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Hi Reilly! Here for CMDC Round 3!
This was a very nice story to read, and I found it thoughtful and all-around non-judgmental of any of the characters’ decisions at any point in time. Even though Louis decides in the end to keep Delphine, it’s not done in a way that makes Tessa’s decision or Louis’s previous feelings and decisions wrong or invalid.
The idea of a wizarding baby potentially adopted by a Muggle family is an interesting one, and I’m glad you brought that up as a topic of concern for Louis. It makes me wonder! If a baby born of a wizard and a Muggle is given to a Muggle family...would they be told at that time about the baby’s magical origin and what to expect, or would they be surprised at the age of 10-11 just like any other family that produced a Muggle-born wizard? What an intriguing topic. It makes a lot of sense to me that Louis would be concerned about this, and think about all of the things his child would not be able to know about himself or herself for the first decade of their lives -- things that they would miss out on, like learning to fly before going to school.
By far the most stunning, compelling, beautiful piece of writing in this story was when Louis holds his baby and begins experiencing these intense emotions. It was hard to get through without feeling teary-eyed! It felt so real. It reminds me of that quote, that a woman becomes a mother when she gets pregnant and a man becomes a father when he sees his baby. Louis seemed to have been unexpectedly overwhelmed by love in that moment, and it was palpable.
Then it got even better when Louis ran directly to his parents for their love and support, which said so much about their family, and that was such a touching scene.
Congrats on the FROG nomination; this was such a lovely read.
Melanie
Howdy!
I wondered what to expect as this story progressed and it didn't disappoint. I think the decision for Louis to end up fathering the child alone (with a lot of support from family, obviously) was a bold move and certainly out-of-step with the 'expected' trajectory here. I kind of hate you for not making Louis/Tessa a thing for Delphine, but at the same time I think the ending was awesome as is.
The telling of the story through Louis's eyes and witnessing his progression from something like friends-with-benefits - maybe a little less than that TBH - but watch him make tough decisions to act for the better with his coming bundle. It's hard to exactly describe this part in the best way, but I guess I'll say that I really thought the way you portrayed his initial reactions and growing doubts, etc. was incredibly realistic. I think together or not when there's an unexpected pregnancy there's the shell-shocked discussion of 'what in the hell are we going to do now?' I know I experienced that with my own son, who was a honeymoon baby born in the middle of my first year of law school. While people who are together (usually I'm meaning married here) probably don't experience it (at least not usually I wouldn't think), Louis has the doubts that the guy who's becoming a biological father has, and resolves them with (to an extent rightfully so) in whatever way Tessa wants. Then he actually falls in love with the baby before it's born like parents do, but like any parents, together or not, thinks again 'what the hell am I going to do - I have no idea how to be a mom/dad - what if I suck. No, I'm definitely going to suck at it.'
And Louis changes his life for Delphine like a true parent does. Even under the pressure of adoptive parents actually being physically there to sign the adoption papers he decides to be a dad. Yeah, he flips out first, but he does it.
The last thing I have to say is that I do think Louis and Tessa are both being naive about the future discussion of why Tessa's not around with Delphine. Like, that's not something a child really understands I think. Some would be receptive when the other parent is never there and they've never known anything different, but I also think many would be incredibly hurt, especially depending on their life circumstances and self-esteem/confidence in their own identity at the point they learn about it because it's kind of like 'yeah, she said to tell me she loves/d me and that she did what she did for the best, but she's not here and those are just words' or 'she threw me away' or 'she didn't want me' or 'she chose herself over me' or whichever way. I imagine it would be really hurtful and hard to deal with personally, but IDK.
Anyway, all this is to say that I enjoyed the story and the realism too. Thanks for sharing!
AHHH, REILLY. I’M LEFT HERE FLOUNDERING IN ALL MY EMOTIONS -- TEARS STARTED PRICKLING AT ONE POINT. Wow, I’m in such an emotional state right now; you really pulled out all the stops for this one!!!
This story touched me to the bottom of my heart -- the strength of the Weasley-Delacour family is so apparent in this story, and it’s that kind of familial support that can really make me weep when I read stories. I loved the way you sprinkled little scenes here and there of Louis just enjoying time with his family. Like, Victoire and Dominique and Louis genuinely care for one another!! They are willing to fight for him to be happy, and aren’t afraid of touching upon his feelings about the whole situation!! Sometimes, we just need people who know us better than we know ourselves to gently prod us in the right direction; I have a feeling that both Vic and Dom knew from the beginning that Louis was going to keep the baby, which is why they reacted so positively initially.
I just want to gush about Louis for a little bit. He’s like the ideal person to have an accidental pregnancy with -- he’s a respectful person with a good sense of his personal morals and responsibilities. I’m sure that Tessa felt much more comfortable knowing that the person who created the baby with her was by her side throughout the entire process, and though you didn’t expressly state the passage of time, Louis obviously took care of her across all nine months. It’s truly unfortunate that this behavior from men isn’t a more common thing, that I even feel the need to compliment Louis at all, because it should be commonplace. But it’s not. It kind of hurts imagining how much more Tessa would have struggled if she didn’t have Louis to rely on -- as a student, she must be completely swamped with schoolwork, and to have had to deal with the physical side effects of pregnancy would have been a nightmare.
I love how you emphasized the importance of Tessa’s choice in choosing whether or not to give her baby up for adoption. Everyone is certainly different, and though there are women who can easily choose an abortion, I like the alternate route that you chose to go with this story. But giving a baby up for adoption is by no means easier, which you show so poignantly and beautifully -- Tessa obviously grew really attached to her baby, but knew that she would never be able to take care of the child well. My heart went out to her after the birth scene, when she shouted she didn’t want to know the gender of the baby; what I especially love about this story is how easily I imagine myself in her footsteps. I feel like if this happened to me, I would be like Tessa, and watching Tessa’s emotional journey is just incredibly saddening yet touching.
