September, 17st 1970

"Daaaaaaaaaaaad!" came the cry of two fiends running into their parent's room at six on a Saturday morning only to jump on the bed.

There was the curly-haired grey-eyed five-year-old Bill and the chocolate eyed burgundy-haired three-year-old Charlie that ran head long into the room jumping on the bed, well Bill managed to get on the bed Charlie was having a bit of trouble on his own.

"Daaaaad!" Bill jumped on the bed and on both his fathers' excitedly.

Arthur yawned whimpering at the noise he rolled over. Its not that he didn't enjoy the wake up call it was merely the fact that his new job in the department of muggles and magic was wearing him thin. What with that Black trying to make muggle hunting legal and some strange attacks on muggles he managed no to come home until at least ten each night and leave at four each morning. He was glad that Lucius had decided to spend time at home with the boys while he worked from home advising the minister and his little court thing. It certainly made it easier on him knowing the three were safe while he was gone.

Upon turning over he slumped a hand over the edge of the bed only to have it tugged on by Charlie who wanted up on the bed too. "Daddieeee!" Charlie wailed when Arthur did not respond.

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" Bill sang out happily.

"Charlie," Arthur mumbled wrapping a limp arm around him and tugging him unceremoniously onto the bed where he proceeded to jump like his brother.

Arthur groaned rubbing his tired eyes only slightly annoyed; boys would be boys after all. "Ah I gotcha!" Lucius grabbed Bill around the waist pulling him down against the bed. Arthur closed his eyes Charlie's little bounces not bothering him in the least.

Bill laughter shrilled, "Daddy no, no stop!" he gasped. Arthur opened an eye to see that Lucius now had both boys pinned to the bed and was tickling them mercilessly. Arthur smiled briefly at the sight but his eyes soon closed in exhaustion.

"Come on then boys. Let's let Daddy rest he's really tired," Lucius had let up his attack and was now standing by the edge of the bed.

"Awe but he promised to play with us," Bill whined.

"And, he will later," Lucius explained, "He had to work really hard yesterday."

Bill pouted disappointedly and then sulked off the bed Charlie mimicked his every move. Lucius led them around the bed and out of the room. "Thanks Luke," Arthur murmured.

Lucius did not reply as he followed the boys out into the living room over to the kitchen, "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Hot dogs!" Charlie replied bouncing about in his footed pajamas. Lucius nodded setting about having the sausages make themselves.

"And you Bill?" Lucius asked.

Bill was staring back at the door to his parent's room. Lucius frowned softly he understood that Arthur had to work he just wished it was not so much. For the last five months he barely had anytime with him except for when he was sleeping and he didn't count that. That meant the boys had seen him even less.

"Bill?" Lucius asked.

"Waffles," Bill's grey eyes met his tears welling up in them, "Does he not like me anymore?"

Lucius scooped Bill into his arms despite how big he was. Bill let out a strained sob…

Arthur could easily hear the conversation in the kitchen; his door left open did not help the fact that his sons did not know how to whisper yet. Guilt swarmed his insides he wanted so badly to get up and tell Bill that he still loved him more then anything but the same guilt kept him planted in bed.

After much coaxing Lucius calmed Bill down and they set about continuing to make breakfast. Arthur grabbed a shower at that time and arrived just as breakfast began placing endearing kisses on all of his boy's heads.

"Dad!" Bill grinned excitedly as he sat down next to him thanking Lucius for remembering to make coffee (instead of tea) that morning.

"Hey Bill, I've missed you guys," he replied.

"We've missed you," Charlie replied eating his 'hot dogs' contently. Bill's big grey-eyes read the same and there was no missing Lucius's expression.

"So what are we doing today?" Arthur asked as they ate peacefully.

"We're going to the petting zoo." Lucius informed. "The wizarding one you know the one I'm talking about. Liz and Mrs. Black said it was very nice an educational."

"Exciting," Arthur agreed.

"It is! Sirius says, Sirius says, he says that there is a huge dog with three heads!" Bill explained his admiration for the older boys still in full force.

The rest of breakfast went by; Bill (with Charlie's help) told them all about the zoo as though he was an expert.

After breakfast Arthur set about getting the dishes done. "Yah!" Lucius pulled Charlie up on his shoulders the little boy giggle putting his hands around his father's head for support. "Let's go get dressed Bill."

Bill followed Lucius into his and Charlie's room even though the boys could have had their own Arthur and Lucius agreed that while they were young enough not to care one room would make them closer.

