|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jan 3, 2012 1:00:16 GMT -5
Andi knew that Ted had talked to Roland about the idea of the four of them going on a double date together, but she honestly expected that it wouldn't happen. Riley wasn't always that sociable, and the pregnancy didn't seem to help. Riley wasn't completely back at work yet, mainly because she was still having morning sickness. Andi had fortunately passed that stage, and had moved into the stage where she wanted to eat everything. As a result, she felt bloated and disgusting, and if they waited much longer, she wasn't going to want to go out anywhere, just sit in bed eating bonbons.
So when the date was finally fixed, Andi was surprised and happy. She really did want to be better friends with Riley, and she thought it was good for Ted to have another guy to talk with once in a while.
It took forever for Andi to get ready that night. None of her clothes fit, and her new magically expanding maternity clothes all somehow made her feel like a whale in a dress.
"That's it," she announced bleakly, flopping down on the bed. "I can't go. I'm not fit to be seen in public."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Jan 3, 2012 1:41:21 GMT -5
Ted had been lying on their bed, one hand above his head, the other resting on his stomach. The sounds of Andi getting ready, and sighing, taking off whatever she was wearing and starting the process all over again was either going to make him laugh or lull him to sleep. He wasn't entirely sure which, yet.
The whole pregnancy thing wasn't as terrible as he'd been lead to believe. At least, not for him. Andi's morning sickness didn't last long, and he liked to consider himself fairly adept in handling mood swings. And, of course, he was almost giddy about this child. He couldn't wait to meet their little girl, and he was already spoiling her, coming home with all sorts of things for her nursery.
When his wife flopped on the bed next to him, Ted shifted, rolling onto his side and resting his head in one hand as he smiled at her. Then, without a word, he leaned closer and kissed her lips, then moved and kissed her ever growing stomach.
"Who are you trying to impress, love? You already know I don't think you've ever been more beautiful to me than you are now."
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jan 3, 2012 22:30:16 GMT -5
Men just didn't understand. Yes, impressing men was part of the reason women were always concerned about their appearances, but it was more than that. They also secretly wanted other women to be jealous of them. But most of all, they wanted to look good for themselves. It was a source of pride, like a badge of honor. If a woman looked good, she felt good. Men just didn't understand that.
But Andi appreciated his words just the same, and she held onto him as he kissed her. "I know. I just... It's a girl thing, you know?"
She kissed him again, then tried to sit up. "Seriously, what should I wear? help me out here."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Jan 3, 2012 23:46:36 GMT -5
Even if she explained it, Ted wouldn't understand. She was beautiful, even if she wanted to impress everyone. Maybe he'd said it to her wrong by asking who she wanted to impress, but if he was a girl... he'd be jealous. Right?
"You know I'm clueless when it comes to girls. So this little one-" he put a hand on her stomach. "I'll teach her how to do all the things she should know... but you're gonna have to talk to her about boys and things like that. Okay?"
He stood up, helping her to her feet. "Well if I had my way, you wouldn't wear anything, but since that's not an option, what about that red sort of... thing? You know. You wore it last week. I liked it a lot."
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jan 7, 2012 0:32:20 GMT -5
Ever since they'd learned that the baby she was carrying was a girl, Ted had been talking about all the things he wanted for their daughter. Andi was actually a little nervous. Before, the baby wasn't quite real to her, but now... she was their daughter, and she'd be there before they knew it. Andi just hoped that, between her and Ted, they would be able to raise her to be a good, caring person. She didn't want their child to be like the rest of the Black family that Andi had grown up in.
"I'll teach her how to keep the boys in line," she teased.
At the suggestion that she not wear anything, Andi gave him a disapproving frown. "If I didn't wear anything, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be able to leave the apartment," she said. "Unless that's what you're hoping for... in which case, I might be able to get behind that idea."
