f a m i l y (abigail)

[ransom]

Ransom was a father, he had been for a few days, though the concept of it still seemed foreign, it still didn't completely register with him. Rose Marie Watson-Croft they had named their daughter, their tiny, precious daughter. She looked like a precise mix between her parents, except for the nose. It was definitely Abigail's nose. Ransom slipped into the nursery, and immediately Rose's cries stopped. He bent over her crib, looking fondly down at her, things he had never felt before coursing through him.

Happiness, protective instinct, sorrow, and pride made quite the unique emotional cocktail. Though there was something more to it, guilt. Ransom wanted to give his daughter and Abigail everything, though there was a side to him that they could never see. His girlfriend, although he loved her dearly, was an auror. She was supposed to catch people like him. The double life was killing Ransom, though at that moment, he wasn't thinking about that. The only thoughts going through his head at that moment were about his daughter. He gingerly lifted her from her crib, holding her tiny little body close.

They were a family, he had a proper family for the first time in his life. At that moment the feelings had caught up to him, he felt his eyes stinging slightly, though he didn't care. Ransom slowly rocked back and forth on his feet, Rose staring up at him from her tightly wrapped swaddle. The blanket wrapped around her was pink, much like the rest of the nursery, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that they had a little girl. Ransom blinked forcefully to clear his eyes when he heard footsteps, knowing it had to be Abigail.

[abigailwatson]

Abigail awoke with a start to the sound of Rose crying. Her fingers immediatley clamped around her wand as she threw the bed sheets off her. She paused when she realised Ransom was no longer in bed beside her, not only that but the cries had now stopped, so there was only silence echoing loudly through out the large house. Knowing Ransom had more than likely gone to the baby, Abigail relaxed but didn't let go of her wand as she left the room.

She'd only been a Mum for 3 days but she was loving everything about it. She was smitten with Rose, Abigail often found herself simply staring down at Rose for hours on end just marvelling at how perfect she was. She physically missed her when she wasn't holding Rose, there was an overwhelming need to protect her...especially now with all these attacks on Auror's...which partly worried Abigail about going back to work. She loved her job but she didnt want to leave Rose without a Mother either, and Ransom...

Peaking through the door to the nursery she smiled softly at the sight that greeted her there. Ransom stood in the middle of the room, rocking Rose in his strong arms. Seeing him at moments like this made her fall more in love with him than she already was. Stepping through the door she placed her wand on a cabinet, before crossing her arms over her chest walking a little bit closer to the two most important people in her life. "Amazes me that something so small can make that much noise."

[ransom]

Ransom looked over at Abigail with a gentle smile. There as something about his girlfriend now that their baby had been born, something that made her all the more attractive.He leaned forward a bit to kiss her gently before returning to gently rocking little Rose. Any trace of her cries were gone completely at this point, perhaps she had just been lonesome. It made Ransom half-wonder whether or not they had made the best choice in putting the nursery so far from the master bedroom. Rose was only a few days old, maybe they ought to move her crib into their room? If only for a little while.

But he would let Abigail make that decision, Ransom felt thus far he had been fairly good at not dominating the decisions regarding their daughter. Abigail had been the one to carry her, Ransom figured she should have more say, at least in this faze. He lightly touched Rose's nose that looked so much like her mother's. Rose simply blinked up at him lightly, seemingly accepting the fact that it was her father that had gotten to her first rather than her mother. He smiled softly down at her, still struggling to believe this had really happened.

"She's talented," said Ransom, now beginning to bounce his knees slightly as he moved back and forth though Rose had not seemed discontent with the way he had been moving before. He allowed a pause to lapse before speaking again. "You know you don't have to comedown here every time," said Ransom, now looking at Abigail, "you of all people should be resting." He leaned forward to kiss Abigail on the cheek lightly.

[abigailwatson]

Abigail smiled softly when Ransom pulled away from the all to welcome kiss he'd given her, it was amazing how he still managed to make her whole body react with just one kiss. Leaning forward she chuckled, and dropped a kiss onto Rose's head, gently tapping her daughters nose with her finger and cooing at her as her Father continued to rock her back and forth.

