He had received an owl a few days ago from his son’s mother. Lauren had insisted it was important that she meet with him. Declan had been hesitant to agree, but owled back saying he could find a couple of hours Saturday morning to meet with her in Hogsmeade. He made sure not to schedule the meeting during the usual Hogsmeade trip for the upper years- the last thing that he needed was them asking questions. So on the morning of the sixteenth, Declan got up early, got dressed, and went to meet Lauren for breakfast at the new bakery. It was one of the few places open at such an early hour.

When he arrived, Lauren was already seated at a small table for two in the corner. He purchased a cup of coffee and then sat down across from her. “It’s been a long time,” was his greeting. And it had been. They had been lovers once upon a time, but after her father found out he forbade them from seeing one another. Then Lauren had given birth to their son, and Declan had never been allowed to see the boy- and for quite some time, most of the gifts that he sent were owled back to him. It had always bothered Declan that he had a son he was not able to see- but that was how things were.

“Yes, it has,” she responded, lifting her mug and sipping from it. Declan did not miss the large diamond sitting on her ring finger. She even made it a point to tap it against her mug- it clanked loudly. “And I won’t bore you with small talk or pleasantries. I am here on business, and do not have much time to conduct it with.”

“About that?” he asked, motioning to the shimmering diamond.

“Yes,” she responded simply. “I am engaged. A very wealthy, prestigious man with connections to the potions industry in America has proposed. My father is most anxious to see the union happen. There is, however, one small problem which is delaying the final details of the wedding. Our son.”

Declan stared at her blankly. He could not see how their son was a problem, and why he was delaying the wedding. Iggy wasn’t yet old enough to really complain, and the idea that a three year old could ruin the wedding was a bit ridiculous in Declan’s opinion. “How exactly is a toddler preventing you from getting married, Lauren? You have never been one to let other’s opinions sway you from doing whatever daddy wants you to do.” Bitter? Yes, he was. And Declan had no qualms about it.

“It has nothing to do with Daddy. My fiancé has no interest in raising a bastard child. Especially if the child is a boy who could potentially become a thread to any of his male heirs. I admit that I cannot blame him. Were I to marry a man with a son from a previous marriage, I would be concerned that he would take precedence over my own children as well. He insists that he will not take care of the boy- which leaves me with very few options.”

Declan raised a hand- stopping her. “You mean to tell me that you’ve come here to tell me that you don’t want Iggy anymore simply because your fiancé said so?”

She frowned darkly. “I would appreciate it if you would be quiet and let me finish.” Lauren waited on Declan to nod before continuing. “As I was saying, this leaves me with very few options. If I refuse and decide to keep the boy, then not only is my engagement off- but my father will put me out on the street. The only logical thing to do would be to pass him off into the care of another person. I have nobody in my family who can raise the boy- my father has no interest. This means I have one of three options. Either you can take responsibility for your son, I can contact your sister and ask if she would be so kind as to take him in, or I can leave him at an orphanage.”

Declan was reeling. He could not believe that after years of Lauren refusing to allow him to see his son that she would be so willing to dump him off into the care of another person. What was worse was that she was considering giving him to Liadan- Declan would rather die than see his sister raise his child. “I don’t have the means to care for a toddler. I don’t know the first thing about taking care of a three year old!”

“I suggest that you learn then,” Lauren said. “I understand that you will need to wait until after the school year is over. That gives you a couple of months to find a home, buy the things you will need, and research. I’ll be leaving him with you at the end of June if you agree to take the boy. Besides- it is not so difficult. If nothing else you can just hire a nanny. That is what I have done. He is never a nuisance to me.”

It didn’t surprise Declan that Lauren had left the boy to be raised by someone else. She was always a bit self centered. Even though he had loved her and was ready to marry her so many years ago, she had never been the nicest of persons. Then again, neither had he. And, had he never been disowned by his family once upon a time, then Declan would likely be married to Lauren and they would have had more children by now.

This decision wasn’t one that Declan ever expected to make. He couldn’t believe the short notice, the way she looked at him expectantly- obviously demanding an answer right away. “I can’t let Liadan take care of him. And I’ll not let him go to an orphanage. I guess… I guess I’ll take him, Lauren.”

“I thought you would say that,” Lauren said, suddenly smiling brightly. She handed over a key then to a Gringotts vault. “Father and I are aware that you do not have the monetary means to raise him as he should be. For this reason we’ve put aside a large amount of money to aid you in preparing not only for his arrival, but to ensure that he has the best of everything as he grows up. Naturally I will not be able to see him as his mother, though I may visit once in a while as his aunt. What you tell the boy about what happened to his mother is up to you.” Lauren picked up her bag, obviously getting ready to leave.

“Wait- that’s it?” Declan asked. “After all of these years you’re just showing up, dumping the kid on my doorstop, and leaving again?”

Lauren blinked at him. “Yes. I do not see what is so difficult to grasp here, Declan. You were raised just as I was. This is just how things are done. Come now, don’t have your feelings hurt. At least now you’ll get to know the boy.” She stood up, pushing in her chair. “I’ll owl you again in mid June to make sure that you are ready for him. Father has agreed to help in any way that he can to get you prepared. I hope you enjoy the last month of freedom that you’ll have.” Lauren walked away from the table then, leaving the shop and apparating with a pop.

Declan remained in his seat as he tried to process the exchange which had just happened. What the hell was he going to do with a baby? And how was he going to manage his job and a child? …. Fuck.