She gave him a saucy smile and pressed up against him for another kiss. "Mmm... the red dress," she said at last, pulling away to look through the piles of clothes scattered all over the floor. "I think it's here somewhere..." She tried to bend over to look for it, but nearly lost her balance. She still wasn't used to the change in her center of gravity. "Could you help me find it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Feb 21, 2012 17:10:57 GMT -5
"If you don't teach her to keep the boys in line, I'll have to put the fear of Salazar in to them. She can't date until she's 30." Ted paused, then nodded at this thought. 30, he felt, was being generous.
His eyebrow rose at her remark. "I could get behind staying home.... " he wiggled his eyebrows, only half teasing her before he pulled her back for another kiss. Merlin, he loved this woman. Whatever she saw in him, he was thankful.
"No.... No. Roland's been trying to set this up for ages, poor bloke." He sighed, but was immediately by her side when she stumbled. He was over protective of her, and he knew that, but se was precious to him and he lost her once. "I got it, don't worry," he told her, bending to rifle through the things on the floor.
A moment later, he stood up and produce the dress with a triumphant flourish. "Here we are."
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Mar 1, 2012 2:08:57 GMT -5
"Oh, don't worry. Our kid's going to be tough as nails," Andi assured him. "One good thing about the Black family genes is that, if nothing else, they're made of pretty strong stuff. I just hope insanity doesn't run in the family."
She was seriously considering backing out of this dinner... her back hurt and she really just wanted to be with Ted. But his comment made her worry again.
"Why did he set this up, anyway?" Andi asked, frowning slightly. "He and Riley aren't having trouble already, are they? After all they've been through, I really think they deserve some happiness. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't want to hear them arguing all over the office."
She didn't even bother to protest when he rushed over to support her. Secretly she liked it, the feeling that he would always be there to hold her up when she was feeling weak.
"Perfect!" she said, smiling. "Even though I'll look like a giant tomato in that color..." She laughed lightly, just to show him that she was joking. "OK, I'll get dressed. What are you going to wear?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on May 21, 2012 10:42:30 GMT -5
Ted sighed, glancing at his wife when she made the comment about insanity. She may have been joking, but he wondered if it was something she was genuinely worried about. "You're not mad, Andi. And you'll pass on the stronger genes to our child anyway. No promises from my side of the family though."
He was still being lazy, not even looking through his side of the closet yet. He shrugged. "They're not fighting. Not that I know of. I just haven't really heard from Riley since Roland came back, which I find... Odd." Maybe it was just him, but he felt close to the girl after the attack on her, and for a whole, she'd clung to him. "I don't know. Maybe they're trying to be a couple before the baby comes. Or she's hormonal and hoping the two I you can bind while he and I commiserate. Who knows?"
He finally moved to the closet, looking over his options. "Tomatoes always were my favorite." He pulled out a dark grey shirt with a wide collar, raising his eyebrows for he approval.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on May 27, 2012 23:28:55 GMT -5
"No, I'm not mad... but Bellatrix is," Andi said, sighing. "And my mother... And you've never met my aunt..."
She had grown up in a very unstable atmosphere, with a hot-tempered father and a cold-hearted mother. Bella had been normal once, or at least she seemed to be, but now she seemed to be losing her grip on reality. And Aunt Walburga, Sirius's mother... well, Andi had always been careful never to be alone with the woman. With so much inbreeding and obsession over blood purity, Andi couldn't help but wonder if insanity did run in the family.
Speaking of madness, Andi was a little worried about Riley. No, she didn't think that Riley was going crazy, but she had been under a great deal of stress lately, and the fact that she didn't seem to be getting out much was a bad sign. "She's probably still feeling stressed. And I know from experience, pregnancy hormones do terrible things to you... especially when you're already under stress. Hopefully a night out with us will help."
She frowned, studying the gray shirt for a moment. "It's not bad... but how about the blue one?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Jun 4, 2012 21:58:47 GMT -5
"No... I don't know your mother or your aunt. I have run across your sister once and she terrifies me, frankly. But you, my love? You are not mad. And judging by the rest of the family, if you were going to be, you would have shown signs already. But you wanna know something really crazy? Even if you turn out to be just like Bellatrix, I'm never going to stop loving you." He paused what he was doing to come up to her, kissing her temple to emphasize his words.
