A Flat in Diagon Alley

"Why don't you come in?" Rachel open the door wide for her. "You can meet her."

"Oh, really? Thanks." Selia lowered her voice, to not disturb the baby if she was sleeping. While walking in, she blabbed carelessly about her life, what she aspired to do, Jake, and Chinese food. "So we sleep in the same bed, but nothing ever happens. Do you know how to fix that? Also, I want to cook some things, but the kitchen just looks so new, and I don't want to ruin it.."

"Selia, don't have sex until married, you'll regret it-uh, what else... you should cook, I bet Jake wouldn't care-oh, the baby is awake!" Rachel scooped up Sophia in her arms, who was staring at Selia with her large brown eyes.

"Oh.." Selia said softly, her eyes widening. "She's absolutely beautiful, Rachel. What's her name?"

"This is Sophia. And she's only about... two weeks old now. She weighs about eight pounds now." she held her out. "Would you like to hold her? Just be careful."

"Yeah, of course." Selia said, taking the baby in her arms as gently as she could. "Hi, Sophia. Good morning.." She whispered, smiling. She's so adorable. I want a baby as perfect as this, a cute little girl, with perfect eyes just like her.. Selia was thinking, just smiling away at the baby.

Rachel grinned at Sophia, and at Selia. "She's a sweetie... I'm glad you like her!"

"Yeah, she is. Here, you can have her back now, before I carry her off for myself." Selia joked, grinning.

"Thank you..." And she carefully put her back in her crib. "So, tell me why you're not in school!"

"Oh, right.. I dropped out. Along with Jake. We live together now, in an apartment in Hogsmeade.. I can still see the school. I miss it." Selia sighed. "Don't tell Jake if you see him, but I wish I hadn't dropped out. It's really hard. Oh- gosh, look at the time. I really have to go. My cousin is coming by to my place. I'll visit later, okay?" Selia went outside to apparate.

Nicolas had arrived home, and carelessly tossed his briefcase on the kitchen counter. Collapsing into a chair, he kicked his shoes off and exhaled loudly. Ahh... finally, he was home. Work. Blaine... he hadn't been any forgiving about how it was the holidays and Nicolas had a newborn child at home to take care of. No, rather, he said the holidays were a perfect time for more crime! Paperwork paperwork! The one thing terrible about working in the Supreme Defense Branch, Nicolas thought as he slowly trudged over to the couch, discarding his cloak on a chair as he did so, is all the paperwork. Insurance forms, too, there were plenty of those. And, there was the fact that he'd been working next to a huge psychopath for the past however-long was pretty stressful on its own. Harold always asking about the wife, and now Sophia--little Sophia.

Which, he had just noticed, weren't home. Oh yeah, he remembered. Rachel had dinner with Max tonight... and she had taken Sophia with her.

Nicolas eyed the briefcase as he laid out on the couch, though took his gaze off of it as he lay facedown. Then, a thought struck him as he slowly ran an index finger across the couch surface.

"Why didn't they invite me?" he murmured, letting out a sigh. "I got off work in time for dinner..."

He had an odd feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach. It rose up, and formed a lump in his throat. Work. Stressful work. Stressful work with stupid Blaine. Stupid Blaine giving all the damn paperwork. All the damn paperwork given at stupid work. Work. Stressful work...

All of these began running vicious circles around his subconscious, until he finally did what he hadn't done in a long time; he let a tear slip down his cheek. And, well, once that was out, he collapsed into sobs. What? It wasn't like anyone was around to see him.

The phone rang.

Nicolas raised his head up, slowly, and stared at the phone. Maybe it was a friend! Calling to ask how he was doing? Possibly. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and picked up the phone.

"Hullo?"

[[LOL. YES. He also has to look at himself in the mirror and yell out one phrase over and over and over again that means much to him. ]]

Rachel appeared in her apartment. "Nick!" she exclaimed. "Are you okay?!"

"Of course I am!" Nicolas hollered sarcastically from his spot on the couch. He had curled into a ball, and was staring up at the doorway where Rachel was. His face was a bit red.

"You look terrible!" she said in shock. She ran over, and knelt down beside him. "How long have you been crying?"

"... I don't know," he murmured. "Was I supposed to keep track of that?"

"Oh! Don't be so sarcastic!" she said, shaking her head angrily. "Happiness is a choice! If you want to be happy, then stick your chin up and decide on it!"

Since the player of the other character (No rhyme intended) isn't replying, this player decides just to write a more do-able post.

"And er, Nick! Guess what?" she didn't wait for him to guess. "I'm pregnant again! Isn't that great?!"

"What?!" Nick looked at her, utterly horrified. "How? No, don't answer that--I thought we had it planned! Sophia isn't even a year old yet!" Now he seemed really worried. "And this place isn't big enough for another child! I thought we'd move before you got pregnant again!"

"Oh, don't worry!" Rachel ruffled his blonde hair, in a loving sort of way. "I have that part all worked out. While you were at work, I was checking out this house, and I really like it! It's really up north, and it's kind of small...here!" she began to dig around in pants pocket. "Here are some pictures! See..." she was pointing at everything. "It's two stories, and there's an attic and a cellar with it... it's pretty small, but look at all that LAND that comes with it! We can really do something with it, eh?!"

"I... I guess so," he mumbled. He didn't really seem to enthusiastic about it. "I just... can't believe you're pregnant again."

"Common!" Rachel hugged him. "Cheer up! It will all work out, I promise."

He gave her a hug, and a long, tender kiss before getting up and stretching. "I'd better get going," he said. "Lots of things to do tomorrow..." With that, he headed off to bed.