29 March 1921
Blackwood and Son's Speakeasy
Party Planning Session
Eight years old… What do eight year old girls like?
……..
Yep, he had nothing.
Thankfully, he had a sister, sister in law and mother who would be more than happy to help with this task. Three days prior to the big day, Gideon made an excuse to leave the house, leaving Rose and Fiona alone for a while. This gave him time to meet with Vin, Catrin and his mother Emery.
Making the arrangements to have lunch at Blackwood and Son’s, Gideon left the townhouse and apparated to his place of business. As he walked downstairs to the speakeasy/lounge, he was happy to see his Mother and Catrin already seated, Vin was waiting on guests, so it would be a bit before she could join.
As always, Gideon arrived with an air of confidence few possessed. His three piece suit in perfect order, today a navy blue, with yellow tie and brown italian leather shoes. His pocket watch chain and cuff links were the only accessories needed. Walking up to the ladies, they both stood to greet him, Gideon kissing them both on the cheek, adding a tight hug for his mother.
“Ladies, I’m so glad you could join me. Has Vin filled you in on what this is about?”
The two ladies shared a knowing look and then turned their attention fully on Gideon. “If your sister is to be believed, you have a lady friend staying with you. Gideon Scott, is this true?” His mother had shock on her face, she was quite the pearl clutcher in situations like this, but the glint of happiness in her eye betrayed her. She was thrilled for her son.
Looking over his shoulder at Vin, his baby sister made no attempt to hide her medaling smile. Catrin pipped up, usually the quietest of the bunch, she rarely said much. “Is it true Gideon? Tell us all about her!”
For Catrin, this display of excitement was as close to giddiness as he had ever seen. With a sigh, he began. There was no getting around it, he needed their help. “Yes, for once Vin is telling the truth.” Seconds later a towel hit him in the back of the head, making him laugh out loud. After picking up the projectile, he righted himself and looked at his mother, then Catrin. Emery had tears in her eyes and Catrin looked downright shocked.
“What?” He asked, totally lost.
Emery smiled warmly, putting her hand on top of Gideon’s. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you this happy. And outright laughter. Gideon, it’s been ages.”
He knew she was right. It had been years, and it was all because of Rose and Fiona. “Which brings me to the topic at hand. I met Rose when she came to work at the castle. She is the new Healer in the hospital wing. We hit it off rather quickly, but I was cautious, for obvious reasons. She has two kids, Fiona is 7 and Evander who lives with his father. I invited Rose and Fiona to the townhouse for Easter break, after the events prior, we needed a break.”
Taking a drink of the water in front of him he waited to see if the ladies would interrupt with questions, neither did. “Rose and I are… dating seems like such a trivial word. I can’t explain it. Having her and Fiona in my house just feels right. Everything has clicked into place. Which is where you two come in.”
His mother was wiping away a tear, so happy to see him happy. “Whatever you need dear. We are here to help.”
Nodding Gideon continued. “In three days Fiona will turn eight. We talked about going to the park for something simple, but I would like to give her a party, if you three will help me plan it. I have no idea what eight year old girls like.”
Both Catrin and Emery’s faces lit up. Yep, he knew this was the right move. “Oh brilliant, this will be so fun. Tell us about her so we can plan accordingly.” Catrin prompted. Causing Gideon to stop and think. A smile played on his lips thinking about Fiona. Her love of books and animals.
Both women in front of him sighed and looked all dreamy at Gideon. “What?” He asked, completely stumped.
“You look so happy son. I can’t tell you what this means to me. Your father will be thrilled.”
Gideon went on to tell the women about Fiona, her love for books, animals, there time at the zoo, his nickname of Monkey because she loves to jump on him. Their time cooking, at least once a day typically. He mentioned her bright sunny personality and her favorite meal… roasts, of all things.
His mother nodded along with him, making a few notes on a small pad of paper she fished out of her bag. “Don’t you worry darling, we will figure this all out. Bring them to our house on the 1st at 5pm. We will have a proper roast dinner, cake for dessert and we’ll get some fun decorations. And presents, oh yes, there will be presents. If we need anything from you I will send you an owl. I can’t wait to meet the woman you love. You have made me so happy today.” Gideon smiled at his mother, hugging her as they stood to leave. She pulled away and held his face in her hands, a good head shorter than her. It was a sight to see. “You didn’t correct me. You do love her. Oh baby, I am so happy for you.” She said, kissing him on the cheek, tears forming in her eyes.
