Endless Sacrifice

Chapter 2

I looked up from the parchment on my desk when I heard Eliza stirring in her crib; I packed it into one of my books and placed it at the back of my desk drawer. I stood up from my chair quietly to avoid waking Oliver, my husband, and walked to Eliza. Eliza's face formed a small smile when she looked into my eyes, she recognized me as her mother. Eliza was progressing much quicker than any other infant of her age. I had a strong instinct that she was telepathic too, but her thoughts would need to develop a little more before I could confirm my theory. I had done plenty of research since Eliza's birth and found that infants like her were unable to recognize faces yet, but Eliza did. I suspected it was because she was able to hear our thoughts and able to remember us without difficulty. I shook my thoughts from my mind when I heard Eliza whimper, she was hungry. I lifted her from her crib and cradled her against my chest. I tiptoed to my rocking chair so I could feed her, she stared up at me in awe, she trusted me entirely. I lifted my shirt and held her gently against my breast. The sensation of Eliza breastfeeding could not be compared to anything else. Knowing that she depended on me for her survival was the most empowering feeling and I cherished our feeding times.

While I was pregnant with Eliza, I had been so terrified about becoming a mother. When I finally gave birth to her two months ago, all my fears vanished. Staring in her beautiful blue eyes, Draco's eyes, I couldn't fathom not being her mother. I was still concerned about our world's uncertain future but I was confident that being Eliza's mother is what I had been destined to be. I knew I would never regret to fulfilling my former dream of becoming a Healer, that was impossible.

I looked up from Eliza's contented face when I heard Oliver stirring in our bed, he sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes. He looked over at Eliza and I and smiled. He stood up slowly and walked over to us, he kissed the top of my head and brushed Eliza's cheek with his thumb, she giggled quietly, she undeniably adored him.

"Good morning Mrs. Wood, how's our Eliza doing?"

"Oliver, we've been married for two weeks, shouldn't you be adjusted to my new name by now?" I teased. "And Eliza is superb as usual, I don't think you could find a more perfect baby."

"I wouldn't dare try." Oliver breathed as he gazed at Eliza.

I kissed Eliza's forehead as her eyelids became heavy again and she slowly drifted back to sleep. I stood up carefully and placed her back in her crib. Oliver followed me and wrapped his arms around me from behind as we watched Eliza sleep soundly. He leaned his head on my shoulder and pressed his lips against it; they traveled up my neck and stopped at the top of my head. I turned around in his arms and rested my head against his bare chest, his warmth spread through my entire body. I looked up at Oliver and smiled, his blissfulness was projecting clearly. He placed his hand on my cheek and kissed me tenderly, he chuckled into the kiss when he heard my stomach growling loudly.

"Well someone is hungry." Oliver teased.

I smiled and nodded into Oliver's chest. He sighed and kissed the top of my head.

"What would you like for breakfast Mrs. Wood? You stay in bed and relax a bit longer."

"Oliver, I am perfectly capable of making us--"

Oliver held my lips together with his hand and I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed loudly as he released my mouth.

"If my wife is hungry than I am going to make her breakfast, you dote on me plenty. You need more rest, you were unsettled all night again, you deserve some time to relax."

I smiled and kissed Oliver's cheek gratefully. I felt guilty that Oliver was aware of my restlessness, he didn't deserve the burden of my anxiety but I found it very difficult to sleep these days.