She gently placed her other hand on Ransom's back, leaning against his arm for a moment before she smiled and looked up at him, accepting the other kiss he gave her, "I've been resting...it's all I do..." she chuckled lightly, running a hand through her tattered locks and shooting him a smile, sure she was exhausted but she knew that was completely normal. "Besides I miss her when I'm not near her...if possible since she's been born this house feels all that more bigger.." she said, knowing that probably made no sense.

The truth was she really did miss Rose when she wasn't around the her, she hated putting her down for bed time knowing she'd have to leave for her own bedroom, so would often spend an hour simply watching her beautiful new daughter sleep.

[ransom]

Ransom couldn't help but smile when Abigail did, he always felt so much better when he was with his girlfriend and daughter. His family. He still had trouble wrapping his head around the concept, him actually having a family. He had always thought that he wouldn't ever settle down, or at least not in this sense. His thoughts of the future before Abigail came along had never included children, but now that little Rose was here... Ransom couldn't imagine life without her.

Though lately, he still wasn't sure if he had made the right decision- his Death Eater duties were bothering him now more than ever. They were doing so much that harmed innocent people, when he joined he had been under the impression that they would be hurting people who deserved it. Children, pregnant women, those who had done no wrong. But Ransom was a faithful servant, he would do what he was told. Though with the lines between innocent and guilty being so blurred, it was hard for him to cope. Lately some of the things he had been doing were seeping into his dreams.

Thankfully, he wasn't prone to thrashing, he would simply wake when things got too realistic for his liking. Ransom, of course, wasn't going to say a word of it to Abigail, she could never know. He needed to keep it hidden from her, they were on opposite sides of the impending war. "Maybe it's just because we're sleep-deprived," said Ransom. It seemed that in the middle of the night the nursery were miles away from the master bedroom.

[abigailwatson]

"Maybe...or perhaps I'm just getting a little paranoid..." she replied softly, her finger gently stroking over Rose's cheek. Smiling softly she shook her head, she felt like a Mum but everything that went with it was taking some getting use to. Her paranoia was at an all time high, especially with all these attacks that were happening, it simply put her more on edge than a new Mum should be.

"Should be time for her feed soon anyway..." she commented, knowing without a doubt that she'd go the kitchen and one of the house elves would've prepared the milk for her, which at this time of the night she appreciated, though at times it was a little annoying so much so they'd taken to only helping out at night, leaving the new Mum to take care of Rose in the way she wanteed.

Abigail almost felt bad as she knew they only wanted to help her out like they always did, but she needed to take of Rose herself. She'd even found she was sometimes a little off with Ransom in regards to decision making, she didn't mean to and almost always felt bad afterwards. "I think it'll get better soon, they always say the first months are the hardest...takes a while to adjust..." she said to Ransom, sitting down in the rocking chair they'd aquired for the room.

Like mentioned she was still rather tired, physically at least it was as if her body was struggling to readjust to not carrying a baby anymore. As the room lapsed into a peaceful silence Abigail found her gaze, drifting over to Ransom as he rocked their daughter in his strong arms and she felt a soft smile spread over her tired features. Everything felt complete, almost perfect, whole even. This feeling of happiness had never been something she'd felt before and it sent a warmth through her body. "I love you both so much..." she said, not even realising she'd in fact said that out loud.

[ransom]

Ransom looked over at Abigail sympathetically, he knew from the viewpoint of someone who wasn't a Death Eater that now was a frightening, unpredictable time. Hell, he himself wasn't completely sure what was going to happen and when, he hadn't had the foggiest idea about the attack on the Auror department nor the murder of Ascella Malfoy on grounds of her supposed betrayal. That unsettled Ransom, as she had done no wrong, nothing other than what she had been told. Damn helpful she had been, actually. One of the more effective assassins they had hired. It was a shame that they had lost her.

