✧DEADLY GUILT✧

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 Personally Rabastan had thought it would be worse, and a sense of pride rallied in his chest. Father and mother of two different lines.

"The only issue is that Aurora had said that she didn't want another child after—" Orion sighed, hearing the same line from his little light prior.
"That is why it strains me to ask of this, you have three and another one on the way...She shouldn't have to worry about this. This falls to the wizards of the families, and here Cassi is, given another task." Rabastan couldn't control his own reaction as he leaned forward and dragged his hands down the likes of his face.

"After this child, she'll need a break. A year or two, I cannot speak how long until she's ready to have another child." Orion nodded, his expression turning solemnly depressed.

He would never meet this son.

Rabastan realized the child would need to be a son on top of it all. Five children was not planned.

Nothing of their marriage was planned, Sirius wasn't supposed to run away.
Regulus wasn't meant to die. 

These factors were draining, giving him a worrying glance to the door.

"Do not tell your wife." 

"That is another issue, Walburga will most likely ask Cassiopeia the same." He swallowed thickly as that was going to be the last straw, and he knew it instantly.

"Hopefully she follows me to the grave sooner than later." Rabastan withheld his comment and thought further on how Aurora would react.

"She's found out about the contract and my father's relationship with Mrs—"

"Are you surprised? Cassi can put something together out of nothing." Rabastan still covered his mouth with his hand, attempting to drain the tension.

"I don't know how much more she can take Orion, all that's happened throughout—"

"It wasn't ideal, Rabastan, but my daughter could take a fair bit of madness." The two continued to talk, while Aurora was struggling on what to do with the blood she found in her panties.

It wasn't a heavy amount, just a small few spots. She decided there and then that a cup of steamy tea would be brilliant as she sat down to tell Regulus that Sirius had attended his funeral.

-Sirius met his niece and nephew today, even if he was in his dog form. Remember Padfoot? There's a reason they had nicknames Reg.

You're not pulling my leg are you? He really showed up?

-Of course he did, I warned him the date and time. Even if I didn't see his response before it, but he came over. He sat with me for half an hour. Would he come if he didn't care?

Suppose he wouldn't, especially when Bella and Rabastan are just around the corner. So why is he a dog? Or is this in the category of learning later?

-I discovered second year that my friend is a werewolf, and I thought that the best way to aid them on the full moon that turning into an Animagus would help.

CASSIOPEIA AURORA BLACK ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME YOU, SIRIUS, POTTER AND WHOMEVER ELSE ARE ANIMAGUS'?!

-Was it worth writing out my full name? Because no offense Reg, it wasn't that demanding. And I'm a Lestrange now.

Answer the question damnit.

-Yes. Myself, Sirius, James and Peter. Lupin is a werewolf, though I'm sure you would've learned that soon as it's becoming known.

What do you turn into?

-A black Leopard, Sirius and the Dog star. It's alright, I always called him Snuffles.

For the accounted hour, had the two gone back and forth, only for Regulus to claim that she needed rest and that he needed to finish a few chores and an assignment.

She smiled in knowing that he was finding his place alright, but in reality Regulus had his first outing with Phoebe and her friends.

His first outing as a free wizard.

Aurora made a mental note to write to Elizabeth later and ask how he was really doing. She promised that she'd write at least three times a month solely on Regulus' progress.

Everyone wanted him to succeed, but the issue was in seeing her father and brother completely break down over the fact that he is gone.

Though she knows the truth.

Instead she found herself tightly gripping the bedsheet and struggling to find sleep even after chugging the sleepless potion...

*

It had been the next day, a little passed lunch when Rabastan wanted to see his wife. Just wanting to know if she ate already, or if she wanted to join him.

The elf had claimed that she was in their bedroom, and part of him assumed she was in the tub...But a sudden frown sprouted to see that she was still in bed, her body so small against the pillow. Either wolf curled at her feet, while Omen had found a spot above her pillow.

