18 May 1891 — Kirke Residence

He’d have taken more time wrapping the little gift in his hand had he not been so impatient to make it to Elsie’s. It was odd making the trek, as he was so used to his usual route that he had to stop in his tracks and redirect to the proper address she’d given him. The healer found himself conflicted. He wanted desperately to see his cousin, however at this point, the news of her elopement was still fresh and he didn’t think he would behave in the most gentlemanly way towards Tybalt Kirke if he were to encounter him with Elsie.

But no. His cousin was smart (despite what her latest actions may have said to the contrary) and she also knew Sebastian. He could only count on those two facts to quell the negative energy surrounding him as he approached their abode.

Deep breath… He’d done a lot of that in the past few days; even dropped a few beakers (though that was no surprise especially if Miss Chevalier was on his shift). Reaching up to knock on the door, Sebastian attempted to rearrange his features into something more pleasant than the slight frown that was likely gracing them at the moment.

Sebastian found himself smiling, though he had never been able to truly hide his true feelings around his cousin, but he hoped she would at least appreciate that he was trying. Plus, seeing her at least healthy and hopefully happy would considerably improve his tentative smile.

He knocked, and once the door opened, something clicked and he smiled wider - truly, this time and held out the small wrapped gift in his hand. Obviously a book for her. All the while praying to Merlin this wasn’t Kirke he was smiling goofily for.

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Elsie Kirke

The following 1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post:1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post
   Elsie Kirke

Elsie knew her family had been informed of her hurried wedding and though the reason why could probably be guessed, Els knew she owed certain people the tell explanation. Sebastian was her closest relative, aside from her own siblings and it was necessary to explain herself personally, rather than let the rumors well, ruminate.

He'd agreed to come visit and Elsie felt it was better that Tyb was working late tonight. Though they had been friendly at school, Elsie suspected nobody in the family was particularly happy about this news and so she would rather face it alone to start. She had tea and cookies ready in case he wanted some, but it felt sort of odd hosting at this little flat that was barely hers. It was pretty empty now that Mr. Hatchitt was in the process of moving out, something she also felt guilty about, even though he didn't seem to altogether mind. Elsie wasn't sure what, if anything to really unpack as she and Tyb were still in the process of figuring out what they could afford and when they could make the final move. There was a lot up in the air at the moment.

Anxiously awaiting his arrival, Elsie sat on the sofa with a book she couldn't concentrate on. The knock at the door tightened the knot in her stomach and she quickly marked her page and moved to open it. She exhaled slowly when she found Seb smiling on the other side. "Hello," She greeted with a hesitant smile of her own. "I'm so happy you could come. Please, come in." Els swung the door open so that he could make himself comfortable.

"I have tea," She started as she closed the door behind them and resumed her position on the sofa, though perched on the edge a little less comfortably than she had been previously. "And an explanation." She smiled wryly now, leaning forward to pour two cups of tea.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

As soon as the door was open, Sebastian’s gaze focused ever so slightly more than it had been and he was assessing her with his healer’s eye. The anxiety, likely a product of this meeting, was extremely apparent. She physically had no injuries, which negated him having to seriously reflect upon his morals of doing ho harm. And she looked pleased to see him, a sentiment which he was only too happy to return. ”Of course, Els,”

The flat wasn’t anything fancy - wasn’t anything grand either, though Sebastian’s eyes could see nothing severely wrong with the place. He took another breath, not wanting to find out if it was disappointment or relief that he was feeling (the former being just another excuse to have an extremely stern talking to Kirke).

The healer doffed his cloak and hat before taking a seat opposite his cousin. He could tell his previous assessment of her anxiety proved to be true as evidenced by the way she placed herself on the edge of the sofa. Now that he could get a proper look at her, Sebastian thought she looked a bit tired too. Her opening told him he might get and answer as to the why of it all. ”An explanation.” he echoed, eyeing her cautiously. He opened his mouth to say more as questions rushed to him, but he closed it quietly and waited for her to speak.

