There are two things in this life for which we are never fully prepared
Lavender loved her friends, even when they ran off to different countries and proceeded to have children. But Lavender supposed she couldn’t be too upset with Seamus. At least he’d bothered to write and tell her about his impending arrivals and not just show up on her doorstep with toddlers in tow. She loved her friends, it was why she was standing in front of Seamus’ parents door with a bottle of wine and a smile.
His parents were out for the night - dinner with friends from his Da’s office - and the twins were, blessedly, asleep. Merlin only knew how long for, of course, but they’d been getting better.
He was as close to relaxed as he’d been all day when the doorbell rang. They’d had it specially charmed so it wouldn’t wake his wee ones, something he was eminently grateful for. They’d squalled every time it sounded as newborns, until Seamus had found a bloke to charm the Parisian flat, so he’d made sure Mam and Da had it done here before they crossed the channel.
Pushing a hand through his hair and shaking it out behind him, he sauntered down to the door, the floorboards smooth under his bare feet. A smiling sight to behold, of pale blonde and pure mischief, greeted him.
“Lav.” Seamus grinned, and opened his arms.
“Seamus!” She threw her arms around him and held on tight. “Did you miss me? I missed you.” Remembering the wine - though she should have remembered it earlier, as it had thumped him on the back when she hugged him - she wiggled out of his grasp and held it aloft. “Bribery. I want to see your babies.”
He leaned back, pretending to scrutinise the vintage. “Bribery accepted. They’re asleep, thank fu- the fairies,” he hastily corrected, lest his mother’s newly instituted enchanted Potty Mouth Bucket summon some of his coin. “But come on up and have a cuddle.” He tried not to beam too much, but his babies were beautiful, which he said so himself, every day.
“I will definitely cuddle,” Lav loved cuddles, and babies were soft, smushy, and smelled really good, “but you have to let me in first.”
He considered the proposition for a moment. “If ye insist, love.” Seamus gallantly stepped aside, gesturing at the door with a welcoming arm. “Come on then. Come see what I made.”
She practically skipped into the house, whacking him in the stomach with the wine bottle on her way. “Open this and point me in the direction of the little ones.” If they were sleeping she couldn’t cuddle, but she could still admire.
Catching the bottle against his stomach, Seamus followed her inside. He popped the cork in the kitchen, leaving the bottle of red to breathe before indicating the staircase. “Up we go then. Time to meet the spawn.”
Lavender wanted to bounce a little bit, or clap, or jump up and down. Anything to release the pent up excitement. “Go faster,” she whispered, poking him. “Babies!”
Rolling his eyes, Lav had always been effervescent and eager, he reached the first floor landing and headed down the hall to the nursery. He’d moved home in a hurry, so no one’s name was on the door yet, but there was a rather large cartoon teddy his sister had found. “In here, Aunty Lav,” he whispered, opening the door softly and leading the way in.
She rushed in with an indrawn breath, her mouth in a little ‘o’ as she tried to decide which baby she wanted to dart to first. A quick ‘eenie, meenie’ later and she was standing by the one on the left, peering down at the tiny occupant. “Oh, he’s so cute,” she cooed, pausing long enough to look over her shoulder at the daddy standing in the doorway. “This one is the he, right?”
Seamus followed her, fishing out the helpful blue bear that was half-tucked under soft blankets. "Can't you see he looks just like handsome Da, Lav? This is my Liam." Pride swelled in his soft voice as he stroked his little man's arm.
Lav snorted. “He’s much cuter than you, Seamus.” He was so chubs and adorable, all she could think about was picking him up and squeezing him until he popped. She was pretty sure that confetti and glitter would be all that was left if she did though, and Seamus would probably like the baby more than he would glitter.
The man sighed. "I suppose I really can't argue with that, can I matey, hmmm?" Carefully, he pulled back the blankets and scooped the boy gently up, careful that he didn't wake him. After brushing a kiss to Liam's forehead, he turned enquiringly to Aunty Lav. "Want to hold him?"
“More than anything else in the whole world,” she whispered. “Gimme!” She held out her arms, this time unable to stop herself from actually bouncing.
He gave a low chuckle, handing Liam over. "This is Aunty Lav, sprog. She's a little bit messy, but lots of fun."
“Don’t listen to him,” she whispered, breathing in the sweet baby scent as she nuzzled. “I’m not messy, I’m just a bit disorganized is all. Besides, you don’t mind that, do you?”