"Rory?" The voice had alerted all the animals, but as he came forward he realized that she was awake already...But how long was she awake?

"It's pretty early to take a nap love, has the babe upset you?" She shook her head, pulling the blanket up further as her eyes were still focusing off to the fireplace in the corner. 

She had been watching the flickering flame for the past couple of hours.

"How about we go eat a bit, the elves said that the babes have been asking for you." Rory had used a gadget from Amelia to pump some milk so that she wouldn't have to wake up in the night anymore.

But still giving Ronan his needed milk for feeding.

Even at the mention of the kids, Rory shook her head. Rabastan had to dormant his anger as he took the nook seat at the edge of the bed. His hand rubbing down the likes of her swelling stomach and a soft smile.

"Come on love, you need to eat. Cara needs a little food as well." It gained him her attention as she felt guilty in starving Cara at her own neglect.

"Your father told me the idea of her middle name, I think it's a brilliant idea... Daisy recommended onion soup, sure it'd warm you up love." She nodded, throwing the blanket off her body and interrupting all of those beside her.

"Omey?" Her feline friend had indeed responded, stretching her front paws forward before nuzzling her mum. Rabastan had stood idly by in preparation to help his wife, though she managed well enough on her own to her feet. Although she added house slippers and an extra robe over her shoulders as she continued to shiver.

He flicked his wand to produce a heating charm around his wife, all in hopes to give her some comfort. But realistically it was all in her head.

It was a psychological concept, her body punishing her for committing such a betrayal. But if she failed then what would that leave her as?

Some other woman taking care of her children.

When sitting at the table, Rabastan had asked if she wanted to see the children. But she claimed to spend time with them after she tried to eat a little something, and though she drank the entirety of her tea...The soup just tasted off.

"How about Daisy makes some Pizza, it'll—"

"Everything just tastes like ash Raba, it's fine." She spoke, trying her best once again to get through another few bites of the soup before her.

At least it was warm like the tea.

"It's not fine, not in the slightest love...I don't know what to do for you to make your pain go away."

"It's not going to go away in a day Rabastan, do you want me to just pick up where I left off?!" He squeezed his eyes shut, this was not at all what he wanted.

"That is not what I'm saying, but staying in bed for the majority of the day is—" He hadn't gotten in another word as Aurora had wiped her lips and threw down her napkin.

"Some of us can't sleep." Was her bitter reply before finding the safety net of her children, and if anything was going to make her feel better, it was going to be the pool.

It wasn't the first time it was used, and it surely won't be the last. Either the twins had their own small donut floaty that aided them in swimming around, and in a bonus action, it allowed them to give their legs a fair bit of exercise and endurance.

And Aurora couldn't deny how happy they looked in the water, especially Halsey as her hair couldn't remain one single shade for a whole minute before switching back and forth between all the colors of the rainbow.

Rory rightly didn't know when she learned how to swim, but she didn't have the pool at her fingertips growing up. Here and now, she wanted the twins and the following set of twins to know.

It was just a good life skill to learn.

While she had all three bundled up in towels as they headed for the actual bath to wash off the pool water, they ran into Rabastan. "Papa! Papa pool!"

"I see that, but papa had some work to finish up." He said, scooping up Halsey as she tried to tell her father what they did, only to make more sounds and motions than actual words.

"I'm sorry I got angry Rabastan."

"Honestly Rory, I have a bit of a backbone. Now unless you called me a g-i-t or a b-a-s-t-a-r-d." She swallowed thickly as she looked down between the group of children and then peeked at her protruding tum.

"Promise you'll be careful, that nothing will happen to—"

"Aurora." He stopped her rambling before it became too much for herself to bare, and she waited for him to speak, but no words came out from his lips as he greeted her with a small kiss on hers.

"If I promise one thing Aurora, your safety and the children are my first concern." His eyes paired with his thoughts, though she hadn't meant to peek into his fumbling process.

She nodded once again and continued off in the direction of the kid's bath to clean them all.

