Harry Potter Fan

"Xaver..."

His mother kneeled down before him, as to be of equal height, and met his eyes with a leveling gaze, sea blue eyes glinting like diamond encrusted jewels, and matching so well his own dark oceans. Though his now swam with tears, and moody thought, his eyebrows and very young, frowning mouth pinched with hurt. She reached to him, and cupped his jaw, tilting his head up to look at him fully, and bore down at him with the full weight of her gaze.

"Do not despair.. You know your other half loves you. It is a wonder you were born so seperately... I'd think that put together, you'd be a whole Angel. You, the compassion, and he-"

Xaver pulled his face away, and stared at the floor.
"I want to be compassionate no longer."
He was young, yes.
But you didn't speak to his mother like a fool. It wasn't accepted..

His mother smoothed her skirts over her knees, the silks and embroidered fabrics glittering slightly as they shifted.
"You cannot change who you are, my son."

Xaver lifted his head and met her familiar gaze.
"I don't know who I am.."

She shook her head, and finally reached out for him, wrapping her arms around his lean figure, just beneath his wings, pulling him close to her and enveloping him in a hug.
"That is fine, Xaver Aleksander. In time, you will find yourself." She nodded, cheek pressed against the top of his head. "You must lead Xences a little, though... Else he might lose his way..."



Xaver shook his head, violently forcing the reverie away, shifting the heavy cloak about his shoulders as he stole, soundlessly, into the dark and shroudy Hog's Head, his pupils  fixing quickly so that his vision was as adequate as in daylight, in the barely-lit bar. Just inside the door, he seated himself at the immediate table, leaning back into the wall, and allowing the shadows to envelop his shady figure, dressed in no color, the hood of his cloak concealing the pale girth of his throat and face, magics concealing his enormous wings in a vanished state. Completely soundless, he went unnoticed by the others already well on their way to drunkedness.
He folded his hands neatly over the wooden tabletop - and he waited. Utterly still, and with a practiced patience only centuries could teach and endorse.

Finally, the door opened - loudly this time, springing back to crack against the wall, the heavy-set figure jerking as he twitched, eyes scanning. Not wearily - but searching, finger resting idly on the trigger of an old-fashioned revolver.

"Where are you, you big bastard..."

Xaver snorted at the language.
At the sound, the man jumped, eyes widening, even as he pointed the weapon, aiming directly at the Fallen lord's forehead.

"There you are. ..Finally, I can get rid of your black-blooded filth for go-"

The man was cut off - and Xaver was gone. Even stalking back into the night, he could hear the upset cries and screams of the others as the man buckled and collapsed to the floor, blood pouring from the gaping hole in his throat.
Xaver shook his head, emotions and expressions concealed by the hood, and threw the oddly curved dagger into the air. He flicked his fingers, after it, and the weapon glowed an eerie, odd shade of blue, before melting, the piece remaining suspended in mid air until all of it had dissapated, collecting in a pool of foreign, glassy, liquid substance.


He had been gone too long.
Again.

Too far.
Too long.
..Too wrong.

Perhaps it was only right he would come home to this realm, and with his entrance, be hunted.
He bowed his head against the street lamp, the light boring down over him almost heavy - and he trudged on, his steps light, and almost careless, though there was an underlying wariness and power, to every of his movements...

((*gasp* Xaver is online....I shouldn't join this because I would just ruin this...eh?))

((Who knows, haha.))

"Mom, can we stop and get some candy?"
The child's voice had strengthened since last Xaver had heard it. It had grown slightly, though not much. When he asked, he didn't whine. He just wanted to know. He knew better than to whine lately.

"I suppose so. You didn't get into any trouble today, so it's not a hassle." Ginny smiled down at Cody, squeezing his hand to let him know she was only kidding. He chuckled at her, now pulling her towards the candy shop. It would be closing soon, and he really wanted some sweets for after dinner.

He had grass stains on the knees of his jeans, and the sleeve of his t-shirt was ripped. But he was happy, it had been a nice day, so his mother had let him play in the forest while she taught her classes. Though he'd had to be followed by the wolf Moonlight, Cody didn't mind. He had flown, he had ran, and he had played. He was beginning to grow tired now, but he wouldn't ask his mom to carry him. She was tired too.

He looked up at her and thought about how tired she was, about how she still looked sad, even though she'd had a good day. He also thought about how pretty she was, with her red hair pulled back, her black teacher's robes. He was proud of his mom.

"Mom? You think dad will be home tonight? I miss him."

Ginny looked down at Cody, pushing the door to the candy shop open, "I miss him too, angel. I don't know. I'll try to contact him after dinner, ok?"

Xaver had been gone. For at least three weeks. Ginny wasn't sure for how long. One morning he'd gotten up to go to his home realm, and she hadn't seen him since. She didn't know if he'd stopped at the house during the day when she and Cody where gone, or if he simply hadn't been home. She was worried about him, but knew from experience that there was nothing she could do but wait.
And hope.
And not let Cody see her cry.

(Never be afraid to join, silly. Just join and post with substance.)


It was a different man in his skin, that walked away from the murder. Sure it had been instigated - the man had been hunting him, after all - but he had still been a mortal. At an untold disadvantage.
Killing a man, in itself, was a sin far to dark for repetance. Taking another's life, and future, and destroying it with your own blade, especially that of a man who had really had no way of advantage, would have haunted Xaver, before. It would have been a last resort decision, as well. Even then, though, as figures rushed the street, in the opposite direction he made, toward the scene he had left behind, Xaver carried no remorse. No concern.
No feeling.

He tipped his head back, the hood of his cloak slipping just enough to reveal the pale, angled chisle of his jaw, and the slope of his mouth, slackened slightly as he drew in a breath, absently cracking his neck before he straightened. His wings appeared - slowly slipping out of their vanished state, and into firm, and supple reality, embedded into the hard set muscle of his back, through unseen slashes in his cloak. The dark entities stretched behind him, then drew close, folding into their natural reserve, tall and foreboding behind his already shady, powerfully lean figure.

Xaver was rounding the corner of the candy store, when he heard them.
The only voices that could ever jolt his heart back to feeling - and reboot his internal anatomy.

"...dad will be home tonight? I miss him.... ...I miss him too, angel..."

His heart pounding a bruise into his chest, he paused, stopping in his tracks only a moment to catch their scent - to be sure.
It was them.
..It was them.


"You will not have to wait through another meal, dearest."
His tones were lower, and far more calm - reserved - than they had been before he'd gone. Withdrawn into the shadows of the cloak, he waited, stopping just aside of the candy shop door, his wings a luminous presence behind him - almost absorbing the light of the lone streetlamp, rather than reflecting it.
He leaned almost lazily - but there was almost a predatory spring corded into his creature.. Like an animal that had been let back into the wild for far too long, and didn't know what to do, when once again in domestic land...

Both of them turned on a dime the moment the first sound was out of his lips. Cody forgot about his sweets, and Ginny forgot about...well...everything else.

Without another word, they backed out of the shop and stood in the street, starring at Xaver for a long moment. It was Cody who broke the silence first.
"Daddy!" He cried out, leaping forward and wrapping his small arms about Xaver's hips. He hugged him tightly, suddenly shaking. "I missed you, daddy. Where were you? I thought you left us for good...I thought you didn't love us..me.." And then the child started to cry.

Ginny stood watching in horrified curiosity. She had known Cody was angry. She had known he wanted is dad. But the boy hardly ever cried, and he had never mentioned these fears to her. To see him expose himself so easily, and to cry, it pained Ginny. Her little boy had been torn up, and she hadn't been able to help in the slightest. Besides that, Cody hadn't called Xaver 'daddy' for a while now. She had thought he'd outgrown the name.

She tilted her head, her hands lose at her sides as she watched her angle interact with his father.

"Daddy!.."


Xaver started at the outburst - but only just. Stiffening out of habit that had been more beaten into him, than taught. When the boy reached him, however - when Cody wrapped his arms around him, that ages-old composure, and mask of indifference, broke. The tension in his limbs slackened, and his hooded head bowed, still effectively concealing his features - but in no way concealing his emotion. It was written into his movements - the care, as he stooped down, drawing the boys arms from his waist, and gripping him under the arms, lifting him up, and bringing him to his chest. Xaver wrapped his arms around his son, and held him to him.

"Xerxes."
It wasn't so often that Xaver used Cody's first name. It was in that, that perhaps intensified his seriousness.
"I love you, and your mother. You are my world.. Nothing, could, or will ever change that."

Xaver planted a kiss atop the boy's head - and when his hooded head withdrew, the spot atop the young boy's raven hair glittered oddly beneath the lamplight.

