Morning of April 1, 1892 - The Darrow House, Swallowbury District, Irvingly

Delilah Warbeck

Gentle early morning light filtered in the gauzy curtains of Caroline's room as opened her eyes and gave a small yawn. A sleepy smile slipped across her lips as she realized Evander still held her curled up against his side, her arm flung across his bare chest. Caroline loved the nights that Evander stayed in her room. It was perhaps her favorite part of being married.

For a few moments, Caroline stayed still, although her back ached and her side was numb from staying on one side all night. Baby gently kicked her softly rounded tummy, a gentle reminder that they too were awake. Silently she said good morning to her child, watching it's father with a smile.

It was odd for Evander to still be asleep, Caroline mused, as she took in his relaxed face. He was always so peaceful when he slept. As much as she loved this moment, would have loved to have stayed here in bed with Evander for hours, her bladder reminded her that wasn't possible. Besides, if they slept much longer she was sure that Evander would be late to work.

Gently caressing his arm, she kissed the shoulder nearest her. "Good morning." She gently greeted him as her husband's eyes open. Caroline gave him a smile that was just his, happy for the small gift of this moment.

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The first thing Delilah realized was this wasn’t her bed; the mattress was too soft, the early morning light much too bright, but it didn't stop her from sinking back into the mattress as she sighed softly. The second thing she realized was her arm body curled around another that was much too large to be either of her children - she briefly remembered Ambrose, her youngest, crawling into her bed after a nightmare although she remembered putting him back to bed in his own room. Perhaps it had been a dream.

A soft voice called out and Delilah murmured a greeting in turn, her brain still fuzzy from sleep; then she felt a chaste kiss against her skin and she shot up quickly, her arms flaring to keep herself from tumbling from the bed. Next to her was a woman, a naked pregnant woman who was smiling at her like she was her entire world. For a moment her mouth opened yet she found no words came out. What in the hell…?

Then Delilah squawked loudly as her fingers gripped the comforter to cover her chest, yet when she pressed the fabric against her skin it was most noticeably flat. She’d deal with that thought in a second. Now though, she turned her attention back toward the woman, her eyes wide as she gawked at her. “I… why are you in my bed?!” (All thoughts of it certainly not being her bed, let alone her home out the window.)

Perhaps a woman one of her brothers had been bold enough to bring over? She highly doubted it, but the thought was enough to keep her rooted in the spot. Maybe she was just in the wrong room. And she told her just that. Delilah made no move to scramble away from her, although her eyes darted around the room until it landed on the wand on the nightstand next to her.

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Caroline Darrow

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   Elias Grimstone

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Over the years Caroline had prided herself on knowing how to act in every situation. But she was quite certain that there was no correct way to react in this situation. Who knew how to react when their husband of almost a year jumped from one's bed in abject horror and demanded you leave your room? Therefore Caroline could be forgiven for the fact that her eyes widened in surprise, later she'd blame the tears in her eyes on the baby, and it took her a moment to gather her thought at all.

In the nine months she had been married to Evander he had never been high-handed. He respected that this was her room and rarely even stayed the night. He had never told her it was his room because it was his house. And the fact that he was now.... it stung, deeply. But it simply wasn't like Evander. She had to hold to that. She knew her husband, clearly if he were reacting like this there was something wrong.

Her brows furrowed in concern as she kept her tone low and soothing, "Evander are you alright?"

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   Madeleine Backus

The guilt would set in later once she’d have to muse over the entirety of the situation, although right now she could only gawk as the woman’s eyes widened, as if Delilah had slapped her clean across the face. She wouldn’t, not unless the woman did something weird or tried to attack her. She gave her a once over and leaned over to snatch the wand from the side table, just in case, knowing full well just how emotional a pregnant woman could be.