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The following 1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post:1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post
   Elsie Kirke

Elsie slid him a cup to fix his tea himself as she added a couple sugar cubes to her own before leaning back again. Though she has started the conversation, she was a little unsure of how to continue. Their conversations were usually easy, they flowed without hesitation, but Elsie had no choice but to address the elephant in the room.

"There are several reasons," She paused after a sip of tea, trying to figure out how best to articulate her thoughts. Very few people deserved that full story, but she certainly thought Sebastian was one of them, considering how close they were and that he and Tyb had been roommates in school. "And I think it most important for you to keep in mind, that chief among them, I have been in love with him since I was eighteen." It took her a while longer to admit that to him, but it had come easily enough.

"And that getting married was always the plan, has been, for years. We were already on that path," They'd been officially courting finally and would have wed by the end of the year if was the last thing she did, however things had just been sped up by their current predicament. "But as we Gryffindors are wont to do, we got a little reckless and then had to own up to the consequences to our choices." As best they could anyway and Elsie moved her free hand to her stomach without meaning to, but it was a subconscious new habit even if there was no visible signs of the baby yet.

Elsie paused again to let him digest what she'd said, watching him carefully, waiting for the questions that would no doubt come next.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Honestly, with the way he was feeling, that she had been in love with Kirke since she was young was of little comfort to Sebastian. While he did his best to employ those skills instilled in him by his job and mask his emotions, this was Elsie. She could read him like a book, and so there was no point in hiding. His eyes narrowed slightly; a gesture of mingled suspicion and confusion.

Yes, he knew that Gryffindors could get brash, impulsive and overconfident. But those were words that he would use to describe maybe Lucinda (despite the fact that his sister was — in fact — not a Gryffindor)…not Elsie. He would never have used those words to describe his best friend.

But his eyes followed her hand and, though he fully remembered what she’d previously said about their being in love, Sebastian couldn’t help but submit to the wave of horror that washed over him as he realized where she was taking this.

He had hoped he was wrong when he went over this possibility in his mind.

Keeping incredibly still, Sebastian tried to remind himself to keep his emotions under control. If Kirke were here, that would have gotten a great deal more difficult.

What was he supposed to do? She was looking at him expectantly, and he was feeling the pressure to react appropriately when all he wanted to do was sock Kirke across the face. This, he did try his best to conceal from Elsie, and he sighed, rising slowly. ”I’m going to ask one question before I offer my congratulations,” he said. ”Because it’s you and frankly even if he treated you in the most gentlemanly way, given the timing, I need to hear it from you.”

He fixed her with his gaze as it was his turn to search for her reaction, now. ”He didn’t force himself on you?” There was a thinly veiled threat that promised to emerge if on the off chance the answer was yes.

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The following 2 users Like Sebastian Beauregard's post:2 users Like Sebastian Beauregard's post
   Elias Grimstone, Elsie Kirke

Of all the people Elsie would tell the truth to, and Seb was the first, she'd been desperately hoping he would somewhat understand. It was obvious he was really struggling with it however and Elsie's heart sank just a little. She just wanted someone to be honestly happy for her. Despite how everything had happened and the rumors that would follow when news got out about the baby, she was truly happy.

She looked down at the package he'd brought where it sat on the table between them before looking back up at him, astonishment clear across her cheeks as if he'd struck her. Tears of frustration prickled at the corners of her eyes as her mouth fell open in horror. "You cannot possibly mean that question," She managed with a quiet sniffle, though she tilted her chin up just a little. "Is that really what you think of him, of me? That I am not just as guilty here? Did you not hear me when I said we are in love?"

Elsie was not normally so emotional, but this was Sebastian and maybe it was the pregnancy talking, but she would defend her marriage to anybody who questioned it like that— especially to someone who should know better. "How do you think it happened? I snuck out, I did. I crawled into his bed, very willingly I might add, because I have never cared about someone as much as I love Tyb. I lost him for a long while based on a bad decision and thinking he was better off without me and I was miserable, he was miserable." Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes now, but her tone had lost its initial bite.

