The Intentional Accident

Michael Wood was eager to get home after he had finished changing after practice but then again, he was always eager. He was the Keeper for Puddlemere United. His father, Oliver Wood, the head coach for the England Quidditch team, had got him the contract but Michael had to prove that he was as good a player as his father had been boasting. After four years without the Quaffle getting past him once, he had more than proved himself. He now shared a flat with Sirius Potter, his long time boyfriend. They had been together ever since they were sixteen. While Michael was launching his career on the Quidditch pitch, Sirius had been working as a Healer at St. Mungo's. After Professor Snape left during their fourth year at Hogwarts, Sirius discovered that he was actually very good at Potions so he got his 'E' in the N.E.W.T.S. easily. Michael said a quick goodbye to his teammates and Disapparated. What he failed to realise was that he had once again forgotten to shower after the long practice session.

~|~

Michael Apparated into the living room of his London flat. As he hung up his coat he saw that Sirius' coat was already there. He must have finished early today. He had barely dropped his Quidditch bag onto the sofa when Sirius came bounding out of the kitchen like some kind of Labrador. He nearly knocked him off his feet as he collided into him in a crushing hug.

"Whoa, someone's pleased to see me," said Michael, trying to regain his balance.

"I'm not too pleased to smell you though," said Sirius. He had just caught a whiff of Michael's body odour.

"Ah ...yes, I kind of forgot to shower after practice today."

"You missed me that much?" asked Sirius. Michael smiled warmly and slowly inclined his head closer.

"Always," he whispered. His lips stroked Sirius' neck and made their way down to his shoulder. Normally this kind of thing turned Sirius on like a light switch, but Michael leaning on him like this meant that Sirius also had Michael's stench directly under his nose.

"Sorry Mike, but you need a shower and now ..." He playfully pushed Michael in the general direction of the bathroom. "Go on, before you stink up the place," he added jokingly. Even Michael could admit that the smell was bordering on unbearable. Once in the bathroom he removed his clothes and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt good against his sweaty skin. He bent his head forward so that the water pounded his sore neck. It wasn't long before the glass screen of the shower was fogged up from the rejuvenating water. Looking out, Michael could make out a blurred shape standing outside. He wiped the condensation from the screen and came face to face with his favourite face. Sirius stepped into the shower, wearing only a serious look. Sirius and Michael had had many meaningful conversations in the shower. If its tiled walls could talk it could tell every little detail of their relationship. As he put his hands on Sirius' hips, Michael set the ball rolling this time.

"You seemed especially happy when I came home ...what's on your mind?"

"Well ...there's something I've wanted to talk to you about. On the way home from the hospital, I took a little detour into Diagon Alley ..."

"Uh huh," said Michael as he nodded encouragingly. When something big was troubling Sirius, it often took some coaxing to get him to talk about it.

"I went into the Apothecary and ...I bought a bottle of Birthing Potion," he said bluntly. This news was a little unexpected. Birthing Potion was what allowed men in the wizarding world to have children. Michael knew very little about it while Sirius knew everything about it. Once it had been taken, sexual intercourse had to be initiated within the following few hours. It didn't guarantee pregnancy straight away, it just made it possible.

"What brought this on all of a sudden?" he asked delicately.

"Oh, I don't know. I was in the maternity ward and when I looked at all those little ones ...something just clicked. After my shift was over I went and bought a bottle. It's sitting on the kitchen table right now." It wasn't that Michael didn't want children, far from it. What deterred him was how sudden this proposal was. They hadn't even discussed the finer details, like who would carry the child, who would look after it after it was born; Michael's list went on.

"Sirius ...you have to understand that this is all very out of the blue. I mean, if we did then who would look after it?"

"Mike, if there's one thing the other Healers at St. Mungo's understand it's maternity leave. I could take some time off and I'm sure our parents wouldn't mind babysitting. In fact, my mum would probably insist." It was clear that Sirius had given this a lot of thought. Michael was anxious about bringing up his next point in case Sirius hadn't already considered it.

"Who would carry it?" There was a slight pause. The steady flow of the shower was the only sound. Sirius brought his mouth right up to Michael's ear and whispered tenderly.

"Nothing would make me happier than to have your children." There was such conviction and sincerity in his voice that Michael nearly didn't say what he had planned to.

"Sirius, you know I love you ...but I just don't think the time is right. We're both at busy stages of our careers and ...I don't know if I'm ready. Perhaps with more planning and time ..." The look in Sirius' face told him that he understood. For several minutes they stood embracing each other listening to the rhythmic beat of the water on the tiles at their bare feet. Michael felt that he should say something.

"Is there any way of storing that potion for ... when we're ready?"

"No," sighed Sirius. "It has an expiration date on it and once it passes that it becomes useless. That's why the Apothecary won't take it back."

"Well when we decide we're ready, I promise to buy a new bottle. Okay?" said Michael, trying to cheer his downhearted boyfriend up. The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. Both men were tired from the long day so they went to bed early. Michael lay naked under the covers, waiting for Sirius. Soon enough, he saw the living room light go out and Sirius walked slowly into the room.

"I poured that potion away," he said as he climbed into bed. Michael found it hard to read the expression on Sirius' face. He appeared to be just sad, or perhaps it was something deeper. Either way, Michael knew what he needed.

"I'm sorry for putting a damper on things, I just want to make sure I'm ready before we commit to something like this. It needs some thinking about it."

"I know," said Sirius simply as he ran his hand down the side of Michael's face. Michael looked at the shirt and boxers that Sirius was wearing.

"I'm sorry Sirius, but those have never really suited you. Let me help you out of them." What followed was, in Sirius' opinion, the most meaningful sex they had ever had. As he laid back and felt what he had longed for all day, he was complete. When Michael was finished he soon fell asleep, exhausted from all the exercise and there was the promise of more the next day. Lying next to him, Sirius couldn't sleep. He was too riddled with guilt over what he had just done.