"I missed you..." Cody said quietly, wiping as his quickly drying tears. He shivered, and clung onto Xaver as though for dear life.

Ginny smiled slightly, but showed no more emotion than a bystander. She was ecstatic that Xaver was back. More so that he had calmed Cody quickly and efficiently. And she was euphoric that Cody was glad to see Xaver. And the simple sight of Xaver sent butterflies through her stomach.
So why did she feel this sudden, brief burst of anger? Oh, how she wanted to smack Xaver. He had worried Cody, had made their son cry. He had worried her.

In the brief weeks he was gone, Ginny had quickly fallen backwards. Far back, feeling much as she had the time before when he had left. Once again, her sole reason for not simply wasting away was her son. Her angel, Cody.

She recalled a promise. Xaver had promised not to break Cody's heart. He had very nearly done so. She clenched her fists suddenly, looking away from the touching scene. She was angry at Xaver, yes, but she would not ruin this for Cody.

"I have missed you, too. More than words, Angel."

Xaver clung to Cody, tightly, recipiating the young boy's need for closeness.

He may have been the Fallen lord.
He may have, not an hour ago, slit the throat of another man.

..But Xaver, himself, was still a man, who could feel, and want, and need - and forgive every once in a while, and hold on a little too tight.


He could sense Ginny's shift of mood.
He didn't need his empathetic skills to note her lack of response altogether.
Xaver had been called many a things in his years - rash, irrational, merciless, detestable... Stupid, even by his enemies, wasn't commonly listed amoungst his attributes.

She was angry.
Angry with him.
As she very well could be. He blamed her not.

He shifted Cody onto his hip, holding him close and with effortless ease, even though the boy was now far into childhood and hardly the tiny boy he'd been when Xaver had first seen him. As he shifted, however, the hood of his cloak finally pulled, and fell back, the cloth finally falling away to expose his features in entirety. The entirety... of his difference.
His head had been shaved. A thick buzz of obsidian had already grown back, but the lack of long, silken locks severely sharpened his already wolfish, predatory features. Xaver had an easily attractive face, if one didn't read too deeply into the harsh lines of instincts set just beneath every pull and expression. Finely honed planes, and angles - a strong jaw, freshly shaved, though one side was oddly discolored of a healing bruise, above the marking a smear of what could have been blood. His lower lip was split, busted over his own teeth, and there was a jarred cut through his left eyebrow. His eyes were the same dark, brooding, moody oceans - but there was change, there, too. Though, such change couldn't be seen with the naked eye...

Cody let out a low whistle, surprised by the lack of hair on his head. He reached up to feel the small amount that had begun to grow back, and giggled slightly.
"Did somebody cut off your hair?" He asked with a smile. He glanced back at Ginny, "Look at Daddy's hair Mom."

Ginny looked up, her eyes meeting Xaver's for just a moment before they scanned his head. Something flickered across her face. Surprise, a small amount of sadness. She had liked Xaver's hair. But hair was just hair. It would grow back eventually. For Cody's benefit she studied Xaver and his new haircut, not liking the way it made his face look.
Too harsh.
Too hard.
Too...dark.

"Mmm...I see it." She said, keeping her voice flat and disinterested. She let her eyes meet Xaver's for another momentary flash, then settled them on Cody.

"We need to get dinner."

Cody giggled at the changes, but despite effort, Xaver, himself, couldn't manage a grin in response.
His gaze shadowed, very slightly, and he nodded, slowly. He met Ginny's eyes for a flicker of a moment, before she looked away, and he sighed, softly.

"Yes. Somebody cut off my hair.." he said quietly, in an off tone.

The tenseness that had again began to surface once more eased as Cody ran his small fingers over the thick, short buzz of his hair, unmarred fingertips grazing over his skull in such an unfazed manner that it soothed him.
When Ginny met his gaze for the second time, the incident at the Hogs Head was already long forgotten. The sadness, and anger in her eyes, even as she tried to suppress it, was by far, evident to him. And, by all means, his fault.
Her sadness - her hurt - was because of him - and instinct had him withdrawing sharply back into that shell he had forged long ago. There was no way to protect himself from her, for she was too much of him, to be able to fool anybody - and though he knew he did not need the said protection, the walls still went up. That poker face he could play, better than a statue, set itself into place. All the more deepening the fatigue lines of his features, and enhancing the dark, predatory look.

He was a killer.
Reminded all the more by the ease of which he could work, tonight.

Xaver glanced down at his son, and he swallowed. Vowing to never let Cody see the true monster that he really was...
He planted another kiss atop the innocent crown of the boy's head, and set the little Fallen down, a hand resting on his head.

"I won't hold you, from your prior engagement," he murmured, low tones quiet.

Now Ginny's eyes grew wide, and an even bigger fear stole her breath for a moment, "You won't join us?" She asked. She felt slightly guilty. He must have sensed her anger, and must have thought she didn't want him around. Oh great, she thought to herself, I'm pushing him away again...just like before.

She had a sudden sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she remembered that time, so long ago.
Now, she shook her head, annoyed at the memory of her screaming at him, even though he had just come back to her. Pushing him away from her because she didn't want him to leave again.

Cody looked up, his small face falling as he caught the weight of what Xaver said.

"Would you have me join you?"

Xaver remained very still, the question of more weight than it gave in literal words. Deeper inquiry set just beneath the surface, than permission for them to grant him a time of meal.
His hand rested easily, still, atop Cody's head, thick, and well-worn and worked fingers entangled slightly in the boys voloptuous raven locks, so similar to the shadow of what remained of his own.

He could only guess her thoughts.
Xaver had set up a barracade of blocks to force away meandering thought lines - and he wanted nothing to do, anymore, with delving into others' thoughts. In this realm.
He wouldn't let himself read her - and so he was left with the very Human curiousity, of wondering what, indeed, she was thinking. In his realm, it was a sort of pasttime to connect with close loved ones - to always have that mental line open.
In his realm, there was far less privacy, in everything.
It was always different with humans. Thoughts were sacred territory - as were sexual explorations, and family-time. It seemed a habit of society to keep them locked behind closed doors, and blinds. ..Definately different. He respected their customs, however - and, he was in no mind to let anyone enter HIS own thoughts, anyway..

Xaver rested back, on his heels, and looked down at Cody, catching the upset in the young boy's face - but he said nothing. Not sure anything he could say, would make things any better.

"I still love you."
Ginny had thought for a moment, and this seemed to be the only thing she could point out. But, not really.
"You're still his dad. And my fiance."

A heartbreat of silence, and then she held her breath, closing her eyes then opening them and exhaling softly. And she starred. Even with the difference between the two, the likenesses still shocked her senses. Xaver and Cody. Cody and Xaver...sometimes, they seemed like one person with how alike they were.

"Right?"

Cody reached up, grasping Xaver's free hand and squeezing it tightly.
"Please come home." He said, his lower lip trembling.

Xaver had never known relief like that of which coursed through him at her words. He knew there would always be trouble. Controversy. Pain, and angst..
But, so long as she loved him..

"I have always been yours, Ginny."
The corners of his mouth tipped upward, for the first time, a hint of warmth, and amusement slipping into his expression, unhindered, through the deteriorating mask.
"Always," he said gently, lowly, emphasis on the word pronouncing it heavy, and more than slightly accented of his native tongue.

Cody gripped his hand, then, and Xaver's gaze returned to him, his head, tipping to the side in curiosity, before he nodded.
"I've m-"
He broke off as footfalls sounded around the corner, and two figures landed on the cobblestone street beside them. Identical twins, down to their completely naked forms, other than a wrap around their male parts, and the orange, spotted tails swaying, side to side, behind them.
"There you are, you feathered f--k," one of the Cats sneered, kneeling. As he bent, his figure transformed, until he was literally that of a huge cat. He stalked foreword, in a half circle, avoiding moving toward any of them, directly.


Xaver quite literally bristled, lips pulling back over teeth that were suddenly sharper, all the muscles in his impressive creature, even beneath the heavy cloak, tense. He moved foreword, just slightly, wings a huge, and foreboding presence behind him, the end tips of which, as he shifted, effectively blocked Cody from view. He still held the boy's hand, though, keeping him close, but not in front. Xaver cast a glance Ginny's way - his jaw clenching, worry seeping into his bones. Even if he was a professional at concealing it, worry, was closely associated with fear. Not for himself - but for his family.

"Going off to get supper, my lorrrd? And family?"
The still standing Cat purred, bronze head tipping in mock curiosity.

Ginny smiled back at him. Knowing that later, she could scold him. And they could make up. And they would be happy. She really did love the silly bird.

