Rating: PG (a couple of cusses…moving will do that)
Disclaimers: see part 1
A/N: Again, never been to Boston so I don't know if the housing thing is realistic.
The Winchester- Houlihan family moved into their new house the first week of December. It was a two story colonial in the heart of Boston. Margaret, having the most experience in moving, was put in charge of getting the apartment packed. She and Charles had gone shopping for new furniture the weekend before the move; they would need several new pieces as the new house was almost three times bigger than the apartment.
On the big day, the movers showed up bright and early and everything was moved out of the old apartment and storage room by lunch. The scene at the new house appeared to Charles at least, as a form of chaos but Margaret had a system.
"Everything is labelled," she explained, "so just move everything to the appropriate room." Since she had everything well in hand, he took Charlie out to get him out from under foot. The girls were going to stay and help Margaret with the unpacking.
Charles and Charlie headed for Macy's, figuring they could get a jump start on some Christmas shopping.
"What do you think you sisters would like for Christmas?" Charles asked his son.
The little boy cocked his head and thought about it.
"We should be Mary a piano!" he exclaimed. "Since we have a big house now." Charlie knew how much his sister loved to play the piano and would love the chance to play whenever she wanted.
"We shall see. Can you think of anything smaller?" he asked.
"Um, books? She likes She likes Jane Austen."
"Alright, that's a good suggestion. And what about Emerson?"
"I don't know…she hasn't said anything."
The pair wondered around Macy's but had very little success in finding anything which would be appropriate. They left the store and as they turned down the street, a familiar store name caught his eye.
"Do you think Emerson might like a necklace?" he asked his son.
"She doesn't have anything like that," the boy pointed out. He was going to be three soon and was growing up before his father's eyes.
Charles firmly took his son's hand and the pair went into Tiffany's.
When the pair left an hour later, they were in possession of a music box for Mary, a lovely locket for Emerson and a small box, tucked into the breast pocket of Charles coat for Margaret.
When the pair arrived home, the house was in a state of organized disarray. There were boxes in every room in the house but they were piled neatly. The movers had put the beds together so Mary was in the process of making them, Emerson was in the living room putting away books and toys and Margaret was dealing with the kitchen.
"Hello you two," Margaret said as the came into the kitchen. "Did you have fun?"
"Not really," Charlie said in all honesty as he took of his coat and hat. "Where can I put this?" he asked Margaret.
"There is a hook by the front door that should be low enough for you to reach. Go put it there and then you can help Emerson organize the books and toys in the living room," she as she tussled his hair.
"Ok! Emerson…" he yelled as he ran out of the kitchen.
"And did you have a fun afternoon?" he asked as he pulled Margaret into a kiss.
"I just got better," she smiled slyly. "The bed rooms are sorted and the furniture had been assembled. Dinner will be ready in about an hour so why don't you make yourself useful and go unpack your clothes and help Mary to finish making the beds," she instructed.
He kissed Margaret soundly and went upstairs to his appointed chore. He found Mary in his room making the bed.
"Need any help?" he asked her.
"Sure. So how was the shopping trip?" she asked.
He had left the girls presents in the trunk of the car and would get them after they were in bed. The ring, however, was in his pocket.
The two finished making the bed and Charles indicated to Mary to sit down.
"Mary, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead," she said.
"How would you feel if I asked Margaret to Mary me?"
Mary thought for a long moment. At first she hadn't liked Margaret but since their talk in the backyard, she had warmed up to her. Emerson and told her several times that Margaret made their father happy and Mary wanted that.
"I guess it would be ok. I want you to be happy and Margaret seems really nice," she replied.
"Are you sure? I want you to be happy as well," Charles prompted.
Mary reflected on her father's statement for a few seconds.
"I'm sure," she nodded.
Charles had a similar discussion with Emerson; Charlie was left out because Charles already knew how he felt and he was not quite three and therefore unable to keep that big of a secret.
After dinner, the family arranged the pictures which had been found in the storage room in the new living room. As promised, Margaret helped Mary pick a special spot for a picture of her mother. There was a few which Charlotte had taken of Charles and all the baby pictures of the children as well. Margaret had very few family pictures but she did put hers out as well. It seemed with this simple act, they became a family.
Later that night, after the children were tucked into their beds, Charles led Margaret into his room.
"Charles, I thought we agreed we wouldn't share a room while the children were in the house," she said as he sat her down on the bed.
"Margaret, there is something I would like to change with that arrangement," he said as he dug in his pocket and kneeled down.
"What do you…oh Charles," she gasped as she saw the open ring box in his hand.
"Margaret, I asked the children a question today. I asked them if it would be alright if I married you. The girls said yes and Charlie, well, if Charlie was 30 years older, he would ask you this himself."
She laughed at his last statement.
"Margaret, will you marry me?"
"Oh yes!" she exclaimed as she pulled him into a passionate kiss.