Rabastan had a brilliant idea, especially after finding Aurora that night in the den. The fire roaring and all the animals once again huddling close and providing the needed comfort to their mum.

He first gave her a much-needed foot rub, even if she denied and attempted to hide her feet away. The poor things were swollen to the brim that he didn't fault her for staying off her feet today, or spending the majority of the time in the pool.

On top of that, and what his entire reason for bothering her had been...Was because he wanted to read to her, much like her listening to her book recordings, but this would be his voice.

She let a smile out, a small one but it was enough for Rabastan to get through the given chapters before his little wife had fallen asleep.

The next time this was going to happen, he was surely going to make sure to only do this in the commandment of their bedroom, even though the den was beyond comfortable for the both of them. He rightly wanted her to sleep properly...

By the week mark, Rabastan had the job of making sure his wife was getting up by a decent time in the morning. Because he had left it up to her and she slept straight through lunch, and then on top of that she started to beat herself up for being difficult.

His wife was beyond depressed, and with her magic dwindling so strongly...

Lucky he could rely on her birds to make the matters better, and every other day would the Lestrange Manor host the lot of them.

Amelia had brought over Rabastan and Aurora's godson, Wyatt Avery.

His godmother hadn't spoken all that much, but she did hold the little fellow while the rest of the birds socialized around her.

The biggest news of all, was that Isabella is getting married to Yaxley. And although it came out in the form of a small congratulations, sadness still dripped from every word and phrase that she whispered out.

The birds wanted her to be happy, but being in the winter months here in Britain...It didn't fair well with the lack of sun, so they made up ways to entertain Rory.

They brought projector movies that paired with the radio, tailing the cinema scheme that muggles have. Not that Rory or Clem were going to make any comment.

The toddlers and newborns did indeed find the moving pictures beyond interesting, and it took Rabastan by surprise in seeing that another room had been converted into a den-like setup.

Not that he cared, he told Amelia and the rest of them to use whatever means to get Rory back.

Izzy had been the last to stay this coming day as Rabastan was getting some work done in his study. When he finished he was going to take over babysitting her, or that's what she pinned it to be.

"Corban is really happy, surprised of course. I was horrified to tell him." Rory offered another smile, her attention more so on her friend's tum after finding out the truth.

"I think our children are going to be the best of friends," Aurora mumbled, one hand reaching for Izzy's and another to press against the tiniest of any swell.

"Bet they'll all be Ravenclaws, this one especially." Her friends thought it entirely ironic that the Lestrange family line that had been Slytherin for centuries turned to a Ravenclaw stronghold.

"You know what I think you need? I think you need to brew something." Rory shook her head, motioning to her stomach as there wasn't a point. Especially looking in the mirror of her closet now...No point.

Izzy thought it would give her something to do in designing her wedding dress, as well as a few little pieces for the honeymoon and maternity dresses.

"Why not? You spent all that time in making those smocks and protective gear, what's the point if the creator doesn't use it herself?"
"Rabastan wouldn't want me to—"

"Rabastan would get on his bloody hands and knees if it'd make you happy. Rory, darling...Please. Brew something." The last thing Mrs.Lestrange wanted was to put her babe in danger, especially after all that happened to the previous pregnancies.

This was it.

Ten minutes had passed and Izzy was left in the largest damn walk-in closet that she's ever witnessed. The Lestrange family fortune was indeed up there with the Blacks and Malfoy's.

Isabella came from the Lowe family, though comfortable...She did not have the funds for this much clothes. Let alone of this material or one of a kind designed by Aurora herself.

However, whilst courting Corban, he indeed showered her in wealth. And in secret had they told his parents about her pregnancy, nothing made the family feel more elated than that.

The Yaxley family struggled much like the Malfoy's and Lestrange's in producing heirs. This was indeed a blessing, even if she herself wasn't from a high ranking royalty family as Aurora was.

