Tied Together With a Smile (Eddykins)

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie had always loved Valentine’s day. Not the cheesy romance and pointless merchandise, but the way you could try to make somebody important to you feel special. It was a day that memories were made, cute little moments that she could treasure and file away alongside all the other events that made up her relationship with Ed. Like the time he’d picked her some wattle from the tree near the school or the fateful day they’d snuck behind the broom shed to brawl it out once and for all and ended up making out instead. This year was no different and even though she knew their relationship was far from perfect she was determined to make this Valentine’s a day worth remembering.

As usual Ed was up before her and he’d likely already have the pub set up for the rather slow trickle of patrons that came into the pub during the day. A grungy pub wasn’t nearly so appealing when it was light out and you could see all the grime. She rarely helped him set up any more, but in her defence she’d found herself feeling an awful lot more tired since she’d discovered she was pregnant and it wasn’t like Ed would let her lift anything heavier than a pint without rushing to her aid anyway.

Cassie took her time getting dressed and not even the realisation that yet another pair of her jeans were getting a little tight could dampen the feeling that it was going to be a good day. She was getting better at ignoring constant feeling of nausea that seemed to settle in her stomach and hang around all day and remembering to stand up slowly so she didn’t feel kind of dizzy too. A final check of the bedroom reminded her to grab her wand from the bedside table and she was ready to face the day.

Ed was standing behind the bar, frowning down at a piece of parchment with a look of concentration that was just adorable as Cassie entered the pub. With a mischievous grin she slipped up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and standing on tiptoes to kiss the back of his neck, her every intention to interrupt whatever he was doing and get his complete attention. ”Happy Valentine’s Day!”

[Edward Johns]

A long and droning buzz from a beat up looking alarm clock sitting on a quaint bedside table signalled the start of yet another day. With an irritable snort Edward shoved a hand at the clock only to have it snap angrily back at him with teeth that could be likened to miniature daggers. ”Alright, alright, I’m up. Bloody thing,” the Australian grumbled, slipping back the covers and shivering as the morning chill bit at his skin. Careful not to disturb the woman sleeping next to him, the young man sat up but before he got fully up for the day he couldn’t help but look at Cassie looking so beautiful, just as she did every morning.

Seeing her look so peaceful brought a smile to Ed’s face and, like every morning, he did the most cliché thing in the world and gave her a kiss on the cheek and placed a hand gently on her stomach before he left the bed. Even though he still couldn’t believe he was going to be a father, Ed had found himself thinking on baby names over the past few weeks, often offhandedly asking Cassie what she thought of his latest choice. So far none had seemed to grab his attention but there was months ahead yet to think of the name.

As soon as the barkeep was showered and dressed he was done in the main bar setting up for a slow day’s work. A red heart shaped card lying on the doormat reminded the man that it was Valentine’s Day and for the first time he was actually organised for it with a present and everything. He was very proud of his gift choice this year, oh yes he was. Sitting in a box under the bar was a small crystal robin; it wasn’t much but with any luck Cassie would like it.

The morning wore on uneventfully and customer-less, the monotony only broken by Rowdy playfully bounding (falling) down the stairs. Picking himself up as though nothing had happened, the black Labrador wandered to the Australian’s side for a pat, his tail very much controlling his back end. Ed could hardly call the dog a puppy now, every day he got bigger and more grown up. One day the baby Cassie was carrying would do that too. Sighing, the man ran his hand over Rowdy’s head before letting the black mound of fur bounce off to destroy more of the furniture.

It wasn’t long before the Labrador was back from investigating the front door, several Valentine’s Day cards in his mouth. ”Rowdy, no,” Ed growled at the dog, only to make his tail wag quicker at the prospect of a game of keep-away. As soon as the barkeep made a move towards the animal he was off with a cheeky growl, running off without noticing he’d dropped part of his stash. Bah, never mind the cards; they were probably all for Rowdy anyway but what the dog had dropped caught his owner’s attention at once.

