✧IT'S THE MOST AGGRAVATING TIME OF THE YEAR✧

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To say things had gone well, was a clear-cut understatement. Not only had they avoided having dinner with their family, but also made sweet, adoring love all throughout the night—As to the success of her gift.

Though granted, he would have to order her a few more sets of student smocks—Considering he had ripped through it after being baited.
Yes, Rhea had baited him.

Even now, he hardly wanted to separate from his little goddess, but the excitement of speaking in much more detail about her classes was starting to make her jittery.

So Alphard did what he does best, gather all the information he was hoarding and discuss it for the better part of their breakfast. It was planned that Rhea would be taking a full semester and attempting an internship before taking on the beginner job.

And it didn't hit her until their conversation had winded down that this is why Alphard was adamant on the future of their family, and when questioned, he stilled.

"I cannot imagine having to worry about a child or going through pregnancy so soon after being introduced to your career. We have plenty of time."

"Witches work pregnant, to my knowledge. But you're right. I don't—I don't want to worry about a child when I'm still getting to my feet in the Hospital." After a moment of agreeing silence, Rhea squealed once again. "I'm so excited! I get to put my textbooks to good use now."

"Your professors and instructors will be very surprised when you come to class with your books already marked."

"It's the Ravenclaw way. And with how fast paced these sections look, they're nearly throwing us to the wolves in the internship." She bustled, but claimed as she took a hefty sip of her tea.

Yet a thought had crossed her mind.

Her gift wasn't at all comparable.

"You have nothing to worry about in the business. This is the easy portion. And come the Autumn season, we'll figure it out. Though I highly doubt you'll be able to work with both. I wouldn't mind you reading over the proposals, though." She shook her head before stuttering.

"O-of course I'm read over things...I just—Well, you've gotten me such a brilliant gift that I've only gotten you a few things."

"Oh? I thought you received lessons from Eve's Garden?"

"Git. And I did—Or rather, Corin helped me, but I haven't perfected it yet." He leaned back in his chair with a peaceful expression. "I have everything I can ask for. Booming business, a wonderful wife, and a promising new year. Materials are hardly needed now." She pouted, and that had caused him to chuckle.

"I will adore whatever you have chosen for me, love. Or painted. You know I can never get enough of your creativity coming to life." Her blush coming to join them in the conversation suggested that it was indeed a piece of art.

"Would you like to take this into the other room before the tree?" She nodded before looking around the room. "Oh, the elves must have left it in the other room...."

"Your art? That's fine. We'll take a stroll in a bit. Considering we are visiting your family later, you deserver to be pampered."
"Me? Shouldn't you be worried too? I highly doubt my father or mother will be that happy to hear about what you've gotten me as a gift." He scoffed, and it nearly turned into full-blown laughter if he didn't want to embarrass her.

"Not at all. I'm your husband, and in terms of our society—He lost the right the moment this ring was placed on her finger. Hell, perhaps I had a bit of power when we were engaged as well. So no, I'm not worried at all. What will they say?"
"That it's inappropriate."

"Inappropriate? That you are continuing your education to better our wizarding world? Then they most certainly have a problem. No, we won't worry about that until later on." Fear crossed her face, but it was easy to distract her as he showered her with multiple gifts. Big or small.

But clearly, Rhea's favorite was the Saint Mungos acceptance letter.

Currently, Rhea was trying to lead him through the library, but it was getting very difficult with how many different twists and turns she was taking. "Ah! It was in the back room. I suppose you wouldn't look there at all, hm?"

"Not at all. Can I take this—"

"No! Let me position everything. The easel are all covered. I just have to fix this one." Now it was getting his blood pumping at the thought that Rhea had managed more than one piece.

"Okay, it's all set...You can remove the blindfold." She was hardly able to finish her sentence before he ripped the damn thing off.

"I would say you're impatient, but I can hardly wait for January."

"January? I have been hiding that damn parcel since September. I am just as excited for you to get your credentials, love." She smiled, looking adorably pleased that her husband was just as eager for the new year to start.

"Is there a particular order to this?"

"No, not really. Just save those two for last." He nodded, but his curiosity sparked feverishly after Rhea had said that. Yet he started at the opposite side in order to focus on this one in particular.

