And there was that look she gave him the moment he turned back to face her. It made Ryan feel like he was being mentally scolded by his mother so there was a bit of 'Okay, okay. I am ashamed of what i tried to do' look on his face, too. So, he looked down at the floor in true 'i am ashamed' form before looking back at the woman...only to see her trying to avoid eyecontact...for that moment. Just when she was supposed to tell him what the problem was.

Since he could add this to the things that had started to scare him, Ryan wanted to raise a hand to stop her. Whenever his life felt miserable, it was always because of those problems that were big enough to be indecipherable by himself. So he did not want to...

...but she just said it, the man was too late and he...completely froze just looking down at the certain spot on her, kind of automatically.

Three months? And she had just figured it out?

Now it was like something totally unexpecting, something that even Ryan Chambers could not predict or read, hit him. So, he was all speechless, unable to decide what to do or what to say. Nevertheless those words escaped his mouth.

''Are you sure it's me?''

Helena eyed the man for a moment. Had he actually just asked what she thought he had? Was she sure it was him? Was she sure it was HIM?!?! That stung. With a look of hurt, dissapointment, unsurprise, and slight regret, Helena nodded. “I’m certain,” she said, in a final “you-know-you-are” kind of way.

She looked away from Ryan and observed the employee that’d just walked into the reception area. Fidgeting with her fingers again, the blonde tried to avoid looking at Ryan. Surely acting like a 12 year old with a crush was entirely the wrong way to go about the situation, but Helena was genuinely scared. She was scared of the thought that Ryan might just disappear and leave her with the baby. She was scared that she was going to have a third disastrous labour. The mediwizard’s said she should never have risked keeping Iris; they said the growing baby could kill her. In fact, she nearly did. Helena’s older now... her body doesn’t keep up with things nearly as well as it used to, and that’s what scared her. She knew that there was a bloody good chance that she wouldn’t make it through this pregnancy. She knew that Ryan didn’t want children... She was scared of his reaction in the long run.

It was an awkward silence, and Helena didn’t know what to say or do to break it. Eventually, the blonde looked up into the man’s face, with an apologetic look in her eyes.

SPOILER!!: Helena

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixy!

Helena eyed the man for a moment. Had he actually just asked what she thought he had? Was she sure it was him? Was she sure it was HIM?!?! That stung. With a look of hurt, dissapointment, unsurprise, and slight regret, Helena nodded. “I’m certain,” she said, in a final “you-know-you-are” kind of way.

She looked away from Ryan and observed the employee that’d just walked into the reception area. Fidgeting with her fingers again, the blonde tried to avoid looking at Ryan. Surely acting like a 12 year old with a crush was entirely the wrong way to go about the situation, but Helena was genuinely scared. She was scared of the thought that Ryan might just disappear and leave her with the baby. She was scared that she was going to have a third disastrous labour. The mediwizard’s said she should never have risked keeping Iris; they said the growing baby could kill her. In fact, she nearly did. Helena’s older now... her body doesn’t keep up with things nearly as well as it used to, and that’s what scared her. She knew that there was a bloody good chance that she wouldn’t make it through this pregnancy. She knew that Ryan didn’t want children... She was scared of his reaction in the long run.

It was an awkward silence, and Helena didn’t know what to say or do to break it. Eventually, the blonde looked up into the man’s face, with an apologetic look in her eyes.

She was certain. Yes, she was...certain. Of course. What could be clearer? He could already see it himself that she was not faking at all. Still something made him ask the question. Maybe that insecurity inside or maybe hoping that he would not be the one to get the responsibility. That was selfish. He knew it was yet on the other hand he never denied the fact that he was a selfish man. Selfish and seriously irresponsible. And he liked to blame it on his job. He had been in law enforcement business for years. People mostly think law enforcement workers would be those heroes who liked to sacrifice their owl lives to protect people. They had no idea about what it was like inside the business.

Okay. Perhaps he was a man like that and he could not change it, however he also used to have a different job before he had become an Auror and with that job he was directly helping people. He helped them by reading their emotions so...there was no way he could be like that to Helena Beaumont. He knew how she was going to feel and it was not good even a bit. One could discuss Ryan Chambers' moral boundaries, like if he had any, but he was not the kind to leave pregnant woman alone. The kid being his or not.

