Emotional Overload...((Hayden))

[dominiqueweasley]

Dominique was in a tizzy. Being pregnant, felt incredible for sure but she was beginning to feel the strain on her body, add to that the stress of the attack that had happened on the school, the after effects, the problems and losses in her own family and well you could imagine the stress she was feeling. As always she was trying to keep it together, she wasn't the kind of girl who'd like to show weakness but she was struggling. Being pregnant was new to her, and she found she was alone in this, her Mother was still not in touch...she almost didn't feel welcome with them, they were polite but she knew she wasn't welcome. So with no Mum to turn to help her through this she felt alone.

Running a hand through her blonde locks, Dominique glanced around the kitchen. One would call what she was doing nesting, but she didn't know this, all she knew was the house needed tidying, rearranging and magic wasn't going to help here. It was something she had to do by hand to feel the satisfaction. She'd already rearranged the sofa's in the living area to a different angle, and the sides and bottom cabinets in the kitchen had been wiped down with anti-septic. Glancing at the top ones though she sighed and finally pulled one of the dining chairs into the kitchen, pushing it to the side she grabbed her cloth and with a little awkward manouvering climbed on top of the chair.

It was getting late, 10pm to be exact and Hayden wasn't home yet, however she wasn't thinking on her Husband, she was doing anything and everything she could to take her mind off everything. With a huff she began wiping down the cabinets with vigor, a frown etched into her pretty features as she began wiping the tops of them. To reach the back though she had to shift her footing forward a little, yet no sooner had she done so, than the chair toppled to the side under the weight and Dominique topple to the ground, a cry escaping her lips as she hit the floor at a painful angle..."Damn it..." she cursed, gasping slightly as she rolled over onto her back, her arms around her stomach and her eyes squeezed tight, before opening them to see...

[haden]

Hayden didn't normally think about the dangers of his bounty-hunting, but before he had had only himself to think of. No ties to his family, no wife, no unborn son. Though now he was much more careful than he had ever been before, and was beginning to tentatively think that he might need something of a partner. Hayden would have never thought of it before, he was, and always had been, a lone wolf. He worked best on his own. Though now that it wasn't just his life that would be affected, he couldn't help but question his profession.

Though he had survived the day without getting more than a few bruises, one on his upper arm, and another to his abdomen. The guy he had been hired to capture and bring back alive hadn't come quietly, though Hayden had had the fortune of coming across him wandless, so he had resorted to muggle brutality. Though he was a solid man, the punches hadn't even fazed him. And he had gotten his target, taken him to the man that had hired him, and was coming home with five thousand Galleons in a pouch tucked away in his pocket.

Hayden let himself in to the apartment he shared with his pregnant wife, ready to see her after a long day, and maybe fix himself a drink. Scotch or whiskey would be good, but he'd take whatever hard liquor they had on hand. Not too much, just enough to get a buzz before bed. He'd entered the kitchen just in time to see Dominique fall. A quick jolt of fear pulsing through him, Hayden was at her side on the floor in a second. "You all right?" asked Hayden, unable to help but be concerned, she was pregnant, after all.

[dominiqueweasley]

Dominique was well aware the fall could have not only injured her, but her unborn child to. Though she'd shouldered most of the impact and it hadn't been too bad, considering the damage she could have done. For a moment after rolling onto her back she concentrated on the baby inside of her, awaiting any signs he was in distress, but there were none. If anything he delivered a swift kick to his Mother's ribs, obviously making his annoyance well known. Wincing Dominique released a slow breath, calming herself but then almost instantly felt her irritation come rushing through when she felt the presence of her Husband beside her and heard his question. Which right now she considered the most ridiculous, stupidest thing ever.

"Yeah...fantastic..." she bit out sarcastically, shaking her head as she shot him an annoyed look and pushed herself up into a seated position. Sighing she let a hand rest against her rounded abdomen as her eyes rested on the toppled over chair, and for a moment she felt stupid. Seriously what had she been thinking, in her condition, climbing up on top of that, to what? To clean the cupboards? Shaking her head, and with a frustrated sigh she awkwardly forced herself to stand, leaning against the counter for support, her hands still wrapped protectively around her stomach.

