✧KEEPING SILENT✧

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Regulus had warned Elizabeth about his bedridden sister, and so she stormed off to the second manor on the ends of the property with a plan on her shoulders.

She was prepared in pulling her friend out by the hair and straight into the bathroom for a bath.

But all that stopped when she caught the sight of Aurora, it was close to nine and she knew her friend all to well that she wouldn't sleep in on the weekday.

Putting a hand to her forehead did she grimace that Aurora could actually have caught something, and so she whipped out her wand and ran a full diagnostic, a gasp had signified that she uncovered the truth.

But even then had Aurora slept fitfully, and no part of Elizabeth would wake a pregnant witch. Not when waking meant spending the morning in the bathroom, instead she prepared a special tea, one that she was recommended when she was pregnant with Paige.

It was a beautiful light grin that rose on Aurora's face when she smelled the awful brew. "Raba?" She whispered out, and Liz could only feel her chest tighten as she shook her head.

There would be no good in letting her live this imagination.

"No honey, thought you could use some tea." Aurora popped her eye open but then snapped it shut, even going as far as scrunching her face together.

"What time is it?"
"Almost ten." She hummed and cuddled further into her pillow, but then Liz watched her inhale rather deeply.

And it hit her Rory faster than the Hogwarts Express.

"Liz I swear I didn't—I didn't know." She cried, and the standing witch sat down beside her friend. Her first school friend. But there wasn't a moment of hesitation where she gave Rory comfort.

"It's alright, it's alright. Breathe with me Rory. Don't let this turn negative, another child...Think Rory, it's him...Right?" Elizabeth allowed her words to linger in her friend, she was empathetic to the situation.

She had to be or else Regulus would've come to America with no one by his side.

But it wasn't simply about taking in Rory's family, Liz didn't get a wink of sleep when she and the kids arrived. If John had been arrested for something so dark and twisted, having been missing the majority of the year?

The stress of the situation was enough to figure out how a child was conceived, but it takes two to act. And if Rory was lonely?

Of course she was going to seek out her husband for the fair few minutes he could offer, and with that came a child.

"Let me make sure they're alright Rory, it'll only take a moment." A flash of guilt about how utterly neglectful she had been to this babe.

If she made the promise to the children running around outside, she surely needed to extend it to the youngest munchkin of the group.

"Reg is going—"
"Reg will be delighted to have another nephew or niece. I'm sorry Aurora, but he's gone. He cannot come back, and if he did, do you want him around the children? Around them?" She cried further, mumbling half-sentences that he would never hurt them.

"Rory he's already hurt them, he was hardly there when he wasn't incarcerated...What about the project with Aidan and Salem? You created Dragon Pox as a mother of four, I have no doubt you can figure this out pregnant." She nodded along, but it made little to no sense as to how she could be with child.

Especially since the last time she could've conceived—

When she voiced her concern, she and Elizabeth hurried along to the witch clinic to see what was the issue. From there she remained until the sun was casting down, as the stress and travel was highly dangerous for such an early pregnancy. But three months was not early, and with no growth in her stomach did she pray that this new little babe didn't leave her so soon.

When she returned home from the clinic she felt better, almost revived. And while the kiddos all showered her with shouts and mumbles of what they managed throughout the day, she hadn't realized something was wrong with her eldest until Romulus caught her in her room alone, almost cornering her by blocking the door.
"Mummy? Are you okay?" She was simply putting some clothes away, as she would start needing to look for maternity clothes once this little one started to blossom.

"Of course love."
"No you didn't--You didn't say you were leaving!" Aurora's eyes flashed forward in panic, had her children been traumatized by the sudden departure of their father that they worried on their mother?

The answer was short and sweet, Romulus was the only one to notice the little details.

Halsey was far too distracted, and it was a blessing. Or else she would be standing with her brother now interrogating her. "I know love, it was an emergency. But now the healers made me feel better yeah?"
"But you didn't say you were sick." She bent down to sit in front of him, her hand extending forward to caress his cheek.