The girl’s eyebrows furrowed and she found herself arching her own in her return. Evander? That was even remotely similar to any name in the Farley house and certainly wasn’t a nickname for… anything. “I’m just not feeling well. I’ve been having some weird dreams lately.” She responded quickly, her eyes darting around the room for the door. This definitely wasn’t her room. She had to get out of here but she highly doubted this strange woman was just going to let her waltz out of the room until she could trust Evander was fine. She took a deep breath of air.

“Breakfast!” Delilah exclaimed suddenly, because that was certainly normal. Hopefully Evander was a morning guy. “We should get some breakfast. You look like you’re starving, darling.” And while that was being prepared she could slip out the front door and be gone. She just needed directions to get out of here.

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Caroline Darrow

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"Evander?" She could be forgiven if her voice wavered in concern, her eyes locked on Evander's hand reaching for his wand. Her body stiffening in sudden and unexpected fear. She swallowed. Never before had she ever felt anything other than safe in Evander's presence. He was her rock, her safety. But the way he was looking at her, the way his hand closed tight on his wand made Caroline want to scoot to the other side of the bed and scramble for her own. Yet, she held her ground, looking at Evander's face with only concern, trying to put from her mind how vulunerable she was in half sitting naked in her bed before him.

Finally he said something, not something Caroline fully believed, but she supposed it was believable in some way. She understood weird dreams, even with the first pregnancy she had had them. But this time they were worse, causing her to sitting up in alarm from a dead sleep. It was better on the nights when Evander stayed with her. But she had never known Evander to have bad dreams, nor react this way to them. But it seemed he had returned to himself and really he wasn't the type to tell her everything, so Caroline nodded. "I understand." Normally she would have reached out to touch his wrist, but given how he'd reacted to waking up with her she doubted that was a good idea. Instead she tried to make her concern and sympathy evident in her eyes.

"Of cousrse." Caroline used his words as a reason to slide off the bed on her side, pulling her dressing gown over her body, her wand thumbing her thigh from it's slender pocket as she tied it around her. "I'll let the housekeeper know." Caroline pulled the bell on the wall for the servants before she made her way to her dressing table and sat gracefully on the seat so she could keep an eye on Evander in the mirror.

She might be wary but it was best to keep things normal, she decided. "I thought I might take Charity into Hogsmeade today, see that new tea room you told me about last night." She pulled the brush through her brown hair.

  

Delilah supposed she shouldn’t ruin their relationship; the woman was clearly concerned for Evander and while she was doing her best to remain calm it was hard to when she was suddenly thrust into this situation. She took a deep breath and offered a small smile to her as she pulled on the dressing robe, moving toward a seat. “Thank you,” Delilah murmured as she stepped forward to take a seat on the edge of the bed. Then she sighed. What now?

Servants meant she wasn’t in Pennysworth, although given the size of the room and how beautiful it was, she was almost certain she was in Wellingtonshire; that was good. (The thought of being in Irvingly didn’t cross her mind, not yet at least.) She could make her way home from here. Perhaps accompany her to Hogsmeade and abandon her in the tea shop - she could throw up the façade that work had called her; there had to be a good chance he worked at the ministry. “I do think both of you would enjoy it. The Midsummer Blend was absolutely splendid.” She responded, finally standing and padding quietly over to stand behind her.

She'd figure out who Charity was later. (Or even better - be gone before she had to see someone else!)

“I’m sorry for how I reacted.” Delilah tried quietly, flicking her gaze up to meet the woman’s eyes in the mirror. Seeing her own reflection as a stranger was disheartening, and she couldn't help but to stroke her own face. “Sometimes dreams are so real they stick with you…” She was positive this wasn’t one, though she rubbed her eyes for good measure, just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. “Perhaps I should take some time from work and accompany you to the tearoom to make up for my actions. We can even call the pastries our breakfast, if you'd like.” This was a solid plan - be shown the way out of the house and not make matters worse between Evander and his wife by acting strange. She couldn’t be mad if work called him in!