As the cats circled the small family, Cody made a small sound, remembering the creatures. He glanced at his parents before watching the cats with large eyes. Ginny clenched her fists, her eyes following the large cat with bemused interest. She tilted her head to the side, scowling darkly. She knew mocking words when she heard them. And Cody's fear was enough to anger her anyway.

"And if he is?" She asked, her words clipped and annoyed.

The Cat that was now in it's alternate, enormous form, hissed a cackle, as the twin, standing, giggled to himself.
"I'm afraid, then, priss, that you may just be late.."
His gaze flickered back and forth, steadily, from Ginny, to Xaver, resting, pointedly, atop Xaver's head after a moment.
"Nice haircut, Xian. Seems they did get to you, after all."
He grinned.

Xaver's jaw clenched, but he bit down the anger that was so sudden to rise, not liking the ease in which he was provoked.
"What is your purpose?"

Ginny sighed, rolling her eyes, but not moving otherwise. She still stood a good three feet from Xaver and Cody. But she didn't want to move. Moving would entail letting the cats in on how she moved, the ease and athletic ability would surly let on how much of a fight she cloud put up. She knew how to use the element of surprise.
"Priss? Shut up, you stupid puddy cat." She said it like a child would purposely. Undermining their entire being with lisped words.

Cody clung tightly to Xaver, saying nothing, remembering how his mouth had done damage during is last run in with the creatures.

The Cat in feline formed pinched his nose in distaste, sitting on his haunches directly across from Ginny.
"Don't tempt this puddy tat to shut your mouth," he said darkly, furry lips not shaping the words easily, but his speech just the same.
He looked at his companion.
"You know, I've never seen a female with red hair. Think we can cut some off and take it back to show?"

The standing Cat caught the dangerous twitch in Xaver's stance, and shook his head once, sharply, though his gaze lingered on Ginny far longer than it should have, before returning to Xaver.
"Our purpose isn't of harm. We know this is neutral territory. ..But I have for you, Monsieur, a gift. Will you accept it?"

Ginny smiled wanly at the one who suggest they cut off her hair, "Want a piece? Go fetch my hairbrush." Ginny was quick witted, and couldn't keep her mouth shut. She was used to annoying enemies with her words, to aggravating them so much that they made a mistake. Words were just another weapon to her.

She glanced at Xaver, tilting her head as thy asked if he would accept a gift.

Cody smiled proudly at his mother when she retorted the cat who tried to frighten her.

"What is it?"
Xaver glanced at Ginny, himself, both proud, and bemused, by her words. She was who she was, and didn't mind telling anybody where they could stick it.
He loved it about her.

The cat patted his pocket.
"It is not in my power to disclose that to you. By spell, I can't tell you. It is you, who must accept or decline this offer. ..That is all I can say."

The other, the one across from Ginny, rolled his eyes.
"You bloody humans and your disgraceful disrespect."
He had no clue about witchcraft, or wizardly.
"You are perfectly suited for this rotten bird. There's a reason we still call the bastards the fallen, you know. Want to know why?"

Ginny grinned, lightly, though her eyes smoldered. By calling the Fallen bastards, he was calling Xaver and Cody bastards. That didn't sit well with her. Still, she wouldn't let him know easily.
"Probably for the same reason cats are called girl thingy's." She smirked, "Another form of the word coward, don't you know."

She chuckled at the cat, "Disrespect I have for you, because you have the same for me. I respect no one until they respect me."

The Cat in feline form bared his teeth at her unsult, long, pointed and full in the powerful set of his jowels.
"Bi-ch."

Xaver's wings shook with the effort it took to not charge them.
"Set the item on the cobblestone, at your feet - and get the flying hell out of here," he hissed, tones low, and dark. "And if I ever see hint of your tails again, I'm going to skin you. Neutral territory or not."

It wasn't just a threat.
Xaver meant it.
The standing Cat caught on.
Snarling, he went to his twin, and planted a hand atop his head, removing a small, boxed item from his pocket, and kneeling to set it down. When it touched the street, the pair disappeared.

The tenseness never left his body.
His gaze fixing on the small parcel, he tilted his head.

Ginny let out a low, dark chuckle once the cats were gone. She shook her head, smiling.
"And I actually like cats."

She too looked towards the parcel, watching it and analyzing it. She was curious as to what it was, but was in no way going to touch it.

Cody was the first to speak about it, "Aren't you going to open it Dad?"

Xaver stared at it for a long moment, Ginny's comment bringing a low chuckle to his lips.
He had many birdlike qualities.
It just wasn't in his nature to like cats.

At Cody's comment, he gently released the boy's hand, stalking soundlessly toward the parcel, even as he lifted it off the ground with a thought, and slowly peeled away the covering. He reached it, as the paper wrapping fell away.
The necklace dropped, uncerimoniously, into the open palm of his hand.

It was one of the two identical necklaces that he and Kylie had both worn, that reflected in shades in the stone orb beneath a gold claw, their moods. Xaver had stopped wearing his, after his accident, because of his severe reaction to brushes with the normally neutral metal, and for the longest time, Kylie had worn both. She had given Xavers to Ginny, when she had first come to Hogwarts, back when Xaver and Ginny had both been students, but the other...
Xaver had thought the other, had been buried along with his sister.
He peered closer, reading over the minute script scrawled unprofessionally over the orb.
'Carpe Noctem.'
  Rise of the night.

In his own eloquent handwriting.

Xaver stared.

He didn't, to any degree, remember forging the words.
There was still a huge gap in his life, that he had no recollection of...
But.. why this?..

He blinked, shaking his head.

Ginny took the few steps between herself and Cody, kneeling down and giving him a huge hug. She knew he was afraid of the cat creatures. She looked to Xaver, recognizing instantly the necklace he had in his hand.
"Where...?"

Cody leaned around his mom, trying to see what it was that Xaver help and looked at with such surprise. And confusion. He looked closer, then smiled slightly. "That looks like the necklace of yours that mom has."

Suddenly, Xaver felt very tired.
Sick and tired of the endless mind games, and all the puzzle pieces that made a picture he just couldn't comprehend.
Tired of all the pain.
Of being away from home too much, too long.
Tired of being tired, and hurting.


At Ginny's question, he slowly shook his head.
He didn't know..

"It's an exact replica of that necklace," he said mildly.
Even as he said it, he was staring at his fingers, the tips darkening to an ugly shade beneath the pendant. Reacting to the gold, even as he barely touched it. Feeling that familiar burn start to a sluggish, but powerful life.


"Where are we, to dinner?"

Ginny stood, taking Cody's hand in hers and walking to Xaver. In one swift movement, she leaned up, kissing his cheek, swiping the golden necklace from his fingertips as she did so and slipping it into her pocket.
The first she'd touched him since he's appeared behind them.

"I was planning on going home for dinner. Unless you can think of anything better to do."

Cody smiled, looking up at his dad, "Are you going to stay home for awhile?" How he missed his dad. Sure, his mom was cool to be with. And yeah, he had a lot of freedom for someone his age, but he missed his dad. Alot.

Ginny kissed him, and took from him the necklace - and in turn, broke the weary, broken down line of thought, as well. His skin warmed where she touched him, his cold flesh a sharp contrast to her warmth. Goosebumps spread from the spots, and for a long moment, he remained very quiet, eyes following the two of them closely, the sharp cut of his hair enhancing the hawkish, predatory angles and planes of his face. Sharpening the dark slashes of his eyebrows, over the moody pools of his upset oceans of eyes.

"Home..." he said, very quietly.
"No amount of buying could beat that."

Xaver knew.
Sure, he knew life intimately and what it was like to struggle without a dime to his name. It was how it had been, when he'd first come to this realm. In his realm, however - he'd experienced every way of life through and by the people, though only through a fascade. As prince, then as kind - his true title had never left him, truly, without riches in the treasury. It wasn't the lifestyle he embraced - but he knew how life could be, well-off, as well as he knew the hard work of the opposite scale.

Home, though...

Xaver had only truly known home, with Ginny. And then, with Ginny and Cody.

Nothing, to him, was better than that.

Xaver looked down at Cody, meeting the young boy's eyes, his own gaze softening. He knelt, and drew the boy into a tight embrace, his heart beating a bruise into the underside of his ribs.
"As long as I possibly can."

All this leaving ...it was killing him.
Literally.
He wanted nothing more to do with it..

Cody smiled, hugging Xaver back tightly.
"Good." He told him firmly.

Ginny smiled, even though she was still miffed at Xaver. The guy sure knew how to make her feel a hundred ways at once. Anger, love, affection, attraction, annoyance. He was a master at manipulating her emotions, even though she doubted he realized it.
"Yes, home. A simple dinner...then bed. I have work tomorrow, again."

