#blaise x reader

They were bringing a child into the world, they were together until death, it was too much to risk. Blaise never thought he’d be anymore than an annoyance in her life— and he still might be but he was her friend, her husband. If that’s all he could be, he was fine with that.

Ana was in a large sweater but he could still see her visible bump in her stomach, holding a hand to her belly every time she read a recipe or was deep in thought. Blaise was sitting on the counter watching her in awe, she was moving like she could do it with her eyes closed.

Every couple of moments she was muttering something under her breath to herself. He noticed that when she was deep in thought her eye brows would scrunch up and her tongue would poke out from between her lips every so often.

Blaise liked these peaceful moments, times where he could just observe her— appreciate her quiet presence. 

“Stop looking at me.” She spoke up suddenly, not even turning around to look at him.

“How do you know I was looking at you?” He crossed his arms defensively, “Is that another inherited trait? The eyes in the back of your head.”

“I could feel your thoughts reaming into the back of my skull.” She mumbled, finally turning to him, “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing really.” He shrugged, “School mostly.”

“School?”

“Yeah, how we were back in school.” He slid off the counter and took a couple of steps towards her.

“You were the bane of my existence, I never really felt hate before I met you and your friends– Draco mostly.” She smirked a little.

“You’ve warmed up to the both of us now.” He returned her smirk and took another step forward.

“Mhm.” She hummed, leaning a hip against the counter, looking up into his eyes. “Draco maybe, but you I still can’t stand.”

Blaise faked offense and his hands flew to her side, tickling her, making her face scrunch up and her body starting to squirm, trying to make attempts to get away from him.

“Okay! I surrender!”

“There’s no surrendering.” His fingers continue trailing over her skin.

“Stop! Wait, stop!” She speaks, suddenly serious, making Blaise pause his movements when her hands lay on her stomach. 

“What? What happened?” Blaise takes a step back, pulling his hands back as if he burnt her.

“Oh my god.” She gasped, reaching for Blaise’s hand urgently. She pulls her sweater over her stomach and tugs Blaise closer to lay his hand where hers just occupied on her belly.

A ripple in her skin, like the tide moving in, then a sudden, firm nudge against his palm like a knuckle rapping on a closed door. 

The world around them goes quiet as Blaise’s eyes raise to meet Ana’s. The fluttering in her stomach doesn’t last long, only a moment or two before it fades away.

Neither of them speak, just staring into each other's wide eyes and mouths agape. After taking a shaky breath Blaise removes his hand from Ana’s belly and surrounds it around her waist, gently pulling her closer to him, wrapping her in his embrace. His his cheek resting on the top of her head he speaks, “Had that ever–”

“No.” She whispered, her words muted where her head was buried in his chest. “That’s a first.”

Blaise plants a soft kiss on top of her head and she pulls back a little, still in his arms but now face to face. “There’s a thing growing inside of you.”

“Don’t say it like that.” She lets out a soft watery laugh.

“It’s real.” He mumbled to himself.

“Now for you. I’ve been feeling it for months.” She raises a playful eyebrow. 

They stand in silence for another moment, face inches apart, and Blaise unwraps an arm and sets his hand on her cheek. He uses his thumb to swipe away a stray tear falling down. Ana slightly leans into his palm and sends him a soft smile which he returns.

It barely happened, if they weren’t so close she wouldn't have realised when his gaze fell from her eyes to her lips. Blaise didn’t mean to but that didn’t matter, she noticed, when his eyes flicked back up to hers he saw her pupil dilate slightly. It was like they were frozen, neither of them looking away first, neither wanting to be the one to break this moment.

It didn’t take long for Blaise to crack first, but when he opened his mouth to speak Ana was already pulling herself out of her arms. She turned from him and swiped at her cheeks, brushing away any other tears.

She turned back to him, several feet away, and spoke softly, “Our fifteen year old selves would be shocked seeing us at nineteen.”

“Me at nineteen, you’re still eighteen.” He couldn’t think of anything to say, his feet cemented in the same spot they had both been a minute ago.

“I’m not eighteen.” That’s what made him tense up and finally move his feet.

“What?” 

“I turned nineteen in April.” She mumbled with her head down, like she didn’t want to see his reaction.

“Your birthday came and went and you didn’t tell me?”

“I-I didn’t feel like celebrating.”

“Neither did I and you still knew.”

“Not by choice!” She looked up suddenly and took a step forward, “You weren’t planning on telling me! I found out from Theo and Pansy that it was your birthday so don’t pull that with me.”

“And you were hurt by it and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” He ran a hand on the back of his head, “But why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want anyone to know. No one knew.” She held her arms out, getting defensive. “I had more of a reason to not celebrate!”

“Are we playing who had it worse right now, Anari?” Blaise gritted out, stepping closer to her.

“If we were, It’d be me.” She huffed out, crossing her arms.

“I’m not doing this with you.” Blaise shook his head, trying to turn away but Ana’s hand caught his arm.

“We are doing this!” She exclaimed, “It’s long overdue.”

“What do you mean? A fight?” She just raised both of her eyebrows at him like he should know the answer. “I don’t want to keep going over this with you, I get it but the war sucked for all of us.”