Lucius picked out two pairs of trousers and two shirts a pair of underwear and socks. "Which do you want to wear Bill?" he asked Bill.

"Left!" Bill pointed pulling his dirty underwear off and tossing his clean ones on not caring about his nudity. Lucius handed the pants over.

"And this shirt or this?" he held up identical shirts only one was blue and one was black.

"Blue!" he held his arms up and Lucius help him with his shirt. Then Lucius turned to get Charlie's clothes.

"Charlie do you want to wear these…oh no! Where's Charlie!" he gasped looking about for the one on his shoulders.

"Right there!" Bill pointed to Charlie who was giggling like mad.

"Where?" Lucius turned about but he did not see Charlie. "Bill he's not there."

"Yes he is he's right there!" Bill pointed again Charlie squealed when Lucius whipped about again.

Perfectly serious Lucius frowned, "Now Bill, don't lie to me where is Charlie?"

Bill bit his lower lip not wanting to 'lie' but he didn't know what else to say. Lucius sighed putting the clothes on the dresser he put his hands on Charlie's shins, "We'll have to look for him then. He bent over and peered under the bed, "Charlie?"

Charlie laughed even more from being tilted upside down. Bill laughed seeing that his father kept calling for Charlie who was obviously on his shoulders.

"Hmmm not under there? Should we check the toy chest?"

"Yea!" Bill agreed. It wasn't like he had never played this game before Lucius was always losing one of them on his shoulders once and a while Arthur would as well. Bill thought the whole thing was rather silly but very funny as did Charlie.

Lucius couldn't find Charlie in the toy box or the closet or under the rug so he tromped out into the living room Bill right behind him giggling almost as much as Charlie was.

"What's wrong muffin?" Arthur enquired reading the prophet on the couch.

"Muffin?" Lucius looked at Bill, "Is that you?"

"Nooooooo!" Bill laughed even more.

"Then who is it?" Lucius frowned.

Bill sighed, boy his parents were dense, "you!" he pointed.

"Me?" Lucius mostly mouthed.

"Yeeees!" Bill replied; really, really dense good thing he was there!

"Oh," Lucius exchanged a brief smile with Arthur, "I can't find Charlie anywhere and he needs to get dressed."

"Oh my goodness!" Arthur gasped, "You better find him Lucius or you'll be in time-out!" Bill and Charlie snickered at that.

"Have you seen him?" Lucius held back a smile looking very worried.

"Noooo not since breakfast maybe he's still in the kitchen. Check the cupboards he could have been put away with the dishes." Arthur suggested Lucius nodded and headed into the kitchen Bill and Arthur followed in amusement.

Lucius quickly began searching the cupboards the high ones where he called, "Charlie, Charlie are you in there!" and the ones near the floor where he bent over sideways knowing that Charlie liked that the best for he giggled like a madman.

"Bill I can't find him any where have you seen him?" Lucius asked.

"Yes! He's there!" He pointed, "On your shoulders!"

"Oh my shoulders! What would he be doing there?!" Lucius gasped horrified.

"Uh…" Bill tried to think he just shrugged, "If he's not there then what are those?"

"These," Lucius held out one of Charlie's legs in question.

"Yes!" Bill agreed, "That's Charlie's!"

"No, no this is my spare set of legs just in case mine get tired I have these to put on," Lucius assured.

"Let's check the bedroom," Arthur declared after Bill huffed his annoyance. The two older men agreed heading into their room.

Bill sighed, "What would they do without me?" Arthur covered his mouth in a snicker at his son's words. Arthur and Lucius set about looking for Charlie Lucius made sure to look in places that would cause him to bend over to get Charlie to giggle. Bill watched in amusement jumping onto the bed listening to the two men calling out for Charlie.

"I'll check the bathroom," Lucius decided he went into the shower and searched the shampoo bottle then he checked in the toilet bending down to get a good look to Charlie's squealing delight.

Arthur flopped onto his bed resting his head next to Bill.

"Hey baby," Arthur smiled softly to him.

"I'm not a baby!" Bill concluded.

"You're my baby, always, promise," Arthur pulled the small boy into a hug, "I'm sorry I haven't been around much to play with you."

"It's OK, you work hard," Bill said mimicking the answer Lucius always gave him.

Arthur kissed his brow, "It's not OK Bill. I like playing with you and I know it makes me sad when I can't."

"It makes me sad too," Bill agreed snuggling his head against Arthur's warm chest.

