sticks a n d stones

[Ginny Weasly]

"The what is the living room for, love?" She asked, tilting her head. She patted the cushion beside her, "We'll talk about anything you wish to."

Still serious. She knew they'd speak of it when it was time.
Ginny smiled warmly, much more warmth then was actually needed at the moment. She was still slightly angry at him for leaving again. But she was willing to forget. He'd apologized. They'd get past it.

[Xaver]

Xaver's gaze flickered to the spot, beside her, with a taste of both longing, and mixed thought.

"Destroying the necklace," he said gently, and very slowly. Almost cautiously, "involves little talking."

He watched her closely, though he moved toward her, padding quietly to her side, and perching on the couch beside her.
He paused for another moment, before reaching out and drawing the mug toward him, resting it on his knee as he held it between both palms, staring curiously into what was, to him, foreign "stuff".

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny blew on her own cup, then took a sip, "It's not poison, love." She chuckled lowly at him, smiling.

"Well, telling me how to do it involves talking a bit, right?" Obviously.

She smiled, watching him as he starred at his cup, "Try it." She urged, "You'll like it. Promise. It's almost as good as muffins."

[Xaver]

Her chuckling drew his gaze, and he grinned, almost sheepishly, the expression widening when she mentioned muffins. A series of warm, affectionate memories resurfaced at the word, and he shook his head a moment, before drawing the cup to his lips, and taking a sip. He winced slightly at the heat of it, and set the cup back onto his knee, though as he swallowed the hot chocolate, he made a low, approving sound, eyebrows raising.

"That's fantastic," he said, tones lighthearted as he grinned slightly from her, to the mug of chocolaty-goodness.

The expression faded slowly, after he'd taken a few more hearty sips, and set it carefully back onto the table.

"Ginny," he said, in seriousness now. "You don't need to do this. A little bit of gold will only hurt for a bit. And you can't do some of the things. Well, you can.. But, you wouldn't want to."
He paused.
"You don't need to," he said firmly. "I'll take care of it."

[Ginny Weasly]

"Wouldn't want to?" She raised her eyebrows at him, setting down her own cup.

"Or you wouldn't want me to?" She asked, tilting her head and looking at him. She winked, "I'm a big girl, Xav. Let me do it. I don't want your allergy to act up."

She reached down, clasping one of his hands in both of hers and turning it palm up in her lap. She traced the  lines on his palm, her expression soft. "What if something happens and you get hurt cause of the gold? I don't know how to heal you."

[Xaver]

Xaver gave an odd, sad smile.
"I don't know either, actually."

He shrugged his shoulders, but didn't pull away, leaning closer slightly, and enjoying her touch.

"You could help me.. But no, my love, I don't think you'd want to, a few things. You usually don't want to hurt me. Unless you're really pissed."
He offered a small, playful grin.
"In that case, though.."
He scooted slightly away, before chuckling lightly.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny let go of his hand and playfully pushed his shoulder, "That's right. Fear me, for I have the power to harm you." She giggled, shaking her head.

"That's right, I wouldn't want to hurt you." She smiled, "But really, hurt you a little and let it heal, or have something go wrong and have you die?"

"I like the first much much better, don't you?"

[Xaver]

Xaver absorbed the playful push with a grin, relaxing slightly, at the sound of her gentle giggle.
He tipped his head curiously at her comments, even as he moved back over to her, wrapping an arm about her shoulders and brushing a kiss over her forehead.

"I'm not going to win, am I?" he murmured, his low, at-ease tones amused.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Never." Ginny said, snuggling closer to him. She laughed softly, tilting her head so she could face him.

"Xav, I'll do what it takes to help you, ok? Especially about this." Her smile was still there, though faintly. "It does concern me, you know." She nodded solemnly, "If it concerns you, it concerns me. We're a family, right?"