Louis’s moment of connection with Delphine was just!! so ethereal!!! It was utterly magical, and the way that he broke down and returned to his family afterwards -- oh, that entire sequence was just beautifully written. It’s so significant that he found solace in his family, that he finds strength in them. Like, you use the theme of family so unbelievably beautifully in this story, and you tie it together so wonderfully with the peaceful handing over of dear baby Delphine.
AHH. I GENUINELY LOVE THIS WITH ALL MY HEART. <3
Love,
Eva
Hey there!
I'm here to drop off a review for the CDMC - Round 3 event! Congratulations on your nomination for the FROGs!
I like the set up of this immediately. We don't know much about Louis or who Tessa is, but gradually you establish a clear friends with benefits dynamic between them. It seems that Louis is pretty logical about the whole thing and so far, it seems things are working nicely between them.
Ugh. I had a feeling that something like this was coming. I had hoped Tessa and Louis were using protection (condoms + birth control), but it looks like maybe that wasn't the case. An unwanted pregnancy is so difficult in the best of circumstances, but worse in exceedingly difficult ones...and the middle of med school is definitely not the time you want to be dealing with one. I'm glad that Louis and her are at least on the same page with what to do and that he's willing to support her as she goes through this difficult process.
I do like that they're considering multiple options in regard to this pregnancy. Adoption could very well turn out to be viable, but I sure hope the family is properly vetted. I've sadly known someone who ended up the victim of a horror story adoption situation.
I am glad that Louis has some support from his siblings. Having to deal with an unwanted pregnancy is difficult no matter what option is chosen, so he'll need the support as they work through it.
And now I'm worried that Louis is maybe becoming attached to the idea of becoming a dad and that maybe he's setting himself up for heartbreak.
Dom is really doing a great job of being a good sister. When someone is going through something so difficult, it's so important to check in and make sure that they're alright. I'm glad she's doing that for Louis because this is such a big decision for him to have to make.
Wow. The birth scene was so difficult. I know Tessa is detached from it because that's what she needs to do to get through the adoption, but it's still very sad either way. I do think that she and Louis are making a very selfless choice in giving this child a chance for a better life.
It's interesting that Louis suddenly decided to keep Delphine. And poor Bill and Fleur to suddenly have all of that dropped on them at once. It's quite a big secret to hide a pregnancy for 9 months.
In the end, it seems that things will be okay. I'm sad that Tess feels so guilty about letting her go and I do hope that maybe down the road when she's much older and in a different place, maybe she'll try to have some relationship with her. If she doesn't at least Delphine has ended up in a good home. It'll be difficult for Louis, but at least he's trying.
Good job!
~Kaitlin
This… this was so heartwarming and touching, and you hit all the right notes with this story. I so enjoyed reading this story about Louis and his journey into parenthood. The way you described his doubt and when he decided to keep the ultrasound picture, I suspected that he would have a change of heart, but I wasn’t completely sure at first.
I loved the way you wrote his family who supported him. His non-relationship with Tess was also very sincere. I think that’s the best word for this story. It’s a very sincere telling of how a guy who didn’t think he was ready or worthy became a father. You painted him as a loner who thought of himself as too selfish. I wonder if that was because he couldn’t imagine himself tied down, and how he easily fell into the situation with Tess. Maybe he thought that he couldn’t want things any other way. But life has a way of surprising us, and he got a very big surprise! I loved how the emotions hit him in waves, and how you portrayed him getting more and more attached to the idea of the baby as the fic went on. Even when it wasn’t explicitly stated, I could feel the attraction and the love that was growing inside of him all the way up to where he held her for the first time. It was a beautifully portrayed picture of an evolving family.
I also loved how supportive Louis’ family was and how they got everything set up for the new addition. It was a great way to show that he had a team behind him, which gave me the certainty that Delphine was going to be okay. I loved how Dom reminded Louis that this was what family did for each other, and that he had already done so much for them when they had their own child.
Such a great story! I’m so glad I came to read this for the CMDC review event!
Pix
Hi Reilly! Here with your requested review (and for BvB hehe).
I really really loved this fic, and was really surprised by it. I was most surprised by just how emotional the fic made me, especially because I don’t have any personal connection to parenthood or pregnancies. I think it’s because, ultimately, this fic ended up, for me, being about Louis and him finding and creating a family, and stories about family always strike me really powerfully, for some reason.
I really loved your characterization of Louis. I haven’t read that many fics about him (so I’d be curious to find out why you were specifically drawn to him)—but every characterization I’ve read has always posited him as a really friendly, extroverted guy who’s really close to his family. There were definitely pieces of that in his characterization, but I really liked that in your characterization, his preferred state (at least at first) was solitude, and he didn’t actually appear to be that close to his family. It was a refreshing, and honestly, more realistic take, in my opinion, and made his growth throughout the story all the more rewarding.
Louis’s growth throughout the story was so well done. None of his decisions felt surprising in the end, because you’d taken the time to lay out the groundwork, to subtly and slowly change his character so he grew from the noncommittal lone wolf type to a father, ready to start his own family. You also really captured the emotional nature of that transformation well, especially in those major milestones. I’ve always loved that about your writing: the simple elegance in its emotional fortitude.
My favorite part of the story was the last few sections, when Victoire, Dominique, Bill, and Fleur were helping Louis. I really loved how Louis grew closer to them throughout this entire process too; I think it was a nice nuance in Louis’s journey towards family. In part, with Delphine, he was creating a family of his own—but he was also growing close to his existing family. It made the final moment with Delphine all the sweeter, and made me all the more emotional.
