That's a First [Tag: Lucas]

She wanted to see to it that Lucas had the best Christmas ever. He had informed her, after they had begun dating and had established a level of comfort and intimacy, that he had never had one. This was something that blew Amelia's mind and she had every intention of showing him a good one. Last year had gone missed because they had just started dating and she was to spend the holiday with her family (it would have been too much too soon if she had brought him along or so she had decided). But this year was different. Her parents had opted to take a cruise for the holiday (which they usually hosted) and all of her siblings were with their significant others save her brother who would be swinging by later in the day. This left Amelia and Lucas to their own devices.

Christmas Eve evening they had dinner with friends including Spinnet, most of the Weasleys, Romulus, and a few other schooling as well as Quidditch pals. It had been a lot no doubt for Lucas to take in. Being surrounded by a bunch of people who cared about one another exchanging presents, singing carols, marveling at decorations, and a grand old tree. Most of the guests had left and, technically, it was Christmas as the muggle clock showed the time: 2 AM. Man, their friends really hung around. Some might still be as Romulus had opted to take up one of the guest rooms after sampling the eggnog pretty heavily.

"Do you like them?" Amelia asked as Lucas came into view wearing a shirt and pajama bottoms that matched her own. "Oh wow. I think it looks great on you!" She beamed her smile taking over her whole face because she just couldn't help herself. "It's tradition in my family you know. Mom always gets a new pair of pajamas for all of us." Now he was a part of that tradition... Hopefully he didn't hate her for it. "They look awesome." She tried to stifle a giggle behind the back of her arm.

Christmas had never been something he celebrated. The house had always been decorated growing up for show, but there had never been anything festive about the day. Lucas had spent most of his Christmas days hiding from his father. Christmas always the worst day if he let himself get caught by his father. Not because of anything that had to do with the actual celebration of Christmas, but because his mother had died. Which also happened to be his birthday. Not that anyone outside of his family knew that. Even Amelia didn't know that. They had been dating for quite a while, and she knew what had happened on his birthday, but not the date. He always avoided the topic. But he had told her the year before when she was asking what he was doing for Christmas that he had never celebrated Christmas. That was about as far as he went on that topic.

The year before she had gone to spend the holiday with her family, and their relationship had been too new to really feel comfortable going. So he had been left to his own devices. So they day had looked pretty typical, save for a visit to his mother's grave to pay his respects. His dad never visited, for all he said he had loved her. Lucas had never met her, but she had still been the one to bring him into the world. Even lost her life for it. He wished he had known her. By all accounts from her friends he did know he took after her quite a bit. He was glad for that at least. But while he had been able to avoid the holiday the year before, this year wasn't the same. Amelia's parents had gone on a cruise and so they had hosted a bunch of their friends. It had all been a lot to take in, especially as it the whole holiday just made him uncomfortable. The habit of running and hiding was still quite present. But he was doing his best to push that all down and forget about it all.

Especially as Amelia was so excited to spend Christmas with him. She had even gotten him a pair of pajamas that matched hers saying it was a tradition. He had slipped them in while getting ready for bed and seeing her face light up made the effort he was putting into not freaking out that it was already his birthday worth it. "Well they are comfy." He said giving her a smile. "Seems like an interesting tradition. As long as they're not too uncomfortable I suppose I can live with it." it wasn't harmful. It was just a new pair of pajamas. And if it was a family tradition of hers he could survive through it. "Well the pattern looks much better on you you know." He said going over to join her.

As much as he was trying to throw a reassuring smile her way a part of her caught him looking around unsurely. He was probably unsure but she took it as him being uncomfortable and the big grin wiped right off of her face. "I mean... If you don't want to wear them you don't have to. I understand that they're not, like, everybody's thing. It's just something my family does and my mom wanted to include you. She thought it would be fun." She wasn't angry. Maybe a little (a lot) disappointed). It took Amelia forever to introduce Lucas to her parents (only recently this Thanksgiving and only because they had insisted meeting the man that she was living in sin with) which provided a bit of contention between the couple until he finally dragged out of her why. As reckless as Amelia could be on the pitch, as trigger happy as she could be emotionally, when it came to relationships she tended to move a hundred times slower. Like she didn't want to jinx it or get anyone's hopes up when she inevitably ruined it. So far so good though.