"Don't be sad anymore Billy. I'll try harder I promise." Arthur pressed a gently kiss to the top of his head. "I love you."

"I love you too," Bill agreed feeling all the doubts from earlier leave him with such a simple act.

"I found Charlie!" Lucius chirped from the bathroom door.

Bill turned his head about to see his brother facing him in his other father's arms smiling contently. "Oh?"

"He was in the mirror, again!"

"What a silly boy, hiding in the mirror," Arthur said. He could picture the shocked expression of Lucius's when he finally decided to 'look,' in the mirror gasping he would exclaim, 'there you are! There you are! What are you doing in there!?' Then he would shrug Charlie off his shoulders and into his arms where he'd hug the boy until his giggles subsided.

"Can we go see the three-headed dog now?!" Bill whined wiggling from his hug.

"Take Charlie to get dressed," Lucius instructed putting Charlie on the floor the boys raced off, "I'll be in there in a minute and get your shoes on!"

Arthur chuckled putting his arms around Lucius's waist, "I love you."

"Good," Lucius agreed earning a pout. The blonde wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck, "I've missed you too."

"Mmmm me too," Arthur pressed a kiss against his lips, "I'm sorry I've been working so much."

"It will slow down Artie I'm sure," Lucius sighed putting his head on the redhead's shoulder it had been a while since they had been this close. Usually Arthur was too exhausted to even cuddle!

"I don't know. Maybe I should just take a more desk like position. There is an opening in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office," Arthur moved a hand to twirl one of Lucius's long strands of blonde hair between his fingers.

"Of that's what you want. I mean it's not like we're struggling with money or anything," Lucius pointed out. They after all had Arthur's inheritance (Most of it) a bit of Lucius's plus there was money from strange relatives coming in, plus both of their jobs. Lucius's the 'business man' that he was owed bits and pieces of some of the shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. So despite the snug house they were pretty well off. Neither however wanted the boys to grow up in the cold 'manor-like-castles' that they did. So the nice homely house they bought after Bill's first birthday was where they settled.

"I just want you happy if your job does that then I don't really mind…" Lucius was lying through his teeth, of course he minded!

"Here," Arthur tugged Lucius close (he managed a closer then they had been somehow), "Is where I'm always happy."

"Art," Lucius shook his head gently, "I love you."

Arthur grinned, "That's better, geez you're harder to cheer up then Bill is!"

Lucius smacked his shoulder softly, "Ass," he pulled away.

"Dad! You're not supposed to say things like that!" Bill gasped horrified.

"I'm sorry Bill," Lucius handed him a sickle.

Arthur gave him a look, "Bribing your child so he wouldn't tell?"

"No, Sirius and Severus have discovered swearing anytime the boys swear they have to give me a sickle," Lucius explained.

"Charlie dressed?" Arthur ignored the comment.

"Yup!" Bill stepped aside. Charlie had plaid pants a bright green shirt a hat with a little bell on top, white gloves that went to his elbows, earmuffs, little dog slippers on his feet and a yellow rain coat on top of it. Charlie was beaming happily Arthur had to cough to keep from laughing.

"Is that what you want to wear Charlie?" Lucius managed.

"Yes!" he nodded quickly the bell jingling in agreement.

"Well that's too bad I was going to wear that," Lucius explained.

"It's alright Dad!" Bill replied, "I picked his clothes out for him I can pick yours out too!"

"You do that Bill I'm getting the camera. Good thing I'm already dressed you can help Dad out as much as you can he really needs it," Arthur agreed. He moved into the living room, "This is going on our Christmas card."

Lucius sat on his bed and glanced at Bill as he rummaged through the closet and dresser for clothes.

"Charlie," Arthur called coming in with the camera Charlie turned about, "Say cheese."

"Cheeeeeeeese!" Charlie grinned and then fell over at the bright flash.

Arthur smirked and helped him up sitting him on the bed next to Lucius.

"This shirt or this?" Bill held out a purple tied-dyed '60's blouse' and a feathery shirt that Arthur had worn to a costume party a while back.

"I don't know you pick Charlie," he said softly managing to glare at Arthur for giggling as much as he was.

"That one!" Charlie pointed to the 60's one. Bill handed it to him and then tapped his foot waiting for him to change shirts. Lucius smirked removing his sleep shirt in which Arthur took a picture.

"Do you need my help, Daddy?" Charlie asked sweetly.

Lucius nodded, 'why not?'

