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Topics - Lucas St. Oswald

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It felt like only yesterday that Lucas had been accepting sincere congratulations, heartfelt hugs and claps on the back, graciously taking the teasing advice that he would be thoroughly sleep-deprived within a week. In fact… it had only been yesterday that Lucas had been almost giddily accepting all of the well wishes and helpful tips.

After all, witnessing the birth of his child and becoming a father certainly wasn’t an everyday occurrence for Lucas St. Oswald. Of course, Lucas would always insist that he was already a father, doting over Rosalie’s little girl, Evie, and loving her as though she were his own. Still, even he couldn’t deny that this was a new chapter in his life, a new experience. He would be raising this child from birth, his flesh and blood, and would be experiencing the miracle of birth with his loving wife. It was all going to be just so perfect. Lucas’ dream of being a family man would finally be realized.

… But that was yesterday. At least, Lucas thought it was only yesterday; he wasn't keeping track of time. It already felt like such a long time ago. The celebrations had since ceased. They had very suddenly morphed into half-hearted apologies and murmured condolences as Lucas was forced to deliver the news with a professional demeanor. The joyous cries quickly turned mournful, the boisterous hugs and claps on the back became tear-stained, soft embraces. The advice stopped flowing so freely. Nobody knew what to say.

Lucas could only stand there solemnly like a statue as people began filing out of his mansion. The news from the healers and the back-and-forth between the private staff was just going in one ear and out the other. It was a rare occasion that Lucas St. Oswald was rendered completely speechless and unable to direct his staff. Somehow, he ended up in his den. Had he wandered there? Had someone led him there? Lucas wasn’t quite sure anymore what he was doing or how much time had passed. It was only when a kind-looking midwife entered the room and pressed the little baby into Lucas’ arms that he even moved an inch.

He automatically shifted his arms into a cradle position to accommodate the newcomer. The little baby boy was so soft in his arms and so peaceful after what had to have been a tough night for him as well. He was tiny, snuggled tightly in Lucas’ embrace… he wasn’t aware of any of the damage that had been done... the nightmare that had all started with his birth.
 
The healers and nurses slowly trickled out of his home now that everything was finished. They carried her away with them, leaving Lucas with his baby to pick up the pieces. It was time to begin his new life with his newborn… alone.

It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Lucas wasn’t even sure how to react. He was, yet again, completely speechless. The only thing he could do was automatically go through the motions of ensuring that his newborn was taken care of… He had promised Rosalie that he wouldn’t pawn him off on the staff and it was a promise he intended to keep. But he couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Lucas was only able to stand there by the crib, the baby boy still in his arms, like a robot that was just waiting for further instructions. His little boy stirred and, without thinking, Lucas began walking around the crib just to keep doing something other than standing and staring. As he absentmindedly rocked his little boy in his arms, there were only a few thoughts on Lucas’ mind.

Why? Why had his Rosalie been taken away from him? What was he supposed to do now without her? And… how was he going to tell little Evie that she was never going to see her mother again? If he could feel anything besides a complete numbness at that moment, that mere thought would have brought him to his knees.

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Past Workshop Prompts / Prompt 2B: Daddy’s Boy
« on: 04/30/2018 at 03:20 »
Saturday, May 17, 1956
Early Morning



Scratch… scratch… Lucas’ quill slowly moved across the page, as he finalized a rough draft for a contract that his client wanted him to draw up. The pitter-patter of rain against his window almost mesmerized Lucas for a second, before he returned to his work. For a moment, he had been overcome by a feeling of immense exhaustion. The deadline wasn’t for quite a while, but Lucas preferred to spend his nights burying himself in his work, with the dim light of lantern as his only friend, instead of going to sleep in his very empty bed.

Three years… it had already been three years since Rosalie had passed away, leaving Lucas alone to raise their two children. Her little darling Evalyn was growing fast. She was six years old and looked more and more like her mother with every passing day. And little Sebastian… it hadn’t been his fault. It had taken Lucas a long time to figure that out for himself. Even if he were to blame, nothing could change the fact that Rosalie was dead and Lucas was the only person in the world that the little boy had left.

Both of his children had been tucked in hours ago, when the sun was only just setting. It had been a special day for little Sebastian.  It was his first night in a big boy bed. Both of them were growing so fast. They were out of diapers, completely potty trained, and now neither of them even needed a crib. In just a couple of years, Evie would be off to Hogwarts to learn all about magic. She was a natural, of course, already showing the early signs of being a witch. It was almost a miracle that her development hadn’t at all been affected by the tragic death of her mother. In fact, she had been such an easy child for Lucas to handle. She had been so independent that, at times, it felt like Lucas was just being dragged along for the ride by her. Not that it was all that surprising… she was so independent and brave, just like her mother.