A final thought: I really appreciated Tessa and Louis’s relationship. I kept waiting for Louis to reveal he was magical to Tessa, or for that to cause any kind of problems. It was really refreshing to see that not be a major part of their story—you kept the focus on Delphine. Also, and this might be because of everything in the news with men taking away women’s bodily autonomy, I really appreciated that neither Louis nor Tessa ever really questioned either’s decisions. There was so much mutual respect in that relationship, and I really appreciated that!
This fic truly brightened my day. Thank you for sharing!
<3 Shreya
Hi, Reilly. I came back from the chat at the forum by Barbara. It's another great one-shot.
You did wonderful on the difficult theme the site wide story challenge gave you.You put various awesome themes into your story like brother(sister)food, family bond , the first mother's turmoil and the first father's love.
Moreover, you focused on the young parents' confusion around the unexpected result after their fun. It is really well written. Most of the authors easily think of the young mother's side, such as the process how their baby grows in her stomack or medical treatment or quarrel between the young father and her...etc.
However, what you did great is you spared much space for Louis Weasley's mind movement at each scene. What is outstanding is that you tried writing he always behaved sincerely towards Tess and their newly born baby. You created Louis as a person who has no credit on himself, which concluded he didn't deserve becoming a father. Then, we are very moved by his change of his mind to be his daughter's father, even he thought of her name. It's plausible he could be Delphine's father actually, supported by Bill, Fleur and his sisters with Teddy. At first, Louis thought he could handle everything, and then he found out he couldn't in the end. It was good of him to consult with his parents at last.
And it's impressive that you wrote Tess as a very independent woman who has ambition to be a great doctor in the future. The most beautiful thing is that each person in your story does their best at each moment, which surely grabs the readers' hearts. So many kudos!
K
Hey Reilly. Here for your requested review!
I have so many emotions about this story. Going in, I wasn't sure what to expect from the plot overall, and it was a surprise to read about the pregnancy. A good surprise, as I'm a bit partial to stories about pregnancies and kids.
I think the only things that I would have liked to have seen addressed, or written in more depth, were the real possibility of the baby being magical and growing up in the Muggle world, as there are so many implications there. And I wish Tessa would have found out sometime that Louis was magical himself, although with the ending you gave the story I understand why you didn't go down that road. Last but not least, Louis could have probably handled better the situation and told his family earlier, as I have no doubt they would have supported him, and possibly saved him some grief over all of his concern on the situation.
In any case, I think the way you wrote the several stages of the story was perfectly composed. All the insecurities and unknowns in each stage were well written, and not only were they relatable, they got me wondering about how I would deal with such a situation, which is a quality I usually look for iin fics.
Another thing I liked was the way Louis's and Tessa's relationship wasn't intimate, yet was close. It isn't so common to read about a purely physical relationship that happens to bring people together in such good terms. It felt like the transition from f*ck buddies to not-quite-friends who supported one another through a hard period of their lives was rather smooth felt natural in its progression, so kudos for that as well.
Louis indecisiveness throughout the story as he battles what he knows about himself and what he doesn't, the way he sees himself in the future and how it turns out to be really resonated with me also.
I loved reading this story, Reilly. Thank you for requesting, and feel free to grab a new slot soon ^^
Author's Response:Hi, Susana! Thanks so much for reading and takng the time to review.
I honestly thought about having Louis tell his parents about the situation earlier, because you're absolutely right: Bill and Fleur are wonderful, loving parents, and they would have supported their son 100%. But, my headcanon for Louis is that he has a rather bad habit of trying to keep difficult things under wraps and handle them himself, until he's in over his head and has no choice but to ask for help. Which, of course, is what happens here; he thinks he can handle it and it'll fix itself before he has to admit to it, and then... yeah. Lol.
I'm glad that you though Louis and Tessa's relationship (is that even the right word?) progressed in a realistic manner. I feel like these situations tend to bring people closer together, whether they want it to or not, and I wanted to depict it in a manner that wasn't romantic, but platonic. There's a shortage of that in fic, I think, so it was fun to explore.
Again, thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
Cheers,
Reilly
Hey there :)
This was such a sweet, heartfelt story! I particularly love how you showed us Louis’ character development: He seems like such a carefree person in the beginning, and very set in his ways – he definitely knows what he wants from life, and, more importantly, how he doesn’t want his future to play out. But then of course Tessa’s pregnancy changes that. I love that it’s not a 180° turn for him though, but only creeps in slowly, and subconsciously because that makes it very believable. Although a pregnancy means – literally – a whole other life, your attitudes wouldn’t change instantly, but slowly over time, and you depicted that wonderfully. I especially loved the part where Louis asks for the scan picture because he’s not really sure why he’s doing it, and even as he explains it to Dominique, it seems like he hasn’t yet fully understood the significance of it – this might just be me reading too much into it, but the fact that Louis held on to the picture, and even carries it around with him, suggests to me that he’s already attached to his child, and to the idea of being a father, far more strongly than he realises or cares to admit.
I also really like the family dynamics in this story! You make it very clear that the Weasleys are a very close-knit family, and that the bond between Louis and his sisters is especially strong – the idea of a monthly dinner between just the siblings is incredibly sweet, and I’m so glad to see them both supporting Louis, even if his and Tessa’s initial plans about the pregnancy aren’t exactly what either of his sisters would have chosen themselves. It’s very obvious from your writing that although the three siblings are quite different as people, they are willing to look past that and support each other even if they don’t necessarily agree with the others’ choices, and I love that. I’m a sucker for happy family dynamics and you’ve portrayed them so well!