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Caroline Darrow

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Caroline's eyes watched Evander's every move in the mirror as he sighed and sank down on the bed. She knew how draining nightmares could be and the way he sagged seemed show that weariness. Perhaps that's why she shrugged off his use of absolutely splendid, which was not in his normal realm of vocabulary.

But when he apologized her eyes snapped on to his in the mirror, widening slightly. She was careful to keep the rest of her face neutral and continue combing. Evander did not hand out apologies well or often. They were begruded things that were an awkward affair and only for the very large things. She loved Evander, but was well aware of his stoic nature. His emotions and kindness were more like a current in the sea then a visiable thing. This.... this wasn't normal.

"I understand." Caroline pretended not to watch him, switching to putting on her earrings instead. She didn't want to spook him by acknowledging the rawness of his current state. "I've been having them too lately." Her words were quiet but compassionate. She hadn't shared with him the nightmares, the storms and seawater that woke her in a sweat these days.

All thoughts of dreams flew out the window at his next suggestion. Caroline wasn't sure she guarded the shock well. Evander never took a day off. Regardless of how he felt. Nor did he ever consider taking a day off to take time with her. It simply wasn't who he was. Nor would he do something to make up for his actions. He was never so..... considerate. He was considerate in his own way, but not this way.

Carefully, adjusting her face to reflect curiosity and concern, rather than the excitement she felt at something that was clearly not okay, she turned to toward him on the cushioned bench. "But," She started slowly, "Won't you miss too much at work?" Her brow furrowed in concern as she tried to recall just what projects he was working on.

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   Elias Grimstone

Ah, Delilah had surprised her, and she merely pressed her lips into a thin line as she watched the girl’s eyes widen for a split moment. Outside of that she had done an excellent job to not betray her emotions, and whether or not Delilah was anywhere near to guessing what her husband was like eluded her. Then her face reverted back to natural and she merely nodded in response.

The idea that they were connecting over nightmares was almost absurd, yet she found herself wondering what kept her up at night. Was she supposed to know that whatever nightmares came back plagued her now? Or perhaps that they were common enough that she and Evander spoke about them often. With so much uncertainty Delilah made a snap decision to not comment on them. The nod would have to do.

Instead she merely grimaced as the woman seemed to react to her words. Either he didn’t have a job (she could lie through her teeth on that mixup), or he was a work-a-holic, which would bode well for her until she could figure out how to fix this mess. Oh Evander, who are you? When she turned to watch her, Delilah tensed for a moment, her fingers tightening and then loosening on the wand still in her fingers. She should have left it on the bed, but too little too late.

“Er-” Delilah sighed as she clamped her mouth shut. She could lie and slip out the door to go to work, but she also didn’t want to hurt the girl as much as she had - her goal wasn’t to singlehandedly ruin a marriage in one morning. Silently she apologized to Evander. Hopefully he was a smooth talker because Delilah certainly wasn’t, and he was going to have a lot of odd behavior and inconsistencies to smooth over. She flicked her gaze to meet green eyes.

Finally, her lips curled into a smile. “I think they’ll excuse me for a few hours. I just want to spend some time with you before the arrival of our… child.” Delilah motioned toward the woman’s belly for good measure. More so, she didn’t want to be wandering around a house looking like a fool, and well.. the easiest way out of the house without raising any alarm would be through this man’s wife.

“Unless of course, you’re trying to get rid of me. If that’s the case, I just need to put on my robes.” Delilah grinned. She hadn’t thought of that; she was going to have to bumble around the house looking like an idiot until she stumbled upon his bedroom. But it's not like she could make a break for it out in Wellingtonshire wearing anything but robes without raising a few eyebrows.

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Caroline Darrow

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   Elias Grimstone

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Holding still, Caroline watched Evander, trying not to startle him much like a wild animal. His hand was on the wand again and he seemed at loss for words. Or perhaps merely thinking. Evander did usually think his answers through before saying anything. What she didn't realize is that she'd started to hold her breathe waiting for his answer. As un-Evander-like this whole conversation was, she desperately wished it was sincere. She loved Evander, truly she did, with all his quirks and silences, but there were days when she wished for just this thing.

