we're going to see the twins (friends & fam)

It all happened so closely together: they were married, they spent some time away together, and now they had two very beautiful, identical daughters. After nine months of trepidation: that it would be horrible, that he would lose his identity, his tranquillity, his time and personal space - that these squalling infants would rot away his very soul...

But the moment he saw them, he loved them.

He was still running high on adrenaline, though. There had been occasions where they had been woken, and he still handed them over when they had to be changed, but he loved their dear little faces! Perhaps reality was yet to set in for Ptolemy. They couldn't just be sweet and lovely and cuddly all the time...

They had invited their friends and family over to see Harper and Kinsley. Ptolemy was peering over Kinsley in her basket in the living room, draping a toy of sparkling silver bells over for her to be entertained by. His expression was one that was completely enamoured, like there could be nothing greater in the world than lying here and doing this. "Daddy loves you, Kinsley..." he cooed gently to her.

@Alayna Rowle

Alayna was finishing up feeding Harper when she heard Ptolemy talking to Kinsley. She loved how much he lvoed the girls. It made her heart swell in a way she didn't know possible. She walked into the main room and smilesmiled at her husband, "And we love Daddy very very much, don't we Harper?" She asked as she set her daughter into her bassinet, "Is everything ready?" She asked, kissing her husband's cheek and nuzzling into his neck. 

@Ptolemy Rowle

Although he heard Alayna, he kept his eyes on his daughter, smiling. It was difficult for him to take his eyes away when they were being sweet. It was only when Alayna started nuzzling into him that he looked at her.

"I should think so," he said, "Why don't you go and check? I'll stay here with the girls."

Standing up away from her, he went to Harper now and stroked her soft little cheek. It had been this way since they had got home: Ptolemy's affections had completely transferred to his daughters. He had barely looked at Alayna. He had kissed her cheek occasionally, but hadn't felt any need to be physical with her. He just said he was tired most of the time.

@Alayna Rowle

Alayna had noticed ptolemys lack of affection lately, and knew it was just because the girls had just been born. But that didnt mean she wasn't upset by it. She missed the way he held her and adored her while she was pregnant and before she was so. So she simply nodded, "Yeah right... Sure..." She then walked out of the room and got to where she was far enough away before letting out a frustrated scream. She had needs still even though she was a mother. And her husband was just... Pushing her to the sides. 

@Ptolemy Rowle

Atticus had arrived through the floo network early. He heard voices from other rooms, but thought he'd go to the kitchen to get a glass of water first. Although they were lovely and his nieces, he still got nervous when it came to handling them: Ptolemy hovered around him like some annoying fly, saying that he was holding them incorrectly. It was irritating!

He slowly sipped the water before Alayna came in. She hadn't seen him, obviously, as she let out an angry scream.

"What's the matter?" he asked worriedly, moving towards her to rub her shoulder.

@Alayna Rowle

Alayna jumped in surprise at her brothers voice before sighing, "It's nothing you want to hear about, Atticus. I promise you that." She picked up a glass of wine and sipped from it, "Did James stop paying attention to you when his son was born? Was hehe like... Distant? And less affectionate?" She wondered if it was just normal and she didn't know. 

@Atticus Nott

"Hmm... no. Not that I can think of. If anything, he may have been more affectionate, because he needed my support?"

He tapped his chin thoughtfully, then rubbed her shoulder a little more.

"Is that what's happening with Ptolemy?" he asked her, furrowing his brow.

@Alayna Rowle

Alayna frowned a bit and looked down at her lap. She didn't want to say that was exactly what was happening. She knew Atticus was likely to go into the other room and give Ptolemy a 5 hour long lecture, "I don't know what's happening anymore. All I know is he barely looks at me anymore....." 

@Atticus Nott