1. A Bicycle for Ronnie
" I want mine to be yellow! Please mum, I promise I won't change my mind." four year old Ronald Weasley said earnestly.
" Ronnie my dear you have a new favorite color every week. Why don't you choose a more basic color that you won't change your mind about? How about green, just like your big brother Percy's!" said Molly, trying to sound convincing.
They were arguing because it was nearly Ron's fifth birthday, Molly and Arthur had made a tradition out of giving their boys bicycles for their fifth birthdays. Ron had been enviously watching his older brothers ride around on their bikes for his entire life and he was understandably excited at the prospect of having his very own.
Arthur insisted on building the bicycles himself and painting them by hand with muggle paint. Ron's bicycle was completely built, just waiting to be painted but Molly wanted to give her son every chance to change his mind. Ron's first choice was purple but that wasn't an available option. The only colors Arthur had were; red, yellow, blue, and green. Ron continued to insist on yellow paint so his parents gave in with only two days to spare.
Arthur had to wait until the kids were asleep to work on the bike so he was painting well past midnight. It was nearly one AM when Molly awoke to find her husband had not joined her in their bed. She stood, sleepily shrugging a robe on over her nightgown before heading out to the shed. The night air was cold on her legs so picked up her pace once she was outside. Blasted workshop, all the way on the other side of the yard! She thought angrily already out of breath.
Her irritation faded as she reached the open work shed door and spotted her husband. He didn't notice her watching him so she stepped into the shed, he looked up hearing her footsteps on the wooden floor.
"Molly wobbles! How does she look?" he said fondly, motioning towards the bright yellow bicycle.
"Very yellow! Ronnie will just love it! Are you finished dear? Our bed is awfully cold with just me under the covers."
"One more coat should be good enough, then I have to put the balamcing charms on it. Why don't you wait for me. We'll have ourselves a romantic moonlit walk to the house mi'lady."
Molly laughed aloud,
" That sounds dreamy my love! Who says romance has to die once you have children."
"Us Weasley men are known for having long romance filled marriages, and of course being extremely good looking. Yes Molly you really got lucky when you won my hand."
"Won?!" Mrs. Weasley couldn't stop laughing now.
Arthur, now finished took his wife's hand and led her out of the workshop. He stopped to put a locking charm on the door. He knew his boys well enough to trust them not to peek, or in the twins case prank. They were only three when Charlie had gotten his bicycle yet they somehow managed to loosen all the screws. Charlie's first ride was one he'd never forget; it's fell into seven pieces as soon as he got it moving.
"Our family is something else Molly wobbles." Arthur said, looking down to meet his wife's eyes.
"Thank Merlin, could you imagine just having one child?" replied Molly.
"Nope, wouldn't want to. You know how many brothers and sisters I grew up with. I think I'm a better person for it and I know our pack of wild carrot-tops will be as well." said Arthur, holding open the front door.
Mrs. Weasley led her husband up the stairs to their wedding bed.
The next morning Molly woke up extra early to fix Ron his favorite breakfast. Balancing a tray with a large stake of chocolate chip pancakes, a jar of peanut butter, and some fresh orange juice she made her way to her littlest boys bedroom.
"Happy birthday Ronnie! Mums brought chocolate chip pancakes for her special Ronnikins!" she said softly or the sleepy eyed child.
When he spotted how many pancakes she had brought she swore she could see his eyes grow wide and excited.
"Thanks mum! These are my favorite!"
"I know sweetheart, Happy Birthday! When you're all finished with your breakfast get your teeth brushed and put on your play outfit before you come downstairs. Then you can have your gift." smiling brightly she left her son to his special breakfast and went to fix food for everyone else.
Arthur came downstairs a few minutes later his hair quite dishevled. He grunted a good morning to his wife and sat down at the table to wait for breakfast.
" Go and fetch Ron's present will you Arthur? I took him his breakfast five minutes ago so be down any moment. I want it waiting for him." Molly ordered turning over crackling sausages.
He rushed to do his wife's bidding just in time to see Ron walking down the stairs as he closed the front door. When he exited the workshop with the bike he realized he hadn't been quick enough, all the kids stood outside. Ginny in eldest brothers arms was waving exuberantly as her father wheeled the bicycle up to the waiting birthday boy.
"Happy Birthday son! Is this yellow enough for you?" said Arthur.
Ron's grin said it all.
"Go on Ronnie, climb up onto the seat take her for a ride." Molly said wrapping her arm around Ron's shoulder.
Without a backwards glance Ron jumped onto his very yellow bike and pedaled furiously across the yard.