if anything I’ve seen is correct. I didn’t go about this in the most tactful way, and I am sorry for that. I assumed you already knew, and I shouldn’t have made that assumption.” Maiko paused, “Do you… Have any questions?”

"You're a -oh." Aisling took a very, very deep breath. Which wasn't enough to calm her when the revelation came. Merlin, but three? At her age? Tarron would worry, Teagan would worry...actually, Aisling couldn't think of anyone who wouldn't at such news.

She slumped back into her seat. "What else did you see? I...I'll have to tell Tarron."

A conversation that already seemed some form of looming, overwhelming matter. At least in the light of that weekend, that anniversary.

"He's hoping for a son, even if he won't always admit it." And there that was as well.

“I…” She smiled, “Tarron would be happy then—I am certain that there are three boys. Identical and fraternal?” Her smile faltered. A pregnancy with one child was difficult—let alone twins! Let alone triplets! Aisling must have been very predisposed to having a multiple pregnancy. But at her age… It was risky. At any age it was risky. She would need to be kept under very good care, keep her stress levels down, and have frequent visits with a skilled, trusted healer to make sure things progressed healthily. Even then,she was looking at a premature birth for them.

Still, what Maiko saw wasn’t ominous. She was still hesitant to be positive, when the future could change so easily.
“Right now, it should be fine. You should be healthy, worn down, but healthy.” Mai paused, “But be careful. The future has a way of changing course quickly.  It’s not always in anyone’s control. Things happen. All you can do is see a healer regularly, keep yourself rested, and try not to push yourself.” She grabbed Aisling’s hand warmly, “And find support. Whether it’s in your husband and family, or your friends. No one should ever be alone when going through this.”

Three sons? Tarron would be thrilled. Ecstatic even. "Tarron will be so excited. He's had enough trouble because of us, I'll be glad to see him happy." Though Aisling still couldn't keep all the exhaustion out of her voice, not with this. She closed her eyes and sunk back into her seat.

It was only a few seconds until she forced herself to open them. This seemed so tiring, and even with the reassurances there seemed something of uncertainty in the seer's voice. Aisling squeezed Maiko's hand and nodded. "My sister will want to check up on me, I'm certain. She's a doctor. And stubborn, when I give her half a chance."  Something harder now that Aisling lived in a properly magic house.

"And I spoke to Glass already, so I'll be doing far less field work. It should be less stressful. I hope." If only this had happened earlier.