I just did a major edit on this story I wrote nearly a year and a half ago. I fixed grammar, consistency errors, run-on paragraphs, and the like. It's never been my most popular story, but I hope this may bring it to a few new readers. I think it's something a bit different and is a sweet little read. Please let me know what you think. - 4/25/18

o-o-o-o-o

Chapter 1 – A Small Surprise

"Da! More wice!"

"Hold on to your hippogriffs Freddie, dad's coming."

George Weasley returned from the kitchen with a pot of chicken and rice and deposited a spoonful in his son's bowl. Sitting down next to Fred's high chair, he took his spoon and started to eat the rest of the leftovers straight from the pot. Meanwhile, Fred was busily trying to scoop the mixture with his spoon and largely failing. At not quite two, the small boy's coordination was still developing. Eventually Fred settled on the method of scooping with the spoon in one hand while using his other hand to pile more on top and hold it all on the spoon as he sent it to his mouth. The end result was a large bite that ended up half in him and half down the front of him. George just shook his head. His son had definitely inherited the Weasley appetite, especially when it came to rice. He could mix almost anything with rice and the boy would eat it. Tonight's dinner even included a little bit of carrots that the boy wasn't complaining about.

"Hey Fred, try a smaller bite and slow down." George said as he leaned over to help his son.

The boy took his father's instruction somewhat, decreasing the size of his shovels although his speed didn't decrease. When he had finished with his dinner, George picked him up and headed for the bathroom and their nighttime bath and stories ritual. An hour later Fred was asleep and George returned to the kitchen, brandished his wand and began to clean up the dinner mess. Looking at the underside of the high chair, George once again considered getting a dog. As he floated the dishes to the kitchen, a knock on the door stopped him and he let everything settle onto a counter as he went to answer the door. He was a bit perplexed on who could be calling on a week night. Normally he didn't get many callers at all, or at least those that did call usually came by floo. Casting a transparency charm at the door to see who was waiting, George was stunned by what he saw. His ex-wife of five months, Angelina, was waiting outside, tapping her foot. What was she doing visiting him? She hadn't even showed to sign the divorce papers, it had all been handled via solicitors, as had the custody papers relinquishing Fred to George's sole custody. Taking a deep breath, George opened the door and looked into the eyes of the woman who he had once loved.

"Hi Angie. This is a surprise. Fred is already asleep if you came to see him."

"No George. I told you that it's better for all of us if I break ties. I actually came to tell you something."

Angie reached behind her and produced a baby carrier. Inside was a tiny figure with a mass of red-brown curls that almost perfectly matched Fred's. George was shocked and stumbled back as recognition hit him. Angie stepped in the door and set the carrier down.

"George, when I left you eight months ago I didn't realize that I was taking a souvenir with me. Meet your daughter, Roxanne. She was born three weeks ago in France. I know it's a surprise, trust me, this was the last thing I wanted. Anyway, since you insisted on taking Fred, I figured you'd want her too. Now that I'm done being pregnant, I'm going to start playing again. I've just been accepted for trials with the Denver Dragons in the States. I've got a portkey that leaves in the morning."

"Whoa Angie! I think we need to talk a bit. I mean she's a newborn. You can't just leave her."

"Come on George, I told you before I wasn't the maternal type. Fred was an accident that I didn't care to repeat, but now I have. Once I get settled in the States I'm going to get a procedure done to ensure I don't slip up again. Now, do you want her? I can always take her to St. Xavier's."

George's anger flared as he looked down at the tiny, sleeping bundle. She was an exact replica of her brother as a baby. He knew Angie had cheated on him a couple of times during their last year together, but there was no doubt this child was his.

"No Angie, I will not let you give away my daughter to strangers. I'm a bit shocked she's mine actually, although it's obvious. We were only together a couple of times toward the end."

"Yeah well, Pierre got himself snipped years ago and she doesn't look a thing like him anyway. Bastard dumped me as soon as I started showing around three months. Anyway, I need a fresh start, which is why I'm headed for the States. Now, here's a bag with her stuff. Diapers, formula, clothes, papers are all in there. Should be enough to get you through the week."

Angie dropped the bag and turned around. She paused for a moment and bent down briefly to look at her daughter. George wondered for a split second if Angie may have second thoughts. Then she stood up, crossed to the door and exited George's life for the last time.

George took a deep breath that became a half sob as he crossed over to pick up the baby carrier. Taking his daughter to the living room, he set her down on a couch and just stared at her. What the hell was he going to do now? Not that he wasn't experienced with babies. When Fred had been born, Angie had tried to pretend she was interested, but by that point their marriage was already showing cracks and most times she just seemed frustrated by her son. George on the other hand had been besotted from the time he first saw Fred. When Angie gave up trying to nurse after the first week and then gradually lost interest in pretending to be a mother, George had taken over. He continued to try to work on his marriage, but Angie had come from a fractured home where she suffered at the hands of a string of stepfathers. Finding out she was a witch and ending up at Hogwarts had most likely saved her life, but the damage had been done.

