7. I'm sorry

Molly straightened up from her husband almost instantly upon hearing her son's snickering voice. An angry glare adorned her face and she looked positively murderous. Arthur only chuckled weakly, sympathizing only a little with his pert offspring.

"I mean really, Mum, he just got here and you throw yo..."

The rest of the sentence stuck in his throat since Molly had turned quickly and cast a Silencing Charm on Bill.

"Not another word, young man", she hissed, glaring at him intensely.

Bill's face contorted into silent laughter as he watched the obvious effect his words had on his mother. He loved needling them with their physical relationship. He just couldn't resist ammunition so readily offered.

Molly rolled her eyes and tried to suppress an answering smile on her own lips. Her little Billy certainly knew what he was talking about. She was just glad that he wasn't mentally scarred from the few times he had walked in on them. A soft chuckling sound from the bed informed her that her husband probably thought the same. Turning around, she found him sneering at his son.

"Wait till your married", threatened Arthur with a wink.

Bill waved his wand lazily to remove the spell and smiled at his father.

"How are you feeling now, Dad?"

"I'm ... ok", answered Arthur wryly.

"Hope you're better than you look", replied Billy swiftly, earning himself another glare from his mother.

"Nope ... but getting there."

Molly sighed. Those two together and they could turn Hell into a circus.

Suddenly a knock from the door brought her back to reality. Albus Dumbledore entered the room cautiously. Molly's eyes widened for a moment before she blushed furiously and was forced to look away from her husband. Arthur wondered why she had turned from him, but thought it was merely to greet their old professor. Albus smiled gently at Molly and she smiled back solemnly, but wanting to give him anymore than that.

"How do you feel, Arthur?" Albus asked kindly, but for a moment Molly felt somewhat defensive seeing him approach her husband.

It quickly wore off, though, and she turned back to Arthur, urging him to talk to their professor with a radiant smile, seeing as his throat was still very scratchy, and not only his throat was painful. Molly knew he didn't want to be bothered, and she could almost see "Sleep" written in his eyes ... begging her ... Sleep, please, Molly? No pain, please, Molly?

Molly leaned over and squeezed his hand gently. As she leant forward Albus was reminded of her breasts in front of his face ... her seducing him ... he pushed out all impure thoughts of his former student, though, as he watched her with her sickly husband.

Albus watched Molly gently stroking her husband's cheek. He felt envious and guilty for feeling that way. His eyes were fixed on Molly's hand as she caressed his forehead, lips, nose, cheeks and temples. Arthur's lids drooped and slowly he drifted off to sleep. But not before his hand rose from its resting place on the blanket and covered her stomach.

"I love you two", he whispered, finally drifting off to sleep.

Albus felt his eyes burning with envy. For the first time he cursed the choices he had made in his life. He had after all chosen consciously against family and settled for a career. But now he would give everything he owned to be in Arthur's shoes and have someone like Molly watching him with that much love in her eyes and a swelling life under his hand.

He turned away quickly, leaving the room as Arthur and Molly slept together. For a few minutes they stayed like that: sleeping and holding onto one another, before slowly Arthur opened his eyes again. He looked at Molly then her stomach and smiled slightly.

"I'm so sorry", he mumbled. "I didn't mean to hurt you...by well, getting hurt...I tried, love, I did..."

Molly now stirred, after hearing half of what he said and quietly she asked:

"Why're you sorry, Arthur, love?"

Arthur looked into her eyes before sighing and smiling slightly.

"Getting injured...being totally delusional...and just...everything...I felt like I owed you that after everything I put you through. Especially since well...you're pregnant..." he replied in disbelief, shaking his head slightly and smiling to himself.

"We're going to have another baby, Mollywobbles...Can you believe that?"

Molly smiled and shook her head, looking down at Arthur's hand on her stomach.

"No, love, I can't...and I'm not sure I'll be able to until the baby is in our arms."

"Our arms? Molly, I told you....If something happens I..."