"Whoah! Nice jammies, Luke Luke. Looking svelt." Romulus announced from the hallway pointing his finger at his friend as he walked by and headed down the stairs toward the kitchen for a midnight snack. Amelia rolled her yes and looked away though admittedly that interjection from Romulus was needed to lighten the mood before she took things too seriously as she sometimes tended to often going into panic mode. It was something she was working on and putting a conscious effort into.

"Really. You don't have to wear them if you don't want to." She offered doing her best to be agreeable as she plopped down on the edge of the bed her arms crossing over her chest. "We just need to take a quick picture for mom and then you can change." The Keeper explained reaching into her discarded bag by the bed and retrieving a muggle cellular device. Her mom wasn't about to send a howler any time soon and out of Lucas and Amelia she was the only one who knew how to use muggle devices.

Sometimes it was hard having these long standing thoughts and feelings towards things, and not being able to overcome them to try and enjoy things. He was so far removed from his father's torture, and yet he couldn't wash that out of his mind. And he had a hard time voicing what he was feeling, and more importantly why he was feeling those things. Those where things he didn't want to really relive. He knew he could trust her, but it wasn't a matter of trust. It was a matter of wanting to put those things in a box and throw away the key. The fact she was so close to him was how she could tell things weren't just happy go lucky. Which is exactly what she had seen with the pajamas. No matter how much he had tried to hide it. "No I want to wear them. It's very kind of your mum to include me." He had only just met her family, yet they had been more of a family than his ever had.

Romulus managed to lighten the mood just when it was needed. Lucas stuck his tongue out a little at his friend. If he had had a pillow within reach he would have thrown it towards the guy. He knew Romy knew no harm by his interjection. They had been friends for quite a while at this point, longer than they had even been teammates. He was probably the closest person to him outside of Amelia. They had spent had spent many nights on the road sharing a room.

"Amelia, I am perfectly content to wear these. They are very comfortable. Plus I am already in them, would be too much hassle to change them now." he said, trying to keep the mood lighter. He needed the light mood. That would hopefully help him get through the day. "I'm not changing." He said as he watched her take the muggle contraption out of her bag. He had seen her use it a few times, but it was still very foreign to the man who had grown up firmly in the wizarding world as a pureblood. "Anyway I'd like to keep on your parents' good side you know."

"She just wanted to include you is all. She does that with all of the significant others." Her mom tended to get a wee bit carried away with projects (like Amelia did with her assumptions). It's possible this was just a side effect of that and it was one she knew she would have to accept. "I would have hidden yours under the bed but my mom may not be magic... But she would know." He said he wanted to wear them but honestly the damage was already done and Amelia was already in her head entertaining several different scenarios of how she had somehow managed to muck this all up just by doing, what she thought, was the normal thing for her and her family. Figures.

When he tried to reassure her she gave him a weak smile from the end of the bed and then sighed looking down at her lap. "I don't think you can get on my parents' bad side. My mom already likes you.' It didn't take much to impress dear ole mom. Once she saw a handsome man at her daughter's side that was enough for her. Just for Amelia to be dating was excitement enough. Amelia's dad took a bit more impressing though. He wanted someone who would treat his daughters right. That remained to be seen, in his case, with Lucas.

"If you can breathe and you're still interested in me mom is content." She stated rising to her feet and raising the muggle phone out to take a selfie of the two of them in her pjs. She wasn't too concerned with what Lucas looked like or if he blinked. It was almost like a transaction with how quickly she took the photo and then began to text before shooting it out into the ether. "My sisters and brother though. They do want to swing by." Despite not being blood related all of Amelia's siblings had been accepted into Hogwarts and were well versed in the magical world. It was kind of insane how much of a fluke that had been. One that Dumbledore had taken much joy in. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up, sighing again. "And so, it seems, does mom." How would they manage that? Her mom didn't have a magical bone in her body. Whenever she was brought to the wizarding world it was a major babysitting experience just to keep her from getting blown up. "I think it would be much easier just to go to her."

