25 Dec '75: A Christmas Gift: Bones Family

[Phoebe Bones]

25 December 1975
open to Bones family members
Phoebe, Edgar, Roderick, Amelia, Fabian

“What do you think Gray, can you say Merry Christmas?” Phoebe said with a laugh, the five month old eye’s focusing on the glittering orbs on their Christmas Tree. This time last year she’d found out she was pregnant with her little bundle of joy, She remember how the panic had set in the morning after, how she’d checked multiple more times just to make sure she wasn’t reading the results incorrectly. All that chaos seemed silly now, when she had the cutest little boy looking up at her. This past year had been busy, starting off with her marriage to Edgar - telling her friends and family she was pregnant, graduating University, buying and moving house, (going into labor in the middle of moving house), giving birth. Her and Edgar had gotten through every step of it together, and she couldn’t be happier. They had a life here, she had a job and was a mom, it didn’t seem like things could get any better.

That is, until another pregnancy test later had revealed the unexpected.

Digging a gift out from under the Christmas Tree, she passed it over to her husband, hoping that his reaction would be a good one. Two babies in under two years was absolutely insane, she knew that. They’d need more help from her parents, but the move had put them closer to her and Edgar’s mum. Besides, Edgar’s mum could always just pop on over whenever she wanted regardless of where they lived. They had a support system, and while this was certainly unplanned...well she’d always wanted more than one kid. She’d been an only child, and had always envied the neighborhood kids who had siblings. Her parents would be thrilled, they love being grandparents. And she was sure the same could be said for the Bones, seeing as they’d see have two possible magical grand kids to fuss over. “Now I know we said no gifts, but I really think you’ll like this one,” she said, the positive pregnancy results from her doctor carefully folded into the box she handed to him.

[Edgar Bones]

This had been, hands down, the best year of Edgar Bones' life.

This time last year, he and Pheebs had learned that they were going to be parents. And while his then-fiancée had announced the change to their lives with a string of curses, time had shown them both that the change truly was a gift. Sometimes Ed could hardly remember back to their pre-Grayson days, seeing as the little blond nugget had rather taken over their lives. In the best way. He'd married the love of his life, she'd graduated and was within her first career job, they'd moved to the outskirts of the city to a house with a yard that Sadie loved almost as much as she loved the baby. He'd progressed from desk work to being a field agent within the Order, going out into the world with men and women he'd learned to trust with his life, trying to make the space outside of their home as safe for Phoebe and Gray as the inside was. The road of war was long, winding, crumbly at bits, and threatened to make him weary; but how could he be anything but grateful for the life that he had? Putting himself in danger wasn't something he took lightly, but every day that he could wake up and know that he had his family around him, or to go home to, and that they loved and believed in him as much as he did in them...This will all be worth it.

But today, today was a joyous day, a day to get out of his head about the war and enjoy time with family. This was the first of many hostings of Christmas at the newest Mr. and Mrs. Bones' house, and as he sat on the rug with their child, entertaining him with making the baubles move with his feet or his wand, his back against his wife's legs, eggnog in hand, Edgar couldn't imagine anything better. Ed beamed back at Phoebe at her joke - Gray was advanced for his age, sure, but it would be a while yet before he was talking - and watched with intrigue as she got up and rounded up a gift hiding under the tree. For him? He took it with a grin and shook the box at his ear. "I'm sure I will - got one for you upstairs too, rules are meant to be broken, aren't they?" 

Ed tore off the festive paper and opened the box, not sure what to anticipate but definitely not anticipating a...letter? He turned a curious eye onto her before taking out the papers, unfolding them and reading until understanding dawned on him. He set down the nog and ran a hand through his hair, a slow smile spreading across his face. "We're having another baby?"

He had to laugh, heart swelling as it had when they'd learned about their first, but even more this time, somehow. Because instead of fear or worry, Phoebe was so confident in this, in them, confident enough to announce this in front of their families. And while this second child was, again, not in the immediate plan...we'll work it out, just like with Gray. Ed reached for her, pulling her into an embrace, a kiss, in front of the tree and their loved ones. "That's it, I'm calling it - you win at gift-giving."

[Roderick Bones]

There was nothing quite as wonderful as a Christmas spent with his family. There was sibling rivalry, there was eggnog, and there were presents and wrapping paper scattered about. He’d wanted to invite Mary, but their tearful goodbye at the train only a few months ago still had his heart raw, and he wasn’t sure if seeing her was really the best for either of their healing hearts. He knew now, how Edgar knew the future at 15 with Phoebe because he’d felt that way about Mary from the moment he fell. And now they were no longer, and he wasn’t sure what to do. But if Roderick knew anything, it was that they could figure this out one day. Hell, he’d watch his brother and Phoebe manage through a hell of a lot more a few years apart and a broken heart, and look at where they were today! Hosting their very first Christmas in their new house, with his nephew (and godson!) babbling away. Life didn’t seem like it could get any better, for any of them. Leaning against the couch, he, watched with interest as his sister-in-law was busying herself with something behind the Christmas tree.

While he wanted to be present for his family today, his mind was everywhere. On the girl, he missed terribly and wondering how her holiday was with the Fortescue's and Alice. And his mind was also still at work, unable to leave it all behind him while in his first year of training. He loved his job, he’d been planning on this field for years now. But there was sinister beneath the surface of their world, and while he’d thought the Aurors and the Order had things under control, every day at the hospital was a reminder that there was evil lurking everywhere. He saw it at the hospital with Grace, he heard about it from Bill and Andy when they got back from the field.

