Eglantines Chambers in Hogwarts (June 2055)

Kiara nodded now that she thought about it Death changed everything, and the lives of everyone connected to them.

"That sounds like Ava and Ara alright, though here Ava was still the top in her classes despite scowling all the way through it sbe graduated hogwarts early" she said.

She gave Owain a nod and a smile.

"Well you would have worthy teachers at least, at hogwarts or not." and she meant it she thought quite highly of her parents. As she thought about her parents her thoughts went to Eglantine in the other room.

She bit her lip, "I will be back in second Owain" she said patting him on the shoulder and then going to the other room to see if Eglantine and Horatio were alright.

Intrigued by the news he'd just heard, Owain wondered if the Ava he knew would also graduate early, or be like the one he knew nothing about in this future but different world. It almost hurt his head to think through the whole mess.
He nodded, agreeing with her on that. His grandparents were, in his mind, the pinnacle of magical height. No matter what, they always seemed like those huge rocks he had been taken to see in Africa. Nothing broke or battered them that they couldn't face down.

"Okay. I'll just wait here." he assured her, tucking the wand away and crouching down.

-

Horatio had moved his wife to the bed and now sat on its edge, rocking her in his lap as her tears continued to soak his already damp robe front. As poetic as the image of idealic love was, her tucked into his embrace with her head on his chest and his arms securely around her... his leg had cramped up and his foot was asleep. Romance, regardless of who wrote it, always was better in those books, movies and in the current age, tv shows. He felt bad for thinking about it... but you never saw the hero ask the heroine to stand up for a sec cause he'd lost circulation in his foot.

Worry soon replaced that bunny trail his mind had taken as Eglantine continued to cry. Usually by now she had stopped, pulled herself together and gone in search of one of those lace handkerchiefs of hers. But this, this was akin to how the grief had been in the very beginning... those first awful days in which neither of them could do anything but lay in bed and cry till exhaustion or dehydration got the better of them. Those were the days when they couldn't get their son's stiff grey body out of their minds or eyes. Those were the nights in which his closed eyes or lifeless face haunted their dreams. But there had also been each morning, each making it easier as finally they continued on with their life. Over the years, there was nothing they had not borne... nothing. Adultery, betrayal, death, separation, and pain, so much pain... more than their fair share had come to hurt.

"Lenty, you need..." he couldn't do it. Didn't have the strength to tell her what she needed to do. Maybe because part of him wanted to do the very same thing... break down and cry forever. But he couldn't. He already had so many times. Those times Eglantine had held him and now it was his turn.

He looked up to see Kiara enter, his helplessness mirrored in watery eyes.

Kiara quietly entered the room her Parents were in, she had hoped giving them a moment would help Eglantine regain herself like she usually did. Alas that didn't seem to be so.

Why did things seem to be so... painful lately for all of them.

She didn't say anything as she caught Horatios looked of helplessness, it was enough make her eyes water as well. She suddenly felt very bad for them and guilty.. She had lost her baby many years ago and now when Eglantine and Horatio lost there Baby, her baby came back, It wasn't fair.

She patted Horatio on the shoulder as she sat beside him, she patted Eglantines hand, hoping to pass onto her some comfort. "I am sorry Eglantine" she whispered.

Horatio took silent comfort from Kiara's sensitive arrival. It was helpful even in itself that she so quietly came to sit beside him. He didn't miss the shadow that passed over her face; the one he had long ago learnt to read as a sadder emotion. And although he couldn't quite put his finger on how she was thinking, there were times when he really didn't need to.
He shifted his now silently crying wife slightly to touch Kiara's hand with his. Eglantine didn't respond to Kiara's arrival, at least not physically. But he thought it was a sign of progress that her hiccuped sobs had become quiet; tears or not, it gave leaning that she was aware of her surroundings. At least he hoped.

He attempted to tell Kiara that her mother would be okay; that they both would, but he couldn't bring the words to form in his mouth. The willpower drained away and he wasn't sure anything would ever be okay again, much less at the moment.

"Could you get the floo powder? I'll take her to our rooms." his voice sounded surprisingly stronger than he felt and he moved to stand. Almost immediately Eglantine stopped him, her clenched tightly gloved fist almost beating itself against his shoulder, as she began whimpering their son's name. The tears he had kept at bay since the beginning of her sobs now leaked down his weathered cheeks and he buried his face against her soft hair. "Lenty, you have to stop. We can't weep forever." he whispered.

Kiara's eyes watered and it was all she could do but wipe them away, she patted Horatio's shoulder yet shook her head, two months was hardly enough time to get over a death of a child, for some the pain was there just as it was when it first came. She had those moments over Ciaran's death still, and it was close to a year since his death.

She conjured two Handkerchiefs, and hand one to each her parents, she couldn't ask Eglantine to stop crying, she didn't have the heart to she figured it was best to let these moments pass.. and she found a good Handkerchief worked wonders.

She wanted to say something comforting to them but the words wouldn't come.

Nonetheless she got the pot of floo powder.