I also really love how you portrayed Tessa! Even though we don’t see that much of her, it’s very clear that she knows what she wants, and that she’s determined to do what it takes to achieve her dreams. And I love that she’s confident enough to decide what she wants to do about this pregnancy, and also to change her mind later once she’s realised that’s not the way forward for her! This is such a life-changing decision for her, it’s only natural that she would be confused about it and take some time to properly make up her mind. I also think you handled the whole theme of pregnancy, abortion and adoption really well! That can be such a divisive, controversial topic, which can make it very difficult to write about, but you’ve dealt with it so sensitively, without condemning any of the options. Any time you’ve discussed it, Tessa and Louis have made very clear that what they’re doing isn’t the ‘right way’ to do it, but only the option that makes the most sense to them. I also love that, although Louis changes his mind after Delphine is born, Tessa doesn’t because even though that is an incredibly hard decision to make, Tessa knows it’s the option that’s best for both her and her daughter. It’s a tremendously difficult situation for Tessa, but I absolutely love how you made it clear that she knows she couldn’t have the life she wants raising a child at this point because it reiterates so much that there’s no one way that fits everyone, and the fact that both parents choose different things really brings that across!
This was such a good story, I enjoyed reading it very much, and I’m especially impressed with the development of Louis’ character throughout the progression of the pregnancy – it’s very clear that, although holding his daughter for the first time functions as a catalyst for Louis in making his final decision, he’s been ruminating about it for months, and it’s very much not a spur of the moment thing, but the product of a lot of thought that changed Louis outlook on life – what particularly stands out to me here is the scene of the mum and son in Diagon Alley, because it doesn’t seem like the thing Louis from the beginning of the story would have noticed, but by that point, he’s no longer sure that fatherhood isn’t an option for him, and therefore he does. Overall, I just love his character development, and I think you’ve portrayed it in a way that’s very believable!
Much Love,
Julia
Author's Response:Hi, Julia! Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to write this thoughtful review. <3
I'm really happy to hear you liked the way I portrayed Louis and his family. Bill, Fleur, and their children are my favorite of the next-gen families, and I really enjoyed writing about their dynamics. I've always imagined Vic, Dom, and Lou as being very close despite their obvious personality differences, so I'm glad that came through in this story. I'm hoping to explore them a lot more in future stories.
Handling Tessa well was really important to me. I feel like all too often, women who find themselves in these situations are lambasted no matter what they do; whether they abort, put it up for adoption, or opt to keep it, they're deemed irresponsible, selfish, or neglectful. It was really important for me to show that in cases like this, no choice is easy, and that most of the time, the women involved are really just trying to do what's best for themslves and their child.
I'm also really glad you thought Louis' character development was good. I haven't read many fics about unplanned pregnancies that are told from the male's perspective, so I had a lot of fun exploring it from this angle. Plus, it just gave me an excuse to delve into some of my headcanons for Louis, which I've been wanting to do for a while.
Again, thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Cheers,
Reilly
Hi there, Reilly! I’m here from the forum request :-)
You have chosen a difficult subject to tackle in this story and you’ve handled it deftly. Louis Weasley is very well characterized from the beginning. I’m amused that he has a cell phone and is texting his Muggle lady-friend. I have wondered a lot lately about how wizards would take to Muggle technology as it becomes more advanced.
You set up Louis and Tessa’s relationship nicely. They are friendly, light, casual—and obviously decent people. When Tessa realizes that she’s pregnant, she knows that she can tell Louis. And he reacts honestly (in shock) but then quickly wants to support her in whatever decision she wants to make.
I was pretty relieved when Tessa told Louis about the adoption idea. It shows us so much about both Tessa and Louis that they already feel so connected to their baby, even though the whole situation is a bit of a mess. I’m really proud of them for wanting to take on this task. And I’m really proud of Louis for wanting to help Tessa through the whole process, even when it would be easy for him just to walk away.
He has awesome siblings too! I love that the Weasley family continues to be healthy and supportive folks. They are the sort of family anyone would want to have.
The scene with the ultrasound is heart wrenching. Louis and Tessa are both trying to
stay disconnected from the baby, and they seem to be failing miserably. When Louis asks for the picture from the ultrasound, I begin to wonder if he’s going to change his mind about the adoption. Especially when you follow it with this sweet scene in Diagon Alley. I really wonder if Louis is going to be able to walk away from his child. I kinda hope not.
Louis keeps protesting that he would make a bad father, but I feel that he protests too much. All of his actions and interior life during this story make me agree with Dominique, that he would be a great dad. Not a perfect one, but a great one.
You handled the birth scene well. Great description of Louis’s reaction to Tessa’s contractions. I love that he took the time to read about what to expect. Tessa’s desire to not see the baby and emotional breakdown were heart breaking.
But, here is where I started crying (and had no tissues, of course):
“Every reason he’d ever had for not wanting to be a father, every doubt he’d ever cast upon himself, was washed away with each tear. In that moment, all he felt was an overwhelming desire to care for the baby girl in his arms. He wanted to make it his personal mission to ensure she was never cold, hungry, or scared. He wanted to spend every day showing her that she was loved… because she was.”
This paragraph was so beautiful. I cried from this point through the end of the story.
I love that he decides to keep Delphine. I love that he finally talks to his parents and that they are supportive. I love that the family pitches in and that Tessa is understanding and that little Delphine is going to grow up by the sea, loved by such wonderful people.
“My little June bug”—-perfect line.
Reilly, this was a wonderful story! Thank you so much for writing it!
