In Luxor

[thecoolone]

There, the thing is settled. Taking a deep breath, Bill walks into their flat: he wants this done before Fleur gets back. Wand drawn -- he knows this spellwork intimately -- he begins methodically dismantling the flat and packing everything into three trunks, shrinking items as he goes. It doesn't take so very long and it's clear that this isn't the first time Bill has packed and moved. The last item -- the photo book from Las Vegas -- goes into the last trunk; shrinking the trunks down, he sets them one, two, three like a trio of heavy books on their dining table.

It's only then that he walks to the balcony and looks out onto Luxor's wizarding bazaar as if memorising the sights and sounds and smells of not just this city but of all Egypt. If he could bottle it and take it with him, he certainly would. But Fleur and her health come first and the Healer said no more Apparating. That makes Egypt unfeasible: were there more reliable access to the bar here he might try to stay. But curse-breaking is risky work, and he's promised Fleur more than once he won't die, won't leave her alone. He means to keep his word on that, both for her and for their twins.

Twins. The thought fills him with unexpected and untold contentment, and he can't wait to find out the gender. He's looking forward to all those little things with his wife: chosing names, organising rooms, picking out cribs. What he'd like more than anything is to do up their room in an Egyptian theme; he and Fleur can discuss that at leisure.

And the babies will be born in London, because that's where he's been reassigned and he knows how to get to Milliways from there without question and without hesitation, and it works every time. She won't have to use magic to get round the place, and he'll be at a nice, safe (albeit dull) job at Gringott's for the duration and he doesn't mind a bit. It will keep him closer to the woman he loves.

The click of the door opening pulls him out of his reverie: turning round, he holds out his hands and smiles.

"Hullo, love. Surprise."

Comments

[leplusbeau]

Fleur was just pulling off her veil as she came in the door. The traditionalists here seem to like to barter with her more if she looks a little more like a traditional married woman.

Oh, Bill voice! Husband!

--empty house!

"Were we robbed?!?" HER SHOES!!

[thecoolone]

"Robbed? No." Laughing, he takes her hands in his. "Packed. We're going back to London. I've got myself reassigned to the bank for the foreseeable future so you don't need to Apparate about quite so much, or travel by Portkey. Neither are good for you or for the babies at this stage." Her hair, long and silvery and flowing like silk, beckons: he reaches up and strokes it in a practised, comfortable move before letting his hand settle on her stomach. His voice is little more than a soft murmur. "And we're closer to friends and family and to our Healer and if I know you, you won't be content sitting still. You'll end up modeling maternity clothes and earn far too many Galleons and I can be the one to sit back idly and grow fat."

Bill nods to one of the trunks on the table. "And your shoes are safe inside the centre trunk. At the moment, however, they're very small."

[leplusbeau]

"London? But you love it here!" Her hands rest over his as she looks up into his eyes. "Oh, minet. You did not..." Her tummy is a bit in the way now a days, but she manages to kiss him anyway. And gives a light tug on a long bit of his hair that has come loose from his ponytail. "You silly man. You did not have to. You could have told me."

[thecoolone]

"I just did. And really, Fleur: I did have to. I love it here but now isn't the time for it. I was fine in London before I got here and we can always come back here again, when the children are old enough for it. Right now, I think we all need to stay closer to home."

He can't deny this place lures him in ways he can't even begin to explain to another or to put into words for himself, but he'll always have it. Always. "Look at it this way, love: I thought it was best all round for us. If you're sincerely against it I'll rethink things, but the goblins understand. They said they might call me back from time to time to assist new curse-breakers with logistical training, but I think for a while it's best if I don't have to outwit Sphinxes or outrun Manticores. Not with children on the way, right?"

It isn't that Bill's ever been a particularly practical man: the lure of adventure has always been what's motivated him. It's simply that the awaiting adventure is far more important to him than retrieving treasure from ancient tombs. After all, he's done that for a long time, but (to his knowledge) he's never been a father before.

"One adventure at a time, Fleur. And right now, you're it."

[leplusbeau]

"You are a 'opeless romantic. Did you know?"

