They had discussed it the past week, when to tell Ace’s family the news, indeed they’d finally settled on today last night when they spoke of it. But the idea of putting the news out there, of sharing their good fortune made Lucille nervous. It was awfully close to their wedding, and while she and Ace were aware of the circumstances around their own nuptials, she was worried that those that didn’t would easily make a conjecture that was not there to make. Not to mention that with no family of her own she was simply nervous to have anyone know just yet.

Ace’s smile reassured her. Lucille’s hand found its way into Ace’s under the table as she swallowed and gave him a small nod to continue. There was no way she’d be able to get the words out around the sudden dryness of her throat and the rioting of her stomach.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

A sigh of relief silently escaped her lips when it appeared no further comment would be made of her behavior. The small ball of disappointment lingered in her stomach, but Sybille was content to try and ignore it as she began to eat the food on her plate as conversation continued.

Then Ace’s announcement made her fork pause halfway to her mouth. She set it down, careful not to break any further rules and risk the new criticism of their mother, before she said anything. An announcement from her brother, she had learned, or really anyone in their family, could be something large. A secret that had been hidden for months or years. But this time Sybille was determined to be prepared for whatever Ace threw their way. She’d be the perfect lady about it.

“Oh?” She asked politely, affecting as much the air of a hostess as a twelve year old recently scolded could.

  

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Mj's magical purty

This seemed to be the right time, to be certain. With all of them there, hopefully they would be as excited as he and Lucille were. Her hand was a comfort, and it gave him the confidence he needed. "Lucille are expecting a child. Her healer says that she is due in July of this year." He announced with a smile.

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Magic by MJ!

So much had happened this morning. So, so, so much. It made Avril dread going to dinner with Warwick's family.

Sybille had been late, and covered in flour. If she had been quicker in reacting, maybe Warwick wouldn't have... No, he probably still would have said something. Her husband didn't seem to like her family, but didn't want to a misrable wife on his hands so he... tolerated them.

The her mother had made her younger sister feel terrible. At least the young Hufflepuff had remembered that they were having brunch.

Then Ace had announced that his wife was expecting their first child and Avril took a moment to process what that meant. She opened her mouth to say something. Like a "congradulations" or something equally appropriate but she couldn't find the words she wanted to use.

She knew, without even glancing at Warwick, that he was ready to freak out - and not in a good way. Not in a way that she was trying to find the words for. She was sure he was seconds away from making a bigger scene than she'd ever dreamed of making.

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MJ made Avril's set!

Guinevere could not help but feel tense after what happened with her darling Sybille. Perhaps it was having Mr. Nott here while it happened. Perhaps it was simply her lack of enthusiasm of her daughter's hobby to begin with. Either way, she had yelled at her daughter and hated that. Now things were more tense and she couldn't stand it. So the very mention of good news made her positively light up. "Oh, how wonderful! I'm so happy for the both of you."

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MJ made Magic!

Not much shocked the man of his era, but Warwick was certainly in a state of it ever since Mr. Ace Lukeson made his announcement. Gears were shifting in his head as he processed this news. And it wasn't a pleasant thought process. In July. So soon. Too soon. At least Avril and Warwick had been married properly. Then it clicked. He stood, dropping the fork he had been holding and glaring at the new couple. "'Wonderful' is not the word that I would use to describe what this is. Shame on the both of you. Of course there was another reason for the two of you to marry so quickly. Avril, get up, we are leaving."

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Magic By MJ

For a moment it seemed like everything would be alright. But then Mr. Nott's fork clanged as it hit the table shattering the calm. Lucille cringed at the sudden noise, but as the man spoke color surged to her pale cheeks. She, who had not felt the true weight of consequences during her isolation, felt them now. But she was tired of the rules that had put them in this situation, tired if hasty judgements, tired of the lack of compassion their society had. Anger at the assumption flared. How would she face society if she could not even handle her ne brother in law. She had to handle them, for her child's sake.