“I do, just keep that to yourself, we haven’t actually said the words yet. It’s all so fast.” His eyebrows pulled in, thinking that he wanted to say the words, but also didn’t want to scare her off.
“Gideon, you know more than anyone that life is too short to wait on these things. If you love her tell her. Don’t wait for what society tells you is the right time.”
God this woman was smart. Kissing her on the cheek once more, Gideon waved at Vin and retreated up the stairs. The entire way home, he walked a few blocks before apparating, he thought about what his mother had said. She was right… of course, life was too short. He wouldn’t be making that mistake again.
1 April 1921
Blackwood Manor
Mid-afternoon
Ever since the planning meeting Gideon had at the speakeasy, Lavinia had been having a hard time keeping her mouth shut about… well, everything. The party, the excitement in her mum’s voice, and of course him not denying that he was in love with Rose. This was everything she had ever wanted for her brother, and she was so thrilled that she had the means to help him plan the best birthday party for that sweet little girl.
“They should be here in about half an hour,” Lavinia announced as she walked in from the garden with a bouquet of flowers she had just picked. She was grinning, as was her mum and sister-in-law. Those smiles hadn’t left their faces in days, and it was good to see how much love everyone had for Gideon.
She then moved through the sitting room into the kitchen to trim the stems of the flowers and put them in a vase. Vinni could hear her niece and nephew discussing the different things they could do with Fiona when she got there. A tour of the play room was definitely something on the list, and then the gardens. And she thought she heard them saying something about hide and seek.
Vinni’s heart felt full, and was prepared to supply her mum with all the tissues she may need. The woman had been happily weeping for the past couple of days; or, that’s what her father had told her. Now that she was here in the Manor, she could see for herself that he was not exaggerating.
The birthday party wasn’t going to be anything too fancy; really, it was just the family getting together to get to know the new ladies in Gideon’s life. Lavinia of course already knew a lot more than anyone else, so she was prepared to keep an eye on the kids.
The vase now full of colorful flowers, Lavinia made her way back into the sitting room and set it down on the oversized mantel above the fireplace. “Mum, don’t worry… you’re going to love her, I promise, and Fe is just the cutest little thing,” she said and laughed at her mother who had just gotten a fresh tissue.
“Oh, I know, I am just so happy for him. And for us. And her too! And that precious little girl,” the woman said and sighed with a smile on her face.
Honestly, Vinni found it humorous. Still, she pulled the older woman into a hug. “Now is there anything else you can think of? Dinner will be ready soon, and the cake is beautiful. Do you want to clean yourself up, since you’ve been crying?” she asked, laughing slightly. Her mum’s makeup was a bit of a mess.
Thirty minutes and counting. He was nervous, but excited as well. Keeping the secret over the last few days had been torture. Trying to avoid stepping on toes while also planning a fun surprise was difficult, but he knew they would love it. And an added plus, only a few members of his family were home, so it wouldn’t be as intimidating.
No less than six owls had been sent from his mother… a day, since the planning party. Simple questions, what was her favorite color? Orange. What size did she wear? A six. What was her favorite cake flavor? Strawberry Vanilla Cake with Whipped Cream. Favorite animal? Nifflers. This one didn’t surprise him, she had a small stuffed niffler that she carried around, especially when she was sleepy. The questions didn’t stop there, but he wasn’t mad. He loved that his mother was doing what she did best to make Rose and Fiona feel at home.
It had been a great day, lunch at the park. Ice cream for dessert. Walking hand in hand with his girls in the bright sun, a smile never leaving his face.
An hour ago Gideon told the girls they were going somewhere for dinner, but he wouldn’t elaborate. The instructions were simple. Go upstairs and get dressed. Nothing fancy, dress comfortably for a simple dinner. The blur of blue came rushing down the stairs straight into his arms. Catching her was a new sport, he hadn’t lost yet. She looked adorable in a blue dress with white, pink and orange flowers. “You look great, birthday girl! Are you ready for your surprise?”
Just as Fiona was answering, Rose came down the stairs and all conscious thought went out of his head. She was gorgeous. Letting Fiona drop down to the floor, he looked down at the young girl and kissed her forehead. "Why don’t you go grab your jacket, just in case it gets chilly." Hearing her footsteps retreat, Gideon walked over to the bottom of the stairs where Rose was just reaching. Placing his hand on her hips, he looked her right in the eyes, her on the first stop brought them to just about the same height.
