in my veins | maria

[rhys alexander greyback]

everything will change

nothing stays the same

March 23, 2026
@maria

Rhys fidgeted in his chair. The waiting area was fuller than he would have liked and also a bit loud. A few people waited and read whatever old edition of Witch Weekly left on the side table. A few others tended to small children also fidgeting in their chairs. Still, he glanced back at Maria sitting in the chair next to him—but he wouldn’t admit that he was actually nervous. He didn’t dislike children, he just didn’t interact with many as a Cursebreaker, but maybe it was his time at the orphanage with other kids in the entire age range up to seventeen that had to give him that experience. ”Wasn’t your appointment for ten?” Rhys asked, glancing at his watch and see it was five after. Obviously, they were running a bit behind.

The previous week had been spent finally talking to Ilija and then prepping to talk to seventh years at the Ministry and then spending time at the bank catching up on paperwork. It was a shame they were at a hospital, and not somewhere he could find a whiskey even though it wasn’t even lunchtime. Rhys was tired, but he’d shown up at Maria’s place as he usually did several times a week, but this time it was for her appointment. From what she had told him, they would do an ultrasound and basically check how the baby was doing. But all Rhys had to do was look slightly down to see that Maria was showing. And considering she was halfway through her pregnancy by now, it was expected.

While the anxiety made something turn in his stomach, he knew that it all stemmed from his own self-doubt in being a father. Not that he didn’t want to be one. So, he focused on what people had told him. Again and again, he’d been reminded by his friends that he wasn’t his own father, and he would do much better to not let his own child walk a similar path. It didn’t make him any less nervous, however. For now, he crossed his arms and rechecked his watch.

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[Deleted]

March 23, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Maria was a very vain person. It wasn't a secret. Those that knew her knew that her appearance was probably the only thing she cared about in most circumstances. Well, that and her own satisfaction, but that was a different matter. The fact was she cared a lot about her body and appearance so when she'd started to show? Well she'd had a bit of a freak out and her mood had been permanently soured ever since. It was as if her bitch switch had gotten stuck "on" and she'd started to overstress about the littlest of things. It had no doubt made her increasingly more difficult to deal with for the poor fools that were a constant in her life. Like today, in which she had an appointment at the hospital. An appointment that she'd, reluctantly, invited Rhys too. Not because she was a sentimental person that wanted the father there, but because she knew she'd been particularly cruel to him of late and felt it was only fair to make it up to him. Especially considering what this appointment was. She was now far enough along to tell the gender...

Despite her extremely vain tendencies, Maria had thrown on a hoody to try and hide the pregnancy and currently had her hands stuffed in the pockets as she slumped in the chair with her typical resting bitch face. Clearly she didn't want to be here. It also didn't help that Rhys kept fidgeting next to her. "Obviously you haven't been to the doctor lately." she answered, rolling her eyes. "When they say ten it really means they won't see you until 10:30." She'd had a few of these appointments those far to know the hospitals typical speed... though she hoped they'd be on time for once.

Clearly, Maria did not feel comfortable here. From the tone of voice she'd used to her body language and her expression. She felt extremely uncomfortable and guarded. Perhaps it was the children nearby, or the clearly other pregnant women. But whatever it was Maria looked as if her fight or flight reflex might kick in at any moment. Thankfully, Rhys' presence seemed to settle some of those nerves. Not that they had that sort of relationship. He was an asshole. But he was an asshole that was here and understood her in a way most couldn't.

[rhys alexander greyback]

everything will change

nothing stays the same

March 23, 2026
@maria

Maria snapped back at him, but Rhys didn’t flinch. This was normal, or at least normal for them. As the pregnancy had progressed, Maria’s mood had gotten worse and seemed to rival his own moodiness. It only continued to showcase the lack of a foundation for their entire relationship or whatever you called this. Built upon sex, binge drinking, arguing, and aggressive emotions—but now Rhys wasn’t single, and Maria couldn’t drink, so all they had left were harsh and petty words, but they had the thick skin for it. It made him wonder about how he used to hear his classmates talk about their separated parents and if this is what they saw. They would have to find some way to get along if they were to co-parent, right? But that was a problem for tomorrow as far as Rhys was concerned.

Actually, Rhys spent more time at the doctor than average. Werewolf and Cursebreaker injuries made him a known patient except that he’d never been to this ward before—he’d never had a reason until now. ”I would know if you bothered to invite me to an appointment before.” He responded quickly and with a dull tone. Truthfully, he couldn’t decide if he was offended that she’d gone by herself all this time—Rhys said that he would be here, and he damn well meant it. So far, the people he had told had encouraging words for him. And there was the tiniest bit of him that knew he could be a father while the rest just hoped he didn’t mess it up. They both were uncomfortable, but for different reasons, but Rhys learned to keep his mouth shut. He’d tried to be ‘nice’ and say that she had a nice glow about her now that she was showing and further in her pregnancy, and he was sure that he’d almost been set on fire just as he’d risked it this past weekend after finally talking to his sisters and letting Maria know.