It hadn't taken all that long before he caught just where Rhea's inspiration had been taken from. Not when he was the feature of this particular piece.

"Do you recall this day? What we were doing?"

"This is one of the later ones from this year. We were trying to figure out the rumors of our product and who might've snitched." He hummed, coming closer to see just how he was sitting in his large desk chair, almost elevated as a king, with his wife just beside him. Though there wasn't much detail to their face, no. It was saved to the much closer objects and his artwork.

He always favored that, paintings that held other's artwork in them.

The next few were similar, but he recalled him saying that his favorite creature was—And it shouldn't have surprised him to see a beautiful Gryffindor in mid-flight.

"I take it that's your favorite thus far?"
"You know I love them all. It's difficult to pick." She hummed, knowing full well that it had won. "It was a different route I took. I don't blame you. They're quite majestic. I'm waiting for Randel to tell me one's residing at the Sanctuary." Alphard had now turned to the final two pieces, and so she perked her lips in wondering which one would be the better one to reveal.

"I have to be honest. I didn't make these. I had them commissioned." That had startled him for sure, but four paintings in a manor filled to the brim with art were enough to satisfy his hunger.

But these were certainly pertaining to his interest.

"Should I take the one on the left one first?"
"That would be best, yes." And with that, he had been faced to face with a very lifelike version of himself. Though it was rather mythical, and he smirked at seeing that he was sporting something similar to what he wore during the Halloween party.

"Rather handsome form of Krones, love."

"D-do you like it?... I had to sketch a bit for Mister Dester to get the design." He pulled her forward into his embrace, as she hummed deep in his chest. "It's beautiful love. Can I guess what the next one is?"

"A bit vain, isn't it?" She questioned, and he chuckled upon pulling the white sheet—Yet what Alphard hadn't been prepared for was just how accurate the better part of his wife's features were on display.

"Don't be mad, I wanted accuracy."

"Accuracy doesn't cover this. Nothing can cover this. Did you have a place in mind for these two?"

"The library, of course, and nobody will know it's me. Just you and myself...And the artist."His eyes had flickered between both Krones and Rhea, he truly didn't feel worthy of being depicted as the God of time, but he couldn't deny that his hairstyle and the length of his scruff didn't help of holding anything different between him and the God.

"I do have another gift, but that'll wait for later night...Hm?"

"I'm not too sure, love. We have the better part of the day to fool around with this gift you've yet to give me." Her eyes turned up towards him, very cheek of her to tease him so loudly and yet he adored it.

He craved it.

He needed it.

"That gives us something to look forward to after we visit my parents. Besides, it's rather...It's very naughty."
"I'm not sure if you're sinking me further into a ditch, mentioning it and not acting on it."
"Well, I suppose I do have another one saved for New Years. That I could use for tonight instead...Do I get a few moments to change?" He groaned.

"I suppose, I hardly want to let go."

"You've been rather touchy. Was last night that awful?" Rhea had tried her best not to mention or revert back to what is happening around their lovely bubble. "My touching has spiked up. My apologies. I'm feeling giddy."

"I never asked if you liked the holidays, did I?"

"Don't think I've ever been that festive, considering I've been alone for so long. But it's wonderful to enjoy it with someone else, and my wife, no less. Funny enough, we hardly had our first kiss this time last year." Rhea snickered, her face scrunching as he started to attack the better part of her neck. Showering her with love.

"Our relationship was so innocent then. And now I have new lingerie to surprise you with...Or would you like to christen the library?" His eyes widened, and he had to push his hair back in an attempt to hide his heated blush.

"I had something planned to christen the library, love. We'll save that for the new year...Would you like to set up something besides the fire again?" She eagerly nodded at said idea.

Alphard, however, regretted it entirely. He was certainly not as limber as he once was, but Rhea had made it up and then some.

"Perhaps we should do this more often. It's not that difficult to recreate." He offered, trying to hide the fact that he was rolling his shoulder again.

"We'll work on it. Perhaps we can get a mattress for the floor." She cooed up towards him, drawing a few circles into his chest as he smiled once again. And he was thankful for having waited, and not taken a random marriage proposal that his parents or other elders had crafted.