“Fuck Rose, you look gorgeous.” He said, pulling her into him and stealing her lips in a passionate kiss. Her silk green dress with delicate lace flower appliques was stunning. Running his hands up her waist, she fit so well against him. He kissed her lips, then her cheek, her neck and the spot just behind ear. He nibbled playfully on her ear lobe, whispering, “As beautiful as this dress is, I’d rather see it on my floor,” he chuckled.
Just then Fiona came running back in.
Sigh
“Ok ladies, since it’s someone's very special 8th birthday,” she said smiling at Fiona, “I thought it would be fun to go somewhere for dinner. To my parents house, they are dying to meet you both and my niece and nephew will be there, so you’ll have kids to play with. How does that sound?”
Rose knelt down in front of Fiona and tucked some hair behind her ear. “You look beautiful,” she commented and then hugged the little girl. She stood up and Fiona ran out of the room. Rose looked at her reflection in the mirror, making sure her lipstick was just perfect. She then picked up her cream colored cardigan and put it on over her short, sleeveless dress.
She made her way downstairs and saw Fiona speaking to Gideon – something about a surprise. She had no idea what he had planned, but she was excited to do whatever it was. (Why was she excited about the prospect of even just a quiet evening in sometimes with him?) She’d never felt like this before.
His blue eyes hit her and she stopped on the bottom step. Gideon’s hands immediately found her hips and she looked into his eyes. She loved his eyes, she loved how he looked at her, how he touched her, how he always seemed hungry for her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they kissed, and then tilted her head to the side so he could get to her neck and that spot behind her ear that he had claimed as his own.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll get to see it like that later, too,” Rose whispered back, smirking at her boyfriend. Boyfriend? That just sounded so juvenile. Both of them were adults.
The blonde ball of excitement that was Fiona had returned, this time with her jacket in her arms.
“Ok ladies, since it’s someone's very special 8th birthday, I thought it would be fun to go somewhere for dinner. To my parents house, they are dying to meet you both and my niece and nephew will be there, so you’ll have kids to play with. How does that sound?”
Fiona squealed in excitement, and Rose couldn’t help but to let some shock cross her face. Meeting families. Yeah, this was – wow. That shock gave way to a smile and Rose couldn’t help but to press her lips to Gideon’s. Her heart was pounding, and she was nervous, but she was also completely in love with her life for the first time ever. And it was all because of him. Part of her thought that it was too good to be true, but she refused to question it.
“Ewww! Smoochie kiss!” Fiona yelled out and covered her eyes.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll get to see it like that later, too,” he chuckled into her neck. Maybe they should just cancel.
Nope… Can’t cancel.
Getting one more kiss in, Gideon turned to find two little eyes staring at them. “Ewww! Smoochie kiss!” Cracking up from the look on her face, Gideon swooped down to catch Fiona, swinging her up in his arms. Tickling her sides to make her squeal with laughter, he laughed right along with her.
“Ok, Monkey. Let's get this party started.” Holding his hand out to Rose, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles before walking towards the fireplace. Traveling by Floo Powder was the fastest mode of transportation, so that was the plan. With a handful of powder in hand, Gideon spoke clearly, “Blackwood Manor!” And they were engulfed in green flames.
As they walked out of the fireplace, Fiona in his arms, tucked on his hip and Rose holding his hand, the room came into view with his family waiting.
Most of his brothers were away for work, but Wesley was in attendance with his wife Catrin and their kids Elowen and Gareth. Lavinia was there, complete with a bright smile next to his father Rupert, and right up front with the biggest smile on her face was his Mother Emery. Oh bloody hell there were tears in her eyes.
“You guys just had to be ready to pounce didn’t you,” Gideon laughed. “I would like to introduce you to Roisin and Fiona, the birthday girl. Ladies, this is My mum Emery, my dad Rupert, my older brother Wesley, his wife Catrin and you actually might already know their kids. Where did they run off too? Well, their around here somewhere.”
Letting Fiona down, but taking her hand in his to make sure she was comfortable, He stepped forward to hug his mum, kissing her on the cheek.
Emery kneeled down in front of Fiona, looking so excited to meet the young girl. “Hello my dear. I am so excited to meet you. I hope you are having the best birthday.” She said, running her hand over her hair, eyes filled with instant love. Catrin and Wesley came up to shake Rose’s hand, welcoming her to the house. His dad, the more reserved member of the family stayed back, but watched carefully over the entire scene.
Gideon walked forward, picking Fiona up into his arms. “Dad,” he said, shaking his fathers hand. “I would like you to meet this little lady. Fiona, this is my dad Rupert.” Whispering loudly in her ear he said, “Did you know that he has a stable on the grounds with three horses? Their names are Zeus, Athena and Ares. Maybe we can go see them before we leave tonight.”