Rhys finally stopped fidgeting so much and tried to be calm, glancing at an expectant mother in the corner with another small child who looked about three years old. It reminded him of the kids at the orphanage when he was older or the ones he would see at the museum in Wales. The one thing he had managed to keep from everyone, even Vasilia, was Julia’s vision in the crystal ball. Children. The meaning was clear, but the context wasn’t, and it still bothered him. Finally, a Healer walked into the waiting room and called Maria’s name. She seemed to recognize her, and Rhys stood up first and looked at a Maria—a habit now to see if she needed help up. Maybe in a couple months, she might when she was showing a lot more. Regardless, he’d let her walk in front of him.

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[Deleted]

March 23, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

The longer they waited, the more anxious Maria felt. And anxious Maria was very snappy and mean. She seemed to take everything as an insult and a need to fight. At least it was Rhys beside her. He could handle her wrath, though he often matched it with his own. His response only made her roll her eyes. Why would she have bothered to invite him to an appointment before now? "What, you wanted me to invite you to every little appointment? I thought you were busy with your new girlfriend." She asked sarcastically. She honestly didn't care that he was dating someone. It was more the lack of sex that irritated her. Though to be far, none of the appointments up until now had really felt that important.

Maria looked away from Rhys, and everyone else in the waiting room, her discomfort only seeming to grow. Clearly she felt very uncomfortable surrounded by these people. So much so in fact, that when a nurse called her name she actually flinched before turning her attention to the nurse and then Rhys. He'd gotten to his feet rather quickly. Their eyes met and that foul mood of hers seemed to finally give way to show the emotions she'd been masking. The anxiety, the fear, the discomfort. It lasted only a moment before her resting bitch face returned and she rolled to her feet. Thankfully she wasn't far enough along to be too inconvenient... yet. She headed for the nurse, following her back and only pausing for a moment to make sure Rhys was following.

The next few minutes passed rather quickly as the nurse ran a few standard exams ands tests that had become second nature to her. Only then did she show them back to a room where they'd finally do the ultrasound. Where they'd... finally find out the gender. Now Maria looked like she really wanted to run and she kept shooting glances at Rhys. Were they ready to find out the gender? Maria felt woefully unprepared...

[rhys alexander greyback]

everything will change

nothing stays the same

March 23, 2026
@maria

They were both clearly uncomfortable and fidgeting. Though the staff didn’t stare or say a word. It made Rhys wonder how many reluctant or new parents came into this waiting room in similar situations was their own. But everyone had their reasons, Rhys figured. His own was a reluctance out of complete fear. That fear of failure, of proving everybody right that had ever doubted him and proving everybody wrong that had provided encouraging words so far. Ilija had pointed out that because of Rhys’ own experiences, he knew he would do whatever he could in his power to avoid his own child experiencing that, and Rhys could only hope. And Rhys had the assumption Maria would do the same. They had both struggled with difficult lives full of abandonment and the fear of reopening old wounds.

She snapped back at him again, and Rhys gave her a look. Ever since Rhys had told Maria that he was seeing Vasilia seriously, she’d done everything in her power to annoy him in different ways. At first, it had been walking around in outfits that reminded him of the time he’d run into her at the club where she worked, and then later, it was just pestering him about her. One of his anxieties at the moment was the two women in his life meeting and wondering at which point he’d have to intervene. Rhys would never describe Maria as friendly, but Vasilia was not a pushover either. And yet, both women had a knack for putting Rhys in his place at times. Subconsciously he crossed his arms. ”Stop acting like you’re still alone in this.” He grumbled sharply in response. Despite everything, it was a natural instinct to push the other away. Rhys meant what he said when he had told her he’d stick around, and it wasn’t until recently that not being included had sort of hit a nerve—more than he thought it would.

The memories would always stick out in his mind, other kids his age being adopted while he was left behind and seeing the same when he was older. It only made him more determined to make it work. When the nurse arrived and called Maria’s name, she looked at Rhys. At that moment, he noted the expression in her eyes. He’d seen it before. There were very few times she’d let down that wall for him, but he’d never forget what it looked like. He supposed they were in the same boat, that fear and anxiety, and maybe neither of them wanted to say it out loud, but that was their bond—to support one another through those feelings. They walked down a hallway, and at one point, Maria glanced back at him. Rhys nodded. He wasn’t going anywhere.

