May 13th, 1998
"Come with back to Romania me, Maggie. You can take a break from all of this," Charlie said, "I'm certain there's a place for you on the reserve."
Maggie looked up at him from yesterday's paper as they sat at the table in the Burrow's kitchen. The sun had yet to rise and she had yet to fall asleep. Not that she could if she tried. Hermione and Ron had fallen asleep, but she just couldn't. Not yet.
She knew Charlie had seen the way her brows were furrowed, with the bags and dark circles under her eyes. The Prophet only had things written about her, Ron, Hermione, the various Weasleys, and other heroes of the war.
"I'm sorry?" Maggie said as she blinked in surprise.
"I know you, and you don't want to be here. Come to Romania with me. I'm leaving at the end of the month," He said.
She stayed silent for a moment as she thought.
It wasn't a horrible idea, was it? After the last year, the last thing she needed was to be surrounded by people. And in Romania, on a secluded Dragon reserve, people were far less likely to stare at her. Andromeda had Teddy, and her cousin, aunt really, was sure to encourage her to do what was best for her health. She had already told Charlie, with a tight hug, that Dora would want him to go do what he loved after he found out that Teddy was his Godson.
But what of Hermione and Ron? And Molly, who would barely let Maggie out of her sight. Molly, who wept over her like she wept over Ron and her other children she very nearly lost in the war. Molly, who loved and treated her as her own.
"I can't," Maggie said, "Not yet. I have things here still."
Charlie nodded slowly, "Okay."
It was for the best, that she said no. She was too young for him.
June 25th, 1998
Maggie held Teddy close to her chest, rocking him. Only three and a half months old and here he was, an orphan like she was. And now, they'd just lost one of the last of their family. The woman who had given her the love from a family member she'd never had before, who readily accepted her as a niece despite the fact the Sirius was a suspected criminal, who loved her even after she'd killed her sister, she was gone. The strong and beautiful Andromeda Tonks was dead of heart complications.
And now, Teddy and Maggie were on their own, the last of the Black line.
Well, aside from Draco and Narcissa who sat only a few seats down from her, on the other side of Charlie, who was seated next to her. Molly sat on her other side, with Arthur next to her.
Maggie wished the funerals would stop. She was tired of wearing black. Thank Merlin Charlie had come back from Romania, at least for the funeral. She wasn't alone.
Teddy began to fuss, and panic filled her. She didn't know how to do this. Children terrified her, babies especially. She looked to Charlie, pleading him silently.
He took Teddy gently and Maggie sagged in relief. Molly took notice.
June 30th, 1998
"Magnolia, Dear, I'm sure there's someone better suited to take care of Teddy," Molly pressed, but continued to help Maggie by folding the baby's clothes and putting them away in the freshly painted nursery in Black Cottage.
"He's my responsibility. Remus and Tonks named me godmother for a reason. They knew I could take care of him, if need be," Maggie said stubbornly, bouncing Teddy in her arms gently.
"Charlie was named his Godfather, Magnolia," Molly reminded her.
"I know, but I told Charlie to go back to Romania, it's what he wanted," Maggie replied, effectively ending the subject with her tone.
Molly had a feeling that was only part of the story.
(She was right, it turned out- just not the way she thought.)
May 27th, 1999
Molly very rarely admitted when she was wrong. In recent history, the only admission had been about Fleur and how much she actually loved Bill. There was also the time that Rita Skeeter had written a piece about how Maggie was torn between Ginny and Ron, but even Maggie admitted it was pretty believable and couldn't blame her, especially after the other news regarding Maggie Skeeter had broken to the world.
But this was a time that Molly needed to admit her mistake if she ever wanted to have a relationship with her second son and her daughter in all but blood, along with their children.
In receiving a letter from Magnolia earlier in the week, she knew there was a chance.
Molly,
I'm sorry for not getting to you earlier. Between work and Teddy, I've not had time to write. I can't disclose exactly what's been happening over letters, but I plan on telling you in person- it's rather serious.
I digress, I've yet to have Charlie agree to seeing you quite yet, I'm sorry. But, if you would like, you may come by the cottage on the 27th for tea, say, around 2. Charlie needs to head to Hogwarts for a meeting with McGonagall. I'll have Teddy with me.