“You’re ridiculous. That’s outrageous! You had it hard, did you? Mummy didn’t coddle you enough?”

“Ana, please.” He said with a little more emotion that he’d wanted to. He didn’t want to fight, they’d been doing so well.

“Blaise, I am living your life!” She groans, “I’m hanging out with your friends, seeing your mother every week.”

“I didn’t ask for this either, you know.”

“But admit it, you’re much happier— much more comfortable in this situation than I am.”

“Yeah! I probably am but that’s because my family and friends didn’t pick the wrong side of the war and get themselves killed.” He had gone too far. He knew it as soon as the words came out of his mouth but it hit him even harder when he saw Anari visibly deflate.

“You’re right.” Her voice was raspy and filled with emotion. She turned from him and walked outside through the back door.

Blaise was left in silence for a moment, unsure of what to do next. He stood awkwardly in the kitchen as Tilly popped into the room. “I’m sorry to bother you but would you like Tilly to finish breakfast?”

“Um…” Blaise didn’t know what had just happened, “I’ll clean it up in a moment.”

He left Tilly in the kitchen and followed Ana outside. She was sitting in the grass, resting her head on her arms across her raised knees.

Blaise lowered himself next to her, leaving about a foot of space between them. “I’m sorry.”

“Blaise Zabini apologizing? The world must be ending.” She huffed.

“I shouldn’t have said that. I am sorry.”

“I know, I’m not mad at you.” She raised her head, looking at him with red eyes and tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m just pregnant and hormonal and it’s all just been a lot. I miss my family and friends.”

“I know you do.” Blaise muttered, slowly moving his arm around her shoulders, he moved as carefully as he could in case she was lying about not being mad at him. “I’m sorry you don’t have them.”

“I know you are.” She mumbled, leaning into him, letting him comfort her. “I wanted to share these things with them.”

Blaise kept silent just rubbing his hand up and down her arm as comforting as possible.

“Everything has changed.” She lets out a watery emotionless laugh, “I want to go back.”

“Me too.” He whispers into the wind, watching the waves crash back and forth into the rocks, “I see why you like it out here.”

“It’s my spot, you can’t steal it.” She mumbled softly.

“I won’t steal it if you share.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Blaise thinks for a moment and then speaks, “I know I’m not your friends or your family but I hope you know that I’ll be there for you when you need me and even when you don’t. I can’t replace them but I promise to be worthy of your friendship.”

“Friends? Is that what we are?” She asks softly, still not looking at him.

“At least.” He shrugs, “Partners? Husband and wife technically… Friends at the very least.”

“We can’t mess it up.” She leans into him more, absentmindedly laying a hand on her stomach.

“We won’t.”

─TIED TOGETHER─

The next couple of days they’d kept their routine up, Blaise waking up before Ana most days and pulling his body away from her. Every night they moved to each other in their sleep, Blaise doesn’t mention it in the morning.

While Blaise was making breakfast Ana was getting ready to go to town, Blaise has been wanting her to get out of the house so he can do something so it was convenient. What wasn’t convenient was her walking over 3 kilometers by herself. When Ana walked downstairs, dressed and her bag packed for the mystery house.

“To ease your poor poor hopeless husband’s mind will you let Tilly accompany you?”

“Oh is my poor poor hopeless husband really that worried?” She raised an eyebrow, “I’ll be fine.”

“For my health, let her come with you.” He pleads with a smile.

“Fine.” When she agreed Blaise gave himself a little internal pat on the back.

Once they left Blaise planned to get straight to work but an owl sitting in the kitchen window made him freeze, he knew who this was from. The white and beige owl looked at him with a deadpanned face, like he was over everything, if a bird can even emote. Blaise grabbed the letter attached to his leg and fed him a treat from the bowl sitting on the counter.

It was from Draco.

Update, Bluebird

They’re investigating them still, the green family are still underground, no one has seen or heard from them in months. But they seem to be alive, just hidden. The group is still as secretive as possible which is both good and bad in our case. They are panicking here a little, no one likes stray deflectors, they dislike a united group even more. HE is keeping silent over this but everyone in the circle is on edge. Be careful of your next moves, they will not take anything lightly.

— Blackbird

Blaise took a deep breath before walking into the living room and throwing the letter in the fire. Draco has been working in the ministry for months and the past couple of weeks Blaise has asked him to look into the Patil family, Ana’s best friend and her family. They seem to be okay but he doesn’t have enough information to give her hope.

They’ve been using code names in case any of their letters are intercepted, they must be careful. The group however? Blaise doesn’t even know what to make of them.

Blaise decides to shove this away in his mind and focus on the task at hand.

After sitting with Anari outside and having to help her up from the ground he decided she needed a real seat out there. He had Tilly get him what he needed.

Wood and nails were sitting in front of him and he wasn’t sure what to do. But he was going to try nevertheless.

Blaise was glad it was a clear day while he carried out the wood and tools to the cliff.

He looked at the materials for a moment, unsure of what to do next. He sank to his knees and got started on…something?

Blaise was ashamed how long it took him just for it to turn out so ugly. He tried to squint but it was still lopsided, it was still misshapen. 

