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Audrey always knew when her husband came home, not by the sound of the door opening and closing, or by him taking off his cloak and shoes and putting them away, not even by him coming to find her.
She knew Percy by the smell of him, of course first was the warm and spiced smell of his cologne, bergamot had been his scent since before she met him. Then there was the added scents of ink and fresh parchment, even after he showered the smell lingered on his hands. A beautiful scent that reminded her of school days and then her time at the Ministry, of even better times of passing notes between them while they were dating.
Or even better days in the earliest parts of their quick elopement and marriage.
“Audrey?”
She didn’t turn around, didn’t turn away from the kettle as she made them tea, a nice cup of tea with spoonful of sugar, splash of milk, and lemon just as he liked his Earl Grey tea.
He put his hands on her shoulders, before sliding them down along her arms and resting his chin on top of her head. She smiled to herself, then turned, finding herself in his arms, her face in his chest. She let him hug her, and she sighed as he kissed the top of her head.
Percy was too tall, too thin, all gangly limbs like a teenager, but she always liked that about him, she remembered the first time she saw him out of his usual robes or a suit, thinking that he had a stretching jinx on him. He was handsome though, that much would never change, and Audrey would be upset if it ever did.
“You were due home nearly an hour ago,” said Audrey, and Percy shook his head, “I know it’s your birthday, but you promised it would only be one drink.”
“And that’s all I had,” said Percy, but the sneaky smile on his lips said different. “George kept topping me off.”
“I’m going to have words with him,” said Audrey, and Percy rolled his eyes, “I am Percival.”
He smiled for real now, the kind of silly sweet smile that told her he had a little too much to drink, and she rolled her eyes at him this time.
“Drink your tea, I’m almost finished up here,” Audrey told him, but he didn’t moved and she sighed, even if she reached up on her tippy-toes she couldn’t reach him to kiss him.
“Audrey,” he whispered, and Audrey smiled now, hearing the softness, the fondness in just the single word of her name. She felt her love for her husband grow, her own fondness for the man smiling down at her deepen. “My beautiful wife.”
“Percy,” whispered Audrey, reaching her hand up and cupping the back of his neck, holding him softly. “My sweet husband.”
He leaned down, his forehead pressing to hers and then his mouth, kissing her slowly and deeply, and Audrey let out a small moan as his tongue swiped along her bottom lip, the need for more clear in the action. She would give him exactly that, they had been like this for longer than she cared to remember, in fact something in their first conversation, far away from anyone else in an empty joke shop, it proved that there was a spark between them, an undeniable feeling they had needed to explore.
She would’ve had him right there and then if she…if she knew what was to come for them. But she had been broken, oh so broken and grieving and sad back then, unable to truly cope with her life as it was, with no parents or twin brother anymore.
Audrey owed her life to Percy.
“Go sit,” she ordered, trying to push him away, but he smirked and climbed up onto the counter, sitting atop it and grabbing his teacup. She watched him take a sip, watched the muscles in his neck move as he swallowed, and felt all of her desires grow loud, grow noticeable.
Merlin, she loved this man.
And the truth was that she was more than used to him being on that particular spot on her kitchen counter. He always liked to watch her cook, watch her move around the kitchen making them food, he was nearly hopeless at anything more complicated than reheating food or boiling them the kettle.
She wasn’t worried, not one bit about him or them.
“You make the perfect cup of tea,” mumbled Percy and Audrey smiled, picking up her own cup and taking a sip, then feeling her stomach turn.
“Audrey?”
“I…I’m fine,” she told him, turning and smiling at him, even as she set her teacup down, feeling her stomach only calm as she opened the oven and pulled out the roast chicken, one of Percy’s favorites. “You can have the rest of my cup if you want, it’s too sweet.”
Percy finished his own cup and picked up hers, taking a sip and frowning but not saying anything.
She turned away from her husband and finished their dinner, with a wave of her wand it all went floating over to the table. She watched Percy as he loosened his tie and walked over to the table, feeling something in her rise up and want to jump on him. She always loved the moment when he would take off his tie, unbutton the top three buttons of his shirt, and show her the freckles on his throat, the ones that made up an A for her.
As if her name was branded on his very soul.
“Audrey, I know that your tea wasn’t too sweet,” said Percy, and Audrey rolled her eyes, “you went off tea when you were…well do you-“
“Percy just eat your dinner,” said Audrey, and Percy sighed as he returned to his plate. “We can…I’ll do a test later, okay?”
Percy just nodded and Audrey smiled to herself, returning to her own plate. She felt as if she had outdone herself, and she was looking forward to a piece of cake.