Addressed to Cassie and in very official looking writing at first Ed wasn’t sure he should open in but reading on the back it was from St. Mungo’s the parchment was at once separated from the envelope.

Dear Miss Vimes,

Just a friendly reminder that you have a scheduled check up with your obstetrician in the Maternity Wing this afternoon at 12pm.

Sincerely,
Irene Bagslow, Maternity Ward Reception.

He studied the letter with a frown that he’d forgotten the check up date and was so engrossed in the fact he could potentially be seeing his child for the first time that he missed Cassie arriving at the foot of the stairs. He jumped but groaned appreciatively when he felt her arms close around him from behind and her lips kissing his neck. ”Morning, and happy Valentine’s Day to you too. I have a present for you but you're not getting it until later” he said softly, turning to embrace and kiss her properly. ”Did you remember we have an appointment at the hospital today?”

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie grinned as felt Ed flinch at the unexpected embrace, dropping back onto heels, but not releasing her arms from around his waist. It was a long time since she had felt this playful, their relationship was very different from the one they’d had in school, weighed down by so much baggage that at times it felt like they were tiptoeing around each other, trying not to mention something that might break the illusion of domestic bliss between them. But it was impossible to stay so tense and serious all the time, they were young and Cassie missed the way she had been able to relax and let loose around him. She missed the bickering fights that had given them an excuse to kiss and make up.

”Spoilsport.” She said, managing to turn her grin into a semi-convincing pout as he turned to return her hug. Cassie lifted an arm, using it to poke him accusingly in the chest, quite a feat considering she didn’t even attempt to take a step away from the warmth of his embrace. ”I want it now. And while we’re at it what happened to my breakfast in bed.” She had to duck her head into his shoulder to hide the wry smile that was threatening to quirk the corners of her lips. ”You’re supposed to treat your girl right on Valentine’s Day.” Cassie turned her head, pressing her lips against Ed’s neck. ”Especially when you’ve already gone and knocked her up.”

She leaned back as Ed reminded her about the hospital appointment, making sure he caught the wrinkling of her nose as she made a face of disdain at the thought. ”How could I forget?” Cassie gripped, giving up on the pout in favour of chewing uncertainly at her lower lip. Neither of them were prepared to be parents in the slightest and she knew Ed was just as nervous about the thought of having a baby as she was so she was trying not to show just how scared she was. But she couldn’t help worrying about the check up; what if the baby wasn’t normal? ”I hate hospitals.” It was a weak excuse for her reluctance to attend the appointment, but it was the best one she had.

[Edward Johns]

One poke in the chest and his whole world was on fire. A sudden urge to abandon the day ahead flared, almost impossible to ignore. It wasn’t fair; the appointment had just had to be on Valentine’s Day, a day when couples most certainly shouldn’t go out. Instead they should have been eating chocolate, sipping champagne (orange juice in their case) and doing other, less savoury things. ”You’ll just have to wait, how about dinner and chocolates and me in bed? I could even do that for you lunchtime depending on when we get back,” Edward remarked hopefully. If she kept letting him hold her like she was, especially with her head snuggled into his shoulder, what little resolve he had to leave the pub would disappear.

A frown crossed the young man’s face. He hadn’t treated Cassie right, not since they had been reunited. The bickering and the fighting and the thought of Dacian between them made him go tense. ”Valentine’s Day, a good day to start treating at least sort of right,” Ed tried to joke, to make light of everything that had happened but if Cassie knew him well she’d see through it instantly. She’d know something was wrong. But then her lips against his neck softened him again, nibbling away at the foundations of his resolve.

”God if you keep doing this to me we’re not going to make it to the appointment,” this time the laugh that followed was genuine. Lovingly, the young man kissed the girl in his arms softly on the side of her head, taking in the smell of her soft blonde hair and wishing the moment would never end. But it had to, eventually. Cassie’s quip about her state had reminded him that it was no longer the three of them (Rowdy was practically human) and the fourth demanded attention.