He wanted to prove to himself that he could do something like this without magic but… It seems he couldn’t

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Was called out from the kitchen door. Blaise tried to scramble for his wand to transfigure the bench into literally anything else, but she was already in view. “What is this?”

“It was supposed to be a bench.” Blaise groaned, rubbing at his temples.

“It’s lovely.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

She rounded the clump of wood and looked at it with a tilted head, “I’m not lying. I can’t believe you built something for me.”

“Tried— I tried to build something for you.”

“It’s still standing, isn’t it?” She turns to look at him, “Have you tested it out yet?”

“No. It’s a monstrosity.” He protested but turned with her to sit as well. “If it collapses you can’t laugh at me.

“Stop it. It’s wonderful.” She beams at him, leaning back and staring at the sea. 

“I will transfigure it into something prettier.”

“Pretty doesn’t matter.” She bumps her shoulder against his and smiles up at him, “This is the kindest gift I’ve ever gotten.”

“Well… happy belated birthday.”

-

-

Taglist: @babydollrobinson @2kewlfryu @the-zabini-archive @nazwrites-2002

There were many photos of the three of them, one before the Yule Ball all in their dorm. Another at the lake on a sunny day.

A lot of them were of her at her grandmothers or of her grandmother. She was the sweetest woman Ana knew, she’d raised her since she can remember. Her grandmother taught her everything she knew, taught her to be kind, taught her to fight back when she needed to.

There were lots of photos of the ocean, the waves crashing in and pulling out. Her vision blurred as she stared at the moving photograph and it was like she could hear it again, the seagulls above, the wind. Sure, she had the ocean here but it wasn’t the same, not at all. This side of the ocean was different, plagued with haunting memories. Those waves held joyful moments.

When she looked outside her window now and saw the cliffs and water all she could remember was sitting out there her first night in her white gown. Her quiet sobs filtered out by the rush of wind and harsh crash of waves.

This is her sea now, no more of the one she grew up with. This is the one she gets.

She found a couple of letters that she had kept from her grandmother while she was in school. She’d gotten a handful from her uncle in sixth and seventh year but she had been instructed to burn every single one. There were some from her friends during holidays as well. She read through every one carefully. 

Anari tried not to think of her old life; it only made her sad but this time of year she couldn’t help but reminisce. Her birthday was tomorrow.

She’d decided not to tell anyone, she didn’t feel like celebrating this year. She was nineteen. She was married. She was pregnant. She always felt alone. She was alone. Her family was dead. Her friends were missing.

I have Blaise. She kept trying to remind herself but did she?

Did she have Blaise for support? If she wasn’t carrying his child would he care if she lived or died?

She has Astoria and Pansy. But she didn’t. Those were Blaise’s friends who had taken pity on her.

She didn’t have anyone to herself, nothing was hers, no one was her friend. Blaise was an ally if anything.

The person around her most was Tilly and her and Blaise still hadn’t decided if she was a spy or not. There was no one in this world that she didn’t have to filter herself around and that was terrifying. Isolating.

Staring at the pile of letters and photos she longed for company of any of those people, her grandmother, her uncle, Padma, Cho, anyone. Anyone from her past life.

But the reality of it, none of them knew her anymore, not really. She wasn’t the same person she was a year ago, she barely recognized herself.

─TIED TOGETHER─

Ana couldn’t sleep, it was officially her birthday. She was nineteen.

She was sitting outside in the grass on the cliffs, it was a clear night, they were getting more of those now that they were officially in spring.

She was sitting outside to stop herself from baking, the last thing she needed was to be handling raw eggs, the smell made her want to throw up recently. There was always an itch to get into the kitchen though, but now she has to find a new calming activity for her nights.

She didn’t know how long she was out there but the moon was still high in the sky and the house was still quiet. Ana made her way back inside and glanced at the clock on the wall– two in the morning. Her sleep schedule was awful and she didn’t expect it to get better anytime soon. Her dreams have been plagued with dangerous memories recently, memories of her friends and her family, and her being able to do absolutely nothing to help them— to save them. Tomorrow—or today, she’ll have to prepare a Dreamless Sleep potion. Ana didn’t know how much longer she could take the lack of rest, even if she was sleeping she wasn’t resting.

Ana slowly made her way up the creaking stairs taking one step at a time to try and not wake Blaise. She tiptoed back to her room and threw off her robe and laid in bed. She stared out into the night through the window and waited for sleep to take her. But sleep never came.

The moon was low and the sky was gaining color when she left it— an uneasy heavy feeling in her stomach, she knew the drill. Sitting up as quickly as she could she rushed into the bathroom, ignoring the book that fell from the table with a slam.

Kneeling over the toilet she gripped the cold porcelain bowl, letting out a gutted noise from the back of her throat. This morning there wasn’t a knock, the door pushed open quickly and a shirtless Blaise rushed into the room.

Blaise kneeled behind her, wrapping his arms around her and using one hand to gather her curls back. He shushed her and rubbed his hands up and down her side from where his arms were surrounding her. While Ana was emptying her stomach once again he whispered into her ear apologies and reassurance. 

This is their new normal. But this morning Blaise did something out of the ordinary, when Ana finally deflated, resting her head on her arms he kissed the crook of her neck lingering for maybe a moment too long.

