For Harry Potter Chapter Challenge – Chapter 3: Letters from No One – Write about someone running away.
An Excuse to Run
It was innocent at first, like most things are; Molly was helping Ted when he was alone with the Teddy. It was selfish of Molly, but all of her children were growing up, and with Ted she had the ability to do the one thing she was certain she could do, mother. So she would turn up on his doorsteps and lather him in gifts of food warmth, and most importantly love; and Ted was never left out of this amount of attention either.
Their conversations started simple, talking only of Teddy, or work. But then it became more personal, life stories, fears, likes and dislikes. Then Ted started asking Molly to join them for dinner, just him and Teddy, and how could Molly decline the offer to be with a man she cared about in a way she was finding harder to explain, and a child she loved unconditionally. So she made her way to his house late at night, confused, yet surprisingly excited. Everyone knew her favourite part of being a mother was to get her kids ready for bed, she could not wait too have that opportunity with Teddy.
So they ate, and they laughed, and Molly put Teddy to bed by herself, because Ted knew how well she connected with him. Then Ted and Molly stood awkwardly in the kitchen together as unanswered questioned filled the room to bursting. Molly knew she had to leave, because she only ever came here to help Ted with Teddy. Didn't she?
"Thanks," Ted spoke a simple phrase and for the strangest reason Molly knew it meant so much more than what she did for Teddy. She stood still staring at him, unable to move in fear of what she would let herself do.
"Wine?" Ted asked. She should have said no, that was evident, but she didn't. Instead three hours later she was sitting on the couch in Ted's living room, drinking dark red wine and laughing loudly at stories of his childhood. When she had finally stopped Ted was staring at her, smiling and swirling his wine in his glass. Then everything became fuzzy and blurry, as the lines dividing them into Friends were losing meaning.
Before either of them knew what was happening Ted was kissing Molly, and the moment that scared Molly the most, was that she didn't stop him, or want to. When she finally did stop she could barely move, because Ted made her feel the way Arthur hadn't in a long time, wanted. Molly loved Arthur, but the truth was, since the kids were born they rarely spent time with each and lately they had forgotten how. But Ted was able to have a kid in his life and appreciate her for who she was. This all scared molly beyond anything she was proud to admit.
So she was a coward and because she was a coward she continued to live in her fantasy, her new fling and the child they cared for, because like her other family, they were unique and perfect in their own way.
That was until Victorie was born, then everything changed, she no longer needed Ted or Teddy for that matter. She had a beautiful girl to look after, a rarity in her family.