It was all worth it, and the fact that he could turn to his little wife and confine in her with worries and fears. She would do her best to provide help where needed or words of encouragement.

Upon rising to sit up, Alphard's soft gaze watched as she pressed the fur blanket across her chest. "Going so soon?"

"I told the elves to ready a small meal before we get ready. I wouldn't be surprised if the portions are as small as when we stayed at Grimmauld Place."

"That'll be for the best. And then a proper dessert after the night is done?" She leaned down to kiss his lips, claiming she had already asked the elves to do just that.

But within the next hour and a half, she was in the same position in getting ready at her vanity table. Just this time, there was no mantra, and she felt much more comfortable.

Now it was Alphard who was feeling the rather livid sense of it all. He did not want Rhea under the same roof as her father. Not to mention her own mother was starting to get under her skin.

And damnit, Rhea looked beautiful in the dress she chose to attend dinner with her parents. It was nearly painful not to rip it off her before traveling to the Lestrange Manor.

Even within the first few minutes of polite introductions, he could tell that Rhea was much more diligent with her words than he's seen.

Had his little goddess reverted to how she acted before their wedding?

The grip she had on his hooked arm suggested just that. Especially when her mother was gallivanting about memories, but Alphard would have been a fool if he hadn't caught the siblings looking at one another in confusion.

Clearly, the story had been faulty at best.

"...How was yesterday's festivities? I heard Walburga was going rather extravagant this year." Rhea had taken another sip and looked to her brother, who cleared his throat.

"Well enough. Though there were a few empty seats this time around. Sirius got dismissed." Rhea had made a mental note to owl him, just to make sure he was alright.

Then the guilt had followed soon after, it could certainly have been avoided had she and Alphard attended.

"Didn't bother going last night, isn't that right, Rhea?" She voice had been low cut and direct, earning her a rather tight frown from her mother.

"Rhea, that is unacceptable! It is your first holiday with your famil—"

"Correction, it is her first Holiday with me. Unless you're undermining my decision again, Clarissa?" The truth had been revealed, and Rhea had withheld her flinch in seeing just how enraged her mother had turned.

"Rhea, that wasn't to discuss with your husband." Alphard rolled his tongue and turned to Radolphous, wondering if the bloke even knew.

"Funny, I thought the conceiving of my heir would be something to discuss with me...And you wonder why I don't condone Rhea going to any of your little tea parties."

"You're hiding my daughter away, and I don't approve!" Alphard laughed. "And you're putting petty little ideals on her shoulders that I don't approve of, so what does that say, Clarissa?" It was rather horrifying to say the least, but Rolf scoffed.

"I don't approve of either, mother. Rhea is the most respectful witch I know. She wouldn't leave a party if she didn't feel corner. Proud of you sister, growing into a wonderful bird as far as I'm concerned. Besides, she gets enough of that nonsense talk from Walburga." Rhea's smile had been a beautiful addition to the conversation, and Clarissa glared toward the rest of the room.

Alphard truly did not want to have to break ties with his former friends, but if it meant Rhea being comfortable for the rest of their lives. Then he would do what is necessary.

"So, pray tell, what is it that made my sister feel unsafe?" Clarissa gawked. "Unsafe? I did no such thing. My friends and I were just asking when I can be deemed a grandmother." Now it had been Radolphous' turn to frown at his wife.

"I was under the impression that you wanted to wait, Alphard." The master of the manor had divulged, and the Black heir had nodded. "That is the plan, given how much the business has taken off. There hasn't been much time to give it thought." Rhea agreed tenfold, but seeing how ridged her mother looked, it was starting to make her shake.

"Now that the marketing period is over, then perhaps it's time the two of you can properly think about it." Her voice had staggered a bit, but Rhea had turned to Alphard.

No wonder his little wife had tried to convince him. The times she met with company had offered questions and judgment—Even her friends, now that he thought about it.

Merlin, it felt foolish for this.