He shrugged regarding Riley. "Ill take your word for it. I'm horribly lost in that department. But if she needs a night out, I'm glad we're doing it."
Ted laughed at her frown, already putting the shirt back before she even commented. That frown meant no. Grabbing the blue one she mentioned, he put it on over his muggle t-shirt, buttoning it without complaint. "Blue it is, babe."
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Jun 20, 2012 21:39:42 GMT -5
Merlin, she loved him. How did he know just what to say and when to say it to make all her fears just evaporate? She leaned into his kiss, sighing happily. "I love you," she said. "But I swear, I will never be like Bellatrix."
She watched as he put the blue shirt on, just enjoying the view of her handsome husband. She would have liked nothing better than to just curl up in his arms and forget about the rest of the world. But they did that every night, and it really was a good idea to get out once in a while. So she pulled on the red dress, and turned around for him to zip up the back.
"We probably should get going soon... even though I'm already desperate to get out of this dress..." She twisted her head around so that she could give him a suggestive smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 10, 2012 22:44:45 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Roland hadn't even started getting ready yet. He had just come back from taking Phoenix for a walk, to make sure the dog was taken care of for the evening. They definitely wouldn't want to come back to any messes, although the dog seemed to be pretty good about that.
After feeding the dog and checking his water, Roland strolled into the bedroom to get ready. "How's it going in here?" he asked as he entered the room.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Sept 1, 2012 0:06:17 GMT -5
Ted just smiled and laughed slightly. "Good to know. As much as I'll love you either way, I like you better like this."
He zipped her dress, making sure to kiss her shoulder in the process, and when she turned and gave him that suggestive little look, he sighed, shaking his head. "That's unfair," he groaned, knowing that he pushed so hard for them to leave, and now she was doing literally everything in her power to keep him here. "Now I want you out of the dress, too. I can't be held responsible for what happens when you look at me like that."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Sept 1, 2012 0:16:31 GMT -5
Riley was sitting on the edge of the bed, half dressed, and surrounded by clothes. Nothing looked good on a pregnant woman, she decided, even clothes that were supposed to.
She still have a ways to go in the pregnancy, but she was definitely showing. There was no hiding anymore that she and Roland were expecting. The morning sickness had passed, though there was very little increase in her appetite. And she was constantly exhausted... including right now.
When she heard the door open, though, she got to her feet, quickly, and picked the lesser of the evils of her clothes, trying to appear as though she wasn't so tired or hopelessly overwhelmed by clothes.
When Roland stepped in, she just smiled at him. "We're fine. Trying to look presentable."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Sept 12, 2012 18:45:50 GMT -5
Roland smiled softly and crossed the room with long, confident strides. Within moments, he was behind her, wrapping his arms around her.
"You look beautiful to me," he said in her ear.
He still worried about her and how the stress still seemed to be wearing on her. He wondered if it would be better or worse when the baby finally came. Luckily, although she was faltering a little right now, he knew that she was strong. She'd been through so much more than this, and he was willing to lend her some of his own strength until she found her balance again. They'd get through this together.
"You know, I imagine that Ted is probably having the exact same conversation with Andromeda right now," he said, leaning in to kiss her. "Remember, you don't have to worry about impressing anyone... You already impress me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Feb 7, 2013 0:23:27 GMT -5
Riley smiled into the kiss he pressed to her lips. "I still want to impress you," she said, almost whispering when he pulled away and she could meet his gaze. She wanted to do more than look good for him, though. She wanted to be a good mother to his child, she wanted to be a good wife to him. It was so easy to be strong when he was in the safe house because strong was her only option. Now, he was trying to be strong for her and lighten her load, and it was throwing her off.
It was letting insecurities in. The little cracks he was making in her walls were letting the darkness in. She felt like things were falling apart, and she couldn't get a good hold on anything. But even feeling that way, she felt that Roland was the other thing keeping her together. He was doing more for her than she could ever say.
