Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters I write about. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) was written by John Lennon.

The arrival of the Potter's third child was a painful reminder to Teddy that he was not, in fact, their son. While his grandmother was kind to him, she could never fill the void left by the absence of his real parents. No one could. The sight of his aunt Ginny pregnant once again, filled him with a sense of longing. The same feeling he would get whenever he would look at the pictures of his mother and father. It wasn't fair. Of all the children that ten year old Teddy knew, he was the only orphan.

That wasn't his only difference. He was a metamorphagus like his mother. But he hated it. He had yet to master the art of controlling it. Every morning he'd look in the mirror, and a different person would be staring back at him. While James and Albus both looked like their parents, even in their young age, Teddy could see nothing of his mother or father in his ever changing face. The only exception was his eyes. They remained the same golden brown as his werewolf fathers'.

He crept from the guest room in the Potter's house he always stayed in during the hallways, down the hall, and peered into the kitchen. His uncle Harry held a glass of wine and his Aunt Ginny was giving food to little Albus, while James ran around the room. Both were beaming at their little boys.

Teddy felt jealous and spiteful, watching the scene, but at once regretted those emotions, with a pang of guilt. He turned to walk back but his foot caught on the potted plant in the hallway and he tripped, falling flat on his face. The ceramic vase cracked in two as it hit the floor, spilling dirt everywhere.

"What was that?" he heard Ginny call from the kitchen. The family quickly made its way into the hallway where Teddy had already begun to pull himself up.

While Teddy was as clumsy as his mother had been, he had also inherited the painful shyness that characterized his father's childhood.

"Teddy! Are you alright!" Harry asked, concerned. Gently, he helped the blushing boy to his feet.

"M'fine" he murmured, head down, hair darkening into a deep red.

"I thought you said wanted to go to bed early, Teddy?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Did you need something, son?" Harry asked, putting a comforting hand on the boys shoulder.

Teddy shrugged it off roughly.

"I'm not your son!" He growled, turning and running back to his room. The door slammed loudly behind him, and the two adults exchanged looks.

Once inside the room Teddy angrily picked up his pillow, and grabbed the picture of his parents he had left underneath. He shred it into several pieces, throwing them on the bed.

A soft knock came at the door, followed by Harry's soft voice.

"Teddy? Can I come in?"

The boy whimpered softly, and dove under his bed, hiding.

The door opened slowly and light poured into the dark room. With a flick of his wand, Harry illuminated the room.

Harry didn't look under the bed, but Teddy had a feeling that he knew he was there anyway. He sat down on the mattress, and sighed.

"Forget about the vase Teddy, it was an accident." He said gently.

"I was an accident." Teddy whispered from underneath the bed. He heard the bed squeak as Harry tensed above him.

"Who told you that!" He said angrily.

"Grandma… to great aunt Cissy, when they thought I was sleeping…" Teddy said. Harry could hear his voice getting choked by tears, and reminded himself to have a firm talk with Andromeda later.

"Teddy…" Harry's voice was calm. "It's true that your parents didn't plan on having a baby during the war… but they never, ever, regretted having you."

A noise of disbelief came from below.

"I'll be right back." Said Harry as he quickly left the room. Minutes later he came back and resumed his spot on the bed.

"Your father gave this to your mother when he left for the final battle. She gave it to your Grandma when she followed him. And your Grandma gave it to me a few years ago. But this letter…"

He set the letter on the floor beside the bed.

"This letter, belongs to you Teddy."

Slowly, a small and trembling hand peaked out from below the bed, and cautiously pulled the letter back under with it.

Son,

You were born in a time of fear and pain. A time of war. When I found out that your mother was going to have you, I was scared at first. I didn't know a single thing about raising a child.

But from the moment you came into this world, I felt, for the first time, complete. You were so perfect. So beautiful and happy, just like your mother. It was the best day of my life. It felt like the very first.

If you are reading this letter, then I died in the battle that I am about to go fight in. I only hope that you understand why I left. This world was on the brink of collapsing, and I had to give my life to protect you and your mother. I didn't leave because I wanted to. I left because I had to.

Look out for your mother while I'm gone. She's the only woman I ever truly loved, and I know you'll discover why, as you spend more time with her. The happiest I've ever seen her, was when she first held you.

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here.

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy

I will always be with you,

Dad.

Teddy sniffed and wiped his wet face furiously with his sleeve as he cameto the end of the letter. Slowly the same trembling hand brought the paper out, for Harry to take.

"It's your letter Teddy, you keep it." He said.

The hand retreated just as slowly.

"Your parents were both heroes. They died so that we could live on. In a better world. I hope you understand that. They wanted you to." said Harry. And with that he left the room closing the door slowly behind him.

Teddy lay under the bed for several more moments, tears streaming down his face. He re-read the letter several times, and then folded it up. Slowly he brought the paper to his lips, and closed his eyes.

When he finally crawled out from under his bed, he saw the picture of his parents restored, on his comforter. Slowly he brought it back to a safe location in his top drawer, this time placing the letter there with it. As he looked in the mirror above the dresser, he gasped. Pulling the picture out again, his eyes flicked quickly between the picture and his own reflection.

His hair was the same sandy blonde as his fathers. His face the same heart shape as his mothers. He had his dad's eyes, but his nose and mouth definitely resembled the woman in the picture. Looking at his reflection, he felt a sense of familiarity creep through him, and he knew that this was what he truly looked like.

With one last glance in the mirror, he mused silently to himself,

Maybe some accidents can turn out okay…

And left the room to go thank his godfather.