“Good to see you son. You look,” Rupert paused. “So happy,” he finished with a wide smile on his face. “Hello Poppet, it is very good to meet you and I hope you have the best birthday.”
Just then, Gareth and Elowen come tearing into the room, calling for Fiona to come join them. With no more invitation needed, she goes running behind them off into the house. With a wide smile on his face, he returns to Rose’s side, sliding his arm around her waist, kissing her on the temple. This just felt right.
Thank god for Gideon’s hand, Rose thought to herself as they stepped out of the fireplace and into the immaculate Manor’s sitting room. He had Fiona in his arms, as if she belonged there (which if you asked Rose, she did), and she squeezed his hand slightly when she saw all of the eyes fixated on them. They weren’t all focused on her, but she felt a little bit self conscious at any rate.
She smiled, despite how anxious she was feeling. Her eyes skimmed over the people that Gideon introduced as he named them. Emery, his mum, she noted, looked so happy that she was weepy. She let her eyes fall on Lavinia, the one truly familiar face in the bunch. The woman nodded at Rose, as if they had some sort of psychic link.
With that one familiar face suddenly gone, Rose looked at Gideon’s mum who was now kneeling in front of Fiona. She felt a twinge of sadness momentarily that she refused to dwell on. His brother and sister-in-law approached and each shook her hand. “Thank you, it’s absolutely beautiful,” she commented, her eyes skimming the room for the brief moment that she had the ability to do so.
Gideon picked up Fiona and Rose smiled again, which was the natural reaction she had when she saw them together, and carried her to his father. The man looked a bit withdrawn, definitely introverted compared to the rest of the bunch.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sir,” Rose heard Fiona say to the man. Then she heard Gideon’s not-so-quiet whisper in her ear about horses. The gasp that followed was loud.
“Good to see you son. You look… So happy.” The smile that finally crossed his dad’s face was one that reached his eyes. It was almost a look of relief, if Rose had to guess. She knew what Gideon had been through, and it warmed her heart to see how happy everyone was for him, especially acknowledging how happy he was now.
Children – a blur of children that she recognized – snatched up Fiona and Rose laughed as the girl giggled and followed the twins. Gideon finally returned to Rose’s side and she was thankful for his grounding touch. He kissed her temple just as Vinni appeared, like a savior, with a glass of red wine.
“Oh, thank you,” she commented, immensely grateful for the girl. Why was his family so damn perfect? And why couldn’t she have more of one?
Rose took a sip of the wine and then looked up at Gideon and leaned her head on him for a moment.
“Hello, dear, I am thrilled to finally meet you,” Emery said, who was suddenly in front of Rose, clutching her hand. “You have no idea how lovely it is to see Gideon smiling again.”
“Mum, let them come in and sit down, I’m sure they don’t want to stand in the fireplace all night,” Lavinia’s familiar voice broke through the conversation.
With the kids in another part of the house screaming and laughing, Gideon let out a breath of relief. Taking a seat on the sofa, the rest of the adults followed suit, finding spots around the living room, they all settled in.
The conversation was light, everyone sharing stories and asking Rose questions to better get to know her. There was laughter, smiling, a few glares on Gideon’s behalf as Wesley tried to embarrass him on numerous occasions. One particular story about Gideon being dragged by the Mare Athena, got everyone laughing, except Gideon of course.
“Yeah yeah yeah, keep it up Wesley and I’ll tell mom and dad about how the pool water turned into bubbling slime.” He said, smirking as he lifted his glass of whisky to his mouth. The laughter and uproar from Gideon’s rebuttal had them all in stitches. He couldn’t remember the last time they had laughed this much.
“Ok, you bunch of imbeciles, I’m going to take Rose on a quick tour around the house.” Standing, wiping a few stray tears off his face from so much laughter, he took Rose’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Fourty minutes darling, then dinner will be ready,” his mother said with a smile plastered to her face.
Hand in hand, Gideon pulled Rose down the hall showing her the half bath, his fathers office and the play room. The kids were busy playing some sort of board game, giggles and cheers coming from within the room. They both stood, looking at the kids having so much fun together. Fiona was already thick as thieves with the other two.
“Come on,” he said in a whisper, pulling her along. Smirk clear on his face. He had plans.
With a quickness to his step, they went up the stairs and passed three rooms before he opened the fourth door. He pulled Rose in and pushed her up against the closed door. His hand went to her face, holding her just right to deepen the kiss. He ended the kiss, resting his forehead on hers with a smile. “So, this is my room.” Laughing, he went back in for a kiss, running his hands up her thighs and under the skirt of her dress. “God, I couldn't sit there anymore without having my hands on you.”