And then there was that cute wrinkling of her nose as her face translated a look of disdain to him, making his heart jump and skip. She looked so beautiful when she did that. ”I know, I know. Truth is I don’t really want to go either; hospitals aren’t my most favourite place. You should know that after the time in year ten you practically broke my arm and leg at school and I was stuck in one for two days.” Of course he’d been showing off to her, good times. Uncomplicated.

Like her, Ed began to grow apprehensive, as if her mood was translating over to him. The same worries and fears were plaguing him too. What if there was something wrong with the baby? What if he couldn’t do it, couldn’t be there for Cassie or the child when the time came? What if he couldn’t get enough money to provide for it? What if Dacian or other dangerous creatures came about? Could he protect his girlfriend and child? What if something happened to Cassie? People died in childbirth all the time, that’s what the movies said or maybe a vampire would get her. ”Cassie, I’m scared about everything,” he whispered with a shiver. Ditching the appointment was becoming an increasingly more attractive prospect. Finding about the future, having the baby formally confirmed was something Ed was sure he wasn’t ready for.

[Cassie Vimes]

Cassie still knew Ed well enough to know exactly what effect she was having on him and she allowed herself a small mischievous smile as her hands slipped down his back, fingers slipping under the hem of his t-shirt to brush across his skin. ”Dinner sounds good, lunch even better.” She murmured, standing on tiptoes to make sure he heard her, her breath ghosting across the soft spot just beneath his ear. ”And a girl should never turn down chocolates. I can take or leave the third though, you'll only hog the covers.” The wry smile was back and Cassie pressed a quick peck to his cheek to stifle the giggle that was threatening to bubble over before dropping back down onto the flats of her feet again.

She almost scoffed at what Ed said next, wondering how their conversations always lead to him believing he hadn't done right by her somehow. Perhaps she should stop teasing him about it, but he looked so cute when he was being all concerned. ”You're going to smother me if you keep treating me so well.” Cassie told him, halting the trail of feather-light kisses she'd been busy pressing to his neck and turning her face up to his. ”You're already acting like I'm nine months pregnant, I can still lift a pint glass you know.”

The look of disdain vanished from her features as Ed reminded her about their past adventures, her expression softening into one of wistful happiness. ”Hey!” She prodded him in the chest again in protest. ”You shouldn't have tried to follow me up that tree, I told you that branch wouldn't hold the weight of both of us.” Cassie grinned, then allowed her expression to turn serious. ”You know,” She slipped her hand under his t-shirt and traced her fingers slowly up his spine. ”I never did thank you properly for trying to break my fall.” She let the implied promise linger for a moment, beginning to wish herself that they could skip out on the hospital appointment and spend some intimate alone time together instead.

The flirtatious mood couldn't last forever though and the tension they were both feeling about the appointment finally filtered through. ”I know,” Cassie responded, holding him tighter for a second and wishing she could spare him the stress she was putting him through. Perhaps she should never have come to the sleepy little Scottish village, Ed had had a life there, one which she had well and truly gatecrashed. Maybe he'd left her for a reason back at school, maybe he didn't want her around and now she was forcing herself on him in the most permanent way possible.

Cassie bit her lip and gave the tiniest shake of her head. She couldn't allow herself to think like that and she had to reassure Ed too. He deserved to be happy and to have as much peace of mind as she could give him. ”You want to know the one thing I'm not worried about?” She didn't give him the chance to respond, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. ”Whether you'll be a good father or not. I know you're going to be great.”

[Edward Johns]

Cassie was too sly for her own good, she knew the effect she had and was exploiting it. Ed shivered and quivered as her fingers ghosted over his skin. Her touch made his mind fuzzy and full of thoughts not suitable for children, unborn children especially. ”Stop it,” he groaned without conviction. No way was the appointment ever going to be reached but is could be rescheduled surely? In answer to his own question the barkeep shook his head; if they didn’t go today they’d never get to the hospital. ”How about lunch and dinner, I’ll cook but only if we make it to the appointment reasonably on time. I also swear to buy you mountains of chocolate and to not hog the covers.”

