Chapter Text
Barty Crouch Jr. is not a soft or loving person. Anyone can tell you that. He’s unattached and some say barbaric at times, so why does it only take one pair of tiny eyes that are full of tears to break through all of the hate? Because he's human. That's why. No matter what fucked up things he’s done and continues to do, hes still just a child who has real feelings. He doesn’t express them much and usually leads with the worst of himself, but sometimes you can catch the soft glint in his eyes when somebody compliments him, or the slight pull at the side of his lips whenever Evan is in the room.
While out on a “mission” with Bellatrix, they are sent after a couple of newlyweds. They have no more information than that. Bella and himself being how they are, the night doesn’t end quickly, it doesn't even end in death. The torture goes on for hours. When they finally grow tired of the tormenting and both are covered in blood is when Barty hears it. A soft cry coming from a room in the back of the squat cottage. A child’s cry. It is immediately the worst thing that he has ever heard. The sound of such a pure and helpless little thing crying out shatters Barty’s heart and he never wants to hear it again.
When he finally finds the source of the sobs his heart squeezes violently in his chest. The baby is so small. He’s swaddled up in a light blue blanket and his little hands are sticking out as he loosens his small cloth prison. His little face is twisted up as he continues to cry. He immediately reaches down to pick him up, but realizes his hands are covered in blood and freezes mid reach. His hands are shaking as a droplet plops onto the baby’s blanket.
What has he done…?
~
The door creaks open slowly and Evan perks up from where he’s reading the prophet. “Barty? Is that you? Took you long enough, god damn…” The blonde stands up and looks down the hallway to find Barty standing in front of the now closed door. He's looking down at his arms, a bundle resting in them. “Barty what-... Oh merlin…”
“Surprise Rosie…” Evan is right in front of him in a blink, his soft hands move a few blankets and his heart drops as he sees the peacefully sleeping baby in his lovers’ arms. “Bartimus Maria Crouch Junior, what the fuck!?” Barty flinches slightly at the raise in his voice, but holds his composure. “Rosie, baby, I… I couldn’t leave him…” Evan sighs and looks down at Barty before smiling softly as he gently moves the baby into his own arms. “Oh, Barty… we would be horrible parents… We- I-” Barty shushes him before curling in on himself a bit.
“Rosie… I-I want to do this. I need to do this. And… I want to do it with you.” Evan smiles softly and looks down at the sleeping bundle of joy in his arms then back up at the love of his life. His face is more sunken in and there’s a scar on his lip, but his eyes hold that bright shine that he has had since the moment they made eye contact on the train in first year, and Evan breaks. “Barty, baby… of course. I-I think we can do this. I think we can. Fucking hell though, this kid is gonna be messed up.” Barty grins and kisses Evan softly. “Thank you Rosie…” The baby coos softly as his little hands reach up to touch Barty’s cheeks. Barty smiles and sniffles as he holds back tears. They sit at the rim of his eyes, Merlin knows he won’t let them fall. Evan is the one who speaks up next, muttering softly, “does he have a name…?” Barty shakes his head as his large, calloused hand slips into the baby’s small, soft ones. He coos and grips his hand, giggling on over nothing. “No… but, I had an idea. What about Neville? Mamma had wanted to call me Neville before father took over.” Evan smiles and nods, eyes never leaving Barty’s face. “I love it. So much.” Barty looks up at him, grinning wider than ever before. He responds with a lovesick voice, “I love you. So much.” Evan grins back and starts to kiss his face all over, little Neville giggles as he watches his new parents with wide, gleeful, and innocent eyes.
After shoving Evan off, the two look down at Neville and Evan leans down to kiss his forehead softly.
“Don’t worry Neville, I didn’t forget about you…”
~
Later that night, Evan walks into the bedroom to find Barty asleep on their raggedy bed with little Neville curled protectively in his arms, snoring away himself. He was going to write to Pandora to tell her the news, but decided it could wait for the morning and silently slid under the blanket behind Barty. He slowly and softly wraps his arms around his gaunt waist, one hand holds his side and the other rests on Neville’s stomach. Sleep finds him immediately, comfortably curled with his whole world in his two callaused hands.
“Thank you Rosie…”
Barty’s voice is quiet and slow, laced with sleep. Evan smiles softly and kisses the back of his neck gently.
“I love you Baby…” is his reply. It’s the last words that are said before the little family is all sleeping peacefully.