After making out for a few minutes, they looked around his room. There wasn’t much left, most having been brought to his townhouse. The rest of the tour was pretty standard, with the exception of a few stolen kisses and playful roaming hands. Would it be bad to cut this party short? Probably.
A sudden alarm sounded throughout the house letting them know what dinner was ready. "Time for dinner. We'll have presents and dessert after, then maybe we can go on a walk around the grounds. Sound good?"
Once she was sitting, Rose felt a lot more stable. She sipped on her wine, answering questions when they were asked of her. The amount of laughter that was in the room was more than she had expected. Even before her mum died, things were not like this when she was growing up. She wondered how life might have changed for her if her dad had been someone different, if her mum hadn’t died under suspicious circumstances…
Rose’s cheeks hurt from laughing so much, and her stomach muscles too. She couldn’t remember when – if ever – she had laughed this much. She’d begun the night sitting with perfect posture on the couch, but by the time that Gideon had pulled her off the couch, she was a lot more comfortable. Her wine was gone by that point, so as he pulled her out of the sitting room, she managed to set her empty glass on a table on her way out.
Being alone with him, on his tour, made Rose feel a bit more comfortable too. She really liked seeing where he grew up, and the dynamic between all the members of his family. As they made their way down the hall, she heard the giggles coming from a room ahead. She smiled and stood with Gideon as they watched the kids playing.
“Come on.”
Gideon was pulling her again, and the smirk on his face told her what he had in mind. She followed him up the stairs and down the hall, past one, two, three doors before entering the fourth. Where he proceeded to push her up against the door after it was closed, and kissed her. Rose did not protest – why would she? He was intoxicating.
“So, this is my room.”
Rose’s eyes met his and watched his laugh, then as he kissed her again, she felt his hands moving up, up, under the skirt of her dress.
“God, I couldn't sit there anymore without having my hands on you.”
Rose smirked and let out a small whimper as he touched her, then they kissed some more. It did feel weird when they were together during those moments when they weren’t touching. More kisses, and then he let her eyes wander around the mostly bare room. Then they continued on the tour, stealing kisses and letting their hands wander when they found corners.
“Time for dinner. We'll have presents and dessert after, then maybe we can go on a walk around the grounds. Sound good?"
“Sounds perfect,” Rose commented, biting her lip. It was much too hard to hold back when all they wanted to do was attack each other, but, she supposed, that made it fun.
When they reached the table, Rose looked at the food in the middle of the table and grinned. “Fe, look, roast,” she said as she took her spot between Gideon and Fiona. As the little girl celebrated her favorite meal, she looked over at Gideon. “You’ve really made her the happiest I have ever seen her,” she said, her blue eyes meeting his.
As the family took their seats around the large dining room table, Gideon watched on as Fiona and Rose sat down. When the birthday girl saw the roast, her favorite meal, she was instantly excited. It was something so simple, and yet it brought her so much joy. Emery, his mother, already seated, had made this the best day. Leaning down over her shoulder, Gideon gave her a peck on the cheek and whispered into her ear, “Thanks for this. It means a lot.”
Retreating, Gideon took his seat next to Rose, instinctively taking her hands in his under the table. Their hands, intertwined, resting on her lap. Such a simple gesture, but the connection was everything.
“You’ve really made her the happiest I have ever seen her.” This declaration put a megawatt smile on his face, it was all he wanted. To make Rose and Fiona happy, safe, loved and cared for. Leaning in, Gideon gave her a small chaste kiss on the lips.
“Ewww! Smoochie kiss!”
His lips, still touching hers, but just barely, he couldn’t help but laugh. Pulling back he looked at Rose with large dramatic eyes and mouthed. ‘Oh no! Not smoochie kisses!’
Leaning around Rose, Gideon smiled at Fiona, “Sorry monkey, I’ll try to keep them to a minimum.” Making eyecontact with his mom, huge smile on her face, he smiled and went to plating his dinner.
Dinner was a loud and happy affair. The kids told storied, the adults baited them with questions and silly jokes. The food was delicious, everyone was getting along, as if Rose and Fiona had been in their lives from the start.
“Ok little one, I think it’s time for dessert and then presents! What do you think?”
Seconds later, an adorable two layer cake was brought out, complete with candles and a small little figurine of a niffler on the top. His mother had outdone herself. The group sang a loud and horrible out of tune rendition of Happy Birthday, before letting Fiona blow out the candles and make a wish.
