You are my sunshine...
Category: Pink Sheep Past
Dearest Padma, Parvati wrote at the top of the page, her eyes welling up with tears. Damn pregnancy hormones. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, the woman continued to put pen to paper.
My due date's fast approaching, in two days time, in fact, and I'm finding it hard to contain my excitement and terror. In fact, I would call the feeling sublime. I know you like words. Apparently it basically means the near excitement of doing something absolutely terrifying. Or something to that effect. I really wasn't listening as the healer prattled on. I was looking at the charmed image of my child. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl though. There are so few happy surprises left in this world, I needed this one. I'd be happy with either. Just as long as he or she's happy and healthy, that's all that matters, yes? The world needs more happy and healthy.
I considered sending post to Michael, to let him know he's about to be a father, but I find that I want to be selfish about this. When I left New York, five months pregnant (don't get that look on your face, I know, it was a stupid decision), we made an agreement that I was to raise the child on my own. I don't think either of us were happy with it, but I was about to give up my family, friends, my life for him and I couldn't . I could never imagine not speaking to you again, face to face.
Even if I haven't done so in years. Or sent you any real letters outside of those in this book.
What should I do, Paddie?
Tears began to fall from Parvati's eyes as she began to reread what she had just written, too fast for her to try and stop. Merlin, she missed her sister, but she had stopped sending letter shortly after she settled in New York. Michael had put stars in her eyes. Unintentional, of course, but he did. He made her forget all the bat things that had happened in England. of course, that also meant she had forgotten many of the good.
How could she so utterly careless?
"Shivali, what's wrong?" Lakshmi, the midwife who had taken Parvati under her wing, entered the room. She ran a hand through the pregnant woman's hair. "Ah, you are writing to your sister again. When will you send these letters, Shivali? She must miss you as much as you miss her."
Parvati shook her head, struggling for a moment to stand before she began to waddle around the room. "It's just a journal, Lakshmi." She gave the older woman a watery smile. "I just found that it was easier to put a name at the top."
"And it just so happens to be your sister's name?" The woman raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Shivali, this is no time to do things on your own. You should have family by your side." She raised a hand, halting any argument. "I know I made a vow not to ask questions, and I will not, but I can urge you to do the right thing."
Parvati nodded. "I'm going to get some water." And she waddled out of the room and towards the kitchen.
"That's what I thought." Lakshmi shook her head. Willful child. She didn't see the long hard road in front of her, but Lakshmi did. It wasn't often the woman saw one's paths so clearly, but when she did, she knew it must be important, a sign from the Gods. While the path had many happy moments, there were too many heartbreaking ones and she could not let her young friend face that, not alone. Her hand wavered over the journal as she thought about her actions. Did the Gods intend her to break her friend's trust or to simply encourage Parvati do do the right thing?
Closing her eyes, Lakshmi let out a deep breath. This would require some meditation upon the issue.
----------
The stairs had become to difficult to manage after her seventh month and Parvati's room had been moved to a small one off the main living area. Not that the woman minded. It looked into the garden and if she was in need of some people watching, she could just shift herself, slowly, into the other room. It helped to stave off some of the loneliness she felt. India had always held some part of her, but now, in Goa, she felt like a stranger in a strange land. Though Lakshmi and her family tried. Mahavira and Jayendra, both stereotypical looking thugs, were gentle with her, as if she were made of cut crystal, always bringing her flowers and making her laugh. Too bad she only saw them as surrogate brothers.
Merlin she missed her dormmates. When she was feeling particularly pathetic, she liked to imagine where her fellow Gryffindor yearmates were now.
Lavender was probably still painting the beaches of Greece. Merlin, she missed her best friend, had it really been almost three years since she had see the blonde?
Dean was possibly still in Paris, painting whatever struck his fancy. They had run into one another in a little cafe and they had nearly laughed themselves silly at the coincidence.
Seamus was most likely using his talents in the kitchen to worm his way into a woman's bed. Oh, how he could make her giggle into the night. And if she remembered fifth year correctly, he was quite the snogger as well.
Neville, well, she was never quite sure where he ended up. He was always full of surprises, that one. Like, did anyone ever see him leading the student resistance during their seventh year, espiecially comparing him to his first year self? No, Neville Longbottom was doing whatever he damned well pleased.
Ron was probably following Harry's footsteps, wherever that may be. Hopefully he had found his own place in the world by now.
