"What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave!"
- Fleur Delacour, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a go...
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Tommy heaved himself on his cot, Arthur and John doing the same as their brother. They were tired, sore, sad, and missing their home, their family. Tommy was getting it worse; his wife was back in Small Heath without him, going through her pregnancy alone. He was riddled with guilt, he knew it wasn't his fault not at all, but he hated that she was alone, having heard the news of his father in law being sent out on a death mission and dying in only the first few months of the war. Then his mother in law passed next. A broken heart. That scared him, what if he died what if his Lily, his sweet wife, an angel passed from her own broken heart. No he couldn't think like that.
He promised he'd come home.
"Mail boys!" Their commander called out, handing the envelope's from their families to them.
Tommy sat up straighter when he received his letter, but it wasn't in his Lily's writing, fear gripped his heart as he opened the envelope.
Dear Tommy.
I wish to congratulate you on the birth of your two sons. Both born February the 17th 1915. Imogen is healthy and absolutely besotted with your two boys. I know you wished this was your wife telling you this in letter, but we wanted you to get this letter right away, so I write with haste. And you know I hate writing quickly, wanting to tell you everything.
But enclosed in the envelope is pictures of your boys and wife. We took one as they were sleeping. On the left is George Callum Shelby, and on the right is Fredrick Colby Shelby.
Congratulations Tommy, now fight as hard as you can to meet your little boys. Imogen misses you dearly and loves you more everyday as you fight.
With Love Aunt Polly.
Sitting back Tommy pulled the photo out, staring at his wonderful wife, and his two boys. He smiled seeing the tufts of black hair atop their heads, their tiny hands gripping some of Imogen's hair as they slept. He was a father to two little boys. Damn did he wish this war was over with.
"Hey Tommy, you alright?" John asked his brother seeing the tears streaming down his face.
Tommy smiled through the tears. "More then alright. John, I'd like you to sort of meet you two nephews Fred and George Shelby." Tommy said showing his younger brother the photo.
"Shit!" John cried out hugging his brother happily as he looked at the photo. "Tommy, you're a father! Congratulations!" John cried hugging him once more.
Arthur sat up fast hearing his brothers words. "Imogen gave birth!" He cried as he too jumped up and hugged their brother. The three men acting like a bunch of teenaged girls as they gossiped over the photos.
Back in Small Heath, it had been a full month since the birth of Tommy and Imogen's twins. Ada had moved right into Imogen's home to help her with the twins. The two boys were living up to their namesakes, even at a month old. But they were powerful according to Merlin, the pair already doing accidental magic. "Freddie, Georgie, you two little devils, please stop hiding auntie Ada's things." Imogen scolded as she held both children in her arms.
The two simply giggled, as Imogen shook her head at the pair. She carried the pair out to the living room, the two were dressed in two little suits that she had made, with their very own Peaky caps. Although the twins were named after her brothers from the future and acted like them, they most certainly did not look like the Weasley twins. With their black hair, bright blue eyes like their father with their mothers emerald colour surrounding the iris, the Shelby twins were of course Shelby through and through.
She laid the boys down on top of a blanket with many toys surrounding them. "Now remember you gotta let Mumma take photo to send to your papa, okay darlings?" She whispered to the pair, who listened to their mothers voice with rapid attention. "I'm gonna go through some hell with you two aren't I." She said shaking her head.
Getting the camera ready she placed it in front of her eyes and took the photo. The boys laughing as the picture was taken.
Tommy held the photo in his hands as he stared at his little boys, the two laughing at whatever their mother had done, switching to the next photo he found Imogen laying between the twins, hair sprawled over the floor as the twin cackled away. This photo was special, it was a magical photo that allowed for Tommy to watch the scene play out, and only he could see it, he was the one married to the witch, no one else. He grinned as he saw Imogen look at the camera in that moment, a soft smile on her face. He wished with all his heart he could see her emerald eyes, see the pink hue on her cheeks, feel his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her to his chest as he listened to her heart beat.
He wished he could feel her lips on his own. He wished he had her right now, he wished he had his wife's body underneath him calling his name. Damn did he want her badly. Groaning softly he breathed deeply calming himself. He looked back at his smiling wife's face.
"I miss you my Lily." He whispered, caressing the photo. "I can't wait for this to be all over." He whispered as he laid back on the cot, his brothers and comrade's asleep around him. Pocketing the photos, except the moving one, Tommy looked inside the envelope finding a little charm inside. "My smart enchantress, giving me protection even so far away." He whispered as he placed the charm on his dog tags. "Good night my Lily, good night Freddie, good night Georgie." He whispered as he fell into a haunting sleep.
And these nightmares would plague his mind always, except for when he is in his wife's arms would he finally sleep.