Xaver kissed the boy's forehead, then ruffled his hair as he rose again, fingertips still smarting painfully, but he dutifully ignored the fact.

He nodded at the inclined destination, but frowned slightly, as well.
"Work?"

Cody looked up, answering before Ginny could, "Mom got a job at her old school. So's we had money in case you were gone even longer."

Ginny nodded, confirming what he said, "I still have a lot of money in the bank, but I figured a part time job wouldn't hurt expenses." She shrugged slightly, irked a bit. It wasn't that she didn't like work. But she hadn't wanted to leave Cody to do so.

(( Can you please continue RPing? This was really fun to read! ya think I can join somewhere?))

Xaver fought it, but he couldn't contain the wince.
"We're going to have to figure out the finances to where if I disappear, you're in charge of everything," he said, tones oddly dull.

Marriage would solve everything, in a way.
Ginny would be forever linked to Xaver's assets, and her and Cody to the treasury of his lineage - and more, of course.

Though, Xaver had put off pushing for the date.
He didn't truly know why.
He and Ginny were old enough. Surely ready, enough..
Was it that he was scared?

Certainly not of their relationship... But of all the elements that threatened it...


Xaver sighed, and shrugged, raking his fingers over the short buzz of his hair.
Finances could definately wait.
He ran his tongue over the gash through his bottom lip, absently, and he sighed.

"I suppose so." Ginny muttered, shrugging one shoulder as she reached for Cody's hand. She glanced up at Xaver, then looked back down at their son.

"Come on, angel...and you two you feather stranger. Let's go eat, for once, I'm almost as hungry as you two." She smiled, faintly. Not too sure with herself. Her confidence had taken a nose dive lately, it seemed.

Dinner.
Right.

"One thing, first.."
Xaver stepped around Cody, to directly before Ginny, more or less toe to toe, a hand entangling itself in her hair even as his head bowed over hers, his mouth hovering, just barely from contact. He met the fiery orbs of her eyes then closed the distance between them.

Ginny's hand dropped Cody's, and she took half a step back with surprise. But then she stepped forward again, putting her arms around Xaver's neck and holding onto him tightly.
She'd missed him.
A lot.

Then she really did pull away, taking her arms from him, and using one hand to untangle his hand from her hair. She was smiling, shyly, but this time for a different reason. The awkwardness of the whole situation was disappearing.

Cody smiled, then rolled his eyes and sighed, "Coommme ooonnn. I'm hungry!"

(( Looks like my orders has been obeyed.   ;D It's really fun to read it!))

When the kiss finally broke, Xaver was not unaware of the quickening of his heart, or the slowing of his thoughts to the slight mush his brain had turned into. He grinned at her, and at Cody's exclamation, the warmth of the expression breaking the sharp, dark lines that not only the harsh cut of his hair enhanced.

"I'm, as well, starved.."

Xaver's gaze never left Ginny, more to his words than their simple meaning.

Knowing she missed him..
It had brought back a sort of liveliness in him that had, initially seemed to be faded..

His eyes fell to Cody, and he smiled.
"Home?"

"Yes!" Cody nodded, "Or anywhere! I'm hungry." He repeated, reaching up to grab his mom's hand, then his fathers. He looked to Ginny expectingly, knowing she would transport them easily.

Ginny shook her head, still smiling. "What a spoiled brat you are..." She murmured affectionately, before doing as he wished and transporting them the hell outta there.

Then they were in their kitchen, all three of them. Ginny's hand fell away from Cody's as she turned, beginning the making of a dinner she had thought about all day. Add that was before Xaver had come back. Her hand casually went to her pocket, touching the tiny lump that was Kylie's necklace before she shook her head.
What was up with that.

Cody smiled, "Need any help, Mom? I can chop carrots..." He wanted carrots, for some reason.

Xaver inhaled sharply when they arrived at the house, taking a moment, as Ginny and Cody ran off into the kitchen, to look around. His gaze flickered over the livingroom, and the familiar knicknacks and furniture. The hallway to the bedrooms. The kitchen..

He sat, slowly, on an arm of the couch, hands planted on his knees, his dark gaze following them.
Darkness, he was a young man, and he felt old...

"Set about chopping more than carrots, angel." Ginny instructed. She was only half paying attention. Her head felt like it was swimming with all the events of today. Xaver's return, followed by the 'gift' from the cats. Kylie's necklace...
Ginny remembered first seeing the matching necklaces. In fact, she still had Xaver's own.

She had a thought, then. The orbs showed the emotions of the owners. In this case, Kylie's. She stopped, pulling the necklace from her pocket and inspecting it carefully.

The orb burned.

Beneath the solid gold plated claw, the oddly textured, oval orb burned a deep, desperate shade of blue, mixed with uneven shades of maroon.
Life.
Life, swirling in emotional color, about the tiny down, black satin feather in the center of the watery complex.


Xaver had turned away before Ginny had begun to reach for her pocket, stealing soundlessly across the front room floor, and out the sliding glass door into the backyard, slowly kicking off his shoes and socks, and stepping onto the plateau of lush, deep green grasses, closing his eyes against the cool, prickly feel of the plantlife beneath his bare feet. Curling his toes into the earth, he sighed, fighting to release the tensions in his chest.

Ginny starred at the orb, then shook the necklace in er hand, as if it were a broken raido recieving the wrong signal. When it continued to show the colors, she screwed up her face in confusion.

Things were so...
strange.

Cody looked up from chopping vegetables, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing..." Ginny said, glancing at him, but looking quickly back to the necklace. She smiled at Cody, "Finish chopping those up for me, sweet, and then go ahead and play in your room for a bit. I'll call you when dinner is ready, ok?"

Cody nodded, still not going back to his task.

Ginny smiled at him again, and then went to the living room, looking for Xaver. She looked out the door, to the backyard and saw him. She hesitated, not sure if she wanted to bother him about this.
He'd just gotten home.

There truly was, in Xaver's opinion, nothing like home. Nothing good enough.

As he curled the cool, lush strands of grass between his toes, he sighed, breathing in deeply the thick aroma of the backyard, and he smiled, slightly, to himself.
He'd forgotten what grass smelled like, freshly cut. Forgotten what it felt like, damp and tickling the underside of his feet.

He felt her looking at him. Could sense her gaze, trailing over him - though at first he made no move to respond.
Finally, he turned his head, very slightly, and the moody, dark oceans of his eyes flickered up, and met her fiery orbs.

"Yes?"

He barely whispered where he stood, but his words gently grazed her senses as if he was standing right before her, leaning into her, his lips brushing the soft lobe of her ear..

Ginny sighed as he spoke to her. She had been contemplating leaving him alone, not bothering him. Now she had no choice.

She slowly walked through the door, out onto the grass and stood in front of him.
"Kylie's necklace." She said, softly, "It has colors."

Her eyes met his, worry and confusion shown on her face.

Xaver watched her approach him, forever riveted and enticed my the entirety of her, Ginny, the epitome of strength and femininity. Made curious by her slow approach, his gaze flickered over her, resting on the necklace.
He understood, before she'd even spoken.

She met his gaze and for a moment, Xaver said nothing, not sure how to react
He glanced down at the necklace, and watched the slow, but furious colors shift and revolve around the tiny obsidian feather within the orb. He didn't take the necklace from her, to better look at it. He wanted to remain distanced from the gold and, just as well, he didn't need to bother.

"It has.. colors."
He repeated dully.

He shook his head, then again met her eyes.
"It has colors?"

Xaver knew what that meant.
He had a pretty good idea Ginny understood as well.

Even if it was impossible.

"Blue...and kinda purple." Ginny held it up, the chain dangling from her fingers so he could see. She knew he wouldn't touch it. She knew of his allergy.

Strange. She could kick him in the face right now, and he'd be fine. Maybe a bruised ego, but fine. But touching the gold on the necklace could make him horribly sick within moments.

She took a deep breath, "What do those colors mean?"

Ginny held his eyes with her own. She bit her lip, worried about what this could mean.

Xaver's gaze flickered over the small pendant, both uncertainty, and and underlying curiousness hinting beneath the surface of the oceans of his eyes.

"Blue," he said softly. "Blue means calm. Blue in this form is strong. Blue, dark, is also subtly black. Light black, as in, mysteriousness. Calm, sleepy mysteriousness. Tranquility, peace... Sleep? With the purple.. Tension, sadness.. wisdom? Creativity?.."

He was thinking out loud.

Finally.. Xaver faltered, and went quiet. Then, he looked away from the orb. Looked away from Ginny. Wedging his thumbs into his pockets, and looking out, into the dark skyline, as if he could see for miles.
Not giving away if he truly could, or not.

