"Mia looks healthy. . .a bit of a squirmer, but right on target for next month's delivery. She's a bit of chunk, if I might say so..."

Gabrielle's eyes had stayed on the monitor screen as they went through the final check up inside University College Hospital, clutching Francis' hand in nervous anticipation. Initially, she had many second thoughts about coming to a muggle hospital, especially considering she hadn't been in many, even though her own birth had been in a muggle one. In the end, she knew that this really was for the best. Chuckling at the doctor's remarks as they processed at last, Gabrielle's eyes were a bit misty from the surprise, anticipation of having their daughter come in due time. "Is she healthy though? No....maladies? No abnormalities?" Gabrielle requested with a worried look that came from being so cautious, concerned throughout the pregnancy.

The doctor scanned over the charts, then by the belly once again. "No, ma'am. Fit as a fiddle. Now, I did need to ask you because I don't see it on your papers. Will you be having the baby here or did you have something else planned?" Gabrielle licked her lips, eyeing Francis before speaking up. "We're going another route, but rest assured, we'll be bringing Mia for visits and check ups when the moment arises?" she reassured to the obstetrician who now was scribbling down the answer. "Well if you choose to come back here and want our services, please let us know as soon as possible so we can act accordingly. Other than that, you're good to go. Make sure to check out before you go."

Once the obstetrician left the room post clean up, Gabrielle sat back up, looking at Francis, rubbing her belly, smiling weakly.

"We're almost there, Mr. Pepper. How do you feel about that?"

“Terrified.” Francis Pepper answered honestly. He might be the father of two teenage boys already, but the prospect of a third still left him juggling excitement and anticipation with the fear of something not going to plan. The aggravation from friends and family the past couple of years, the upheaval amongst family was a constant shadow at the edge of the happiness Gabrielle and Francis enjoyed. He did his best not to think on it, to follow what his heart thought was right - to love Gabrielle, marry her at long last, raise a child of their own, what they had always dreamed of in their twenties. Here they were, in their forties. Thank goodness for wizarding lifetimes.

“But a good terrified.” He admitted, a smile breaking out over his face, sweeping away the tension that he’d held. Francis leaned forward, leaving a gentle kiss upon his fiancee’s forehead. He gave her space to right herself, considering how close they were to finally meeting Mia. A girl! Breaking the gender divide between brothers. At least Octavius could give him plenty of advice on being a father to a daughter with three of his own. Mostly ’keep your head down’. Ambrose and Timothy would be wonderful brothers, Francis was sure of it. They were certainly coming round to the idea, and coping with the changes. At least he very much hoped it. It was strange to consider they were not his little boys any more.

“And how about you?” Francis asked quietly, soft gaze returning to Gabrielle. Whereas he had seen two of his own grow up, this was a first in all senses for her.

The screen to show Mia had gone dim, but she could still envision that beautiful form of their daughter within as Francis spoke. Yes, a good terrified definitely was something Gabrielle likewise felt about the situation. Mere weeks from now and she was destined for full blown motherhood - - thankfully the manor was prepared for Mia's imminent arrival. Francis' kiss of reassurance ushered away all ill feelings of nerves and in its place hope swelled, gushed over. "Me? I'm excited, marvelously so. I'm to be a mother and wife in no time at all and it's with you. What could be grander than that?" she responded as Gabrielle took his hand, kissing it before moving off the examination table and to the dressing screen.

Whilst changing back into a pair of loose jeans and jumper, Gabrielle sang[1] quietly enough as to not completely disturb the peace. Peeking back to gaze at Francis, Gabrielle was grinning ear to ear. "You're a gorgeous mixer of all their lives -under those big blue skies, my heart cries" she crooned for father and child as she walked back over, soon slinking arms around his waist and leaning in. "How about lunch or something of the sort? Maybe congratulatory ice creams after the meal?" Her cravings were there, sure enough, but still the love of ice cream, gelato, sorbets and sorbettos was completely heightened, no signs of diminishing any time soon. "Yes? No?"

1.	song choice

"If you have room!" Francis smiled, deciding not to make a comment about eating for two, but certainly it seemed that Gabrielle's appetite for food was voracious at this point. He lowered his voice, "The question is probably whether it's Muggle or Fortescues, my love?"



"Had quite a bit of interest in the house," Francis explained between spoonfuls of banana ice cream an hour and a half later. "Few first time buyers. Still feels very odd to show people round the place." He'd had a bit of trouble removing any visible charms to Muggle-fy the house in Biggleswade. It was Muggle built, and often rejected any charms and fixes[1] he put on it, but there were a few for convenience. It was easier to sell it on to Muggle buyers, what with it being surrounded by Muggles.