“How was work? Kingsley give you any trouble?” asked Percy, and Audrey sighed, “oh I know that sigh, come on, tell me then.”
“It’s not…well its nearly the first, and you know…well Hogwarts is always a headache now,” said Audrey, and Percy frowned, “I’m going up there on Monday for Kingsley to talk to McGonagall, apparently the Aurors have concerns about a few of the students and I’m to take their list and talk to her about them. From what I understand though the students…they’re interested in the Death Eaters, a…a little too interested for comfort.”
“That’s horrible,” said Percy and Audrey was beyond thankful for his words, his concern for this. Growing up Muggleborn she didn’t really fit in either world anymore, she couldn’t just involve herself in the Muggle world anymore as she was out of touch, but the Wizarding world still struggled to accept her even nearly ten years since the war ended.
“It’s been common since the war ended, some families are still holding onto the old…old values,” explained Audrey, and Percy sighed in frustration. “I know, but its expected in the old Pureblood families, it’s why I’m thankful to have Hermione on our side. She’s fighting to repel and overturn the old laws that are still harming and defying my life. She told me that there is an old law where if a Pureblood wants to leave their ‘less than’ partner, then they don’t have to pay any gold to their ex-partner, even if they’re at fault, and on top of it, the marriage will be annulled within the month, much faster than any normal divorce.”
“It’s for…for breeding privileges,” said Percy, and Audrey had a feeling it was, the thought made her feel sick. “Laws like that shouldn’t even be considered.”
“Well if you can pass up on your Muggleborn wife for a Pureblood one to bear your children, wouldn’t you?” asked Audrey, and Percy rolled his eyes, which made her smile.
“I love you Audrey, please don’t even suggest divorce to me.”
“Never,” agreed Audrey and she watched her husband smile, his whole face lighting up, becoming softer just for her. “Do you want cake or-“
“Take a test, we’ll have cake while we wait,” said Percy, and Audrey nodded.
Each step felt heavier than normal as she made her way up to their bedroom, and Audrey knew already what it would say.
“Blow out your candles,” said Audrey later, dropping the cake down in front of him. “Wish for something good.”
“I have you, that’s everything good in my life,” said Percy, and Audrey just kissed his cheek. “I love you, Audrey.”
“I love you too, Percy,” whispered Audrey, as he pulled her into his lap and kissed her, “now please blow out your candles.”
He moved his hand to her stomach, holding her close to him, and blew out the candles. It seemed impossible that just a few years ago they didn’t know one another, they weren’t married, they were both struggling in their lives in post-war years. But then they did meet one another and it all worked out, they found one another and it was like their life truly began.
They found a home in one another, built a life together, and now more would be coming.
Hopefully.
“Please take a test?” whispered Percy, resting his head on her shoulder, neither of them moving as he held her, as she moved her arm up behind her and into his hair.
“Cut the cake, I need to use the bathroom,” Audrey told him, escaping from his arms and getting to her feet. She kissed his forehead, then left the kitchen, going upstairs to their bathroom, where a line of four pregnancy tests sat on the counter, all taken throughout the day.
All of them were positive.
“Happy birthday, my love,” said Audrey, as she grabbed another test from the box and took it. Then she washed her hands and pocketed the bunch, going downstairs with the small wrapped gift she had made for him.
She returned and found Percy just eating the cake, with his hand, as if he was a toddler, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she sat back down in his lap and he fed her a bite of cake.
“Applesauce and cinnamon and…and vanilla,” said Percy, guessing now as he took another piece of the cake and then gently pushed it into Audrey’s mouth. “You have that smile, what am I missing?”
“Nutmeg, cloves, allspice,” said Audrey, and she pressed her mouth to his again, tasting the sweet vanilla frosting she had made. “No applesauce, I grated apples, added some texture.”
“Delicious, your mum had the best recipes,” said Percy, and Audrey nodded before he kissed her again. “I’m so happy you always honor me like this.”
“I also got you a gift,” said Audrey, pulling the wrapped gift out of her pocket and showing it to him. “Do you want me to open it as you have sticky fingers?”
“Please,” said Percy, as he put his fingers into his mouth, cleaning them off. Audrey carefully unwrapped the gift, pulling out a pair of ties, one pink and one blue, and laid one on each of his shoulders. “Variety this year.”
“The other gift is…well it’s been delayed,” said Audrey, and she pulled the five positive tests out of her pockets, laying them down one by one next to each other. He laughed and Audrey squealed as he tightened his arms around her and tickled her sides, trapping her and making her laugh too.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner!” said Percy, finally getting to his feet and spinning her around in his arms. Audrey laughed with him, and kissed him when he finally set her down, and let her wrap her arms around his neck.
They were finally going to have a baby.