Harry would be making the world a better place. While he may be a terrible date, the man still thought there was good to be found in the world and he would defend that good until his dying breath, which would hopefully be far, far, far away.
Hermione was probably taking over the world. While Parvati might not have always agreed with the wild-haired girl, actually, rarely agreed with her, at leas one could say the bright girl always had the public's best interests at heart, even if she went about everything all wrong.
Parvati shifted on her bed, trying to find a comfortable position. It was getting harder and harder these days. the afternoon was so warm and she was so tired, it had become her habit to take siestas during the hottest part of the day, something she had picked up during her time in South America. Feeling a wetness in between her legs, she struggled to sit up, annoyed at herself before it took her a moment to realized that it wasn't urine she was feeling, but something else. Something entirely different.
"Lakshmi!" Parvati yelled for her friend as her heart clenched. No. It was too soon. She wasn't ready. Though a small, very small, and rational part of her brain told her that she would never be ready for motherhood, it was soon drowned out by the massive wave of terror.
And then the contraction hit. And Parvati screamed.
Lakshmi hurried into her young friend's room, the bangles at her wrists jangling softly as she took in the scene. "Shivali, it is time." And her heart broke, for she knew that her young friend's sister would not be here when she was needed most. Perhaps Lakshmi shoud have intervened on Parvati's behalf, but to break a friend's trust was a grave sin indeed.
"No." Parvati shook her head, beads of sweat already forming on her brow. "No, it is too soon. I can't."
"You can. And you will." Lakshmi's gaze bore deep into Parvati's as she summoned hot water and clean towels before taking her friend's hands, squeezing tight. "You will bear your child like those before you. It shall not be an easy path, child, but one you must take."
The younger woman barely had time to nod before another contraction hit.
----------
Later that night, Lakshmi padded into the room where mother and child slept, curled together on the low bed. The scent of jasmine floated in from the garden as midwife and friend checked the pair. Something had shifted that afternoon, though she could not tell whether it was for better or for worse.
One half of a soul had changed. Would the pieces ever fit back together again?
Parvati stirred. "Lakshmi?" she whispered in the dark, just able to make out the older woman's form. "Is everything okay."
"Everything is fine," Lakshmi lied, not knowing if she was doing more harm than good. "Sleep, Shivali, for this is probably the last time you will be able to."
Summary: Parvati gives birth.
Dearest Padma, Parvati wrote at the top of the page, her eyes welling up with tears. Damn pregnancy hormones. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, the woman continued to put pen to paper.
My due date's fast approaching, in two days time, in fact, and I'm finding it hard to contain my excitement and terror. In fact, I would call the feeling sublime. I know you like words. Apparently it basically means the near excitement of doing something absolutely terrifying. Or something to that effect. I really wasn't listening as the healer prattled on. I was looking at the charmed image of my child. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl though. There are so few happy surprises left in this world, I needed this one. I'd be happy with either. Just as long as he or she's happy and healthy, that's all that matters, yes? The world needs more happy and healthy.
I considered sending post to Michael, to let him know he's about to be a father, but I find that I want to be selfish about this. When I left New York, five months pregnant (don't get that look on your face, I know, it was a stupid decision), we made an agreement that I was to raise the child on my own. I don't think either of us were happy with it, but I was about to give up my family, friends, my life for him and I couldn't . I could never imagine not speaking to you again, face to face.
Even if I haven't done so in years. Or sent you any real letters outside of those in this book.
What should I do, Paddie?
Tears began to fall from Parvati's eyes as she began to reread what she had just written, too fast for her to try and stop. Merlin, she missed her sister, but she had stopped sending letter shortly after she settled in New York. Michael had put stars in her eyes. Unintentional, of course, but he did. He made her forget all the bat things that had happened in England. of course, that also meant she had forgotten many of the good.
How could she so utterly careless?
"Shivali, what's wrong?" Lakshmi, the midwife who had taken Parvati under her wing, entered the room. She ran a hand through the pregnant woman's hair. "Ah, you are writing to your sister again. When will you send these letters, Shivali? She must miss you as much as you miss her."
Parvati shook her head, struggling for a moment to stand before she began to waddle around the room. "It's just a journal, Lakshmi." She gave the older woman a watery smile. "I just found that it was easier to put a name at the top."
"And it just so happens to be your sister's name?" The woman raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Shivali, this is no time to do things on your own. You should have family by your side." She raised a hand, halting any argument. "I know I made a vow not to ask questions, and I will not, but I can urge you to do the right thing."
