_mess with her she'll *mess* you up!

[Xaver]

At Ginny's words, Xaver fell silent, holding her close as his gaze moved over her - ever watchful, thoughtful..
He'd never been able to read her thoughts. Slight outlinings of them, perhaps, when her emotions were raw - but they were vague at best. He could sense her emotions - he could sense her presence, easier than anyone he'd ever encountered. And he could feel and understand them, as well as his own sometimes.
Her thoughts, however, were as guarded as his own and shielded from him, though he'd never tried to invade them. They could only truly read each other, if one or the other was in grave peril, or if they both consented and they linked thoughts.

Ginny's thoughts then, however, were as distant and unknown to him, as ever.

"I love you, Gin. Truly."
He tilted his head slightly, so he could see her, running a hand through her hair, and catching her hands within the other, squeezing gently.
"I will fight, with every last fiber of my being.."

Xaver shook his head, and the solemn blue oceans of his gaze softened, considerably.

"For you. For our family."

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny blinked at him, a moment passing before she smiled. A slow, shy smile.
"Oh, I know. I love you too, Xaver."

She shifted, turning around to face him fully, finding comfort not only in his words but in his touch. Xaver had an effect on her that no one else had. Physically, his simple presence was capable of giving her goosebumps. Her heart would speed up, and everything seemed lighter.
That wasn't pulling in the emotional edge, either.

"You're the best."
Ginny leaned forward, brushing a kiss across Xaver's cheek, a tingling feeling spreading across their skin from the point of contact.
"Those jerks are going to wish they'd died when they were young."

She forced a bigger smile on her face, to mask the worry she felt, and glanced around the room. At the papers she had thrown around the room. She cringed. Her living room was a disaster area, and it had been she who made it that way.
"Suppose I should clean up that mess, eh?"

She wasn't embarrassed that Xaver had seen her childlike tantrum, like most people would be. Xaver knew she had moments of anger. Xaver knew that when he married her.
Xaver knew her well.
Ginny sighed, "Love, why can't we just live simple lives?"

[Xaver]

"I try."

His smile was lopsided, and mellow, until her lips grazed the contour of his cheek and his lips spread into a warm, toothy smile.
He'd needed the reassurance.
He'd needed her.
The only that could keep him going, when the chips were down, and the world was against him.

She was worth it.


"I suppose we should clean it up.."
He pressed a kiss to the hollow of her throat, however, and only held her closer, snuggling back, deeper into the couch.
"But why do what we should, all the time?"

Xaver did know Ginny well.
And he understood his wife - as much, he mused, as she probably understood him.
More than any other ever would, anyway. Or could.
He also knew the circumstances, and his own desire to simply crush everything in his wake - all the problems.. the bastards...
So tempting.

"I guess we only got so lucky."

He turned, dragging his legs up and stretching them over the couch, cradling her against him as he leaned back into the plush armrest.
Thankful for small mercies and glad she'd furnished the house, for darkness knew what uncomfortable disaster he might have chosen. He wasn't particularly inclined, in that department.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny couldn't help it, she giggled lightly.

"I think we are lucky!" She told him, poking his chest lightly and snuggling against him. She smiled as she laid next to him on the couch, propping her head on her arm so she could see his face.

"Where it's important, we are the luckiest in the world." It sounded corny, but it was true. They had each other and Cody. Not to mention the child on the way.
She lay her head down on his shoulder, closing her eyes.
Resting, even as she spoke.

After a moment of silence, "In addition to cleaning this room, we need to get around to fixing up the baby's room."

[Xaver]

"I think we are lucky!"

Xaver smiled.
In the end, where it counted, and where everything would come down to, they were complete. There was no doubt in his heart that it was all right.. even if the wold kept telling them that it was all so wrong.
To hell with the world.
Where it counted, Ginny was right - they were lucky..

He linked his hands, completing the circle around her, and sighed, thankful for the change of subject, even if just for the moment.

"I think we should go ...pink."

Just a feeling.
Just an inclination from nowhere.
...That he knew to be true.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Pink?"

Ginny breathed in the scent of Xaver, loving how warm and safe she felt at the moment. She smiled to herself.
Pink...
That meant he thought it would be a girl.

"Pink is good. We still have to set up Cody's old crib...buy new clothes..."
A small chuckle, "There is a lot to prepare for."

