wipe away your tears, little girl ;

He’s devastated. Look. [ Thorfinn is gazing up at them, clearly pouting but at least not crying ] Good night, little boy. [ he leans over to kiss his forehead before following him from the room ] Maybe we’ll have a girl. A sweet little girl. A quiet little girl.

How will he ever manage? Poor thing. I’m sorry, beastie. [ she smiles up at him, kissing him briefly ] Our babbling little son and our quiet little daughter. I can be happy with that. We will be happy with that. And sooner than we think. 

“I wanted to tell you in person.” Because it was more personal and because a small part of her worried Viola or Atticus would try to stop it. “I’m sorry, okay. It was sudden and I was a little over excited.”

You didn’t have two minutes? [ she sighs heavily. it’s too late now to stop it, though that doesn’t mean she’s not going to discuss it with atticus the second he gets back. but there’s no point in fighting with lavinia about it, and the idea of losing her over someone as stupid as garrick ollivander is genuinely repulsive. she sighs again and puts out her arms ] Come here, then. Congratulations. You’ve joined the ranks of impulsive eloping Rowles.

“Are you forgetting you got eloped and I found out when you both got home?” She squinted at her for a moment before shaking her head. “I know that. Which is why I’m here telling him in person. Would you have preferred an owl?”

That was different. We had to avoid our parents finding out. [ she scowls, entirely childish ] I was your sister first, you should’ve mentioned it. Even just a note beforehand would’ve been something. 

“Insane, maybe, but I don’t have the best track records for engagement so we just skipped that part. It happened…two days ago. We got married yesterday. Claudia was our witness and she didn’t know until we dragged her to the ministry. I – I’m telling Atticus today when he gets home from work.”

You invited Claudia to be your witness but you didn’t actually bother to tell me? Or Atticus? Alright, okay. That’s gonna’ go over so well with him.

Her jaw clenched. She didn’t except Viola to throw a party but the coldness in her tone took her off guard. “That I love him. He asked me to marry him. And I said yes. What else was I supposed to be thinking?”

That a one day engagement was insane? You didn’t even tell me. Did you tell Atticus? Claudia?

“You promised.” She sighed. “We went down to the ministry and got married. It was a one day engagement.”

I didn’t promise, you said to promise and I didn’t. Lavinia! [ she can’t hide the horror in her expression ] What were you thinking?

“Remember that you promised.” She squinted at her, before taking her hands from being awkwardly hidden behind her back. “I uh, well, Garrick and I eloped.”

I’m sorry, you did what?

“Just, promise. It’s good news. I swear.”

Alright, just tell me then. I can’t handle the suspense. 

[ as if he understands his mother’s words, Thorfinn’s face works like he’s preparing himself to cry; Atticus makes a little humming noise, and the baby huffs as if in defeat ] I know. Sleeping is so upsetting. [ Da… ] Yes, very impressive. It’s still bedtime. [ he kisses the baby’s forehead before letting Viola take him and put him in the crib ] He’ll be good. Won’t you? [ the baby puts his arms above his head and sighs ] See?

It’s very upsetting, yes, but you have to do it. [ she bends down and kisses thorfinn’s temple before she pulls his little blanket to cover his wiggling legs ] You are officially under Preet’s supervision now, got it, beastie? [ she looks back at atticus and takes his hand, towing him gently from the room and passing her house elf on the way through the door ] I have no idea how we’re going to manage to get any spare time with two kids. 

And his mother. [ he smiles over at her, chuckling softly when Thorfinn giggles in response to her tickling ] Say yes. Yes, you are. [ he watches his wife and son interact with a soft little smile on his face, another chuckle escaping him when the baby grasped Viola’s hair ] That’s it. Good boy! [ a rare note of enthusiasm is in his voice ] Alright. Let go. Come on. [ he gently pries Thorfinn’s little fingers loose ] Is it bedtime? Hmm? Bedtime for Thorfinn? [ Thorfinn blows a spit bubble ] Is that a yes?

So good, I’m so proud. [ she laughs again, straightening when atticus pries her hair free from thorfinn’s grasp, and watches thorfinn with amusement ] Yes, time for bed. I love you, beastie, but I require some of your father’s attention. [ she brushes thorfinn’s hair back from his temple before lifting him from atticus’ arms, bringing him over to his crib and carefully setting him down ] No more funny business, got it?

He’s very smart. [ Thorfinn giggles again, kicking his feet wildly to accentuate his own amusement. Atticus tucks him into the crook of his arm and tickles his stomach, making the baby screech with laughter ] He just might be. [ Thorfinn reaches up for Atticus, trying to tap his face again. Da! ] Did you hear that?

Takes after his father with that. [ she wishes that she had her camera, so she could capture this moment, but it’s one that a photo would never do justice to. her nose scrunches as she laughs along with thorfinn, shaking her head in amusement at the two of them. she tickles thorfinn’s foot ] You little scoundrel, are you making fun of Mummy and Daddy? [ his little hand reaches up and taps atticus’ face then, and viola can’t stop herself from laughing again, nodding ] I knew it. That’s right, beastie! [ she kisses his temple, hands over her ears so he can’t grab her earrings. he settles for clasping onto her hair instead, and giggles. Da! ] No, baby, Ma. Can you say Ma? [ it’s like he’s thinking for a long moment, eyes wide, before he tugs her hair. Ma! she looks up at atticus with a wide grin ] He got it! You got it! [ she grins at thorfinn, laughing, before she looks up at atticus again ] Okay, final challenge of the day is getting him to let go of my hair.