He's a mama's boy indeed.

"Mummy's just not used to living here yet, can I tell you a secret Rommy?" Out of all the things the son could do, he followed his mother's actions and sat down just like she had.

"What kind of secret?"
"One that you cannot tell anyone, I need to be the one to tell your uncle Reggie." He blinked for a second or two before vigorously nodding into her hand. "Okay."

"Brilliant. Can I see your hand?" The warmth from her hand had left and he had to stop himself from reaching out to put it back, if his mother was trusting him with something, he needed to promise it.

He held out his hand, and she interlocked her fingers to his.

"Do you remember how I said things were going to change, when Cara was in my tum?"
"When she was tiny?" She nodded, her free hand pointing to his own tum as he giggled.

"You were that tiny too Rommy, both you and Halsey were both in my tum."

"Really?" The child-like excitement grew tremendously, and it was so difficult to see that he was the same boy from five minutes ago demanding to know what was wrong.

"I read to you too, and sang..." She cracked a bit, her eyes burning with the oncoming of fresh tears. But she bit her lip and looked away, hoping that they would just disappear.

"And now there's going to be another little one in my tum, but now you can help me read to them. How does that sound Rommy?"

"Another sister?" He gasped, and when his small little hand had touched his mum's stomach he flinched further.

Almost in fear that he hurt them.

"I don't know yet Rommy, it could be a little brother or sister...We need to wait a lil bit, how about you sleep with me tonight?"
"Can I read to sissy?" She nodded to the boy, and he cheered through the house saying that he was going to read to mummy.

While Aurora, on the other hand, had a very important parcel to draft.

"For a painting I believe my hearing was better than when I was alive..."
"Please? I cannot bear with what you or Regulus will think of me when this child is—" Orion shook his head calmly.

"No my little light, I am simply offering my congratulations...And the possible suggestion of relaxing, you have the rest of your lives to be free." Aurora wanted to disagree, especially with the lurking jolt of guilt and fear that wracked into her heart.

No. This battle might be over, but this war was still very active...

*

It was difficult to maintain the secret, Phoebe was a healer in training, and if Aurora broke her act she would get caught. And Regulus knew the tellings of his sister being with child, so it led to her throwing herself into the work with Aidan and the rest of those on the Salem committee.

Mr.Crawford was indeed the sweetest gentlemen known to man, and she hadn't known it then. But he had caught Dragon Pox, and her potion helped him fight to recover.

It was indeed an emotional steed, which she happily explained to her growing family. Regulus had smirked and shot her the 'I told you so' on how famous she has been across America.

To be fair, her potion was still making a fair amount of coin, but it was coming a time that the numbers entirely decline. The Dragon Pox has been curse, and with it slowly dying out.

Her biggest regret was not being able to save her father though.

Aidan on the other hand, relished at all the time he was able to spend with Aurora. Even if it wasn't in the setting that he wanted, he still enjoyed finding his footing with the woman.

Goddess. Even Regulus knew he was smitten, it came to the point where it was laughable.

"I don't understand...It's the same as Hogwarts, they just flock around her!"
"Reg, your sister is beautiful. Even Grams asked when you came what was in the water, haven't you seen how happy she is getting?" It was true, she was doing insanely better, it was ultimately the responsibility of carrying a child that really brought this new streak of upbeat in her life.

But now it was Phoebe's time to panic. This was exactly what Grams and Liz were warning her, that saving herself for marriage would be easier in this case.

In any world she would've happy to tell her husband that she was pregnant, but now it felt...Wrong.

"Fuck," She cursed, and it caused Regulus to backtrack for a moment.

"Love? You alright?" He called out, and it caused her to lurch back with the test behind her back.