Ransom was, however, immensely thankful that the attack on the Auror department had occurred after Abigail left for maternity leave, he might not have been able to forgive himself if it had happened just a week or two prior. For now his beloved and his daughter were safe, and Ransom wanted to keep them that way. "Really? Then again I've lost track," Ransom said quietly, not ceasing in his slow, rhythmic movements. Sure, he was organized, but night after night of not enough sleep (and what he did have not being particularly restful), his mind was not quite so sharp.

Rose yawned in his arms, making her father smile softly, she looked just like Abigail when she yawned. "Yes, being a baby is so difficult, isn't it?" Ransom said gently, though slightly sarcastically, gaze locked on his precious daughter. Really, he could not have imagined a person more perfect. His mind wandered to hat the future might look like, what kind of boys Rose would bring home that he would most likely despise. The poor things, though Ransom imagined nobody would ever be good enough for his daughter. He was thankful that he had quite a few years before that would happen however.

"I'm sure we'll be fine once she starts sleeping through the night," said Ransom, allowing the silence to settle in once more. He had never pictured himself being a father, but thus far it was coming to him naturally. He could not help but feel concerned, however, he didn't really have experience with how a real father should act- he didn't want to mess anything up. He smiled over at Abigail, she really was perfect. "We love you more," said Ransom, speaking for his daughter with a gentle smile still on his lips. Him, having a family, it was still hard for him to believe.

[abigailwatson]

Abigail smiled ever so softly at Ransom and their daughter, her eyes flickering to the window, focusing on the moon shining down through the rain battering against the window. A quiet sad sigh escaped her lips and she felt an immense sadness wash over her, as well as a whole lot of guilt for feeling happy. It somehow felt wrong to be feeling so happy with her life at the moment when...when she thought of all that had happened over the last week or so.

Poor Violet...her good friend...and her baby...murdered...

Abigail had been devastated upon hearing the news of the attack on the Auror office. At first it hadn't sunk completely in, she'd barely believed it. Though all too soon the crushing reality had hit her, and Abigail had collapsed against the kitchen counter, becoming lost in a sea of grief. Ransom had arrived home after being called by one of the elves to find her sobbing on the kitchen floor, cluthing the OWL letter in her hand. Violet had been pregnant just like her, this wasn't supposed to happen...not to them...

Ransom replied that they loved her more, and Abigail smiled softly wiping at the stray tear that had fallen over her cheek before she turned to him. "I'm not sure that's possible..." she said softly, brushing her hair back away from her face, her eyes lingering on the two most important people in her life. Abigail dreaded to think about if either were gone, she wondered if she'd survive such pain, she wasn't after all as strong as she liked people to believe.

There was a 'pop' and Abigail inclined her head to the side to see Rose's bottle sitting ready on the dressing table. The elves had sent it up, knowing her feeding time was soon they'd given the bottle a few minutes to cool. "It's like they can read my mind..." she chuckled softly, turning back to Ransom.

[ransom]

Ransom's eyes flickered toward the window when Abigail's did, he crinkled his nose a bit at the weather. It really was nasty. Sometimes it did rain in December, but it was somehow worse than normal rain. It was cold, like little droplets of ice. It coated sidewalks and doorsteps, making them slick with ice that was barely visible. And then there was the moon... It would be full in a few night's time, which made him deepen his expression of distaste. Transformations for him had never been easy, though lately they were beginning have a much stronger effect on him.

He felt weak for days now after each full moon- he had used to bounce right back. You're not young anymore, Ransom mentally reminded himself. He was a man of thirty-five, and he assumed that it was only going to get more difficult from there with age. Thankfully thus far Rose had not shown a single sign of being a born werewolf like him. It would appear that she was going to be spared from the monthly burden that was becoming such an atrocious monster. Ransom, however, didn't want to risk it with more children. If Abigail was willing, he wanted Rose to be the only one.

He might not be able to handle it if he willingly contributed another child that might be like him. No one deserved his condition. Ransom rocking-stepped his way over to Abigail so he could bend down and lightly kiss her forehead again. He felt there was something genuine about the gesture, it made him feel more human when the things he had been doing made him feel so detached. "Of course it is," said Ransom as he pulled away, simultaneously carefully lowering Rose into her mother's arms. He knew Abigail would probably want to feed her.