"But I am not miserable now, I am in fact incredibly content, even if it didn't happen the way it was supposed to, we got what we wanted. I will not raise this baby with family who think so little of me and my husband." Elsie knew that she may lose friends and family over this, it was a very real possibility and she had come to terms with it, even if it made her heart ache.

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The following 2 users Like Elsie Kirke's post:2 users Like Elsie Kirke's post
   Amelia Evans, Elias Grimstone

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MJ always makes her so pretty

He immediately regretted his question. The quick flush that blossomed in her cheeks was a clear indication that what he’d just said was a mistake and he knew it. Sebastian clenched his jaw. Did he really think so low of her that she, one of the smartest people he knew, didn’t know her own mind? There had never been any sort of doubt in his mind before which was why the question was such a low blow. “No! I -“ he stammered, struggling to recover but there was no coming back from the question and he had the good grace to look ashamed of his serious lapse of judgement.

But she had to understand, this wasn’t something that was like her - sure, stolen kisses and moments at parties were one thing but pregnancy? Sex? That was another thing entirely! “I’m sorry, Els, I -“ he tried again but the combination of her outburst and his shame halted the apology in his throat and he clamped his mouth shut; there was nothing for him to do but deal with the consequences of his reaction.

The more he tried to reason with himself and his reaction, the more the chasm that his question had opened between them grew, but her last words hit him again; yet another wave in a sea of confusion and frustration that he was trying to swim in. He believed her when she said she wouldn’t hesitate to raise the child without family. Elsie did not make idle threats, at least not where things as serious as this were concerned and it made his world spin.

He blinked rapidly, trying to keep up and his hands ran through his hair in frustration (and panic, if he was being honest). “Alright!” He exclaimed, begging his brain to keep up and more than slightly afraid she would make more threats. “Elsie I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He stared at her, his expression beseeching. “I believe you, I believe you wholeheartedly.” What else could he say to make her believe that and not cut him out of her life - out of the baby’s life?

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The following 1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post:1 user Likes Sebastian Beauregard's post
   Elsie Kirke

Had she really looked at him through her rant, her very, very angry rant, she would have seen he regretted the question, but she had really wanted her answer to sink in, to mean something and for him to know she meant what she said. This baby was very much wanted and very loved already and she would not let anyone, not even Sebastian, mar the fact with such negativity.

Finally, as she set her gaze on him purposefully, she was able to see the panic in his features. Elsie was not normally one to come on so strong, but she needed him to see where she was and what this meant to her. "Good." She said finally, after watching him for another minute. The regret was very clear and she'd obviously made her point. "I would hate to do this without you," She sighed as both her expression and her tone softened. She was prepared to do this on her own, but really would rather not. Lucinda had been graced with two babies and though Adella had not yet, she could sense her sister was excited. Elsie needed some help. This was her mother's first grandchild as well, something had to give, everybody would come around eventually, right?

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MJ always makes her so pretty

She held his gaze steadily, only further driving in the point that he could either support her or go. Sebastian knew from experience that Elsie being a Beauregard and now a mother, that she wouldn’t hesitate to choose her child. It wasn’t as if Sebastian even expected her to choose any differently; would never think of asking her to do such a thing either.

He nodded in response, feeling himself shudder slightly as the tension lessened in the room. It was still there, but the worst seem to have passed. At least…

“I’m sorry,” he said again, truly meaning it as any animosity he might have felt toward Kirke faded from him (well, most of it). “I shouldn’t have asked.” Should have said congratulations and moved on - be supportive like he had always been for her and she had always been for him. But when the anger faded from his eyes there was still something akin to hurt showing on his face. This moment wasn’t about him, though. It was about her and the little gift she’d been granted and so he pushed away his selfishness and managed a smile; still perhaps a weak one, but genuine nonetheless. “Of course you won’t do it alone, Elsie. Even if you had to, you’re more than capable of handling it.” He could sense her nervousness though, wanted to reach out a hand to comfort her but thought it was still too soon from his blunder.

