If I Ever Saw Heaven - Emmeda

Rabastan had enjoyed his day. Thursdays were a touch bittersweet now on the off weeks, with the custody arrangements between Rodolphus and Andromeda. He had spent most of his day yesterday at Lestrange Castle. It was difficult to leave the little ones, but they were adjusting to the new schedule. They were resilient children. Lilith really did seem to be invested in their well-being. Rabastan could not tell if it was because the girl cared about the children or cared about not disappointing or angering Rodolphus. He could not imagine spending much time with the boys and not losing your heart to them. So, he expected that even if it was the latter now, that soon the former would also be true.

He made the best of the day as he could. He'd set an appointment with Adaline to get an hour of Andromeda's time this morning. The visit to the Ministry had been most enjoyable. He hoped that it had left a smile on his love's face as it had surely done for him. The Foundation was buzzing with activity, even more so now that the ICW had researchers in the labs. He hoped they would have a breakthrough soon. He was ready for some progress.

But truly his thoughts were less on work today--and more on the fact that he would be meeting Zoë tomorrow. He was more nervous about the impression he would make on her than the one he had made on Emmaline's brothers. Avery and Rhodes mattered, of course, but not in the same way as a child living under this roof mattered. He'd check on her room at least three times since he had been home--every time summoning Ori or Eri to add a little something more. Hopefully the young witch would like it.

He was heading back to the ladies of the house, with another question about Zoë’s favorites when Andromeda poked a bit of fun at him. Rabastan grinned and shook his head. "I just want her room to be perfect!" He insisted. And he did--he really, really did. He answered her summons happily, though, dropping down in between the pair of them. His eyes were bright and excited at the notion of a present. Grown man that he was, he still got excited about little things like a small child. Arms immediately went to behind the women. He always urged them close. His skin was eternally hungry for warmth and contact...a side effect of his time in Azkaban than potions and therapy had not seemed to effect.

"What is this present you speak of? And what is it for?" He really did not have any idea why either of the women would be getting him presents. He was supposed to be getting them presents. That was a regular responsibility of the man. And he tried--He had sent a gorgeous terrarium containing a Lily of the Valley to Emmaline for her office at Dubhe only this very week. Andromeda was due a gift. He needed to think on what would please her.

Rabastan looked unconvinced by Emmaline's assertion. He looked that way because he was not convinced at all. It needed to be perfect. It needed to make a good impression. There were going to be quite a lot of changes for Zoë. This was a new house--in a new place--and he was a new person. While the child had always been around Andromeda, he was a stranger. And now they were supposed to transition from strangers to family. He could not replace what she had lost, but he hoped that he could still show her that he was someone she could count on. He didn't know exactly what that would look like, but he hoped the way he cared for her mother would be enough to gain him a bit of acceptance with the girl.

He blew a breath out threw his nose. "I don't know. I couldn't get the first editions of those books you said she liked here in time. I wanted them to just be on the bookshelf." He wasn't sure when he would be able to give the girl the gifts now--because he did not want it to seem like he was trying to bribe her into liking him. That had not been his intention. He had just wanted her to be surrounded by things that she liked.

The wizard grazed his fingers idly over the curve of both women's necks. He was always initiating little bits of affection like this. He wanted them to always feel treasured--because they were. They were extraordinary women and he was incredibly lucky to have them in his life. A sheepish sort of laugh passed his lips and he rolled his eyes. "I suppose not," he accepted. It would take some adjustment for him to get used to receiving gifts, but they were all making adjustments in this new life together. This truly was not an unpleasant thing to adjust to, either.

Andromeda and Emmaline both seemed to have the opinion that he was going overboard with nitpicking every little thing. And he probably was. He really couldn't help it. It was just part of who he was. He had that second son need to please. He had that ache for validation and praise. He had a deep need for affirmation. Of course, he could go without it...and he could face adversity and challenge. He could and would put in work to achieve the difficult goals.

But he wanted his atta boys when he could get them... and he really-really-really wanted to make a good impression tomorrow.

His face brightened as a smile overtook it at Andromeda's suggestion. "That is a brilliant idea!" He agreed. He had not even thought of that. But really, it would be a really nice opportunity--and something to make the new-new house special. "I will do just that," he confirmed, surety and pleasure in his voice at the notion. Yes--that would work out well.

Rabastan was really excited for the new home that they were going to build. The island was lovely--and this house was very comfortable... but he had not given any input on it. Nor had Emmaline. Andromeda had made the purchase all on her own. The house they were building was going to be done together. They each had made their contributions and suggestions. It was going to be a home for them crafted to suit the family's needs and he was very excited for it.