Ed pouted and kissed the girl in his arms on the nose. She was so kind to say he treated her well even when he was convinced it wasn’t anywhere near the truth. ”Now we wouldn’t want that now would we? I guess I’ll have to stop doing stuff for you. No more backrubs, no more cooking for you, no more doing the dishes and certainly no more carrying stuff for you,” the man laughed cheekily. If he knew her as well as he thought I did she’d sure protest; she loved being spoilt. And so did he. Her kissing him so lightly was seriously, again, testing his resolve to get to St. Mungo’s on time if at all.

”What are you talking about? I thought you needed rescuing, what kind of guy would I have been to you if I’d just let you be stuck up that tree all day?.” He prodder her back gently, regretfully so as the old memories of their childhood had made the kissing stop. ”Well you can thank me for letting you break my arm later if you want,” Ed whispered silkily, ghosting his own kisses up Cassie’s neck. ”But we have to go.”

He moved to pull away but Cassie’s words made him stop dead and his heart break. ”That is the thing you should be worried about. So far I’ve been a lousy son, a lousy brother and a lousy boyfriend,” he professed. There was no way he’d be a great father, he could barely look after a dog, a teenage vampire and Cassie. ”You’ll be an awesome mother, I know that much. The way you handle Viv and Rowdy too. Bloody good stuff I tell you.” The barkeep hugged Cassie tight before letting her go to hunt for his jacket.

[Cassie Vimes]

Short of just jumping his bones Cassie was employing pretty much all the tricks she knew to try and distract him. If they ‘accidentally missed’ the appointment it would hardly be the end of the world and then Cassie could go back to being in denial again until they could reschedule. But Ed was doing a mighty fine job of resisting, telling her rather unconvincingly to stop even as she felt a shiver run down his spine. Her fingers momentarily halted their meandering path across his lower back and she pouted.

There had been a time when a simple touch would have driven him to distraction. Cassie could appreciate that at that time they’d been hormonal teenagers who thought that hour-long make out sessions were a worthy way to spend their time. But there was a part of her that couldn’t help being disappointed that she didn’t have that effect on him anymore. What if he just didn’t find her attractive now she was only a couple of months away from resembling a blimp… or a beached whale?

”Is there no such thing as being fashionably late for receptionists?” She grumbled half-heartedly, she’d never been on time for an appointment in her life and had faced the wrath of over-worked, irate receptionists as a result. Cassie was only slightly cheered by the thought of spending the rest of the day in bed being waited on hand and foot. It had been far, far too long since they’d had any proper alone time. There always seemed to be something getting in the way; be it looking after Rowdy, dealing with vampires or handling the pub, which wouldn’t run itself.

Cassie knew Ed was only teasing when he threatened to withhold backrubs and home cooked meals, but that didn’t stop the dismayed expression forming on her face. A lump formed in her throat and before she knew it she was furiously blinking back tears. She ducked her head under his chin so he wouldn’t see, wondering if she could discretely wipe her eyes without him noticing. Crying over something stupid was incredibly frustrating and the more frustrated she got that she couldn’t even control her own emotions the worse the tears seemed to get. ”Don’t you dare!” She warned, finally giving up on hiding the tears and sniffling into his shirt. Hopefully he’d realise she wasn’t really all that upset, he’d caught her weeping over her magazine subscription not arriving in the owl-post the previous morning.

Returning to the safer topic of their school days was a welcome relief and she managed a slightly tearful smile at his chivalry. The kisses he peppered across her neck helped too. Cassie gave a slightly shaky smile and began to pull from his embrace so she could head to the fireplace and floo her way to the dreaded St. Mungo’s. Then Ed went and ruined it by making her so mad. ”You are not lousy!” She snapped, turning back to fix him with a fierce glare that was only slightly undermined by the mascara smudges under her eyes. ”Your dad is a stubborn old man who didn’t want to let you make your own choices and everybody has rivalry with their siblings. I haven’t exactly been the best girlfriend either.” Cassie poked him sharply in the shoulder, trailing after him as he went in search of a coat. ”Besides, I can barely look after myself, let alone a baby! I’m always getting into trouble.”