"You haven't seen the messes he makes in his nappies. I don't think he'll much mind." Seamus gave her a reassuring wink.
“Yes, well that’s why you’re the daddy and I’m the cool aunty.” The cool aunty didn’t have to change yucky nappies, it was one the perks. She brushed her fingers over Liam’s head, through the wispy baby hair. So soft, so sweet. It almost made her want one of her own.
"Definitely the cool Aunty. Who brings Da wine." He appreciated that very much.
“Contemplated bringing tequila, but you’re a grown up now. Had to bring the fancy stuff.” Well, as fancy as it got on her budget, which was nearly nonexistent.
He grimaced. "They don't help a hangover, wee ones." He'd only gotten properly drunk once since they'd been born; the day after the night Michelle left. Her parents were watching the twins, aware but unsure of what to say, and Seamus had grabbed a workmate and a well stocked cellar and done his damnedest to drown unignorable sorrows. The few memories he had were not ones he relished.
“Which is another reason I brought wine, duh.” There wasn’t enough wine to warrant a hangover the next morning, unless he’d gone soft, which she didn’t think. He certainly didn’t look like he’d gone soft. Lavender cut off that line of thought and her wandering eyes and cuddled the little one a bit closer. He was a new dad nursing a broken heart, he didn’t need that kind of complication. Besides, they were friends.
"Clever Aunty Lav too, huh?" He stroked Liam's hair lovingly. "Want to meet your niece, then?"
“Do yellow and blue make green? Of course I want to.” Even though it meant giving back the one she already had. It was a fair trade, though. They were twins.
Proud that his son was still sleeping, Seamus lifted lifted Liam and kissed his forehead, before placing him softly back in his cot. "Good boy," he murmured, "sleep for Da. My very best boy." Another kiss, and then he was by Ari's cot.
Lavender gave Liam one last lingering glance before she trailed after Seamus. “I’ve been thinking,” she whispered, going up on her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder. “You don’t really need two, do you? Can I have one?”
Once he'd plucked his little princess from her pillows, he gave her a look, though it was fairly diluted from his usual glare. "Mine. Besides, they don't like to sleep apart; sets them well off. You'd get no rest, love." Patting the little back, he dutifully handed her over. "This would be my Ariel."
So if she really wanted one, she’d have to do it the old fashioned way. Or she’d have to kidnap one of them. Which was no longer really an option, since she’d be suspect number now that she’d asked if she could have one. “It was just a question, no need to get your knickers in a knot.”
He covered the girl’s tiny ears. “Ari doesn’t need to know her Da’s not wearing knickers.” Seamus was strictly a boxers man, but that was beside the point.
“Ari is sleeping, crazy.” Lav pressed her face against the soft little human in her arms to hide the color riding high on her cheekbones. She didn’t need to know that Ari’s dad wasn’t wearing pants.
The man beamed at that. “Isn’t she pretty when she’s quiet?” She was pretty all the time, of course. Ari had worried him the most; she hadn’t taken as easily to the formula milk as Liam after it had become necessary, and she’d been far fussier and unsettled since their little household had been disrupted. Seeing her quiet and peaceful now was a balm for him.
“She’s beautiful,” she sighed, hugging her precious cargo as tight as she dared. And she was. Ariel was the most beautiful baby girl Lavender had ever seen. Now she really did want a baby of her own, and it was all Seamus’ fault. “You prat.”
“Awfully sorry for giving her me very best genes,” Seamus quipped. He beamed down at the tiny, perfect creature. “Absolute little visions they are; when they’re not makin’ a noise.”
“But I bet they’re even more fun when they’re awake to make noise.” She almost asked if she could wake them up, but stopped herself. The answer would be a firm ‘no’, and they wouldn’t be able to enjoy their wine in peace if they had to play with babies the whole time. Babies and wine did not mix well.
"Safe bet," Seamus agreed, before nodding to his Mam's old rocking chair in the corner. "Sit down if ye like." He brushed a gentle hand over Ari's little thatch of blond hair. "They've got the biggest blue eyes, Lav. You'll see next time, when they're awake."
Lavender crossed the room, stepping lightly in order to keep from waking the baby in her arms and lowered herself into the chair. "Oh Seamus," she sighed, her heart constricting as she gazed down at the sweet little girl. She felt like crying and she didn't know why.
