July 19th, 1894 - Honeyduke Residence

Quin was positive he'd run a hole into the floorboards pacing in the hallway outside the room he and Dahlia shared. Mrs. Potts had quickly ushered him from the room once she'd arrived. It was to be expected, and he'd heard that the arrival of his new niece not even three weeks ago had gone... unexpectedly. The last thing he wanted was to stress Dahlia out any further. Still, he could hardly keep himself together. He'd lost count of the minutes (or hours? it had to be hours) he spent alone in the hallway. Should he owl someone? His parents? No, he should wait. Not that he thought anything would go wrong, but he should wait. Quin thought about going to the kitchen to make something, but didn't want to be far away. He wasn't sure he'd ever felt this useless in his entire life.

Finally after what felt like far too long, the room went much more quiet. Was that a cry? A laugh? He very nearly knocked on the door, ready to face his mother-in-law's wrath if need be, but it opened before he could and he peered in hesitantly. Suddenly he was incredibly nervous. Surely he would have been told if something went wrong? Right? Right? Oh Merlin, he was not prepared for this. She was so young and he was so old and there was no way he could do this without her if something had happened.

"Dahlia?" He ventured uncertainly, taking a step into the room, looking toward the bed where she sat, looking a little worse for the wear, but very alive and holding a squirmy bundle of blankets. "Are you alright?" He asked as he sank onto the bed, eyes intent on his wife, clearly worried.

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Dahlia Honeyduke

  

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At some point during the long grueling hours Dahlia had entirely lost track of the time. She couldn't have told you if it was morning or afternoon or night - only that there was light filtering into their room through the lace curtains. It didn't matter though, none of it matter the moment mama set the baby, bundled in her arms. Her daughter didn't cry, only stared up at her with baby blue eyes filled with curiosity. Dahlia's joy bubbled over into a laugh and her hugged her child closer to her breast. She forgot the hours that had come before, lost in her rapture of the child in her arms.

Quin's voice floated to her, like a comforting cup of honeyed tea, and she looked up to smile at him. She had no idea what he'd said, awash only in the love the words contained. "Look at our daughter Quin." She whispered, her gaze going back down to her daughter's chubby face. The little girl's arm wiggled free of the blanket and Dahlia offered a finger to her, the tiny chubby fist closed around her finger and a feeling so deep Dahlia couldn't fully name it flooded through Dahlia's veins.

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   Daffodil Grimstone

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin couldn't see anything wrong, apart from clear exhaustion, but that was to be expected. Dahlia was positively glowing. Satisfied she was well, Quin turned his attention to the squirmy little bundle in his wife's arms. A daughter. He should have suspected as much and it tugged a sentimental smile to his lips. "She's perfect." He breathed out, brushing a finger gently along her cheek. She was so tiny and even though Quin had seen Zinnia's and Senna's newest additions, this was entirely different.

"Well done, Dahls." He pressed a kiss to her temple, snuggling in closer, settling himself completely on the bed. "What shall we call her?" They'd discussed so many names that he was still unsure of what to settle on. Seeing her now should help, but ultimately he knew Dahlia had stronger opinions than he did.

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The tender feelings surrounding Dahlia tightened almost painfully as she watched her husband's finger touch their child. His gesture, his softness, and gentleness spoke more to her than words ever could. Tears of happiness pricked at her eyes as she turned her gaze to Quin's finding his on their daughter's face instead. This was them. This was their family. This was love and happiness and fairy tales.

His lips grazed her temple, gentle, loving. She met his smile with her own, pressing their daughter to her chest. She looked down at their daughter as she blinked sleeply up at Dahlia, her little mouth forming a perfect o. "Marigold. Little Mari." Dahlia found the words falling from her lips, a sort of rightness in them. They had not discussed Marigold as a name and yet it seemed to call out to her. A simplicity, a tie from one life to another, bringing her daughter into the fold of a line of loving strong women, nestled safely in her gossamer sugar cocoon of her father's.

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   Quincey Honeyduke

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin couldn't help but to chuckle; a flower name, of course. But also a color, one of his favorites in fact, so Marigold it was. "I love it." He assured her with a soft smile. It lent itself to nicknames too, which usually was what Quin would up calling most people he knew. It hadn't been on the list as an option, so far as he knew, so she must have just come up with it, but it suited, somehow. "Welcome to the family then, Mari." Quin peered down at the tiny bundle curiously, but settled against the pillows and pulled Dahlia closer. She was impossibly small, no bigger than a loaf of bread, and he was brought back to his discussion with Percy about how he'd never held an infant before. Quin supposed his own was a good place to start, but only when Dahlia was ready.

