"'Ello, Percy!" Fleur greeted her brother in law and kissed him on the cheek. She stepped aside to allow him inside, adding, "It's been too long since you've stopped by!"

Percy chuckled. "I know. Bill told me the same thing. Is he around?" He glanced and saw no traces of his brother anywhere.

She shook her head. "I'm afraid not. He is away for the day on business. On what, I do not know. But I can make you a cup of tea, if you'd like," she offered.

"Oh, yes please," he nodded. There was something about the way Fleur made her tea that had all of the Weasleys, his mum included once she had gotten over her initial distaste of her daughter in law, yearning for it.

He took a seat at the kitchen table in their newly bought flat. Bill and Fleur had to purchase one prior to the birth of their second daughter; the cottage had become a bit small for the soon to be family of four and on top of that, both had said they were considering having one more child or perhaps two. Percy sighed in contentment at being able to sit without hearing his name being called by seemingly everyone in his department. It was good to finally rest.

"You look tired," Fleur noted. "You haven't been overworking yourself, have you?"

Percy smiled wryly. "Depends on what you mean by that."

"You know exactly what I mean," she chided, lightly. "You and Bill are exactly the same, I swear. Always working. I don't think I've gotten Bill to rest in a month!"

"We are brothers," Percy graciously accepted the cup of tea as she handed it to him. "Thank you."

"Would you like any lemon or sugar?" She asked.

"Sugar, please," he took the container and dumped a few spoonful's into his beverage. She watched him whilst delicately sipping on her own and kept any remark she might have had to herself. His siblings made faces whenever they saw him do it. Charlie affectionately called him a sugar fiend.

"Oh, stop that," Percy snorted when Ron scrunched up his face. "I'm not asking you to drink, am I?"

"You're going to get beets if you keep doing that," his younger brother told him and eyed the drink as if it were greatly offensive.

Percy stared at Ron, blankly. "What?"

"Beets," Ron repeated. He looked on over at Hermione for help. "You know the thing that muggles get?"

Harry was confused as well. "What are you talking about?"

Ron huffed, impatient and said to Hermione, "That thing your dad has."

Suddenly, Hermione burst out laughing. "Ron, that's diabetes."

Ron went red. "Oh," he mumbled.

Harry and Percy snickered.

"And for the record, sugar does not cause diabetes. Actually-" Ron groaned when Hermione went on to lecture him.

"How's everything going?" he asked her. "Are you alright with clothes? I still have plenty of things from when the girls were little. It's just sitting around. I can bring it over if you'd like?"

Fleur looked at him gratefully. "Merci, Percy. That would be very helpful."

"Of course. Anything to help."

"And how are your girls?" Fleur wanted to know.

"They're wonderful," he said with that fatherly pride he always had when he mentioned them. "Molly's been trying to copy everything I do lately."

"That's adorable," Fleur cooed.

"She tried to shave," he laughed as he recalled how she sat on the counter in the bathroom, imitating him while using her toothbrush. He even humored her by applying a thin layer of shaving cream on her face. When she cleaned it all off, she proudly showed off her accomplishment to him. "My goodness, that girl. And Lucy, she's been asking me so many questions."

"Like what?" She said with the twinkling eyes of a fellow parent who had been through the same thing.

"What does magic come from? Where do babies come from? Why are you so old?"

The last one was asked within the presence of George. His younger brother got quite a kick out of it and proclaimed Lucy to be his favorite niece (and as a treat, he made sure to give her a large sundae he'd prepared himself. Which was just what his already rambunctious daughter needed).

Fleur giggled. "Oh, Vic has asked where babies come from as well."

"What did you tell her?" Percy said, curiously. At the time, he'd blanched and hastily diverted her-thankfully short-attention to something else.

"Nothing," Fleur sighed. "Bill was too much of a chicken."

Well, he didn't feel as bad now for his reaction.

"Speaking of Vic," he'd noticed how his sister in law had looked worn at the mention of her oldest, "how's she doing? Is she adjusting well to Dom?"

The look he received told him everything.

"That bad?" he said, sympathetically.

"Oh, it's awful," Fleur lamented, her accent thickening. "Vic hates her sister. She cries when Bill is holding little Dom and says she wishes she weren't here."

Fleur was distressed.

"If it's any consolation," Percy said, trying to be comforting, "Molly went through the same thing when Lucy was born."

"Did she try to kick over the bassinet with Lucy in it?"

"Er, no," he admitted.