Patiently he waited through the initial check-up, and he tried his best to act like he wanted to be there for the Healer who was assisting them. It seemed she had seen Maria before, but it was Rhys’ first time meeting her. And then the final part—the reason he was here. Maria kept looking at Rhys, and after about the fifth glance, he scooted closer to where he was standing next to her reclined seat, and he grabbed her hand. Rhys felt incredibly nervous himself, his chest felt tight, and his stomach kept flipping. But, he just gently squeezed Maria’s hand for reassurance for the both of them. The Healer returned to the room, and with Maria’s belly exposed, the Healer took her wand and pointed it just near her belly button. There was a screen they could look at right in front of them, and Rhys swallowed. His throat was dry, and he waited for an image to appear.

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[Deleted]

March 23, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

Maria would never admit it. But Rhys, despite all their arguing and bickering... was someone she felt she could trust and was quite open with. Even though it was a constant battel to stay open to him... It was impossible to deny the connection they shared. IT wasn't romantic. It was a kindred spirit. Where they both understood and felt each otehr's pain and past in a way they knew no one else could. It was probably why they put up with each other so much. Despite the endless arguing at the end of the day they knew that the other person knew their pain in a way no one else ever could. It wasn't the same pain, nor the same experiences, but it had drawn them to each other. To find comfort and support. So while it was insanely awkward and uncomfortable considering their Elias connection, they somehow just kept finding each other near each other... It was why Maria had even bothered to invite Rhys to this appointment. None of the others had been that important. But this one? WEll... She knew he deserve to be here. After deciding to keep the child. IT was just as much his child as her own.

And as strange as it sounded? Maria found herself leaning on Rhys during the pregnancy. He was the closest thing she had to Elias after all. Who else was she to turn to? It wasn't just because he was the father of the child. So when he reminded her that she wasn't alone? SHe looked away. Both annoyed an ashamed. "I know," she whispered, hoping he might not hear. She hated how weak he kept seeing her. She hated feeling so vulnerable in front of him and completely out of control at what was happening to her body and hormones.

The healer was both agitating and terrifying Maria. Was somethin wrong? Was everything alright? She'd never wanted to be a mother but she couldn't abandon a child like she was. So was this... child safe? Were they developing right? She'd tried to be good about her own habits when her pregnancy was confirmed but was she somehow hurting the child? Was she hurting them somehow? Without even realizing it she foudn herself squeezing Rhys' hand tightly when he took her own, silently conveying how terrifying she was. She'd been holding her breath each test that was ran, only releasing it when the healer confirmed that every thing was looking good. The baby was healthy. But the tests didn't end there. No, this was THE appointment. The one to determine the gender.

"Do you want to know the gender?" the healer asked, and Maria realized she was staring at Rhys at that exact moment. Terrifying, confused... But yet somehow seeing him gave her the strength to response. "Yes..." That was why Rhys was here. To find out the gender. To finally know what they were having. Maria refused to break her gaze away from Rhys for a few more silent, and suspenseful moment, before finally looking away so that she could see the monitor. That was when the healer spoke. "Congratulations, it's a girl!"

A girl... Maria didn't know if she'd been hoping for a girl or boy. But putting a gender to the baby... It wasn't just a baby now. It was her... No. their daughter. Maria let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and lay her head back on the uncomfortable hospital pillow, turning her head back to the monitor. Daughter. Girl. Hers. She didn't know how to feel. And yet? She felt tears welling up in her eyes as the hormones ran rampant once again. She was having a girl.

[rhys alexander greyback]

everything will change

nothing stays the same

March 23, 2026
@maria

The instinct to act isolated quickly gave way to one of trepidation. While it was easy to anger the other, pushing buttons for fun or even for revenge didn’t mean they didn’t care. Their dynamic might be confusing to most. Why would you want to spend time with someone who easily angered you? But it wasn’t just that. Maria got under Rhys’ skin simply because they understood each other that well. Their walls were creations against ever being hurt again as they had been for most of their lives being abandoned by those who were supposed to care for them the most. The bickering and comments tactics to keep people away. But when it came down to it, when Maria needed him, he was there. He still hadn’t forgotten how she had shared so much with him about Elias, and now she was carrying his child.

The exams seemed to go smoothly, but he noted Maria’s uneasiness, but he didn’t want to ask what it was about. But Rhys himself felt so out of place. He’d never been to something like this before, and it was a far cry from his usual line of work where he could prepare and study and walk into his next assignment with confidence. Here he felt like some bystander waiting for instructions. As he ventured toward his thoughts—thinking about fatherhood, his family, and his life he was brought back when Maria squeezed his hand. His eyes glanced at her face, but she wasn’t looking at him. But, so far, so good. The Healer smiled and confirmed that everything looked like it was supposed to be. It didn’t appear his child had an extra limb or surprise twins or anything that would promptly give Rhys a heart attack.