"She's dreaming."
His tones were empty.
"If she were alive, she'd be dreaming. Or she's drugged. One of the two."

"If she were alive..." Ginny repeated, looking at the orb. Finally, she slipped the necklace back into her pocket, wrapping her arms around herself in a one person hug.

"Xaver...this is so wrong..." She said, quietly, "Kylie is...dead...she has been."

Ginny looked down, shaking her head, "I don't know what to think...if she's not dead...then did we bury her alive?"

"If she were alive..."

"She's dead," he said firmly, the solidity of his words almost coming across as harsh.

Ginny slipped the necklace back into her pocket, but Xaver could still feel its presence clearly. Could feel his skin reacting without his conscious, itching amidst the presence of the gold, even though Xaver knew the lack of contact meant lack of reaction. It didn't mean he didn't feel it.

"I know she's dead," he said lightly, with that same strange, even tone. "I saw her murdered. You saw her murdered. We were there."


Kylie's young, familiar features flickered before his eyes, twisting, warping into that mutilated demon that haunted his dreams, and Xaver brought his hands to his face, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes, and digging his nails into the short buzz of his hair. He shook his head, violently.
"I carried her lifeless b-.. from-.."
He dropped his hands, and exhaled sharply.
Running a hand over his head as if to entangle his fingers through his hair.. and forgetting that his head had been shaved.
Fury washing over him anew, as the fresher memory renewed itself.

"She's dead. She has to be."
Finally, Xaver met Ginny's eyes. Unsoothed, rampant fear rooted deep in the oceans of his orbs.

"Else my nightmares, might be completely memories, like I've been fearing all along."

Ginny looked up at him and caught her breath. His fear, unmasked and visable, scared her. Not because she had thought him incapable of fear. She knew he feared things, knew he got afraid.
It scared her because she didn't know what to do to help him.
To calm his fear, to make everything better.
She didn't know what to do, and it made her want to cry for him.

"What...should we do?" She asked him, "What if...something dangerous is going on? What about Cody?"

For a very long moment, Xaver didn't know how to respond.

How could he explain?
Ginny had seen, once, an essence of one of Xaver's dreams.
He had vowed, never again.. But what if his baby sister's mangled cackling corpse wasn't a figment of his imagination?
"What if those nightmares were memories? Of when I was gone?"

If they were...
Xaver didn't, truly, know what he was going to do with himself.

"Dangerous..?"

Lost in thought, Xaver raked his fingers once more over the short, thick buzz cut of his hair, not consciously thinking about it.

Dangerous.
Dangerous?..

"Xaver." Ginny's voice was strained, she felt like he wasn't listening.

"What if we are in danger?" She repeated, slowly, "What if our son is in danger? What then?"

She looked pained, confused.
"Baby...I don't know what to do."
She held her arms tighter around herself, "I'm scared, Xaver. What if...Kylie is like...a zombie or something and she's mad at us cause we didn't stop Xences...?"

Stupid, she knew. But she couldn't stop the thought from tumbling out her lips.

"What if your dreams really happened? What if..."

For a long, solemn moment, Xaver stared out over the grass, fixed on a reverie that wanted to make itself signifigant. He was trying to listen. But also, trying to think. Trying to remember.. To remember three years of his life that were, still, so very absent. When Ginny called his name, mentally he stirred back to reality, blinking, his eyes flickering over to her.

"I don't believe, so much, that they were ever merely dreams, anymore, Ginny."
His gaze was very hard, but the harshness was not directed toward her. It was introverted.

Xaver bridged the gap between them, and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her slender form, and pressing her to the solid wall of his chest, bowing his face into her hair, and breathing in deeply, before letting out a shaky breath.

"I don't know what's going on, dearest.."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then drew back enough to look down at her.
"She's.. dead. We saw her die. Hellfire, we buried her.."

He didn't understand.
At all.

Ginny shivered, about to say something, but someone spoke before she could.

"Mom? I'm done..." Cody called, walking from the kitchen towards them.

"Alright..." Ginny said back. She looked at Xaver for a moment, then ducked out of his arms, backing up a few steps just as Cody appeared in the doorway. Ginny looked to Xaver, indicating that she didn't want Cody to know what was going on. The noticed the look on her face, that pained, confused, upset expression. But before he could ask what was wrong, Ginny smiled tightly and went past him.

Cody watched her go, then looked at Xaver.
"Daddy?"

Xaver held her, and knew deeply, that some part of him never wanted to let her go.

He had been raised, to sensor his emotions. Raised, to fight. Taught, to kill, with perfection. Born, into leadership.
He had changed.
Even after all of hell, and whatever else, Xaver was not unaware of his own emotions. Not unaware of how shook up, he, himself, actually was.
It was ok if he held on too tight...

Too quickly, Ginny ducked from his embrace, and Xaver sighed at the loss of contact, though he said nothing of it, as she disappeared, and Cody rounded the corner. To his questioning gaze, Xaver didn't put up a front, as he would to a stranger. Instead, he knelt, opening his arms.

"Come here, Xerxes."
He tilted his head to the side.
"Dad needs a hug."

"Is Momma still mad at you?" Cody said as he walked to Xaver. Before waiting for an answer, he threw his arms around his father, giving him a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.
He liked hugging his dad.

And he didn't like to see his dad upset about something. He squeezed him, "Cause if she is, it's only cause she missed you and worried about you."

He kept his arms around Xaver, putting his head on his dad's shoulder. Another big squeeze, "If you want, I'll tell her to stop being mad."

Cody thought Xaver was upset because Ginny had been angry that Xaver was gone. He had pretty much forgotten the necklace. Not the cats though.
Those cats terrified him.

He shivered as he thought of them, and snuggled closer to his dad, still keeping his arms around him. His dad would keep him safe.

"Your mother isn't too mad," Xaver reassured gently.
He wrapped his arms around the young boy and drew him close, burying his face into Cody's hair, and returning the affectionate squeeze.
Ginny was angry, though, he knew, and rightfully so..

When Cody huddled even closer to him, Xaver drew him close, and wrapped an arm beneath his bottom, lifting him and standing easily, the boy's weight making no obvious impression. He held him to the wall of his chest, and offered a semblance of a smile, before looking out, into the darkness, the light behind them creating musky shadows, and further sharpening his wolfish, naturally predatory features.

Cody kept his head on his dad's shoulder, looking out around them.
"Okay. I'm glad. When she gets mad, it's mostly cause she wants to cry." He picked his head up and smiled at Xaver. His small hand reach out, touching Xaver's face tentatively.

"Who cut your hair, Dad?"

Xaver murmured a light mumble in response, his eyes slightly adrift as his gaze moved about the skies. With the longing of a wild animal that missed his habitat, but knew his new boundaries.
When Cody's hand brushed his face, Xaver reeled his thoughts in, and tilted his head, facing the young boy. At the question, the Fallen lord paused, contemplating his response, before he gave it.

"Why do you ask, my son?"

"Well..." Cody hesitated, "I just want to know. What happened, Dad? Why were you gone so long?"
He sighed, "I missed you. I worried about you, Daddy. I don't want you to get hurt."
Still very much a small child.
Albeit one who could voice his worries more clearly than many adults.

"I missed you too, Cody. Beyond words, truly. I am sorry you worried"
Xaver sighed, very softly.
Hating that his son was hurt.
And he was the base of the cause.

"You remember those men? Those Cats, as we call them?"
Knowing he did.
"I had a few problems with them. The conflict between our two realms has never been more stagnant, nor more heated. "

He shivered, roughly, as Xaver mentioned the Cats. They'd been in his nightmares as of late.

"So they cut your hair?"
Cody raised an eyebrow, confused as to what that had to do with the conflict between the two realms. Even with his genius, he couldn't see what cutting one's hair had to do with anything.

Xaver paused, for a sharp, long moment, before he nodded, once, bowing his head in response.

"Yes."
He pulled his gaze from the skies, and met Cody's similar blues.
"Amongst abuse. You see, when I am injured, when you are injured, it has been passed down through our bloodlines for our bodies to naturally respond to the said injury quicker. For us to heal, at a rate thousands-fold faster than that of Humans. To an extent. For example, a wound left untended may take longer to heal, and may scar. Bruises are the slowest to fade."

Xaver shifted Cody to a more comfortable rest against his hip.

"I would heal from almost anything the dealt me. Cutting my hair, was a way of.. In a sense, defacing me. It was a show of disrespect. In the Cat culture, disrespect is as severe as inflicting torture. And, if you shave a man's head, and pierce his heart, it is said you wound not only his shell, but his soul."

