sticks a n d stones

[Xaver]

Xaver instinctually straightened when Ginny dropped Cody onto his lap - though just as quickly, he drew the small boy into a tight embrace. As Ginny left the room, Xaver absorbed much of Cody's shudders, shirt tearing, then disappearing altogether as his wings appeared from their vanished state, and wrapped about them, over his arms, around them like an effective blanket.

"I'm very sorry for that, Xerxes."

The words meant more than they gave away, though Xaver wasn't sure how otherwise to word it.
The deeper meaning, however, was clearly written in the solemn honesty of his low, gentle tones.

He drew Cody close, and bowed his head over him, planting a kiss atop the boy's head.

[Ginny Weasly]

Cody shivered, then coughed again, "I hate crying." He managed to say, "I always get sick from it." He laid his head against Xaver's chest, slowing his eyes and snuggling close to try and become warm.
"Where'd Momma go?"

He'd forgotten. He couldn't remember very well. His eyes and face felt really hot, but his arms and legs were cold. He was tired, but afraid to fall back asleep.
And then, there was that cough.

[Xaver]

Xaver's smile was very small, and tender, with the slightest hint of understanding sympathy, and a little sadness.
"Me, too."

As Cody leaned into him, Xaver drew him closer still, enveloping the boy's small frame within the circle of his arms and wings, transferring his own warmth.
"She went in the other room. She'll be back, don't you worry."

[Ginny Weasly]

"You sure?" He asked, shivering.

"Yes, baby." Ginny stepped into the room almost soundlessly. She held a small cup of water in her hands and an extra blanket draped over one arm.
"Here, angel, drink this and lie down." She handed him the cup, watching him as he took a sip anxiously.

She'd taken healing classes in school, but she still got nervous every time Cody even showed signs of becoming sick.

Cody took a sip, but had to hold the cup away as he began to cough again. He tried to cover his mouth, quickly, and dropped the cup, sending water all over the floor. His body jerked with each hoarse cough.

Ginny bit her lip, her eyes going to Xaver, seemingly pleading with him to do something. But what could he do? She pulled the covers back in Cody';s bed, ignoring the spilled water for the time being. "Let's get you laying down, angel baby." She said softly, her voice full of worry.

[Xaver]

Xaver pulled back just slightly and allowed Cody the room to accept the glass from Ginny, watching the boy closely as he brought the drink to his mouth, and sipped. He was soon to cough again and Xaver frowned, ignoring the cup as it fell to the floor about his feet. He caught Ginny's worried gaze, and patted the boy's back, shifting to make room for her to arrange the covers, and perching more comfortably at the end of the bed.

"I don't like the sound of that cough, kiddo," he said, low tones gentle, and mellow. "Are you cold?"

[Ginny Weasly]

Cody nodded, "Yeah." He said, his voice a tired whisper. He climbed from Xaver's arms, curling up underneath the covers his mom had arranged.
"Sleepy, too." he said, coughing into his little fist and closing his eyes. He hugged his pillow, his face buried into it.

Ginny knelt down, once again feeling his forhead. She pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Try and get some sleep, honey."

Cody mumbled something, but it was hard to understand him. Ginny bit her lip and kissed his forehead, standing up fully then. She nodded towards the door.

[Xaver]

Xaver couldn't help the lopsided smile that tilted the swell of his mouth as Cody crawled from him, and clambered into bed, nestling beneath his bedcovers. Retaining his silence, he watched, mute, as Ginny tucked him in once more, though as the lovely redhead moved toward the door, Xaver shifted, and scooted up on the bed, so he sat near Cody's shoulders. He bowed over the boy, leaning over him so that his tiny body was tucked beneath his arm, leaning on his elbow and his hip. He ran his other hand over the thick mop of the boy's hair, sorely missing the mess of his own hair, though he pushed the thought aside.