Suddenly, his entire room lit up with a blinding flash from outside as a loud thunderclap followed. Lucas jumped in his seat, accidentally creating a large blot on the parchment as he did so. After taking a second to calm down, Lucas let out a frustrated noise as he crumpled up the piece of parchment in a momentary fit of rage. He was twenty-five years old and he was still scared of thunder. If anyone had been around, it would have been a humiliating sight. He didn’t even realize that thunderstorms still frightened him… it had been years since he jumped like that. But then, it had been years since he had been so alone. Whether it was Briar or Rosie, Lucas had always had a support system, someone to hold his hand when he was frightened. Briar had his own life now and Rosie…

Another loud clap of thunder sent Lucas into a panic. Clearly he wasn’t going to get any work done with the storm raging outside. Reluctantly, he got out of his seat and turned off the lantern, leaving the crumpled piece of paper on the floor for him to collect and fix when he was in a better state of mind. Taking a moment to change out of his work clothes, Lucas slipped into bed, ready for a sleepless night of staring up at the ceiling, scared out of his wits by the thunder.

As he settled in, however, Lucas heard a faint noise coming from the corridor. Straining his ears, and momentarily panicking yet again, Lucas heard it again. This time, he could faintly make out the call that made him leap out of bed instantly.

“Daddy!”

Lucas threw his bedroom door open in an instant and looked in both directions as he came out into the hallway. Sure enough, his eyes fell on the tiny form of Sebastian St. Oswald, running towards Lucas with tears streaming down his panic-stricken face, dragging his little security blanket and stuffed bear behind him. Making a beeline for his son and immediately scooping him up, Lucas held his little boy tight and patted his back while quietly pacifying him as he carried Sebastian into his room. Setting Sebastian gently down on his bed, Lucas sat down next to him, his hand still gently running down Sebastian’s back. He took a moment to re-light the lantern, bathing them both in a comforting, yellow glow.

“Shh it’s okay, daddy’s here,” Lucas cooed. “What’s wrong, my little prince?”

But Lucas didn’t have to wait long for an answer. The thunder outside shook the windows and the wind began howling as the storm became even more dangerous and volatile. Sebastian buried his head in Lucas’ chest as he clung to his father for dear life. So that was it… he was scared of the storm too. Lucas returned the embrace, holding his little boy tightly against his chest to mask his own fear. Perhaps a “big boy” bed had been a little too ambitious for his much less independent little boy. But he certainly couldn’t put the toddler back in a crib. He was far too big for one.

“Teddy is s-s-scawed,” Sebastian managed to stutter out as he looked up at Lucas. He couldn't help but smile sympathetically.

“I know, Sebastian… I know… ” Lucas said soothingly, still holding his little boy close to him. “Tell Teddy not to worry. The scary noises will be gone soon.”

Holding Sebastian tightly for a few minutes while the storm continued to batter the windows, Lucas gently tousled the little boy’s hair. His sweet baby finally started to calm down a little as the thunder became more distant for the time being. The tears, at least, had stopped freely flowing, having been reduced to small, almost pathetic sniffles and whimpering as Sebastian accidentally wiped his runny nose on Lucas’ nightshirt while burying himself in his father’s chest. Finally, he had calmed down enough for Lucas to set him back down on the bed and give him a warm smile.

“There now, is Teddy all better?” Lucas asked him, taking the handkerchief on his bedside table and wiping the little boy’s nose gently. Sebastian quietly rubbed the tears out of his eyes and put his stuffed bear close to his ear, as if it were speaking to him. Sebastian nodded slightly. Lucas gave him a tired smile and said, “Good, then let’s get you both back to your big boy bed, shall we?”

Sebastian shook his head sadly. “S’eep wiv daddy?” the sweet little angel asked, his wide eyes looking up pleadingly at his father.

Lucas looked down sympathetically at his little boy. He couldn’t say no to that face. “Yes, of course you can sleep with daddy,” he said as he pinched Sebastian’s cheek affectionately. “But just for tonight, my little prince. Okay?” Sebastian nodded again. Of course, that wasn't a rule that Lucas was likely to enforce. 

Without even hesitating, Sebastian climbed over and settled into the empty side of Lucas’ bed, dragging his blanket and Teddy along with him. Lucas took a moment to tuck his little boy in, kissing him on the forehead before getting into bed himself. With one last comforting look at his little boy, Lucas extinguished the lantern one final time and set his head down against his pillow just in time for what sounded like the heralding of the apocalypse, the loudest thunderclap of the night. A lightning bolt flashed against the window and the entire room seemed to rattle from the booming thunder. Sebastian immediately clung to his father, accidentally stuffing Teddy into Lucas’ face as he did so. While he couldn’t see the terror on his little boy’s face, the sad little whimpering said it all. Lucas responded by reaching out with a firm, reassuring arm, bringing Sebastian closer to him, without even taking a moment to think about his own terror. Sebastian needed him… he was the only person this little boy had left and he couldn’t spend his time cowering in a corner while his little boy cried for him and looked to him for comfort.

“It’s okay, Sebastian,” Lucas whispered softly. “I’m here… You’ll always be safe with daddy.”

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