Reyna knew that this decision might bite her in the ass. That seemed to be the opinion of almost all of her friends and her mother. She had avoided seeing them since the war was over, only communicating via letters. They told her isolating herself was not an answer. That she could've just come back to society. Work a normal job. That the time for hiding was over, and she needed to reconnect with people in her life, just not that kind of people. Still, it felt right, at least to her and at least at the given moment. Mother had told her it was bordering on insanity- that she could've thought about it more, maybe just let it be and see what she ends up with but Reyna was never one to hand the reins to someone else. Not after the war. Not after all that happened.
She couldn't pinpoint when she stopped caring about the gossip and the opinions of others, or when she became reckless and careless. But she knew she was not. She was aware that her decision might come off as a rebellious act, a cry for help or attention, or, as her mother put it, a desperate act of a fool convinced that she still held a semblance of control over her life. Maybe the last one was partially true. And the envelope did feel like a pile of bricks in her hands, but it reminded her that it was her choice. It was her choice and she deserved it, especially when it came to something as important as this.
The Ministry has passed the Marriage Law and while she did not agree with it, she had to follow it, as did others. No one stood up to it.
She's gotten her list of potential candidates months ago. Neither of the five interested her. They were also offered to pick some of the less dangerous Death Eathers since the ratio was off. It took her months to find him. He kept her hidden, protected, and wouldn't even give her a name. He said it was to ensure the safety of both. They couldn't torture her for the information she did not have, and he wouldn't have to worry about revenge if the light side won. All she knew at the time was that he was important. People knew of him. The only feature she remembered clearly were his eyes. She would've recognised that green anywhere. She did, three days ago, on the front page of The Daily Prophet. His trial was finalised. After all the evidence that kept piling up, all the memories The Ministry collected, all the testimonials given by various people, it was proven that he's been sabotaging Voldemort since it was possible for him to get away with it, and she was not the only one he had protected. It got him minimum time. He was on The List. She took his name off it that same day, despite the protests and the secretary that told her she could just pick one of the nice boys they had suggested for her. Two of those had contacted her, not even asking if she'd be willing to meet before they confidently wrote that they wanted at least five children. She burned the letters, not caring how rude it was to not reply. She had decided and it brought her to Azkaban, alone, with an envelope that contained the marriage licence they had to sign, and a list of rules to follow regarding the law. The guard had eyed her but said nothing except a simple warning that the prisoner did not speak to anyone, and he did not acknowledge their presence either, always turned away from the door.
The same was the case now and she stood there for a moment, not sure how to even call him. He knew her name. She had called him Shadow because she only knew him as one then. If they would speak, it would be in the dark, where she could not see him, and he refused to give her a fake name, so she came up with the nickname to make it easier for herself.
"Hello, Shadow", she spoke. That got his attention. She had forgotten how agile the man in front of her was, but he reminded her, jumping to his feet and crossing the distance in two massive strides, cupping her face and tilting it up. She did not touch him, only smiled brightly.
"You are not supposed to be here or know who I am", he spoke in a low tone. "It's not safe, little bee."
"I'm glad to see you as well", Reyna joked. He did not find it funny.
"This is reckless", he said. "I'm glad to see you, Reyna, and I predicted you'll figure it out, but you cannot visit me again, do you understand?"
"I won't have to if you agree", Reyna said, offering the envelope.
"Agree to what? What have you done now?"
He was not angry, not yet. His touch was gentle. Warm. All she craved in the last year or so, and when he let go and took a step back, she stepped forward.
"I'm sure you know of the new law they implemented."
"Yes."
"You were on The List. Now you are not."
"Reyna, you are not buying my freedom with yours. That is not the promise you made."
"You made me promise I'll marry and have children, and that I'll try to be happy", she said, offering the envelope once more. "And I'm doing it."
"I'm not going to sign that. All I've done was to keep you safe and untainted. First I managed, second not so much, but I'm not going to sign that."
"I had a list of five candidates", she said looking at him. "Two of those wanted to jump straight to marriage and demanded five kids because it means that they will get more benefits from the ministry funds. You would never treat me like that."
"Of course, I would not", he spat out. The frown deepened and she could see the disguise in his eyes. "I was raised to respect women, not to look at them as breeders."
