-- from exploiting this...weakness. "

-- unmarried with a man, who was assumed to be dead. nor would he have thought she would have to seek their parents for help.

" you should send it away as soon its born. the order claim nobility but when war arises even the most noble men can turn to monsters.

...and what is to keep them --

the touch often a welcome one was no one that caused him to shift away.
his eyes moving to her middle that had yet to develop the curvature to indicate her being with child.

" a beautiful name."

a curt response. he'd often imagined her round with child but never like this. never --

" and yet from the moment I was born, your dagger was always poised for the attack."

a humorless laugh spilled past his lips.

" visiting, who? I can assure you, brother, you have never been a concern of mine.

do not let the door hit you on the way out."

-- didn't ask too many questions.
" have you informed (him) of your choice."

voldemort. a man, who was like no other. the only one who held in high regard and would dare his life down for.

--
" it matters not whether I'm okay with it, alecto.
it's clearly happening, and you're attached to...it.

let us hope that you do not share the same faith as our mother when the time comes."
he'd heard of rosier's disappearance but in their line of work ; one --

" childbirth is messy. mother had twins, you have one.

...besides you've showed countless times that you're stronger than she'll ever be."

amycus wasn't aiming to make his sister feel better or to smother her with compliments.

feet would move to the fireplace, leaning into the warmth.
--

-- "...you're pregnant?"

he rose up from his position by her side, surprise obvious on his face.

"...how long? since when?"

-- parents were dead.
instinctively he leaned into the touch, shaking his head.
" do not stay out of pity or what you believe to be the right thing."

her last words caught him by surprise and he drew away. his eyes dropping to her stomach and it dawned on him.
--

amycus' lips twisted into an amused simper, a lowly chuckle past his lips.
" since when have you let anyone, especially mother and father, tell you what you can or can not do."

he questioned. his relationship with his parents were strained and as far as he's concerned; his --

-- shame that he couldn't muster happiness or that foe the first time ; he had lied to her.

-- the words weighed heavy upon his tongue. suddenly, a smile felt heavy and impossible to muster but he did.

" if that -- if he's what you want. I wish you nothing but happiness."

the words rotted his tongue, each tasting bitter as it left his lips.
beneath it he felt shame. endless --

-- that she would desire a family of his own.
he also knew what it meant for him. another person to leave, another person that would step out and forget him.
just as their parents had, their brothers and so many of his friends. was that to be his life?

" congratulations, sister."
--

features transformed, expression which had moments been soft now became guarded. the flash of light as the ring was revealed upon a delicate digit caused a moment of pause.

a feeling of loneliness crushing down upon. a feeling of betrayal. he'd known that one day that she'd leave ; --

" I'd prefer to see the knife before it plunges into my back."
amycus' body rigged ; an elastic band tightly wound and ready to snap at a moments notice.

" what do you want, ezekiel?"

he sat upon the chair, features composed whilst his mind raced ahead.

-- looks as people proclaimed their relationship was wrong. improper.
what did he care for whispers? he knew they were seen as 'too close' ; 'too familiar', but who were they to say?
" you do not need to worry your pretty head. If something were to go wrong, they will meet my ire."

" not as long as there's breath in my lungs."
the words spoken softly, earnestly.
amycus peered up at his sister, meeting doe-like hues with an expression vastly different from the harsh mask so often donned.

he knew the whispers, he acknowledged the sneers and side-way --

-- which fingers would curl along the wood reveal the tension that drummed beneath the flesh.

the voice as familiar as the breathing that passed through his lungs or the beat of his heart.
the greeting, causing eyes to snap upward.

" Ezekiel. "

his voice was low, measured.

amycus had not risen from his seat. His posture remained composed, but the manner in --