milliways_bar | (no subject)

"No, I didn't." Reg thinks for a moment. "That means the new cousin is my almost-niece-or-nephew, right?"

A beat.

"Who's the new cousin's parent?"

Delirium, *Meg says cheerfully.* I told her to hire a governess. I figure that the baby could use one.

A beat.

Then another.

"Delirium has a baby?"

*Meg nods brightly.* Named Derry. She's awfully cute.

"I'm sure she is."

A pause. Pauses are fun!

"Any idea why she has a baby?"

*Meg shrugs.* Because she wanted one?

That's sort of how Del works.

"Oh, so it's not -- oh."

Reg relaxes somewhat.

"A baby baby or a not-quite baby?"

*Meg blinks.* Not what?

And an actual baby, as far as I could see. No tentacles or anything.

"No, I mean -- is she still tiny or more toddler-like?"

Really very tiny, *Meg assures him.* Wee, even. And absolutely adorable to boot.

Reg blinks. "Palm-sized? I didn't think babies could be that small. Though if she is that size I think it's unavoidable she'd be adorable."

Not quite that small, *Meg says, giggling.* Normal baby-sized. I played with her with my magic golden ball; she seemed to enjoy it. Resh'ta-ni, baby mobile, *she adds, to demonstrate. A glowing shiny baby mobile appears over Reg's head.*

"Ahh. Well, you see, when they're that small they tend to grow exponentially," he explains.

Then blinks. "There's a mobile above my head; I have no idea what reshtainy means; you have a magic golden ball?"

Resh'ta-ni is the word I use to trigger the magic ball, *Meg explains patiently.* It was a present from a friend. And they don't grow all that fast . . .

"Ahh. Nice present, then. And -- they do so."

*Meg grins.* What's your vast experience with babies, then, Reg?

"It's not vast, but I knew Tonks a bit, when she was small. A bit." He shrugs. "And Mother had friends who were pregnant, sometimes, and I'd see their babies after they were born."

Did you ever actually do babysitting, or anything?

*Not that Meg is, you know, terribly good with children. She's not. But when you live in the slums . . .*

"Not really. The babies didn't like me much."

The idea of babies liking and not liking people, *Meg says sagely,* is a myth. Babies just want to be fed and burped, is all.

"I highly doubt that, but I Believe You."

He does! It is doubly convincing when he is yellow. Really.

*Meg looks innocent.*

If you can't trust your stepdaughter, who can you trust?

"That is a very good question."

~~Certainly not strange motherly Welsh ladies.~~

No one, *Meg says firmly.* Which is why you ought to trust me.

"Exactly," Reg agrees. "Which is why I do."