As calmly (and bravely) as Lucille could manage she looked at the man, feeling tears well in her eyes against her wishes. "You do us a grave injustice, Mr. Nott." She tried to keep her voice low, even, channeling every ounce of her mother she could, but even then she felt the wave of emotion. "Is love alone not enough of a motivation for marriage?" She posed as if it were merely a supper topic.

  

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Thank you MJ for an amazingly Lucy set!

It was such a normal announcement that for a moment Sybille was stunned. Nobody had died. Nobody was a werewolf. Nobody was anything but normal. She had forgotten what a normal announcement was - what a normal family was.

Sybille opened her mouth to congratulate her brother and his wife when Mr. Nott’s chair scraped loudly against the floor. His intimidating personage standing up next to Avril’s frail form. For a moment Sybille remembered a different Christmas break, only Ace and her siblings at the dinner table. Avril’s teacup shattering to the floor as the sight overtook her. How different things were now.

Then to her surprise Ace’s wife spoke up against Mr. Nott. Sybille didn’t entirely understand what Mr. Notte’s issue was, it was as if they weren’t good enough for him or something, but he was furious at Ace and Lucille. The latter of whom was passionately addressing Mr. Nott, a hint of tears in her terse tone.

  

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Mj's magical purty

No, this was not supposed to be how this announcement was to take place. But could he be surprise when Warwick Nott was invited? The same Nott family that only aunt Jade and grandfather seemed to approve of. But this was drawing the line. "How dare you, Mr. Nott. To place unjustified claims upon us. Avril will always be welcomed here at her home. But you, sir, will not." He stated as he also stood from his seat. No matter that Lucille was innocent of these claims, the very claims were an insult on Ace, Lucille, and the rest of the Lukeson-Rey family. It was not something he would stand for.

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Magic by MJ!

It took Avril too long to process what Warwick had said to her, what Lucille and Ace had responded with. She frowned at her husband's words, he was acting as if he would blindly follow his orders that they were leaving.

The question, it seemed, was if she wanted to save herself the fight with her husband until later, that was sure to come. You can't be around them, Avril or If you aren't worried about your reputation, think about our child's being married to a purist, grouchy, traditionalist... To say the least, it was a drain most days.

She made no move to follow his words, instead turning her attention back to her family. Honestly, she wished that her marriage was half as supportive as her brothers, but she had come to terms with the fact that she wasn't to be in a happy marriage. At least whatever she children she might have won't be half as bad as Warwick or his family.

"Well," she sighed. "At least our children will be in the same year at Hogwarts." it was only after the words were out that she realised that she hadn't mentioned that she was pregnant to anyone other than her Mother and Warwick. Damn. She forced herself not to blush at the less than dignified way of announcing that she was expecting a child.

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MJ made Avril's set!

How had things gone so down hill from here? She might love her sister, but by Merlin, did Jade really have to marry Avril off to this man? Purists were so hard to deal with, and Guinevere had just wanted to make some manner of peace among her family. Was that really too much to ask for? Apparently so. Thus she sat back and began shaking her head slowly and quietly.

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MJ made Magic!

Was? Was this a joke to her? Avril's family was a damn joke, but how could she simply care so little about her own reputation. "Yes, and at least ours will have the respectable Nott name. At least that may protect our child from their cousin's shameful upbringing." He grumbled, grabbing her arm and tugging gently to indicate that she needed to get up. He wouldn't just hurt his pregnant wife.

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Magic By MJ

Avril gave her husband a sigh as she stood. She didn't want to choose between her family and... well, her family. Warwick might not have been her first choice of a husband (he honestly wouldn't have made the list, if she were being honest) but she was stuck with him. She was trying to make the best of the situation her aunt had thrown her into, and that meant keeping the peace between herself and Warwick, as best she could. She was going to be a mother, and she knew for a fact that four of five months from now wouldn't make her feel anymore prepared for that particular role.

She hoped her siblings understood that she didn't want to leave them on such a note but... she really didn't have much of a choice. Maybe she'd go talk with them later, when things had cooled down a bit.

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MJ made Avril's set!