I do hope you make it. We have much to discuss.
Magnolia A. Black
Maggie was unsure of what she was about to do.
She was used to running headfirst into danger. But this wasn't a dangerous situation, now was it? This was the mother of the father of her children, who had been a mother to her for many years.
Maggie was clueless as to why Molly had turned on her once Charlie was in the picture. Was she not good enough for him in her eyes? Too young? Molly had made it obvious that she was no more than irresponsible child that had children.
And yet, Maggie was preparing to have Molly over. Charlie had practically thrown a fit regarding it but Maggie had managed to shut him down by threatening to banish him back to his room after they'd grown accustomed to sleeping in the same bed following the anniversary.
(Now that, that was a jar of flobberworms that Maggie was far from prepared to open.)
Maggie glanced at her mirror one last time when she heard the knock at the front door. Nearing five months pregnant, it was more than obvious and couldn't be hidden by ordinary measures anymore. She woke up one morning and there it was. She'd been expecting it, based on what her healer had said, but it was still a big change. Charlie had not bothered to hide his shock when she'd come down for breakfast.
"When did that happen?" He'd blurted out.
"Four and a half months ago," She'd said dryly.
"Well shit, I think I did a good job then."
"I think the credit goes to me."
Charlie's face suddenly burned red and she smirked at the reaction.
It brought a smile to her face when she thought of it. Maggie rubbed her belly as she headed down the stairs to the door. She'd taken great care to wear a blouse that showed off her pregnancy. She would not let Molly shame her.
On the other side of the door, Molly stood sheepishly with a basket full of pastries.
Maggie's mouth began to water and the scent of treacle tarts.
"Molly, come in," Maggie smiled tightly and waved her in.
"I brought treats for you and Charlie. I made tarts; I know they're your favorite. I also made those muffins Teddy likes so much," Molly said.
"Thank you," Maggie said earnestly, "We can have some over tea, in the kitchen. Teddy won't be up from his nap for another half hour or so. The study is a mess right now between Charlie's work and mine, or else we'd take it in there."
"That sounds lovely, dear," Molly replied.
The tension was thick as Maggie poured them both cups of Earl Grey. Neither one of them said a word as they sipped on the tea and nibbled on the scones Molly had made.
That is, until Maggie set her cup down suddenly as she felt a sharp kick to her bladder.
"Bloody hell," She hissed out.
"Are you okay?" Molly asked quickly.
"Yes, yes, he's just been rather active today and he thinks my bladder is a quaffle," Maggie laughed softly.
"He?" Molly said in a small voice.
"I'm almost certain," Maggie said with a bright smile, "Charlie agreed at first, but now he's saying a girl. He wants a little girl now that Bill has Victoire. Jealous, I think."
"That sounds like Charlie," Molly chuckled.
"Stubborn man, he is," Maggie said fondly.
"Gets that from me, I'm afraid."
"I'm worried for the baby; he'll get both mine and Charlie's stubbornness."
"I can't wait to see that. I know you and Charlie will do right by him."
Maggie stayed silent for a moment before sighing out her question, "Why were you so bloody awful when I adopted Teddy and when you found out Charlie was the father of this baby?"
"I didn't want you to grow up and I wanted Charlie to," Molly replied, shame in her voice, "You were still a child to me. You still are in some ways. Everything that happened to you was so unfair, Magnolia. You deserved to have a chance to be a teenager and explore the world. But then you adopted Teddy when it was Charlie that should've. He needed to settle down and quit being so reckless. But he left, and you told him to. At the very least you should've split custody, but you took the weight of the world on your shoulders, yet again. I… I was so angry that he'd ruined any chance you had and that you let him go. Then I find out you're pregnant with his child and I was so mad at how irresponsible you were, and how you let him continue his patterns. It doesn't make any of what I did right, but that's why."
Maggie softened immediately. It didn't excuse how Molly had acted… but it made sense, finally.