“Go ahead Fi, make a wish.” Gideon said, loving that he had a small part in making the young girl smile.
Kisses. So many kisses. Rose thought it was strange when she and Gideon were not touching in some way, and after a while her lips missed his. Fiona’s complaining about the ‘smoochie kisses’ made her laugh, and really the little girl smiled every time she said it. Even the eight year old (dear god, she’s eight) knew something special was going on between the two of them.
Rose had never felt so accepted before in her life. When she first started at Hogwarts, she’d been so socially awkward. This was due to the fact that once her father realized she and her mum were witches, he ostracised them and banned them from leaving the house for any reason at all. The only real times they were allowed out for an extended amount of time was for social obligations, because of course he had appearances to keep up.
Rose was full, and so was Fiona, but when the cake made an appearance, she knew that the girl’s ‘dessert stomach’ was still plenty empty for a slice of her birthday cake. The cake itself was precious; topped with a little niffler on top. She looked over at Emery and mouthed ‘thank you’ to the woman as they all sang the Happy Birthday song.
“Go ahead Fi, make a wish.”
Rose looked over at her daughter, who was looking at her and Gideon with a teasing smirk before blowing out the candles. Her stomach did a flip, because without even telling her, she knew exactly what the little girl had wished for. Rose squeezed Gideon’s hand and looked up at him, then turned her attention back to her daughter when everyone began clapping once the candles were no longer burning.
“Alright, sweetie, which part of the cake do you want?” Rose asked as she picked up the cake cutter.
“I want…” the little girl put a finger to her mouth, tapping her lips as she inspected the cake. “I want the part the little niffler is sitting on, please,” she said, politely.
The tone of the party had started to calm down. Dinner had been served, dessert had been consumed, everyone in attendance was full and ready for a nap. Emery, always the planner, stood up and announced that it was “Time for Presents!”
Gideon was surprised to see a stack of presents being brought into the informal family room. He knew there would be a few, his mother would never allow a child to have nothing, but there was very little time to plan. It warmed his heart that his family had opened their arms to Rose and Fiona so thoroughly.
Taking a place on one of the plush sofa’s Gideon pulled Rose down next to him, snuggling her up close to watch Fi. “Ok Monkey, which one is first?”
For the next twenty minutes Fiona opened her gifts with wide eyes and a huge smile. She always remembered to say thank you, filling Gideon with a sense of pride he had no business feeling, but felt none the same. He looked at the young girl and knew his world had changed. He was no longer a bachelor, only concerned with himself and what he needed in life. Now there were two beautiful girls that were front and center. It was their comfort, safety and happiness that were first priority. It amazed him how quickly his gravity had shifted.
“Miss Fi, I have one for you as well.” Rupert came in from the hall with a box, prearranged with Gideon to bring it in at the end. Fiona’s eyes were large with excitement, while his stomach was tied in knots hoping she liked it.
Wrapping paper went flying, the box exposed in seconds. Once she opened the lid he could have sworn a small gasp left her mouth. Inside the box were a few presents, all picked with her in mind. First, a large stuffed monkey. An obvious choice, with monkey being her new nickname. Next was a cute flower patterned apron, the perfect size for an 8 year old girl. Lavinia had taken her shopping for one, but they couldn’t find one she liked. Most being two large, so Gideon took it upon himself to make one. Years of tailoring in the Blackwood and Son’s store made this an easy task. Sourcing some fabric from a local shop, he made it while “checking in” on the store the day he met with his mother and sister in law. The apron even had her name embroidered on the front.
The last thing was the most simple, but he hoped it would be the most meaningful. Fiona pulled out a small metal name plate with her name embossed on the front. She held it in her hands, turning it over, not truly understanding what it meant. “I was thinking, we could put that on the door of your room. When you and your mom come to visit, I want that to be your room and only your room. We can go to the shops and pick out new blankets and sheets, and if you want it painted we can do that too. What do you think?”
His heart was pumping loud in his chest. He hadn’t asked Rose if this was ok, taking a leap that it wasn’t too soon. His mother looked on with a happy smile and tears in her eyes, his father stood behind her chair, hand on her shoulder. He squeezed lightly, letting her know that he was right there with her. Happy that their son was finally happy again.
Fiona was going wild with excitement, showing all her toys to her new friends, the stuffed monkey in a headlock under her arm. Gideon, sitting forward with his arms on his knees, turned slightly to look at Rose, still cuddled up next to him. Trying to gauge her expression, he fell back into the cushions and kissed her cheek. “I hope that was ok,” he whispered. Not wanting to upset her.
