December 25th, 1888 - Pebble Cottage
Edric Umbridge

Febs had been much more careful this time around. Suspect after six weeks without, almost certain by eight, and now, over two months without and Mrs. Harding's knowledgeable agreement, Febs knew she was pregnant- for real this time. Originally she'd brushed it off and assumed the stress of the elopement and the subsequent drama had caused her to skip it yet again, because apparently she did that. Skipping a second month in a row, plus the fainting spells and the constant nausea confirmed what Mrs. H had already suspected too.

It hadn't taken her too long to decide how to tell him, but she was still nervous anyway. This time would be different though. They were married, and so far as she could tell, had actually conceived the baby after the elopement, though it was close and people may have their questions, but honeymoon babies were a thing after all. She just hoped he was as excited as she was. It was hard keeping a secret from him! He had to have noticed how tired she was lately, though thankfully he was already up and gone by the time the morning sickness really kicked in. Frankly she was a little miserable, but still excited.

Mrs. H, in all of her spare time and myriad of talents, had knitted a beautiful little blanket with yellow satin at the edges. Febs had boxed it up carefully, with a the tiniest little dress Mrs. H picked up "just because" while running errands one day, with a big red ribbon and tucked the present beneath her side of the bed. Knowing it was there would have normally kept her up half the night of Christmas Eve, but frankly she was far too tired these days to fight it. Especially after spending dinner the previous evening with her grandparents. Though some of her family still preferred not to speak to her, her Nan and Pop had invited her and Edric over for dinner the night before the rest of her family would typically visit. It wasn't exactly the same as it had been in years past, but it was nice to be included somehow. Plus it had exhausted her entirely.

As the first light of morning starting filtering through the cracks in the curtains in their room, Febs snuggled up to Edric, with a sleepy sort of smile on her lips, the warmth of him and their bed attempting to lull her back to sleep. However, as soon as she remembered the present she had hidden within reach, she couldn't go back to sleep. The problem was, she felt guilty about waking him, even as eager as she was, so she cuddled up and waited for him to stir.

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baby stamp, 10 weeks

  

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Despite the obstacles that February's family presented, this Christmas, when compared to ones before, had been wonderful. There was a variety of factors, one being his recent marriage to February Lynch, and the other being that office heads had the privilege of holidays off—but that was beside the point.

Snow didn't fall on the Isle of Sheppey, so instead of a white Christmas they'd been presented with a frosty morning and a sky full of stars the previous night. It was silent. It was peaceful. It was private. There was none of the London bustle; no hoofbeats disturbing him as he tried to sleep, and no festive children dashing through the streets singing carols. That, combined with the absent feeling of loneliness he often felt every Christmas morning, meant he was much, much happier.

(Apart from Mrs. Harding who lived nearby and showered both him and his wife with far too many crisp cookies in the days leading up to Christmas morning. Not that he was complaining.)

The movement at his side stirred him from his sleep, but he didn't open his eyes. He pulled her closer, one hand finding the familiar blue ribbon that held her waves during her slumber, and he let out soft hum. "Merry Christmas, Febs," he murmured.

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— set by MJ! —

Febs had almost dozed off again, very content, if nervously excited. There really was nothing quite like waking up next to him every morning. It made everything they'd gone through this year totally worth it. Hopefully things would continue to be quiet, as long as she kept her nose clean and minded her own business. Shouldn't be too hard while pregnant, she wouldn't be leaving the house much as the pregnancy progressed.

Feeling him pull her in had her smiling, rousing from the half-sleep she'd fallen into. Febs draped one leg over his, snuggling in close as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Love." She replied, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. "And good morning." Febby added as she nuzzled in.

"How did you sleep?" Though she was anxious to give him his present, she didn't want to bombard him before he was even awake. Oh Merlin, she was going to burst! All she could ask for now was for the morning sickness to hold off so she could do this without getting sick. That was not in her plans for this morning.