Charlie took the shirt, "lift your arms." Lucius did as he was told. Charlie held the shirt out a moment before frowning cutely. "Daddy, help me," Charlie turned his head to look at Arthur pleadingly. Arthur took another picture, "Daddy! Stop it!" Charlie ordered. Arthur blinked and then moved unbuttoning the shirt he held it out. Charlie helped by taking Lucius's arms and putting them into the sleeves.

"Alright you can button them," Arthur stated. Charlie flopped into Lucius's lap earning an 'ouf' because of it. He started with a middle button putting it in the hole delicately.

"Charlie…" Arthur called Charlie turned his head about and was blinded by the flash of the camera.

"Daddy!" Lucius and Charlie whined. Arthur grinned innocently.

"Alright these pants or this uh what's this called?"

Arthur burst into laughter, "Definitely the tights baby, but you have to get him those leggings to go with them. You know the ones he wore when you were playing peter pan?"

"Arthur," Lucius growled.

"You'd rather wear leather pants?" Arthur tilted his head.

"Yes," Lucius agreed Bill handed him the pants and went to look for shoes.

Charlie eyed them warily, "I can do these my self Char."

"OK!" Charlie looked relieved.

Lucius kicked his pajama bottoms off followed by his boxers. He pushed his legs into the leather pants and proceeded to bounce around the room pulling them on.

"Is that how you put your pants on?" Arthur asked.

"No," Charlie said wide-eyed, "Dad always makes me where underwear!"

Lucius stopped bouncing he faced Charlie dumbfounded. Arthur giggled taking a picture. Lucius shoved his manhood into his leather pants and zipped them up, "I hate you."

Arthur pushed his lower lip out and proceeded to let his lip tremble. "Awe it's alright Daddy." Charlie pats his shoulder (he was standing on the bed he could just reach his shoulder) "I love you."

"Thanks Charlie," Arthur smiled to him.

Charlie kissed his cheek and then patted his head, "There, there," Charlie sympathized.

Lucius had taken the camera and snapped a picture.

Bill cleared his throat and handed galoshes and a pair of plastic cat ears to Lucius. Lucius put the boots and ears on, "How do I look?" He asked studying himself from the mirror in the bathroom that he could see through the doorway.

"I hope it's April first because that outfit's a joke," his image chided.

"Oh who asked you!" he snapped.

"I think you look pretty!" Charlie declared.

"Awe thanks you Charlie you look pretty too," Lucius plucked him off the bed and moved into the living room. Bill and Arthur followed closely behind.

"Fist let me get a family shot," Arthur put the camera on the table and got everyone on the couch he flicked his wand and levitated it up and then muttered a charm to take a picture.

"All right can we go now?" Bill whined.

"Yes," Arthur grabbed some floo and tossed it in the fireplace. He picked Charlie up in his arms, "Go first, Baby."

Lucius grabbed a handful and stepped in the green flames calling out the name Diagon Alley.

"Right Bill I know you can do it no messing around this time," Arthur order Diagon Alley was one of the few places Bill could pronounce clearly enough to be able to go alone and because his parents wanted him to get use to it as soon as possible they let him as long as one of them were on both sides.

Bill went without a hitch followed by Arthur and Charlie.

"Let's get lunch first and then we can go into the shop that leads into the petting zoo." Lucius suggested on their way out of the floo shop. Many heads turned at his outfit no one seemed to notice Charlie snug in Arthur's arms that is until he insisted he walk.

"Luke, what the bloody hell are you wearing?!" screeched Bellatrix Lestrange as she approached with her sister Andromeda and her husband and her brother-in-law.

"Rabastan!" Bill cried flinging his arms around his fathers' friend.

"Hi Bill," Rabastan handed him a chocolate frog, "Did you help Lucius get dressed?"

"Yea, isn't he pretty?" Bill grinned happily.

Lucius blushed at this, "What Bill no 'hi' to me?" Bella leaned forward brushing her finger under his jawbone cupping his chin blue eyes met grey. The little boy shuddered and tried to pull back. She held him harder until it hurt him a bit.

"Bella let go of him," Lucius snarled viciously. Bella gave Lucius a nasty glare and ran a thumb over Bill's bottom lip. Bill lashed out biting her thumb but not very hard.

"You nasty little whelp!" she shrieked before back handing him a crossed his face. Lucius pulled Bill to him as he let out a cried of agony.

Arthur narrow his eyes even more if looks could kill, "You stay away from my family," Arthur stepped forward ready to strangle her if only Rabastan and Rodolphus hadn't stopped him.

