Prompts: [Yultide Gauntlet, Frigg - Write about a marriage.] [Chapter title prompt: A Good Night's Work] [Without challenge: Tired ] [Warning: for slight cynicism.]

Don't Ever Have Kids.

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a/n: Unless, of course, it just happens.

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Hermione lay back on the sofa and let out a loud exhale of utter, complete exhaustion. Her hair— which, god bless her genetics, was usually already messy and bushy—looked like it had been through a wind turbine and had skittles and gummies stuck into it (probably as another joke of James Jr. who liked to stick things in her hair). Meanwhile, her back and neck were sore, her arms and legs ached from chasing rampaging toddlers all day and after baby Sirius Jr. had cried and whined all last night, she also had bags under her eyes.

"Fuck me, remind me again why we had kids," Sirius said as he sat down beside her on the sofa with an equally exhausted sigh. Sirius also had baby vomit on his shirt and, while handsome and in great shape for his age, looked like his tiny Marauder Junior kids were driving him up the wall too. James Jr. and Sirius Jr. were just much too energetic and much too much like their troublemaker father. Mia Black, their daughter, was also as much a handful and willing to create as much havoc to keep up with her brothers.

Sirius and Hermione both sighed and laid their heads back on the sofa, savouring this brief, single moment of silence and tranquillity. It had been a long day of toddler and diaper hell.

"They're finally in bed," Hermione whispered. She was close to tears because her headache could finally go away now but she was too exhausted to actually enjoy it.

Sirius stretched out his long legs onto their coffee table and tried to look alluringly at his wife. But really he was just too exhausted to try to seduce her either.

"I know. We can actually have some free time together," he said.

"Yeah, imagine that," Hermione said and swiped the baby vomit off Sirius's shirt by waving her wand. "Us time."

"Thank god." Sirius moaned and rubbed at his sore eyes, which were still red from baby James swiping shampoo and soapy water in his eyes as he tried to bathe the little tike."We're so damn lucky!"

"Yes, very lucky," Hermione yawned. "Other parents can barely keep up with their kids and handle the responsibility."

"Yes, and we haven't lost the spark either, we still make plenty of time for us!"

"Of course, I can't get enough of you, we still make plenty of time for sex," Hermione agreed wholeheartedly with her husband.

"Yes, plenty of times. We should do it right now," Sirius yawned and tried to grope her breast through her sweater but he was so exhausted and sleepy that he missed and groped the sofa instead before starting to drift off. His head fell onto her lap.

"Yes, we should," Hermione patted Sirius's head, combing her fingers through his silky, long hair. Hermione exhaled another yawn and snuggled closer into the sofa and Sirius's warm chest . "I'm in the mood now, really," she whispered as she leaned into his body, laying beside him on their large, goose-feather sofa. "We have everything we need, we have a very good life..." Hermione rambled on, barely aware of what she was saying anymore. She could just feel the weight from her shoulders and pressure from her headache disappearing as she closed her eyes.

"Thank god, we still have a sex life, kitten," Sirius moaned from his state of half-sleep and half-awake.

"Yes, thank goodness," Hermione agreed and kissed him on the cheek.

They then proceeded to fall asleep and Hermione and Sirius were both snoring by the time James Jr. and Sirius Jr. decided to crawl out of their respective cribs and head downstairs to cause more mischief and mayhem.

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They never did get around to having another kid that night, and, thank Merlin, because they already had three and those three were complete rascals. And Marauders.

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a/n: Moral of the story: never name your kids after the Marauders, because you can bet they're just going to be troublemakers and little berks like their namessakes. Just kidding, I love the marauders :)...although I do think McGonagall and others probably got a few extra grey hairs while dealing with their antics. happy new year! :D Make sure you make a list of specific goals and resolutions and try to keep the list somewhere where you see it everyday, like on your dresser, phone or fridge. It's easy to lose aim of goals unless you're reminded daily.