5 YEARS LATER
When I apparated into the garden of the Macmillan family home, I was greeted by Ernie's mother as she walked towards me, an infant settled on her hip. I squinted slightly against the glare of the sun, but grinned as I crossed the garden to approach the older woman who welcomed me with a grin.
"Sorry I'm late," I apologised, holding my arms out for the one year old who went easily into my arms and began to play with my hair. Smiling down at him, I juggled him on my hip slightly.
"Don't worry about it," Mrs Macmillan grinned back at me as we began to walk towards the terrace where the rest of the family were waiting. From here I could see my parents talking to Ernie's and I rolled my eyes; I could see Ernie trying to kiss up to my dad. He really didn't need to be doing that; dad loved him already – not that he'd ever tell Ernie that. "Christian's running late from work, too. His wife's not happy."
With those words Mrs Macmillan headed to comfort her eldest daughter-in-law who was visibly upset by her husband having to work late. Then again, Christian was a workaholic who sometimes needed to be reminded that he had a wife and family waiting for him. Helga help him if he didn't turn up for his mother's 'garden party', he'd never hear the end of it. And the rest of the family would hear her grumbling for at least the next month. It was really in everyone's best interests for him to turn up.
I felt a soft tug of my hair and looked to the young boy cradled against me. He blinked up at me, grinning when he met my eyes. Giggling slightly, I shifted my hold on him to blow a raspberry on his cheek. He shrieked with laughter.
"Did you miss me, sweetheart?" I questioned in what Ernie liked to call my baby voice. The baby in question blinked up at me like he could understand my question before breaking out into beaming grin. Cuddling him against me, I said happily, "I'm taking that as a yes."
"You know," Ernie called out as he finally pulled himself away from my father's side to approach me. He pressed a kiss to my cheek, meeting baby Johnny's eyes from over my shoulder and sharing a wink with the young boy. Johnny reached a sticky hand towards Ernie who shook it slowly, and turned his eyes onto me, "It's really not fair that he prefers you to me."
"And why is that?" I shot back, turning to look at him with a raised eyebrow. Ernie grinned, pressing another kiss to my cheek.
"Isn't it obvious?" He stepped around me, holding his hands out for Johnny. Looking between Ernie and me, Johnny shook his head slightly and burrowed further into me. Ernie's expression fell playfully as he stuck his tongue out at the child. "He's my nephew, Shepherd. Not yours."
"Like that means anything," I retorted as I headed towards my parents and he followed alongside me, "He prefers me to you; blood uncle or not."
"That's because he has good taste in women." Ernie nudged my shoulder with his, "Just like his uncle."
"Oh please." Rolling my eyes, I smiled thankfully when he poured me a glass of lemonade. "Stop trying to kiss up to me; I know what you're after."
He smiled innocently at me, pulling out a chair for me to sit in. Eyeing him suspiciously, I turned my eyes onto the cutest member of the Macmillan family who was settled on my lap. Johnny looked round the garden table at the adults who were cooing and reaching towards him. He grinned at the attention, reaching out to take his grandfather's hand. I shifted him off to Mr Macmillan and turned my gaze onto Ernie who was making himself comfortable at my side.
My eyebrows rose in surprise when he began to butter up my dad by filling his glass before he couls ask for a refill. Helga I shook my head incredulously; I still had no idea why he was forcing this so much. Sometimes he was too much.
"I don't know why you're trying to get my dad's permission," I muttered to him. Ernie turned to me and shrugged innocently under my eyes. I raised an eyebrow; not believing it for a second. "My permission matters more than my dad's does. Even if you manage to get Dad's permission, it doesn't mean a thing if I say no."
He leaned in closer to me, brushing his nose against mine as he cajoled, "We've been dating for ages already."
"And?"
"And we've never been on a holiday together," he whined.
"Oh please," I retorted with narrowed eyes, seeing right through him, "that's a lie and we both know it."
"On our own," he insisted quietly, "Give me one reason."
"Let's not forget that I started my new job not long ago – I can't exactly disappear with you for a while."
"Come on, where's your sense of adventure."
"I don't have one," I responded flatly, reaching out to push some of his hair from his forehead. "I just don't get why you're pushing this so much." He avoided my eyes and I watched him with new enlightenment. Merlin, surely he wouldn't – I felt my chest grow tight at even the thought of him proposing. "Surely you're not planning to –"
He knew what I meant instantly and started slightly, shaking his head quickly, "Of course not."
"Good," I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes on him. The tightness in my chest eased and I felt like I could breathe again. Until –
"What if I was going to … to do that?"
I cleared my throat awkwardly, raising my glass to my mouth. "Firstly, we're way too young for the whole marriage and kids thing –"
"We've been dating almost five years –"
"We're only 20 bloody 1!"
"Fine," he grumbled under his breath, pouting like he was the child. Really, he was only proving my point. He looked up suddenly, meeting my eyes with a frown, "Then you'd better have no plans of dumping me until you decide you're ready. You're bloody well stuck with me now."
I pulled a face, pretending to be horrified, "Helga, you should have told me and I'd have dumped you sooner."
He turned away with a huff, clearing not appreciating my joke.