"You know there's an old legend, I know of.."
He smiled, at the sliver of blue eyes that peeked up at him, from the depths of the pillow.
"A grumpy old Angel who lived alone in the silver mountains. He hated the heat, but hated getting colds."
Xaver chuckled softly. "So, he called from the fire.." He lifted his hand from Cody's head, and extended his arm, palm down, his fingers dangling. Slowly, blue, silvery light dripped from his fingertips, liquid flames springing to life, downward, though keeping to his hand.
"And from the fire, he pulled a protector for him, of his colds.."
Xaver brought his burning hand to his chest, and the magics imploded into a soft, clouded light. When he drew his hand away, the flames had formed a small, round dragon, perched at his palm. The dragon straightened it's neck, billowing flames from its snout of that same illuminated magical substance. Xaver drew his hand over Cody's back, and the dragon spread it's wings over the boy's form, then as it dropped over him, the bright particles incinerated, seeping into the covers like secret stowaways, into the fabric. The blankets nearly glowed, with a gentle, protective pulse, warmth literally eminating from the fabric - though not too much.

He grinned, running a hand through Cody's hair once more before he rose, passing him a wink.

[Ginny Weasly]

Cody smiled, "Not supposed to use magic," He reminded Xaver. He snuggled into his covers deeper, however and nodded at his father's wink. "But I won't tell."

He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth from the covers, still seeing the dragon in his minds eye.

In the hallway, Ginny watched, a small worried smile playing at her lips. Cody was sick with a cold, yes. But what Xaver had done pulled at her heart. He'd cared for the boy.
Well, he was his father...
But, he hadn't been for the first three years.
It made Ginny happy.

[Xaver]

Xaver smiled as Cody made himself comfortable, resisting the urge to hover over him, and make sure he got better. He turned, slowly as the boy closed his eyes, and padded to the doorway. His gaze softened another ten-fold as his eyes flickered over Ginny, before he glanced back.

"I love you, Cody."

He closed the door until there was but a sliver of light that seeped into the room, then backed away, casting Ginny another curious smile.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny tilted her head sideways, leaning against the wall. She looked at him for a moment, her brow furrowing as she thought.
"You are a good dad, Xaver." She said softy before pushing away from the wall and walking back to the living room, where she picked up her half empty cup of hot coca and carried it to the kicthen. Her face was still a soft frown, a thoughtful one.

She set the cup in the sink, not feeling like washing it and went back to the other room. She curled up on the couch, propping her elbow on the couch and her cheek in her hand. She set her gaze forward, her frown still there.

Xaver was a good dad. When he was around.
And Cody was growing up to be a wonderful person.
But Ginny missed her little baby sometimes.

[Xaver]

Xaver blinked at Ginny's comment, not sure, entirely, how to take it. Reveling in the warmth that was quick to seep through him, but cautious, as to the lack of smile upon her face.
"Thank you," he murmured quietly, at her retreating back, watching motionless as she scooped up her cup, then made out of sight into the kitchen.
The dull clank of the glass setting into the sink stirred him into motion, and slowly, he padded down the hallway in her wake. He paused at the end, leaning against the corner of the mouth of the hall, folding his arms over his chest, the moody, deep blues of his eyes following her, watching her as she settled onto the couch.

[Ginny Weasly]

She looked up, giving him a small, sad smile.

"Come sit by me?" Ginny asked quietly. Her eyes were a bit sad, but not so much that he had any need to be truly concerned.
She looked at him, not saying much else, and not moving either.

She was a bit sad because Cody was growing up so fast. She'd get over it, given time. But at the moment, she didn't want to get over it.

[Xaver]

Slowly, Xaver uncoiled, straightening as he moved from the wall, padding over to her with those same agile, mellow strides. A corner of his mouth tipped upward into a halfish smile as he dropped onto the couch beside her, leaning back, and drawing an arm around her shoulders. Gently, he pulled her to him, and brushed another kiss atop her head.

"Your wish, is my command, love."

He winked at her, playfully, trying to condone his own sense of confusion and upset.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny snuggled against him, taking his free hand in hers and squeezing it. His arm around her made her warm, and safe. Happy. It even helped chase away most of her sadness.

"Really now?" She said, sighing softly.
She had a lot of wishes, suddenly.

[Xaver]

Xaver's grin was a completely wicked playfulness.
"Indeed."
He gave a devastatingly charming smile, tilting his head to the side, even as he tugged her closer.
"As far as I am able, I'll try."