"Mum's coming?" Romulus poked his head in the doorway eating a slice of cake off of a plate. "Your mom loves me." He added wiggling his brow as he took another huge bite of cake as Amelia, without even looking, closed the bedroom door in his face leaning her back against it.

"You wanted to invite him to stay the night."

"I really appreciate it either way. It's nice to feel included." It was nice to have family who cared about him. He would have worn them even if they weren't a fun pattern. It was just nice to feel welcomed into a family. He still had a long way to go, but he was working on it. Thanksgiving had been nice. There hadn't been any memories of it associated with the holiday as it wasn't one celebrated usually in the UK. "But then I would have missed out on the fun." At least he wasn't cowering in some dark corner of the house listening to his father rage around the house looking for him. It was just a different experience. One that he was trying his hardest to enjoy and try and change memories. But the past was still very much there.

"Well I don't want to there to be any doubts on their part. I kinda like you you know." He would do everything he could to stay on their good side. And treat her right. She deserved to be treated right. Plus he was just lucky that she had stuck with him for this long. He still couldn't believe she had agreed to go out with him in the first place, let alone still be here over a year later. "Well i think I am breathing. And I am absolutely still interested in you."

He smiled for the photo she took of them, looking like he was happy and content. Well it wasn't though he was terrified like the past, but he was still uncomfortable with all the was associated with Christmas. He nodded when she said her siblings and mom wanted to stop by. "It doesn't matter to me. They're more than welcome to come by or for us to go to them." Maybe keeping busy would help with the feelings he was having. He didn't want to disappoint her. He smiled a little when Romy managed to appear at just the right moment again and watching her close the door on him. "You know him. If I had let him go home with that much eggnog who knows what would have happened. I'd like to keep him playing." It would do no good for Romy to be injured or benched for being stupid drunk.

He sighed and looked up at her from the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry. I really do like them. It's just a lot to take in with everything. It's not stuff I'm used to." And it was just hard having the holiday associated with so many bad memories.

"Just kind of?" She teased back a small smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. She couldn't help herself. Lucas somehow always managed to bring her a little brightness even when she so badly wanted to be difficult or wallow in her own self doubt or grumpiness. "I guess if we're being kind of honest I kind of like you too." She reached out to give him a squeeze just above the hips and pressing a sweet kiss against his cheek. 'Kind of' was probably an understatement considering they had a crush on one another during their schooling years that never died and now they were living together before there was even a ring on her finger. Not that she minded that. She didn't want to rush anything having to do with a relationship which was so very odd considering she was one of the most impatient people on the planet both wizarding and magical.

Now he was the one frowning and sitting. So much for a great Christmas eve evening. She had managed to magically spoil it somehow. And they said she was terrible with magic... Ugh. "You know if you're not comfortable with something or don't want to do something you can tell me right? I won't bite your head off." Other people maybe but not Lucas. With Lucas she'd just be a little sad or disappointed but she would get over it. And as much as she was stubborn she never wanted him to get caught up in something he didn't want to do. She felt like she had to remind him of that a lot and though she knew a lot about his past (more than others) it was still a struggle to comprehend in their day to day life.

"I only want you to do things because you want to. Not because I'm saying to or because you want to make me happy." She sat down beside him on the edge of the bed and took his tanned hand giving it a squeeze. "As cute as you look in these jammies I'll just have to get over it if that's what you want." She joked crawling into his lap, facing him she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a soft kiss just in time for Romulus to burst in.. Of course without knocking.

"Hey kids! Do you have an extra toothbrush? I don't have mine." His eyes lit up and he grinned, leaning against the doorway smugly. "Aw isn't that just the cutest. SAY LEESH!" He hollered trying to get Spinnet's attention if she was even still there only to have Amelia up and closing the door in his face again, roughly shoving him out into the hall.

"Goodnight, Romy." Blowing some brown hair out of her face she turned to look at Lucas in playful exasperation. "He's your friend you know."

