Title: Primary Caregiver

Rating: T

Category: Harry verse, Richard/Camille, Established Relationship, Family, Humour

Summary: When Richard is separated from his wife for a week, he realises for the first time just how much she does.

A/N: This is the first multi-chapter Harry verse fic. It is set within one week of "Fur Ball" (reasons will become apparent as to why) and thus before the events of "The Story". Just to keep you on your toes!

Chapter One: A Separation

They weren't arguing, not yet, but they were certainly teetering on the edge of one. Richard really didn't want to fight, this was not an appropriate time for it at all. Camille's Aunt, Catherine's sister, had died and left an estate that needed sorting out with, sadly, no closer relative than Catherine able to do so. Richard had found himself unhappy at the thought of Catherine flying out to France alone, trying to arrange the funeral and pack up her sister's belongings. He wanted Camille to go with her Mother for support, but also because he knew Camille had been really quite fond of her Aunt and would want the chance to say goodbye properly. It has surprised him when, having suggested it, she immediately rejected the idea.

Camille was vague about the reasons why she didn't want to go, and he found himself pressing the issue, until eventually she admitted, "I have never left you alone with the children overnight before, let alone for a whole week Richard!"

He'd been surprised how much that hurt. "What, so you think I can't be trusted with them?"

"No! No of course not!" She seemed exasperated with him, but what sort of conclusion did she expect him to draw from that statement? "Richard the longest I've ever been left alone with them, well actually just Harry it was before we had Alex, was two days. I am sure we would both find being alone with two children for the week you are proposing…challenging."

He crossed his arms, still felt like he had something to prove. "I do realise that, I'm not expecting some sort of walk in the park! I would take the week off work. I think I can manage, no, I know I can manage!"

Camille stopped chopping vegetables and turned to him, "Please, please don't think I am questioning your abilities as a father. But a week is a long time. My Mother doesn't expect me to come with her because of the children, and she knows all four of us could not afford to fly out with her, so there is no need to consider it really."

He didn't move from his position, didn't reply to her, and she looked increasingly frustrated. "I am not going to go just because your feelings are hurt Richard. I've told you it isn't about your abilities as a father and you should trust me when I say that!"

He moved suddenly towards the table and picked up his phone. This was clearly not a move that Camille was expecting. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"I am calling your Mother. She might not expect you to come, but I am going to find out if she actually wants you to go with her." Before she could object, he had dialled the number and walked out of the room to have the conversation.

Catherine was surprised by the proposal, "Well, Richard, of course I would want Camille to come with me but you and the children all can't afford to fly out."

"Well we wouldn't," he explained. "I thought I could take the week off work and look after them here."

There was a pause during which Richard resigned himself to Catherine pointing out he might not be able to cope. To his surprise, she did no such thing, and instead saying, "Richard you and Camille have never been separated for more than 2 days since you first started your relationship." Richard had never really thought about it before, but now he did he was surprised to realise that she was right. It seemed that Catherine didn't think he was incapable – but she did think he and Camille were inseparable.

"Of course I'll miss her," he admitted, feeling awkward about having to do so to his Mother-in-law. "But I know you need her more than I do right now. Harry, Alex and I will cope."

There was another silence at the end of the line, and then a muffled noise that he realised with a jolt was Catherine sobbing. "Oh, you're crying. Um, CAMILLE!" Perhaps if he was a better son-in-law he would have attempted to comfort her himself, or, given how rubbish he was at all things emotional, perhaps he was being a good son-in-law handing her over immediately to a concerned Camille.

Half an hour later, Camille joined him back in the kitchen where he was finishing off the meal she had begun to prepare. She had picked up Alex at some point, and Richard assumed Harry was still happily reading the book he had gotten out of the library earlier. "Well, you win," she said, sitting at the table and settling the toddler into her lap. Alex immediately grabbed at the cutlery, but Camille expertly wrested it from her grasp.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked as he started to dish up. Alex grabbed a fistful of peas and stuffed them directly into her mouth. She might think cutlery was pretty, but she had no interest in using it correctly unless it was a spoon for ice cream.

"I'm going with my Mother. I didn't realise how much she needed somebody to go with her. Seems your instincts were better than mine on this occasion."

