Babysitting Is Not The Nightmare

The sunshine that danced down from the clouds above Rookwood Manor was flirty and free, much like Elijah Krum remembered his friends being only a year or so before. Of course, much had changed in that time and though both were pleasant enough, the spark in them both had been dulled by the loss that was still felt palpably in much of the Rookwood household; especially so in Augustus’ solar. Time healed all wounds though; Elijah was a firm believer in that, and it had been a few weeks since his last visit, making it all the more obvious how many of them had come on. Kendall’s smiles were far more genuine and Athena appeared to have slept fully in recent nights. The girls seemed more optimistic by the day and Katarina... she was becoming increasingly beautiful and at the sight of her the evening before, Elijah had stalled, truly shocked by her apparent beauty. He’d sobered himself of course and reminded himself he was in fact engaged; though he was finding it difficult to truly remember that while sat next to the girl that had somehow, overnight, become a woman.

That morning, Elijah had rolled over and felt somewhat buoyant, realising that he could roll about in the oversized bed without hitting another body. He adored sharing beds with people, he always had, but he did enjoy the space given when it was just him. He had woken at the sound of whinnying, assuming that it was Cepheus and Caelum, but upon opening his eyes he realised it simply couldn’t have been; he wasn’t home. Elijah had yawned then, a lazy smile overcoming his features, and had rolled over, clawing back into sleep. He rose again the second time tears could be heard and he moved from his room to the nursery where he found Athena trying to console one of the boys and feed the other at the same time. Elijah relieved her of the other, assuring her that she could focus on feeding Augustus, and showed Archibald the mural’s he’d painted months before for the boys to look at as they grew.

The night before, Elijah had agreed while near-drunk after countless flagons of wine to babysit for Athena the following morning. She had errands to run and wouldn’t be back until mid-afternoon. She promised that the boys were regular in terms of their sleep patterns and she’d been semi-successful in getting them to feed from bottles. Of course, Elijah knew as well as she did that the sleeping patterns would go out of the window and they would scream and cry until they had their mother back feeding them properly. Kendall was most amused, naturally, seemingly aware of the hell Elijah would go through and though Athena was grateful, she had reason for such reservations. Yet she was optimistic for Elijah’s success and so in the morning as he held Archie, she muted the idea to him and with a fresh head, Elijah agreed – there would be no work today.

Athena left a little after ten with Kendall though Elijah knew they would be going their separate ways. He wondered idly whether they’d spent any true alone time since the twins. Sex had always been a big part of their relationship; though not in the conventional way. It was big in the sense that it was when they actually showed each other that they cared, that they had emotions. Kendall had cheek and insatiable humour, Athena was cold and serious – both shirked these traits in favour for lust and love and a tenderness that was only usually muted in exchanged glances. It had been the spark, ultimately, and it was what made Kendall chase Athena. Elijah hadn’t heard the end of it the first time: the Goyle girl who didn’t just lie down and take him... no, the Goyle girl who was nigh animalistic in bed. Elijah would’ve shuddered but he’d had Athena too – he had to agree.

If there was one thing Elijah admired in Athena then it was the way she kept Kendall on the edge, never letting him fall but never quite letting him stay steady, either. The flux of emotions and the way she let him in slowly, the way she kept him at arm’s length at times and then curled up in his arms, intoxicated on everything and nothing and desperate to be near him, to feel his love – it fascinated Elijah. Truly, they shouldn’t have worked. They shouldn’t have. Both craved love, though. Athena was desperate for stability and affection and Kendall wanted the latter with unwavering attention. Of course, she teased him – in fact, more than anything she was probably the reason why he hadn’t strayed... she was interesting. But Elijah knew his friend now and if Athena was anything other than what she used to be for Kendall, the time would come and Merlin knew he’d regret it – eventually.

Exhaling, Elijah turned away from the windows once the pair had Apparated away. He ran a hand through his hair, plying it upwards, glancing at it and determining that he probably could do with a haircut. Smiling impishly, Elijah bounced back over to the cribs and peered over, actually quite glad to find the sleeping boys instead of gurgling, hungry babies. He’d been left in charge, something he was terrified of, and for a moment, Elijah allowed himself a chance to observe them. For nigh three month olds, they were huge. Not overweight by any means but long and filled out with lean baby fat on their arms. They were pictures of their parents though, genuinely gorgeous boys; yet they had the appearances of babies nigh double their ages. Elijah was certainly impressed – breast, it appeared, certainly was best.

Leaving the nursery, Elijah twisted Athena’s bracelet on his wrist, careful to make sure it was awake and working so he’d be aware of when the boys woke. He padded down the hallway, passing Augustus’ room. The man was still asleep by all accounts – his son and daughter-in-law having left early – and Elijah couldn’t blame him. He too had indulged that little bit too much the night before and though Augustus still had every reason to – being that Cordelia’s absence was still a hard pill to swallow – Elijah could see the concern flash in Athena’s eyes as he filled and refilled his glass as though he were drinking water rather than Absinthe. No one made to stop him though; unbeknownst to them, only one person had gotten him to slow down as of late – the most unassuming of them all.