"I know," he whispered, pausing by Liam's cot. The little man was so tiny, Seamus couldn't even fathom that he'd be full grown some day. "Too precious to leave, aren't they?" He murmured, almost amazed that there was no anger in his voice. But it was more important his wee ones slept than Da vent his feelings.
That was something she didn't - couldn't - understand. How could anyone leave them by choice? She'd only held them while they were sleeping, but she was smitten. What kind of woman would walk out when she had such little angels at her fingertips?
"Yes, which is why you should let me have one," she said again. The atmosphere of the little room had gotten a bit heavy for her taste, it was her way of trying to lighten it.
"Would ye be bringin' it back for cuddles on weekends?" he asked shrewdly, lips settling into a half-smile.
"Never," her lips twitched into an answering grin. "I would keep it and monopolize all the cuddles."
"Bad call, Brown," he retorted, "no take-home Finnigan spawn for you."
She made a disappointed little sound and leaned back, rocking gently. "What if I said you could come on Tuesdays and bank holidays for snuggles? Would that work?"
Seamus shook his head, the ends of his hair brushing against his shoulders. "Not enough, Miss Purple. Ari here's a Da's girl."
"So, I can have Liam?" she asked, hopefully. She could deal with a baby boy. Maybe. And was she seriously considering stealing one of her best friend's children? Lavender didn't know what had come over her, but it sounded suspiciously like her biological clock - the one her mum had been pestering her about for the past couple of years - had just started ticking.
He gave a sad shrug, before leaning down to stroke his boy’s arm. “I need Liam, Lav, so he can punch the boys that look at his sister and play football for Ireland.”
She sighed and brushed a kiss over Ari’s forehead. “I see how it is. We’ve been friends since we were ickle firsties and you won’t even let me have one of your kids.”
“Ye want to have one of me babies, Lav?” Seamus’ eyebrows rose as he gave her a broad, silly grin. “Kids are asleep, bedroom’s down the hall.”
Her eyes widened, but only for a moment. “I meant one of the existing ones, but if you really want to shag me, I do require dinner first. And maybe flowers. Definitely wine.”
Blue eyes were narrowed in mock suspicion. “This is all just a ploy to get me to make ye some dinner, int it?”
“You caught me,” she giggled. “This has been about food the whole time.”
He nodded sagely. “The way to any heart, Lav.”
Summary: Auntie Lav visits Seamus to meet Ari and Liam.
His parents were out for the night - dinner with friends from his Da’s office - and the twins were, blessedly, asleep. Merlin only knew how long for, of course, but they’d been getting better.
He was as close to relaxed as he’d been all day when the doorbell rang. They’d had it specially charmed so it wouldn’t wake his wee ones, something he was eminently grateful for. They’d squalled every time it sounded as newborns, until Seamus had found a bloke to charm the Parisian flat, so he’d made sure Mam and Da had it done here before they crossed the channel.
Pushing a hand through his hair and shaking it out behind him, he sauntered down to the door, the floorboards smooth under his bare feet. A smiling sight to behold, of pale blonde and pure mischief, greeted him.
“Lav.” Seamus grinned, and opened his arms.
“Seamus!” She threw her arms around him and held on tight. “Did you miss me? I missed you.” Remembering the wine - though she should have remembered it earlier, as it had thumped him on the back when she hugged him - she wiggled out of his grasp and held it aloft. “Bribery. I want to see your babies.”
He leaned back, pretending to scrutinise the vintage. “Bribery accepted. They’re asleep, thank fu- the fairies,” he hastily corrected, lest his mother’s newly instituted enchanted Potty Mouth Bucket summon some of his coin. “But come on up and have a cuddle.” He tried not to beam too much, but his babies were beautiful, which he said so himself, every day.
“I will definitely cuddle,” Lav loved cuddles, and babies were soft, smushy, and smelled really good, “but you have to let me in first.”
He considered the proposition for a moment. “If ye insist, love.” Seamus gallantly stepped aside, gesturing at the door with a welcoming arm. “Come on then. Come see what I made.”
She practically skipped into the house, whacking him in the stomach with the wine bottle on her way. “Open this and point me in the direction of the little ones.” If they were sleeping she couldn’t cuddle, but she could still admire.
Catching the bottle against his stomach, Seamus followed her inside. He popped the cork in the kitchen, leaving the bottle of red to breathe before indicating the staircase. “Up we go then. Time to meet the spawn.”