“Did you sleep?” Blaise whispered in her ear, his voice raw and scratched from unuse. Ana shook her head slightly and Blaise clicked his tongue before standing behind her and lifting her up, one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders.

Anari didn’t have the energy she usually would have to refuse. He sat her on her bed, sitting her up and Tilly was already standing by the bedside table with a glass of water and a vial of something. 

Blaise handed Ana the water silently and she took it greedily, her throat feeling raw and tired. Once she drained the glass he took it from her and handed her the vial. Before she could ask, she answered her silent question, “Calming Draught. It’ll help.”

She slightly nodded and drained the potion. When he stood up from his spot next to her on the bed Ana caught his hand, “Thank you.”

After sending her a quick squeeze on her hand he spoke quietly, “Shut up. Go to sleep.”

He took a step away from the bed heading towards the door but Ana spoke up before he made it across the room, “Wait— would you…”

She didn’t have to finish, after she glanced next to her Blaise nodded and rounded the bed to sit on the other side. He laid down with his head resting against the headboard and he looked at Ana, she melted into the bed, feeling the potion kicking in.

Once she was comfortable she felt Blaise’s hands on her head, twisting and running his hands down her hair, slightly massaging her head while he was at it.

It was the easiest Ana had fallen asleep in months and she enjoyed a quiet rest.

─TIED TOGETHER─

When Blaise woke up Ana was still in a deep sleep, her breaths even and heavy, and her body spread out on the bed. He quietly snuck out of the room and down to the kitchen, Tilly was already there cleaning. 

“Hello! Can Tilly do anything for you?” She asked from where she was kneeled on the counter.

“No, I’m going to make Anari breakfast.” He replied, heading toward the fridge to gather ingredients, he stared at the eggs in his hand and paused, “Actually, Tilly, would you help me?”

“Of course!” She smiled and instead of hopping down she instantly disappeared. After a moment Blaise heard a quiet shuffling past the closed pantry door. She popped back on the counter with an armful of ingredients. “What would you like to make? We can make pancakes, eggs and toast, bacon, sausage, anything!”

“Let’s do eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast? That will probably be best with how she’s been feeling.” He nodded to himself and Tilly disappeared again before apparating back with only bread in her hands.

“What would you like Tilly to do?” She sets down the bread on the counter and looks to Blaise.

“You can help with the meat, thank you, Tilly.” He smiled and went to grab a pan.

Once breakfast was ready Blaise divided the food up onto two plates after Tilly refused a portion. He found a tray to set the plate and juice on and he walked back upstairs. 

When he slowly opened the door to Ana’s room he found her still laying down but eyes staring blankly at the window.

“How’d you sleep?” He asks quietly from his spot at the door, she slightly jumps and sits up quickly.

“Good.” She breathed out, swiping her hair out of her face. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” He muttered, stepping closer with the tray in hand, “Tilly and I made breakfast.”

“You did?” She stares at Blaise almost blankly for a moment before melting a second later and bit her lip slightly, “Thank you.”

“Eat.” He sets down the tray in her lap and sits on the side of the bed by her legs. “Was the potion helpful?”

“Yes. I should make some dreamless sleep potions today though.”

“You’re having nightmares?” He questions, furrowing his eyebrows slightly, Ana hadn’t told him about any dreams she’d been having. He’d assumed she couldn’t sleep because of the baby.

“Yeah, it’s fine though.”

“It’s obviously not if you can’t sleep.” He points out, crossing his arms slowly.

“It’s fine, Blaise.” She tries to send him a sleepy smile. “I’m sure they’ll go away.”

“What are they about?”

“I don’t want to talk about this.” She mutters, taking a bit of her food.

“Tell me anyway.” He uncrossed his arms and put a hand on her knee through the blanket.

“It’s just memories and sometimes…”

“Sometimes?”

“Things that could happen now.”

“Like?”

“Blaise.” She sighs lightly. “Please don’t push this.”

“Okay.” He thinks for a moment, wanting to say this next thought perfectly, “I think— I think it would be beneficial if we slept in the same room for a while.”

“Why?” She jerks back a little, surprised with his words.

“I want to be able to be there if— when you get sick. If you need something I don’t want you to have to get it yourself. I’m your partner in this.”

“It’s really not necessary.” She says, shaking her head at the thought. “I’m fine.”

“You say that word so much it’s lost its meaning. You’re not fine and that’s okay. It would also give me peace of mind if I was there for you. Please.”

She thinks for a moment, “We can try it out for a couple of nights.”

Blaise nods with a small smile and stands slowly, “I’ll get started on that Dreamless Sleep potion.”

“I can–”

“Shut up and eat.”

─TIED TOGETHER─

After Blaise finished making the potion he checked Ana’s room and found it empty. After calling out for her and hearing a small hum from a room down the hallway he found her in the nursery, hand on her stomach and looking around. “I hate this.”

“I know.”

“No– I hate this room.” She walked deeper into the room, dragging a finger down the width of the bassinet, “It’s so dull.”

“Do you want to paint it?” Blaise offers from his spot in the doorway watching her open the curtains.

“I think I do.” She mutters, “I can go into town and get some—”

“No.” Blaise shook his head, leaning against the doorframe, “I’ll get it, I don’t want you walking there.”