She sighed in contentment. Last time, she'd done this all on her own. Every step of the way, she had wished Xaver was there with her. And this time he was.

"Any ideas for names?"

[Xaver]

"There is a lot to prepare for..."
Xaver tilted his head foreword and rested his chin atop her head, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"And there's no need to set up Cody's old crib. It's strange what a man can find while out looking for slippers for his wife.."

His chuckle was a low, mellow rumble, deep within the confines of his chest, sounding through smiling lips as he allowed his eyes to mometarily close.
Absorbing the moment, and he warmth.

He was thoughtful for a moment, and silent longer.

"What about our mothers' names?"

[Ginny Weasly]

"Molly?"

Ginny wrinkled her nose. She loved her mother, but not so much her name.

"What about your mum? Melodiey, wasn't it? I like that..."
She thought about it, contemplating the name and spelling. She loved the way it sounded. And how it brought the though of music to the mind.

"Wait, you bought me slippers?"
She nudged him, keeping her eyes closed.

"What else did you buy me?" She teased him lightly, making a joke of it.

[Xaver]

"My mother's name...?"

Xaver tossed the thought around.
It wasn't a particularly bad start.
His mother had a beautiful name. And she'd been a radiant woman..

"Perhaps a twist off the old name..?"

He shrugged.
Then smiled down at her playful inquisitiveness.

"Slippers, a new crib, and some fancy chocolate with green apple spices that better have cost what they were worth and are hiding under my coat, there. I wanted to see if you liked them."
He peered down at the top of her head, through one slightly opened eye.
"Yum?"

He gave a cashere grin, to play off any stray thoughts she might have had.
Xaver and heavy coats were rarely one in a pair - and less, a coat, and gloves, and the works.
He loved the cold. Bundling up was an oddity for him.

However, he made little note of it.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Mmm...chocolate...."

Ginny's brow furrowed, though.
"Is it that cold out?"

If Xaver was wearing a coat, it had to be far colder that she had originally thought. She frowned,once again snuggling closer. Just the thought of cold made her shiver. She and Xaver were opposite as far as that went. He excelled in the cold, she in the heat.

[Xaver]

Pleased at her murmur of content at his purchases, Xaver's eyes closed again and he settled more contently into the couch.
His brow furrowed slightly at her comment, and almost laughed, though the sound never met his lips as exasperation subdued him. It had been stupid for him to think that she, of all people, wouldn't have noticed the small change. The little details.
It had always been a trait he'd found endearing about Ginny, from their very beginning. She'd always cared about the details.
Always cared about his details.


"No more cold than usual.."
He said it lightly.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Then why the coat?"

Ginny knew she was nitpicking.
She didn't care.
She was his wife, it was a requirement of the job.
She cracked open one eye, tilting her head upwards so she could see his face.

"Are you sick?"

Ginny reached up without waiting for an answer, touching her hand to his forehead to feel for a fever. Automatically stepping into the role of the worried wife.

[Xaver]

Xaver's eyes slowly opened when she brought her hand to his forehead, his skin warm to the touch - but too warm, for him, his flesh usually slightly cool, if anything.
A corner of his mouth tipped upward, in a both tired and knowing smile.

"Sick?"
He eyed her thoughtfully, mulling over the word before he responded.
"Perhaps. I've never really felt like this before.."
The smile faded, and his brow pulled, the oceans of his eyes searching hers.

"I've never really been cold before.. Not in weather like this.. This isn't extreme temperatures, or anything... Just.. Winter.."

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny frowned, opening both eyes fully and biting her lip. She ran a hand through Xaver's hair, thinking about what he could possibly be sick with.

"Maybe you should go take a nap, love." She told him, half sitting up. She ran her hand over his cheek, worry showing in her eyes.

"Perhaps it's simple exhaustion?"

[Xaver]

"Exhaustion and I are old friends, my love.. I used to be a soldier."
Though, he didn't see the difference in what he was doing now, to the mechanics of what his orders had been, then. Other than that he was in charge.. He was giving the orders, now.
Even if he'd bleed just as willingly for peace.

Ginny sat up slightly, but he didn't unlink his hands, turning his head and pressing into her caress.

"And I'm relaxing right now, babe.."
He nudged her toward him.
"Lay with me here for a little more.. please? Even if it's only a few moments."
Xaver's eyes slid closed again, though a light smile touched his always solemn mouth..