"Yup. Just kind of." he said. Really he had known he had wanted to be with her since their kiss on the dock when they were still in school. He had been crushing on her before that, but that kiss had taken his breath away. Kissing her still did. And now here he was sitting on the bed they shared, having had the pleasure to have been dating her for well over a year. Their relationship had been slow, but he didn't mind one bit. He had enjoyed every moment he had spent with her. "Well I'm glad to hear it." he said with a smile as she kissed his cheek. Hearing her say that she liked him and such made him feel as giddy as a school child. He was the luckiest man to be able to say he was dating Amelia Evans, and that she liked him and wanted to be with him.

He hated feeling as though he couldn't make it through a day that was supposed to be joyous. Christmas was supposed to be about family and friends and all he could think of was what had happened to him as a kid. Birthdays were supposed to be a celebration, and yet he here was not telling anyone that it was also his birthday. No one knew today was his birthday. And he didn't really want people to know. He didn't want the celebration or attention on him. Not today. "Amelia, I can't just hide on Christmas for the rest of my life." he said looking at her. "It's just a lot to get used to and take in." He knew sometimes it was hard for her to comprehend all of what he had been through. He could tell her, but she hadn't lived through it. He didn't fault her for any of it. It was on him to find a way to enjoy the moments.

"I know you only want me to do things because I want to." he said as she sat beside her. "Maybe I want to wear the pajamas." he said with a smile and giving her hand a squeeze in return. Her hand in his was a comfort. It was surprising how the little things like this were comforting. "I don't look nearly as cute as you do in them." he said as she crawled into his lap. His arms went instinctively around her waist as she kissed him. And of course Romy burst in once again. Of course. He laughed a little as Amelia went over and closed the door on his long time friend. "Night Romy." he said towards the closed door. "He's your friend too you know." he said giving his girlfriend a smile. "And you know you could always lock the door." he added with a small tongue sticking out.

"Oh yeah. I'm sure sporting matching pajamas with your girlfriend is first on your 'experience life to the fullest' list." She rolled her eyes. There wasn't any bitterness in her voice just sarcasm. It was nice to joke around with her boyfriend and honestly being good friends with Romulus was doing worlds with her sense of humor and not talking about Quidditch all of the time. Of course sometimes it would happen, she was dating a fellow professional Quidditch player after all, but she was working on expanding her conversation topics.

"Me? Cute? Never." She rebuffed his compliment, which he was always so apt to give her, giving him a light nudge as she sat beside him on the bed again. Still she smiled which was more than other people got when saying nice things about her or her appearance. "I shouldn't have to in my own house. If a door is closed you at least knock before opening it. I know that's not just an American thing." Amelia briefly ranted before lying across the bed and resting her head in Lucas' lap with a sigh.

"You know I heard a little rumor that Santa is coming tonight and since he has to make up for a few years with you he got you a whole slew of presents." Or she and her mom (the more guilty one who still signed gifts for her adult children 'santa') went overboard. Either or. "You're bound to kind of like at least two." The more the number of gifts the greater the odds. So at least that bit was reassuring.

"And why wouldn't it be." he teased. Sure it wasn't that exciting, but he was included. Plus it was something that maybe he could get comfortable with as it didn't have any associations with anything in his past except the day. He wanted to be able to enjoy the day, at least a little. Especially now that he was dating Amelia. What was she supposed to do go and spend Christmas with her family alone every year while he moped? There weren't enough excuses to do that and not have there be questions. He needed to learn to live with the fact Christmas was something to be okay.

"You're always cute. Even when you have just gotten off the pitch." he said honestly nudging her back. He really did believe it. He really was a lucky guy. And not because she was beautiful, although she was, but because she tended to bring out the best in him. They just got along, and he enjoyed every moment he spent with her. "Well no it's not just an American thing, but we're talking about Romy here Amelia." He said with a small chuckle, his hand coming to rest on her stomach as she lay on him. He just found being with her easy. Even on the day that was historically the worst day of the year.