"I'm not buying your freedom with mine", she whispered. "I was afraid you'll see it like that."
"Then what? What does this", he pointed at the envelope, "means to you? Because you are offering me marriage and children and my freedom. What is in it for you?"
"I thought it obvious", Reyna said. "I'm keeping my freedom. The choice to stop at mandatory two, instead of birthing seven if my husband wants so. I'm choosing who I want, and I know that at some point you wanted me too. I'm choosing someone who offered to burn the world down for me. I doubt Azkaban changed you that much."
"It didn't."
"I do not care about anything else. I've been told that this is insane, that I'm going to regret it, that someone like you would never settle with me, respect me, or love me", she said, pacing around. "Maybe it is so, maybe it isn't, but my last day is tomorrow and if you don't sign I'll be forced to marry one of the five, which I'll refuse and then we'll be roommates."
"I need you to be sure, Reyna", he said in a whisper. "I need you to be sure because this is not reversible. Not with me. Once we sign it's for life."
"I've signed already." She shrugged. He huffed, shaking his head.
"Couldn't pick someone without a criminal record, huh, it had to be-"
"You won't have one after the papers go through", she said.
He had asked her if she is sure. Again. And again. And again. She threatened to hex him if he continues. He challenged her to do so. She had told him she will as soon as they get home. He said nothing to that, and after he signed the licence Reyna went to the guard to leave the papers there, telling him to change and pick up his belongings. He did not have much, but at least he got his wand back, and once everything was done she apparated them home. Well, her living room.
"It's warded enough", she told him. "And it's far up north, so there are not a lot of people around."
"You were serious about Shetland, then", he said. "You put some distance between you and your family. That surprises me."
"It shouldn't", Reyna said. "I love them, but I just... I cannot listen to my mothers nagging anymore and I needed some space."
"Still, it would be easy for them to visit via Floo, right?"
"I didn't- It's not connected to the network. They don't even know where I live. They've asked, I'm just not willing to have them pop over whenever they please", she explained, taking off her shoes and going to wash up. He followed wordlessly.
"So you are alone here, then."
"Not anymore", she hummed. "Not really. I haven't been exactly honest with you last time we saw each other. I just- I thought you wouldn't believe me if I told you so I guess I'll just show you and hope you don't get a heart attack. And I haven't exactly told anyone else either since I thought you deserve to know first."
"Show me, little bee", he said. "I'm curious. Must have been something colossal if you isolated yourself."
Reyna looked at him, hoping that he'll see her reasoning, and then led him through the hallway to the back of the house, stopping in front of the white doors. There was no point in delaying. Not now anyway. One click and the doors opened, and she held her breath as he passed her to enter.
"You've decorated the nursery. I thought you said we had three years to try."
"We do", she said. He raised an eyebrow, moving to the crib and Reyna could see the exact moment he saw her, the exact moment he put it all together because he slowed and stopped breathing for a moment. She stayed quiet. After all, she figured it might take a while.
"Did you tell anyone? My mother?"
"No. I wanted you to know first."
"And I assume you haven't billed anything to my vault."
"No."
"Mother probably knows", he said. "The blanket?"
"Found it on the doorstep addressed to the child. I checked it as you taught me to-"
"Probably the only damn thing you did not have to check", he said. "That's Flint tartan. And if that's here then I assume the family house elf knows, which means that my mother knows. She is probably just waiting for you to be ready to contact her."
"Are you- Are you mad?"
"Mad? No", he said, reaching for her. "No, I'm sorry if that's the impression you got from me. I know she's mine, I can feel it. I'm just sorry that you had to do it alone."
"Not like it was your choice", she shrugged.
He said nothing, only pulled her to stand next to him, wrapping her in a bone-crushing embrace and kissing the top of her head, murmuring something she couldn't quite understand.
"Have you named her?"
"I had to", she said. "But I gave her a strong name. I wanted-"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, little bee."
"I was set on the name Thora", Reyna said. "I addressed her like that ever since I knew she existed, but the moment I got to hold her, it just didn't fit. It felt wrong. So I named her Rhiannon."
He chuckled at that.
"I suppose you haven't called her that since", he said.