''Look...'' he said with a more calm and collected voice. He had never been nervous but at least now he started to dealing with the inner tension. ''...i know i cannot use the lie that i did not mean it. It'd be ridiculous as we both know i do not make such mistakes. I just...lost the control of my words and said something i should not have said. I won't deny what i thought of. But i ensure you that it had nothing to do with the possiblity whether you were...with others. It was just...i totally was not expecting anything like that.'' a short silence fell on him then... ''Would you like to discuss this in a more comfortable place?''

Somewhere other than the reception area where employees could witness everything.

Gemini smiled at Sabel. She was always so glad to see him. He was such a doll. She sort of hoped that HER little boy would be like Sabel and she also hoped that he didn't TOTALLY turn out like Damien. One Damien was enough for the entire world!

Hehe. Don't tell.

"Of course you may." She decided, stepping around the silly carriage to lift Aries out and hold him out to the boy, once he put down his things, of course.

Damien was skeptical about people touching HIS son. The little Damien Jackson in the making. MINI HIM. Shifting uncomfortably, though, he simply nodded at Sabel and managed a smile. He was far more freaked out about the little things than Gemini was... CLEARLY.

And he was NOT hovering, much, as he waited for Sabel to put the piping hot liquid down and THEN take the baby. GAH. Was it ALWAYS going to be this nerve racking? He would go to an early grave if he didn't learn to calm down a bit.

"You can't carry your---" Wes started to say when suddenly, much to his surprise and horror, he found Poppy attempting to launch herself into his arms.

OH MERLIN! THE HORROR!

But what was he supposed to do now? He really had no option but to carry her --- in his arms --- out of the closet and into the offices. Wesley Ferguson was not a man who was easily embarrassed but Poppy Pricklepot had sufficiently embarrassed him, and his bright red face showed it. He tried to hold her out from his chest as much as he was able as he slowly, awkwardly, waded out of the maintenance closet and into the MLE reception area.

Wes almost tripped and dropped Poppy, then, as he spotted Damien and Gemini and OH OH OH was that a BABY?! He caught the elderly woman slipping out of his arms just in time, however, and managed to scoot a rolly-chair over to where he was awkwardly hiding standing just behind the receptionist's counter. Wes then unceremoniously dumped Poppy into it and gave her a good push out to the happy couple.

Whew. "Feel free to scoot on back to the offices... my desk is near the back," he told Poppy kindly, giving her a nice pat on the shoulder that sent her and the rolly-chair zooming forward. Wes smirked and then made his way over to Damien.

"Congrats on the baby, mate! What's it...er, his name?"

OH more people... err a PERSON to look at his babeh! YAY. He DID like to show him off a bit. Proud Papa Bear and all. Heh. Eyeing the old woman rolling through the corridor in a wheeled chair he then looked back at Wes and shrugged. He approved of it all. Hehe.

"Thanks, Wes. This is my wife, Gemini and our son, Aries. Gem, this is Wes Ferguson our Head Hit Wizard, yeah? I think... I haven't slept much lately..." he babbled a bit and then chuckled as his eyes found his baby again.

"I think he'll make a fine Auror one day," he said proudly. Whether Gem approved of this or NOT. Hehe.

Gemini glanced over her shoulder at the new arrivals. She recognized the man immediately and smiled in greeting to him, "We've met, actually." She informed Damien as she lifted Aries to one arm, offering the other in a one armed hug to the man.

She rolled her eyes at Damien, "And I think he will make a fine whatever it is he wishes to be when he grows up." DAMIEN. They were not pressuring their child to be an Auror. Gemini would support him with whatever he wanted, but she also hoped her child did not decide to follow in his father's footsteps. No thanks.

Isobel needed some coffee. Some nice coffee, that was like not like the office coffee at all. So she was heading out of the offices for a few moments to grab some coffee. If she was feeling nice when she got down there, she might get the other guys some too. It would depend on how she felt when she got down there. Hopefully the others wouldn't mind if she didn't get them coffee. Isobel couldn't be nice all the time though. She mused as she wandered away from the auror offices, towards the reception area, hoping that maybe there would not be too many people around. She tended to get a bit distracted, which was not a good thing.

What she hoped for didn't really happen. Because what she saw when she got to the reception area was...a lady on a rolling chair, Wes, Damien, Sabel, a lady she didn't know. And oooh. Baby! Isobel liked babies. Okay. This was a acceptable distraction. The blonde auror stopped as she came up to them. She had figured that the unknown lady must have been Damien's wife. "Hello..."