And then out of his lips came the sweetest thing she was fairly certain she had ever heard from him. Without fully realizing it a wide smile spread across her lips. He wanted a day just with her. Just her. She could have floated in that moment, happy enough to ignore the fact that it was entirely unlike him. Perhaps he was trying to make up for the fall, or perhaps he simply wished for more time before the baby, or perhaps the news that he was to be a father had sunk in enough to change his opinion on some things.

As Evander didn't tease Caroline's features grew serious as she waved him off, "Oh no! Of course not. A day with you sounds delightful!" The last thing she wanted to do was anything that would cause Evander to cancel his plans with her.

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   Elias Grimstone

Delilah couldn’t help but inwardly sigh. As soon as she saw the smile spread across the girl’s lips she knew she was going to commit to spending some amount of time with her. It was much like how she could never resist telling her own children no when they would flashed their dimples at her - she didn't like to disappoint anyone. (Maybe after all this she’d come out with a new friend, even if their initial meeting was  rocky.) She knew what a good husband was like; after all, she and Zachary had been immensely happy throughout their marriage and a day didn’t go by where she didn’t miss him. She didn’t know Evander but Delilah knew she could be a good, albeit fake husband for a few hours, and hopefully do him justice.

Then she’d ditch her to “return to work” when in actuality she planned to head home to see her own kids. Hopefully if this weird body switch happened to anyone else it wasn’t going to impact them too much.

She chuckled quietly as the other waved off her teasing. Then she took a few steps back, her eyes never wavering from the woman’s face. “Let me change into my robes and we can head over to the tea shop for breakfast, darling. Perhaps a pastry with some eggs if you can find something you like. It’s a good source of protein for the baby…” Trailing off, Delilah couldn’t help but flash an almost guilty grin at her. Maybe the woman had a daughter, Charity already? Not that it mattered - Evander could be a concerned husband and Delilah could be a mother who wanted nothing more than for someone to have a healthy baby. She looked young.

“I guess I’ll ah… meet you back here once I’m changed?”  How daft would she look when she couldn’t find his room? There was only so much she could play off being weirded out by some dreams, and only so many people she could fool into thinking she was Evander. At least she could handle getting dressed on her own once she was in his room. “Or…” Delilah trailed off for a moment as she bit her lower lip. “You can change and accompany me to my room and we can leave from there.” Of course she would divert her eyes because she didn’t need to see every inch of this strange woman!

“And wear that blue dress if you’re able. It's favorite dress on you.” Delilah tossed in for good measure. (Everyone owned some kind of blue color, right?) She could be a good husband! Hopefully she’d win some brownie points for Evander before she hurt this poor girl’s feelings when she ditched her. Delilah could only hope she wouldn’t be dealing with the consequences of her actions.

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Caroline Darrow

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Breakfast at the tea shop sounded lovely, Caroline nodded along, until her brow knotted quizzically. Evander knew what was good for the baby? He'd been so clueless the last few months, letting Caroline inform him on this or that from the healer and midwife. But then again he did read a lot, so perhaps he had been reading on the matter after she retired for the night. It wasn't his usual reading, but she supposed, perhaps he wanted to be as prepared as possible. That was a very Evander thing. And that grin, surely that's what it was for. Caroline returned the smile, allowing her features to smooth any worry away again. "That sounds lovely."

Caroline had to keep her eyes from growing round when Evander suggested her coming with him for him to get dressed. The nightmare must really have gotten to him if he didn't want to leave her company so much that he was suggesting she stick to his side. "Sure. Just give me a moment -" She was saying as she started to stand up, when he mentioned her blue dress. He had noticed it? The one she had worn for his birthday. Caroline smiled, "Of course."