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Mornings had grown more difficult for Edric since they'd married, as the warmth of a body beside him—and other times, an arm trying to tug him back into bed—made going to work especially difficult. Christmas morning was different; while some aurors, usually junior ones who were still climbing the ladder, were reporting for duty that morning, Edric was buried under the covers with his wife beside him. As he listened to her words, he struggled not to doze back off to sleep at the sudden skin contact.

"Slept good," he murmured, wrapping his free arm across her waist so he could tug her closer. "You're going to make it very difficult to go back to work tomorrow."

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Grinning as he pulled her in, it took more willpower than she thought she had not to get handsy, but she had a mission to see through. Mmm, yes, but today is Christmas," And she had been telling him he needed to take a little vacation- she wouldn't be able to do so in a few short month's time anymore. If he'd just listen to her they could have  several-day stretch of this instead of just one day a week and holidays. Sometimes she hated sharing him with his job.

"And I have something extra special for you." Febby bit her lip to hide the threatening smirk, as she rolled over and propped herself up on her elbows to look down at him. "I have it, right on my side of the bed." She quirked an eyebrow at him, waiting to see if he would fall for the bait.

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"I'm not sure if you're aware," he said, pulling back slightly to catch her eyes, "but most Christmases before this year have been spent on the job." Not that he'd minded then. He'd had no real family apart from his father, and Oswald Umbridge had never been the festive sort. His father had always said that Christmas Day was an opportunity to catch up on unfinished work, not a day to take off—and this was the first year he wasn't following his father's words.

He smiled, though, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "But having a wife has complicated that, you know. I'm expected to stay at home," he teased. Christmas Day at the office would have been Christmas Day at the office—paperwork, filing, the whole shebang. He'd much rather be here with his wife, in bed...

"Extra special, hm?" he muttered, grabbing hold of her nightgown's skirt and giving it a suggestive tug upwards.

  

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— set by MJ! —

"Even you can't want to be at work today," There was no way he was actually complaining about getting to stay at home, in bed, today! All Febby could do was shake her head at him, chuckling. She was so very pleased that he had today off and was actually staying in with her.

Feeling him pull on her nightgown had her raising an eyebrow at him, a smirk on her lips. Not that she would mind, certainly not, but it wasn't exactly what she'd meant. "That could be arranged, but wasn't actually what I had in mind." For once.

She could have been easily persuaded, but was far too eager to give him the one she'd meant, to get side tracked now. Pushing up, she leaned in to kiss him with just enough of a tease behind it to satisfy the urge, Febs then moved toward the edge of the bed and pulled the package from its hiding spot.

Handing it to him, she curled her legs beneath her, sitting close, excited to watch him open it. "Merry Christmas, Love." She grinned, all kinds of antsy in anticipation of his reaction.

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It seemed like work was all he ever did, but he wouldn't mind a bit of physical work if it meant getting beneath her nightgown was high in the sky. There had been few times throughout the span of their relationship, especially after marriage, that she'd moved his hands away, so having her do so this morning peaked his attention immediately.

He propped himself up on one elbow as she kissed him and let out a mock whine as she pulled away. With furrowed brows, he watched as she crawled across to retrieve his present. It was a package, apparently, and although he doubted anything could be better than rolling around in bed with her all morning, he moved to grab it from her hands, a quizzical expression on his face.

"I didn't ask for anything," he said, as if she ought to know, but he nevertheless opened it.

"What's this, Febs?"

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Chuckling, Febby tossed her hair over her shoulder, leaning toward him as he took the package. "I know, it's from Mrs. H, she made it for us." Subconsciously one hand moved to her stomach, though there was no bump yet. She'd caught herself doing it more frequently and didn't doubt the habit would only get more noticeable from here on out.

"Come on then, open it." Febs laughed again, inching toward him, still eager for his reaction.

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Edric tried to rationalize the gift as he stared into the open box. The yellow blanket was neatly folded around the doll-size dress, which was confusing enough, but the added information that it was from Mrs. H did nothing but confuse him more. So Mrs. Harding thought they were due for a child, which was fine.  He thought they were overdue for a little one. Still, it made no sense why February was presenting Mrs. Harding's gift to him as if it was from her, unless - well, unless...