"Not necessarily. Rhea has been a blessing in the company. Made a fortune with the product she mentored." A blush had crept onto her face and Rodolphous started to laugh. "I caught your interview, sister. Sounds like you've put a lot of work into it all. Is the number private?" Her brother countered, and her shoulders began to bounce as she started to laugh.

"I rather keep the product's network hidden. Alphard says it'll be a downfall." She teased, and Alphard didn't hesitate in laughing along beside her. "Hm, but I can say it was more than her dowery. Just as a hint, love." She perked her lips, feeling rather uncomfortable about discussing funds.

Especially when she knew just the kind of man her father was when speaking about bills and such. And the look of irritation on his face only spoke of just where the conversation was headed.

"Yes, so it's safe to say that we are waiting until the following year. Besides, we have the next few months planned to the brim." Rolf winked at his sister as he knew exactly what was in store for her.

And he couldn't possibly wait.

Thankfully the conversation had turned to something much lighter, but Rhea had caught that Bellatrix had remained rather silent when Clarissa was galavanting the idea of children.

But the second the conversation had turned to something else, she participated with just as energetic as she usually would.

It was certainly much easier to converse with her parents, especially with Alphard by her side. Even if it had taken an hour to gain the confidence, her husband was ever so proud.

Though he did not forget what Radolphous had done, and from what he could gather, neither did Rolf.

Yet Rabastan was nearly forgetful, and pouted in the corner. Clearly not prepared for his sister to get the spotlight, even if it was starting to turn into a target.

"How are your class going, Rabastan?"

"Brilliant, my mates and I really appreciated the study guide you wrote up for us." It earned him an award-winning smile, and Alphard and Rhea dwelled that they were starting to think of managing donations and scholarships to Hogwarts students in the future for those wanting to study in certain areas in the Wizarding World and then some.

"Hopefully you hold up some standards, Alphard. Being pureblood for one. Hate to think that coins coming from the Black family vault are going to the hands of a mud blood." The mere word had nearly caused Rhea to flinch at the brash use of titling a muggle-born.

Alphard knew just how sensitive Rhea was to the racist morals of their world and so he hummed.

"Usually these scholarships are based on grades, Rodolphous. We wouldn't be awarding them directly or going into their background. Focusing on grades and those that apply." It was diplomatic, to say the least, and Rhea had done a wonderful job in mentioning that Slughorn had invited them to his Slugclub party in the near future. But they hadn't been able to attend.

Leaving Rolf and her father to frown, as they weren't invited.

It hadn't made much sense, given that they were both in the bloke's house and not hear anything. Though Rolf held no career and Radolphous was rather controversial in the last few years, as Alphard had mentioned to Rhea.

With dinner winding down, finally, Rhea had taken to enjoying her elves' wonderfully crafted chocolate layered cake. It was decadent and divine. And Alphard knew that his wife was savoring every bite.

"Master! Master! Mistress Black is here!" The usually quiet elf had managed to bellow out his squeaky voice to pose a warning, and neither Alphard nor Radolphous had hesitated to stand to their feet in preparation for what Madam Black could possibly want.

On a holiday no less.

"You fowl loathsome evil little girl! Splitting my family apart and for—" The fire had been directed to none other than poor Rhea herself, and she couldn't help but let her shoulders fall, and her face pale after hearing the wretched things the woman was calling her.

And in front of her own parents!

"Enough of this! Get over yourself, Walburga! My daughter is and will forever hold the name now that she's married and wed. She'll do her duties as a wife when the times comes. This is not an act of their decision but also my advice. Unless, of course, you think your word is greater than her husband's and her father's?" Alphard's eyes had flickered towards Rolf for all of two heartbeats, as he was rather surprised that the bloke had managed to settle the breathing dragon before too much had been for Rhea to bear.

And thus, her husband had placed himself in front of the direct line of fire.

"That is not how a witch in the Noble House of Black is meant to act!"

"Nor is she meant to be questioned and bombarded! And where in that silly book of rules does it make you this irrational? The first time I had let it slide with a warning, but it continuing?!" Rhea's eyes brimmed with tears as she tried to settle on something to look at. And when she had looked at her mother, even she had been phased by this.

Rhea's next movement nearly had caused nausea to spark further as she stood up and glared off toward the uninvited guest.