Author's Response:Hi, Noelle! Thank you so much for this beautiful review. <3
Realistic characterization is very important to me, and I was worried that it wouldn't come through properly when I brought in the rather sensitive subject matter. I'm relieved to hear that it did. And yay - I'm so happy you liked my portrayal of the Weasleys! Out of all the next-gen clans, Bill, Fleur, and their children are my absolute favorite and I loved exploring their dynamics in this (and look forward to fleshing them out even more in future fics).
Again, thanks so much for reading and taking the time to review!
Cheers,
Reilly
Reilly,
I love this story. I love how you've portrayed both Louis and Tessa. They are both (relatively) responsible adults. They still respect each other. No one blames the other. . . and then Tessa brings up the idea of abortion.
It's obvious from the very start that Tessa isn't very comfortable with the idea. I really get a sense that she's trying to feel out Louis's feelings on the subject and Louis comes across as someone who doesn't truly understand himself yet. He doesn't really know what his priorities are until they (or in this case she) is quite literally crying in his face.
I was very happy that you chose adoption over abortion and I thought for a while that this might be one of those "let's get married and live happily ever after stories." I'm very glad it isn't because this isn't a fairy tale. This is true life in which a baby rarely strengths an already fledging relationship.
I thought Tessa's reaction of not wanting to know the gender of the child was very powerful. It really gave the reader a glimpse into the emotional turmoil that she is dealing with.
And the fact the father takes up the responsibility and the mother walks away. As I mom, I had a hard time with that, but I felt it worked with this story. It really showed Louis's strength through his choices.
I wonder if Louis will send her pictures, update her on their child's life. I wonder if Tessa will have regrets and if she'll ever decide to come back into her daughter's life. If she does, she'll be in for quite a shock especially when she finds out what school her daughter might just attend.
Author's Response:Hi, potionspartner! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I headcanon Louis as someone who doesn't give himself enough credit, so I'm so glad you picked up on Louis not really understanding himself yet. In the beginning, he beats himself up for being selfish and irresponsible (and yeah, he is in some ways; he's only 23, after all!) but there he is, stepping up to support Tessa with her choice and be there for her when she needs him to be. I imagined him as thinking that not wanting to settle down w/ a family yet equated to being irresponsible, but obviously, there are other ways to be responsible!
For me personally, it was really important to show how difficult it was for Tessa (and, to a lesser extent, Louis) to come to her decision. Pregnancy is no joke, and abortion is a very sensitive issue, so I wanted to make it known that Tessa carefully weighed her options before coming to a final decision. It was never going to be easy no matter what she chose, and I'm glad that difficulty came through.
As for what happens afterward, I imagine Louis and Tessa not having any contact until years later, when Delphine asks about her mom. That's the extent of what I've thought about it, though, and it honestly may change. Maybe I'll write about it eventually.
Thanks again for reviewing. It made my day!
Cheers,
Reilly
Hello! I’m *finally* here with that review you requested about a month ago – so sorry for the delay!
First things first – I would never have guessed that this is the first thing you’ve written in a while. For the most part it is very polished (a few typos here and there, but nothing that detracted too much from the story for me as I read it. But you might want to give it a quick read-through just to catch those). And I really liked the pacing, it held together really well and you covered so much in this one-shot without it feeling like it was stretched too thin.
One of my favorite things about this story was how well you wrote the theme of family. Especially Louis’ relationship with his siblings. They are such awesome siblings and I love that they’re so close and they meet up for monthly dinners and stuff, and that they play cards and tease each other. Reading that first scene when they show up, the warmth of this family is so evident and I think you did a wonderful job showcasing that.
You asked about it being overly predictable or cliche, and I don’t think it was either of those things! Until about halfway through I honestly thought you’d have Louis and Tessa get together, and I loved how things turned out instead. (I began to suspect they wouldn’t end up together once the focus started to shift away from Tessa, and increasingly more on Louis’ conflicted feelings, and I think that was a clever way of indicating where the story would go.) So yeah, I think you avoided cliche by taking the story in a different direction than most pregnancy fics tend to go.
Louis keeping the kid at the end – I admit I felt a little bad for the adoptive parents? But most of all I liked the way everything kind of came together at the end when you tied his family back into everything and they helped him set up a nursery in Shell Cottage. It felt like such a cohesive ending that tied together all of the themes you’d been exploring in the story. And Louis has grown up so much throughout the story! It’s such a contrast to who he was at the beginning – or at least who he thought he was. Even from quite early on, despite that he thought of himself as a selfish person, he was still there for Tessa every step of the way and I just loved how you characterized him in this fic. He really just wants to be a good person and do the right thing, and I loved that.
I also really liked your OC Tessa, and I especially liked how you wrote her decision to give up the baby (and stick with that decision, even at the end of the fic). Despite that she isn’t the focus of the story, you weaved a lot of nuance and depth into her character, and how despite that she is giving up the baby to focus on medical school and her career and she just doesn’t want a kid at that time, it isn’t because she’s uncaring. The scene when she tells Louis how much she loves Delphine was really beautiful.
I’m trying to find some CC to give you and coming up with nothing. I honestly loved this – thanks so much for requesting.
P.S. I love your Firefly signature on the forums!!
Author's Response:Hi, Stella!
Thanks so much for taking the time to review this; your kind words made my day! I'm really glad you thought it was well-paced. I was determined to make this a cohesive one-shot, but didn't want it to be too short for the story I wanted to tell, nor too long that it dragged on. It was a balancing act for sure, but I think I'm satisfied with how it ended up. Glad to hear others think so, too! :)
Yeah, I kind of felt bad for the adoptive parents, too. :-/ It was one of those situations where no matter what, someone was going to get hurt. But, alas, not everything can be clean-cut, and I really wanted to add that layer of realism.