He smiled a bit over the bottle that had appeared from nowhere. Dead helpful, those house elves were. And thankfully unable to disobey him- one of them, he had found out, knew about what he had done to Celeste. But a simple forbidding on his part made sure that his secret was kept safe. The elf didn't talk much anyway. "Amazing how quickly they've figured out our schedule," Ransom commented, bringing the bottle over to Abigail so she could give it to Rose.

[abigailwatson]

Abigail smiled softly, closing her eyes to savour the feeling when Ransom kissed her forehead lovingly. If someone had told her that night they met would've changed their lives in such a way she wouldn't have believed them, in a way it's what made all of this all the more special. It had all happened by itself, Abigail still found herself surprised by how much her life had changed. Sure they'd had a few rocky spots, but there was a bond deeper than anything she'd ever felt between her and Ransom, and now they had Rose it seemed to only serve to deepen that bond...strengthen it.

Gratefully she held out her arms, accepting their daughter carefully when he handed her over. A feeling of immense peace washed throughout her entire body once Rose was settled back in her arms. It was insane how much Abigail missed her when she wasn't holding her, it was as though something, some part of her was missing and she never knew what until she had Rose.

Leaning back in her chair, Abigail tucked her legs beneart, settling into a comfortable position as she smiled lovingly down at her daughter. "Honestly they're amazing..." she replied, in regards to the elves. Gratefully she took the bottle from Ransom, carefully tipping it to test the temperature against her wrist. Once she'd determined it was at the right level for Rose, she began to feed the stirring baby in her arms. A soft chuckle escaped her lips when Rose immediatley stilled, her eyes focusing up on her Mum, "They seem to have adjusted better than me at having a new baby around..." she told Ransom.

Her eyes flickered to the window, and the moon, worry filling her again. The full moon was in a couple of days, and she dreaded Ransom not being here, especially with the attacks, any normal time she'd handle it easily. After all she was an Auror, but the new Mum in her was terrified, "You'll make sure to double check all the wards before...you know you have to leave...?" she asked, looking up at him, worry clear in her eyes, knowing he'd know she was talking about when he had to go away to turn.

[ransom]

Ransom wondered how things had ever gotten this way, what was it that had made fate decide that he should be settled down with a steady girlfriend and a daughter. Though, really, he supposed he likely would not have been content with the one-night stands until he had reached an age where that was no longer acceptable. Of course, he had been blessed with a certain youthfulness, he didn't quite look thirty-five, coming up on thirty-six. Ransom wouldn't be able to pass for twenty-one anymore, but he felt he could probably get away with twenty-seven if he wanted to.

Though just the other day after showering he had discovered a grey hair amongst the rest of his brown tresses. Ransom had simply plucked it out, but it made his age that much more of a reality to him. And although he was never going to admit it to anyone, least of all Abigail, the idea of getting old made him uneasy. He was almost afraid of it. And now more than ever he was faced with the concept that he was, most definitely, an adult. An adult with a child to care for nonetheless.

"I think they're just glad to have people to dote on," said Ransom with a shrug. There had been a period of time where the house stood vacant, albeit, not a terribly long one, but probably long enough to unsettle the elves. And the needs of their small family were much different than that of two elderly elitists- the house elves were probably more than happy to cater to something different. It sure made their lives easier, especially when it came to these middle-of-the-night feedings. Ransom yawned as he plopped himself down on an ottoman, he was exhausted. He just hoped that once they got Rose to sleep he might have more restful slumber.

He was going to need his rest to get through the next transformation. He felt bad, leaving Abigail to care for their daughter on her own, though there wasn't anything he could do. Besides, she would have the house elves to help her out if she needed it, and it would only be one night... "Of course," said Ransom, though he knew that there was little chance of anyone getting into the house unless they were purposefully let in. He had even opted to remove their residence from the Floo network so nobody would be turning up in any of their fireplaces.

