May 10th, 1895 - Gallagher Residence

They hadn't had much time to connect around all of the set up for the flower show the weekend prior, so Alvin had made it a point to set up a time to see Zinnia when they were both not running around like Mrs. Plunkett's minions. He didn't mind. The festivities were a good distraction, a good use of his time, something creative for him to get his hands on and feel more useful, more fulfilled. Alvin missed being creative, missed enjoying himself while working. What he wouldn't give to go back to brooms. Dallying with designing wasn't getting him anywhere and at least now he had a steady income, but fuck if he didn't hate it. The ministry was just as bad as he'd thought it would be. Even sitting in Fiona Bixby's legacy wasn't enough to see him enjoying the work of the department, brooms or not.

It was hard to pout about it when he was balancing Emery on his knee while Zin puttered around getting tea. He'd tried to insist he do it, but had lost the battle, and so was on baby-entertaining duty. He'd come out the winner clearly, as he would much rather keep trying to get Emery to laugh than to set about the kettle and whatnot, but he tried again anyway, "Are you sure you don't want help?" Alvin looked up at her meaningfully, both hands around Emery's middle as she squirmed, trying to reach the food on the table. "Can she have this?" Alvin asked as he held up a little slice of cheese. He would break it up obviously, but he really didn't know much about feeding babies. His niece and nephews had always been older when he spent extended time with them, but he was still enjoying himself.

"I really don't mind." Alvin, after living on his own in the States for a while, had managed to at least get the hang of tea after all. Maybe he was just feeling useless all around these days. Maybe he still felt a little awkward sitting at her kitchen table even though Mr. Gallagher wasn't at home. Alvin felt like an interloper here and always would. But if he wanted to see Zinnia and this was easiest for her, he would suck it up. They had been friends for too long for him to let himself get lost in his insecurities and stay away.

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Zinnia Gallagher

  

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It was hard to believe it had been almost a year and a half since she and Rhys had married and in just a few short months their daughter was going to be a year old. It wasn’t the life she had envisioned for herself, but Zinnia had settled into a routine quite nicely, keeping herself busy where she could. She hadn’t broached the topic of returning to work with Rhys, not yet, having already decided she’d bring it up once Daffy was ready to return to work herself. She knew he wouldn’t say no but still… Zin hated whenever she heard her name whispered around town, and who knew what people would think once they saw her at the shop again.

She wasn’t thinking about that as she pushed her sleeves up and reached for the tea tins in the kitchen now that the kettle was starting to boil, her laugh quiet. “I’m sure,” she said, before she turned slightly to look at Alvin and Emery at the table, “And yes, as long as it’s not too big. She loves cheese.” Though she knew that he wasn’t going to let Emery choke on anything. Zinnia hummed in response again, pouring the water into the mugs before adding in some tea.

She came over with two mugs and set them down, then crouched beside the pair. Emery reached immediately for her mother’s hair, all giddy fists and bright eyes, and Zinnia let her tug for a second before gently loosening her fingers. She didn’t take Emery though; Alvin didn’t seem to mind holding her and as much as Zin adored her daughter, it was nice to have her hands free. She gently ran her fingers across her daughter’s head before she took a seat.

“Good to see the ministry is giving you some time off.” Zin said, lips curling into a teasing smile. She wanted to ask how much he hated it – she knew Alvin well enough to know that probably did, but it felt rude to come outright and ask, so she didn’t.

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Bee made this beauty<3

Motherhood looked good on her, no matter how much it irked him how she'd gotten here. Alvin had never dared to breathe anything about it aloud, but probably didn't do a very good job at hiding it in the beginning. Watching Zin with Emery wasn't so bad though; seeing this side of her was something else though. It seemed to come so naturally— more naturally than seeing her in the kitchen at the very least.

Once Emery had unhanded Zinnia's hair, Alvin scooched her back in his lap, wrapping one forearm around her securely while he broke apart the cheese into tiny bites. He offered a bit to her and she grabbed it in that clumsy way toddlers had about them, which made laugh. "Absolutely voracious," he chuckled, handing her a second piece once she'd finished the first.