[Edward Johns]

Hunting for a jacket, one that didn’t have holes in it courtesy of Rowdy, proved to be a good ploy to distract Ed from his thoughts and from his self pity. Mentioning his status as the world’s worst son had brought up bitter memories of home and the situations there that felt so unresolved. He wondered bitterly whether it was worth telling his family the news they were going to become grandparents, an uncle and an auntie. How would they react to his letter? Would his father ignore it or toss it to one side, disgusted at how increasingly irresponsible his son was becoming? The man was, no doubt in Ed’s mind, still bitter his eldest hadn’t show one single interest in taking the reins of the family business in the future.

Sighing and giving up the jacket hunt for the moment, he looked to Cassie. He’d guessed she’d been crying in his arms and the sight of her confirmed his hunch. Her mascara had run and her beautiful grey eyes were still shining wet. The topic of her wild emotions was one that Ed avoided like the plague; the last thing he wanted was to set her off so he kept his mouth shut. Unbeknownst to Cassie he had done a little reading up on pregnancy, thanks to a little book hidden beneath his pillow, and knew after it that her hormones would be all over the place so he knew to be careful. However every now and then he still slipped up.

Cassie’s anger snapped at him like a bullwhip, making Ed visibly flinch. The glare she fixed him with was so withering it made him want to run and hide just so he wouldn’t have to look at it anymore. Even through his fear he couldn’t help but smile gratefully as Cassie berated his father and siblings. At least she knew and understood how lousy his family was too. ”Thanks Boss Lady,” Ed said smiling at Cassie weakly. ”I think I needed to hear that.” He chuckled and turned away just in time to hear her say she hadn’t exactly been the best girlfriend.

However much a part of him wanted to agree with her Ed couldn’t do that to her. He’d promised to forgive her for what happened with Dacian after her near death experience and forgiven her he had. ”That’s all over now,” he waved a hand dismissively and checked his wrist watch. ”We’re going to be late, stuff the jacket,” Ed muttered to himself more than Cassie and moved to the fireplace. ”You’re a trouble magnet, why do you think I fell for you? Never a dull moment when you’re around.” Ed chuckled warmly and beckoned the girl over. ”Come on, let’s get this over with so I can give you your present.”

[Cassie Vimes]

Furious with herself for getting tearful over nothing Cassie wiped carefully at her eyes, clearing away the black smudges that her mascara had created as best she could. She managed a shaky smile of her own at his response to her sudden flaring of righteous indignation on his behalf. She knew that his family was a difficult subject for him and it made her so angry that they could treat their son that way, but part of her knew that the anger was a way of masking the guilt that she was just as to blame for the uncertainty Ed was feeling. The Ed she knew from school, full of flirtatious confidence and teenage bravado, had been replaced by somebody who had dealt with so much already and was about to be lumped with an even bigger burden.

”You shouldn't need me to tell you how wonderful you are.” She said fondly, keeping her voice quiet so it wouldn't waver. Cassie bit her lip, not exactly reassured by Ed saying that their problems were all behind them rather than telling her she hadn't been terrible to him. She was determined not to have another emotional outburst before they left though. ”You've spent too long in Scotland,” She teased as she joined him at the fireplace, wrapping her arms around herself and drawing attention to the two jumpers she was wearing even though they were still indoors. ”You're going native.”

Cassie took a pinch of floo powder from the novelty ashtray in the shape of a hog's head, deftly avoiding getting gored by one of it's tusks as it aggressively waved it's snout at her. You know, if we're serious about this baby we might have to cut down on the trouble.” She threw the glittering green powder into the fireplace. ”And take up scrabble or something instead.” Cassie slipped past Ed and stepped into the grate, grinning over he shoulder at him as the green-hued flames licked at her ankles.