Instead it added fresh pureblood to the line, making it easier to reproduce heirs. Aurora had claimed that would be the case years ago, although here she was completely fertile.

"Rory? Are you alright?" Izzy called out, as her friend claimed to retrieve something from the loo and use it. As pregnancy surely did wonders to the bladder.

"Isabella. I need you to get Rabastan." Izzy knew that he was trying to get his work finish to treat his wife to a festive evening...She rightly didn't know what could possibly be—The door suddenly swung open for either Ravenclaw to look wide-eyed to one another.

"I'm bleeding." That had a multitude of things wrong, but for a pregnant witch it had Izzy kick into gear.

"O-okay—I'll be right back!" The woman had instantly darted off down the hall and skidded to Mr.Lestrange's study and charged in.

Rabastan simply gazed up, his glasses pointed downward. A cigar smoke line already forming a cloud above his head, and just before he was about to question Izzy's presence, the freshly engaged witch suddenly beat him to it.

"Rory needs a healer, she's bleeding."

"WHAT?!" He shouted, drowning his smoke in ash as he hurried off to the master bedroom to sit in front of his wife who was staring in shock to her hand.

Rabastan stopped the small streaks of blood at the cuff ends of her ankle. "Rory, I'm going to floo the medic witch. Does anything hurt love?" His voice was as calm as he could possibly manage it to be, he moved away for a moment and gone to their private floo network to call a healer.

The response was close to immediate as a witch came fully stocked with a small case at her side and her wand at the ready.

Rory was issued to drink an entire two vials before she was prepared to travel.

Izzy claimed that she would stay with the kids for the night, and Corban had taken little to no convincing as he took the practice alongside his soon to be wife and mother of his own child.

Rabastan had been right behind the cluster of healers as they diagnosed his wife to find the root of the problem. And after giving the explanation of all the more proper reasons for her stress: Her brother dying, her father being ill.

It had almost killed Cara.

Rory was going to spend forty-eight hours in their care to make sure everything has healed correctly and not risk the separation between healers and them at home.

It was as though at every high, Rory would receive a tumbling fall. As if nothing could stay right for long.

"I ever tell you I hate hospitals?" She whispered, her voiced laced with a tired glint. Sweet merlin was she doped up, and only then did she appear to be the same as she was before all this mayhem.

"I'm sorry love, I should've brought you to the healers sooner..." The woman relaxed further in the comfort of the pillows behind her.

"That's not on you Raba, I need to get back on my feet...Or stay off my feet." She chuckled, shifting a bit around before opening her eyes again, allowing her hands to feel down the likes of her stomach.

"Is she okay?"

"They want to make sure she's going to be more than okay, get some rest for me." He tried to persuade her with a different approach, but she shook her head with a smirk.

"No? Well darling what about you close your eyes for a few minutes—"

"I think you're mistaking this potion for another one, Rabastan." So perhaps she wasn't entirely doped up, but the goofy smile was still featured.

"Were you feeling ill before it Rory? Any pain?"

"No...I only had little spotting, but that was normal with the twins and Ronan...I didn't know it was going to get worse." She whispered, feeling the guilt once again. Something that Rabastan hadn't wanted or meant to put against her.

"Think four children really was our limit Raba..." She mumbled again, her thoughts more or less taken in this one general direction.

Shite. Rabastan thought, what was he going to tell Orion? Course a few years could change her mind, right?

"Rest love, close your eyes for me..." And she had, and it felt like no time passed when the person that replaced Rabastan was her father.

"Papa?" She whispered, her hands stretching all the bit more as she looked to Orion as he picked up his attention. Causing him to remove his glasses and mark his book.

"Little light? Are you in any pain?" She shook her head, and almost gave the elder wizard a heart attack as she started to rise and fluff her own pillow. "Are you sure? Let me call the healer to—"

"Where's Raba?" Orion brought his hand to his daughter's. Soft met calloused, even if it brought a smile to her face...Her question is still out in the air.

