optimism can save the world

Alice Fortescue. 22. Auror

[alicegracefortescue]

kingmeshacklebolt‌:

Camping out in the hospital had been worth it, every single second. He had done it for both of his  biological nieces and nephews, of course he’d do it for his spiritual nephew as well. Nothing could’ve kept him away, even if childbirth was actually terrifying. This was Alice, his OG sister from another mister, his best of best friends (not including Frank). Kingsley hadn’t stopped crying since she’d gone into labor. 

“He’s beautiful, Al.” He said, sniffing. Neville was so amazing. It was even more wild to see Frank and Alice reflected in a small human’s features than it was to Clara and Paul’s. “I’m so happy for you.

“I was gonna bring you a cake but you went into labor earlier than I anticipated so I didn’t have time to get you a cake but I will, okay? I’ll bring you one.”

“He is, isn’t he?” She heard that mothers had a hard time being objective about their children’s looks, but she didn’t care about objectivity right now. This was her baby. With his little swollen face and those tiny, tiny hands. It was overwhelming. “Thank you, King.” It meant a lot to hear that Kingsley was here now, next to Frank he’d been her best friend for years. She couldn’t imagine experiencing this without him close by. He was like a brother to her. 

When he mentioned a cake she just shook her head fondly. “It’s fine. I don’t need a cake. What matters is that you’re here.” 

[tylerposey]

My wife, Amanda, and I, just had a baby six months ago.

[alicegracefortescue]

Even though they had the baby bag and everything else they would need once it was time for the baby to come packed, the contractions still came as a surprise to Alice. Her healer had told her to expect him to come at the end of the month or the beginning of February but her little man seemed to have other plans. He didn’t want her to spend her birthday without him. All that mattered to her was that he was healthy and thank merlin he was. She could see a lot more of Frank in him at the moment, remembering a night they compared their baby pictures to try and guess what their son would look like. 

The healers wanted to leave them in the hospital for a few days, just as a precaution, and Alice didn’t mind. The healers knew what was best for her and baby Neville, who was she to object to that? Hearing a knock on her door she called them in.  “Not many people can say they share a birthday with their son.”

[upinsmoke-gossip]

Happy birthday, Alice Fortescue

[alicegracefortescue]

upinsmoke-gossip‌:

And happy birth to Neville Fortescue. I don’t think she’s going to be partying any since she just pushed out a baby and unless you’re offering diapers or to babysit, chances are that your gift just won’t be that special.

@alicegracefortescue​ @frcnked​

[alicegracefortescue]

andromedaablackk‌:

Andromeda smiled grasping Alice’s hands. “Well they do say first borns can show up early but hopefully he or she will be right on time for you. You must be incredibly excited, I know I would be.” 

“The healers told us that the baby is going to be a boy,” Alice smiled, looking down at her stomach. “I don’t care what it is, as long as the baby is happy. I am very excited. A little scared too, but I think that’s normal.” She did her best to stop herself from overthinking, not wanting to stress the baby. 

[alicegracefortescue]

valerijanovak‌:

She sat at her favorite bench in her favorite park, holding the letter with both hands.  It wasn’t anything atypical.  Her parents frequently wrote to her.  We’re proud of you.  We love you.  We miss you.  We know that England is your home now, but please consider visiting, if not home maybe to your grandparents. When she left Bulgaria she had convinced herself it was for good, that she had no intention of returning.  But things had changed – she felt stronger now.  And Russia might be a good compromise.

But it was difficult.

When someone sat next to her she considered getting up, moving on to the next stop on her lazy day.  But instead she sighed and glanced at them with a small smile.  “Would it be too much intrusion if I asked you an odd question?”

Alice thought that since it was a nice day out today she might as well go for a walk. She was getting stir crazy being cooped up in her apartment all the time and she was getting bored with Frank being at work. Due to her feet hurting she sat down, returning the other woman’s smile. “Sure. I don’t mind. Go for it.” 

[alicegracefortescue]

andromedaablackk‌:

Andromeda’s smiled widened if that was even possible at this point. “I hope you and Frank will be able to make it, we’re just having a small wedding.” she told her. Andromeda knew a big wedding was only going to cause trouble and unwanted guests but a small garden wedding was more her and Ted’s style any way. “Thank you Alice, it was the sweetest proposal. Ted had cooked me dinner and lit everything with candles for my birthday and he cleaned out our spare room - we’re renovating the cottage we moved into you see - and he dropped the paint chips and as I turned around to hand them to him he was down on one knee.” 

“We’ll definitely try our best to make it.” Alice promised, putting a hand on her stomach. She was almost nine months pregnant now. Her healer said it was common for a first baby to come early, but she hoped that she could carry him full term, it was important for his health. “Let’s hope he doesn’t have any plans of coming early.” 