"What the hell was I thinking?! Seriously, what pregnant woman stands on a chair like that...god I'm such an idiot!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in exasperation and blowing out a frustrated sigh, her eyes drifting to the clock on the wall. Her eyes immediately flashed to Hayden, frowning when she realized he'd only just gotten back and her eyes did a quick sweep of him, lingering on the bruise on his arm, "And how many more of those did you get yourself tonight?" she asked, crossing her arms over her bump and looking at him expectantly. Yes her irritation was growing and now she was just picking for a fight, but the truth was she hated his work, especially now.

[haden]

His wife didn't appear to be hurt, and the way she had fallen meant she had probably taken the brunt of the force, though all the same he couldn't help but be concerned. In Hayden's mind him getting hurt was completely insignificant, but if it was Dominique something as trivial as a paper cut was something of the utmost importance. Hayden sighed inaudibly when his wife practically snarled at him in a very sarcastic way that she was "fantastic." All he had been doing was expressing his concern, she didn't have to tear into him like that.

Though he reminded himself that she was pregnant, as well as working full time, so he figured she was more than exhausted and hormonal, so Hayden reminded himself to be patient, even if it wasn't in his nature. He stood as Dominique did, thinking better of offering her a hand up given the mood that she was in. He bent at the waist to put the chair back upright as she proclaimed that she was being stupid, standing on a chair. Hayden wondered what it even was that she was doing on the chair in the first place. There were signs all throughout the flat that she had been rearranging and cleaning, perhaps that had something to do with it.

Hayden hadn't had time to respond and reassure her that she was not stupid before she had gone off attacking him, her hawk-like vision immediately spotting the minor bruise on his arm and demanding how many more of them he had gotten that evening. He almost didn't want to be here when she was like this, she needed to calm down, and he himself had felt on edge, he needed a cigarette. But Dominique would never let him hear the end of it if he lit up inside. "Not many," said Hayden, still mentally telling himself to be patient, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

[dominiqueweasley]

Dominique stepped closer to Hayden, looking at the bruise on his arm then doing a quick sweep over the skin exposed to her for more. Not many meant there were more, again. With a sigh she shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair, turning away from him and going to open on of the cupboards. Wincing as she stretched a little, pulling her arm back she grimaced. Her right arm throbbed painfully from the impact of her hitting the floor, and shaking her head again she reached out for the potion she wanted, pouring it into a glass and handing it to Hayden, hoping to stop any other bruises from forming. "I really wish you'd take better care of yourself..." she huffed walking back into the living area.

She kept her hand on her hip, rubbing the tender spot gently knowing she herself would have earned one or two bruises from that stumble but anything was better than the baby being hurt. Then again if he had been hurt it would have been her fault and that thought made her falter. Already she was screwing up as a Mother. Running a hand over her stomach she moved to the back of the sofa, assessing the layout of the living area now and she frowned. "This looks stupid...!" she said, shaking her head and walking around the sofa, sitting down and closing her eyes.

Almost as quickly as her irritation and frustration with the apartment and Hayden had come it had gone away again, instead exhaustion, and hormones kicking in. "I expected you home hours ago...your dinner went cold it's in there..." she said, then with a sigh she stood and waddled back into the kitchen. Grabbing her wand she pulled out Hayden's dinner, before warming it up. "Though I guess it doesn't matter, I didn't have anything else to do...actually..." she paused, her eyes lighting up as the idea hit her. "I'll finish the nursery tonight." she said, placing his dinner on the table before heading through to the babies room, pushing aside a letter from her Mother off the table. If the woman didn't want anything to do with her then fine.

[haden]

Hayden sighed lightly as Dominique scanned him for more injuries. Honestly, he was only a little bit bruised today, nothing terrible, nothing that had broken the skin. He didn't even feel them anymore unless he pressed against them in an odd way. Really, she probably worried about him more than was necessary- Hayden was a strong, healthy, capable man, he didn't need her to be on top of him about his job or his smoking and drinking habits. Those vices, Hayden would have to keep. Besides, he had been being more careful about not doing the last two things around his wife...

Hayden tentatively followed Dominique into the living room, which he noted had been rearranged from the way that it had been when he left that morning, only to have her mutter that it looked stupid before plopping down on the couch. She then went on to nag him about how he should have been home hours ago. His temper was being continually prodded by her hormonal outbursts, his patience was already being worn thin. Didn't she realize he did what he did to provide for her and their unborn son? Didn't she know that he was coming home with five thousand Galleons in his pocket after only two days work?