Making his way downstairs, Elijah found that the noise the House Elves were making in the kitchens of Augustus’ solar grew louder and when he entered, the music they were playing from the radio exploded around him and Elijah’s eyebrows shot to his hair line at the sight of the House Elves dancing with wild abandon as they minced about, ensuring breakfast would be ready for when the man of that part of the house rose from his pit. The Elves were a little bit more retiring when they saw Eli but continued to dance despite his wry amusement.

Elijah sat himself down at the breakfast table and smiled as a House Elf came to serve him. The Elf clapped its hands and a spread of every food appropriate for breakfast one could imagine appeared on the table. Elijah ruffled the wispy hair atop the Elf’s head and grinned before beginning to claw towards him toast, eggs, bacon, beans and goodness only knows what else – and was that black pudding? Merlin, all of his Christmases had come at once.

Today would be a good day, Elijah decided as he chewed through his first bits of bacon – a good day indeed.

With time, the knife of Cordelia's passing had lessened. The pain of losing her mother was far from gone but with each week that went by it became more and more bearable. Many members of the household (especially non-immediate family) had moved on and no longer showed the same amount of respect for the grievers. Activity and business resumed around the house as elves continued to cook, Rookwoods continued to drink, and the bird continued to sing. As for Katarina, well, she wasn't quite sure how she was doing. Life continued on for her too but not at the same pace that it did for her father and brother. Where Augustus always had something important to tend to, Katarina was tasked with finding new activities to amuse and distract herself with.

Spring's arrival was something of a god-send as it allowed the brunette to go outside, even if it did seem to be raining more than usual. Much like her sister-in-law she had taken to the gardens and appreciated the work Athena put into the plants. While Katarina had not resorted to picking up a shovel herself, she did spend countless hours going on lengthy walks around the grounds, lost in thought. The garden's closest to the manor had been mapped out quite thoroughly during her childhood and Katarina had begun traveling closer and closer to the property line.

On the east side of the property there was a large section of untamed woods, left there over the centuries for the next generation to deal with. Never before had Katarina been brave enough to enter the dark trees and explore their depths but with the abundance of free time that had befallen her she had seized the chance to plot out new the territory. In a strange way it was relaxing to trample through the untamed brush. She enjoyed battling the wilderness for it gave her something tangible to rip and tear against, rather than the internal struggle her mother's sudden passing had put on her shoulders.

Since her return home, Katarina had been waking up earlier than she had ever before and getting out of the house well before sunrise. She would take a morning walk (or run - depending on the terror of her dreams) and return not too long after the sun rose in the sky. The outdoors had taken minor tolls on her looks, small scrapes, scratches, and bruises had to be constantly healed by disapproving house elves, who waited on her in silence. There was only so long you could go living in the Rookwood house before you needed to get out in the world.. and Katarina had reached that limit, especially with the black cloud of grief that still lingered around the manor.

Today, Katarina had already been outside and back for quite awhile. Due to her early start it felt like midday by the time others were waking for breakfast. The aroma of eggs and bacon roused her from her room, where she had returned to get changed and cleaned up before her day. Entering the dining room she was pleased, though not quite surprised, to see Elijah Krum settled in and eating at the family table. He had been here the night before, talking with Athena and Kendall about the children. She hadn't realized he had slept over - something he seemed to do increasing more. Beyond being the only person who seemed to be able to honestly stand being Kendall's friend, he had always been more in the Rookwood family center than herself.

Katarina walked in and settled herself in the seat across from Elijah, smiling and offering him a "Good morning." in greeting. She helped herself to the plates of food displayed before her, focusing on the bacon and fruit. She couldn't deny - it was a little bit strange seeing Elijah outside of their art lessons as he had taken on almost two identities in her mind. She still saw the intimidating, old brothers best friend, that she had always known him as but there was a new softness that she could see in his eyes. It had always been there but getting to know him had exposed it to her. He had become, dare she say it, almost a friend.

"I hear they left you in charge of the heard. Nervous?" she teased softly. The twins were lovely, but they certainly were fussy. They took after their parents after all.

It was going to be an adventure, Elijah decided. There had never been a time when he’d actually begun to question his ability to parent but if he was going to then he was going to do so when he had to take care of Athena and Kendall’s children. They were wriggling, gurgling, happy little boys but Elijah had never known children so utterly mesmerised and devoted to their parents. Athena was the light of their lives and every time she entered the nursery they seemed to know about it, intent on making sure they had as much time with her as possible. Amongst their father they were little Rookwoods, sassy and mischievous. Certainly they were intriguing and much like Elijah’s own sons in that respect but they were more daddies’ boys, not nearly as in love with their mother as Augustus and Archibald were with there’s.

Sitting in the sunshine that was blazing in through the French doors of the kitchen in Augustus’ solar, Elijah began to feel himself relax. He ploughed absent-mindedly through his breakfast, his mind focused on the Daily Prophet that was open in front of him, writing lies about meetings between anarchists and separatists. It did not do much to ease the discomfort Elijah felt when he thought of what was to befall the Ministry.