“What did I tell you about telling me what to do?” She rolled her eyes, slowly turning to him.

Blaise took two slow steps until he was just a foot in front of her, “I don’t really care about that right now. You’re my wife– pregnant with my child, You’ll stay here.”

“Blaise.” She huffed slightly, “I’m fine.”

“What did I say about that word?” He caught her wrist and gave it a small squeeze, daring her to argue with his eyes. When she didn’t speak up he continued, “Now, what color do you want?”

“I don’t know.” She deflated a little, looking around the room. “A light color, yellow?”

“Green?” Blaise smiled.

“Blue.”

“The kitchen is blue.” Blaise shook his head.

“You just want the baby to be a Slytherin.” She laughed for a moment before coming to a realization. “Is it safe? To go to Hogwarts?”

“I’m not totally sure, but we have time to figure it out.” He tried to smile reassuringly. “Let’s get yellow. We can leave the trim white. It’ll look great.”

“We need curtains too.” She hums, “Oh and maybe a rug.”

“You give me a list and I’ll do the best I can— we can always transfigure it.”

“I don’t like this.” She sighs, “I would like to go.”

“Accept defeat, baby.” He jokes, letting out a low laugh. “Make a list.”

Blaise leaves her in the nursery and goes back to his room to get ready to go.

When Blaise Apparated back from town his arms were full with everything from Ana’s list. Several different shades of paint, a rug, a lamp, and a mobile for above the bassinet.

He laid out the things in the nursery and watched as Ana examined it all. He was a little nervous— he wanted to make her… Happy? Maybe. He wanted to make her feel better. He wanted to do this right for her.

“How many colors did we need?”

“Well you said Yellow.” He crossed his arms a little defensively, “So I got oat, beige, Pale sunshine, sunflower, soft buttercup, and something called fucking bicycle yellow. Don’t say I didn’t give you options.”

Ana let out a light laugh, looking at all the different colors. “Thank you.”

“Shut up and let’s get to work.”

Ana rolled her eyes and picked up the Bicycle Yellow and Blaise got to work on moving the furniture from the walls. Ana went to drag the dresser, “Stop, you shouldn’t lift heavy stuff. Move the chair.”

“I can move the dresser.” She rolled her eyes but moved to the chair nevertheless. “You’re acting like I’m fragile.”

Blaise didn’t respond, moving the heavy objects himself as Ana got the paint ready. They painted in silence for a little until Ana spoke up, “I know we have time but… do you have name ideas?”

“Oh.” Blaise froze for a moment, his hand stopping mid stroke. “I never really thought about it.”

“Me neither.” Ana shrugged.

“I thought every girl had a list of names?” Blaise raised an eyebrow.

“I used to but…” She thought for a moment, “Nothing seems fitting anymore.”

“What doesn’t go with the name Zabini?” He laughed, “What did you assume your kid's last name would be? The Hufflepuff’s?”

“No.” She shook her head playfully, “They just seem too joyful now.”

“Maybe that’s what we need. Some joy.” Blaise turned to look at her, “Tell me them.”

“I uh— I liked Rory.” She shrugged, “I always like Aiofe and Jonah.”

“I like those.”

“No you don’t.” She laughed, still painting with her back to him.

“Yes I do!”

“I thought you might like something like…” She thinks for a moment, “Charles.”

“Charles?” He questioned, “What the hell made you think of that?”

“I don’t know, it’s a traditional name. Wait no– did you want to stick with the unique family names?”

“Don’t even, Anari.”

“That sounds weird.”

“What, your name?”

“No, you saying it. You’ve been doing that more recently.”

“Well, I can’t really call you Moody now can I?” He paused for a second, “Actually I think I can with the way you’ve been acting recently.”

Ana held a hand to her heart, faking a gasp. He dripped her brush in the paint and flicked it at him, getting yellow paint on his cheek. 

“This is how you want to play?” He dipped his own paintbrush and splattered it on her shirt. “It’s on, honey.”

─TIED TOGETHER─

When the two had showered after their painting they met in Ana’s bedroom. Blaise stood on one side of the bed and Ana the other just staring at each other, not sure what to do next. “I can sleep on the floor.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re both adults, we can sleep in the bed together.” Ana sighed before opening up the covers to climb into the bed. “Just stay on your side.”

“I could say the same thing to you. This morning you were spread eagle on the bed.”

“I was not!”

“You were, don’t even try to deny it, I woke up with a foot in my back.”

“Lies.” She shook her head while watching Blaise reach for the bottom of his shirt, his movements stuttered for a moment. “Go ahead.”

“You just want a show.” Blaise winked at her before pulling his shirt over his head and climbing into bed, facing her on his side. “You’re sure you’re okay with me staying in here?”

“Yeah. We’ll try it out.” She shrugs, tucking her hand between where her cheek met the pillow, sinking into the bed, and facing Blaise. “If you snore, you’re out of here.”

“I don’t snore.” He huffs offended, Ana gave him a suspicious look for a moment before taking a slow blink and clutching the blanket closer to her body. “Are you sure you’re comfortable?”

“We’ve been married for six months, it’s fine.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.” 

“I’m comfortable.” She whispered, “You know I’d tell you if I wasn’t.”