"Fortunately they can't keep me there all of the time." He really was miserable and looked forward to the weekends more than anyone ought to. He missed making his own hours, of feeling legitimately productive, like he was doing something worthwhile. Mostly he missed enjoying his work. The ministry just felt like paper pushing and following the rules. It was mundane and routine and there was such little variation that he was often bored. Being under stimulated was never something he'd ever thought he'd have to worry about with any of his previous jobs. It was sort of slowly killing him.

But, he didn't really want to talk about it and drag down the mood, so he scraped for something else to talk about. "I bet you're excited to get back into the garden, hm?" As the weather warmed, the Potts gardens always came alive, no matter where they were.

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Once Emery let go of her hair, Zin gave her head a little shake before smoothing her hand over the tangled wisps that were already half out of the braid. Her gaze turned toward them and she couldn’t help but giggle softly as she watched her daughter attack the cheese with some kind of vengeance. It was kind of nice to have her hands free, although she wasn’t entirely sure what to do since she didn’t have to keep Emery balanced, so she found herself wrapping them loosely around one of the mugs.

Zinnia’s gaze flickered over to Alvin and she nodded. “I’d come rescue you if they tried.” They might not see each other as often as they used to, but Alvin was still her friend and she’d miss him, probably more than she had any right to, if the ministry tried to make him work even longer than they already did. They hadn’t seen each other in what felt like forever and it was a relief that they were finally in the same room together. She let it lie – didn’t poke at his work misery – although she hated that he didn’t seem happy there.

She leaned forward and smiled softly. “I’m so ready to be back in the garden. Sometimes it feels like I’m a caged animal pacing back and forth when it’s winter, because there’s not much to do outside.” Sure there was the greenhouse, but it wasn’t the same as being outside in the fresh air with the sun on her skin. It didn’t help that she’d given up her job at the shop, either, because Zin felt like she’d lost a large part of herself when she wasn’t there helping with the arrangements. The garden here hadn’t flourished as much as she wanted last year, but Zinnia had a clearer plan for what she wanted to plant this year and where certain plants might go.

She looked down at her daughter who had settled down and was chewing like her life depended on it before she glanced at Alvin again. “If you're not too busy being crushed under the weight of bureaucracy, maybe you could come by to help plant some things. Or weed. I might trust you with that a little more.” Zin's lips curled into a smile as she nudged his leg with hers.

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Bee made this beauty<3

There was nothing Alvin would rather talk less about than his job. It was only that, a salary slowly sucking his soul from his body and it left him feeling all kinds of hollow. It didn't fit in a situation, a conversation like this, so he was happy to keep it moving.

He chuckled at her imagery, picturing it clearly. None of the Potts girls had ever seemed to do well inside. Like their namesakes, they were most themselves outside in the sunshine and fresh air. "I can carve out some time, if you want the help." There weren't many demands on his time outside of work these days after all. He'd put in for a day off from the ministry if he had to. "Happy to do the heavy lifting," he pulled a face, "Or the weeding, if you want." He had often been regulated to both jobs in his youth when any of their mothers got a garden rearrangement in their heads. Even still now, with every flower show, he was available to help in any capacity.

Distracted by the nudge of her leg against his, Alvin almost caught a little meaty baby first to the nose, dodging it at the last second. "Alright, alright," he laughed as he handed Emery another piece of cheese. "What's the plan for garden then?" It was far easier to keep her going on about her flowers than anything else bouncing around in his own head.

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It felt odd, asking Alvin to do something for the garden instead of Rhys, but he’d been working a lot to provide for their little family and Zin hated to ask him to take off for something she could handle herself. Plus it was nice to spend time with her friends. Alvin had always been easy company so she wasn’t going to complain if she could steal him for a day; who knows, it might do both of them some good.

Zinnia smiled brightly at him. “You’re hired.” Although it was a good thing he wouldn’t expect actual payment outside of some tea and snacks (not made by her, of course), or else she’d be doing it herself; having someone help with the heavy lifting would be nice. It felt good to have him here. Familiar. Steady. Life had transformed into a new normal after she’d gotten married and had Emery, but sometimes Zin missed the old normal, where she and Alvin spent time sketching together. Where she spent most of her time at the shop making arrangements.