"I'm sorry Magnolia. I still see you as that little girl that I helped onto the platform and that my youngest sons ran off and kidnapped in the dead of night with a flying car," Molly shook her head at the memory, "And now you're grown up and you have a child, with another on the way. I'm sorry, so sorry."
"I can't forgive you yet, Molly. You hurt me a lot, Charlie too. But I want you in my life, you're been the only mother I've known, and my children should know their grandmother," Maggie said, "I can understand now, but I don't know if Charlie will quite yet."
"He's rather protective of you," Molly remarked, "I can't believe I didn't see it was different than Ginny and Hermione."
"I had a bit of a crush on him since I was 15," Maggie admitted.
"Is that when it changed? Your relationship?" Molly asked.
"It changed around Christmas of fifth year. It was purely sibling like until then, on both ends," Maggie bit her lip.
"I need to ask, and please know it is out of concern for you, but when did something first happen between you two?"
"We kissed on Christmas because Fred and George put the enchanted mistletoe everywhere."
Molly sighed in relief, "Good. Not that I assumed Charlie would've taken advantage of you, but you're so young, I was worried."
"You raised him right. He's a wonderful wizard and father," Maggie assured.
"Just as you are wonderful witch and mother. I do hope he wises up and sees that he should to marry you."
Maggie turned red, "I don't think…"
"Oh hush, you know you'll make a fine Weasley if my son ever gets his head out of his arse."
She snorted in laughter at Molly's remark. Before either witch could say anything, Maggie heard the floo flare up.
"Shit," She muttered as Charlie came in with a grin on his face.
"Flower, one of these days I've got to take you and Teddy to see my office at the castle, it's incre- Mum?" Charlie cut himself off and frowned.
"I invited her, Charlie," Maggie said, heaving herself up.
Charlie crossed his arms.
"You didn't tell me."
"Because I knew you'd say no."
"But you did it anyway."
"Obviously."
"You need to tell me when you plan on having a guest, Magnolia. Not with Greyback and the Lestranges on the loose," Charlie's voice grew more and more stern. Molly's face filled with shock and fear at the mention of the death eaters.
"Charlie, it is your mother. The woman who birthed you. Calm down," Maggie rolled her eyes.
"Don't you tell me what to do," He huffed.
Maggie opened her mouth, a sharp reply at the ready despite the hormone driven tears welling in her eyes, only for Molly to stand up and point her finger at her son.
"Did I just hear you speak to the woman carrying your child like that?" Molly snapped out. Molly was one to talk, Maggie mused silently, but decided against saying anything as Molly was trying to make amends.
Charlie's mouth opened and shut several times before he replied, "This is between Magnolia and I, Mother."
"Oh, no it is not. I raised you better than to speak like that to a woman, let alone the pregnant mother of your children."
Maggie slowly scooted out of the kitchen, not wanting to witness the two-way tongue lashing that was about to occur. The mother and son needed to work out their issues without her involved, like she needed to do with Molly without Charlie present.
(Charlie would later deny that he cowered in fear at his mother, but Maggie knew what she saw. Teddy would've taken her side too, had he been able to talk.)
"We're going to the Burrow on Sunday," Charlie muttered over dinner. Teddy was babbling and shoving tiny fistfuls of the macaroni, that Maggie made especially for him, into his mouth.
Maggie smirked as she stopped Teddy from throwing his bowl to the ground.
"Shut up," He pouted.
"Oh, stop that," She chided him, "Things she said hurt both of us, yes, but we have the chance to make amends. We're having a baby Charlie, and we have Teddy. I want our kids to know how loved they are by their giant family."
"You're right, I know you are," Charlie nodded a bit and stared at her as she doted on Teddy. As she smiled at the boy, her hand rubbed her stomach. Merlin, she was beautiful, even when her long hair was in a sorry attempt of a bun and flying out every which way and when she had food stains and spit up on her shirt.
His throat tightened at the sight of her, so calm and content with their children. Between the ache in his chest and the warmth of his soul, he couldn't swallow it anymore, he couldn't let her go on thinking the only reason he was there was because of Teddy and the baby. Hell, that baby was there because of what he felt for her.
So, like the Gryffindor he was, he said it.
"I'm in love with you."