"Let go of me she deserves everything I can give her!" Arthur said his temper getting the better of him.

Lucius held Bill against his chest as the redhead sobbed in pain on close inspection every finger could be traced from the hand print on his face. Charlie clung to him from behind sobbing mostly out of fear partly because of how Arthur was reacting.

"Calm down Arthur," Rabastan reassured, "We're leaving," Rabastan glared at his brother. Rodolphus flipped his hair back and grabbed Bellatriz's wrist leading her away from the group, "Andromeda," Rabastan ordered.

The young adult blinked coming back into reality she grabbed Charlie's bell hat and skipped after her sister and her brother-in-law.

Arthur glared at Rabastan, "How can you let her get away with that?!"

Rabastan let him go shrugging lightly, "She's really not that bad. Besides, I've let you get away with much more?"

Lucius glared from where he comforted his sons. Arthur looked confused for a moment before his anger built again, "You stay the hell away from us too Lestrange! We don't need people like you for our friends!"

"Wh-what?" Rabastan's brow furrowed, "You can't…but I'm…this…"

"Go," Lucius sounded out. Rabastan's jaw dropped, "Now. Go now. You're not to see us again."

Rabastan stared shocked for a moment. Lucius's gaze dropped Rabastan was his best friend next to Arthur and it hurt to lose him like this but family came first. The crying boys in his arms buried any doubt and regret to this decision. Rabastan looked at Arthur the redhead had a smug look although it was traced with hurt. He was not as close to Rabastan as the blonde was but he came right after him. He too would not completely be happy with this decision.

Rabastan turned on his heals and walked away following his brother and the girls. Arthur pulled Bill into his arms picking him up off the ground. Charlie uselessly calmed down faster with Lucius so for Arthur Bill was easier.

"You're alright, baby," Arthur held him at eye level, "Want to go to the petting zoo still?"

"N-no," Bill whimpered.

"Oh, my gosh Lucius we saw everything," Elizabeth rushed up to met them Severus, Sirius, and Regulus trailed after them. "Are you alright Bill?"

Bill just buried his face against Arthur's shoulder.

"They're a bunch of bitches I hate them," Sirius concluded swiping the hair from his brow, showing off his gorgeous eyes, lushes lips, and soft features he was by far the prettiest wizard alive.

"Sirius," Lucius held a hand out the raven-haired boy gave him a sickle with a scowl, "you're rich don't give me that," Charlie sniffled softly mewling quietly at the exchange.

"Is he OK?" Sirius asked only half caring about the answer.

Lucius looked into Charlie's warm chocolate eyes he smiled weakly, "She took my hat," Lucius handed him the cat ears and kissed him on the nose.

"Lucius I got my letter for Hogwarts!" Severus interrupted waving it about, "Sirius didn't he's a squib."

"Nah," Sirius stuck his tongue out, "Not everyone's birthday comes in September."

"I want to see," Bill croaked wiggling from Arthur's grasps.

"You see that's the special seal and that's Professor McGonagall's hand writing. You'll get one too Bill we'll go to school together!"

"Cool!" Bill chirped happily, "We're going to the petting zoo!"

"Can we go Mum?!" Severus asked hopefully

"As long as Sirius promises not to try to feed his little brother to anything," Elizabeth replied.

"Awe come on no one would miss him!" Sirius whined.

Regulus kicked him in the shin, "shut up you little nut sucker!"

"Regulus!" Lucius held his hand out.

"Damn it!" Regulus gave him two sickles before fending an innocent look Regulus was as cute as Sirius was beautiful.

"Why are you wearing galoshes?" Sirius enquired.

"Why are you not wearing galoshes," Lucius replied.

"Because I'm Sirius Black and that's all you need to know," he said leading the group in the direction of the petting Zoo.

"We use to act like that too dear," Arthur replied to Lucius's cocked eyebrow, "So does being the Godfather of Severus mean you have to get him a present?"

"Yes, I believe it does," Lucius agreed Severus grinned cheekily, "What do you want Mr. Snape?"

"An owl, mother says she wouldn't give me one," Severus glanced over to see if the wish would be granted.

"An owl and the chemistry set? You're really raking it in," Elizabeth commented when Lucius agreed.

"Oh," Severus stated before hugging Lucius around the middle, "thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You spoil him," Arthur commented.

"He's not mine; I am allowed to do that," Lucius teased.

"Daddy!" Charlie whined, "I want down."