Her gaze drifted toward Emery, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she almost nailed Alvin in the nose. “I want to take out the back border and start fresh. I’m thinking salvias, cosmos and maybe some puffapods.” Emery would love them, and would probably keep her entertained. “Nothing fussy. I just want something with a lot of color.” Zin looked back toward Alvin, her lips curling into a soft smile. If she wanted to start fresh, it also meant digging up everything that was already there.

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Bee made this beauty<3

Emery seemed to settle a little, leaning back against his chest now that she had both hands full of food. Alvin readjusted easily, having gotten used to this with his own niece and nephews thanks to Rufus. "Great, I miss being outside more often." He sighed. Being stuck in the ministry building itself for days on end was not his favorite. Of course nothing about the job was all that appealing anymore but he didn't exactly know what to do about it. Appraising and evaluating brooms was definite a far cry from making them. There was nothing artistic about it, no creative side, mostly the same thing day in and day out.

"Sounds like it'll be lovely." A lot of colors would suit the little garden nicely. Alvin was pretty sure he could picture what a cosmos looked like and puffapods, but beyond that he would have to trust Zinnia's expertise. "And Emery and I can pull the weeds." Surely she would be walking soon and getting into everything. Coming up on a year. It was hard to believe, but July wasn't that far away. She was already more like a little human than a few months ago, as evidenced by her personality shining through. Alvin absesntmindedly brushed a stray lock of hair from the baby's face as she gnawed on the cracked he'd given her, perfectly content. While he had the opportunity, he lifted his tea up for a sip, amused to find it already fixed to his liking.

"Hard to believe she's almost a year old." He mused after a moment of struggling for what else to say.

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Zin smiled softly; she was excited to see how the garden was going to come together. Last spring had been a whirlwind and difficult to plant things given how pregnant she’d been, and even with Rhys’s help weeding and planting, it still hadn’t come out as she’d imagined it. This year will be different. “You’ll be weeding and she’ll probably be trying to eat them.” Zinnia couldn’t help but roll her eyes, however fond it was; Emery was a baby, so of course she put everything in her mouth.

She took a sip of her drink as she watched Alvin with her daughter. It was sweet how much he seemed to adore her, and how much Emery seemed to adore him. For a baby born out of wedlock to two people who weren’t in love with each other, Emery sure was loved up on.

“I know.” Zin said quietly. “Sometimes I still expect to wake up and find her tiny again. You know? Swaddled and sleepy and weightless. Now she’s… her own person.” She certainly had her own little personality – Emery was going to be a handful when she was older. Zinnia could feel it in her bones. At least for now she could scoop her up and put her somewhere safe when she was trying to get into things she shouldn’t.

“Do you want to sit outside?” There was no point in staying cooped up if he missed being outside and Zin could use the fresh air. She stood before waiting for a reply, her hand taking her own cup and then his, figuring that it would be easier to balance just Emery. The food would follow after, floating behind them until they were settled “It’s nice out back.” Plus it’s not like anyone could say anything about two friends having tea. Alvin was just visiting.

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Bee made this beauty<3

"It'll be fine." Alvin assured her with a chuckle. Though he wasn't a parent yet, he'd been around enough children to know that the newborn phase was not for him. He liked when they developed little personalities and opinions. "I think she's more fun like this." He chuckled, avoiding another narrow miss of a little hand flying at his face. "Even if she keeps me on my toes." Couldn't relax, otherwise he'd get whacked and he didn't think either one of them would enjoy that very much.

At the invitation to go outside, Alvin nodded. "Sure," fresh air might be good for all of them. Standing, he adjusted easily to carry Emery, but was thankful Zinnia got the tea. That was a balancing act he wasn't sure he would like to attempt. He would feel awful if the hot tea spilled. He never really considered how it might look if someone saw them; they'd been friends for decades at this point, it wasn't like anyone should think anything else. It was common knowledge that the Bixby, Potts, Plunkett and Hatchitt families were close.

He waited to see where they would settle, switching Emery so she was looking over his shoulder and he had a better grip on her. "This will be an adventure." He said of the garden itself. He could understand why it had gotten a little out of hand and could see why Zin would want some help.

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