In an effort to conceal whatever he was feeling even further, he surveyed her with a watchful eye, slipping easily into his work mindset. “How are you fairing?” Aside from the aftermath of their row, her color looked good, and she held herself well. Looked happy and content.

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"Apology accepted," Elsie assured him with a better smile. She felt the tension of the last few minutes dissipate for the most part and thank Merlin. Elsie really didn't want to fight with anyone, especially not those close to her, but clearly she was not kidding around with her current course.

Blowing out another sigh, Elsie took a deep breath after. She was nervous about this whole thing, raising children, though she had secretly wanted to do so, even if she hadn't thought it would happen, was a huge deal. She hated that her brash decisions cast a shadow on the baby's arrival, which was why she was already so fiercely protective.

"I'm well," She started, but knew she could only fool him so much. "It's an adjustment, obviously, that's not the hard part. I'm ill most mornings, and exhausted, so tired all the time." She chuckled as she took a sip of tea. "But I'm happy." When she stopped to think about it, inside the walls of their flat, without worrying about anyone else, she really was very content.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

He smiled weakly back at her, his stance relaxing somewhat. The embarrassment of his mess up was still apparent in the slight pink tinge that flushed across his cheeks. Sebastian was able to ignore that once she continued further with telling him how she was.

Though he was no midwife, he certainly was no stranger to the effects pregnancy had on a woman, and he regarded her with a sympathetic gaze. Perhaps, then, it wasn’t just the tension of the last few moments that he could see etched across her face.

He frowned slightly, the gears in his healer’s brain whirring to come up with a solution that would help her. Perhaps Tabitha would be able to help him put together a few potions for her. He certainly had his own stash at his apartment, but he wanted to make sure the doses were correct before he gave her anything.

God forbid he get something wrong and something happen. The last thing Sebastian wanted to be accused of was harming the baby in any way. That was enough to get him both fired and sent to prison. ”I’m glad you’re happy.” he said, and found himself meaning every word. He smiled more easily this time. ”I may have somethings I can give you to help your morning illness, if you’d like.” The offer was tentative, and he briefly averted his gaze in attempts to let her know she needn’t accept it out of any obligation to him.

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The fact that Sebastian looked properly abashed helped to ease her annoyance even further. She hated that it had come to that, but she could hopefully get past it, eventually. She would need his help after all and he reached the decision before he did. "That would be lovely. It's just awful, and not always in the morning either." Thankfully she had yet to actually get sick anywhere other than home, but the nausea sometimes presented at any time of day.

"I've tried a couple natural remedies that I read about," Because that was what Elsie did when she needed to solve something. "But I'm having minimal success." She probably should reach out to a midwife sooner rather than later, but that would really start raising eyebrows. Then again, the news was going to some out sooner or later. It wasn't like she could hide it beyond a certain point.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Though Sebastian knew it was more than normal for women to experience "morning" sickness at all hours of the day, that still didn't prevent his forehead from creasing with worry at the mention of it. His eyes flicked briefly to her stomach before moving back up to observe her pallor. "I've a few things I could reach out at work and get you." he responded, averting his eyes as he thought of who he could possibly reach out to help him at least concoct the potions. He'd read about them plenty in his studies, but he wanted to be sure she got them from a reputable source. Not to mention a discreet source.

But her pregnancy was going to reach public ears at some point - something Sebastian again was rather put out about, as his cousin hardly deserved any of it in his humble opinion. Guilt gnawed at him again when his conscience told him his reaction had been no better than what the two of them would receive in the end, and he looked over to her again. "Elsie," He said, his voice unwavering. "Truly, I'm sorry. I know he's a good man." Despite this, Sebastian still was stubborn and didn't want to really say Kirke's name. "I'd always envisioned a wedding between you two with our families attending, is all. A celebration rather than having to hide away. You don't deserve that." Neither of them did, but again, Sebastian referred to his saltiness as a reason for avoiding the mention of him by name.