And people wonder sometimes why she decided to marry him.

Fleur leans her head against his shoulder and sighs. "I will be sad to go. It has grown on me. But, when our p'tits are a little older, we will show them both our worldz. Oui?"

[thecoolone]

"I fully intend on returning. Yes. When they're old enough to toddle through the pyramids with us." His arm wraps round her tenderly.

So she finds him a hopeless romantic? That's not the worst thing in the world, and he's defined himself through words in a number of different ways: he's British. He's a Gryffindor. Saggitarian. Curse-breaker. Husband. Adventurer. Brother. Lover.

The newest word will be father. No one's ever called him dad before and it will be a while before they do, but it's already intriguing.

"And you're going to be a mum." That's almost unbelievable to him: she's too young, too petite, too glamourous, too... no, she's just right for it. She'll be just the right mum for their children.

"I happen to love you a great deal, my dear. Luxor will always be here waiting for us. Personally, though, I can stand to see you in a few less articles of clothing than this place demands."

[leplusbeau]

"Erk. Mama. Iz still..." She isn't sure what to think of that, still. "I do not know if I will believe it until you tell me," she tells her belly. "And Papa juste likez to see Mama naked all the time." She looks up. "That iz...weird. To call myself that."

[thecoolone]

His smile is soft, but he nods. "It's... a bit odd, but I rather suspect you'll get used to it. I had to look round the room when you used the term Papa just now. That should be my dad, not me."

Without all their appointments and belongings, this flat looks strangely foreign to him. "I've a week between assignments. Is there anywhere you'd care to go, anything you're aching to do? Go to Paris, tell your mum and sister? They were so thrilled when we popped round and told them we were married; I thought Gabrielle was likely to have my head on a silver platter. How do you suppose they'll take this news?"

There was one sure way to find out. Curse-breaking takes a good bit of defiance of danger and an equal amount of bravery, but it doesn't hold a candle to facing his in-laws.

[leplusbeau]

"Mama will kill you for making her a grandmother?" She cuddles close and looks adoringly up at him. Pout! "Do we have to? Could be surprise! 'ello! Look! We are send babiez to school! What? You did not know? Happy Christmas!"

[thecoolone]

He's amused. Very, very amused. "We could do that. I don't need to suffer the wrath of more than one Veela at a time." Her eyes are just begging to be kissed, though, and so he obliges: right eye, left eye, then her forehead. "Or we could take these things back to London, unpack, settle, and... get takeaway. Something solidly non-Egyptian: how does that sound? And leave off telling the world for a little while. We won't be accountable to anyone but each other, and we can dream up wild tales with which to regale the twins when they're older."

The idea isn't without its appeal: a week-end with no responsibilities seems like a lovely, lovely thing.

"Or I could take you on one of those Nile River cruises and fan you with a palm leaf and glare at all the men -- and women -- who'll be besotted by how lovely you are." Now, he thinks, is the right time to be silly. After the twins are born, they'll be far too busy being practical.

[leplusbeau]

"Hmmmmmmmm." She's humming in the back of her throat, tucking Bill's loose hair behind his ears, and holding his face between her palms. "I think that I want you. A bed. And naked." Kiss, kiss, kiss. "Oui?"

[thecoolone]

"Oui." Really, any man who wouldn't want that with Fleur has to be mad. Wistfully, he moves away from her embrace.

"One more series of Portkeys to go, love, and we'll be home, and then you won't have to use one again till after the twins are born." The three trunks fit nicely under his arm. "Say goodnight to Egypt, Fleur. The Portkey will be active in two minutes." He takes a last longing glance out through the window: it's spectacular but he's ready. Of all the things he's had to concede to, this is the least regrettable of all. Luxor isn't going to simply disappear.

Bill takes the broken and useless wristwatch into his hand and directs Fleur's hand to it as well. "Ready?"

Goodbye, all of this.

They'll just be on holiday from it for a while.

[leplusbeau]

"Au revoir," she says to the scene out their bay window.

And hangs on to the Portkey.