But then the next question came, and he gave a blank stare—he hadn’t expected that question, but he knew it was why he was here all the same. Maria looked at him, and he gave a short and quick nod, he wanted to know, but he kept Maria’s hand in his own as reassurance for both of them. It was a toss-up, a fifty-fifty chance on the baby’s sex, and yet Rhys didn’t know why he was so nervous all of a sudden. His stomach felt like it had flipped upside down. The Healer turned the monitor toward them, and with a giant smile on her face and exclamation, she revealed the news—it was a girl.

Rhys blinked a few times at the monitor, he didn’t know how to read these things, but it was something to behold. That was his baby, that was his daughter. A daughter. Rhys was going to have a little girl. The look on his face was something between shock and awe, and he felt like his stomach had floated up into his chest. It was hitting him—fatherhood was happening, father to a little girl. Rhys blinked a few more times as a small grin slowly crept onto his face. He was terrified, or so he thought. He couldn't tell if his stomach flipping was butterflies or not. Glancing at Maria, looking at the monitor, he squeezed her hand, only then noting a tear streaming down her face. But she didn’t seem sad. They both were just taking a moment to absorb the news. For the moment, he looked back at the monitor, still in a bit of shock, but his eyes had softened as the news made him feel so vulnerable, but he didn’t care. ”Merlin…” He finally managed to mumble. Rhys moved his other hand, so Maria’s hand was in both of his, and he looked back, that rare grin on his face. ”A little girl.” Rhys repeated, since saying it out loud just confirmed he wasn’t daydreaming.

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[Deleted]

March 23, 2026
rhys alexander greyback

No doubt the healer had many thoughts about the different reactions the parents were having. Neither seemed like they wanted to be there. The woman had worked with Maria though, so she at least knew that this was a normal reaction for the pregnant young woman. But the healer didn't say anything, didn't comment. No doubt she'd seen a variety of reactions and wouldn't judge. At least neither of them seemed upset.

Both Maria and Rhys seemed more shocked that the baby had a gender. Rhys seemed to come back to reality much sooner then Maria, starting to smile depite still looking terrified. Maria on the other hand was trying to control these godforsaken hormones. She wasn't someone that cried, or let people see her cry when it did happen but pregnancy had made the tears completely uncontrollable. It wasn't even that she was sad, which confused her even more. Why was she starting to cry when she wasn't sad?! Maria didn't realize how hard she was squeezing Rhys' hand until he spoke, breathing just a stunned word. It was enough to bring Maria back to reality. A girl. A daughter. Maria let out a shaky breath, staring at the monitor with wide eyes.

Maria felt a new pressure on her hand, and turned her head away from the monitor to look at him, just in time to see something... she hadn't really ever seen. A grin. A full on, nothing held back, grin. From Rhys. It was unnerving but also she seemed to understand in that moment. Holy shit. This nameless thing growing inside her wasn't just an it. It was their daughter. "The hell did we get ourselves into?" she breathed. While the words itself might seem confrontational... for once it didn't actualyl sound like it. There was a confused sense of awe in her voice.

[rhys alexander greyback]

everything will change

nothing stays the same

March 23, 2026
@maria

Knowing that his baby was a girl—a daughter made things more tangible. In about four months, Maria would give birth to a girl. The concept was simple enough, yet Rhys still mentally focused on the fact that it was some complex mathematical problem. What was next? A name? He certainly hadn’t thought that far ahead, if he was honest. There was shock in Maria’s voice, but he was still in his own little daze of his own thoughts. Rhys didn’t even realize that a small grin had appeared on his face. There was that anxiety in his stomach, just like when he’d first arrived at the bank for training or those first steps onto the platform to go to Hogwarts. Rhys was scared, but he wasn’t going anywhere.

She spoke with disbelief, and Rhys turned to look at her, not knowing how to answer that question. On paper, they were hardly role models or the first name that popped into anyone’s mind regarding parenting. Two broken people who were the result of the cards dealt to them and subject to life’s discriminations. There was a tiny bit of sadness to this all. Rhys looked away and back to the monitor. If his mother were alive, what would she say at finding out she would have a granddaughter? No doubt Maria would have the same thoughts regarding her own parents and then, of course, Elias. ”Parents…we’re going to be parents.” Rhys spoke low, looking at Maria. It wasn’t just “Maria is pregnant”. It was now “they were going to be parents.”

Rhys couldn’t tell if he was excited or happy. He supposed he was used to avoiding that feeling as he waited for the other shoe to drop. But another thought entered his mind as that other shoe proceeded to drop. He still hadn’t told his siblings about this.

[ end rhys ]

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