[alicegracefortescue]

andromedaablackk‌:

“I was so surprised - Ted proposed to me on my birthday and it’s just been a whirlwind.” Andromeda gushed holding out her hand to watch the beautiful ring he had given her sparkle in the light. “The ring belonged to his grandmother and mother - I think it’s so sweet.” She was sure her cheeks were going to explode at some point, Andromeda hadn’t stopped smiling. “I’m sorry - that’s not what we were talking about before, I’m not one to gush but i’m just so incredibly happy.” 

“Oh my god Andy I’m so happy for you!” Alice smiled enveloping Andromeda in a big hug, which was slightly difficult due to her ever-growing baby bump. Andromeda was glowing with happiness. “The ring is beautiful, it looks perfect for you.” She was a sucker for a family heirloom due to how meaningful it was and how much it meant. “Tell me about the proposal. I want to hear all about it.”

[alicegracefortescue]

levibulstrode‌:

@alicegracefortescue

Levi hadn’t seen Alice in a while, so when he spotted her down the street, he jogged to catch up, mindful of Millie wrapped up in Marcus’ funny babyholder. “Alice!” he called, hoping to get her to stop. Eventually he caught up and gave her a wide smile. “How are you? Keeping Frank out of trouble then?”

His first instinct was to offer to carry her bags, but he didn’t want to crowd Millie. Plus, if she was in a hurry, he didn’t want her to feel obligated to stand around and talk. If it seemed like she was still shopping, though, Levi would make the offer in the heartbeat if she wanted to hold Millie. He surveyed her, and something felt different in the way she was carrying herself. She seemed almost taller, happier. Levi didn’t know how to place it, but he hoped that was a sign that everything was going well for her.

Hearing Levi’s voice she turned around smile on her face widening when she noticed Millie in the baby carrier, walking over to them. It was adorable to see, maybe she should get Frank one of those as well. “I am good. Trying my best. He wants to get some kind of miniature wild animal now, which I’ve been trying to convince him is a bad idea...” She laughed, shaking her head. 

Millie was almost at her eyesight level now, with Alice only having to crouch down a little to be on level height with her. “Aren’t you a sweet little thing?” Her heart warmed at the smile given to her by the baby. She couldn’t imagine that in a few months she’d be holding her own son. It seemed so surreal. 

[alicegracefortescue]

mxdnight-marauder‌:

When people said that the first year of marriage was always the hardest, James never would have imagined that they’d be dealing with such intense challenges starting on their actual wedding night. That had of course been a disaster, the reception afterwards. However, things had slowly started to calm down as far as they were directly tied to them, which was a blessing considering they were in the middle of a war.

“Things are good, as good as they can be,” James replied with a chuckle. “She’s been staying home a bit more, I think because of everything that’s happened…” The Prophet had advertised Lily’s blood status when reporting their wedding, which of course put a bit of spotlight on them, so they had been trying to lay low as best they could whilst still doing their part for the order. “And I assume things with you and Frank are going well? You both are welcome over for Christmas, you know. Or, should I say the three of you,” he teased.

Alice and Frank were still engaged. If it went according to her, she’d marry him tomorrow, but their mothers didn’t think it would be good to put so much stress on Alice while she was pregnant. So the wedding was moved until after the baby was born. 

“We have to appreciate even the little moments of happiness.” They were few and far in between with the war and the danger constantly looming around them. She didn’t blame Lily for keeping to herself. It was safer that way. “They are. Frank’s being very attentive to my each and every need. I can’t complain.” He was fussing over her at times, but she found it sweet. “We would love to come. Thank you.” Alice smiled, her hand resting on her stomach, the bump impossible to hide by now.

[alicegracefortescue]

mxdnight-marauder‌:

James really hadn’t had to ask, considering the numerous times Alice had helped him out before with this issue. Yet he still felt a bit awkward about asking for help. Or rather, it wasn’t the asking for help part that he minded. It was the reason why he was asking that was the embarrassing part. 

“Well, I’ve always had someone to fix them for me. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled,” James chuckled, half joking. However there had been one time he had tried to fix them himself, which resulted in James sending them flying into the kitchen whilst his mother made dinner. “Or maybe I just need new glasses. What do you reckon?”

“Maybe a little.” Alice joked back. It was a small thing she didn’t mind doing. Helping people was one of her biggest passions in life, even if this wasn’t much in the grand scheme of things she was happy that she could help out her cousin. 

“So, how are things with Lily? Haven’t seen her in a while...”

[alicegracefortescue]

adelaideboots‌:

“Oh.” Adelaide replied, flatly. She hadn’t exactly paid much attention to who it was who had been looking over at her. Perhaps she should have. It would have saved her this level of embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, Alice. Really. I just… I feel like everyone’s staring at me, and I don’t know what to do. But I’m fine, honest.”

“You don’t need to apologise. I get it.” Alice smiled good naturedly, waving it off. 

“You’re under a lot of stress right now. Don’t let them get to you. Ignore them, hopefully they’ll go away soon once the next news story hits.” 