But before he could even open his mouth, she had gotten up to reheat what she had made for dinner before muttering something about finishing the nursery. Really, she was getting all too consumed with all of this, she needed to take a minute to calm down and relax. Her restless energy was making him want a cigarette. Momentarily ignoring his dinner, he turned to his wife. "It's late, why don't you rest a bit and I'll do the nursery tomorrow?" said Hayden, attempting to offer in a kind way, but he was too irritated to use a nice tone.

[dominiqueweasley]

Domi paused and turned to look at Hayden then his dinner, then back to her husband again. His offer was kind and obviously tinged with irritation he made no effort to hide and for a moment she felt her own irritation with him flare up but she bottled it knowing she was being slightly off kilter. Smoothing her hand over her stomach she shook her head, "I won't do the painting...couldn't even if I tried now..." she winced as she rolled her shoulder and stepped back, "but I want to straighten some things up...you eat your dinner please...I'll feel better knowing you've eaten..." she said softly, shooting him a small soft smile before turning and heading through to the nursery.

Once there she tried to take a breath and control her emotions which as of right now were out of control. She was going off on Hayden for nothing, nit picking at everything just because she could. It was a wonder he'd been as patient with her as he had so far, her husband wasn't known for that quality, and she'd never before pushed him like she was doing now. She knew she was doing it, but couldn't stop it and that's why she would get even more frustrated. The stress of things with her family, her cousins death, being pregnant and simply exhausted was finally weighing down on her as she straightened up the nursery.

It was a little while later that she just stopped, and simply sat down in the center of the room, a stuffed elephant on her lap as the tears filled her eyes and spilled over onto her cheeks. Hearing the door open she didn't even look up, playing with the ears of the stuffed animal, as she sniffed, "I'm sorry....I didn't mean...you can take care of yourself, you were long before me I just worry and all this just makes it worse and I'm not angry with you at all...I'm just...I'm scared and it just comes out like I'm nagging..." she shook her head and looked up at Hayden, "I don't know how I'm going to do this..." she admitted, smoothing one hand over her stomach.

[haden]

Sighing again and deciding that he would pick his battles, and that this wasn't one of them, he allowed himself to be ordered and plopped down at the kitchen table, eating his magically reheated supper. He didn't even bother to taste it, he just hoped that Dominique might not be so nitpicky if he did what she told him to. Honestly, Hayden didn't know how men could even begin to stand living with their heavily pregnant wives. Or maybe her disgruntled nature had something to do with how her parents were acting. He knew they didn't approve of him or how they had rushed into things, and while he might not give a damn, his wife might.

After eating and flicking his wand to tend to the dishes, Hayden went into the bedroom, moving aside a picture on the wall to reveal a safe. He didn't trust banks, but he had taken a leaf out of Gringott's book and enchanted the door so it would open only at his touch. Hayden ran a finger down the middle, and the door dissolved away. He tossed the velvet pouch into the stack of them before the door materialized, and then he covered the safe with the picture once more. Deciding that he would need a smoke before talking to Dominique again, he headed out to the balcony.

One became three, each one being smoked straight down to the filter, and he debated a fourth, though he had been sufficiently soothed by the nicotine, and his pack was dwindling, he'd save it for later. Hayden then headed to the nursery, only to be greeted by a tearful wife. Oh the joys of mood swings... Biting his lip, he went over to her, resting his hand over hers on her stomach. "I think you'll be fine, but for now, you're doing too much," said Hayden.

[dominiqueweasley]

Domi pouted and shook her head, wiping her cheeks before resting her dainty hand over Hayden's much larger one resting over her other hand. He was being way too patient with her, by now she would have lost it but not Hayden. He was way too patient when it came to her, no one else just her, and more so than he should have to be. At his words she smiled sadly and shook her head, glancing down at her stomach, "but I'm supposed to be able to handle it...that's what I do. I'm a Weasley, a Delacour...I'm part Veela for crying out loud...I'm meant to be able to deal with all of it...but it just doesn't stop."