"Oh so I've been a good boy then?" Even though he had never celebrated Christmas, he knew the traditions fro his time at Hogwarts. Kids got gifts from Santa for being good. Coal if you had been bad. He did appreciate her trying to make it a nice day, and he was genuinely interested in what she had gotten him. He had gotten her a couple of things as well. "So the bench mark is two then? I'm sure I'll like all of them regardless." He said smiling down at her. "But you know the best gift I could ask for is being with you right?" There had been a long time in their lives they hadn't talked, and yet even in those years he still knew he wanted to be with her. He had known that for sure since that kiss on the docks. They had been through a lot together, and he was just happy to finally actually be able to say she was his girlfriend.

"Now I know you're kidding." She tried her best not to smile (and failed). Looking up ay him from his lap. "I look like a mess after a practice." She dared to debate. Part of her hesitancy about officially pursuing this relationship had to do with the fact that they would eventually play one another. Other players made it work but she wasn't certain that she would able to. Luckily Lucas had managed to convince her with his persistence and sweetness and here they were. It was only after a match that she caught herself sneaking a peek at her boyfriend and just how handsome he looked even sweaty or streaked with mud. During a game she got tunnel vision and had even comitted a foul against him` by knocking him off of his broom. The papers had a blast with that one.

Had he been a good boy? "Somewhat." She raised her brow at him with a half smile. "Good enough according to Santa." She would never not give him presents on Christmas time. And her mother? Well, that was a safe bet each and every year as long as she was still kicking and could operate an Amazon account. The best gift was being with her? Her smile faded. Sure she loved him but dramatic, poetic declarations like that always knocked her off guard. It was of course nice to hear but at the same time they counted as a compliment and she wasn't exactly the best at taking those when the words had nothing to do with her Quidditch playing ability.

"I really wish that you wouldn't say stuff like that." The Keeper admitted sitting up and moving away from his lap to sit on her own. "It's a lot of pressure." And that was just the tip of the iceberg really.

"I am not kidding a single bit." he said with a small smile. "I think you're cute all dressed up, in your sweats on a night in, and all covered in sweat and dirt after practices or games." It had been amazing how much they had each been able to compartmentalize their relationship and their sport. It had been complicated by the fact he had been promoted to starter on his national team, and would be guaranteed to play her at some point, a few months before they had started dating. He pushed the emotions to the back of his mind. He had scored on her several times, and she had even fouled him, knocking him off his broom. Thankfully his broom hadn't broken and he was able to get back out, but this had happened after rumors of their relationship were out there, and the papers had loved it. But at the end of the team they still hugged it out and went home together after all of the press and other things.

He chuckled when she said only somewhat. "Well I guess if it's good enough for Santa I'll take it. It'd be a first." There had never been a present from "Santa" under the tree growing up. There hadn't been any gifts at all. His father wasn't his only living family, but the man had cut them off from his mother's family, and his parents were deceased. So really it had just been Lucas and his father growing up. The closes thing he had to someone who cared was the coach of the quidditch team back then. But even then, it wasn't that close. During school he had kept everyone really at least an arm's length away, and there hadn't really been anyone to exchange presents with, but it wouldn't be under the tree anyway.

Of course he had to go say something that had meant to be sweet but seemed to ruin the mood. He sighed a little as she sat up. He just wanted to show her how much she meant to him, even though words couldn't really say that. "I'm sorry. I do mean it though." He said before adding "It's not to put pressure on you. I don't want you to feel you like you have to be with me. But you do mean a lot to me. You bring out the best in me, and you put up with not just the good, but the bad as well." Sure there had been many who fawned over him because he was a quidditch star, and would have loved to be dating him, he doubted any could put up with the bad parts of him. The insecurities, the history, and the difficulty with trusting. And yet she was still with him. That meant a lot.

"I'm not like the girls on your team." She mumbled. Half of these Quidditch players looked like supermodels. She wouldn't be surprised if they were veelas with how gorgeous they looked. Was this Amelia being insecure? Sure but it wasn't something that could be ignored. The guys sure didn't when they tried to grope them or hooted and hollered when they walked by. Amelia had to fight a number of men away from Alicia when they hung out. Amelia was a good Quidditch player, no doubt, but in her mind she didn't know what it was like to be or feel pretty.