[abigailwatson]

Abigail nodded her head and smiled, looking back down at Rose. The little girl in her arms had he little hand wrapped around Abigail's pinkie finger, as though she was holding her Mother's hand in place so she wouldn't remove the bottle. The small action sent a shiver of warmth right through her heart and through her chest. "Well I for one am thankful they're around..." she said in regards to the house elves. Sure she enjoyed doing most things alone, but when it came to mid-night feeds the last thing she wanted was to head all the way down to the kitchens.

As she looked up, Abigail caught the yawn from Ransom and smiled at him softly, amusement in her eyes, "You go get some rest I can finish up here..." she told him, knowing how tired he was. Hell they were both tired, this new addition to their family was taking some getting used to, but he didn't have to stay, Abigail understood all to well how much he needed his rest especially with the upcoming transformation he'd experience on the full moon, it always took the energy right out of him.

"She's already falling asleep, tough life being a baby." she said as she looked back down at Rose who was struggling to stay awake. There was no doubt her daughter would sleep once she'd finished feeding, and then maybe Abigail could get some rest before Rose had her up again at 6am. She looked back at Ransom and smiled, nodding her head. "I know you need your rest babe...really I don't mind if you want to go back to bed...I'll be following you as soon as missy here is satisfied..." she chuckled, nodding down to their daughter.

[ransom]

Ransom nodded, he found he relied on the small army of house elves more than he ever thought that he would. Of course, he had never been a domestic sort of person, having never really had anything that might qualify as "domestic" until he had finally received the manor as inheritance from the parents he had done away with himself. He still found it incredulous that he had never been questioned about the suspicious deaths of his parents, or even Celeste. He was deeply tied to all of them, yet he had never been asked anything. Ransom simply counted himself lucky, and hoped that Celeste's case would close soon.

He had taken all the precautions, including wiping the memories of the muggles that had spotted him in the bar he had taken her from. Her corpse had been transfigured and then burned, leaving no trace of her anywhere. Celeste Williams, as far as the world knew, had simply ceased to exist. "Mmm?" said Ransom, being suddenly taken out of both thought and a trance-like state of grogginess. He hadn't realized how tired he really was until he had sat down without anything else to do. All this getting up in the middle of the night multiple times was killing him.

Ransom smiled a bit, it had been along the lines of what he had said earlier. He wondered what a bad day would look like to Rose at this age, since she really didn't do anything but eat and sleep. "If you're sure you don't mind," said Ransom, although he had already gotten off the ottoman and went to plant a kiss first on Rose's forehead and then on Abigail's cheeks. He then left the room with one last smile in their direction before winding his way down the hall and back to the bedroom. He really was very tired...

[abigailwatson]

Abigail laughed softly as Ransom left the room, it hadn't taken much convincing at all to get him to go back to bed. She'd thought it'd be slightly harder, which indicated just how tired he actually was. Shaking her head she smiled and looked down at her baby girl, "Your wearing Daddy out missy..." she cooed, chuckling softly, despite her tiredness she revelled in the feeling of being needed as much as Rose needed her.

Another half hour slowly passed and finally Abigail had both fed and winded her daughter, and was now gently rocking her to sleep. Moving around the room quietly as she did, all the while singing a soft lullaby. The baby didn't really need much convincing when it came to falling back to sleep, like her Father she caved rather easily making Abigail laugh softly again. Though reluctant to put her down and leave, Abigail knew she had to, she too needed the rest, Rose's next feed was at 6am so she needed those couple of hours or god knows how she'd make it through tomorrow.

Ever so lightly, she placed Rose back in her crib but not before pressing a soft kiss to her head, inhaling that beautiful baby smell. Once she was tucked in, Abigail backed away from the crib, and quietly left the room, grabbing her wand as she went. Her steps were soft and quiet as she made her way down the hall and into the Master bedroom. Quietly she slipped into bed beside Ransom, curling into his strong form as she did, before slowly drifting into a peaceful slumber.

[ransom]

((OOC: So do we want to continue this or...? I don't have a ton of muse at the moment...))