sticks a n d stones

[Xaver]

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?"

[Ginny Weasly]

"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."

[Xaver]

"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."

[Ginny Weasly]

"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]

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.

[Ginny Weasly]

"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]

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 Weasly]

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]

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 Weasly]

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."

[Xaver]

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 Weasly]

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]

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."

[Ginny Weasly]

"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]

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."