"The Floo is out in the living room though" She whispered, mentening it casue Owian was likely still there.

It took Horatio several moments to clear his clouded mind enough to figure out that Kiara meant Owain was in the living room. Ah, another problem. The boy had enough on his plate without trying to take his AU grandparents falling apart in front of him. But then again, he'd probably already heard a good chunk of the crying.

Eglantine's head slowly lifted and she sniffed back another wave of tears, steeling herself back into control.
"Owain?" she asked, wondering where he was. It somehow broke through her grief that her newly acquired grandson was somewhere in the vicinity. Although her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks damp even after wiping them with the handkerchief Kiara had been so kind to offer.

Horatio blew his nose into his and coughed several times, trying to clear his grief away.
"He's in the living room, darling." he muttered, reaching to pat Kiara's hand as Eglantine stood. "Thanks. Don't know what we would do without you." he smiled.
Eglantine glanced back.
"Honestly, Kiara. The other Ciaran must be a mess without you." she whispered.

Kiara breathed a sigh of relief when Horatio and Eglantine seem to pull them selves back together again, it tore at her to see them so hurt, especaily since they helped her so much when Ciaran died.

She gave Horatio a smile, glad she had helped, "You would think of something" she said quietly.

She blinked at Eglantines statment, not even really being able to picture Ciaran being a mess, he had always been so strong.. through any hardship. Surely he could go on with her for the children, their sons.

"Oh I hope not" She said her eyes turning out to the living room, if Ciaran was a mess what did that leave Owian and that universes Tav with?
__

Owain found himself feeling restless as he looked to the room his mother and Grandparents were in. He almost got himself to go near the door and ask if everything was okay, but reframed at last second.

Soon he found himself pacing his head looking to the door waiting for something... he bit his lip at hearing whispers.. one sounded like his name.

"They talking about me?" he muttered to himself, as he somehow found himself closer to the door, curious as to what was going on. He didn't mean to eavsdrop really... but he heard what he heard.

"Honestly, Kiara. The other Ciaran must be a mess without you."

Owian winced, he didn't want to think his dad was a mess, but.. well what other way was there to put it..

"Oh I hope not" came the caring voice of his mother. It would likely cause her pain to know what his Dad was like without her. He didn't want that..

Swallowing he sat himself on the sofa thinking...

Another level of pain came to mind as Horatio heard Kiara's words. True, they'd have to, but it still hurt to even think of a world without her. She had always been a daughter in his eyes as beloved as the ones he had actually helped give life to.
"Wouldn't want to." he muttered, taking her hand in his.
He wanted to stop Eglantine, insisting that now was not the time to bring up a broken AU version of their much loved departed Ciaran. But Eglantine was an enigma unto herself and rarely said or did things that didn't end in a purpose.

Eglantine nodded, absently.
"No, we would always hope not. But it would explain why the child is as he is."
Horatio's brow wrinkled.
"What do you mean?"
"He's frightened." Eglantine continued, softly but still with a steely edge. "I noticed that about him very quickly. Something seemed to terrify him even subconsciously."

Kiara felt her chest tighten at Eglantines words, she didn't want to picture it she couldn't.. Sure Owain was frightened, he was in a new world where things were so different for him and away from all he knew.

"He is in a different world then he knew... who wouldn't be frightened" She tried holding on to that line of faith that Ciaran went on fine with out her, for there children.

But the thought of Eglantine being right... that frightened her.

She closed her eyes took that cursed shaky breath, the one that showed her struggle for a moment before she shoved her stuborn mask back on again. She gave Horatio's hands a squeeze.. before going to the door and to the living room where Owain was.. feeling the need to be near him once again, now that Eglantine and Horatio were alright. Besides Eglantine words gave her pause to worry for her new found son a little bit more...

Owain was still on the couch when his mother came out.

"They okay?" he asked concerned.

Kiara nodded and gave him a smile as much as she could. "They are fine now" she said stroking his head of hair.

Owain smiled and sighed in relief Much in the same way Kiara did afew minutes earlier "Good" he said looking behind her to see if they would come out.

Although usually he was quick to agree with Kiara, Horatio couldn't help but side with Eglantine this time. Owain had seemed frightened... now that he thought about it and it hadn't just about being in a different world. There were times when he seemed to be almost comfortable with that. There was... something... something else. Still, he didn't like the idea of Ciaran being the something... not one bit.

He carefully observed Kiara, worry rising as she closed her eyes and seemed to struggle breathing. There was no way on earth to measure how confusing and difficult the whole situation must have been for the poor widow... bereft of her love, now she had to face the idea that another version of him may have snapped at her death. As she left the room, he almost went after her, but stayed where he was, too tired to even stand.

"Maybe you shouldn't have said anything, Lenty."
Eglantine lifted an eyebrow.
"Perhaps. But sometimes things do need to be put out in the open."
Horatio sighed.
"Are you really the right person to be talking about those kinda things?" As soon as he said the words, he took them back, "Sorry." But the damage had been done and Eglantine wilted to sit beside him. "I'm very sorry, love." he whispered, embracing her. His mind wandered to Owain as he rubbed his wife's back.