And yay, I'm super happy that you enjoyed Louis's family! The Weasley-Delacour family is my favorite next-gen group and they were a joy to write. I can't wait to explore their dynamics more in future fics!
Thanks again, love!
Cheers,
Reilly
You know when you read something but you're conscious of the fact that your reading something? And then there's that point sometimes when you read that you forget that you're reading? That you get so engrossed in the story that you are oblivious to not only everything that's around you but also the fact that you're reading something? That's what happened to me as I read this story! I love this story!!
Why do I love it, you might ask? Well. Louis just melts my heart in this! The transformation he has from living selfishly to loving his daughter unconditionally just breaks my heart -- in a totally good way though. These few lines: "It was the most powerful thing Louis had ever felt. As he gazed down at teh sleeping baby, his breathing seemed to stop. His chest grew incredibly tight, yet it didn't hurt one bit. When he ever-so-gently brushed his hand against her cheek, his eyes began to sting, and he didn't even bother trying to fight it. She was so beautiful." <<-- THIS OMG. Like my eyes are stinging. Literally! Tears forming in my eyes as I read that. It's so beautiful how he loves her! And then he takes off with her!! Bit rash, but I love it, and he's just the only thing he can think of is how he wants her and nope nope nope can't hand her over. It's absolutely touching. You've done a remarkable job of keying into this miraculous experience of humanity.
How you progressed the story was really well laid out! First, it's just a bunch of multiple-night stands. Then she's pregnant and they both agree on an abortion. Then they decide to do adoption. And then Louis decides, nope, he's going to raise her. At every step, more tension is added, and the reader has more thoughts of "oh dear I know where this is going."
I'm so sad that Delphine won't get to meet Tessa. I know she'll grow up with lots of love, but it's hard for a child to not have doubts. Yeah, her mom said Delphine would be better off not knowing her. But for a child that's hard to understand. :( But it's okay, story wise at least.
I would LOVE a sequel to this *nudge nudge wink wink* I WOULD LOVE to see Louis trying to raise a toddler or a teenager :D :D :D
Alwynse~~
Author's Response:Hi, Alwynse!
Thank you so much for your kind, encouraging words. I totally udnerstand the feeling you're describing (it's how I felt when I read "Staring at You" :D), so to hear I made you feel this way makes my heart melt! I'm so happy that Louis's growth came across as intended; I really wanted him to gradually shift from a selfish loner to someone who's ready to live life for more than just his own interests.
And trust me, I have a couple of sequels in mind for this! One when Delphine is still a baby, one when she's about two or three, and one when she's about sixteen or so. The tricky part is finding the time to execute these ideas haha. Nevertheless, stay tuned! :D Thanks again!
Cheers,
Reilly
Reilly! Here for your requested review!
I am THRILLED that you requested this fic... oh my goodness! The character development, the lack of toxic masculinity, Louis Weasley! It's all incredible!!!
I think I have a newfound love for Louis Weasley. I haven't read as many fics with him as a major character, and I might have to because your interpretation of him is absolutely incredibly adorable! First of all, I like how he weaves his life in and out of the Muggle world. Not only does he make Arthur Weasley proud, this demonstrates that he's an open person, accepting and tolerant, and an overall cool dude. Secondly, his development is amazing in such a limited piece! But what us constant about him is that he supports Tessa every step of the way. He respects her body, her decisions, her as a person. It's so refreshing to see this positive example of masculinity in fiction! (Hmm, I'm starting to wonder if we have some things in common as writers! I'll just have to read more of your fics to find out!) But then it's amazing to see Louis grow into parenthood. His desires change, he becomes more mature, it's all wonderful. I do think that a HUGE part of that his is family. You write the Delacour Weasleys so well! Can you dedicate a whole series to them? Because they're all wonderful human beings!
Even though they aren't officially a couple and that they do NOT end up together (an aspect I LOVE by the way), Louis and Tessa have brilliant chemistry. Their friends with benefits was very believable (though a tiny part of me shipped them, but that is not what you're going here with this kind of story). And I also like Tessa as a character, too. You give her so many ambitions and you make her likeable. I feel that women who give up their babies for adoption are often portrayed as addicts, too young, or "selfish." I don't view Tessa as any of those things, and I think that's perfect.
You say a whole lot in these 8,000-odd words, but what you have to say is brilliant. Seriously. Louis embraces fatherhood and vulnerability and is so respectful and boyishly charming at times. He is going to be a fantastic father--no matter the hurdles, no matter the joy.
Thank you so much for requesting this review and for writing such an awesome story!
Author's Response:Eeeeep, thank you so, so much for this beautiful review! I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed it!
I'm really glad you liked this depiction of the Delacour-Weasleys. Bill's my favorite Weasley, so it's only natural for his kids to be my favorite of the next-gen group. Believe me, I have a lot planned for them. My current series, These Days, is going to have a lot of stuff about Vic, Dom, and Lou once I finish up grad school and have a bit more free time on my hands, so stay tuned! :)
Thanks again! Reading this warmed my heart.
Cheers,
Reilly
OMG, I'm crying! What did you do to my poor heart? I wasn't expecting to feel all these emotions, you know? This was so beautiful! Really!
(Btw, I'm here for your request, and so sorry for taking so long to get back to you!)
All the time I wanted to hug Louis (but he already had his wonderful sisters so he didn't really need me to, I guess... :P Weasleys are just the best family). He was wonderful throughout it all, he was just so supportive of Tessa all along the way, staying by her side and not questioning her choices... he could have just washed his hands of it all (many others in his position would probably have), instead he chose to take responsibility and do what he could for her. It shows the kind of person he is and I love him for it.