Leaning in closer to her ear he whispered, only for her to hear. “Or, you could just move in. I’m not sure I can sleep without you beside me.” Kissing the spot… his favorite spot, just behind her ear. He pulled away, waiting to see how she would react.
The party was beginning to wear down. The cake was amazing, and Rose was full. She was really tired from the stress she’d felt about meeting Gideon’s family, the wine she had drunk, the delicious food. Fiona’s energy was not wavering in fact Rose would be surprised if the girl had yawned at all.
At least so far.
They moved into the family room and Gideon pulled her onto a plush sofa. She let him pull her closer to him, and she breathed in his scent. Everything felt right. Despite the fact that Rose was envious of his upbringing, of the many people in his family who loved to spend time together, she was happy for him. It was the exact opposite of how Rose grew up. Even before things went bad, her dad didn’t like having happy family time.
Her eyes widened when she saw the huge stack of gifts come out for her daughter. Rose glanced over at Gideon, her eyes still wide, as if she was asking him what the hell was that. Of course, he couldn’t control his mum, so she wasn’t mad. She was just surprised. His family had welcomed her and Fiona, as if they were meant to be there.
She watched her daughter politely open each gift and say ‘thank you’ to whoever it was that got it for her. Rose was grateful that Fiona was using her manners.
“Miss Fi, I have one for you as well.”
Rose looked at Gideon, an eyebrow raised. She didn’t know what he’d gotten her, or that he’d gotten her anything at all. His brother brought the box in and set it down in front of the little girl.
As she pulled out the monkey, and then the apron, Rose watched on with a smile on her face. It wasn’t until the last thing she pulled out. “What is that, baby?” Rose asked, scooting forward a bit. She could see her name on the front, and that it looked like a metal nameplate. What for?
“I was thinking, we could put that on the door of your room. When you and your mom come to visit, I want that to be your room and only your room. We can go to the shops and pick out new blankets and sheets, and if you want it painted we can do that too. What do you think?”
Rose’s world stopped for a second. It was fast. Everything was fast. She looked over at Gideon and then his parents. Emery was about to cry with happiness, and the knot in Rose’s chest began to relax. Fiona had already moved on to playing with her new things, and showing them to her new friends.
“I hope that was ok. Or, you could just move in. I’m not sure I can sleep without you beside me.”
He wasn’t joking? Gideon followed his offer with some kisses behind her ear, which made her legs turn to jelly every time.
He wanted her and Fiona to live with him? The townhome he shared with Lavinia was large enough, obviously, but… that was big.
“Gideon…” Rose softly said and pulled back so she could look at him and gauge his sincerity on his face and in his eyes. “Are you… are you sure? It’s not too soon for you?” she asked, wanting to make certain that he was sure. “Because if you’re sure, then…. Well… yes, I’d love to… we’d love to…”
With them both working at Hogwarts, they were rarely at their homes anyways. But this… Rose wasn’t sure she deserved something like this. She loved his family, but her own paled in comparison. The ‘quality time’ she spent with her father was out in public where she had to pretend that he was a loving father. He wasn’t. It was all fake.
Dinner was consumed, cake devoured and presents opened. It had been the best night. It was getting late, but Gideon had promised Fiona could see the horses. Thankfully Vin offered to take her and the other kids down to the stables to take a look around. No riding, but they could give the horses snacks.
Gideon took Rose out to the back terrace, it was a beautiful night. Not to cold, the moon high in the sky, a cool breeze blowing through. On the terrace there were multiple seating option, but there was one he had his eye on. A large lounge chair, made for one, but would work for what he had in mind.
Sitting down, Gideon pulled Rose down with him, sitting in his lap, his arms hugging her close. He lightly pulled her hair off her right shoulder. It was a perfect spot for his chin to rest and just the right height for him to nibble on her ear. He had never been this insatiable. If his hands weren’t touching her in some way, he felt bereft.
Snuggling down with Rose in his lap, Gideon sighed and relaxed. It had been a long day.
“This is nice.” he whispered, kissing her on her neck. Weaving their hands together, his arms crossed over her body, pulling her in impossibly closer. “I’m sorry for springing that on you in front of everyone. I should have asked first.”
Gideon knew he had screwed up, tossing that question on her out of nowhere. Forcing her hand with the redecorating of Fiona’s room, but he wouldn’t take it back. He couldn’t. Just the thought of returning to the castle, them to their respective quarters. A hollow feeling in his stomach made him feel sick. They would deal with it, but he didn’t have to like it.