"Well perhaps it is a blue moon tonight," he joked. Camille didn't smile though, instead she stroked Alex's curls as the girl continued to messily munch on her peas.

"You'll miss the kids," Richard realised as he watched her. Camille hadn't been reticent about leaving the children with him, it was that she didn't want to leave the children full stop.

"Of course I will. I'll miss you as well. A whole week Richard. Alex could learn 4 new words in a week!"

"God, with Alex, probably ten!" He pointed out.

"PEEEEAAAASSS!" Alex chose to cry at that moment. She had actually learnt that word ages ago, but it still caused Camille to tear up.

"Yes, darling," she said, moving the plate so Alex could grab another fistful.

He knew he should call Harry, because the food would get cold, but the sight of his mother upset would probably set the boy off and then Alex would start to cry and it would be one, big, tear stained mess. He sat down opposite her and reached across the table to take her hand. "I'll miss you, and the children will miss you, but it is the right thing to do. It's just a week, I promise to take photos and videos if they do anything cute."

"You think everything they do is cute," Camille teased him, and he knew she was coming round to the idea.

"So you'll be guaranteed to come back to lots of photos then!" He looked at her closely, offering a small smile, and eventually she smiled back. "Right, is it safe to bring in Harry?" She nodded.

Alex was too young to understand and they didn't really try to explain to her that Camille was going away for a week. Harry had been utterly devastated, terrified that Camille might not actually come back. Eventually Richard sat him on his knee and told him quite firmly that if he thought his mother wouldn't come back, he wouldn't let her leave in the first place. They also promised he would be able to talk to her every day on the phone, and that finally seemed to convince him it would all turn out okay.

It took forever to get them all into the car for the trip to the airport. Alex insisted that her stuffed elephant Snoof be strapped into the middle seat next to her. Richard wanted her to just hold the damn toy, but knew it would be quicker to do as she insisted than try to argue with her. Just like it was with Camille…

They all came into the airport atrium with her to say goodbye. Alex accepted the kiss from her mother and then waved, probably thinking her Mother would be back in a little while and was thus not seemingly bothered by her departure. This didn't seem to comfort Camille at all, instead she was rather upset by Alex's indifference. Luckily Harry made up for it by clinging to her desperately and repeating in a hundred different ways how much he would miss Camille. Richard had to concentrate very hard on keeping hold of Alex – not only because she was doing her very best to wriggle out of his arms but also because if he didn't he feared he might start crying as well.

Camille tried to embrace him, but a wriggling toddler in his arms and a six year old attached to her leg rather prevented her from managing anything but a kiss on the cheek. He swallowed and tried to think of something reassuring to tell her. Before he could, she suddenly confessed, "Juliet might drop by, and also Emma. And Eleanor Patterson as well. Not that I don't think you can cope but you might need the help one day and they wouldn't mind, not really…" She trailed off.

"I'll be fine," he managed to say, even sounded quite normal when he did so. "I'm sure they'll report in we are all doing marvellously."

"I haven't asked them to call me Richard, I do trust you. I'm going to miss you so much! I love you."

"I love you, and I'll miss you too." With a last kiss and cuddle for each of the children she turned and walked resolutely towards security, but paused halfway to turn and give another wave. Richard waited until she was out of sight entirely and then grabbed Harry by the hand and prepared for the difficult task of strapping his kids back into the car.

Alex went into her seat with surprisingly little fuss. Harry argued he should now be allowed in the front since Mummy was gone, causing Richard to begin to recite current traffic laws regarding children's seating regulations. Harry had learned long ago that as soon as Richard began a sentence with "insert name of act here, such and such a year" he was not going to win, so clambered into the back.

"Snoof!" Alex cried, just as he thought they were ready to go. Damn, she must want him to be strapped in again. He turned around, hoping he could reach from the front without having to get out of the car, especially since it had just started to chuck it down, when he realised that the toy wasn't there.

"Where is Snoof?" Harry shrugged, whilst Alex looked like she was working her way up to a scream. Richard tried to think, but it had been Camille who had gotten Baby 2 out of the car and it was highly likely Alex would have wanted Snoof to come with her.

"SNOOOOOF!" She began to wail.

Beside her Harry also started to sniff, "I want Mummy back!"

This was not a good start…

A/N: I assure you, Richard's troubles are only just beginning.