"They pierced your heart!" Cody's hands went down to Xaver's chest, rapidly searching for his heartbeat. Upon finding it, he relaxed, then flushed.
"Oh...you mean.." He giggled at his silliness, 'I just got so scared."

"Xaver? Is Cody still out here with you? Dinner's ready." Ginny came to the sliding door, leaning against it tiredly. She managed a smiled for them, "Come on, angel boy. It's time to eat so you can go to bed."

Xaver's smile was genuine, but shadowed.
"They didn't get the chance to finish," he murmured, quietly.

He turned, when Ginny approached, instinct and heartbeat sharpening at the sound of her voice.

"C'mon, kiddo. Let's get some grub in your belly. I bet your hungry."

Cody turned, looking at Ginny before he smiled at Xaver, "Alright. But can I sleep n your room tonight?"

Ginny sighed, saying nothing but turning away from father and son, making her way back into the kitchen. Xaver's words replayed in her head.
She wondered why they had not pierced his heart.
She wondered, angrily, though not much, why hew had told Cody so bluntly what had happened. Or been attempted.

"That depends on what your mother says, my son."

His own words replayed over in his head, and just as soon as he'd let them slip, he truly regretted them. He didn't wish for Cody to know the real troubles he faced. It was enough to live with the scares that got through Xaver and Ginny's protection.
Xaver knew, however, that he couldn't lie to the boy.
Just as well as he knew his son didn't want to be lied to - but he was still far too young to hear some things.

((Weee, don't we wish we could skip boring parts of our real lives?))

After dinner, Cody looked at Ginny expectingly.
"Can I please sleep in your room tonight, Mom?"

Ginny stood from her seat, beginning to clean up the table. She shook her head at Cody, "Angel, you should sleep in your own room."

"Awwe, c'mon Mom. Please?" He whined, and Ginny frowned, setting the dishes in the sink with a clink.

She turned, looking at her son with and small frown, "No, Cody. I'd like to talk to your father alone. Go get ready for bed."
She was agitated, yeah.
Just a little bit.

Xaver watched in the wake of his son's unhappy, storming figure as he disappeared down the hallway to the bathroom, his sharp ears catching the faucet being wrenched on with more than the necessary force, his expression unreadable.
He absently drummed his fingers against the smooth table-top, his gaze solemn, and heavy, as it ever slowly trailed from the hallway, to Ginny's face.

He could sense her anger.
It went far beyond common sense, and his own touch with the magics about them - but, as well, his sensitivity to empathy. He was in-tuned to her emotions.
And, right then, she was like a raging inferno..

Not good for him.

Duh.

"Your anger is so thick I can all but taste it," he said mildly.

"You are a smart a$s." Ginny growled, turning back to the sink. She did nothing though, simply starred at the dirty dishes before turning and facing Xaver.

"You left again." She said bluntly. She leaned against the counter, "Good job on not being responsible for your son and his feelings."

She rubbed her eyes, "Jesus, Xav...way to worry me and Cody."

She waved her hand absently in Cody's direction, "And then, you come back and fill his head with things he'll have more nightmares about?" Ginny shook her pretty head, "Can't you learn to bite your tongue?"

"I've been biting my tongue for more years than your pretty head has enamored this world. Why do so among the two souls that mean the most to me?"

Even as he was sitting there.
Biting his tongue.

He wanted to say that no, he hadn't left.
No, it wasn't his fault....
No... Don't blame...


But not again.
Never again.

Xaver didn't care if it had had nothing to do with his self, or his own choices.
He felt, just as deeply, that it was his own fault for his absence.

Ginny threw her hands up into the air, "Oh? Then why is it our son dreams of cat creatures? Of hooks? Now of things that pierce the heart as well?" She was frustrated, angry, upset, hurt. He'd been gone again, without so much as a good bye. She'd worried.

She folded her arms, "Whatever, forget it. It doesn't change anything no matter how much I say it."
She scowled, "To talk of something more important, have you decided what to do about the necklace?"
But it wasn't more important.
At least, not by her perspective.
Not right now.

"He dreams because he has heard me speak of such things," he said, very quietly.
Tones not quite even.

At the mention of the necklace, Xaver adverted his gaze, focusing hard upon the table, before him.
He was quiet, for a moment, before he rose from his seat, turning, and gently sliding it back into place.

"Destroy it," he said harshly. "Mine, too."

Ginny jerked at his tone.
"Destroy it?" She echoed. But..

"Are you sure?" She liked the necklace that bore his emotions. But, if he said so...

She looked at him, scrutinizing him closely in the hard kitchen lights. Watched him as he stood there, her arms still folded across her chest.
He scowl still upon her face.

He didn't like her uncertainty. It was so much.. easier, for her to be strictly angry with him. Though, he knew, through that foolishness, that of course.. it was always easier, to shut yourself off, than to face the truth of what was, and the reality of what is.

"If Kylie is alive, she is alive. No necklace from our youth will save her, and contamination, or sabotage through the pendant may or may not be possible."
His sharp gaze flickered over the dirty dishes behind her, and within a breath, they were gone, cleaned and stacked neatly in their rightful places. Save an oversize spoon or three, of which he didn't know where they belonged, so he left them alone.

Xaver swept his hand over the top of his head, and his expression soured furthermore, his fingertips grazing the buzz of what remained of his long locks.

"And mine only brings you misery, anyway.."

She nodded, agreeing with him about Kylie's necklace.

The she stopped, "No it doesn't." She said quickly. Though, on some level, it did. But it had given her hope when she'd had none, years before. It made her feel close to him when he wasn't near her.
But, if he wanted her to destroy them, she would.

"When? Tomorrow, or tonight?" She didn't really want to right then.

Xaver looked at her sharply, her comment upsetting the heavy bulk of frustration that had settled upon his shoulders.

For a moment, he stared at her, the moody, dark oceans of his blue orbs flickering over the familiarity of her figure, before he extended his hand, toward her.
"Give my Kylie's."
He sighed, quietly.
"Do with mine, what you like.. It is yours, after all, my love. Not mine. Not anymore."

"No way, buddy." She said, raising her eyebrow. "Your allergic. Remember?"

Of course he did.
"Just tell me how to get rid of it. I'll do it. Now if you'd like."
And she would.
Didn't want to.
But she would.

Of course he did.
Of course he remembered.

"You don't need to do that. You don't need to be around when I do that."

The orbs..
They were far more involved than simply magic thrown together, molten around one of their feathers..

Well, that much was obvious.

Ginny patted her pocket, then folded her arms, "Nuh uh. Tell me how, I'll take care of it."
"If you take care of Cody."

She nodded towards the doorway mere moments before the child appeared, his hair wet and spiky, wearing blue pajamas. His bare feet had made no noise s he approached, and walking into a silent kitchen was not what he expected. He folded his arms, still angry at his mom.

He looked to his Dad, but breached the question to both, "Can I pretty please sleep in your room tonight?"

"It doesn't work that way."

Xaver was frowning at Ginny, as Cody rounded the corner.
He looked at the boy, as he spoke, their eyes such similar shades, but Xaver's own far darker, and far more jaded.

"Not tonight, Cody. Your mother and I have much to discuss, yet. She told you so, this, already."

His stricter, older english dropped his tones and made harsh his language, but Xaver didn't notice, old habits being hard to shake.

"But..." Cody stomped one foot angrily, but didn't have a chance to say much more.

"Bed, little one. Now." Ginny told him, stepping around Xaver and putting a hand on Cody's small shoulder, "Say good night to Dad."

Xaver's features didn't alter in the slightest at Cody's tone, though he kneeled down, and swept the boy into a tight hug, planting a kiss atop the crown of his head.

Xaver loved his family. He'd missed Ginny, and his little boy, with every fiber of his being. It was difficult now, to hold himself together, though he knew he needed to. It was difficult to keep his emotions and thoughs in check - though he knew, for the boy's sake, he had to. He had to stop letting things slip so easily.

He withdrew, rising again, ruffling the boy's damp hair.

Cody frowned, but did as his parents wanted.
"Night Dad." He muttered, hugging Xaver back, and then clasping Ginny's hand.

"I'll be right back." Ginny told Xaver as she led Cody to his room. Once there, Cody clambered into his bed, crossing his arms and frowning at his mother.
"Stop it." Ginny said, sitting on the edge of his bed and pulling the covers around him. When he continued to frown at her, she frowned back, "Fine, go to bed angry. Good night, angel." She kissed his forehead, "I love you."

Cody pulled the covers over his head, mumbling something about loving her too. Ginny sighed, and stood, shutting off the light as she left the room. She shook her head outside of the door, and then went into her room. She went to her dresser, where atop sat a small jewelry box. She opened it, and pulled out a necklace similar to the one in her pocket. She looked at it for a moment, then slipped it as well into her pocket.