"Clarissa has been saying the same!"
"That I'm barron? That I don't deserve Alphard's child?... At least I didn't marry my own damn cousin to stay within the name." The words had fallen out of Rhea's lips before she could even properly piece together the transparency of it.

She knew that there was some play within her own family of cousins marrying cousins, but she couldn't even imagine marrying one of her own off in France.

"And now you have the bloody audacity to ruin my family's Holiday dinner? You should be ashamed of yourself." It was the words that Rhea had wanted to say before but hadn't the gull, but now—With her dreams starting to come true, a faithful husband ready and willing to defend her...Everything was being placed in terms of her building of confidence.

"Since you haven't listened to a word myself or Orion have been saying, perhaps it's time to send you off for the season. Pack your bags, Walburga. You are not invited to the rest of the Holiday festivities, and I do not want to hear a word from you until the Spring. Hopefully, your attitude has changed by then." Alphard spat, and the disbelief had showcased throughout the entire room as she whisked herself away with profanities galore.

There was only so much a person could do to conform to someone's wants and viewpoints. Yet as the woman had left, Alphard turned to his wife, knowing that what happened most likely drained her of any socializing she had in her.

Yet both Rhea and her husband turned rather accusingly towards Clarissa, as the woman had been outed for saying something just as fowl about her daughter as Walburga had.

"And you wonder why I do not accept any more of your tea party invitations. I am sick of everyone trying to tell me what I should or shouldn't be doing." With a slight squeeze of her husband's arm, she moved aside—Her eyes lingering on the half-eaten dessert as she shook her head.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening, mother...Rolf, I'll owl you in a bit." With those final words, Rhea took the first step out of the dining room. Only by the hallway did Alphard take to escorting her back to their own manor.

Yet, she hadn't reacted the way he expected. His words of encouragement were in preparation for tears, but all he had found was the same colorless gaze that she had given her mother.

"Will it be like that for the rest of our lives, Alphard?" The admission to the truth was given by a quick inhale. No, he couldn't lose her over his own sister.

"Rhea—"

"I love you, merlin, do I love you. But I don't think I can handle this. I can hardly keep myself steady with understanding how to be Madam Black. She doesn't just despise me, Alfie. She loathes me. Whatever is bothering her is infinite."

"She's headed to Germany until the season is over, love. Perhaps we can enjoy it, yeah? Have Orion and Corin come over? Head to vacation. Sightseeing—Weekends though, because your classes will be starting soon." He reminded, and while her lips twitched upwards, it wasn't enough.

"It's true. I always wondered why she didn't marry another bloke. Course Orion was always kind to his family, a little cocky like myself. But I never agreed or placed them as a pair together. What you said makes sense. She didn't want to lose the entitlement. And she has."

"What will make it stop? Besides having a child, besides punishing her with deducted funds. She's not hearing it at all!" How was he meant to tell his adorable wife that she needed to get a backbone?

Not when she was making strides on her own.

"I cannot say there is ever a solution. This is the first time I've ever heard of Walburga and Durella starting to band together to do anything. That is what worries me."
"It's because they've agreed...If you didn't enroll me into Saint Mungos, I would've asked to get banished from London instead."

"Banished? Love, if you ask, we can gladly relocate. Perhaps America? Germany? Spain? Even Australia. I just want you happy with me."

"It's not you, Alphard. It will never be you. It's everyone around us. She is just so set on my getting pregnant that I can't fathom her talking to a daughter of ours like that. I-if we even can have a daugh—"

"Don't. Don't do this, little goddess. Don't go down this road."

"But even my mother said so!" Alphard faulted. It was true, as Clarissa didn't bother stopping or denying what his sister tried to enact. But Rhea shook her head and started to kick off her shoes. "This has been a disaster." She claimed, rubbing the side of her temple.

As if any other issue would be her undoing.

"Can we have an early night?"
"Of course we can. Would you like to sit outside again?" And that is how their first Christmas Day had ended.

Having missed the better part of her family's get-together and in the arms of Alphard Pollux Black.

And she couldn't have asked for much more.

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Date Posted: 08/30/22

Time: 10:12

Words: 4397