Travelling by floo powder had never really been her favourite way to get from A to B and with her morning sickness the spinning sensation as she set off for St. Mungos was almost unbearable. By the time she stepped out of the fireplace and into the clinically clean reception of the hospital Cassie was just about ready to throw up. She put a hand to her mouth and hovered uncertainly near the fireplace, wondering whether she should make a dash for the bathroom (which was notoriously difficult to find in the hospital because they magically moved) or wait for Ed. In the end her indecision meant that Ed, who was only a couple of second behind her, was by her side before she'd made up her mind. ”Next time,” She said grimly, cuddling into his side. ”Can we try apparating?”

[Edward Johns]

Just as his fingers clenched around the glittering charcoal grey powder Ed caught Cassie's jibe and turned with a lock of mock outrage. "I am not going bloody native. I'll be a tough Australian until the day I die, even if I die in this God forsaken frozen isle," he proclaimed in as patriotic voice as he could muster. He would probably die in Scotland; his pub was here, his girl was here and the option of returning to the homeland held no interest to him whatsoever. Maybe one day, Ed had always reasoned. Unfortunately he had been so focused on being not-really-outraged that his hand had lingered in the ash tray.

The enchanted hog's head took its chance and attempted to gorge one of its tusks in one side of the man's thumb and out the other. "Son of a bitch!" Ed cried. Making a mental note to remove the thing at some point he stuck his thumb indignantly in his mouth and sucked the bleeding limb like a macabre lollipop. "Fucking thing, I don't even know why it's enchanted. It's bloody useless like that, what idiot wizard would think to make it try and impale a person?" The level of aggression at an incident that had been partially his own fault was higher than it warranted but it was helping to relieve the stress Ed felt.

The stress of seeing his unborn child for the first time and finally having it dawn on him that he was going to be a father had finally gotten to him and burst his mental damn but thankfully a bronze decoration was taking the overflow. Still sucking his thumb, Ed watched as the woman climbed into the grate and threw the powder to her feet making the dormant fire spring instantly to life with emerald green flames. "Cutting down on trouble would be easy if it didn't bloody find us all the time," Ed snorted back teasingly. Trouble was hard to avoid in an all magical village with immature kids, irresponsible adults and dangerous creatures around. "Anyway, scrabble's boring."

With a smile Cassie was gone, leaving Ed and a preoccupied Rowdy alone in the pub. "Guard the pub while we're gone Rowdy." As his master disappeared behind his girlfriend the black Labrador cocked his head at their mysterious absence and continued to gnaw at a chair leg.

"I forgot how much I hate the floo network." With a grumbled complaint Ed clambered out of the St Mungo's entrance grate and dusted the soot from his jacket. Dizzily he felt out for Cassie but she found him first and he welcomed the feeling of her clinging to his side. "I agree." He went to nod in agreement but when his head and stomach roared out in protest he figured it would be a bad idea to nod more than once and stopped to get his bearings. The clinical demeanour of the hospital made him shiver in a mix of fear and disgust. If there was one thing Ed hated more than Dacian it was hospitals.

"Come on," he endeavoured, "we have to find this damn maternity place. Lucky we weren't even more late." Ed sheepishly approached the reception counter and coughed to get the attention of the lady sitting behind it. She looked at him with disdain over thick horn-rimmed glasses and put down a nail file like she were handling a new born. "We're here for an appointment on the maternity place, wing, thing." The woman regarded him like he had just flunked high school for the fifth time and sounded as though she definitely thought he was a few sickles short of a galleon when she informed him where to go. "I dealt with prettier cows than her back home," Ed whispered snidely to Cassie when he turned away from her.

in a bold attempt at bravery Ed took Cassie's hand and started off the way they had been pointed. Part of him was excited to see his child and so wanted to get to the appointment as soon as possible, but another part of him dreaded seeing it. Seeing it meant it was real, until just that morning it had all felt surreal but now he would have no choice but to really believe he would be a dad so soon in his life.