"That's the name that the world gets to use", Reyna explained. "I call her Rhia."
Marcus cupped her face, tilting it up like he did before and Reyna stared at the forest green irises that her child inherited, just like she did many times before, and when he kissed her it was gentle and slow and full of suppressed longing. She returned it, her hands finding his sides and she hugged him as she used to while he kept her hidden, sighing against his chest.
"You gave me everything, Reyna, in a span of an hour", he hummed.
"I didn't only pick you for myself", she admitted. "I knew she deserves more than to be an afterthought to any of those five. I wanted her to be loved like a child is supposed to be and I knew that no one else can love her as I do. Like you will. I wanted to give her a proper, loving family, and I knew that's what you always needed. I would be lying if I said I didn't crave it. It all just fell into place, I suppose."
"Reyna-"
"And I know it is a lot to take in. I really do. I do not expect this to be a walk in the park. We both have trauma we have to work on but..."
"Easier when shared, little bee", he said, kissing her again.
"For a while, I thought it will be just Rhiannon and me. I was ready for it. I really was."
"Reyna? Are you crying?"
She wanted to deny it, only realising she was, in fact, crying even though she had no reason to.
"I think I am", she laughed through the tears. "Sorry."
"Merlin, Reyna, you do not apologise for that. Your emotions must be all over the place", he said, gently caressing her cheek.
She looked at him, then laughed again. No one would believe her if she told them that Marcus Flint she witnessed breaking limbs and ripping people apart with his bare hands, one that relished the Muggle type of violence because he thought it sends a more personal message, one that didn't even need magic once his opponents were disarmed could be so understanding. So tentative.
He had been just as big in Hogwarts and she remembered just how fast and dangerous the Quaffle was in his hands. She told her friends multiple times that she appreciated his looks. She did not mind crooked teeth- they could be fixed, and they were, but everything else... Everything else was a sight to behold, even more so now when she knew what those strong arms were capable of and when she was aware of the weight his shoulders could carry. There was something beastly about him, about the way he moved, something powerful that instilled fear in people even when they had no reason to fear him and Reyna did not know why but it compelled the deepest parts of her, parts she could not understand. Maybe it was the fact that he didn't shy away from the violence, not even in front of her, or the fact that she knew that it was the side of him he will never direct towards her or their children. With her, every touch was featherlight, always what she wanted, needed or craved. Never commanding or rough, never strong enough to leave bruises or marks.
She knew that brutality was a part of him and that there was no Marcus without it, not really, and Reyna accepted it because she knew she could trust him. The way in which he offered her comfort felt natural. The way he gently swayed them side to side, playing with her hair and humming softly, all while still checking up on their child now and then was what she knew from before. She relaxed for the first time since the war started, melting into his embrace, hugging him as if her sanity depended on it and she supposed it kind of did, at least until the hormones levelled out.
While she was not exactly sure which of their past conversations landed her in his bed, she knew it had been a turning point. He hadn't been her first, and she told him as much but he had been the only one that got her off and he wouldn't even tell her his name.
"You saw me in a way none of my past lovers had seen me and yet you refuse to show me your face. It's unfair", she had told him then, pouting. He only chuckled at that and proceeded to get her off as often as she'd let him, which resulted in Rhiannon, which led them to this moment.
"We are lucky", she whispered into his chest. "To be alive. Together. Here."
"You won't be alone in any of it, Reyna", he said. "As long as I draw breath I need you to know that you will never be alone in anything that life throws at you. Do you understand that?"
She nodded.
"You've worried enough. You gave enough. It's time for you to be taken care of too", he hummed. "And I intend to take very good care of both of my girls, Reyna. Rhiannon will be easy, she cannot protest me yet, but I need you to promise me you'll let me take care of you. I know how stubborn you tend to be."
"Fine", Reyna said, not even putting up a fight.
"Promise", he said.
"I promise I'll let you take care of me", she said. "Merlin knows I need it."
He kissed her then, slowly, as if they were sealing a deal and she knew in that moment that she loved the man standing in front of her and he loved her back because though he did not say it, his actions spoke volumes.
"You know", she murmured, "I know two are mandatory but with you, I could be persuaded for three.. or five."