Everything was just so emotional, as it's obvious, and while part of me knew that this could be the only possible outcome, I had no idea how painful the path would be and how strong the emotions. I have no idea how I would have acted, had I been in Tessa's or Louis' place. And Louis' confusion over the whole thing was just so well done. It's a lot to figure out, I bet. And then, when he held Delphine for the first time... I swear I was crying right alongside him! Your writing is that good!
I don't think I'm making much sense with this review, and I don't think I can add much to it, I'm just too emotional to think straight. But I loved reading this and I thank you for requesting for this story (it's not something I would have probably looked for otherwise, so I'm doubly grateful that you requested for it!)
Wonderful job, darling! Lots of love to you!
Chiara
Author's Response:Awwww, Chiara, thank you so, so much for your kind words! I'm sorry I made you cry, though I a glad the story had the desired effect lol.
Thanks so much for taking the time to review! This made my day!
Cheers,
Reilly
Hey Reilly! :)
Sorry for taking so long to get to this in my thread -- with the menagerie burnout, I took a full two weeks off of reviewing, and then I got drawn into FROGS noms....but I'm here now! Your main concern was that this was your first "brand new" piece in a couple of years that wasn't just reworking something old or continuing a WIP, so I'll address that after I squee for a bit!
Okie dokie so hi you made me want to cry because of how well you've plotted this story out. You've characterized Louis so well here -- it's not often I read a Louis story, and when I do, he's usually a very caring, family-oriented person, so it's refreshing to see you turn him into someone who prefers to be alone and do his own things. And your OC Tessa -- TBH the person that immediately sprung to my mind was Tessa Thompson (probably because that's the only Tessa I know of, lol) and the fact she's in medical school is also amazing! I think you've done a great job of illustrating their relationship -- it's mostly just a friends with benefits situation, but I'm happy Louis steps up to be a good man to support her throughout her pregnancy. She's got depth to her and her reasoning for first wanting to not keep the baby at all and then settling on adoption is logical and practical, and so in character. Louis, of course, being the loner that he thinks he is, goes with whatever she needs because he knows it's all on her to carry their baby to term, so he's just doing what he can to help her through this tough journey.
Something else you did extremely well was giving each of the Weasley clan their own voices and personalities -- the kids are all so close (which I love!!!) and Bill and Fleur know exactly how to talk Louis down and help him process all of his feelings and emotions, even though it is a complete surprise to them. The way you've illustrated the different bond Louis has with each of his siblings (and sibling-in-law Teddy) is beautiful and shows how each of them mean different things to him. Honestly I think my favorite moment in this killer of a fic is when Louis holds his daughter for the first time. The intense description you write is just superb for this scene and details all of his emotions so well. His frantic thoughts as he's brought back to reality, to the adoption, to the waiting couple in the reception area, are done great here.
So yeah I guess really what I'm rambling on about is that you definitely have NOT lost your touch with writing fic! This is so well developed and honestly, I'd love a companion piece with Louis and Delphine growing up because my heart just needs it! While it is a long one-shot, I think the length works fantastically for the emotional depth and level of character arc you're looking for with both Tessa and Louis. It is quite honestly, just overall fantastic and you should definitely write that companion piece. ;)
~MadiMalfoy x
Author's Response:Hi, Madi! Thanks so much for this lovely review! And I totally get the review burnout. I took a break, too, so I completely understand!
I'm so, so happy to hear you found the story emotional and enjoyable! I feel like this type of situation is rarely seen from the male's perspective, so I really wanted to give it a try. (And have him, you know, care, and not be a jackwagon like many would unfortunately be.) I head-canon Louis as someone who thinks he's better off alone but has a bigger heart than he realizes, so I'm glad that came through in this piee.
As far as a companion piece goes, I have one planned that takes place about three-ish years after this one that will be a multi-chap, in addition to some other little moments here and there as one-shots, so stay tuned! :) (Now, I just need the precious time to write all these things...)
Thanks again for your kind words!
Cheers,
Reilly
Hey, Reilly! I'm here for BvB!
I'm so excited to get back to your AP - you know how much I love your writing, and this was no exception.
So, first off: I absolutely loved the way that you depicted Louis's relationship with Tessa, both in terms of their specific dynamic and in terms of the broader wizard/Muggle dynamic. I'm glad she never found out - it allowed the focus to really remain on how they (especially Louis, obviously) dealt with the unplanned pregnancy.
It also fit in well with the way Louis compartmentalized his life - in some ways, I kind of wondered whether he hadn't gotten involved with a Muggle woman at least somewhat on purpose (even if just subconsciously), specifically because it made that compartmentalization easier. If Tessa had been a witch, none of that could have been kept under wraps for as long as it did, and I feel like having the time to process the pregnancy on his own before looping his siblings and then his parents in actually did Louis a lot of good. I don't think that talking things out more would've helped Louis all that much - he strikes me as someone who's more prone to think on his own rather than talk things out with others.
And left to control how he talked about it and with who, Louis went through a really interesting progression that you did a great job depicting. It made a lot of sense for his character, and you laid a lot of the groundwork for his eventual decision to keep the baby throughout the fic. The ending was so, so sweet - I'm really glad (though not surprised) that Bill and Fleur were as supportive as Victoire, Dominique, and Teddy thought they would be, and I feel like while life threw him a curve ball, he's got a good plan for how to make it work - and he clearly loves his daughter and is going to do his absolute best by her.
I really, really enjoyed this. Thank you. <3
Author's Response:Branwennn! Hi, love! Thanks so much for stopping by! You're too kind!
It's funny that you mentioned how Louis was compartmentalizing a lot in this fic. I'm already planning a couple other Louis-centric stories (one of which takes place before this one, and one a few year after) and in both stories, he's doing the exact same thing. Like, I didn't even plan it. :p It's fun when characters just naturally take on a life of their own.