"Y-yeah, I almost spilled my bath—"
"A bath without me?" Wiping her eyes did she let out a strangled laugh. Regulus took any and all opportunities to bathe with her, she hadn't thought it was all that romantic, but he surprised her with candles and...

It was then she realized she shouldn't be all that surprised by the sudden outcome.

"Weekends Reg."
"Alright, alright...Any ideas for supper?" She licked her lips, trying to recall what Liz would eat when with child.

"Fish?"
"Fancy yourself some Salmon? Bet Rory—"
"Maybe we can have a night to ourselves?" She questioned, and she instantly squeezed her eyes shut. "I didn't mean—"

"I understand, both been busy aye? Got a list for the store?" She shouted that it was on the counter, and to add another few things as she continued to finish up in the bathroom.

The potion securely in her bra to hide away from him...

She would tell him at dinner.

"Aight love, half-hour at most."

"Take your time." He smirked with a wink before silently leaving her in the apartment. After Rory had moved off, the apartment had gotten a full makeover. Especially when the office downstairs was where the two would study the most, it was their solitude when either needed a moment to get work done.

She wrapped the ends of the long cardigan around her stomach, her tearful eyes still weary on what he would think.

What would Regulus think?

He was still getting used to life here, and with his sister here...He was so focused on his nieces and nephews that—Would Reg be a good father?
Would she be a good mother?

A soft smile erupted, she knew Reg would be the perfect father. Even the first day he had met Alex and Anton. Or the day Paige joined them?

But was she mother material?

A choking sob escaped her as she looked what would eventually be the child's bedroom, gods what has she done! The Halliwell name will be besmirched if she has a baby out of wedlock!

She didn't want to force Regulus to propose, to force a marriage. But what was there to do? He was still old school, Chris and John were both quick to point it out.

And that was before they had been dating.

Hell, it had taken forever for him to take her blessings of consent to take their relationship further. But of course she wasn't careful and now it led her to here.

It was enough that the property had seven children already, but another? A newborn?

Phoebe had started prepping what they could have along with the Salmon, and she prayed that this would vote over well. She couldn't stomach it not.

She was simply frying some broccoli and getting the rice cooked up as well when Regulus cheered that he returned. "Course I had to run into that demon...I don't control Rory, why is it that he believes I do?" She giggles, coming closer to kiss his cheek.

"I've already had to tell him that Sirius was the eldest, maybe he still believes otherwise...The rice is almost done." He looked behind her and smiled, the simplicity of their relationship was exactly what he needed.

Phoebe was such an easy-going soul, nor was she afraid of telling him right from wrong.

By the end of the first year, all the stigma of pureblood has almost left his system.

"I think we needed a break from all the kiddos aye? Damn near exhausting the lot of them, don't remember having that much energy." Phoebe offered him a small smile, she recalled Rory in the first few weeks in coming here every other weekend.

But then a shot of pain shot through him.

Did he not want a child of his own?
Was this his hint?

She shot down her attention in hurrying along to set the table, transferring everything so they could serve themselves. And no matter how many times Reg did this with her, with Rory or at the Halliwell Manor, it felt normal.
It felt intimate.

Being domestic suited him perfectly, especially when that easy smile graced him as he sat down.

He also felt the need to serve her her plate first, giving her the best pieces. Regulus did indeed exceed what her idea of what being a gentleman meant.

"Smiling about something over there?" He asked, the tongs scooping up some of the broccoli.

"I just think you're being adorable." His ears burned an embarrassing red as he tried to shake off the comment.

"Adorable, love? No. I cannot except that." She giggled as she took a gentle sip of water. "Wine?"

"Oh no, I need to look over my notes again." The two began to dig in after that, the conversation flowed and the two talked of their childhoods as she wanted to know a story involving his two siblings.

"Remember there was this one time, maybe after my first or second year at Hogwarts. And we went to the Lestrange Manor for a few days, Sirius was still with us and we played a game of tag."