They had MET already? Hmph. Damien eyed Gem for a moment and then looked at Wes. WHERE HAD THEY MET and WHY DIDN'T HE KNOW ABOUT THIS? Man... he MUST be tired. He was not that dude. At all. Feh. He just nodded and grumbled something that sounded like 'Lovely' and went back to watching his kid like a hawk.

Even Gem's general snottiness at him hoping his son followed in his footsteps didn't draw his eyes from Aries. Nope. He would let it slide. Aries was destined to be an Auror, though, Damien could FEEL IT.

And then Isobel showed up. MORE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT BABY. Yay! Cutting his eyes to her he smiled. "Isobel this is my wife, Gemini, and our little boy, Aries. Gemini this is Isobel," he informed the two ladies kindly. Heh.

Aubrie needed a break and figured that she would go to the cafe or something. Some food would be good for her. She was fairly hungry. Once she got to the reception and waiting area she saw quite a sight. One of those head of section people, Wes maybe... had just deposited some old lady on the floor. Oh what a sight. Aubrie bit her lip to keep herself from laughing outloud.

Then she saw a couple and....a baby. Aww cute. Aubrie loved babies. Feeling awkward because she didn't know them she walked over. Whatever, it would be a good way to meet people around the department. At least she assumed these people were from her department. "Hello," she said awkwardly. "I'm Aubrie Hampson, new here, just wanted to say congrats on your baby. He is adorable."

"Aries, eh?" Wes tilted his head at the baby and rubbed at his chin. "Yeah, yeah I could see that. It sure is a name fit for an Auror... kind of like a warrior-y name. He'll be a total firecracker. Nice."

He approved. He smiled over at Gemini. "How are you, Mrs. Jackson?" Hehehe. Wes winked at her and clapped Damien on the back. "We met getting lunch in Diagon Alley one day." No big deal, dude, Wes had his own woman.

Which, speaking of... was here now. Wes took a step back from the baby and waited to see how Izzy reacted to it...er...him. Yeah.

Helena only half listened to what Ryan was saying to her. The large group of people crowded around a baby right in the middle of the room were distracting her. Who brought their BABY into work, especially the Law Enforcement department. What were the chances of ALL those people just "passing by" anyway? Had the father of the baby sent a patronus message round to everyone to let them know his child was in the building?

She forced herself to focus her attention on Ryan. He was far more important than the large group of people. The way Ryan was talking, she could tell that he was being honest. He'd not expected this at all. He'd not read it from her face, her body language, her words at all... Unsure of what to say in response to his words, she just nodded understandingly. More importantly, she genuinely believed his words.

As Ryan suggested to move somewhere less public, Helena's dark blue eyes watched the baby group again. Biting her bottom lip, she nodded and looked into Ryan's eyes. "I ... Yes, please." Somewhere that wasn't full of the "cooing" noises that people insisted on using in front of babies. There was still six months before she had to deal with that, there was no need to hear it before hand. Helena frowned momentarily, with a confused look on her face as if she were thinking. "Where, though?"

Damien looked a bit baffled by the latest arrival... he had no idea who she was or what division she worked for. Good thing she introduced herself.

"Thank you, Aubrie. I am Damien Jackson, and this is Aries." SMILES. Hehe. "You're new to the Department? Pleasure to meet you. I am from the Auror Office." This was where she told him where SHE worked. heh.

Yeah, man. ARIES. God of War. Wasn't it? God of something anyway. For the time being Damien just considered him the God of Cute... and Drool. He leaked a LOT.

Nodding his head in a 'SEE WHAT DID I TELL YOU?!' sort of motion he beamed at Wes. THIS MAN UNDERSTOOD HIM.


Glancing at Muriel for a moment he moved closer to Gemini and said, "Perhaps we should sit down or... move to a different place." Perhaps they were clogging the reception area with all of their good vibes and general happiness and joy IN THE WORKPLACE.

Aubrie smiled at the man. "Pleased to meet you Damien, and you too Aries," she said smiling at the adorable little baby. Little babies were always so cute. "I've just joined IUMO." Aubrie said with a smile, her new job was great, and she was glad that she was meeting some new people.

Sabel was soooooooooooooooooo excited. Almost so much he forgot to put his things down before taking said baby. Thankfully, there was Gemini's waiting and Damien's eying that had him remembering.