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That was a helpful turn at least. If Seb could procure something tried and true to help with the morning sickness she wasn't going to turn him down. Plus a little humility after his previous comments wouldn't hurt either.

He circled back around to it though and she very nearly rolled her eyes at him. It was nice to know he had envisioned her wedding going differently. Why was everybody so opinionated about this? It was honestly ridiculous. "And what if I didn't want that at all anyway?" He had to know that she hated being the center of attention. A big wedding, even with just family, was not something she had ever pictured for herself.

"I am truly very happy, I wish it didn't have to be rushed, that is my only regret. How it happened was the plan anyway, I never wanted the big wedding with all of the fuss and the stress." Elsie hardened her look at him, just a bit, because she meant it. "I never even thought I would get married until a couple of years ago. That's not who I am and you know that." She sighed, hating that Sebastian had put her on the defensive. Of everyone, she thought he would have at least been some kind of supportive.

It seemed though, that she was going to have to stand on her own here and so she said, "Either just be happy for me or don't, but I don't want to hear the should-have-beens or about what you thought should have happened for my wedding. What's done is done and like I said, I will do this on my own if I have to." There was no changing it now, so dwelling on what everyone else thought should have happened was simply not worth it to her; she would rather focus on what was.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

If Sebastian was honest, he hadn't expected a huge wedding for his cousin regardless of the location of the union – she was right, he knew it wasn't what she would have wanted. But the sharpness of her response hit him, despite her having only coated her words with mild sternness towards him. Elsie knew her own mind, of that, Sebastian had been certain of long ago. But he would most certainly be lying if he said he hadn't wanted to be there for her - thought that she would have at least wanted some of her family, if not him there for her, even if it wasn't remotely traditional.

But Elsie was right, this wasn't about him, nor about any of their other family. This had been about her and Kirke all along. Had never meant to involve Sebastian or anyone else. And so he closed his mouth and listened, growing increasingly uncomfortable at being so chastised. He'd deserved it, of that there was no doubt. But was it so necessary that she pose him not being happy for her as an option? As if the strength of their friendship had ever hinged upon conditions, and that one event like this would be so strong as to break it so easily.

Clearly she did. With his comment about Kirke, he might as well have thrown that option out there himself.

"Of course, I'm happy for you Elsie." He responded. But he hadn't shown it - hadn't responded in the way that she'd wanted, and for that, it seemed he'd been handed his lot and would have to live with the consequences. Perhaps today was not the day that he would truly get to show how happy he was. His mistake had seen to that. But to offer to leave now to lick his wounds seemed the coward's way out, and so he shook himself mentally. "I'm sorry I didn't show that. And I'm sorry it was so rushed." The corner of his mouth twitched up in a ghost of a smile as he looked at her again. "And you'll hear no more of this topic from me then. But it appears timing is the least of the little one's mind."

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Again, he looked properly abashed and Elsie was satisfied with his answer. She hated being like this, that it had put them at odds, but she really hadn't expected any of that to come from Sebastian. Lucinda, or her mother yes, but not him. They were supposed to understand one another without having to have a go at one another like this. Elsie honestly couldn't even remember a time when words had ever gotten heated between them, not in their twenty-five years on Earth together.

"I just need somebody to be," She said finally, deflated once again from the unease that had swelled up within her. "Mother is mad, father is quiet and frankly I haven't even met Tyb's father yet." That would be interesting for sure. Els had met both of his older siblings, but nothing of his father's newer additions. "I'm still waiting to hear from Lucinda." That was going to be an interesting discussion, certainly, but there was no way that she was going to stay quiet on this matter. That would be impossible for the family's Most Outspoken Member.

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MJ always makes her so pretty