[alicegracefortescue]

mxdnight-marauder‌:

For someone who’s eyesight was as bad as James’, one would think he would take better care of the very item that helped him not walk into walls and poles. Of course, James wasn’t that hard of sight, but his vision was rather blurry, and not having his glasses in tip-top shape made it more difficult to see things clearly. For some reason, it seemed that he was always breaking them, though less frequently now than when he was a kid. It helped a lot that he wasn’t on a field smashing into other witches and wizards on brooms though. 

“Don’t suppose you’re good at repair charms?” he asked aloud, chuckling a bit awkwardly. Holding out his glasses for the other to see, they had a crack in one of the lenses, and a scratch on the other. 

Alice sighed, rolling her eyes fondly at her cousin as he held out his glasses to her, taking her wand out before she took the pair of glasses from him, casting a quick reparo on them to make them as good as new. Growing up she had to fix his glasses plenty of times, along with some of the things Frank broke out of clumsiness. Needless to say she had a lot of practice with that particular spell and didn’t have issues performing it.

“You’re an adult now. How does this keep happening?” She wasn’t upset, more amused at the fact. 

[alicegracefortescue]

adelaideboots‌:

Adelaide was, to put it lightly, rather uncomfortable. Ever since her name had been featured in the Prophet, it was like she had been walking on eggshells. People kept looking at her and she couldn’t stand it. There were four whole years between her and Nigel at school. She didn’t think she’d ever spoken more than a handful of words to him, even since they’d both been working at the Ministry, and now she’d turned him in? And they’d reported that she was a muggle-born, which she decidedly was not. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but in this context? It was painted even more of a target on her back. 

“Sorry, can I help you?” Adelaide asked the person she’d spotted looking over at her. “I’m not that interesting, I can assure you.”

Of course Alice had read the Prophet, even if she had trouble believing half of the things written in it, knowing it was decidedly biased. Still, many people didn’t acknowledge the fact and took everything written there for the truth.

 “Oh, it’s not that. Sorry. I just wanted to check if you were okay.” 

[alicegracefortescue]

kingmeshacklebolt‌:

“But my sad face is just so sad, Al.” He said, grinning even though it absolutely ruined the effect. Merlin he loved his two best friends. He’d love their kid even more, though it didn’t seem possible.

No way Al and Frank would actually name their kid after him, and he was only like 10% gutted. She had solid points and he respected her view on it. The kid had enough pressure as it was, with Augusta as a grandmother. Merlin those family get-togethers would certainly be something.

“I mean it. You’ll be fantastic. That boy’s very lucky.”

“It was when you first figured it out, but by now? I’m immune to it.” They had been best friends for over a decade now, she knew his mannerisms and when he was faking or actually upset about something. It was something she considered a valuable sill. 

“I will try my best. You know it’s still hard to believe sometimes. I think I’ll have an easier time grasping all of this when I finally get to hold him in my arms.” 

[alicegracefortescue]

kingmeshacklebolt‌:

Kingsley gave her a dramatic frown and mimed a heart breaking with this hands. No matter how many times they’d gone over it he still had to ask. What kind of future uncle would he be otherwise? Gotta start the loving ribbing early.

“Still could be a middle name. It carries great middle name weight.” He said as he grabbed himself some crisps as well before joining her on the couch. “It’s nice that you’re not tying him to a big legacy though. You’ll make a great mum, Al. Molly Weasley levels, even.”

“Stop trying to guilt trip me. This isn’t going to work.” Alice rolled her eyes in amusement, shaking her head. She knew that he wasn’t actually upset or angry at her so she thought it was fine to joke about this. 

“I’ll think about it.” She conceded, despite knowing that she most likely wouldn’t go with it for the reasons she had just told him. Her son was going to be his own person he didn’t need to live up to anyone’s expectations but his own. Alice couldn’t help but tear up at his next words, but she’d blame the pregnancy hormones for that. “Thank you!” Molly was the rolemodel she looked to when it came to being a great mom. 

[alicegracefortescue]

kingmeshacklebolt‌:

Kingsley tossed her a bag of crisps. He’d started hiding them around his and Anson’s flat, just for her. It was a bit of a losing battle because he and Anson just kept finding them and eating them before they could help it. Still, at least some had managed to have some left for her.

“You know, somehow seeing you pregnant isn’t the weirdest thing any more. You and Frank still thinking up names? Kingsley’s a great middle name. Or first name. Just saying.”

Alice grinned happily after catching the bag of crisps, sitting up so she could eat them. She still had some manners left after all, even if she was significantly less graceful in her movements now thanks to the huge thing she was carrying with her at all times. 

“We’re not going to name him Kingsley.” She laughed, shaking her head. They’ve had this discussion since she found out it was a boy, a few times before as well. “You know I love you, but I don’t want him to feel like he has to live up to someone else’s achievements. He should make a name for himself.”