Sheepishly, he handed the coffee and paper to Damien; perhaps daddy dearest would like something to read to calm those nerves. Caffinee on the other hand.... "I haven't drank any of it yet." Just so he knew. "You can have it if you want." Because babies were better than coffee.

With a grin, Sabel moved slowly and carefully to gather the child in his arms. He was surprised at how heavy and light the child was at the same time, but no matter the weight, he knew it was a fragile creature. And if it cried, Merlin help him, Damien would squish him like a bug.

If he didn't squish all the other people too.

Wide eyes blinked around Damien and Gemini at the gathered crowd, and he suddenly felt like bolting with the baby. "Guess you're famous little one." He rocked the child a little bit. "Destined for great things too, apparently. Guess it's in the name."

Awwww. Baby. Isobel glanced over at Wes, smiling. Maybe now wasn't the best time to get over excited about babies. She didn't really want to scare him away. "It's nice to meet you Gemini." Pretty name. Damien's son had a pretty name too. Pretty names, for a very pretty family. It was all good. But it was nice to meet Gemini, especially considering she was one of her collegue's wife. She was also a female, and Isobel didn't really know many girls. So it would be good to get some female friends.

"Aww..." She smiled, as she watched Aries for a few moments. That baby was really cute. "He's cute." She directed this at both Damien and Gemini. Yes. Very cute baby.

As he made his way from the closet, Dean saw a crowd with some familiar faces; Damien, Izzy, Sabel, Wes and Ms Maintenance on a rolly-chair. He approached them and realised there was a baby. A frigging adorable baby! It must be Damien's then. And the unknown lady must be his wife.

"Congratulations, sir," he told Damien cheerfully before looking at the cute baby. Aww...

SPOILER!!: Helena

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixy!

Helena only half listened to what Ryan was saying to her. The large group of people crowded around a baby right in the middle of the room were distracting her. Who brought their BABY into work, especially the Law Enforcement department. What were the chances of ALL those people just "passing by" anyway? Had the father of the baby sent a patronus message round to everyone to let them know his child was in the building?

She forced herself to focus her attention on Ryan. He was far more important than the large group of people. The way Ryan was talking, she could tell that he was being honest. He'd not expected this at all. He'd not read it from her face, her body language, her words at all... Unsure of what to say in response to his words, she just nodded understandingly. More importantly, she genuinely believed his words.

As Ryan suggested to move somewhere less public, Helena's dark blue eyes watched the baby group again. Biting her bottom lip, she nodded and looked into Ryan's eyes. "I ... Yes, please." Somewhere that wasn't full of the "cooing" noises that people insisted on using in front of babies. There was still six months before she had to deal with that, there was no need to hear it before hand. Helena frowned momentarily, with a confused look on her face as if she were thinking. "Where, though?"

Obviously, his idea to find a more peaceful place to discuss this VERY important matter had been a vital one. Ryan could clearly see it now. He did not need to be the best of psychoanalysts to observe the fact that it was a wise idea to take Helena to a less crowded place anyway. Looking around again...this was an interesting choice of place for a party, especially for a baby party. Well...if it was preferred that way then there should have been a reason. A reason which did not really interest Ryan so he just looked back at Helena and gave the woman a little smile.

Now he had his own very important matters to care about other than why a random corridor was getting crowded. So, slowly moving forward he took the woman's hand. ''Let's move then.'' His light blue eyes and all attention were on the woman, observing her carefully for he did not want to make another mistake. This was a sensitive situation.

And...he thought he caught somwthing there...deep into her thoughts. Neverthless he was going to be silent about it for the moment...until they found a less crowded place.

And with a quick nod, he led the woman heading out of the party place.

Well, at least Ryan appeared to be taking the news far better than Helena feared... That was definitely good, right? Ah... she hoped so. Nodding at his words, the blonde smiled sweetly as Ryan went to hold her hand.

She didn't have a clue where "somewhere more comfortable" was, so she let Ryan take the lead. As they left the reception area, Helena looked over her shoulder and glanced at the baby group with a small sigh... It must be nice to have a body which allows you to have a full, healthy pregnancy.

Damien's attention was finally drawn from Aries as the other MLE'er spoke once more. Nodding at her he cracked a small smile for her. "Welcome to the team, then. Pleasure to see some new faces around here. And in case you are wondering, no I don't bring Aries into the office everyday. We merely brought him to visit... this is his first time meeting everyone," he said with a small chuckle. Not that it mattered one little bit if he so chose to bring his kid to work every single day or not.