Lavender wanted to bounce a little bit, or clap, or jump up and down. Anything to release the pent up excitement. “Go faster,” she whispered, poking him. “Babies!”
Rolling his eyes, Lav had always been effervescent and eager, he reached the first floor landing and headed down the hall to the nursery. He’d moved home in a hurry, so no one’s name was on the door yet, but there was a rather large cartoon teddy his sister had found. “In here, Aunty Lav,” he whispered, opening the door softly and leading the way in.
She rushed in with an indrawn breath, her mouth in a little ‘o’ as she tried to decide which baby she wanted to dart to first. A quick ‘eenie, meenie’ later and she was standing by the one on the left, peering down at the tiny occupant. “Oh, he’s so cute,” she cooed, pausing long enough to look over her shoulder at the daddy standing in the doorway. “This one is the he, right?”
Seamus followed her, fishing out the helpful blue bear that was half-tucked under soft blankets. "Can't you see he looks just like handsome Da, Lav? This is my Liam." Pride swelled in his soft voice as he stroked his little man's arm.
Lav snorted. “He’s much cuter than you, Seamus.” He was so chubs and adorable, all she could think about was picking him up and squeezing him until he popped. She was pretty sure that confetti and glitter would be all that was left if she did though, and Seamus would probably like the baby more than he would glitter.
The man sighed. "I suppose I really can't argue with that, can I matey, hmmm?" Carefully, he pulled back the blankets and scooped the boy gently up, careful that he didn't wake him. After brushing a kiss to Liam's forehead, he turned enquiringly to Aunty Lav. "Want to hold him?"
“More than anything else in the whole world,” she whispered. “Gimme!” She held out her arms, this time unable to stop herself from actually bouncing.
He gave a low chuckle, handing Liam over. "This is Aunty Lav, sprog. She's a little bit messy, but lots of fun."
“Don’t listen to him,” she whispered, breathing in the sweet baby scent as she nuzzled. “I’m not messy, I’m just a bit disorganized is all. Besides, you don’t mind that, do you?”
"You haven't seen the messes he makes in his nappies. I don't think he'll much mind." Seamus gave her a reassuring wink.
“Yes, well that’s why you’re the daddy and I’m the cool aunty.” The cool aunty didn’t have to change yucky nappies, it was one the perks. She brushed her fingers over Liam’s head, through the wispy baby hair. So soft, so sweet. It almost made her want one of her own.
"Definitely the cool Aunty. Who brings Da wine." He appreciated that very much.
“Contemplated bringing tequila, but you’re a grown up now. Had to bring the fancy stuff.” Well, as fancy as it got on her budget, which was nearly nonexistent.
He grimaced. "They don't help a hangover, wee ones." He'd only gotten properly drunk once since they'd been born; the day after the night Michelle left. Her parents were watching the twins, aware but unsure of what to say, and Seamus had grabbed a workmate and a well stocked cellar and done his damnedest to drown unignorable sorrows. The few memories he had were not ones he relished.
“Which is another reason I brought wine, duh.” There wasn’t enough wine to warrant a hangover the next morning, unless he’d gone soft, which she didn’t think. He certainly didn’t look like he’d gone soft. Lavender cut off that line of thought and her wandering eyes and cuddled the little one a bit closer. He was a new dad nursing a broken heart, he didn’t need that kind of complication. Besides, they were friends.
"Clever Aunty Lav too, huh?" He stroked Liam's hair lovingly. "Want to meet your niece, then?"
“Do yellow and blue make green? Of course I want to.” Even though it meant giving back the one she already had. It was a fair trade, though. They were twins.
Proud that his son was still sleeping, Seamus lifted lifted Liam and kissed his forehead, before placing him softly back in his cot. "Good boy," he murmured, "sleep for Da. My very best boy." Another kiss, and then he was by Ari's cot.
Lavender gave Liam one last lingering glance before she trailed after Seamus. “I’ve been thinking,” she whispered, going up on her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder. “You don’t really need two, do you? Can I have one?”
Once he'd plucked his little princess from her pillows, he gave her a look, though it was fairly diluted from his usual glare. "Mine. Besides, they don't like to sleep apart; sets them well off. You'd get no rest, love." Patting the little back, he dutifully handed her over. "This would be my Ariel."