“I know.” He sighed, shuffling around to get comfortable, “Your bed’s better than mine.”

“Sorry. I realised we never discussed who should get what room.”

“I went to the guest room first, we didn’t need to discuss it.”

“I kind of feel bad about you sleeping in the guest room for half a year.”

“Don’t.” He shook his head gently, “We both needed our space.”

“And now?”

“Now? I don’t know.” He shrugs, “We’re different people.”

“Yes, you’re much nicer now.”

“I was never mean.”

“Liar.” She laughed, “You always tried to get on my nerves and push my buttons.”

“That’s not mean.”

“You’re right, it’s annoying.” She sends him a sickly sweet smile.

The whole day Ana hadn’t really thought about her birthday, there was no sadness. It was a good day. She was officially nineteen.

“Shut up and go to sleep.” He laughs, rolling around to turn off the light, leaving them in quiet darkness.

-

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Taglist: @babydollrobinson @2kewlfryu @the-zabini-archive @nazwrites-2002

“Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing!” She huffed, gripping her hair in frustration. “I’m tired of you acting like this.”

“Like… what?” He trailed like he didn’t want to upset her more.

“Like you can’t speak to me normally! I’m fine! I promise, I barely feel different, and right now what I need is for you to keep treating me like normal!”

“How can I talk to you the way I used to!”

“By moving your mouth and having anything other sentence than ones that ends with get you.” She stepped around the couch to stand in front of him. “I need normalcy. I can’t have you treating me like I’m pregnant with your child.”

“But you are!” He huffs, growing frustrated.

“I know that.” She seethed, stepping closer to him, pointing a finger at his chest. “But we need to— just for a little while longer, act like I’m not.”

“I can’t act like this isn’t happening.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Try. If you can do anything for me, try, and act like everything is normal.” She breathed out, body visibly deflating. “I don’t want your false niceties. I can’t take it.”

“It’s not false. I want you to feel comfortable. Whether we like it or not, you're carrying my child and I care what happens to you now. I want you to have everything you could possibly need. You deserve at least that.”

Ana sighed, everything he did, anytime he spoke to her during this faze in her life it reminded her that it could be worse. She could be married to an evil man.

But she’s not, he’s close to perfect. He cares for her. He has slept in a separate room for five months with no complaints. The past couple of days when he hears her getting sick he knocks quietly on the door and holds her curls out of her face. He brings her water and brushes her back while she sits on the hard tile of the bathroom.

She was lucky. She was lucky to have Blaise.

Ana couldn’t even tell you two years ago if she wanted children or not but now she can’t deny there are worse men to have a child with.

Recently everything Blaise has been doing has become… less irritating. 

Yemaya comes over for dinner every other night and Blaise leaves them to talk most of the time.

Blaise has turned his blob of… whatever he was trying to knit into a baby blanket.

There are worse men than Blaise Zabini.

But she wasn’t going to tell him that. It must be the pregnancy hormones.

─TIED TOGETHER─

Ana had been seeing the Muggleborns in the village more now that the weather was manageable to walk. There was still a heavy storm here and there that she couldn’t go out in but she tried to go at least twice a week.

Last time she was there little Emma asked her to bring sweets so of course she needed to stop at the shop before heading to the little town house.

When she got there the house was as quiet as it usually is. No lights on. No noise.

Anari raised her hand but she paused hearing a slight shuffle of clothes behind her. When she looked there was nothing. She waited a moment then raised her hand again.

She knocks three times quickly then twice slowly. It was the code they had made for her.

It didn’t take long for her to hear the click of a lock behind the door. She slowly opened it, revealing the small home.

Where she was normally met with warm smiles and quiet greetings came silence. She looked around the room and everyone was quiet. “Hello.”

She set down her things on the kitchen table near an older couple. The boxes of food and blankets and books.

“Ana.” A voice came from behind her. Dani. “Sit down.”

“What’s happened?” She looks around the room. She didn’t see at least five people that would usually be in the living room when she arrived.

“We got too comfortable.” Dani sighed, sniffily, holding her son, Tommy. “A group of us went into town, the weather was bad and we needed food. They were seen. I don’t know how but they never came back.”

“Who was in the group?” Ana was almost too scared to ask.

Daniella started listing names one after another, five names, then the final one, “Emma.”

“Emma?” Anari’s heart might have broken in half. Her hand found her stomach whether to feel for her unborn child or to still the churning in her stomach.

A six year old girl was taken. It doesn't matter whether it was Snatchers or Death Eaters, her fate was the same. She was a little Muggleborn girl. She was gone.

Anari was taking advantage of her good situation. It might not be the life she’d envisioned for herself but it was safe. She was safe. Blaise was kind. She was a Pureblood. She was privileged. For the past five months she’d been living in her own world– her own bubble– ignorant.

Dani was talking but Ana didn’t hear any of it. Little toothless Emma was gone. You never finished Charlotte's Web. You had four chapters left. She was so excited to finish the story, she wanted to know how it ended. She was supposed to come last week so they could read the last of it, she didn’t come because of a storm.

She should’ve come. If she had they wouldn't've been to go outside. Emma would still be here. Alive. There was a little chance that Emma was still breathing and Ana had to deal with that.