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And so this small bundle in her arms was named Marigold and Dahlia beamed. It was as if Quin could feel the perfect magic in the name, could sense the very ideas in which it had come to Dahlia, for Dahlia could not look down at their daughter and feel as if she ought to be called anything differently.

It was perfection, Dahlia declared, Quin moving to wrap her in his arm, to gaze at their child, their daughter staring up at them. It was every she could wish for and more.

"Would you like to meet Papa, Marigold?" Dahlia crooned down at her daughter before shifting to hand the small blanketed bundle to Quin.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin had been content to gaze at the pair of them, enjoying the happy little bubble. As Dahlia shifted to hand him Mari, Quin almost balked. It was the conversation with Percy all over again. Even if he'd gotten a little mor comfortable with children and babies since then, he still worried he was going to drop her or something.

At least they were seated comfortably on the bed and there was nowhere for her to really go. He cradled the baby in the crook of his arm, against his chest and adjusted the blanket around her face with his free hand. Her little eyes had drifted closed and he felt the love swell in his heart. "She's perfect." He breathed out, looking over at Dahlia in awe as well. "I can't believe we have a baby." He chuckled afraid to do anything more or breathe the wrong way.

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If there was anything that could have made Dahlia fall even deeper in love with Quin it was this moment. His face softened into a look that was all for Marigold and his gestures were as natural as any parent's. "She is." Dahlia breathed, leaning her head on his shoulder to stare down at the baby. She gave a tired smile against his shirt. "Nor can I." And truly she couldn't and yet at the same time she couldn't imagine Marigold not being there either.

"She has your mouth." Dahlia remarked with a soft smile, if Marigold looked like her father there would be nothing more perfect in the world, Dahlia thought.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin had no idea how Dahlia could even tell that. As beautiful as his daughter clearly was, she looked like a little pink, wrinkly alien, but the most beautiful alien ever. The little tuft of dark hair was unexpected, but he ran his fingers gently over her head thoughtfully. "I hope she looks just like you." Quin admitted with a quiet chuckle. Marigold did not need to go through life with her father's goofy features.

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"I hope not." Dahlia admitted, too tired to think through her words. "I want her to be the most perfect mix of us both." She smiled down at her daughter, finger stroking the tiny hand clasped around Quin's finger.

And then their darling little girl began wailing, eyes scrunching tight, cheeks growing red, mouth open in a wide scream.

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin had been about to softly argue, when Marigold's features twisted, she let out a cry and he froze. What had he done? He hadn't even moved! "Ah?" He automatically started bouncing her gently, looking at Dahlia almost a little helplessly, hoping that was his parenting skills kicking in, but it didn't seem to be doing anything. "Might she be hungry?" He didn't know how this worked at all! This was trial by fire this was.

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Dahlia barely registered Quin's panic as she scooped their daughter back into her arms instinctively. "Hush now darling." She tried but the babe screamed louder. Vaguely she heard Quin's suggestion and loosened the ties of her chemise, guiding Mari to her breast to feed. The baby's eyes were screwed shut so tightly Dahlia had no idea how she could see where her mouth was to go, but as if a summoning charm had been said Mari's mouth latched onto Dahlia and she began to suck. Dahlia winced. When she had seen her sisters nurse it hadn't hurt this much.

Finally she looked back up at Quin, "You were right." A proud smile on her lips, "You are such a wonderful father."

  

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Pretties by Bee <3

Quin watched in awe as Dahlia immediately solved the problem. He might have had the instinct to know what as wrong, but he knew it would never kick in like that; he obviously couldn't do that either, so he wondered if he would fall along the learning curve or if he would get left behind.

"Let's not go that far, there are only so many options." She'd been warm, he hadn't felt anything wet while holding her, so hungry, especially after such an arrival into the world, had been the likely culprit. "This suits you." He decided softly, watching her and her natural way about this. Quin had been anxious about this transition from single, to married, to parents, but if all he had to do was follow Dahlia's lead, he thought they would be just fine. "You should get some rest, I'll get you some water and something to eat first." He offered with a smile as he slid from the bed. "I'm proud of you, Dahls." He added for good measure.

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