"NO, ARTHUR!" she spat back, moving from him quickly, but then falling back into place, hoping she hadn't hurt him with her outbursts. She was assured she hadn't when he wrapped an arm around her and buried his head into her hair.

"Molly, I love you and I'm not suggesting something might happen because I want to scare you but because, well, love...I don't feel right...and...the Order is trying so hard...too hard. So much is happening and," he took a moment to cough then looked back into Molly's eyes. "You know I love you...even if something were to happen I..."

"Please, Arthur, I can't be without you ... just promise me you will hang in there and do everything in your power to get better", she whispered quietly.

Arthur was silent for long moments as he looked into her big, brown eyes, which always reminded him of those from a doe, reading clearly her need for him. He could drown in those eyes and she could get him to do anything just by looking at him. Molly felt his hand on her stomach twitch slightly and knew she had him where she wanted him. Smiling at him sweetly, she wrapped her arms around him and snuggled close.

----

Outside the door Bill met up with Albus, Remus, Romilda and Tonks. He stood in front of the three members of the Order who had saved his father. Taking Romilda's hands in his, he looked deeply into her eyes.

"Thank you for my father's life, Romilda. If there is anything I can ever do for you, don't hesitate to ask", he said solemnly, never taking his eyes off her.

Romilda nodded, overwhelmed since she felt she had only done her duty and was by no means a hero. Before she could say anything in reply, Bill had turned around to Remus and Tonks.

"I also thank the two of you from the bottom of my heart. I don't know what we would do without Dad. Mum loves him so much and if ..."

Here Bill teared up and Romilda was immediately by his side, pulling him into a tight embrace. Tonks also came over and patted his back reassuringly.

"Bill, it's quite alright, I know how you feel..."

"How could you possibly know?"

"Because, my brother died when he was part of the previous Order...And I know how loss feels."

"LOSS!?!! MY FATHER HASN'T DIED!" Bill screamed, finally losing the anger and grief he had been holding for so long now.

Tonks retreated, knowing this was not the Bill she had always known...

"Bill?" she ventured, afraid for what his next response might be...she had never seen him under stress before.

"Yes?" he retorted and Tonks stared at him for a moment before nodding mutely and backing away.

"Bill, I'm sorry if I said something wrong I-"

"Well, you did." he shot back, then he sulked away from the group.

Molly didn't bother going after him ... He had to deal with his grief in his own way. Molly watched her son race off to the cafeteria. Her heart felt very heavy and she was torn between trying to reach him and talk him out of his mood and reassure their friends that he hadn't meant what he had said. Albus saved the day yet again by walking over to her and putting his hand on her shoulder.

"It's fine, Molly, go after your son", he said quietly.

Molly felt a tingle shoot through her to her very core and made her breath come short.

"Thank you, Albus", she whispered back.

Then she hastened after her eldest son. She caught up to him just outside the cafeteria. Bill was half blinded by tears. The thought of his father dying was killing him inside.

"Bill, please wait up for me", called Molly after him.

Bill turned around to her and waited till she reached him then without a word he kept walking. Molly fell into step with him and watched him out of the corner of her eye.

"Don't worry for me, Mum. I'm just worried for Dad", said Bill wryly.

Molly watched him from the corners of her eyes and shot him a very serious glance.

"So I figured", muttered Molly. "I'm worried for him too. All we can do for him now is be there for him and support him during all the therapies he has to go through. Please don't let your anger out on the people who help us. If we fight, You-Know-Who succeeds in splitting us up. The Order has to stick together firmly. Please do apologize to Tonks. She is a really good girl and doesn't deserve to be your punching ball", scolded Molly gently, fixing Bill with a stern look.

Bill looked to the floor, thoroughly chided and decided that his mother was right. He felt awful for yelling at Tonks. She had after all saved his father.

"I'm sorry, Mummy", he replied softly. "I'll go to Tonks in a moment but I really need a cup of tea."