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"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Percy! Happy birthday to you!" everyone chorused before the sat down and ruined the cake. Percy smiled as he looked around the table at everyone eating and laughing and Arthur came over to hug him
"You've grown so much son, your such an amazing man now. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks Dad, that means a lot." Percy gave him a knowing smile and Arthur smiled back, nodding.
"I know Percy....but you've been forgiven for what happened all those years ago." Percy nodded and Arthur smiled. It was getting dark outside so everyone helped moved everything inside and as everyone accumulated in the living room, Arthur excused himself to the bathroom. He bent over the toilet in just enough time to puke copiously into the toilet. Hints of blood splattered the side of the toilet and he groaned as he stood. He wiped it off and leaned heavily on the sink, rinsing his mouth. He spit a few times then dried off his mouth with a light blue towel Livvy had put in the bathroom. He stared at his ageing face in the mirror, he looked pretty much the same except for some grey streaks in his hair, and a more drawn, wrinkled face. He sighed, but it hurt to even do that!
He stepped out of the bathroom and walked back downstairs. A lot of the kids were packing to go home already, Ginny, Charlie, George, Myron, Matilda, Ron and their spouses and children. Arthur sighed after hugging each of them then going to sit on the couch. The only ones in the room were Langston, Bill, and Percy. Arthur smiled at them. Percy stood and sighed.
"Dad I have Molly's game early tomorrow....she's playing outfielder...I have to go home. Thanks so much for dinner though, I had a great time Dad...it was a great birthday." Arthur hugged him as he left and smiled, "I'm glad...love you Percy. Have a good night."
"Ok....make sure to tell me how your appointment goes." Arthur nodded and Percy apparated with a faint pop.
"Well....its just us...again...."
"Livvy's upstairs." Arthur pointed out and bill chuckled.
"Well.....What time are you guys going? Langston's the only one going right?" Arthur nodded tensely.
"Ok...well, if you guys need anything just give me a yell...you know I'll be here whenever you need anything."
"Thanks Bill." He nodded.
"OK and what are they actually doing?"
"Prep...I need the surgery in about a week...so they're testing and that good stuff... they want to know if anything else is wrong because of the venom and stuff."
"When should you be home after the operation?"
"Three days depending on how he reacts and any other ailments." Langston replied and Bill nodded.
"Alright good show...recovery shouldn't take as long as it did last time then...well I have to get home...Fleur called me a bit ago and apparently my little girl has her first broken heart so she's asking for me...I'll call you guys in the morning...love you Dad...see yah Langs." They both hugged him and he too apparated out of the room with a pop. Langston smiled up at her father.
"I have to go too dad...but don't freak out OK? Get a good nights rest and then I'll see you at 6 tomorrow morning. I'll be here can you be ready or at least up by then?"
"Of course."
"Ok....sleep..well! Tell Livvy not tonight, ok?" Langston joked and Arthur laughed.
"Goodnight princess."
"Good night, Daddy." she replied quietly. That's always how they would say good night to each other when she was a kid... Langston still remembered everything they used to do together....her heart was breaking he was going through so much pain....she knew it wasn't normal..she was a healer after all.
"See ya in the morning." Arthur nodded and turned to go upstairs as she left. Livvy met him in the hallway and smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"How do you feel?"? He shrugged nonchalantly and she laughed.
"I'm OK." he replied, making sure she knew he was only saying that because of her. She nodded with a smiling playing across her lips and she led him back into his bedroom, closing the door.
"You need to get some good sleep tonight."
"Yeah I know." She leaned up and kissed him quickly and he kissed her back passionately.
"Sleep." she replied after breaking the kiss and he laughed.
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course." she replied, kissing him one last time then leaving. He laid back down in bed and sighed, a wave of grief that he hadn't had in a long while came passing over him. Molly wasn't there to reassure him about his appointment tomorrow...and she wasn't there for him to hold as he cried himself to sleep that night.