He arched his brow up at the mention of Father's Day. His heart swelled at that thought. He was getting a gift for Father's Day. Her words made little sense though without context of what the present was. Large? Something he, the boys and Mallory could enjoy? He furrowed his brow in confusion as Meda summoned Faye. If it was something that the elf could bring to them, it couldn't be that large. Could it?

The box placed on his lap wasn't particularly sizable. It wasn't small, but it certainly wasn't huge either--and it was relatively lightweight. He shifted his arms from behind the women to take hold of the gift. It looked rather like a garment box--but instead of trying to guess what might be inside, he just set to opening it. "Okay," he pulled the word out long over his tongue as he tugged at the ribbon. The coloring of the box and silk did not clue him on anything. But inside the box was a custom Puddlemere jersey.

He offered a grin to each of the women in turn. "It's very nice," he said, lifting the jersey out of the box to show his surname and the number 19 clearly out in front of him. "I am not sure I'm in any shape to be playing for United, though," he joked. Even if he hadn't been without his magic, the wizard was a bit up in years to be a professional athlete. Rabastan had not realized that it wasn't just the jersey, but the team that Andromeda had purchased.

The quidditch team was as much for the family as it was for Rabastan alone, but Andromeda didn’t really know all that much about it. She had taken Draco with her the last time that she had been to a match. When England had been playing Scotland last summer. It had seemed pertinent that she be in attendance, but with really very limited quidditch knowledge, she hadn’t understood half of what was happening, and she hadn’t wanted to bother Draco by asking too many questions.

She thought that Rab could teach her though. And he would have more patience with her knowing that they could be a part of every practice, and match, and that they could take the children, and let them wander the pitch. Puddlemere was based in Dorset, after all, and she thought that that was really quite convenient. There had been all of the reasons that she had wanted that particular team, and now she had it.

They had it.

“I don’t know…” She leaned back enough to look at him, “I think you might be able to pull it off. Not sure if we want to share you with all of the other groupies though.” Did they still have groupies? Was that a word that people that weren’t over half a century old used? Andromeda had no clue and given that everyone currently in this house was over fifty, she didn’t really have anyone to ask. She could ask Zoë, tomorrow. “What do groupies wear?”

Her gaze drifted down her own loose dress, and across to Emmaline’s, well, Rabastan’s t-shirt that was hanging off of the other witch. “I’m not sure that we could qualify as groupies…” There was a playful lit to her voice as she sat back far enough that she could curl her legs the other way and put them across his. Her feet landing in Emmaline’s lap.

Rabastan considered Emmaline's suggestion. He, of course, was on board with more animals. He had brought another half dozen goats only the day before--a doe and five kids. They were adorable creatures...and would do much to keep the island's grasses in check. He would set Eri to the task of collecting milk and making cheese. It would be delicious.

While he was absolutely in support of setting up stables and getting a couple horses, he did not want Emmaline to give up a greenhouse to achieve this. He voiced that straight away: "You don't need to give up a greenhouse for us to set up stables on the island. They don't need to be that close to the house. We can take out another of the small cottages--I'd say the one to the north is surrounded by the best grazing land. That way we have all the greenhouses, there are stables--and those stables are far enough away from the main house we don't have to worry about the little ones getting too close to a horse and ending up getting a nasty kick." He wasn't sure if that could actually kill a small child, but it certainly would not be good for them. Andromeda had expressed opposition to cows (not that he had even suggested them), because the children were still small, but he thought this balance could work.

He feigned outrage at being called too old to be a professional athlete. "Are you implying I'm not fit? I'm wounded, Em," he gestured to his tattoo covered muscular torso, "Are you not appreciating all this?" She made a vague reference to her late husband--and not sleeping with other quidditch players, which earned another comment from him. "I guess I can't really complain about that since I'm not one." He folded the jersey and laid it back in the box---setting the whole thing down on the coffee table in front of them.

The women set into a cute playful banter about being groupies. He thought they were just so freaking cute. He honestly would have been happy to just listen to them talk forever. If every day could just be him tucked in between them, with them chattering about literally any topic at all, he would be the happiest and luckiest man alive. "You are both definitely hot enough to be groupies. Those legs would make any witch jealous." He ran a hand down Andromeda's leg, but his eyes were on Emmaline's, even as she had them tucked up on the couch. The compliment was clearly meant for both women--and they both deserved it.