"He was called, you've been in and out of it darling. Otto and Rose came this morning." That was indeed a blessing, and a tired glance looked to the book her father had brought.

"Cassi, I ask that you be honest with me."

"I think you're going to get more than honest, I still feel partly asleep." It wasn't her fault for being so looped out, the potions running through her veins.

"Are you for the cause Cassiopeia?" How she hadn't flinched was probably due to the fact she had a weighted blanket over her body, but she blinked off to her father and sighed.

"No father...I'm not for violence, and I don't dislike muggles to the point of seeking them out myself and killing them. Honestly, I couldn't care less." She was waiting for the brutal attempt for her father to place her back under the Immer Rein virus, but it never followed.

Orion simply stayed silent and brought his daughter's hand to his lips for a light kiss.

"...A former Black turned Lestrange, 'Honestly couldn't care less.'" Sliding her hand out of her fathers was difficult, as he fought in losing the connection, though allowed her soon after.

"You asked for honesty, and I delivered."
"I did, and I couldn't be prouder of my daughter for choosing her own beliefs." Her eyes flared open as she started entirely captivated with her father's words.

"What?!"

"You and Sirius were very much alike, where Regulus spoke with me and our theories...You never found the same solvency until I put you under our families' curse. Then when you returned home it had reverted back, I apologies for stooping as low as I had my little light. But after losing Sirius—"
"You knew all this time?!" She hissed, and Orion smirked. Far too close to Sirius' signature grin.

"Not the entire time no, but I never knew fear until I saw you close to the opened door ready to leave after Aliffie's funeral. I am proud of all of my children. Sirius, you...Regulus. I shouldn't be the one to tell you our world is ugly." She scoffed, turning to glare at the sudden epiphany her father had faced.

"No, it's not...Mother—"
"Your mother is the foulest woman on the planet, but she isn't fully to blame for Sirius' running off...He hadn't played it silently, not that he could." She smiled, for once she felt entirely connected with her father...It felt too good to be true.

"I just wish it hadn't taken to nearly poisoning and killing you for everyone to see how mantic the witch is." Rory hummed along with her father, a firm rub to her swelling tum as she indeed felt her babe healthier than before.

"I couldn't leave...Not you, Reg or Raba." Orion sighed, Cassi had faced all that she had because she held onto her family. But now she had hers to deal with and a cause she didn't approve of.

"And when I pass?... Because my darling little light, I only have so much time with you left." She pouted, though her emotions were rightly scattered anyhow.

It was surely going to be an added nightmare later.

"Do you expect me to favor mother then?" He chuckled and shook his head, clearly amused at the distaste the young mother had for her own. "Not at all...But I want to know what your husband is going to do after I am—"

"Stop it. Please." He reached for her hand again, and this time Rory interlocked it and squeezed.

"I'm taking your portrait and it's going straight into my study." Rory knew that he was right, of course he is, he knew his own limits.

And if he felt the timer ticking, then whoa as she to tell him otherwise?

"Father muggles can be dangerous, I learned the history of Salem and everything in between. But this war is dangerous, it's already—"

"Broke you three apart." He finished, though she hadn't meant to voice Sirius in this as well. Now her tears were starting to sprinkle in, and her father sighed in remonetizing what he had done.

"I love my children father, I love Rabastan and them too much to cause any of them any pain in separating them. But he...He keeps claiming that we come before the Dark Lord, it's not true in the slightest."

"Power will do that to a wizard, that is why I worried for Regulus in taking Sirius' title. A second son has more trouble than the first when trying to find their footing." Was that the reason for it? Or was Rabastan simply going completely over his head?

The two sat in a therapeutic silence until the healer had come and did a few more tests, only to conclude that Rory was healthy enough to travel.

Though she was prescribed to stay on bed rest for a few days following her stay at the hospital.

Yet no one knew where the absolute hell Rabastan was.

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Date Posted: 10-28-19

Time: 11:32

Words: 4295

How about an extra chapter for Halloween ;)