"Tag? I can't image Rabastan or Sirus playing tag." It was true, the few pictures she's seen in the newspaper make it difficult to imagine how they looked like when they were still enrolled in Hogwarts.

"I found out that he took Rory on their first date that year, so it must've been my second. Sirius called him out on it, but course Rory laughed it off..." It was sweet to think of their early relationship, but then a sanctioned frown took the conversation.

"...How naive I was."
"Reg you weren't naive, this isn't like thinking Santa is real. He became your brother for a bit, and I'm glad you came here...Because I can't image what would be in store for you if you stayed." His expression hadn't changed, and he simply took a hefty sip of his wine.

"I'd be dead."
"Reg—"
"No Pheebs, it's the truth. I carelessly walked into the Dark Lord's lair and tried to steal his stuff." He didn't share with anyone what it was, he wasn't dumb...The locket had a distinct eery feeling when holding it. Like an untuned radio.

Rory hadn't stayed near it long enough to make an educated guess, but he wouldn't put it past her to know what it really is.

"But you're here now...With me." Her voice was so soft that an instant smile erupted from his brooding temperament almost vanished. It was wrong to put the responsibility of his happiness to her or people in general, but she was such a light on his damaged soul that he reached to take her free hand into his.

"And I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else darling." She snorted, completely unceremoniously as she couldn't get over his little nicknames.

But again, the water was different there.

"I have something I wanted to tell you Reg." His attention shot up, especially since some time of silence has passed between the two as they continued eating.

But the guilt was eating her up.

"Everything alright?" He questioned, the light clatter of utensils sounded as she returned her gaze upwards.
"Yeah of course...But er—I found out something today and I'm not sure if you're going to like it." She held her hand in an effort to keep it from shaking, especially when Phoebe saw Reg trying to pan out what might've happened throughout the day.

Trying to find something that could've been wrong.

"Phoebe I'm sure whatever it is, we can—"
"I'm pregnant."

Regulus didn't have the willpower to keep from his jaw-dropping, to keep himself from reacting badly. It was the addition of her words to her reaction, Phoebe looked horrified.

Completely terrified of what he had to say.

But Regulus Arctius Black had little to say, especially when a sob croaked out of his throat. His hands ran down his face as he continued to cry.

While it left Phoebe to watch the mess she had made with her lack of protection.

"R-Reg I-I'm so—sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I never meant for—" The laughter that came from his side of the table caused her to flinch, Regulus never had the best track record for responding to good news.

But then again...When was there ever good news for him to hear?

"Truly?" He questioned, his voice so similar to a young child that she broke away as she completely misread his reaction, causing her face to contort.

"I wouldn't lie." She hissed, but then he erupted looked up to the ceiling. Tears carelessly streaming down his face as he thanked the gods above.

There was barely a moment passed since his praise before he settled down on the floor in front of where she sat. "My love...I have never, not in a million years...Thought that those words would come from your beautiful lips." He cried, and Phoebe realized his tears weren't in anger or in anything in the sort.

It was pure happiness.

Incasing his cheeks in his palms did she attempt to wipe away his tears, for a man who escaped death, he would be producing life with the woman he loves.

And Phoebe bent down to hug him now, the two completely wrapping their limbs together as though they couldn't get enough of each other.

"The potion said it's a son." Reg stilled, his mouth bobbing up and down like a fish as he hadn't realized the effect of gender would make his heart beat even faster.

His hand secured around her tum, there was nothing indifferent than the last time he hugged her from behind. But the tension was different, he was cautious.

Now he understood what Lestrange meant, that the world almost stilled the second he heard that he was having a son.

And Regulus was prepared to give this babe everything.

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Date Posted: 01-01-20

Time: 7:01

Words: 3421

Happy New Year!!!

Update, Lil babe Lestrange is going to be okay!

And I know most of you will be hating on Aidan, but Regulus will be very protective this time around.
Just you wait;)

The Fifth Chapter will be coming tonight, be on the lookout!