But he could not disagree with Em--she and Meda were not really the type of women he could ever see as groupies. They were like goddesses. He was day dreaming about them a little bit as Emmaline spoke about the type she could be. He looked from one to the other. "The owner type?" He asked, "Did you buy me PU?" His voice was incredulous and filled with surprised. A quidditch team definitely qualified as a really bloody big gift. Reallly, really big.

Large animals were not Andromeda’s cup of tea, but she knew that Emmaline like them. And she didn’t think that Rabastan was going to protest more animals of any form, and so on that matter she kept quiet. He was right though. There was no need for her to give anything up. If she wanted three greenhouses, and a stable, and a marina, then they would have three greenhouses and a stable and a marina… Though if Andromeda remembered correctly, she thought that it was Rabastan that had suggested a marina. Emmaline had only asked for a sailboat and a dock.

Every wish was being fulfilled. They were going to build this life, turn this island into the home that they wanted, for the rest of their lives. Andromeda was pleased with that decision. That choice to raise their children in an environment that radiated love, and joy, and everything that they hadn’t had before. They had, she had, screwed all of this up for them once. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Their life. Their family. It was all laid out here in front of them. All primed for the taking.

At his words her arms moved, wrapping around herself protectively. The idea of large animals around the children was one that made her nervous. But she also knew that they would never let anything happen to them. They would be careful. And Zoë was plenty big enough for a horse. Even if the little children were not. And wouldn’t be, for several years yet. When that time came, she was going to have to trust Emmaline to take their children up on horseback. And not give her a heart attack in the process.

She liked listening to them, the both of them. What she had found in Rabastan had been wonderful. But she hadn’t even realized they were missing something until Emmaline had joined them. Now, half laying here on the couch, watching them, she couldn’t help but think that it worked. That this was it. They had screwed up. She had screwed up. Along the way. But if they would have gotten it right back then, they wouldn’t be here right now. And here was pretty close to perfect.

His compliment was answered with a small smirk. But letting them banter was part of her evening routine. They challenged one another, and they both challenged her. And that was what they all needed. Someone to push back, and say no, this is why. And I love you, but you’re wrong. And she had found that, in them. In the man she should have married fifty years ago. And the woman that she had long considered to be her best friend.

She hummed a little bit when Em punted his question over to her. Rab’s hands on her legs, and Emmaline subconsciously rubbing her foot, was enough to lull her half to sleep. “What would you say if I said that I did?” She knew that it was extravagant, but she couldn’t help her addiction to putting expressions of pure joy on his face.

Andromeda wanted this to work. She wanted something to work. Something that felt like forever. And she knew that it wasn’t going to be easy. They were going to have to figure out how to make that work. They were going to have to figure out how to balance all of it. And it was something that she didn’t think any of them knew where to start. She had been married three times. She had had every intention of staying married to Ted for their entire lives. Because it was safe. And it was normal. And she had grown used to it.

But life changed. Their worlds changed. And marrying Colin had been a bad decision. That hadn’t even lasted six months before she had left. Her roots had started to show the more that the Death Eaters had taken power, and control, and she had been happy. But she didn’t think that she had loved him. She had married him out of sadness, and desperation for something to be normal, after what had happened to Teddy. And she hadn’t found it. Rodolphus had been a return to the familiar. Even if it wasn’t what it had been before.

Azkaban had changed him, and she had known that. But she loved him. There was a part of her that knew that he would always be family. Even if he hated her. Even if he didn’t want anything to do with her. She knew that he would always be family. He was the father of two of her children. There was none of that before with Rabastan though. She hadn’t had any expectations of him when she had finally gone to his bed. Well, it hadn’t been a bed, but that was irrelevant. She hadn’t expected anything out of him, she had just known she had grown to care about him.

And caring about him had led to this.

Watching his expression change at her answer, Andromeda’s whole face brightened into a smile to match his own. When he looked that happy it was contagious. And she knew that she would do anything to keep making him look at her like that. She loved that expression. When the weight of the world seemed to lift, and for just a moment, he was a little boy again. “The Puddlemere United.” She knew that he loved quidditch, and she had chosen the team based in Dorset for several reasons. But they were Division A. And really that had been her first concern.

“And I took Saturday afternoon and had Adaline block it out. We’re going to the pitch before the first game of the season on Sunday.” Going without the boys was disappointing, but she was going to have to get used to that. She wasn’t going to have them on either of their birthdays this year, and she was already trying to prepare herself for that. But they would have Zoë home by then. And before she knew it there would be plenty of life on this island to cheer her up about the days she missed with her boys.