The door opened and Hope strode through, "Good morning ma'am." Caroline smiled at her maid. As unlikely as it was the two were friends and Hope was the sole of discretion with her new role of lady's maid to the mistress of the house. "[/b]"Something simple this morning, I think, and the blue gown with the lace.[/b]" She settled herself back on the bench as the maid began dressing her hair ignoring Evander as if it were only her mistress in the room. Her eyes watched Evander in the mirror as Hope efficiently pinned her hair into a bun and helped her into the gown. She'd need to have the gown loosened if she were to get many more wears out of it in this state. But after only a few minutes she was ready. "Thank you Hope. You can tell Mrs. Holdness that we will be going out for breakfast this morning." And with that the maid was gone.

Caroline turned to her husband, "Shall we?" It was almost a shy smile on her face, she was surprised to find.

  

E

Delilah watched as another person came into the room, and found her eyes averting to look well… anywhere but at this poor man’s wife! She didn’t need to, or want to see anymore of this woman’s naked body and was relieved when she turned back to Delilah, dressed with her hair pulled into a bun. She was even more relieved when Hope left the room without forcing her into an awkward conversation of sorts. Offering her arm to the girl, she offered her a slight smile. Either she was very, very tall or the brunette was fairly short. More likely the former; that was certainly going to be something to get used to.

“You look lovely,” She murmured.  Delilah meant it to; the dress she’d chosen to wear was a beautiful color and it suited her nicely. She finally exited the room, turning left. It seemed like it was the shorter of the hallways and she expected his room to be close to hers. She opened a few doors along the way, feigning that she just “wanted to pick the best one for a future nursery” (and hoped they hadn’t already picked one, but Delilah knew she could talk her way out of a few awkward situations she kept finding herself in), before she finally managed to stumble into his room. It was rather boring and didn’t tell her much about who Evander actually was.

She was sorely disappointed.

While Delilah knew he’d probably have someone help him dress in the morning, she didn’t have time for that. She didn’t know anyone’s name, any relationship status Evander had with them and quite frankly she needed to get out of this house immediately. She picked the first pair of pants and shirt could find and proceeded to hastily put them on, before she grabbed what she could only assume was ministry robes to wear over it. She tucked the wand inside the robe for good measure - she’d worry about that later.

Finally, she turned back toward the woman and held her hand out. “Ready, dear?”

Breakfast and ditch. Remember the plan.

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@""

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Compliments were few and far between with Evander and Caroline had learned it best to not make a fuss over them, so she merely demurred her thank you and kept her gaze forward.

It was at the first door in the corridor that they passed that Evander began to open doors of each room, something she had never once seen him do but after a few more doors her eyebrows rose quizzially and he finally answered her unspoken question. The nursery. Caroline had already chosen a room, suspecting he wouldn't care, but had not yet shared it with him. She intended to soon, but she was in no rush. But apparently he did want a say she commented quietly, "I was thinking the green room." It was currently a spare bedroom but it was right next to Charity's room so it seemed to make sense.

Once they had reached Evander's room it didn't take long for him to don his clothes and in the time it gave her, as her eyes watched him intently, she decided to let Charity continue her day as it was. She'd take Charity to the tea room the next day as a special treat, but with Evander acting this way, well selfishly she didn't want to have to share him with her niece who never seemed to like any of Caroline's gestures.

"Oh?" She was pulled out of her musings by his question. "Yes, we shall." Her slender hand slipping into his own warm grasp.

  

The green room? She had no idea what that actually meant but Delilah was certain Evander would go for it; long term consequences of her actions? Not entirely her problem. If she was still hanging out with his face when the baby was born, hopefully his wife would be aware that it wasn’t actually him in his body. Again, she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d been swapped - was he confused, wearing her face, trying to get home to his wife? How unfortunate that Delilah was whisking the woman away.

