we don’t talk about bruno ((the cartwright fam and whoever shows up))

Jed heard talks about one of his daughters being pregnant through some of the various family group chats. He hadn’t dare told Tabby yet since he knew she’d go nuts, and Jed wasn’t sure how he felt. Sure he wasn’t the best father, but he adored his kids, and didn’t want anything happening to Emery, because he knew Tabby would kick her out since she clearly was the power of the family, but he wanted to hear from his wife the truth.

He had summoned a family meeting in their dining room for dinner. Sending each one of his kids a Crystal message to meet. He knew Tabby was going to through a fit, so he needed to hear from his kids, the truth before she came into the picture. He knew this was his family, and wasn’t going to let Emery go if came too it, but she did hope she find a new place to stay over the Holidays until the fuels to the fire.

Although he wasn’t sure if she was really pregnant, but he wanted to know the truth. It was going to be a long Christmas that he was terrified for the outcome of, and just sat in the dining room waiting. His heart was breaking, but this matter needed to resolved since it involved his future son in law, and it involved the family connection.

@Emerald Cartwright  @Diamonique Cartwright  @Tabitha Cartwright  @Hazel Cartwright  @Quinn Cartwright  @Layla Cartwright  @Maverick Cartwright

Ethan had been invited to emeralds house for dinner and he figured he should attend. There was a few things he wanted to talk to Emery about anyway. Including a rumor he had heard around the castle of her being pregnant. He stood on the doorstep with a bouquet of wild flowers to give Mrs. Cartwright and a nice bottle of scotch for her father that he had swiped from his own father's cabinet. He also had a bag with emeralds present in it. He knew to never arive somewhere empty handed. He knocked on the door anand waited for someone to answer.

Emery was terrified to tell her parents what was going on since the idea of not having a home to go back too killed her. She knew the consequences would be less worse if she didn’t tell them. The past couple nights she spent packing her room up, so that she could easily figure out what to do since she knew the outcome. Or at least had an idea what was going to happen.

She invited her two closest friends to come which was Gemma and Ethan. She didn’t want to bother Faolan, on his holiday with his family. Gemma offered her a place to stay if she needed it. Emery hurried downstairs trying to get her composure to tell her parents what’s up. Why did she have to be so stupid, and she hadn’t heard from Jovian in a bit. Thankfully she wasn’t showing all that much yet, so this would be less bad. Walking down to the family dinning room, she realized Ethan was at the door, and walked over.

Opening it Emery smiled. “Hey Ethan! I’m glad you could come, Gemma should also be coming soon.” she said realizing she’d be breaking the news to him. “We also have to talk too.” she said giving him a smile. She didn’t tell him yet either, and it bothered her a lot right now.

@Ethan Layton @Gemma Parkinson

Ethan smiled as Emery opened the door, "Hey there. Merry christ.as. And yeah, we do need to talk about a few things." He realized he had been neglecting Emery for a while now and he felt bad about it. He held up the flowers and scotch, "These are for your parents." He then handed her the bag, "And this is for you." 

@Emerald Cartwright

Layla didn't like family meetings. She didn't like sitting at the dinner table, either. So, instead of doing what she was instructed to do, she hid underneath the coffee table in the living room instead. Perhaps they would all just allow her to stay there. It was a good little spot to hide and look through her sister's magazines. They still hadn't realised that she'd taken them out of their rooms that morning...

When the door went, she peeked out from underneath the table, having clear sight of Emerald's legs. There was a boy's voice, then another pair of legs. Emerald invited a boy over?! Oh damn! Now she really did want to stay here forever!

Why the fuck did dad call for a family meeting? Didn't he realize she had much better ways to spend her time? Diamonique was in her room getting ready for a night out with some work pals; she was a grown adult, nobody could force her to stay in the manor!

Maybe if she stayed undetected, she could simply apparate out...

Gemma was not excited to spend Christmas with the Cartwrights, but she knew Emery was going to need some kind of mortal support with what was going to happen. She floo into the family room, where she hoped no one would be. She didn’t like Tabby for as far as you could throw her, but Emery gave her floo access.

Nearly falling into the family room, she got herself back up, and saw a figure under the coffee table. Walking over, “What are you doing here, Layla?” she said. Shocked she even noticed her, because usually Gemma was oblivious as they come, “Get up, you don’t want to keep your family waiting.” she said with a chuckle.

@Layla Cartwright @Emerald Cartwright @Ethan Layton

Ethan looked over when Gemma fell through the floo and chuckled a bit, "Gotta watch the landing, Parkinson." He then looked down and noticed a pair of shoes under the coffee table and crouched down, "Hey Layla. Watcha doing down there?"

Layla shrieked and attempted to cover herself as Gemma found her.

"I'm not really here, I promise! I'm just a lump of coal!"

Then she heard a boy's voice. Oh god, no! She was still wearing her PJs! That seemed to work though, because she was scrambling out from underneath the table and hiding behind Gemma.

"Okay, okay..." she muttered, looking at the floor, "I'll go..."