"I'm wearing the blue one," she said finally, pulling away from him and nodding towards the bed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Feb 8, 2013 23:38:14 GMT -5
Ted just smiled and laughed slightly. "Good to know. As much as I'll love you either way, I like you better like this." He zipped her dress, making sure to kiss her shoulder in the process, and when she turned and gave him that suggestive little look, he sighed, shaking his head. "That's unfair," he groaned, knowing that he pushed so hard for them to leave, and now she was doing literally everything in her power to keep him here. "Now I want you out of the dress, too. I can't be held responsible for what happens when you look at me like that." Andi turned around to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We can be a little late, can't we?" she whispered, pressing closer to him. She couldn't help herself. As her belly grew each day, Andromeda was becoming more and more aware of the fact that soon there would be a third person in their family--one who would be loud and demanding and needy. And she and Ted would have to steal as many moments for themselves as possible in between. They were still in the heady early stages of their relationship, really, and soon there would likely come a time when they were too tired even to kiss each other goodnight. Andi hoped it never came to that, and that they would always find to be together, just like this. But just in case, she wanted to hold on to the moments when it was still just the two of them. "I can almost guarantee Roland and Riley are having this exact same conversation right now," she added with a smile, leaning up to kiss him deeply. |
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 3, 2013 23:51:31 GMT -5
Riley smiled into the kiss he pressed to her lips. "I still want to impress you," she said, almost whispering when he pulled away and she could meet his gaze. She wanted to do more than look good for him, though. She wanted to be a good mother to his child, she wanted to be a good wife to him. It was so easy to be strong when he was in the safe house because strong was her only option. Now, he was trying to be strong for her and lighten her load, and it was throwing her off. It was letting insecurities in. The little cracks he was making in her walls were letting the darkness in. She felt like things were falling apart, and she couldn't get a good hold on anything. But even feeling that way, she felt that Roland was the other thing keeping her together. He was doing more for her than she could ever say. "I'm wearing the blue one," she said finally, pulling away from him and nodding towards the bed. Roland was the first to admit that he was utterly useless at picking out clothes for her to wear, so it was lucky for both of them that she was not asking him for a suggestion. He glanced at the blue dress she had indicated and nodded approvingly. Although he generally preferred her in red, the blue dress in question brought out the color of her eyes in a most flattering way. "That's good," he said. "You don't wear blue often enough. It brings out your eyes." When she pulled away from him, he stood back and watched her worriedly. She seemed so very tired, and he wasn't sure if it was just the pregnancy or if she was still stressed over everything that had happened. Maybe having a female friend she could talk to, like Andromeda, would help her a little bit. She wasn't able to talk to Geoffrey, so she was spending most of her time with him, so she really did need an outlet. Someone besides him to tell her that she could do this and to provide an ear for all her frustrations. "You'll have to help me figure out what to wear," he added, nodding towards his half of the closet. "You know if it were up to me, I'd probably dress all in black." |
|
|
|
Post by Riley Neves on Jun 19, 2013 23:29:00 GMT -5
Over her shoulder, Riley gave him a half bemused, half disbelieving look. "The funerals are over, Roland. I don't like all black."
She knew that alone would be enough for him, even on his own, to be mindful not to dress in all black, like he was mourning something. She was well aware that she'd played this card, and while it was true, she'd played it on purpose. That probably wasn't fair, but it was effective.
"Can you zip me up, Roland? We'll tackle your wardrobe next."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ted Tonks on Jun 19, 2013 23:38:59 GMT -5
"We can be very late," Ted replied, eyebrows up. He was sure if they didn't even show up, Riley and Roland would be just fine on their own. They were still quite new in their relationship, newer than Andi and himself, and he didn't doubt they'd make googly eyes at each other until he and Andi showed that.
That thought confirmed, at least in his head and with the touch of Andi's lips, he found no reason to try to get this woman out of the house. "The dress is very pretty. Unfortunately, it needs to come off now." As he said this, a hand slipped behind her back to retrace the tracks of the zipper, and he smiled against her lips as he pressed into another kiss.
|
|