Sighing she shook her head again and shifted to her knees, before using his hands as leverage to push herself up off the floor. Looking around the room she ran her hands through her hair, before turning back to Hayden and smiling softly, reaching out for his hands and stepping closer to him, letting her head rest forward against his chest. "I'm sorry I know I'm a b***h to live with...I don't mean to be...it just comes out, I'm tired all the time, scared that I'm going to be an awful Mom, I just don't know what I'm supposed to be doing," she admitted to him, calmly and rationally and for the first time actually admitting she was scared.

Lifting her head to look at him she nodded, and sighed softly, her hand coming to rest against his chest, "I guess maybe now is the time I start cutting down on my hours at the school..." she said reluctantly, pulling a face at the idea of slowing down but knowing that she needed to as well, if not for the baby than herself as well.

[haden]

Hayden managed a small smile, his temper effectively put at bay by a good dose of nicotine. Dominique could probably smell the smoke on him, but thus far she hadn't said anything, which was probably for the best. Most of the time she seemed to respect that he needed his vices, and Hayden in turn did his part to be respectful with them. He didn't smoke in the house, always going out onto the balcony, and he had been cutting back on drinking so he didn't do that all the time anymore, and when he did it wasn't quite so much.

"That doesn't mean you don't have a limit," said Hayden, and he had a feeling that his wife was reaching hers, bless her soul, she was trying to take on far too much for her own good. Really, she ought to be at home preparing for their son, instead of having to deal with all the stress at work and then come home to do her nesting. He listened to her concerns, nodding just the once. "Dumber people than us have done it," said Hayden, "Me, you, and Archer will be just fine." Sure, they had moved fast, but that wasn't anything new for them, they would adapt.

Hayden was glad that Dominique had gotten over her grumpiness, though he wasn't sure if this was much better, she still wasn't completely normal, simply the anger had been exchanged for a weepy disposition. He mentally reminded himself it would only be a bit longer, then there would be a baby and a non-hormonal wife. "It'll be for the best," said Hayden.

[dominiqueweasley]

Domi looked at Hayden and laughed softly shaking her head, trust him to say that. Dumber people than them had raised children, and he was probably right. Archer was already one of the lucky ones having two parents who loved him so, even before he was born. Domi shook her head, feeling slightly embarrassed again for having let all of her emotions get the better of her. Maybe it was the same for all first time Mum's? Right now she could only speculate, but during her time at the hospital she'd seen it a lot, so it did make sense, she only wished she had her own Mother to talk to about this stuff, maybe then she wouldn't be acting so crazy.

Nodding her head she sighed softly, lowering her gaze to his chest for a moment before she spoke again. "I'll let them know at the school I'll need to trim my hours back...it's just...with the headmistress missing...I feel like I'm abandoning them..." she said, her chest aching for Persephone, and praying with every fiber of her being that the woman was okay. Not only for her own sake but for Gabriel's and their sons sake. Gabriel was worried sick anyone could see that in the way the man carried himself, he was a walking shell, a ghost of his former self.

"Would you like a drink?" she asked, offering to get her husband something strong, god knows he probably needed it. Really she couldn't blame him, even she was getting sick of herself. Looking up at him she smiled, her dainty hand slipping into his, "So tell me...how'd the hunt go? Catch the bad guy?" she asked, tugging him gently out the room with her and back into the front room, indicating for him to sit on the sofa.

[haden]

Hayden smiled a bit when he got a laugh out of Dominique, it sounded so much more like her than the tear-choked words or the anger-fueled nagging. It made life a bit easier when his wife acted like the person that she really was, and not some sort of hormone-fueled monster. It would probably be easier on the both of them once Archer was born, even if it would for sure take an adjustment. Needless to say, Hayden didn't have much experience with babies, other than when his sisters had been born, and he hadn't done much with them when they were infants.

Hayden nodded as his wife said that she would put in her request for fewer hours at work, though in the same breath went on to explain that she felt as if she were abandoning them, given that the headmistress was still missing. "There's only so much you can do right now, you're not abandoning anyone," said Hayden, glad that she would be taking fewer hours. She needed the extra time before Archer came, they still had things to take care of before they were ready to be parents. He still found himself overwhelmed at the idea of it, being a father.