Parvati nodded. "I'm going to get some water." And she waddled out of the room and towards the kitchen.
"That's what I thought." Lakshmi shook her head. Willful child. She didn't see the long hard road in front of her, but Lakshmi did. It wasn't often the woman saw one's paths so clearly, but when she did, she knew it must be important, a sign from the Gods. While the path had many happy moments, there were too many heartbreaking ones and she could not let her young friend face that, not alone. Her hand wavered over the journal as she thought about her actions. Did the Gods intend her to break her friend's trust or to simply encourage Parvati do do the right thing?
Closing her eyes, Lakshmi let out a deep breath. This would require some meditation upon the issue.
----------
The stairs had become to difficult to manage after her seventh month and Parvati's room had been moved to a small one off the main living area. Not that the woman minded. It looked into the garden and if she was in need of some people watching, she could just shift herself, slowly, into the other room. It helped to stave off some of the loneliness she felt. India had always held some part of her, but now, in Goa, she felt like a stranger in a strange land. Though Lakshmi and her family tried. Mahavira and Jayendra, both stereotypical looking thugs, were gentle with her, as if she were made of cut crystal, always bringing her flowers and making her laugh. Too bad she only saw them as surrogate brothers.
Merlin she missed her dormmates. When she was feeling particularly pathetic, she liked to imagine where her fellow Gryffindor yearmates were now.
Lavender was probably still painting the beaches of Greece. Merlin, she missed her best friend, had it really been almost three years since she had see the blonde?
Dean was possibly still in Paris, painting whatever struck his fancy. They had run into one another in a little cafe and they had nearly laughed themselves silly at the coincidence.
Seamus was most likely using his talents in the kitchen to worm his way into a woman's bed. Oh, how he could make her giggle into the night. And if she remembered fifth year correctly, he was quite the snogger as well.
Neville, well, she was never quite sure where he ended up. He was always full of surprises, that one. Like, did anyone ever see him leading the student resistance during their seventh year, espiecially comparing him to his first year self? No, Neville Longbottom was doing whatever he damned well pleased.
Ron was probably following Harry's footsteps, wherever that may be. Hopefully he had found his own place in the world by now.
Harry would be making the world a better place. While he may be a terrible date, the man still thought there was good to be found in the world and he would defend that good until his dying breath, which would hopefully be far, far, far away.
Hermione was probably taking over the world. While Parvati might not have always agreed with the wild-haired girl, actually, rarely agreed with her, at leas one could say the bright girl always had the public's best interests at heart, even if she went about everything all wrong.
Parvati shifted on her bed, trying to find a comfortable position. It was getting harder and harder these days. the afternoon was so warm and she was so tired, it had become her habit to take siestas during the hottest part of the day, something she had picked up during her time in South America. Feeling a wetness in between her legs, she struggled to sit up, annoyed at herself before it took her a moment to realized that it wasn't urine she was feeling, but something else. Something entirely different.
"Lakshmi!" Parvati yelled for her friend as her heart clenched. No. It was too soon. She wasn't ready. Though a small, very small, and rational part of her brain told her that she would never be ready for motherhood, it was soon drowned out by the massive wave of terror.
And then the contraction hit. And Parvati screamed.
Lakshmi hurried into her young friend's room, the bangles at her wrists jangling softly as she took in the scene. "Shivali, it is time." And her heart broke, for she knew that her young friend's sister would not be here when she was needed most. Perhaps Lakshmi shoud have intervened on Parvati's behalf, but to break a friend's trust was a grave sin indeed.
"No." Parvati shook her head, beads of sweat already forming on her brow. "No, it is too soon. I can't."
"You can. And you will." Lakshmi's gaze bore deep into Parvati's as she summoned hot water and clean towels before taking her friend's hands, squeezing tight. "You will bear your child like those before you. It shall not be an easy path, child, but one you must take."
The younger woman barely had time to nod before another contraction hit.
----------
Later that night, Lakshmi padded into the room where mother and child slept, curled together on the low bed. The scent of jasmine floated in from the garden as midwife and friend checked the pair. Something had shifted that afternoon, though she could not tell whether it was for better or for worse.
One half of a soul had changed. Would the pieces ever fit back together again?
Parvati stirred. "Lakshmi?" she whispered in the dark, just able to make out the older woman's form. "Is everything okay."
"Everything is fine," Lakshmi lied, not knowing if she was doing more harm than good. "Sleep, Shivali, for this is probably the last time you will be able to."
Summary: Parvati gives birth.