𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. ʀ. ʟᴜᴘɪɴ

thirty-six

The next few weeks dragged on. 

Evangeline and Remus saw one another nearly everyday, even if it was just for a few minutes. He would often call her in the mornings and at night, just to make sure she was doing alright before he'd start and end his day. 

Mary never wrote back to Remus, much to his and Evangeline's disappointment. 

The two met the midwitch, Lucy Benton, and decided to hire her. 

She would do various charms and spells to make sure everything was going alright, Evangeline appreciated the privacy the midwitch offered opposed to constantly going to St. Mungo's. 

Evangeline and Remus still went to the muggle doctor's office for the ultrasounds, mainly to get photographs. The day they heard that child's heartbeat, there was not one dry eye in the room. Even the nurse was crying. 

Evangeline found it easier to be around Remus the further along things went, the ache was still present in her heart but she found herself slowly recovering from the heartbreak. Slowly, but surely. 

Summer slipped away quickly, and before they knew it, Harry was returning to school and September fell upon them. 

"Merlin, it feels strange not going back," Remus said as he made dinner for him and Evangeline. 

"Should I remind you who's idea it was again?"

He eyed her, but continued to stir the soup he was making. She laid on the couch, hand over her stomach as she rubbed small circles on it, "it's strange to see a bump here."

"Having issues fitting into clothes yet?"

"Watch it."

He chuckled lightly, scooping some of the soup into a bowl. He brought it over to her, helping her sit up. She smelled the soup, sighing in content, "well, I think the sickness part is over. I don't feel like throwing up at the smell of this," she said. She sipped the soup carefully, "you're always such a good cook, Rem. What's your secret?"

"Never telling," he said, returning to the kitchen. 

He got himself a bowl and sat at the table, "how's work been?" he asked. 

She shrugged, "not bad. You?"

"Quiet."

"Do you miss kids bustling about around you?"

"In a way, though I'm excited to have a little one bustling about all the time around me."

One thing Evangeline was happy to see, was how excited he was growing. He still had days when he was distant and anxious, but they were becoming rare. 

"Remus, I want to return to Hogwarts next year... and you don't."

"Yes..."

"How are we going to raise this child if one of us is away?"

He thought about it for a few moments, "I'm sure you could work something out with Dumbledore where you could live away from Hogwarts and apparate or floo there."

"And when this child is born, we'll be living apart..."

"Yes..."

"They can't be away from me a lot during the first few weeks after birth. Going back and forth from your home to mine, I worry it'll cause us and the baby too much stress."

"We can't live together again," he quietly said. 

"We'll set up protection spells if that makes you more comfortable, you can even crash at my home during full Moons. It's going to be incredibly difficult living in separate homes for this, Remus."

"Why do you want to live here? You've never suggested I move into your place."

She shrugged, "I don't know... this place just feels more like home," she said, glancing around his cottage, "if you want to live together in my home that's fine, and you can come back here for full Moons."

"I'll think about it."

The two ate in silence after their discussion, it didn't take long for Evangeline to clear the bowl of the soup. She sat the bowl down on the coffee table and gasped suddenly, making Remus shoot up from his seat. 

He was by her side in the blink of an eye, "what? What's wrong?"

She smiled brightly as she pressed her hand to her stomach, "the baby's kicking!" she practically squealed out. 

He timidly placed a warm hand on her stomach, a feeling she relished. A smile grew on his face, "oh my..."

"You feel it?"

He laughed softly, "I do! What does it feel like?"

"Almost like butterflies..." she whispered out as the kicking died down. 

Remus removed his hand from her stomach and placed it in his lap, "I really hope I'll be a good father, Evangeline."

"You will be," she gently assured, "we'll be great."

He stared over at her, and she swore he saw his eyes flicker down to her lips. He blinked and quickly stood up, "do you want any more to eat?"

"No, I'm alright."

Just a few days later, Lucy was at Evangeline's home enchanting a ring on a string. Evangeline laid on the couch, tapping her fingers on the couch anxiously. 

"I honestly thought this was just an old-wives tale," Remus said, standing over Evangeline, watching her intently. 

"In the muggle world it's considered one," Lucy answered, "so I'll just hold this over your stomach, and if it sways side to side, it's a boy. Circular if it's a girl. Are you two ready?" she asked, looking at the two. 

He looked to her, and she nodded. 

Lucy held up the string, dangling the golden ring over Evangeline's stomach. Everyone watched intently, waiting for something. 

After a few seconds, it began to spin. 

Evangeline let out a breath and Remus took a few steps back, "looks like you'll be having a lovely little girl. You get to keep the ring," Lucy kindly said, taking it off the string and handing it to Evangeline. 

She tucked it in her pocket and sat up with a bright smile. Remus rubbed a hand down his face, "we're having a girl," he said in shock. 

Evangeline stood up and brought Remus in for a hug, "it's a girl," she repeated with wet eyes. 

They pulled apart, "have you two been discussing names?" Lucy asked. 

"Oh dear, we haven't thought about names!" Evangeline exclaimed. 

After Lucy left, Sirius visited and nearly choked on his water when they said it was a girl.

"Names! We need names!" Sirius said. 

"We know," Remus groaned, "we haven't even bought anything yet."

"I reckon you should get on that," Sirius said, "I've already bought the baby clothes."

"Before you knew the sex?" Evangeline questioned. 

"Gender-neutral," Sirius said.

"Ah."

"Just wait until Harry hears. He's been hoping for a boy," Sirius said, "he'll be so disappointed."

"He'll live," Remus replied.