Though he, just like Dominique, would managed. They could figure it out. Hayden felt almost as if his ears were deceiving him when she offered to get him a drink. "Definitely," said Hayden, a scotch or some whiskey sounded good, though he'd take whatever hard liquor they had. He followed behind her to the living room. "Yeah, caught a scum, and brought him to another scum with money, only took two days to track this one." Once in the living room Hayden poured himself a generous scotch before joining his wife on the sofa.

[dominiqueweasley]

Domi smiled softly, not missing the look of shock that registered on Hayden's face when she asked him if he wanted a drink. With a small shake of her head she sat down on the sofa, struggling to find a comfortable position because of her stomach so she took to sitting on her side. At Hayden's comments about what he'd done today she chuckled softly and watched him, "Well that's good...any others you need to find or can I get you to myself for the weekend?" she asked, so happy tomorrow was a Saturday she needed the hours off, to try and wind down a little she was exhausted.

When Hayden joined her on the sofa, Domi smiled contentedly and moved her legs for him to sit, waiting till he was comfortable before she lay her legs down across his lap, finding that position incredibly comfortable. Resting a hand over her stomach she looked at Hayden, "My legs hurt..." she pouted, struggling not to smile, hoping he'd catch her hint and do that light massage he did on her legs whenever they sat like this. Usually she wasn't aware her muscles hurt until he did that, being pregnant definitely put a heavy weight on her legs.

As she got comfortable she let her hand run over the back of his neck, lightly rubbing soothing circles there. It was moments like this she found herself incredibly relaxed and safe, and most of all complete. How could her parents be mad at her for rushing into this, she was more happy and content than she had ever been, sure they'd rushed but look at how happy they were. They were having a son, and Hayden took better care of her than any other guy possibly could.

[/quote]

[haden]

After Hayden plunked himself down on the couch, he allowed Dominique to make herself comfortable, draping her legs across his lap. He swished the scotch around in his glass before taking a long sip that drained half the glass in one go. He didn't even shudder, Hayden was more than used to his liquor, having started young and gotten a bit heavier-handed as he got older. He wasn't an alcoholic, Hayden just liked his liquor, and he could certainly hold it well. Given his sheer mass it took a lot for him to even get a buzz, let alone get completely drunk.

"Nothing more for the weekend," said Hayden, for once relieved about that. He hadn't had a weekend to his own devices in what felt like forever, likely because he took on multiple projects at once, constantly overlapping them so he always had work to do. Though it was no longer necessary as they were a two-income household, rather than him needing to provide for all the bills and living expenses on his own. Needless to say, his pay could oftentimes be unreliable. It was almost odd to think about, though, having time off, that didn't usually happen.

Hayden tossed back the rest of his drink after Dominique said that her legs hurt. He put the now empty glass on the table before setting to gently rub her calves. It was an absent habit, normally one that he did without being asked. He was a man that liked to have something to do with his hands, this habit just happened to have a benefit for his wife.

[dominiqueweasley]

Domi smiled in satisfaction as she felt Hayden's strong hands begin to gently rub her calfs, immediately feeling her muscles begin to loosen and relax. "Magic touch..." she teased, smiling at him and letting her head rest to the side against the cushions, sighing softly as she did. Her fingers lightly danced over the back of his neck, her other hand lightly rubbing her rounded abdomen. Marveling silently at the fact that Archer was in there, growing. It always amazed her the fact she had a little life inside of her, that was magic in it's truest form.

Thought no sooner had she relaxed than a she sat up quickly with a jolt. "Ow... she breathed out, closing her eyes, her hand coming to a stop on her left side, at the base of her ribs, her face in a sort of grimace. For a moment she held her breath, not daring to breath as she worked through the sudden pain and the shock of it. Moving her fingers in a circle over the spot she shook her head, swallowing the lump in her throat as she let out a breath and finally looked at Hayden, "Your son has one hell of a kick on him...likes getting himself wedged beneath my ribs..." she explained, trying to manipulate Archer into moving his foot out from the spot he'd locked it in.

It hadn't been the first time her son had done this, the last time had been in school and it pained her a little, making it almost a small struggle to breath. Shaking her head she laughed softly, "A handful before he's even here..." she said with a wince, still rubbing the spot gently, her son certainly was being stubborn. She had no idea who he inherited that trait from.