It was Edgar’s reaction that pulled him out of his thoughts, and he looked over to see his brother holding some papers. “You’re having another baby?” the question escaped him before he could stop it, and he grinned as he looked between his brother and Phoebe. Oh, Kyra was going to be delighted when she found out. As she should be, with money on the line. “Well what do you know, I’ve just lost 5 quid because of this.” That earned him a look from Phoebe - really, the girl should know by now that there would be betting - and he shrugged as he laughed. “Looks like we’re going to be Uncle Roderick and Aunt Amelia once more,” he voiced to his sister, looking back to his brother, “Do I also get to be the godfather of this one? I’m pretty good at it.”

[Fabian Prewett]

“Happy Christmas!” he yelled into the house as he opened the door, presents under one arm. While he hadn’t officially been invited to this Bones family Christmas gathering, he had managed to convince his brother that it was a good idea for them to crash it. They were - after all - basically family to Edgar. Which meant that family functions should include them, even if an invitation had not been extended by Phoebe or Ed. Gideon never took much convincing when it came to things like these, and they’d promised Molly and Arthur they’d pop in at some point to see the kids. “Hey Dad Bones, good to see you,” he said as he entered the room to find them all around the tree, dropping presents on the floor so he could hug Greg. “And Mom Bones, you look wonderful,” he said to Imogen.

He was glad to see that Amelia and Roderick were already here, and he gave them both a wave. Phoebe had let it slip that this Christmas party was going to be full of excitement, and then had told him that she’d fill him in later. And Fabian was having none of that because he was a Bones too as far as he was concerned. Besides, he was magical as well which meant they didn’t need to hide the magic around the house, and being in the Bones' house when magic was going on was a wonderful experience. It reminded him of going to visit Molly and Arthur, or his own parents. He could hear dishes going by themselves in the kitchen, Phoebe’s latest knitting project was going on its own thanks to Edgar’s help.

“Oh look, what does Edgar have here?” he questioned with a laugh, pulling the papers out of his brother's hand so that he and Gideon could look at them. It took a second because he wasn’t entirely sure what he was looking at, but soon he was grinning at Phoebe and Edgar, “I call dibs of godfather duties for this baby - no offense Roderick - but we all know I am the superior uncle.” He dropped the papers back into Edgar’s hands, shooing Phoebe out of the way so that he could pick up Grayson. He loved this little tyke, and he was glad to know that Phoebe and Edgar were giving him a sibling. “How’s the final year of torture at school going Amy?”

[Amelia Bones]

Initially, Amy had been skeptical about her brother and his new wife hosting Christmas. It was nothing against Phoebe, whom she loved like a sister, nor her brother, despite his appalling behavior the other night when she'd been trying to pick up a witch at the pub. But it was Christmas! Christmas meant tradition and tradition meant that mum was doing the cooking and there'd be no pressure to offer a helping hand when it came time to tidy up after tea or when the presents had all been opened and the floor was strewn with bits of wrapping parchment and ribbon. Amy wasn't about to be helping out now either, but there was expectation of her offering nonetheless. Amelia skirted the obligation by sprawling out on the sofa so that Roderick was forced to sit on the floor, and stuffing her face with sweets and hot cocoa like a child. She was the baby after all, save for Grayson.

Well f*ck, that didn't last long.

"No bloody way!" she argued with her brother and Fabian, who'd let himself in despite not actually being related. She sat up, making space for the Prewetts to sit but also because she was very serious about this discussion. "I've got dibs on this one!" She looked at Edgar and swiftly over to Pheebs who she knew made all the decisions in the house anyway. "I'm the godmother. Don't give these wankers another go at it, they'll have the new baby belching the Puddlemere United fight song for shites and giggles." The expression on Imogen  Bones' face was humorous, but Amelia had swore enough in front of her mother that it really shouldn't have fazed the woman any longer, and Amelia certainly wasn't going to stop because of a look.

Tagged: Phoebe Bones Edgar Bones Roderick Bones Fabian Prewett
Outfit: with a cute pair of boots that she took off the moment she walked inside

[Gideon Prewett]

“Mr. and Mrs. Bones. Happy Christmas.” His greeting was not as enthusiastic as Fabian’s as the entered the home but that was only because he had an envelope stuffed into his mouth. Mrs. Bones removed it and gave him a pat on the cheek. He blushed and ducked out of the way to greet the others. He placed his own gifted on the ground to give Phoebe a proper hug and then Gray who practically body-slammed his leg to demand one. Gideon wasn’t always so great with people but children seemed to like him well enough. He ruffled his hair, glancing up to notice Amelia on the sofa in the process. “Hey you.” he greeted, straightening up and running a perpetually nervous hand through his hair.

Luckily a very special present opening drew his attention, otherwise, he would have probably said something stupid because when had Amelia Bones gotten so grown? Well, she hadn’t really. She was still in school, a child basically. That’s right, a child. No, really, another child. “Get out.” he found himself saying, taking one of the odd pictures from Fabian to get a better look at the child, or what was supposed to be the picture of the child currently inside Phoebe. No the baby, the new baby. Phoebe and Edgar's new baby. “Wow.” He couldn’t picture having one and his Ed was on number two! “Congratulations.”

Soon there were exclamations and arguments sure to ensue over the choosing of godparents and Gidoen had to have his say in it. “Excuse me, but as the older brother, I think I have more right to be godfather. Besides, babies love me more, admit it. And, Rod already got one. I’m the obvious choice here.” He was a little envious of the ladies, they didn’t have as much competition for godparents. In the future, he would have to offer to babysit more, increase his standing, give him a leg up on the others.