Thanks so much for this beautiful review. It was a joy to read! :)
Cheers,
Reilly
Hi Reilly! I’m finally here with your requested review!
I think one of the coolest things about this piece is seeing Louis’ character development throughout the whole thing. At the start, he’s constantly insisting that he doesn’t want a kid or a family, and then you see that gradually shift as he goes to appointments with Tessa and then finally that big shift when the baby is born. And he’s such a well-intentioned character throughout the whole thing - I giggled a bit when he brought flowers for her appointment and couldn’t even figure out what for - but I think that he’s constantly trying to do right by the people around him - especially Tessa and the baby - which makes him a really likeable and admirable character throughout the whole thing.
But you bring up such an interesting point about how different adoption is when there’s someone magical involved, because you’re giving up a baby that’s more than likely magical itself and ensuring that it goes through the earliest years of its life knowing absolutely nothing about the world they come from or the world that awaits them. I’d truly never thought about that before, but it certainly does add to Louis’ conflicted feelings about giving up the baby.
I kind of had an idea he was going to decide to keep the baby throughout this piece, but the moment where he went back to the technician and asked for a copy of the ultrasound was the moment I knew for sure. But then the moment when he holds her for the first time - holy cow, the emotions are so absolutely palpable and well-written that I almost got emotional myself. You’ve written this powerful moment so well.
I adore the family dynamics in this as well. The scene when Louis tells his sisters and Teddy and the one when Dom goes flying with him shows just how strong and supportive the sibling bond between them is - but the moment that really got me was when he showed up at his parents’ place, after trying to keep this a secret from them for so long, and just absolutely breaks down. And, much like Dom predicted they would be, they’re nothing but supportive and give him the confidence he needs to go through with the decision he made the moment he held her. And then they set up the whole nursery for her, which is absolutely the sweetest thing.
And then the last moment of this story, with Louis’ promise as he rocks Delphine to sleep, is absolutely the sweetest thing and such a perfect way to end.
Regarding your concerns about the story pacing, I think it’s perfect. It never felt overly rushed or dragging - you gave the full story of this whole 9ish month period without lingering too long over any one moment or jumping past things too quickly. It absolutely didn’t come across as sloppy at all.
This was such a unique and wonderfully written piece, and I really enjoyed reading it!
-Taylor
Author's Response:Aaaahhhh Taylor, this review made me so warm and fuzzy inside!! You noticed all the little things I hoped people would pick up on, and I'm so happy you thought Louis effectively grew as a character throughout this. It was one of my main goals and I struggled here and there, seeing as I've never written him before, so your thoughts on him tickled me pink!
Honestly, I've had the worst day, and coming home to this beautiful review to read made everything better. Thank you so, so much! <33
Cheers,
Reilly
Hi Reilly! Here with your requested review!
I thought you did a great job with this and really enjoyed reading it! I think it's a pretty unique story, and defintiely for one that features Louis as the main character. I'm generally a big fan of the Delacour-Weasley clan and I really enjoyed your portrayal of them all!
Anyway, I think you did a great job with what can be kind of a sensitive topic. I think you did a great job of still showing us some of Tessa's thoughts about this pregnancy and the baby, even though it's mostly from Louis' perspective.
Louis' thoughts throughout this were so well done, from no way to hesitant and unsure to ready to parent. He's really great with his new daugther and the relationship he has with both his parents and his sisters is also great here! You did a great job of showing the progression of this change and how he's moving through this as the pregnancy continues.
In terms of what you asked me to comment on, I think the pace is perfect and I don't think it seems rushed at all! I think that it moves throught at a good enough pace to keep things moving but also stops at all these important moments, allowing Louis all these moments to grow! I think you did a great job with this Reilly! It was definitely a unique piece and I really enjoyed it!
-Sarah
Author's Response:Hi, Sarah!
Thank you so much for your kind words! My gain goal in writing this was to showcase the father's perspective during situations like this, as I feel like that isn't explored as often. And as you said, the Weasley-Delacour clan is fabulous, so of course I had to write this with Louis lol.
Thanks again for offering to review this (not to mention resposting due to the site glitch). I loved reading your thoughts on this!
Cheers,
Reilly
This was amazing! I welled up so many times thought it, so great job there! I absolutely adored both Tessa and Louis here. Their conversations about their options seemed very realistic and well thought out and I thought they both handled the situation as well as they could have. I actually really loved that you had Louis change his mind and keep the baby as it is usually a very different outlook, or the mother usually changes her mind. I thought this was a great twist, even though it seemed Louis didn't want to give the baby up for adoption, he just didn't see how he could be a father.
I loved how you wrote Vic and Dominique too. I always imagine they're very close and they were so supportive of whatever decision he was making. I loved the conversation he had with Dominique when they went out flying. She gave him real advice without pushing any decision onto him. It was so sweet.
The ending was completely perfect and heartbreaking and I loved everything about it. I'd love you to revisit this and see how he's coping a few months or even years later!
I'm off to read more of your work now! Tasha xx
For Menagerie and RvG - Team Red
Author's Response:Hi, Tasha! Thanks so much for stopping by!
This review honestly made my day. This is the first brand-new thing I've written in a LONG time, and hearing that it worked well is music to my ears. It's not very often that the father's perspective is considered in these situations (both in fic and IRL, sadly), and I really wanted to explore that with Louis.
The scenes with Victoire and Dominique were actually my favorite one to write! I, too, have always imagined Bill's kids as especially close, so the dynamics between the three of them were fun to play with. I'm so happy you enjoyed them, too.
Thanks again for the lovely review!
Cheers,
Reilly
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