Marigold
The bath was relaxing, but holding Iris against him in the hot water was even more so. He could ring the neck of his younger self for thinking that Dragons were more interesting then dating, because there's no way he would ever or could ever do what he just did with Iris with a dragon. He almost chuckled to himself.
This was love, and he felt like with every move, every breathe, every kiss and caress, he had felt that adoration increasing tenfold. He understood her anger at the Ministry, pushing her to get married so soon after Ben's passing, because he knew he would never love anyone else the way he loved her. Charlie vowed that he would protect her from anything that would cause her harm, physical or emotional.
Steam rose from the water into the bathroom, and for a second he wondered if she had fallen asleep against his shoulder. He lifted his hand up and ran it over her neck and shoulder and heard her make a noise.
“That feels good.” She murmured quietly, pressing a feather light kiss to his jaw.
Charlie looked at Iris's face, their eyes met, and he had never felt more vulnerable in his life. It was like Iris had finally dropped the armor and was finally beginning to build the bonds of trust, building a marriage.
Charlie hummed and continued to run his fingers over her skin, feeling some goose bumps.
“Do you still want to go to Diagon Alley?” He asked.
“I would like to, but we don't have to.” She told him, her fingers playing with the wet hair at the nape of his neck. She was happy he didn't let his mother cut it, she always loved Charlie and Bill's hair, especially when it was long.
“No, you need a ring, I want to get you one.” Charlie found her hand and pulled it up, and in a moment of affection, kissed her hand. “Was that corny?” He asked.
“A little, but I enjoy corny.” Iris assured him, pulling herself away from him so she could look at him. “It's sweet, and I know it's genuine when you say things and do things like that.” She leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips, and Charlie could feel her phantom lips all over him once again. “What's wrong? You're turning red.” Iris pointed out and he almost felt embarrassed to answer, but then he noticed the devilish smile on her face, and he knew that she knew what he was red.
“Your bloody wicked sometimes, you know that.” He told her and she dropped her head back and laughed loudly. “You know exactly why I'm red.”
“Oh I do, I just wanted to see that look of guilt cross your face.” She joked happily. “I am getting hungry though, so we need to start considering getting out of the tub.” Charlie nodded, agreeing, but feeling Iris pull away from him made him second guess the decision. He watched as Iris rose from the water, water balled up on her skin, making it look like she was glowing even more so then normal.
While her breasts were not small by any means, it was always her bum that all his dorm mates always seemed to admire, and when he had ran his hands over the curves he understood why they were admired. In a moment of playfulness, he reached over and gently slapped her behind, causing her to let out a squawk of surprise.
“Charlie Weasley!” She turned around and looked at him, her cheeks turning slightly pink in the moment to. He pointed to his own cheeks,
“just returning the favor.” He joked as she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her. Seeing Iris in this way made her feel so much more human, made him know that there was a chink in her armor, and that she had a vulnerable side to her. Charlie found himself almost feeling an ache in his chest that Iris felt close enough to him to open herself to him like this. Iris trusted him, trusted him more then anyone else in the world because she had given herself to him in a intimate moment of trust, and if he broke that trust it would be the worst sin he could ever commit.
Just as he was thinking of what devotion he had to her in that moment, she smirked at him again.
“You know, I was right.” She said offhandedly.
“About?” He said, standing up, sloshing water in the tub and puddling it on the floor as he got out, and reached for a towel himself.
“About your freckles.”
“My freck-” His eyes went wide as Iris, still grinning, looked from his face downwards. “You have a dirty mind you know that!” He wrapped the towel around his waist, and Iris let out a laugh. It was all so strangely domestic now, not that he was going to complain, he had hoped it would be this way at some point in their marriage but he was happy it was sooner-ish rather then later.
~*~
12 months after Charlie's accident
Iris had thought she had known love, but sitting where she was now, looking down at the tiny, blush cheeked, face in her arms... She knew a entirely different form of love. The kind that one can only describe as a feeling in their bones and their soul.
“You ready to go? We can always wait a little longer if you want.” Charlie asked her, as he watched Iris completely enwrapped with their baby. It had been a year since his accident on the reserve, and they had a very special guest they wanted to show around, who herself was only a few weeks old.
“Yes, please. I need a few more minutes.” She told him, as he walked over and sat down next to her on the couch, wrapped his arm around her shoulder's. Iris leaned her head over and rested it on Charlie's shoulder and let out a long breath.
“I think this is our best group project we've ever done together.” She stated jovilly. Charlie laughed and scratched at his beard.
