[ god what an old fart ]

[invisicanuck]

Oh goodness, was my handwriting really that awful? [ You can hear someone say something indistinct in the background, a female. Whatever she says, Matthew laughs, then clears his throat. ]

I haven't used this old thing in so long, I'm not quite sure -- do you remember, chéri? -- ...oh. Oh, yes you're right, it's on. Please forgive me, I'm a bit

Comments

[floweringsister]

[ there isn't really anything to say since she's sitting right next to him, so instead she's going to be kind of sappy and draw a little heart in the corner of his entry.

what. ]

action KINDA?

[invisicanuck]

[ He smiles and draws a sloopy version of his own.

♥ ]

Oh, that reminds me. I bought you and Reinetta a few presents from Naples.

ACTION!!

[floweringsister]

[ carefully she frames their hearts with curls of ink, ₰ ]

You didn't have to... [ but she smiles to know that he thinks of them. ]

ACTION COUPLE

[invisicanuck]

[ He thinks of them always )8 ]

Just a few trinkets -- and a locket, for the baby. [ Matthew wraps an arm around her shoulders, one hand going to his own locket around his neck as he watches her draw. He speaks in an almost absent-minded manner. ] I missed you so much I could barely stand it. I hope you don't mind my inane wish to spoil you all.

Reinetta should be safe with Ivan... [ Though he doesn't sound as happy as about that as he should ] I'm positive.

moe action!!

[floweringsister]

[ taking care not to get ink all over, Katya puts her quill down and touches Matthew's hand, looking up at him. ]

Of course I don't mind, it keeps you close. [ she rests her head against his shoulder, her voice quiet, offering comfort. ] Sometimes all I can think about is how much I miss you. But I can't keep bothering Shin with letters every twenty minutes, can I? [ and she muffles a soft laugh into his robes. ]

Ivan's good with her, he's very gentle... She likes his shoulders, like her papa's.

so moeee

[invisicanuck]

I read your letters every day, so please don't stop writing. Shin's been so good to us. He could drown in all my silly little writings to you. [ He trails his fingers down her back. The ice-burn touch of jealousy flashes deep within him, but he quells the emotion down, lips pursed. ]

... I'm glad.

[floweringsister]

[ she mmms, lacing their fingers together. softly, she wants to soothe away how tense he seems, ]

Wild hippogriffs would have to tie back my hands to make me stop. I don't know what I'd do without your letters...

[invisicanuck]

[ She's already done more than she knows on his nerves and mood, but even beside her, he can't help but let his thoughts wander back to his absent child(where is she?), his line of duty(perhaps he should ask what other Aurors there were to set up a patrol, or perhaps organize a search party or -).

But at least he's not bitchy and ranty anymore.]

The war will end soon. It will end and then you won't have to put up with my shoddy handwriting any longer, eh?

[floweringsister]

Oh, it's not shoddy, I think it's charming...!...

[ (but if it meant the war's end, I'd rather never see your writing again,) she smiles at him, genuine even with the worry that tugs at the corners of her mouth. her anxiousness is a little less now knowing the castle hadn't brought anyone's children, and she is sure then that Reinetta is still napping safe in her uncle's home; instead she frets over her husband, carrying himself so heavily.

gently, quietly, she moves his hand, places it on the swell of her belly, tracing the line of his ring. ]

[invisicanuck]

Charming? The blokes at the office tease me for sending you all those silly little love poems.

[ Matthew rests his head against hers, running his thumb against her stomach. There's a pocket of guilt there between his ribs and his heart for not being there for her; in a months time, they would have another child, and he hadn't been around to help.

But there was no changing that now and the realization lay heavy on his chest. ]

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm... [ The poetry line quietly dies away as curiosity takes him instead. ] Is she as sleepy as Reinetta was? Does she kick often?

[floweringsister]

Good thing for them you don't have to send them any? [ she smiles widely to hear the vibration of his voice when he recites, her heart giving a squeeze like she was still a schoolgirl. ]

She's more active than Reinetta was, quite insistently. She's gentle though, Ivan thinks she's shy, I think she's just polite. Reminding me so I don't forget where she is, [ taps a rhythm on the back of Matthew's hand softly, ] I'm here.

[invisicanuck]

Perhaps I should. That'll teach them a thing or two, eh?

[ But then he quiets down to listen to her speak of Reinetta, and his face almost breaks in two with the girth of his proud grin. He ducks down, lifts up their intertwined hands and presses his mouth against her belly underneath. ]

When I thought of daughters, I wasn't expecting this
but I like this more.
I like all your faults
even your purple moods
when you retreat from everyone
to sit in bed under a quilt.

[ His eyes flick up to Yekaterina's and he swallows down an embarrassed laugh. ]

And when I say 'like'
I mean of course 'love'
but that embarrasses you.

-- do you think she heard me?

[floweringsister]

[ quietly Katya's smile starts shaking, her hands too wrapped in Matthew's to cover it. she's missed him with an ache that only grew as her belly did; that his murmured verses against the curve of skin that covers their baby are the first she'll have heard of her father's voice brings tears to her eyes even as she says softly, reassuringly, ]

I think so.

[(her belly stirs, the baby answers yes with a firm twitch,) and she gasps, ] Oh, there, Matya, did you feel her?

[invisicanuck]

[ He should be used to her tears by now, but the sight of them still alarms him. If anything, since their marriage, her crying concerns him even more than before, so he brings a hand to her face -- ]

Katya --

[ Then his eyes widen and he comically presses his cheek to her belly once more. Do you remember what you said about marrying a seventeen year old, bb. ]

Katya, I did! Bonjour, mi amour, did I wake you?

[floweringsister]

[ quickly she dashes her tears away, don't be worried, my love, i'm fine, ]

I'm sure she's not telling you to hush!

[ but she falls quiet herself, letting her husband listen to the baby shift inside of her. the tears she tried to clear off come spilling back with her joy at seeing him there against her, something she'd wanted to see since she'd begun to show under her clothes. ]