─TIED TOGETHER─

Blaise never thought Anari could be so stupid. She was sneaking around town and going to secluded houses to meet with god knows who. He would have thought she was seeing someone else if not for boarded up windows and dark alley. It could’ve been a drug deal for all he knows. He waited ten outside of the building for her but after thirty minutes he decided to apparate home and send it to the furthest corner of his mind for the night. 

They’d been doing so good with not fighting. They hadn’t had any arguments recently and Blaise wanted to keep that streak alive. 

He didn’t feel like fighting with his pregnant wife today so he said nothing when she got home. He wished he didn’t follow her. He should’ve stayed blissfully ignorant with whatever she’s been up to.

“Why are you so quiet?” Ana hummed from across the couch. She was curled under a blanket with a book opened on her lap but she hadn’t been reading, just staring blankly at the ink on the page.

“I’m not.” Blaise murmured, turning his own page of a book he was barely reading.

“You are.” She softly closed her book and straightened up, looking at him. “You’ve been trying to avoid speaking all day. Just grunts and hums.”

“I’m just tired.” 

“I don’t believe you.” She crossed her arms, tilting her head at him. Blaise finally sets his own book down and meets her eyes.

“If I’m telling you something, assume it’s the truth.”

“I know what you look like when you’re hiding something, Blaise.” She scoots closer to him, “I can see the gears in your head moving.”

“I don’t want to argue tonight.” Blaise sighed and looked at her hopelessly.

“You love arguing. You’d argue with a brick wall if you could still prove you were right.” Ana laughed, “So tell me, what’s going on.”

“Nothing.” He huffs, finally sitting up getting unintentionally closer to her. Blaise couldn’t tell her what was actually on his mind at this moment. What he said next wasn’t necessarily a lie, it had been plaguing him. “I– This just all feels a little too real recently.”

“What does?”

“This.” He waves around the room before his eyes land on her stomach.

Ana subconsciously laid a hand on her belly, it had rounded recently. “I know.”

“I know you know.” He sighed, scratching the back of his neck, “I can’t really complain where I am–”

“Yes you can.” Ana scoots even closer, trying to give his leg a reassuring squeeze. “You can complain, you can tell me you hate this. I understand better than anyone else. We haven’t been good at relying on each other in this…marriage. We need to do better, especially with what’s to come.”

Blaise just looks at her, unsure of what to say. She seemed utterly sincere. This might be the most genuine conversation they’ve ever had. “I’m sorry about that. I haven’t been the most understanding with what’s happened.”

“What’s the saying? The war is over but the battle’s just begun? That’s our life now and it’ll be a lot easier to come out the other side if we’re together. Neither of us are ready or prepared but we’ll learn together.” Anari nods, sniffling quietly. Blaise raised a hand and brushed her cheek, tucking hair behind her ear. 

“Together.” Blaise smiled almost bittersweetly. “You’re tied to me now, Moody.”

“Zabini you mean.” She laughs as a soft tear runs down her cheek that he promptly swipes away with his thumb. Blaise hums in question, “My last name isn’t Moody.”

“Damn.” Blaise leans his head back dramatically, “I can’t use it in my jokes anymore. I had the best ones too.”

“Gave me a fucking complex.” She laughed lightheartedly. “I’d tell you to cheer up, but I guess that would ruin your whole branding.”

“You remember it word for word? I really am just that funny.”

"Big headed too.”

They sat quietly for a moment just being close to each other– someone. It was good to find comfort with someone who understands you fully. That’s living day to day with you. Going through all of it together has brought Ana and Blaise closer than they could’ve ever imagined.

Blaise takes the first leap and slowly wraps his arms around Ana’s waist, pulling her into his chest. She goes willingly, just breathing in the comfort for a moment.

A quiet and peaceful moment.

Their hug didn’t last long, the second they heard a little pop when Tilly entered the room they pushed each other away like the other was contagious with a deadly disease.

“Can Tilly get anything for you two before bed?” Tilly bowed her head a little bit, standing with her arms held behind her back in front of them.

“I’m alright, thank you.” Ana spoke softly and Blaise nodded in agreement. When Tilly disapparated Ana carefully stood up, folding up her blanket and making her way out of the room with a quick, “Goodnight.”

─TIED TOGETHER─

When Anari woke up Blaise was already gone, Tilly told her that he said he’d be back before dinner. It was before noon when the sound of the floo igniting was heard from the other room.

“Ana? Babe?” Astoria’s voice was heard, walking into the room with a hand resting on her stomach.

“Astoria?” Ana calls out, setting down her knitting project.

“Hey! I wanted to know if you wanted to hang out!” She smiled, walking around the couch to sit next to her. “Since Blaise and Draco are together I figured I’d come see what you were up to!”

“Blaise and Draco?” 

“Yeah!” Astoria smiles sweetly.

“What are Blaise and Draco doing?” Ana had gone months without knowing where Blaise went every day and she finds out he’s with Draco? 

“I never know what they’re up to, Draco’s either at the Ministry or hidden in the office with Blaise.” She shrugs, grabbing a blanket and getting comfortable on the couch. “I try to give him his space with everything.”

“Everything?”

“What’s going on in the Ministry that is.”

“What’s been going on?”

