Based on characters created by J. K. Rowling.

A/N: This is sort of a sequel to Hard to Get. The story of Charlie and Gretchen continues and it takes place after Ingrid's mother, Jessica has passed away. Rita

Chapter 1

It was a surprise for Molly Weasley when she opened her door to find her four year old granddaughter, Ingrid, standing in front of her. Ingrid was holding a large package in her tiny arms, and she grinned and her eyes lit up when she saw her Nan.

"Grandma! Surprise!" Charlie had coached on her speech the minute he'd planned the surprise visit to the Burrow, so she'd have it right. At four, Ingrid loved to talk and she loved surprises even more.

Molly screamed excitedly and grabbed her in a bear hug.

"Don't squeeze her so tight, Mum," Charlie said stepping from behind the side of the house. "You'll kill her."

Molly screamed again and tried to squeeze both of them. Charlie laughed and kissed his mother and handed her a neatly wrapped light blue package that looked like it may have come from an expensive jewelry store. "Happy Christmas, Mum."

"Is Gretchen with you?" Molly asked. Gretchen was Charlie's fiancée.

"Uh, no," he said quickly. "I'm afraid it's just the two of us."

Molly arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Can we come in, or do you want us to spend Christmas on your stoop?" he asked, avoiding the look his mother gave him.

Charlie thought his mum was going take Ingrid and run into the house and leave him outside. Molly was extremely protective when it came to her future daughter-in-law. But she stepped aside while he and Ingrid walked inside.

Molly was too happy to start anything, but she gave him the 'we'll talk later' look as she called to Arthur. "Daddy! Look who's here," she shouted.

Arthur appeared at the top of the stairs and flew down when saw Ingrid and Charlie. Of course he grabbed Ingrid first and swung her around. She giggled happily.

"How's my girl?" he asked.

"Fine," she said politely, "and how are you? Were you surprised?" she asked. "Because Daddy said you would be surprised."

"I was indeed, Precious," Arthur said. Arthur looked around the room. "Where's Gretchen?" he asked.

Molly raised an eyebrow and said tightly, "She didn't come."

"Oh," he said knowingly.

Charlie ducked into the kitchen. "Do you have anything to eat?" he asked grabbing a piece of homemade bread from the table. "Ingrid hasn't eaten all day." He took a big bite of the bread. "Oh, before I forget, Minnie will be here as soon as she convinces the Department of Magic to let her demon dog into the country." Minnie was Charlie's house elf. Charlie had given her a Chihuahua dog that seemed to hate everyone except Minnie and Ingrid. Charlie, who had always had a way with magical creatures, couldn't understand Hercules at all and called Hercules the hound from hell.

Molly was delighted that Minnie was coming. She was always such a big help. Minnie wouldn't let her work in the kitchen and it felt good to be able to put her feet up and let someone else do the housework. Molly also knew that Minnie would tell her everything she wanted to know about why Gretchen wasn't with them. Had they had a fight? Was he cheating on her? Had she come to her senses and left him?

Molly Weasley loved her son Charlie probably more that the rest of her children, although she would never admit that; but she honestly thought he was a bit of a rake. She was convinced he would never settle down. Having custody of Ingrid since her mother died, did seem to settle him down, she admitted. Now she was convinced that Charlie had done something to push Gretchen away. Fear of commitment; she wasn't sure because he had committed himself to taking care of Ingrid.

"Mum?" Charlie interrupted her thoughts. She looked up at him and he smiled. "Did you hear me?"

Molly blushed. "No, sorry. I was thinking about something. What did you say, dear?"

"I'm going to have to go back to the Ministry later today and check on Minnie. Would you like to come? I thought I'd take you all out for lunch, maybe meet George and Ron in town?"

"That would be lovely, dear," she said.

Charlie was fixing Ingrid a sandwich while Arthur was still fussing over Ingrid. Ingrid was showing her grandfather everything in the purse she was carrying. It was very neatly organized and it must have been magicked because she pulled more and more trinkets, toys, and dolls until there was a huge stack on the table. The final thing Ingrid pulled out was an odd muggle contraction. She grinned as she handed it to Arthur.

"This is for you, Granddaddy," she said proudly. "It's a, a…"

"Surge protector," Charlie supplied, licking jam from his fingers. "You plug electrical things in it."

Arthur was absolutely delighted. He held it up proudly and examined it closely, oohing and ahhing over the contraption. "Look at the end; that's an American plug, is it not? I've seen that before. What did you say it was?"

"Surge protector," Charlie said. "Ingrid found it at a store and thought you'd love to have it."

"I do! I do! Marvelous. Thank you, Ingrid. I'll put this with my other plugs. Molly, did you…" But his voice trailed off. His wife didn't share his enthusiasm for all things electrical. He sighed happily and took Ingrid outside to the shed to put it away.

Charlie watched them go and he went back to making the sandwich. He knew his mother was watching him and he grinned to himself. He was going to wait for her to ask. He didn't have to wait long.

"So, Charlie, is everything all right between you and Gretchen?"

"What do you mean?" he asked innocently.

Molly looked frustrated. "You two are still engaged after, how long has it been? When are you getting married?"

"We've been engaged for two years," he said. "We didn't want to get married while Jessica was alive." He looked at his mother's expression. "I know you don't understand that; you never really liked her, I know, and I don't want to talk about my relationship with my daughter's mother. It's hard enough, okay?"

Molly was chagrined. Of course, Charlie didn't want to talk about Jessica. He'd been there for her in her last stages of her illness before she passed away. Although their relationship was impossible, Charlie loved her very much. Charlie always wanted to save everyone, and it killed him that he couldn't save the ones he really loved.

"I'm sorry, dear. It must be hard for you."

He nodded and put the sandwich he'd made for Ingrid on a plate and poured her a glass of milk. He was avoiding looking into his mother's eyes because he knew she could see everything in his.

"As a matter of fact," he said suddenly, "uh." He blushed a deep crimson and looked down at Ingrid's plate. He cleared his throat. "Yes, it has been hard for me."

Molly looked at him. That wasn't what he started to say, she thought, but the question she was just forming was interrupted by Ingrid rushing into the house pulling a very out of breath Arthur. "Daddy, you should see all those things. They're neat. I told Granddaddy I'd send him our toaster for his collection."

Charlie chuckled, "You'd better ask Minnie first. She's rather attached to the bloody thing."

Molly made a face at his vulgarity. "Charlie, your language," she pointed out.

"Sorry, Mum," he said and Ingrid laughed at his expression. "Ingrid, sit down and eat, please."

"Did you cut it for me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Charlie said.

"May I have chocolate milk, granddaddy?"

"Ingrid," Charlie said warningly. "You know better. No chocolate milk. And don't ask your grandfather. That's not fair."

"Why can't the child have a little chocolate milk, Charlie? It's not going to kill her, for Merlin's sake." Arthur said.

Charlie and Molly both gave him the same look and Charlie laughed. "Believe me, Dad, you do not want a sugared up four year old. No sweets."

Molly watched her granddaughter and she slipped a glance at Charlie, who was watching her lovingly. She sighed happily. "How long can you stay?" she asked.

"Oh, I thought we'd stay until New Year's, if that's okay. Is the family coming in for Christmas?" he asked.

Molly nodded. "It'll be a true reunion. It'll be wonderful. I'm so happy you're here, Charlie. We do miss you and Ingrid terribly."

"I know, Mum, and I miss you, too. I'm glad we got to come."

"What are you not telling me?" she asked.

Charlie laughed. "What makes you think…" he looked at her expression and grinned. He kissed her cheek and gave her a hug. "As a matter of fact, I do have something we need to talk about."