"I don't feel like I have to be anything, Hartwell." She stood up, her hands on her hips, frowning at him. She had fallen back into an old habit of referring to him by his last name which she still did on the pitch but rarely at home except when they got caught up in their little banter and mock arguments. This was neither one of those though as there was more than a hint of seriousness in her voice. Still at his next remark she softened, giving him a smile that caused a pink blush to rise in her cheeks. "Well, I guess I'm glad that you're not ready to be done with me just yet." She admitted. They had been through so much. His history, her insecurities, his dad trying to kill her. Still they had come through on the other side as if by some miracle and maybe it had been.

"And you love me right?" She hinted, hoping that he did. She was nervous, seemingly out of nowhere... at leas to him. There was one gift she couldn't wait until Christmas morning to give to him though... mainly because it scared her and she wasn't sure it was as much a gift as a nightmare. "Lucas..." She swallowed the next few words barely coming out. "I'm pregnant."

"You're right. I'm not dating the girls on my team." No he was dating her. To him she was beautiful. And it wasn't just about her looks, although there wasn't beating that either, but about her personality. In his opinion she was beautiful outside and in. Even if she didn't see it that way. And he wanted to spend every day trying to make her see herself the way he saw her. It was part of the reason he always complimented her. He really did believe what he said. He had yet to find a version of Amelia he didn't like. Even when she was sick.

He watched her get up and look at him. He shifted to sitting cross legged looking up at her. "Well I don't want you to feel pressured to be with me for whatever." Why did he have to say what he felt about her and ruin little moments like this. Maybe he should learn to bite his tongue sometimes. But he couldn't help himself. He wanted to compliment her and say meaningful things. But he managed to soften her stance with some more of his words. "I don't think I'll ever be ready to be done with you." He said giving her a warm smile. He had stared down the possibility of losing her. They hadn't even been dating, but he knew he couldn't have that happened again. Of course if she wanted out, he'd let her go, but he'd try everything in his power to keep her happy in their relationship. His father had managed to find one more thing to almost break him, and that was losing her. Good thing he wasn't going to have a say in that again.

"With all my heart." He said. Really if he was honest with himself he had loved her since that first kiss all the way back when. But it had taken him a long time to come to that realization. But while that first kiss had left him speechless, what next left him speechless wasn't a kiss. She all of a sudden seemed nervous. He had seen her nervous before, but there didn't seem to be anything to be nervous about. Bu then she told him the news and he was just speechless. When he eventually found words, his shock was still evident when he said "What? When? How?" Well that was probably self explanatory. Eventually it sunk in a bit more and he smiled and moved to get up and go hug her. "That's great Amelia." he said as he hugged her to him. Right now it was a shock, but a nice shock. Of course over the next several months he would have a lot of anxiety over the whole thing. His own father hadn't been the best model, but it was the only one he had, and he didn't want to end up like him.

"Hart, I think you know how." She told him lowly, lowering her head and raising her brow in a 'oh really' fashion. If he didn't know how babies were made and how he had managed this well, they had more problems than she was previously worrying about. "But I know that I am. I took three tests just to make sure." That was actually an understatement. She had probably tried at least twelve just to make absurdly certain before bringing it up to him. She didn't want to freak him out for no reason. Hell, she didn't want to freak out for no reason. Then again, there was probably no avoiding that. She was already good and 'freaked' about what had happened. She was trying to hold it together though. Someone had to and she knew it was her just based on the utter shock that was gracing Lucas' face at the current moment as he pulled her in for a hug.

That's great? That was all nice and good but didn't he mean that's great and unexpected? Did he actually think it was great or was that just another case of what he thought she wanted to hear. Swallowing, and deciding not to bite her tongue, she took a step back separating herself from the hug but still gingerly holding one of his hands and giving it a light squeeze with a wary frown. "Is it?" Heck of a Christmas already. Oh well. They were here now. "Trust me dude, I know we weren't exactly trying for this." Not even on the table. Marriage wasn't even discussed. Not really. She was nowhere near ready for that. Apparently the world didn't wait if you were ready for a family or not though. That much was for certain. "Is this something we should maybe talk about?" Yikes. Uncomfortable subject matter for sure but she didn't want to look back years from now when they both resented each other, lived in regret, and had brought another life into it. "Is this something you want?" More importantly. "Is this something we can do?"