“And just like in school, I did most of the work and you just put your name on it.” He joked with her, causing her to laugh. “I mean look at all those freckles and red hair, totally a Weasley right there.” He said sarcastically, but still lovingly, since the baby was as porcelain skinned and fair haired as her mother.
“The next one will have red hair.” Iris told him.
“Next one? You're already planning on a second?” He asked, rather interested as Iris's pregnancy was nothing but hard. She had been sick or the full nine months, lethargic, moody, and suffered from intermediate bleeding which would cause her extreme anxiety that there was something wrong.
“Oh yes.” She nodded. “I mean we would be the world a disservice if we only shared our genetics with one.”
“You're not think seven are you? I'm not sure I could handle seven Iris's and Ginny's.”
They bantered back and forth for a few minutes before Iris decided she was as ready to go as she was going to be. When they arrived at the Reserve, they were swarmed with Charlie's co-workers. All of them cooing over the baby and how beautiful and sweet she was. They had similar reactions when Iris had come home from the hospital and the workers from the farm, only most of them called themselves “Auntie or Uncle” when meeting her for the first time.
There was one specific guest they wanted to show the baby to, who was not there. They would have to go deep into the reserve to find her. They walked along the paths that a year ago were burned and broken, there were signs of healing, and tons of new green growth sprouting from everywhere, showing that the forest was on it's way to healing.
Charlie no longer walked with a cane or a limp, but he still brandished scars on his leg, his arms, and a few on his wind burned face. He had healed fast then the woods he spent so much time in. This specific part of the forest is where he dedicated most of his time and his life now a days, gathering more information on Chinese Fireballs then most Dragonologists.
In the last year, Murphy had put him in contact with his publishing house and Charlie had already published a book, his second was set to hit the shelves in four days, and he was writing the third. His best book in his eyes though was still being written, because he was still studying and learning things from Goldie, the ancient Fireball that had saved his life a year ago.
Charlie helped Iris navigate the terrain that he could now walk in his sleep, to the area that Goldie was now preparing her nest for the new season.
“Goldie?” Charlie called when they grew close, “it's Charlie!” He hollered out, knowing she would come soon. Tree's bent, whooshed, and leaves rained down on them. Charlie and Iris looked up to see Goldie's enormous form descending from the sky. To be so comfortable around a dragon was the thing of dreams, and Charlie was blessed enough to be the only one she was so at ease around. The ground shook beneath their feet when she landed on the grass near them.
It has been a while Lionheart. She greeted once her feet had steadied on the ground. Charlie had been on paternity leave for the last two weeks, and he had not been to the reserve to see her because he had been rather busy. I trust that you baby made it into the world without issue.
“That's actually why we're here.” Charlie told her, gesturing towards Iris's arms, and a pastel pink blanket. Iris stepped forward and angled their daughter so that the giant dragon could look down at the tiny babe, and pulled the blanket from around her face.
It always astounds me just how small humans start out. She said upon inspection of the baby. But she it is a handsome babe.
“Well, this one is extra special.” Iris smiled at the ancient dragon. “She's a little girl, and her name is Marigold.”
“Or Goldie... For short.” Charlie said with a smile. If dragon's could actually express their feelings, Charlie was for sure he saw shock pass over hers. There was a deep grumbling that seemed to come from within her chest.
You... Named your first born... After me? She asked and Iris and Charlie nodded. Goldie leaned her enormous head in and studied the child, being careful, because if she breathed in to hard she was sure that the force would rip the child from her mothers arms. Her nose bumped Iris's arms just enough to jostle Marigold awake, and her eyes opened, looking towards the large dragon now in front of her.
“We did.” Charlie nodded, “without you I wouldn't be here, and neither would she.” He explained, running his fingers over her head, smoothing some of her white hair down.
Hello there... Little White Lion. Goldie greeted. For a second, he thought that Marigold was going to cry, because there was a giant Dragon in front of her, but she kept calm, wiggled in Iris's arms, and blinked at Goldie. You've done well that your child does not caterwaul on sight of me. I consider it the highest honor to share a name with your daughter.
This was far more happiness then he ever thought he would have in his life. He had found purpose and fulfillment in being Charlie the Dragonologist. Now, he was a husband, and a father, he was one of the most well known and respected Dragonologists in the world, doing what he loved and sharing it with the world. To him, this was what life was about. Sharing it with someone who loved you, and that you loved back, doing what you loved with the people you love most at your side. Iris had come and filled a void he hadn't known was missing. She looked up at him and smiled softly, reaching her hand up to run it over his rough cheek sweetly.
“I love you.” She told him, and he would never take those words for granted. He had nearly fainted when she told him she loved him for the first time, and he treasured that moment even to this day. Every time she told him, it was like the first time all over again.
“I love you too.”