Moths to a Flame

48. Still a No

Aria pov
August 1896

The last week I spared no time, at any moment I was on them like a leech. They were happy to oblige at first, but I think they were starting to get tired from it all. Last night for example they denied my advices, and went right to sleep. I was a little stung by the action. I went to sleep without so much as a kiss to the cheek from either of them. I cuddled against them, in hopes to feel better, but they were deep asleep and I was left there with my thoughts.

This week however, I was still feeling down. When I woke up this morning I was still laying in bed. They were off to work today as usual. I just lay there in bed. Maybe I was trying too hard, and inadvertently was driving a wedge between us all. I stayed there. Then I felt a sharp pain through my abdomen. I sat up quickly, making it worse. I've never felt such a pain before. I laid back down and groaned. I can handle most pain, hell I even know what the crucio feels like; this was nothing like the unforgivable by any means, but it was up there. I was able to summon a glass of water for myself, it helped, but only a little.

It was hours later when they both came home. They were in the kitchen talking amongst themselves, I heard their mumbling from downstairs, and they eventually came to find me in our bedroom curled into a ball with tears running down my face.

"You alright darling?" Sebastian asked me.

"Hmm" I hummed.

"Suppers ready, come on" he said.

"I don't feel like it" I said.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Not sure I've just felt a sharp pain this morning and hasn't gone away yet" I tell him.

"Pain? What kind" he said his tone shifting.

"Not sure" I said to him.

"I'll bring supper up to you instead, I'll be right back" Sebastian said. He left and came back within minutes, this time Ominis was with him carrying their own supper trays.

They sat either side of me and we ate there in the bed together. Afterwords Sebastian was coddling me saying we have to go to a healer get this checked out, why I was feeling this and all that. But I insisted that we don't and I'm sure it will pass soon enough. Telling them it was probably just the start of my menstrual cycle, it was never regular and I never knew when it was coming. They seemed to have calmed down a little. But only a little.

It was a couple days later and it stopped, but I wasn't bleeding so it wasn't my menstrual cycle. I was still not feeling well, but at least I wasn't in pain anymore. I started to think again. When I last felt this way. Then a thought hit me. Is it true? Could this be it? Have we finally done it?
Am I finally getting the baby I've longed so long for? Am I finally pregnant?

I have to find out for sure before I tell them. I don't want what happened last time. I immediately penned a letter to St Mungo's to set up an appointment with them. Didn't know that to think. Excitement, but also apprehension. I've wanted one for so long now and I don't know what to think.

I was an hour or two later I got a letter back from St. Mungo's, stating they could get me in next week on Friday at 1 in the afternoon. So I owled back that it was fine and laid back in bed. I made a mental note to myself the day and time. Then I hid the notes in my dowers. I didn't want them to panic or ask why I want to go to the hospital.

I was a bit more chipper about the house now. I made my way down the stairs to putz about the house cleaning and prepping something for supper tonight. I felt bad that Sebastian's been doing all the cooking and cleaning up. So I made an effort to do it for him. I know he doesn't mind but I wanted to. I waved my wand and cleaned and put pots and pans away. Cleaning the house as well. The dusting and washing the windows. When that was all done I waved my wand to set the table for supper, I summoned the Daily Prophet and placed it in the table for when they arrived home and liked to read it. Then I made my way back to the kitchen to make the food. This part I like to do by hand, like my mother does. I put on the apron and tied my hair back. I decided that a roast chicken and on potatoes would be lovely along with sautéed vegetables.

The windows were open and there was a nice breeze it was a lovey summer afternoon. I looked at the clock and saw that it was currently half past four and they would be coming home shortly. The house was smelling good and I was enjoying myself. Cooking was a fun activity to do. I should probably do this more regularly.

When I heard the floo and Ominis step out I turned to greet him. He seemed surprised that I was up and he noted that the house smells, and that it smelled divine, and couldn't wait to have it. I heard the apparition of Sebastian from just outside. The door opened up and he stepped through.

"Mmm, what's that amazing smell my darling" he said coming up behind me. He kissed my cheek.

"Supper, now get, I have to finish up" I say.

"But you look ravishing in that apron" he said keeping a hold on my waist.

"Go sit I'm almost done here" I say. He finally let go and sat with Ominis to read the newspaper.

Once I finished I set the everything I made on the table and we all sat down to eat. It was delicious not to give myself too much credit, but they both seemed to agree. We stayed up a little while after that Sebastian pulled out a book and we all sat on the sofa and listened to him read aloud the book. When he decided he was done we all went to bed.

The morning of the appointment Ominis and Sebastian were off at work, I woke up and went down to make a cup of tea. I dressed and had a good morning to myself. When the time came for me to go to my appointment I took the floo to London. I walked to the hospital, and went up to the lovey witch at the desk. We smiled and was very pleasant. She told me to wait a little while until I was called in.

"Mrs. Sallow" one of them said. I stood up and followed her to a room.

"From my understanding you want an ultrasound to see if you are with child" she asked me.

"Yes, I want to be sure before I tell my husbands" I said to her.

"Of course ma'am" she said, and she waved her wand over me. She did it a couple of times. She left the room again and then came back with a roll of parchment.

"I'm sorry Mrs Sallow but you're not pregnant" she said.

"Oh thank you"

"I'm sorry, have a nice day" she said and left the room. I got up and floo home. My good mood gone.

I opened the cupboard in the kitchen and took out one of their bottles of firewhisky. I took the bottle and opened the cork and went to run a bath for myself and when I got out of my clothes I drank three mouthfuls of the firey liquid. I got in the bath and continued to drink the bottle. It was hours later when I got up and out and I looked like a shrivelfig that I put on a nighty and went to lay in bed, I finished the last of the bottle of firewhisky. Then I fell asleep.