George and Angie had hooked up shortly after the Battle of Hogwarts, while they were both grieving Fred's death. Angie had assured him that she was over Fred and loved George, but he discovered differently not long after they eloped. George's parents had been hesitant about Angie for several years and eventually they decided to just run off and marry in Greece. They stayed for two weeks, leaving the shop in Ron's care, and nine months later Fred arrived. George wondered if Angie would have been different if she had married his brother instead, but he doubted that she would have ever been able to overcome the abuse of her childhood. Now she was gone and he had two small children to care for. This was not how he had imagined life.

Coming out of his reverie, George decided that he needed to arrange a few things. First, he'd need another crib. For tonight though, Roxanne would take Fred's. Leaving the baby, he went to his son's room and levitated the sleeping boy out of the room and into his father's bed. Seeing that Fred was undisturbed, George went back to the living room and gathered Roxanne. As he took her out of the carrier and held her to his chest, the familiar flutterings of love for a tiny life hit him again. He took his daughter and placed her in the crib, lightly stroking her hair as he settled her. Next he went back to the living room and unpacked the bag Angie had brought. There wasn't much in it. He'd definitely need to do some shopping soon. In the bag was Roxanne's birth certificate and it listed him as the father. George set it aside, making a mental note to contact his solicitor and ensure that custody was established. With nothing else to do for the night, he checked on the sleeping baby and went to crawl in bed next to his son.

Shortly before three, George was awakened by the sound of a baby crying and took a moment for realization to hit him. It had been well over a year since a baby had disturbed his sleep and he suppressed a groan as he went to tend to his daughter. Forty-five minutes later she was fed and changed and he was back in bed, trying to sleep but finding himself mentally reviewing a list of things he needed to do. Eventually he fell asleep for a while longer before the alarm woke him early and he set about the new task of preparing two children for the day ahead. Fred normally went to the Burrow for the day while George worked at the shop. Molly Weasley had essentially established a day care for her grandchildren and truly delighted in having them all under foot. George decided that he should at least warn his mother before showing up on her doorstep with another charge, so he sent a quick patronus home, telling his mum that he had a difficult surprise and that she needed to be prepared. An hour later, he finally had both children fed and dressed as he stepped into the floo and made his way to the Burrow. When he stepped out into his mother's kitchen, she was waiting with a concerned look. Fred ran to her and she gave him his morning hug before stepping forward to George and looking at the small bundle he carried.

"Hi mum. Angie stopped by unannounced last night. Brought me a surprise. This is Roxanne."

Molly Weasley blanched, but reached to take the baby from him. She held her for a minute, stroking her hair.

"Well, she's definitely yours. How old is she? I'd say not quite a month. Where's Angie now?"

"Yes mum, she's three weeks. Angie left this morning for the States. She's pursuing her Quidditch career there and left Roxanne in my sole custody. I know it's a lot to ask, but would you mind taking her today? I'm still figuring out what to do."

"What? George Gideon Weasley! Like you need to ask. This precious little girl is obviously my granddaughter. Surprise or not, of course I'll take her. And not just for today. Like I've told all of you, there is no reason why any of my grandchildren need to be parceled off to others while you work."

George nodded and then collapsed in a nearby chair, struggling to hold himself together.

"Thanks mum. I'm still in shock. I can't believe Angie would leave a newborn completely like this. When she showed up last night I couldn't help myself, my heart gave a little flip and I realized I still care about her. Then she goes and does this. I just don't understand how the woman I thought I knew and loved turned out like this."

"George, I don't know what to tell you. A mother always wants to fix things, but some things can't be fixed. You and Angie sought each other out of desperation and despair. Neither of you had a chance to really see who the other was. I wish you hadn't gone through this pain, except that you did get two beautiful children from your marriage. Maybe someday you'll find someone else. In the meantime, your family is here to help and I can guarantee when your sister and sister-in-laws lay eyes on this little beauty, you'll have no trouble finding help."

"I'm sure mum. Anyway, I should pull myself together and get to the shop. I'll give Ron the news when I get there. Maybe I'll stop at Gringotts at lunch and talk to Bill. I'll try to give everyone the news today. The bag I brought has everything Roxanne will need for the day. I'll do some shopping after work for a few other essentials."

George went and found his son playing with Victoire in the living room and kissed him goodbye. Then he went and hugged his mother and kissed the baby she was still holding. With one last glance, he then stepped into the floo and headed for his shop.