(Untitled)

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard ambles out into the main bar, scratching his head and yawning. As he procures some coffee, he leaves a note with Bar.

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[clumsy_auror]

A short while later, 'Dora comes skittering down the hall, her expression ecstatic. Anthony's on her hip, clad only in a diaper and a tee shirt. He looks a little disgruntled, like Mummy interrupted him in something.

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard pauses, mid sip, blinking.

[clumsy_auror]

Unabashed, Nymphadora hikes her top up over her softly rounded bulge, grabs Bernard's hand, and presses it low and to the left of her navel.

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard blinks again, his mug forgotten in his other hand, and then his eyes slip shut.

There's a movement, almost nothing, against his hand, and he grins. "Hey," he says, low, bending close, heedless of Anthony's kicking feet by his head, "hey, who is that in there?"

[clumsy_auror]

It's so tiny, so slight, more like butterflies in her stomach than anything. But it's most definitely a movement. A quickening.

Nymphadora's hand smooths over Bernard's, and she smiles down at the top of his head.

"Boo," says Anthony crossly.

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard sets his mug down and reaches up to catch one of Anthony's feet, his forehead still resting against Nymphadora's belly.

"He's just mad that he's got no pants."

[clumsy_auror]

"I know," she snickers. "I was in the middle of putting on his pajamas when I felt it. Wanted you to feel it." Anthony makes a sort of chirruping sound and reaches for Bernard.

[the_woodpecker]

His hands hit Bernard's hair, and clench. Bernard peers up at his son, bemused.

"Did you want something, young man?" Anthony grunts again and flails, so Bernard takes him.

[clumsy_auror]

"He's grown out of his shoes again," remarks the witch, sliding into the seat beside her husband's and kissing his cheek. "Like a bleedin' weed."

[the_woodpecker]

He turns his head to eye his son. "Have you, now?" Anthony looks back blankly, then pops his thumb in his mouth and ignores his father. "I know what'll cure growing toes." Bernard's hand creeps up to Anthony's bare feet again and begin to tickle.

[clumsy_auror]

Despite himself, Anthony shrieks and kicks.

He also, in his flailing, manages to get a handful of his mum's hair.

And yanks.

[the_woodpecker]

"Shit--" It's a few minutes before Anthony calms down enough to let go, and he only does so in order to grab at Bernard's hair instead.

"Sit," the youngster repeats inadvisedly.

Bernard... turns red.

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora's hair is now a tangled rat's nest. She snorts with laughter. "I told you we'd have to start watching our language. As if we didn't learn our lesson with Sunny."

Anthony looks from one parent to the other, expectant. Usually he gets praised for new words!

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard sighs and looks him in the eye. "No."

Anthony is taken aback. "No?"

To Nymphadora, "I don't know what to do here!"

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora looks Anthony in the eye, too, and speaks as though she were speaking to an adult. "That's not a word for you to be using, okay sweet pea? We're not angry with you though, are we, Daddy?"

"Daddy?" echoes Anthony, his eyes flickering beseechingly back to Bernard.

[the_woodpecker]

Bernard, mid-nod, freezes, eyes wide.

"...No, we're not mad at you, monkey," he manages after a moment, his voice rusty, and kisses Anthony's temple.