Delilah offered her a smile as she felt her hand within her own; it was much smaller than she expected, much dainter, but then again she was aware of how much bigger she was now. Evander was tall. It was something she could get used to, and if anyone asked her what she missed the most about being him, it would probably be the height advantage. Closing her eyes, Delilah went to apparate them but the wand in her pocket zapped her; she hissed and jumped away from the poor woman, blinking down at the wand she’d tucked away. That hurt! What the hell? Stuck as Evander and wandless? The brunette nearly huffed in frustration.

She cleared her throat. A man wouldn’t apologize as much as she had and the goal was not to have the other woman suspicious. “I don’t think that’s going to work.” She mused more to herself than anyone, although she turned her eyes toward her. “I think apparating us might be on you today. Can’t seem to get my head out of the clouds today.” Or rather, a wand to work. She just wanted to go home.

Delilah puffed her cheeks out and before she blew out a hot breath.

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Caroline Darrow

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Since she had lost the last baby Caroline had been rather nervous about apperation. It didn't help that that night had also found several would be apperaters dead or injured, as she had later found out. Caroline, once so confident in her own apperation skills, had opted to floo more often then not, and quite frequently that made her even more sick then normal, so she had flown on a broomstick (when Evander wasn't around to disapprove) or taken the train into Hogsmeade on days when she really was feeling delicate. The only times she apperated now were when Evander took her, she trusted him implicetly to get her and their unborn child where they were going without injury. After all he was the one who was better versed in spellwork in her own opinion.

She had squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation of the panic that clawed at her until the apperation was over, but instead of the unpleasant crack and pulling sensation she heard a hiss from her husband which had her eyes flying open and looking at him curiously. "Is everything okay?" She asked, concern evident in her tone and her face. Hearing him mutter her brows drew close together in confusion.

Ah, head in the clouds. It didn't smooth the concern from her face though. First, Evander never had his head in the clouds. Instead he had it in a book or in his work or the news. Never the clouds. That was Caroline's line. Second, Evander seemed more concerned about Caroline apperating with the baby then Caroline herself was. If that was even possible.

For a long moment Caroline considered him, her head tilted slightly to the side as she considered the events of the morning. "Evander?" She started slowly, "Are you quite sure you are alright?" Having a nightmare was one thing, this was beginning to feel like something else entirely.

  

Evander’s wife was a gem, and she had concern written all over her face. Delilah winced, wondering if now was the time to come clean. But, she’d already committed to being Evander, and well, now she was stuck with her decision. She desperately wanted to believe he was a man who had all the right answers at the most opportune moment, and he would save all three of them from this experience. Delilah wasn’t the best actress when it came to acting like someone she didn’t even know existed prior to this, but she was certainly trying. She blew another hot breath of air as she tilted her head to stare at the ceiling. It was clear Evander wasn’t coming to anyone’s rescue at the moment.

Delilah stepped in front of the other woman, cupping her hands on either side of her face. Then she leaned forward and pressed a very chaste kiss to her forehead before stepping backward. “I’m okay, I promise.” She almost winced from the lie, although Delilah reminded herself it could be worse - she could have woken up anywhere else that she actually felt frightened. This pregnant woman was friendly. Perhaps in another life, they could have actually been friends; or, if worse came to worse and she never changed back to herself, they could be a friendly… married couple? Friends with absolutely no benefits. She had no backup plan if she couldn’t change herself back to Delilah Warbeck, and she certainly couldn’t live out her days as Evander.

Reaching forward, Delilah loosely grasped the other woman’s arm, offering her a slight smile. “Come now, dear. Let’s take the floo instead. I don’t think apparating is the best idea.” Well shoot. Now how in the world was she supposed to ditch this poor woman if she couldn’t use a wand? Was Evander a squib who just carried one for fun? She better hope she believed her lies when she decided to say work had “called her in.” “Ladies first.” She motioned toward the nearby fireplace. Delilah almost laughed at the obscurity of the entire situation. Almost. The sooner they got there, the sooner she could get back to her own kids.

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Caroline Darrow

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