@Gemma Parkinson @Ethan Layton

Emery took the gifts Ethan had given her parents and set them on the table, that was by the grand staircase. Taking her gift, she let out a little smile. Although the sound of voices and the pop from the living room, had distracted both of them. She followed Ethan out to the living room so that see Gemma, Layla, and Ethan. She loved her little sister, and she was still in her pajamas, and Emery looked. “You should have been changed by now.” she said in a sympathetic tone, and she looked at her sister.

“None of us want to go to this meeting, and it’s probably the last meal you’ll have with me as a part of the family.” she said giving her sister a sigh. The idea that her parents would do such a thing killed her. Looking at Layla, “I just want my siblings all here minus Monique for this night.” she said not giving a shit about Monique. Looking at Ethan and Gemma, “Merry Christmas. I’m sorry for this long night that’s about to unfold.” she said with a sigh. Walking over she went to give Gemma, a hug. “You really do have to watch that landing.” she said giving her a smirk.

@Layla Cartwright @Ethan Layton @Gemma Parkinson

Gemma looked at Ethan who came in the room, and smirked, “Fuck you Layton. I’m for once sober.” she said giving her friend a hug until Layla finally shrieked. Which made Gemma jump, “You are a terrible lump of coal.” she said with a laugh.

Then Layla hid behind her, as Emery came in, and she looked. “Girl it’s just Ethan. He’s harmless as they come.” she said giving Ethan a smirk. “You heard your sister, go get changed, and maybe we can hang out after dinner.” she said smiling.

She didn’t mind Layla in the slightest.

@Layla Cartwright @Emerald Cartwright @Ethan Layton

"Don't say that..." she whispered tearfully, then went to hide her face. As she spoke more, Layla found that she could no longer bear it and went running out of the living room. It was all too much! Was it really true that she was pregnant? What was going to happen?

She just didn't know what to do, where to go.

Unfortunately she ended up going to the dining room anyway, and was now looking at her Dad. Whimpering again, she sat down and put her head down on the table, wrapping her arms around her face so it was out of view. She cried quietly to herself.

Jed heard commotion in the entrance hall and living room as he sat drinking a cup of whiskey, smiling at the smell of the food being made for dinner. He didn’t want to interrupt any conversations, and he saw that Layla came in teary eyed. “What’s wrong, sweetie.” He said with a bit of a sympathetic voice in her tone.

The night already had him hurt, he had a feeling this wasn’t going to be good. “Who is in the living room? Are your siblings coming down anytime soon?” he said with an eyebrow raised. He liked to at least know who is in his house.

@Layla Cartwright

Ethan followed Emery to the living room and frowned when Gemma called him harmless, "I can be very intimidating, Captain Klutz." He said with a laugh so she knew he was joking. He watched as layla ran off and looked at Emery, "So it's true then?" He asked in a quieter voice. 

@Emerald Cartwright

Emery sighed at Layla as she ran into the room crying. If only her family was more supportive of her. It killed her to see Layla crying like this. “I am only stating facts.” she said with a shrug. It all bothered her a lot to say the least. Turning to Ethan, she gave a nod, “Yes it’s true. I didn’t tell you, because you seemed too busy for me.” she said with a bit of a sigh. “I kept it a secret due to my position, but I can’t keep things secret forever.” she said with a sigh, “I’m sorry Ethan, but you know how much Quidditch meant to me.” she spoke.

@Ethan Layton

"There's E-Ethan... a-and Gemma... and..."

She fell silent for a bit to cry a little more.

"Please don't be unkind to Emery, Daddy..."

@Jedidiah Cartwright

Hazel was spending a majority of the holidays with the Weasleys. It was a lot more peaceful, and she knew what was going to happen. She knew she’d been late to the party, she was getting ready for the big family meeting that she was dreading for a while now.

Putting her nice outfit on, after spending her day with Louis. She loved Louis, and hoped he’d come with her tonight. Sending him a Crystal message.

Come spend Christmas with me, and we can go to Shell Cottage after.

She loved Shell Cottage, so far, and she didn’t want to leave it. Hazel heard voices downstairs through an expandable ear, and she saw her sister brought people. It was not a good idea in the slightest, because it was about to one huge shit show. Once she ready for dinner, she put the ears away, and began heading out.

Going past Monique’s room. “You look pretty tonight. I take it you got a date in Knockturn Alley.” she said giving her a bit of a smile. Hazel was in a nice mood tonight.

@Diamonique Cartwright

It killed Jedidiah to see Layla cry, but he knew Tabitha was not remorseful. He promised to be kind, “Don’t worry, Layla. I promise I’ll be kind. You’re mother I can’t guarantee.” he said trying to ease the pain, because right now he had a lot.

“Tell them to come in, I’d love to meet Emery’s friends. We never get to meet them.” he said giving a smile. Until the truth got out, he might as well, try to have a fun get to know you session right now. “I have nothing to be unkind to Emery about.” he said telling a bit of a white lie. He didn’t want Layla to worry about anything.