“Oh! Um–” Astoria thought very carefully on what she said next, looking around the room like to make sure they were alone. She whispered, scooting closer to Ana, “The Rebels, they’ve been umm… Rioting?” 

“Why haven’t I heard anything about this?”

“It’s not something they really want to put in the Daily Prophet.” Astoria shrugged, “I only know because Draco told me. Blaise doesn’t talk about these kinds of things?”

“No. He doesn’t.” Ana mumbles quietly. Rebels? People are publicly defying the Death Eaters and Anari had no idea. She can’t help but feel like Blaise didn’t tell her on purpose like he didn’t trust her. It is hypocritical she knows but she can’t help but feel hurt that he wouldn’t tell her. 

So everyday Blaise is gone he’s going to see Draco? That can’t be right.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring this up.” Astoria shakes her head, almost looking disappointed in herself for ruining the mood.

“You’re alright. I’ll just have to have a conversation with him when he gets home.” Ana said quietly before looking up at Astoria, noticing her hand still laid on her belly. “You’re pregnant?!”

“I am!” Astoria smiles sweetly, “Draco and I found out a couple of days ago! I heard you’re pregnant too!”

“I am.” Ana knew she sounds a whole lot less excited than Astoria but she still tried to smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Good! No sickness yet! But I have been moody recently, poor Draco, dealing with my wrath.” Anari can’t quite imagine Astoria raising her voice, she couldn’t be any taller than five feet two, she was petite, and her default expression was a smile. She couldn’t hurt a fly.

“Blaise has always dealt with my anger. He’s used to it.” 

Astoria lets out a snort, “I remember. We all had to hear about you for years from Blaise!”

“Oh? So he used to talk about me in school? I knew I was winning in our rivalry.”

“Was it really ever a rivalry?” Astoria questioned, shifting on the couch. “I can’t help but think you too were… umm– tension filled?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just I always thought that you and Blaise would end up… dating.” She shrugged, “Which I guess I was kind of right but skip the dating and straight to marriage.”

“Are you serious?” Anari scrunched up her face, “I couldn't even imagine!”

“You’re telling me you never felt anything positive towards him?” She raised a suspecting eyebrow, “I always got the feeling Blaise thought you were pretty— which you are.”

“No! I never thought of him in that way. He never thought— he hated me.”

“And he doesn’t anymore?”

“I’m not sure. We have a tolerance agreement.” Her and Blaise willingly getting together? That seems so bizarre in Ana’s mind.

─TIED TOGETHER─

When Blaise got home Anari was sitting at the dining room table, facing the fireplace, arms crossed, and face serious. “What happened?”

“Nothing.” Ana hummed, Blaise standing stupidly in front of the fireplace, looking at her. “Astoria came over today. She and I had a chat. She figured since you and Draco were together she’d come see me.”

“Yeah? How was that?” He went to walk but her glare froze him in place.

“Infroming.” She sat up, “Were you going to tell me what was happening?"

“What’s happening?”

“Rebels?” She huffed, “You didn’t feel the need to let me in on that one?”

Blaise looked around the room for any sign of Tilly before speaking, “I didn’t want you to… get your hopes up.”

“Get my hopes up? I’m a grown woman, Blaise, not a child.”

“I know! I just…” Blaise knew deep down why he didn’t tell her. If he told her about The Order reforming into someone new. The Resistance was what they were calling themselves. If he’d told her she would’ve left to seek them out, she’d get herself killed, and as much as Blaise was trying to think that he was selfish and didn’t want to die for her. That wasn’t the case. He didn’t want her to get herself killed and not just because she’s carrying his child.

He tried not to think about this sudden affection for her life.

“You just what?” Ana stood, getting in his face. “Wanted to keep me clueless? You don’t trust me?”

“It’s not that.” He sighed, rubbing a hand on the back of his head, “I didn’t want you to go and do anything rash, something you’d regret.”

“Like what?”

“Like join them!” He huffed, exasperated, “You would seek them out, get yourself killed, when they’re a group of unorganized traitors who are one wrong move from getting themselves blown up!”

“Traitors?” She shook her head, “You know what you sound like right now?”

“I know but it's the definition of what they’re doing.”

“It beat the mutineers ruling over us now!”

“You don’t even know what they’re doing! You know nothing!”

“Because I don’t leave this damn house! You go out for hours and don’t tell me where you’ve been or what you’ve been doing. I should’ve known! Who’s a part of this group? Huh? The people on the Undesirables list?”

“Mostly.” He said, still face to face with her, “You know it’s not safe for you in the Wizarding World. And you go into town almost every day, doing god knows what in hidden alleys in boarded up houses!”

He hadn’t meant to say it. He didn’t want to bring it up but they were already fighting and it had been plaguing his mind.

“What?” She paused, stepping back slightly, “You followed me?!”

“I shouldn't've I know but I did. I’m not the only one keeping secrets in this relationship.” he spat out the last word like it tasted like venom. “So who’s in the house, Anari?”

She just stood there, looking at Blaise with a blank expression. He felt her fight disappear, the room becoming suddenly suffocating and stiff. She softly shook her head, turned, and walked up the stairs without another word. Leaving Blaise alone and breathless in the dining room.

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