"Hopefully I'll get some offers in the coming weeks, and we can arrange to move things down to Wiltshire. Together as one big family. Perhaps even before the boys finish term. Well, perhaps, they might want to box up their things themselves and say goodbye to the old place." Francis shrugged. "Even if the alpaca[2] moved in first."

1.	28th February, 2009 A Pair of Peppers
2.	20th March, 2011 The Alpackage

Scooping up the last bits of earl grey and swallowing it down, she pondered on which should come next: the grasshopper pie with fudge-y faux grasshoppers or the Szechuan Strawberry. Hm. Szechuan Strawberry it was as she took a bold bite and immediately gasped in genuine surprise right as Francis was mentioning the alpaca's arrival from Biggleswade to Wiltshire. Needless to say, it wasn't the gorgeous creature that caught her off guard - grabbing for the glass of water nearby, Gabrielle took a solid gulp before laughing briefly enough as the ting subsided just enough. Have mercy.

"Here I thought the dark chocolate chili was a nice surprise...ahem. Szechuan Strawberry, you might have thought you have vanquished a new foe but I shall smart you just yet," she murmured to the ice cream bowl, mock sneering at the bowl, stabbing it with her spoon before regaining the focus to her husband to be. Thank Merlin he was capable of dealing with her odd sense of humor and that he had for so long.

"As for the sale and moving, that's truly fantastic and slightly bittersweet news, is it not? I agree that the boys should have an opportunity to allow for that door to close and I understand if they wish for me to keep distance, likewise the same for you. After all, so many memories there for the three of you."

“Fantastic that it’ll sell, yes.” Francis agreed, rather less fervently poking at the ice cream than his wife to be. His gaze followed his spoon’s listless attack on, mind busy elsewhere. The house in Biggleswade had been everything of his life with Claire. Good years, two boys of their own, three in the house together. Happy years. Had Claire not been obliviated by her own son, they might have been more years, the pair might still be married, Claire might still be alive. Her family would still be, family.

It would always hang over them. He was very slowly coming to accept it. That he would live two lives, one with Claire, one with Gabrielle. Leaving Biggleswade was necessary, if emotional, to press closed that chapter of life. He did not deny his love for his late wife … late ex-wife, and he saw her every time he looked at Ambrose and Timothy. But he knew his love for Gabrielle, and he would see her every time he looked at their child. Family was still family despite who bore you and who married whom. And he was marrying Gabrielle. Finally.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to be there,” Francis spoke at last, unsure. His gaze reproachful. “But this is something me and the boys have to do. A necessary punctuation in life. This is the house they grew up in. The only home, bar Hogwarts, they have ever known.” Francis sighed. “They’re having a rough year of it, they really are.” Losing their mother unexpectedly to the tainted St Mungo’s supplies, a stepmother, a new half sister, the arguments at Christmas, schoolmates vanishing and Ambrose had his final exams at Hogwarts to face, as he wasn’t carrying on. Francis wanted them to keep their minds on school. Life had poor timing.

“But happier times are afoot. I’m marrying my oldest friend, whom I love with all my heart, and we are bringing into the world a new member of our family. Life ends, but life moves on.” He reached his hand across and gripped his lover’s tightly, their fingers chilled from the ice cream. “However haphazardly life limps along, I don’t regret us.” He mustered a reassuring smile to Gabrielle, though it didn’t shift his anxious gaze.

Gabrielle had watched Francis through the shifts in disposition for the duration of their visit.

She knew in some regards how it was difficult to adjust in the midst of tumultuous days, but no, not to the extreme extents that the Pepper men were still going through. However, Gabrielle knew how to be a comforter all too well and well, this occasion was no different. "I can try to understand how difficult it is, but in the end, Claire wasn't my mother....it isn't my house going on the selling block nor is it my memories that are going to stay there for the most part. It's yours, theirs. I'm grateful that the boys do have you, Francis. Without you, I'm certain there would be far more many tears, heartbreaks."

She extended her hand, clasping for his right after, her expression warm and comforting as she rubbed her thumb against his hand in tender strokes.

"I'm so proud of you. Your bravery through all of this is truly commendable."

The chilled fingers gave reassurance as did his words; they always had, always will.

“However haphazardly life limps along, I don’t regret us.”

"Nor do I, beloved. You bring me never ending happiness and I pray that even in times such as these that we remember how happy the pair of us make one another. How truly blessed we are. Time has been patient and kind amidst trials and tribulations. You're going.....we're going to be wonderful parents and equally wondrous as husband and wife. I respect that you need this time, this space." Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed his forehead, pulling back to smile before proceeding with a soft, soothing alto voice.

"Though your dreams be tossed and blown - walk on, walk on with hope in your heart - And you'll never walk alone - You'll never walk alone. . ."[1]

Her voice faded though the encouraging smile remained. "Through it all, you'll never have to walk alone ever again."

1.

feeeeeels