(Untitled)

[headofthefamily]

Who: Bill, Fleur and Elizabet
Where: A muggle hotel in London
When: 6 January, 2001, after a tense discussion with Charlie
Status: Complete

Comments

[lafleurblanche]

"...Le quel est?" Fleur mumbled the words, stirring. Waking up, she spoke in French, and thought in it. It always took a few moments to switch to English, but Bill's voice caused her to wake more quickly than she normally did (unless it was Elizabet crying), sitting up from where she lay, still dressed, on the bed. She'd never bothered to change because she'd been up most of the night, worrying.

Seeing that her husband was still alive was very much a relief, although she thought Ginny would have said something if he'd died. "Bill?" She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, automatically looking towards Elizabet, who was right beside her, mostly curled into the blankets and her mother.

[headofthefamily]

Bill's anger receded when he saw his wife and child and he crossed the room to join them on the bed, hugging Fleur tightly.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home last night," he said softly. Home was wherever Fleur and Elizabet were, even if they kept moving as they had been lately. He pressed a kiss to Fleur's cheek, then glanced down at Elizabet, who was beginning to wake.

"Hello, little one," he said, smiling down at Elizabet. His hand looked huge as he brushed his hand over her red hair. Like he would ever do anything to hurt them or put them in danger, he thought darkly.

[lafleurblanche]

Fleur relaxed, tilting her head onto Bill's shoulder without much worry, still slightly sleepy. "You are here now," She responded. If he wasn't saying anything about why he had not been home, it was not important, so she turned her attention to their daughter, receiving the same sleepy gaze that she was certain she displayed.

She pulled away from the little family huddle a little so she could stretch her arms over her head without dislodging either family member, and then settled back down. "You are well?"

[headofthefamily]

Elizabet was smiling up at him and as Fleur stretched, she clambered over Fleur's legs to Bill, who picked her up and held the little girl close. Her little hands immediately went to his cheeks, feeling the scars that covered his face.

"I'm fine now," Bill replied, wrapping his other arm around Fleur again. "Charlie was there and there was a fight, but Ginny patched us up pretty well."

[lafleurblanche]

"Reunions should be happy," Was all she said to that. Her face, however, said more. Fleur was baffled as to what they would have fought about--an opinion on the state of the world? It was saddening, that even family was falling apart, and--

She shouldn't think like that, though.

Fleur tilted her head upwards, adding her own hand to Elizabet's, light fingers tracing one of the long scars, absently.

[headofthefamily]

Bill's face often felt like someone else's, especially when he looked in the mirror. It didn't seem quite so bad though, when his wife and child looked at him with such love in their eyes.

"I'll admit, it didn't occur to me that Charlie would be so...," he said softly, unable to think of a way to finish the sentence. It was clear Charlie had upset him though. "We talked this morning, and he said some things... He was way out of line."

[lafleurblanche]

Fleur had never had a problem with Bill's scars. The first time she had seen him, after he'd gotten them--she'd only been worried about the pain. And had made a point of looking at him, just the same, but touching him more often. Because it occured to her that even if they didn't bug her, they bugged him.

"What did he say?" Fleur's frown deepened, sleep having mostly left her eyes. It didn't sound good, whatever it was--Charlie was the sibling Bill got on best with. Had got on best with.

[headofthefamily]

Bill didn't want to upset Fleur, but they had agreed long ago never to keep secrets from each other and that was something Bill believed made their relationship so strong. Even after a two year separation.

"Basically, he accused me of being a bad father," Bill said quietly. "And wondered if Elizabet was really mine. I almost hit him again for that."

[lafleurblanche]

Fleur's hand dropped, and it was safe to say that she looked furious. And more than a little resigned. "Ginny asked for her birthday," The blonde woman said quietly. "And I believe she calculated the math. She did not quite smile at Elizabet until then..." She trailed off, almost withdrawing.

"And if you did believe him, William, you would be ridiculous." She meant this time the father bit, eyebrows raised.

[headofthefamily]

Bill was shaking his hand as he reached out to wrap his arm around Fleur's waist and tugged her back in close to him, not letting her withdraw even a little.

"I have never questioned it," he said firmly, gazing intently into her eyes. "Elizabet is our daughter. I know there is no way she could be anything but. And if my family or anyone else chooses to question it, then they will soon find out exactly how offensive we find those questions."

[lafleurblanche]

Fleur smiled, despite herself. "I knew you would not, William. It is only the question that bothers me." She shrugged. "It should not. I meant you should not believe that you are not a good father, or whatever it is that Charles has been saying."

Charlie was too close to a nickname for Fleur's tastes. And she was only using Bill's first name because she was being serious--and also just because she liked saying it, when she could get away with it. Although she liked saying Bill, too.

[headofthefamily]

Fleur was the only person who could get away with calling him by his full name. He had even grown to like hearing it from her lips, though he hadn't admitted that.

"Oh," he said when he realised he had misunderstood her. He glanced down at Elizabeth, who was playing with a button on his shirt. "Well, I'm going to do my best for her, for both of you." Glancing up at Fleur, his expression softened and he leaned in to kiss her.

[lafleurblanche]

Fleur leaned in without hesitation, her eyes fluttering shut as she was hit with the force of memory--it had been years since she'd last leaned forward, just as she was now, and she'd tried so hard not to think of it, to concentrate on Elizabet, because that had been easier.

It was an impossibly happy and sad thing, to kiss Bill. When she pulled back, it was only enough to speak, her forehead resting against his. "I know."

[headofthefamily]

Bill sighed as Fleur's forehead rested against his own and he reached up to gently cup her cheek. They needed to talk and make some decisions about their future, but now wasn't the time. Bill was tired and he would rather relax with his girls while they had the chance.