AHHHH. Sabel was thrusting hot liquids and a paper at him. Fumbling to grab the things he flinched internally as he watched Sabel take his child in his arms. Lucky he trusted the kid with his life... or else he might just flip out and take Aries back. Heh. "Indeed he is destined for great things... with a father like me and a mum like Gem. Pfffft. It's in the bag, I think," he said proudly as he tucked the paper under his arm. Scooting a bit closer to Gem he reached out for her hand and winked.

Glancing back to Isobel he nodded his thanks and beamed. "I think he's a good looking guy myself." DESTINED FOR GREATNESS AND A FULL HEAD OF GORGEOUS HAIR. Hehe.

Once Izzy was settled into the chair, Wes got behind it and slowly started pushing her out of the holding cells area and out into reception. Maybe if she got away from Wrekin and away from the commotion from earlier, her head would start to feel better? He was no Healer, so he sure didn't know, but it was worth a try.

"Well if you're dizzy... er, maybe you got hit by something when Wrekin blasted that ceiling," Wes prompted, hoping she'd be able to tell him something about her injury. He frowned when she started about no one being at work today. That was bad. Er.

"Izzy," he muttered, gently patting her head from behind the rolly chair, "you know everyone's all scattered around the Ministry, right? Fighting the Cultists?"

It was a good thing that this chair had arm rests, because Isobel was pretty sure she would've been on the floor if not. But being sat down was definetly helping her. Even though she did feel a little sleepy now. Maybe Wes could take her home so she could have a nap. That would be nice, he was a nice boyfriend after all. She rubbed her head a little. The gash on her forehead had kind of stopped bleeding now, it did really hurt though. Good thing she couldn't see the blood.

"Yeah...it must have been that." Ceiling falling on her head was not good at all. "It hurt." Well duh. Ceiling was not supposed to fall on her after all. "Thought you were supposed to protect me." She giggled, smirking to herself. Her head might have been hurting, but she could still kind of remember things. Vaguely. Recent things. Like she couldn't particuarly remember her auror training right now. She was an auror right?

Oh. Fighting cultists? "Oh yeah...I remember." That made sense. Kind of. They did fight people. "Maybe thats why my head hurts...too much fighting." and he was patting her head too. Didn't he know it hurt? "Don't pat...my head hurts remember." Idiot.

If listened carefully, a faint popping sound echoed softly on the walls. Dean stood near the reception desk, looking drained. It was a good thing Damien was quick to capture Sakura. It made Sakura's anti-apparition jinx lifted and he can apparate to level two instead of running up the staircase. Dean didn't think the second option was possible considering that he looked like he was about to collapsed.

A few feet in front of him, Dean saw Wes with Isobel who was sitting on a rolley chair. She didn't look good either. With all his remaining energy, he approached the couple. "No sign of D'Isigny at the Mysteries. Damien had taken Sakura to Azkaban," nodded the youngest among the three as he forced a faint smile despite his exhaustion. "And Sabel sent a Patronus: Gevrik's down. That Squid- I mean, Recard is under custody now." Then, he turned to Isobel. "You all right there, Isobel?"

"Oh, right, yes, ceiling falling on you does tend to hurt." Wes frowned and stopped patting her head, hoping for the moment that she was sounding at least a little bit... saner. "Sorry I wasn't really there to protect you," he muttered. "My attempted tackling of Wrekin was a huge fail."

He looked up at the sound of a tiny pop then and actually had his wand drawn before he realized it was just Dean. Oh cool.... he looked like he was about to pass out too. Wes quickly flicked his wand at another nearby chair, sending it skittering to just behind Dean's knees, where it nudged him every few seconds as a hint for the man to sit down.

"We got the patronus too," Wes nodded, shaking his head at mention of Isobel. "We ran into Wrekin on Level Six when we were going through Recard's office... I captured the sicko but not before he managed to blast the ceiling and set the place on fire.... I think Izzy got hit by some of the damage."

He scratched at the back of his neck idly and tucked his wand into the gap over his ear. "Sounds like we got pretty much everyone EXCEPT D'Isigny..." Great. The one person they had been sent to capture they couldn't find. "Think I should send a patronus down to the Atrium to let them know we're all right? Wrekin's sealed up nice and tight and unconscious in holding cell three...."

And he wouldn't be waking up for a while. Wes smirked at the thought and then got out his wand again, sending a large wolf patronus down to the Atrium while his mind was still on that.