The feelings that had developed between Rose and Gideon were intense, real and all encompassing. It seemed fast, but in actuality, they had been dancing around their chemistry for months. Small smiles, late night meetings in the kitchens, shared jokes and soft touches as he passed by her closer than would be considered professional.
“We don’t have to rush it. We can see how things go once school lets out, but Rose…” He paused, kissing her temple and holding her close. “I’m not sure how it happened, or when, but I have fallen madly in love with you, and I don’t want to let you or Fiona go.” He said the words. They had been on the top of his tongue for weeks, but it wasn’t something he would say lightly. It took nearly two years for him to say the words to Elizabeth, their arranged marriage took time to develop beyond friendship. He had grown to love her, but it was nothing like the feelings he had for Rose.
“Just promise me you’ll think about it, ok?”
The question of where Rose and Fiona would be living hadn’t been finalized during the presents. Due to being around other people, that conversation would have to wait. She was okay with that, because she needed him to be sure that he was sure that them being in his life was what he truly wanted.
Lavinia took Fiona and the other children to the stables, and Rose and Gideon made their way to the back terrace. She was so tired, she couldn’t wait to get into bed… Her stomach did a flip. Gideon’s bed. Would they sleep that night? It was always a tough game of sleep or not sleep when they were together. Rose blushed at the thought as he pulled her onto the lounge chair, her back pressed against his chest.
Rose’s eyes immediately closed as she rested comfortably against him.
“This is nice. I’m sorry for springing that on you in front of everyone. I should have asked first.”
The redhead bit her lip, her eyes still closed. She nodded slightly, but she wasn’t upset about it. She hoped he could tell – she wasn’t being distant or anything weird. She was comfortable with him – more comfortable than she’d been with anyone, if she were totally honest. This was a side of herself that she’d never met before.
She liked it.
“We don’t have to rush it. We can see how things go once school lets out, but Rose…”
A pause, his lips against her temple.
“I’m not sure how it happened, or when, but I have fallen madly in love with you, and I don’t want to let you or Fiona go.”
Blue eyes opened and she smiled, a warmth spreading throughout her body. She’d been thinking about it since the break started. Being in his home with him just felt right to the point that she couldn’t explain it.
“Just promise me you’ll think about it, ok?”
Rose took a breath and then sat up and turned her body to face Gideon. Her short dress made this an ungraceful movement, but she didn’t care.
Her blue eyes looked into his and she touched the side of his face. When had this happened? How? She pressed her lips to his softly before pulling back a little. “I love you, too,” she responded, unable to contain the smile that took over her face. “I’ve wanted to say it for… it feels like ages.”
Rose smiled again. “And I don’t have to think about it. We will move in with you,” she added. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she wished they were home – in their home? – so they could bask in this new step in their very quick relationship.
“I love you, too, I’ve wanted to say it for… it feels like ages.” Gideon held her by the hips, as she straddled his lap on the lounge chair. His cheeks hurt from smiling so much. It was not a natural thing for him, unless Rose and Fiona were there. His mother had pulled him aside after dinner. She was beside herself with happiness, apparently he was wearing his love on his sleeve for all to see.
“And I don’t have to think about it. We will move in with you.” His lips found hers in a heated kiss. Hands sinking into her silky hair, holding her tight to him. It was hard to stop himself, but they were out in the open in his parent’s backyard. Celebrating would have to come later. When they were alone. In THEIR bedroom.
“I hope you don’t mind if Lavinia stays. She takes care of the house while I’m at the castle. And truth be told, I like having her around.” His baby sister was his favorite of all his siblings. He liked having her close where he could make sure she was safe.
As they laid in the lounge chair cuddling, touching, kissing, Gideon felt content. People would say they moved fast. It would never last. They should date more, get married first, then move in together. They nay sayers could go to hell. He knew what they had and he wouldn’t be letting it go anytime soon. Marriage would come, so would kids, but for now he wanted her in their home.
The sounds of giggles and laughter reached them before the kids could be seen. Gideon held on to Rose tight, not wanting to let go, but knowing it was time to head home. It was getting late. As the little got closer, he readjusted Rose and stood up, taking her hand in his and pulling her up next to him.
“Miss Fiona, time to say goodbye to everyone. It’s getting late and we should be getting home.” He smiled as he said it. Looking up at Vin, he smirked. They would need to have a talk, but he didn’t think she would have a problem with them moving in. He probably should have asked first…
“You ready ladies? Lets pack up the presents and head home.”
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