Sighing heavily, Elijah looked at the pale expanse of skin on his left arm, wondering what it was truly like to wear the Dark Mark. It was something of a bad luck charm now more than anything yet it amused Elijah to watch the Rookwoods that were still heavily embroiled in the culture of the Death Eaters; mostly they were Augustus’ family – Elijah’s family. It was a mark Kendall wore with boyish pride, Athena with learned briskness and Augustus without really muting any feelings; Elijah wasn’t sure he’d like the same treatment; perhaps in time.

The sound of the squealing hinges made Elijah look up, breaking him from his reverie; his first thoughts encouraging him to go and find some oil to soften the hinges with. He smiled at the sight of Katarina who looked oddly weary yet bright despite the hour – which was probably quite early indeed for a teenager, didn’t they all sleep in?

Elijah rose from his chair and waited for Katarina to take her seat before he resumed his. He then reached forward and poured the girl a glass of orange juice, cursing himself mentally because she hadn’t asked for it and he didn’t even know if she liked it or not.

Smiling at her despite himself, Elijah murmured his own morning greetings and resumed eating, just glad to have something to do. She was as beautiful that morning as she had been the night before, he’d noted with a heavy heart; utterly exquisite.

“It’s not a herd until they have a few more,” Elijah retorted good-naturedly. “But they might as well be, eh?” He amended before inquiring, “Did you sleep well?”

Katarina smiled politely and thanked Elijah quietly as he poured the juice. Orange had never been her favorite (that honor fell on cranberry) but she drank it all the same. Cordelia used to drink it with her breakfast and a younger Katarina had copied her in an effort to more closely resemble the elegance and status of her mother.

"Very well, and yourself?" she asked, stealing a glance across the table at Elijah. Truthfully she hadn't slept well at all. She hadn't had a good nights rest since returning home. Her dreams hadn't quite transformed into nightmares last night but they still were clouded by a darkness that she couldn't shake. But as their contents was nothing too startling Katarina had not bothered to talk to anyone about her restlessness. She was sure she was being foolish and that she should stop pondering it.

Though it was officially a guest room, Elijah had his own room when he came and stayed with the Rookwoods. He was here so often that it would have been almost wrong to keep him as a guest when he was so clearly family. Mira received similar treatment, especially since Athena had moved in. Kat got the impression that Mira was beside herself looking for ways to occupy her endless free time and the young blonde frequently stopped by for visits with Athena and the children. Kat almost never spoke to Mira and knew very little about her besides what she had observed and what Athena had mentioned.

Katarina took a slice of orange and bit into it, the smell of citrus exploding both into the air and into her mouth. It tasted like summer. "I couldn't resist - I had the windows open all night. It's just so lovely out." The elves had repeatedly told her not to open her windows and complained it made things drafty. But the temperature of her room was the one place that Katarina felt perfectly willing to bend the rules.

For Elijah, it was still strange to be around Katarina as her own person and not as her big brother’s best friend. It was strange to actually be Katarina’s friend but Elijah couldn’t deny the joy he’d gained in his life from being that person for her. She had been, for so long, his best friend’s little sister and to be her friend as well had taken some getting used to but it hadn’t been a difficult thing to overcome.

Katarina was every inch a Rookwood as far as Elijah could see but she was blessed with tact and subtlety which all other Rookwoods seemed to lack; Cordelia’s influence, he supposed – that, or living under Kendall’s shadow as the next born, the girl that was more of a kick in the teeth than a blessing. He didn’t see her that way of course, but in terms of the ancestral line, she was the beginning of a bad bunch.

What had endeared Elijah to her was the fact that she possessed a genuine artistic talent. It was not as though she had been instructed as a girl and had no soul. What she lacked in true finesse she made up for with passion and it was something Elijah admired. He often thought of Mira’s drawing in relation to Katarina’s – the truest example he had as he’d never seen Athena draw anything serious bar aimless doodles during their school years – and he saw that comparison, between instruction and free roam. Perhaps something had emerged well from Augustus’ neglect of his girls.

Elijah smiled and poured himself his own glass of orange juice. He didn’t particularly enjoy it either. He preferred a glass of Firewhisky in the mornings. The shock of the alcohol spiking through his system would always shake him free of sleep; a glass in the evening would in turn do the opposite.

“I slept very well, thank you.” Elijah looked at Katarina, sharing a smile just for her before lowering his gaze to his plate and closing the newspaper before him. “I always find I sleep better here. It must be the Irish air, hmm? Or, no, I think it might be because you Rookwoods keep insatiable company, fabulous food and ever flowing flagons of wine. That might be why.” Elijah laughed and picked up his fork, gesturing for Katarina to do the same, stabbing at some of the bacon on his plate.

“So tell me,” he began after swallowing. “What is it that you plan to do today?” Elijah looked up and glanced at the bright world outside before looking back at Katarina. “Are your friends coming here or do you have a date with a gentleman in Diagon Alley? If it is the latter, I promise I won’t tell your father.” Elijah grinned before moving his eyes back to the meal.

When Katarina spoke, Elijah immediately moved his eyes back to her and he laughed. “Is that why when I got up the house was freezing?” Elijah smiled dotingly before assuring her, “I’m joking.”