"Wait..." he said, casting a quizzical expression between the gift, February, and then her stomach. "Are you—?"

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Oh bless him, he got it after only a little thinking. Febby broke out into a wide grin, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, I am. For real this time." Her chuckle faded into a soft sigh, so relieved that she could finally tell him. "Mrs. H confirmed. It's why I've been dizzy and sick." She hoped that eased his worries a little, though somehow she doubted it would last long.

"She thinks July sometime. Are you- are you happy?" Considering last time had been such a mess, she sincerely hope so!

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A warm, tingling sensation washed over him, and Edric managed to feel both elated and nauseous as the same time. He was going to be a father. A proper father, one appropriately wed to the baby's mother and with the means to protect and support him. The reason for glee was apparent, but less so was the reason for the sudden uneasiness. There had once been a time where he'd thought February was pregnant and she wasn't. If this was another false alarm, especially now that they were wed, it would be like losing a child in womb. He wasn't sure if he couldn't handle that—and he wasn't sure that Febs could, either.

But she seemed certain, and she cradled her stomach in a way she hadn't that time. If he was truly going to be a father, there was no doubting his emotions. A smile twitched on his lips, and he reached a steady hand to brush against her gown-clad stomach.

"Give me one reason I wouldn't be happy," he breathed, his gaze trapped on her stomach—still mostly flat, but with a bump that he thought he could feel now that he was looking for it—instead of her gaze.

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   February Umbridge

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— set by MJ! —

Febby had zero doubts this time, she'd waited, and waited, until Mrs. H. had brought it up and walked her through it. Then they'd decided together it must be what was going on. It explained the dizziness and the constant nausea and now the unbidden tears. Damn the crazy emotions already!

"Me too," She sniffled, laughing at herself and brushing away a tear as she made room for him to press a hand to where hers had just been. Gently she covered his with her own and smiled. Though there was no sign of a bump just yet- Mrs. H had assured her that came about halfway, she felt it everywhere else, that was for sure!

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Edric pressed his hand against her stomach, searching for a sign that he knew deep down wasn't there yet. His knowledge on pregnancy was limited, but he doubted he'd feel anything before he could see anything. Still, he held his hand in place, feeling content and completely at peace with the atmosphere around them. Their feet were buried under the warm covers on Christmas morning, the sound of gentle waves crashing against the coast outside, and he was finding out that he was going to be a father.

His gaze soon drifted up, his hand moving in the opposite direction in search of a way under her gown.

"You don't we'd be disturbing him if - you know," he teased, tugging at the gown's lacy hem. "I'm not sure I could go the whole nine months without it."

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Laughing quietly, not wanting to disturb the atmosphere, Febby shook her head at him. "Him, hmm?" He would assume the baby was a boy, though they only had a girl's name picked out.

Apparently her news wasn't enough to really deter him from his previous pursuits either. Which she certainly wasn't complaining about. "Oh, I don't think so. I don't think I could go nine months either..." She leaned toward him with a breathless chuckle feeling his hand having wandered to the hem of her nightgown while she ran her own though his hair.

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Edric only smiled. It was in a man's nature to hope for a son; boys could pass on the family name, and it would make him feel a whole lot better about continuing his career. While he loved Febs, he disliked the idea of leaving her a moderately wealthy widow only for a conniving bachelor to come along and steal both her heart and his money.

(Not that he should be thinking about that right now. They were having a baby, and if things went well, they'd likely have more. In a decade he could have three sons and a daughter, or three daughters and a son. The possibilities were endless.... assuming she continued to let him under her skirts.)

"I'm glad we're in agreement there," he chuckled, leaning forward to press a firm kiss against her lips. He pulled back, a wide, uncharacteristically cheesy grin on his face, before nudging her back onto the pillows.

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— set by MJ! —