@Layla Cartwright

"Okay..." she said, in a tiny voice.

After a short while, she lifted her head up. Her eyes were still red and puffy, and she was sniffing a little, not looking at him. She looked hideous now. She looked hideous in her pyjamas and her red eyes, so she closed her eyes and tried to see a lighter side to it.

She practically melted off the chair and slumped to the floor, then crawled out of the dining room like a cat. When she made it to the living room, she flattened herself on the floor like a rug.

"Emery, Gemma, Ethaaaan~ you're all wanted in the dining room..."

She rolled around on the carpet for a bit playfully.

@Emerald Cartwright @Ethan Layton

Faolan worried about Emery a lot, especially since he had found out that she was pregnant. It was probably a lot for her to handle and then there was the fact that he knew that her family pretty much sucked. Alright, maybe not her family but her parents. So, he had decided to stop in that evening and check in on her to see how she was doing. It was odd not to have heard from her yet over the break since they were usually hanging out most of the time or at least messaging on their crystals if nothing else but she had been quiet today. He decided that meant that now was the perfect time to drop by and see how she was!

He apparated to her home and stood at the door, knocking as he waited for someone to answer.

@Emerald Cartwright

Emery felt her nerves clench when Layla came into the living room and said they were being summoned. She looked at her two friends and sighed. "It looks like the shit show is about to begin," she said walking towards the dining room. "We are coming, dad," she said trying to maintain her cool.

While walking to the dining room, the door knocked, and Emery turned. Who could possibly be here? She walked over and opened to almost her heart sinking. "Hey, Faolan. I didn't want to bother you," she said hoping he wasn't too mad that two of her other friends were there. "Merry Christmas. I got your gift upstairs," she spoke with a smile.

She felt a little bit better with Faolan here.

@Layla Cartwright @Faolan Finnigan @Ethan Layton

Faolan was standing there hoping that it wasn't one of Emerald's parents that would open the door as he knocked but what he did see when the door opened was even more surprising. It seemed like Emerald had invited Ethan and Gemma over but not him. Well, that kind of sucked but it wasn't like he could really say anything. He didn't expect her to only hang out with him or something. Even if it did hurt a little to be left out by his best friend. She mentioned not wanting to bother him and he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand that wasn't holding the gift he had brought for her. "You know you're never a bother to me." He didn't want her to think that she ever was. He liked hanging out with her whenever he could. "Merry Christmas, I can come back another time if that's better. I don't want to intrude." He said, shifting a bit as he still stood there on the stoop.

@Emerald Cartwright

Emerald felt terrible right now, but this was going to be a tough night. "I know, but I have a feeling tonight isn't going to end well, and I didn't want to expose you to it," she spoke with a sigh. She really did love Faolan more than anything in the world, and he meant so much to her. "I love you Faolan." she sighed.

This year she has been terrible to him.

Now that Faolan was here, she didn't want him to go. "No please stay, because you are here, and I couldn't imagine being able to get through this night without you." she smiled at him. He was her rock, and right now since he was here, she didn't want him going anywhere right now.

@Faolan Finnigan

Faolan frowned a bit when she talked about how she didn't think the night was going to go well. "Telling your parents tonight?" He asked in a hushed voice. Either that or it was just normal Cartwright drama. He was used to hearing about the drama that Emery's family put her through on a daily basis when she was home. "You know I love you too, Emery." He didn't know how she meant it... Did she mean it as a friendly type of thing or was it more? He knew that he felt more for Emery than just a friendship but he knew now probably wasn't the time to try pushing his luck. She had a lot going on right now.

Had she wanted him to leave, he would have. He didn't want to insert himself where he wasn't welcome but as soon as he mentioned it, she seemed to oppose the idea. Faolan just wanted to wrap his arms around her. He knew this had to be hard for her. "If you really want me to, I'll stay." He said as he stepped up to her and wrapped her in a hug. He wanted her to know he was always there for her.

@Emerald Cartwright

Emery was lost for words right now since she deep down wanted to be with Faolan more than anything. Or at least a part of her wanted him by her side. A sigh came, she couldn’t keep her parents in the dark forever, “Yeah I figured that it could be easier to rip the bandage off.” she spoke with a sigh. “This gives me the rest of break to figure my life out, because I know what the consequences are.” she spoke as she took a second to hear her thoughts.

Her mother was cruel and ruthless, and Emery knew her mother didn’t want her from the start. A light turned on her stomach when she heard Faolan loved her too, “I’ve been terrible too you this year.” she said giving him a sigh. “I just wish I wasn’t in this mess I’m in, and right now the least I can do is have you here.” she spoke with a bit of a smile. Faolan meant the word to her, and she wasn’t going to lie that she felt something for Faolan. Tears began falling when Faolan wrapped her in a hug. She fell into his arms, and cried. “I want to be with you.” she spoke, not exactly sure that was smart to let out.

It’s how she felt, and right now this seemed perfect for wanting that.

@Faolan Finnigan