Darling Pheobus,
I can’t begin to describe how happy it made me to see a letter arrive from you, and I’d like to apologize for not reaching out to you as much as I could have considering we live in the same town. I’ve certainly let the months slip away from me since moving here to Hogsmeade, haven’t I? I promise I won’t be such a stranger from now on!
I also can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for the gifts you sent. You didn’t have to get anything at all, so it was so sweet of you to think of us this Christmas. The children absolutely adore the Quidditch set! They’ve been begging me to take them out on their little brooms almost constantly since then. I love the spa set, as well–I can’t wait to make use of it, though I promise you won’t have to babysit unless you truly want to.
Now, I’ll admit that I haven’t gotten you a gift just yet, but I am so, so sorry about that and I promise that one is coming! I’ll even bring the little ones with me to deliver it, or maybe you can come over here for dinner. Either way, I promise I will get it to you.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on far long enough. Happy Christmas, dear Apollo. I’ll be sure to see you soon.
With love, Dulcea
When Pheobus received his cousin’s response to his gifts, he couldn’t help laughing a bit. Of course she was apologizing, it was the way their family worked, but it was something he seemed to grow out of; mostly. He didn’t blame her for not keeping in touch more, what with moving to a new town, and having to raise three four year old triplets on her own. However he was happy to hear that she planned to reach out more, and he hoped to do the same, given the time and memory to do so.
Reading Duclea’s thanks made him breathe a sigh of relief as a smile crept onto his face. Pheobus had been so frustrated while shopping, that he was happy to hear he’d been pointed in the right direction. When he saw that the kids wanted to practice, he could just imagine being there to practice with them, and show them how it was done; not that he’d been any good at it, mind. Did he truly want to watch his youngest cousins? Yes, he really did; he loved kids so much already, that family was a no brainer.
A sigh escaped, as he shook his head after getting to the bit about his own present. Pheobus couldn’t care less about getting anything in return, she was family, and he loved her, gifts weren’t important; especially since he knew she was trying to support them all on her own these days.
Getting ready to write back, he reread her last lines, and a quiet laugh managed to bubble right up out of him. “Apollo, now there’s a nickname I’ve not heard in years.”
Duchess,
I am so happy to hear you’ve all enjoyed the gifts, and I can’t wait to see the triplets playing Quidditch; hell, I wouldn’t mind teaching them myself. Which brings me to my next point, I think I really would like to watch them sometime, and I can assure you it’s as much for me as it is for you. Besides, I don’t get to see Bridgette, Mason, and Tilly, nearly enough, and I miss them; I miss you too, of course. Anyway, I’d also like to assure you, that a present isn’t necessary, but I will certainly take you up on your dinner invitation.
Love, Apollo
p.s. That nickname was such a blast from the past! Most people don’t care enough to know what my names means, let alone try to come up with a nickname. I think it’ll be nice t hear again, more regularly.