𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | f. w

xxviii. new years -03

chapter twenty-eight
NEW YEAR'S -03

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» » CHRISTMAS CAME and went and soon enough it was the day before new years. Edith and Fred had tried to find out as much as they could about dear ole' Rose Gannon and her very strained relationship with her now ex-husband Alexander. Despite the fact that Edith was quite an old and independent child when her father left at the age of thirteen, she couldn't remember the details that seemed to matter the most. Perhaps it had to do with the trauma of it all, the cause and affect of her mothers toxic behaviour, and the blame she had always put on herself for so many years. Maybe it was what had ultimately caused her to put up this invisible wall, keeping her from attaining the most vivid of happy memories.

"I just don't know why she wouldn't tell me. I know we've had our fair share of arguments and she hasn't been the world greatest mum at times—but we at least used to be happy. Besides, my dad knew, so why didn't she tell me? I would have been so excited".

Fred and Edith were sat in Fred's room up in his apartment above the joke shop when Edith continued to blurt out all the hundreds of questions that seemed to be swirling inside her mind. Al though both somewhat reluctant at first, they eventually decided to split their time hanging out between there and in Edith and Ravi's shared flat. It had only been a few months since she found Fred breaking down in George's old room, but things seemed to be escalating well between the two twenty-four year olds. They still hadn't put a real label on their relationship, but ever since Fred's defending of her to her mother on Christmas Eve, the need to define anything had seemingly reduced. This didn't mean that they weren't constantly thinking about one another and whatever supposed future they could have, because they both did. It just felt nice to not have to worry as much about everything. They now knew were they stood with one another, and that was what mattered the most. The rest could wait awhile.

"Maybe she had her reasons. Maybe she planned on telling you and when your father left and she became more closed off, she found that she couldn't". Fred gave a possible explanation. Although it seemed fairly unbelievable.

Edith curled her lip, thinking hard.

"Then how come I never noticed anything? Surely, I must've realised once she started showing. A pregnancy is not an easy thing to hide, I don't think". Edith stood up from bed, starting to pace around the room, before pausing in her tracks. "I need to speak with my dad again. It's the only way I'll be able to get the answers I want. Mums not telling me, and he's convincing himself he's changed. Maybe he feels bad enough about leaving, that he'll spill".

Fred placed his arms on her waist, bringing her in for a much needed hug. She was stressed out, to say the least. Not only was she thinking about the possibility of her having a brother somewhere out there, but she was also feeling the weight of having to speak to her dad again.

"I need to do this, Fred", she sighed into the crook of his neck.

Fred kissed her head.

"I know. I know you do".

✦✧✦

"I just don't understand why I can't come with you?! He might be dangerous, he used to be a Death Eater for Merlins sake!".

Skip to a few hours later, and Fred was sat in the kitchen, begging Edith to have him come with her to see her dad.

"Yes—used to be, Fred! Christ—he's my dad. He won't hurt me".