Then she turned, going back to Xaver and the kitchen.
"He's angry at us." Ginny informed Xaver, getting two mugs out. "Want some hot chocolate?"

Xaver watched them go until they disappeared into the hallway, and as he remained, loniless was quick to set in, encasing him in such an emotional pull that his heart ached, and roughly pounded against the underside of his chest. He swallowed against the tide of feeling, and leaned back against the counter, planting his hands on the edge on either side of him, crossing his legs idly at the ankle, and fighting for the calm life had swiftly taught him to bear, though he had to bow his head, and close his eyes - had to squeeze them shut, against all that life had been much slower to reveal to him. Unhindered emotion.

Xaver looked up, slowly, as Ginny entered the kitchen, watching her move about with a solemn gaze, the irritated fire of earlier vanished into the stormy blues.

At her question, he paused, one hand falling from the edge of the counter, his fingertips brushing over the flat of his stomach. He blinked at her, gaze flickering from the mugs, to her eyes, then back again. Finally, the corners of his mouth tipped upward. Just barely, but enough to soften the hard edges of his handsome features.

"I don't remember if I've ever had that before."

"You'll like it, love." Ginny said, smiling brightly as she nudged the fridge closed with one hip while holding a carton of milk in one hand and the mugs in her other. She set both on the table and went back to the fridge, taking out a container of chocolate syrup. As she went about making it, she grinned, "Cody loves hot coca."

She was quiet, her grin fading to a small, amused smile as she made their mugs and took them to the microwave. For a witch, she used a lot of muggle items. She set the mugs inside, turning the microwave on, then turned to face him. Still smiling, "It's very sweet."

Xaver's gaze flickered over Ginny, and the tipping of his mouth evolved into an easy smile.
"Sweet, sure."

He drew in a breath, then looked away altogether, pushing away from the counter, and shifting his weight on either foot, crossing his arms absently over his chest.

She took the mugs from the microwave, smiling at him still.
"Let's go into the living room, ok? Much more comfortable." She led him out of the kitchen and it's harsh lights into the much dimmer living room. She took a seat on the couch, setting the cups on the end table beside her and looked at him with a sigh.

"So how do I destroy Kylie's necklace?" She asked, seriousness settling in.

Xaver followed her slowly, coming around the corner and looking around, before fixing his gaze on her, as unsteady as any wild creature in an uncertain enviornment. He glanced at the mugs, noting the sweet, creamy aroma, then looked to Ginny's face, absorbing the traces of her smile, and the almost trim to her features, before they shaped into seriousness. His own gaze became more uncertain, and he remained standing, shaking his head slightly.

"The living room is not a place for that, my love."

"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'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 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."

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."

"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 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 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 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.

"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 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 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 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..

"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."

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.

((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.

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.

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'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."

"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 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?"

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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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 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'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."

"Okay then."

Ginny pulled away, shifting herself so that she was facing him fully while she sat on the couch. She grasped both of his hands, biting her lip for a moment.

"My iwsh, love, is for you and I to get married...next week. Not in a few months...not in a year. Next week."

Her eyes searched his, worried that he would say no.

When Ginny pulled from him, Xaver visibly stilled, the dark pools of his gaze both curious, and nervous.

He had not forgotten, in the events that were quick to transpire and overlap those of the earlier evening - but he had been hunted, for hours, before he'd come across his family. He'd murdered a man, not minutes before. In some sick, twisted reality, the thought didn't weigh too heavily on his conscience - for, indeed, the act had overall been in self-defense - but Xaver couldn't help the remaining feelings of defensiveness and self-preservation. Worry, and consciousness of the wrong, and wronged..


He had left his family for too long.

Sure, the consequences of such an act had slowed the chances of an attack on his family.. But Xaver regretted, and hated, every moment he had to spend away from the two living beings that were what made him whole. What kept him sane. Ginny and Cody were what, truly, was keeping Xaver alive, in so many senses. If it wasn't for them, the drive behind his creature, would have faded long ago...

He wasn't sure where Ginny was going with the conversation.
And that worried him.
For, indeed, he had been gone so long. And, as was obvious, nothing good had happened to him over the course of his absence. He didn't know if she was going to drop the weight of choice on him - force him to chose which life he wanted.. Though, Xaver knew he had no choice with his kingdom, though he wanted nothing more than to be at home... With his family.

He had lived a long, and complicated life, sure - however, Xaver wanted to settle down. He wanted to be a family man. Be there for Ginny. Raise Cody..
He didn't want to be the father that left his family with nothing but a name that would live on.. And a headstone.
He wanted to be there in the flesh. He wanted to live life in full color - he wanted to be with them, d_mn it. ...Life, however, had other plans for the Fallen lord, for the time being at least.

Fate was a Bl*CH.

Xaver relaxed into the couch, trying for confidence, as he tried to see through the air of nervousness about his redheaded goddess, though he couldn't grasp what she was so nervous about..


"..is for you and I to get married.."


He blinked, staring at her for a long, calculated moment, before a smile slowly, then surely, stole its way across his features, rewriting every harsh line and renewing the spark in the molten blues of his gaze. He leaned toward her, and brought his hands to her face, gently tilting her chin up, and claiming her mouth for a kiss. He pulled back after a moment, but only just, brushing feather-soft kisses over her chin, and nose, and jaw, before quietly chuckling into the soft shell of her ear.

"Wish granted, my love. And only as you want it."

Ginny smiled as he did, accepting his kisses, and giving him a few of her own. But she shook her head slowly after he spoke.

"Wait, I've two more." Three wishes was the usual, was it not?

She paused, sighing as she tried to figure the best way to word it.
"The next is more for our child's sake, actually." She lost her smile, gaining back her thoughtful frown, "You see, he is very angry with us. His biggest wish is to see the Kingdoms we rule over."

Ginny shook her head again, "I know how dangerous it is. I don't want him to, but he's going to meet with danger a lot in his life. And a short visit to your realm couldn't do much harm to him, could it?"

It could, she knew that. The dangers posed by both kingdoms were great. But Cody was desperate to know more. Especially of his father's realm, which held so much mystery for him. He wanted to know more, to experience more. He wanted to see where his dad disappeared to all these days.

Ginny didn't voice the third wish, and in fact had no plans to yet. It was a privet wish, one that had been nagging her recently. One that she didn't expect to be granted for a while yet.
One that Cody had voiced to her.

"Wait, I've two more."

Xaver couldn't help a low, bemused chuckle, at this.

He didn't care if she made two, or two hundred more wishes in his ear - so long as it was to his ear she whispered her desires, and him, she desired. He knew nothing of genies, or myths of the sort - such things didn't transpire over into his own world, and he'd never heard mention of such a thing. Her pressing want for two more wishes, however, piked his interest, and so he nodded.
He leaned back, to see her face as she worded her next inquiry, though his handsome features became more prominantly curious, and thoughtful.

"..a short visit to your realm couldn't do much harm to him, could it?"
Xaver's smile was halfish, and grim.

"It is his right, I do suppose..." he said quietly. "He'll need to visit the worlds other, of which he was truly born to."

Xaver sighed, sinking into the couch with weighted thoughts, though he was soon to push them away, as he planted another kiss atop Ginny's head.

"And your third and final wish, dearest mine?"

Ginny tilted her head, obviously trying to pass the third off as some insignificant thought. Some passing idea that had hardly been formed.
In fact, she had been thinking of it a lot.
And Cody had asked a few times.

"Cody wants a sibling." She said airily, adding a small chuckle.

Xaver looked at her.

And blinked.
Trying to fight the huge, bemused grin that eventually stole its way over his mouth and brought a deep, rumbling laugh to the confines of his chest.
He couldn't help it. Thinking that her last wish, at least, would be something concerning something troublesome, perhaps - something... for there were so many things..

But another child?

It was, truly, the last thing he'd expected to hear.

Xaver leaned foreword, pressing his forehead to hers, a hand rising and gently cupping the side of her face, the grin over his features refusing to wane.


"And is that your wish, as well?"

"Well..." Ginny looked to the side, not sure if his laughter was good or not.

His reaction made her cautious to continue.
"To be honest...I have been thinking about it."

She fumbled with her hands, "You know, before Cody gets too old to accept a sibling."

"And," She shrugged, "Before I get too old to have anymore."

"Plus, you know...I just...miss having a baby to take care of."

All good reasons, in her eyes. She hadn't really been thinking of them. She just wanted to convince him. Was his laughter at her expense?

Xaver couldn't help his immediate reaction.
The flooding of joy to his senses was overwhelming.