Kiara gave him a small smile, he was such a sweet child, part of the reason she didn't want to accept to idea of Ciaran being a cause of distress for him.

But weather she liked it or not, it was out in the opened now and she would keep a worried eye on her new son, perhaps she had been to distracted with everything else to really notice how frightened Eglantine said he was. But she slowly began to see it.. his asking if Horatio and Eglantine distress was his fault, and the times he nearly came to tears over something she said to him..

Owian started to feel slightly nervous noticing how distant his mothers eyes looked.. she seemed confused. He swallowed and wondered if something to do what Grandmother in this world said to her about his Dad, he didn't want her to worry. To upset her over it. Perhaps he should talk to his grandparents about it, they would help him.. he hoped.. put things right. His Dad in this world must have been happy and joyful to be with since everyone loved him so.. he would hate to cause anyone to think of him otherwise.. especially his Mum.

"I.. have to use the washroom" he pitifly lied, and he felt bad for lying... he just couldn't think of another way to see them without his Mum being with him..

Kiara nodded "Okay Sweetheart" she said.

Owain crept to the washroom closed the door then tiptoed to his Grandparents room, he was rather good at sneaking around and knew how not to make much noise.
He looked at his Grandparents, "Ah.. can we talk?" he whispered biting his lip.

Both Horatio and Eglantine looked up rather sharply, not expecting their 'newest' grandson to be there.
"Oh of course." Horatio nodded, patting the bed beside him. Eglantine also nodded her head, not seeing any reason to say no after all.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, glancing him over to see if he'd suddenly become ill or anything in the past few hours. Maybe it was about Kiara... or he'd overheard something. She hid a grimace. The latter seemed the most logical and she hoped she hadn't hurt him in any way. Some children were very sensitive about their parents, regardless of treatment.

Owain stood awkwardly for a second, not really sure how to say what he wanted.

"Well.. I ah.. I heard what you said to Mum... about My Dad" he whispered looking at his feet.

"There is no need to worry her... to upset her" he whispered remembering the look on her face when she came to him... It was a look he had come to fear.

"I.. I know Dad was different in this world.. and everyone loved him very much. There is no need in hurting her even more because my Dad.... becasue he is broken with out her" he said quietly though by the end of his speach the were tears in his eyes..

He wasn't sure he made any sence to them, but his Dad had been pushed over the edge, he feared this thought would break his mother to.

((Hope this is alright, if this isn't what you wanted to happen let me know and I will change =) ))

(oh, it's perfect... nothing to worry about =) great post)

Eglantine paled dramatically, slowly rising to her feet as Owain finished. A million whirling thoughts tore at her as she gently touched the boy's chin, carefully forcing him to look up at her. She'd done it a hundred times with her own children and other grandchildren, and unknowingly to her, her AU counterpart often did the same with him.
"Darling, I would never knowingly hurt your mother." her voice trembled as did her hands. "We'll let it drop, okay. You're right of course."

Rising as well, Horatio sniffed back the last of his tears. He settled a heavy hand on Owain's shoulder, hoping to give him his support as well.
"Don't worry, lad. Kiara's stronger than she looks." Quickly he added. "But, we'll be careful. No need to bother her with possible horrors."
Eglantine glared at her husband. "Ah, I mean alternate realities or uh, universes."
"Stop while you're behind, lieb." Horatio did so, conjuring a quick handkerchief, not seeing his wife pull on of her lace ones out. "Now, wipe your eyes and we'll try our best to be happy, yes?" She gave the thin square to the boy and wiped at her own eyes with her robe sleeve.

Owain nodded relieved the matter would be closed, he whipped his tears tried to give them a smile..

"I love my Dad.. I do... its just he... isn't very happy in my world a lot of the time" he explained regretfully. He didn't want them to think his Dad was a monster... even though he himself was afraid of him sometimes, when he was mad.. but he didn't need to tell them that..

"Thanks" he said as he couldn't help but hug them right then.. and for a moment he felt slightly normal. Hugging his grandparents again.

Horatio nodded.
"We understand, Owain. Trust me, we do." He was glad to see the boy wipe at his tears. It was a step in the right direction. "When someone loses someone special, they change. Sometimes it breaks them, sometimes it makes then stronger by their efforts to love those left behind."
"Oh you're welcome, darling." Eglantine murmured, rubbing his back.

"You hungry, Owain?" Horatio asked, lightening the atmosphere. "Won't don't you go get Kiara and we'll all end over to Sine's, that's Edwin's wife, for a nice cosy meal. She's a comfort food cook." he teased.

Owian nodded, and did his best to dry his face, couldn't very well go back to his mum looking like he'd been crying now could he.

"Kay.. sounds good" he said trying to cheer up. Then he pasued and asked."Does she make Apple pie?" trying not to sound to hopeful.

((Hey was wondering if here is a good time to "fade out" and skip ahead afew day? don't have, to just to speed thing up a bit, Owain will have his room ready and all that, or do you have something different in mind?))