Chapter 18
Baby Hadrian Rigel Black-Slytherin has been home with his parents for a few days now. Everything has been good, at least according to him, according to his sleep deprived parents it has been an….adjustment to say the least.
Hadrian wasn’t a fussy baby, not at all, but neither man had ever had to deal with kids much less infants other than holding one for a few minutes. Now having one of their own they relied heavily on the parenting books they read while Pandora was still pregnant. Even though they were tired they considered themselves lucky as Hadrian only cried when he was hungry or needed to be changed. So taking all things into account Hadrian was a really good baby and his parents need to get used to less sleep and love him for it :).
‘Finally he is asleep’ Thought Marvolo who is returning to bed from feeding Hadrian his midnight bottle, it’s his 2nd time that night. He and Regulus had an arrangement where they take turns on feeding their baby boy in the night, this time just happened to be Marvolo’s. It has been a hectic few days for them, people in and out of the manor 24/7 trying to meet their lord’s heir. It went far enough that when the last follower who came unannounced with his family and daughter, Regulus almost cursed the man, when he let his daughter who is 5 made his baby cry by pinching his cheek. That resulted in him reinforcing the manor wards to not let anyone uninvited, not even their followers. Let’s just say nobody has dared to even write since the word got around about Regulus’s protectiveness. Luckily for them, everyone important has already seen their son and they should be able to get used to their new routine for a few days before their duties will come calling.
Even though he was exhausted Marvolo regretted nothing when he looked at his son sleeping peacefully on his chest. The little thing had cried so hard just because he missed his Daddy, Marvolo had almost went to wake Regulus when he couldn’t calm their baby but then when he was towards his room with Hadrian in his arms, the baby had suddenly quietened when Marvolo had instinctively put the baby on his bare chest. He had looked at his baby in astonishment, wondering if it was always that easy and carefully moved back to the nursery. Once in there he hadn’t dared to move the baby and just sat down in the rocking chair, he doesn’t remember when but at some point he too had succumbed to sleep while thinking about how he had everything he had ever wanted.
Regulus awoke in his bed alone. He was reluctant to leave the sweet embrace of sleep but he knows he has stuff to do and an infant to care for. So he sat up and looked around, noticing that it was well into the morning, noting that Hadrian hadn’t cried for a long time and that his soulmate wasn’t in bed with him, so he decided to get out and search for the pair. The first he looked at was their office, as Marvolo had developed a habit of working while talking to Hadrian who would be asleep on his lap, but much to his disappointment they weren’t there. He checked a few more rooms before he entered the nursery, the sight that awaited him there was one he wanted to commit to his memory forever.
In the corner of the cloud and snake themed on the rocking chair sat his husband with no shirt on, still deep in the dream world and in his arms safely tucked away into a blanket was their baby peacefully asleep, unaware of anything around him. Making a note to put this memory away for later, Regulus moved closer to the pair and gently shook Marvolo, careful not to wake Hadrian, who needed as much sleep as he could get because he was a baby.
Marvolo being the light sleeper he is, opened his eyes rather quickly and assessed the situation once he realised he wasn’t in his own bed. Once the memories of last night came back to him, he moved his gaze down to his chest and smiled a little. “He is adorable” he murmured. Humming Regulus agreed while still staring at the pair who looked like the most beautiful thing in the world to him.
Lifting his gaze from the child resting on him Marvolo carefully stood and went over to his soulmate who had yet to look away from him and gave him a kiss, still being careful not to wake their child. “Morning Amicus Meus” Said Marvolo in that morning voice that made Regulus a little weak in the knees. “Morning, Amor” Said a dazed Regulus. “Was he ok last night? I heard a bit of crying” Inquired Regulus once he came out of the daze. “He was fine, it turns out our little bundle of magic likes skin to skin contact” Informed Marvolo
Humming Regulus took the child off of Marvolo’s chest, while storing that piece of information away for the future. Once the child settled in his arms Regulus began to gently wake him as it was his feeding time, otherwise they would have a very hangry baby when he awoke on his own. After a little bit of cooing and rocking their baby opened his baby blue eyes and looked around peacefully and even though babies that young can’t see anything much yet, Regulus would swear that Hadrian cooed and smiled when he saw his daddy and papa around him.
“Did you have a good sleep my little one?” Asked Regulus, the only response he got was a bunch of baby coos and babbles from Hadrian. “I take that it was a good sleep then” He responded when Hadrian had finished his explanation in the baby language. “Now little one what do you think about getting changed, then eating and then working with me and papa today?” Asked Marvolo and he too only got excited babbles in return. “I think he agrees with this plan darling” Informed Marvolo, “I agree amor” Said Regulus who had meanwhile picked out an outfit for Haddrian and taken his favourite toys to bring with them.