So if she really wanted one, she’d have to do it the old fashioned way. Or she’d have to kidnap one of them. Which was no longer really an option, since she’d be suspect number now that she’d asked if she could have one. “It was just a question, no need to get your knickers in a knot.”
He covered the girl’s tiny ears. “Ari doesn’t need to know her Da’s not wearing knickers.” Seamus was strictly a boxers man, but that was beside the point.
“Ari is sleeping, crazy.” Lav pressed her face against the soft little human in her arms to hide the color riding high on her cheekbones. She didn’t need to know that Ari’s dad wasn’t wearing pants.
The man beamed at that. “Isn’t she pretty when she’s quiet?” She was pretty all the time, of course. Ari had worried him the most; she hadn’t taken as easily to the formula milk as Liam after it had become necessary, and she’d been far fussier and unsettled since their little household had been disrupted. Seeing her quiet and peaceful now was a balm for him.
“She’s beautiful,” she sighed, hugging her precious cargo as tight as she dared. And she was. Ariel was the most beautiful baby girl Lavender had ever seen. Now she really did want a baby of her own, and it was all Seamus’ fault. “You prat.”
“Awfully sorry for giving her me very best genes,” Seamus quipped. He beamed down at the tiny, perfect creature. “Absolute little visions they are; when they’re not makin’ a noise.”
“But I bet they’re even more fun when they’re awake to make noise.” She almost asked if she could wake them up, but stopped herself. The answer would be a firm ‘no’, and they wouldn’t be able to enjoy their wine in peace if they had to play with babies the whole time. Babies and wine did not mix well.
"Safe bet," Seamus agreed, before nodding to his Mam's old rocking chair in the corner. "Sit down if ye like." He brushed a gentle hand over Ari's little thatch of blond hair. "They've got the biggest blue eyes, Lav. You'll see next time, when they're awake."
Lavender crossed the room, stepping lightly in order to keep from waking the baby in her arms and lowered herself into the chair. "Oh Seamus," she sighed, her heart constricting as she gazed down at the sweet little girl. She felt like crying and she didn't know why.
"I know," he whispered, pausing by Liam's cot. The little man was so tiny, Seamus couldn't even fathom that he'd be full grown some day. "Too precious to leave, aren't they?" He murmured, almost amazed that there was no anger in his voice. But it was more important his wee ones slept than Da vent his feelings.
That was something she didn't - couldn't - understand. How could anyone leave them by choice? She'd only held them while they were sleeping, but she was smitten. What kind of woman would walk out when she had such little angels at her fingertips?
"Yes, which is why you should let me have one," she said again. The atmosphere of the little room had gotten a bit heavy for her taste, it was her way of trying to lighten it.
"Would ye be bringin' it back for cuddles on weekends?" he asked shrewdly, lips settling into a half-smile.
"Never," her lips twitched into an answering grin. "I would keep it and monopolize all the cuddles."
"Bad call, Brown," he retorted, "no take-home Finnigan spawn for you."
She made a disappointed little sound and leaned back, rocking gently. "What if I said you could come on Tuesdays and bank holidays for snuggles? Would that work?"
Seamus shook his head, the ends of his hair brushing against his shoulders. "Not enough, Miss Purple. Ari here's a Da's girl."
"So, I can have Liam?" she asked, hopefully. She could deal with a baby boy. Maybe. And was she seriously considering stealing one of her best friend's children? Lavender didn't know what had come over her, but it sounded suspiciously like her biological clock - the one her mum had been pestering her about for the past couple of years - had just started ticking.
He gave a sad shrug, before leaning down to stroke his boy’s arm. “I need Liam, Lav, so he can punch the boys that look at his sister and play football for Ireland.”
She sighed and brushed a kiss over Ari’s forehead. “I see how it is. We’ve been friends since we were ickle firsties and you won’t even let me have one of your kids.”
“Ye want to have one of me babies, Lav?” Seamus’ eyebrows rose as he gave her a broad, silly grin. “Kids are asleep, bedroom’s down the hall.”
Her eyes widened, but only for a moment. “I meant one of the existing ones, but if you really want to shag me, I do require dinner first. And maybe flowers. Definitely wine.”
Blue eyes were narrowed in mock suspicion. “This is all just a ploy to get me to make ye some dinner, int it?”
“You caught me,” she giggled. “This has been about food the whole time.”
He nodded sagely. “The way to any heart, Lav.”
Summary: Auntie Lav visits Seamus to meet Ari and Liam.