[Xaver]

Xaver smiled, and leaned in, curling his fingers beneath her chin, and lifting her head just a hairs breadth higher so that when he bowed his head down, there was little distance to close before he kissed her.
"A family," he said, low tones soft, as he gently pulled away - though only by a little.
He smiled as he said the word, the foreign lilt of his voice pleasant. Xaver nodded.
"Yes."
His smile broadened.
"Yes, we are."

He shifted slightly, so that his arm draped around her shoulders, and he held her close, thoughtful.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny cuddled closely, her own smile returning fully.
"You know what?" She asked, her voice low and comfortable.
But what she had been about to say was lost as an ear piercing scream cut through the room. Ginny jumped about a foot in the air, her eyes wide. She slipped out from Xaver's arms, going up the stairs and to Cody's room.

Cody sat up in bed, half crying, half screaming. His little hands were balled into fists, which he pressed against his eyes as he gasped for breath and let out another wordless scream.

Ginny went to him, sitting on the edge of his bed and pulling the child onto her lap. Wrapping him in her arms and rubbing his back, "Shhhh, angel, it's okay, baby. What's wrong?"

Cody continued crying, too upset to speak. He shook his head, and buried his face in her shirt, still sobbing loudly.

[Xaver]

Xaver smiled as Ginny curled up against him, sinking closer to her.
"What?" he murmured lowly - though soon after, a unnerving cry upturned the easy mood, and Ginny jumped up from him, just as he was about to jump from his own skin.

Quickly, though soundlessly, he stalked in Ginny's wake, coming to the doorway and watching, almost as an outsider would, as Ginny held Cody. .
.As their son clung to her, and cried his heart out.

Xaver's own heart lurched uneasily, guiltily, as he stepped within the room, the shadows toying with the unease of his creature. He stood to the side of them, feeling, suddenly, out of place..

[Ginny Weasly]

"Baby, shh." Ginny murmured, kissing the top of Cody's head, "What is it, angel?"

"Ca..." Cody gulped, pushing his face against her tightly, "Cats, Momma. Giant.."

Ginny sighed, understanding. She rubbed his back, rocking him slightly, "Ohhh, angel, it's okay..."

Cody sat up, his tiny fingers curling around her shirt as he put his face close to hers and shook his head. His eyes were wide, fearful, "No, Momma! It's not! They are gonna take Daddy away again! And then they are gonna take you! And they're gonna leave me all alone!"

Ginny's heart lodged n her throat, "Angel, shushh, it's okay baby. The cats aren't gonna take your dad or me."

[Xaver]

Out of place was not the word for it.

Xaver sat on the edge of the bed, and watched them quietly, solemnly, his eyes flickering oddly at the mention of the Cats.

Out of place of was not the word for it at all.

He wanted to reach out, and draw them both into the strength of his arms, and wash away his little boys fears with his own love - but he knew that'd never work. He, himself, had inflicted too much damage on his own family. He'd made everything worse. Made them worry. Brought them scares and terrors that weren't theirs.
Weren't Cody's, or Ginny's.

The Cats.
Good for nothing ferile felines.

Xaver looked at his hands, playing his thumb across the pad of his opposite palm.
Unsure of what to do. Unsure that he was welcome to do anything.

[Ginny Weasly]

((Poor Xav...))

Cody took another deep breath, and then began to cough. He'd been crying too hard, screaming too much. It had made his throat raw, his lungs sore. He leaned against Ginny, using his fist to now cover his mouth.

Ginny grimaced at the sound, "Angel, I'll go get you a drink, okay?" She rubbed his back, and the without warning plopped Cody's small body onto Xaver's lap. She stood before the two of them, her hand resting on Cody's forehead, and worry creasing her own. She felt his cheeks, and then kissed his hair, even as he sat on Xaver's lap.
She left the room, a worried frown flitting across her pretty face.

Cody clung to Xaver's arm, shuddering as he suddenly became cold.
"I don't feel good, Daddy." He muttered.