He brought her hands between his own when she finished, and drew them to his mouth, breaking away from her face to press kisses over the backs of them.

"I've always dreamed of a large, warm family. You and Cody are the only sense of love and home I have ever known or wanted... Though I also believe, I have enough love for however large a brood of children your desires require."

Xaver grinned.

"I may be behind, however, on a few time-managing skills.."

Ginny smiled then, shaking her head slowly.
"You are going to hate that you agreed to this, you know." She said, her tone slipping from seriousness into a joking, teasing voice.

"If I am able to get pregnant again, you are going to rue this day for agreeing." She slipped her hands from his and threw them around him. She hugged him, kissing his cheeks happily.

"I won't sleep, I'll be sick a lot, and in a much worse mood than most of the time."

"Just another side, of you.."

Xaver smiled, easily, accepting her kisses.
He brought his arms around her, and gently lifted her, pulling her onto his lap, and holding her close.

He grinned.
"Let us rue the day, together."

Ginny laughed, hugging him tightly and kissing him.
"Sounds good to me." She said, giggling happily.

She kissed his forehead, "Though, they are all gonna look like you. Any child we have is going to look like you."
She smirked, "You'll have a bunch of little copies." She giggled, "Not that I mind."

Xaver couldn't help the grin that stole over his features, full of amusement, and joy.
"I have a feeling," he said, tones low, and warm, as he nuzzled his face into the base of her throat. "That our next will have your hair. Maybe your eyes. Maybe a girl. Who knows."
He pulled back, just far enough to see her face.
"Neither of our families had many girls. In our generations, at least. So who knows.."

He smiled, light-heartedly.
Xaver could care less what the sex of any child could be, though despite the unlikelinesses, he had a feeling...

Ginny smiled, "A cursed child that would be." She told him, nodding playfully.

"The only good thing about looking like me would be the color of my hair." She reached up, tugging on a strand gently. Then she reached out, her fingers skimming over what was left of his black hair.

"Your hair distresses me, love."

Xaver's smile was small, as he settled back into the couch, leaning easily, his arms still circling her waist. His fingers entwined over her hip, he relaxed, comforted by her weight over his thighs, crossing his legs at his ankles. The dark, ocean blue depths of his eyes followed the trail of her fingers, over her hair, then found her eyes, when her fingertips brushed what remained of his own.
A muscle in his cheek twitched, in an effort of a smile, though the expression had faded into a quiet, open reserve.

"Because it is shorter than you are accustomed, my love?"

"A bit." Ginny admitted, her fingers rubbing his scalp gently as she spoke.

"Mostly because without you even telling me, I know this hairstyle wasn't your choice."Ginny knew that something bad had happened.
She smiled slightly, "It makes you look frightening."

Ginny kissed his forehead again, "And you aren't frightening. You are warm, and kind, and loving, and sweet, and very very nice." She leaned against him, her side against his chest, her head on his shoulder.

She was silent for a moment, thinking.

"Will you tell me what happened?"

Xaver fought the instinct to butt his head into her hand, and instead closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers through his hair.
He said nothing as she spoke, neither denying nor confirming anything, though when she pressed her lips to his forehead, his eyes flickered open, following her again with that same deep, solemn gaze.

"It wasn't my choice," he amended after a quiet pause, holding her to him, and enjoying her warmth and closeness.
He shifted, and settled more into the couch with her.

"It was all a mistake, really..."
Xaver's tones were laced with a weariness that wasn't at all physical.
"You remember that boy I tracked down? After that incident in Hogsmead, with Cody?"

"It's never your choice." She pointed out. She smiled though, the harshness of her words evening with the teasing manner in which she said them.

"Yes, I remember the boy.His face is often in our sons nightmares."

"Is that so?" he murmured, questioningly.

It never did seem to be his choice, did it?
The thought was unruly.

"I retrieved him. They objected."

"Very much so, my love." She said, her tones low. She smiled, snuggling close to him. She put her head where his heart was and closed her eyes. Listening.
His heartbeat calmed her.

"Enough to cut off your hair?"

Xaver was silent for a moment, quiet as she snuggled into him, still within the circle of his arms. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, then dropped his face into her hair, breathing in deeply her scent - and realizing, just how completely, he had missed her.
How he had missed the smell of her shampoo, the sound of her voice, the shade of her eyes when she smiled at him.. Her everything.

"They could abuse me, and chances were in my favor of survival. Shaving my head, however, in their culture is an act of tremulous disrespect."

Xaver frowned. Thoughtful.

"Disrespect?" She muttered, "I just think it makes you look goofy."

Her arms tightened about him in a squeeze of a hug and she smiled.
"Those silly cats."
She wasn't afraid of them like Cody was.

"What can we do to calm his fears of them?"
His nightmares were very real to him.

Xaver chuckled finally, at her response, more than thankful for her light imput.
In truth - it mattered to Xaver, what she thought. Ginny's opinion meant more to him than an entire country of people bound and determined to discriminate against his very soul.

"Goofy, as in humorous?"
His tones were amused, though still curious. He'd never heard the word before. Or - never understood it, before.

He paused for a moment.

"We can't tell him they are not of reality, for unlike common nightmares, they are... But maybe, when we tell him of the wedding, he will have more joyous thoughts to lull him into slumber?"

Ginny smiled at his laughter. She loved the sound of his happiness, especially if she was the source. It made her feel wanted, needed, and loved. And she really did need that.
"Yes, goofy as in humorous." She told him.

She nodded, "Mm, I hope so. Poor baby hardly gets through a night without screaming."

Xaver remained silent, cringing at the knowledge that his sons terrors were because of his own influences.
Happy that for the moment she couldn't see his face, he chewed on his lower lip, frustration kicking at his heart.

"What do you do, when he cries?" he questioned softly, out of the blue.

Ginny shrugged one shoulder.
"Hold him...rub his back...reassure him if possible. Th same things my mum used to do for me."

She thought for a moment, "Sometimes I sing to him." She laughed, "For some strange reason, it calms him."

A corner of Xaver's mouth tipped upward.

"My mother used to sing me to sleep when I was upset. Only very occasionally.. but I remember that of her more than anything.."

Ginny smiled back, "How old were you?"

She tilted her head, "When she died, I mean."
It was rare that he told her anything of his youth.

Xaver smiled lightly, almost thoughtfully, though the moody depths of his eyes saddened, slightly.
"Maybe ten," he murmured, tones quiet. "I don't really remember.. It was a long time ago."

"For you, yes. That would be a long time ago."
Ginny nodded thoughtfully.

"For me, that would be a mere ten or so years ago..." She paused, "What did your mom look like?" She asked.
Ginny didn't know much about his parents, only what he had made known to Cody that one time.
"Was she pretty?"

Xaver's smile was solemn.
"She was beautiful as you are beautiful. Able to stop people in their tracks."
He bowed his head and smiled at her, playfully poking her nose with an index finger.
"I have only her eyes."

"Then she had gorgeous eyes, love." Ginny said, her smile returning as he poked her nose.

"Cody has your eyes, you know." She said thoughtfully, "And your hair, and well..just about everything about you." She chuckled.
"He tells people that your genes overrode mine. Though I was alway surprised that he didn't have red hair."

"It was merely luck."
He winked at her.
"Chance, probability.. I mean, your red hair was obviously as dominant throughout your family as my mother's eyes were with my siblings.."

There was no telling, if they had another child, what the baby would look like.
Odds were for the child that it would be good looking, though the dominant features had a wide variety of probabilities to put one's thumb down on any which ones..

"True. That's why it surprised me when he grew black hair." She laughed softly, "Not hat I minded. He's always looked just like you. An almost exact replica."

She shook her head, "He's just as smart as I imagine you were as a child." She paused, a grin breaking out, "Whatever happened there?"

"He nearly stopped my heart, when I first saw him."
Xaver glanced down at her.
"You really have no idea. His looks... It was a shocker, for certain."
  One of the best, in his entire life. If not the.
Xaver truly loved his son, with every fiber of his being.

He chuckled, softly, though within the deep blue depths of his gaze, there was an ancient sadness, barely recognizable through years of wear and cover.
"I didn't have time to be a child, my love."
His smile was an empty one.

"I spent years mourning the fact - but I relish in the fact that our child has the past and desires for a future I would, and could never have or fortell."
Xaver nodded, and a bit of warmth returned to the ice sheets that were his blue orbs.

Ginny smiled, leaning over and planting a kiss in the middle of his forehead. Then she placed hers against his and looked in his eyes.
"You're almost like a big feathery kid, love." She teased gently.

She took a breath, "His innocence is astounding. He knows and comprehends that their is evil in this world, but hasn't really seen any of it....I hope to keep it that way..."