Fleur threw up her hands, sighing. "I don't know what to do. Bill says it's a phase and she will get over it, but I'm not so sure."

"If you'd like, I can talk to her?" Percy said, kindly. "She might be willing to listen to someone that isn't her parents. Of course, if you don't that's alright. I wouldn't want to overstep."

"At zis point, I'm willing to try anything," Fleur gave him a smile in thanks. She then called for her daughter, who came down the staircase with a sulky look on her tiny face. "Look who it is," she said with an upbeat tone, pointing, "it's your Uncle Percy!"

Percy knelt down on the floor. "Hi sweetie," he opened his arms for her and she came to him, but not in that typical way of hers where she would throw herself at him and excitedly demand that he pick her up. Now she simply stood there with a frown.

"Victoire," Fleur scolded. "Where are your manners?" Her daughter mumbled something neither of them understood. "I know you haven't been happy with baby Dom but this is no excuse to be rude to your uncle. Now give him a hug and-"

"No!" Vic exclaimed, stomping her foot. "I don't want to!"

Fleur looked at him apologetically and to her daughter she said, whilst one finger was pointing toward the upstairs, "Go to your room," she ordered. "There will be no dessert for you tonight, either and you just wait until your father gets home!"

"I don't care!" Vic hollered. She stomped up the stairs as loudly as she could. Seconds later, the door slammed shut.

Percy got back up to his feet. "Well," he chose his words carefully, "she's certainly...spirited."

Fleur was miserable and buried her hands in her face. "I don't know what to do anymore! I never thought it would be zis bad. Vic was excited for Dom to come and then suddenly, she hated her."

Percy frowned. He didn't have much to offer. Molly hadn't put up that much of a fight when Lucy was born after she was repeatedly reassured that she was still loved and receiving adequate attention from him. This was new territory for him, but despite that, he did offer to help.

"I'm so sorry about zat, Percy," Fleur said, tiredly.

Percy waved it off. "Don't worry about it," he assured her. "Actually, would you mind if I went up there to talk to her?"

"If you wish," she said.

He thanked her, going up the stairs and rounding the corner where Vic's room was. The door was cracked open and he could see his niece sitting in the corner, arms crossed, scowling and her knees pushed up to her chest. He'd come across a similar view with Molly on occasions, such as that time she wasn't permitted to eat a biscuit before dinner.

He stood in the doorway, one hand in the pocket of his trousers. "You know," he said and she glanced up to meet his eyes, sniffling. "I'm really jealous. This is a pretty room." It was painted a sparkly, dark purple. "My room isn't as pretty as yours."

She didn't say anything, only stared at him.

"Come to think of it," he continued as he looked around in fake wonderment, "did you paint this yourself? It's impressive. I'll ask your dad if you can paint my house, too."

Her resolve was breaking, she was being stubborn about not smiling. However, he'd seen her lips twitch and knew he was on the right track.

"I can't," she declared.

"And why not?" he feigned sadness.

"I'm not a grown up, Uncle Percy."

"You're not?" He was surprised. "But you're what, twelve? Sixteen?"

"Uncle Percy ," Vic looked hilariously disapproving at him. He had to contain his own laughter. "I'm five."

" Oh ," he nodded. "My mistake then."

She still wasn't smiling. Percy had to think of another tactic. So, he got down on his knees and sat beside her on the floor, copying her pose. First, he nudged her, but she didn't look at him. She was really being stubborn, a trait that was clearly inherited from her father. Bill would deny it but there had been a time when Percy wanted to play with his older brother at every chance, which annoyed Bill, who wanted privacy and quiet. Percy would poke him, repeat his name over and over, do whatever to get his brother's attention but Bill blocked him out and went on with whatever he was doing.

"Do you want to tell Uncle Percy why you're so upset?"

"No," she grumbled.

"Why not?" He asked, softly. "You can tell me anything, Vicky. You know that." He was the only person that was allowed to call her Vicky. She made a great fuss if it was anyone else that did it. Admittedly, it warmed his heart. "Is it your mummy and daddy? Or your grandparents?" He was naming off things in case she would spill the truth. She didn't. "Did the cat eat your biscuit again? Or is it-" he trailed off when he saw a tear run down the side of her face. "Oh, sweetie. Come here," he opened his arms and she didn't fight him this time, burying her face in his neck. Percy comforted her the same way he did with Molly and Lucy, gently rocking her and whispering soothing words into her ear. She cried for a few minutes, eventually calming down.

"M'sorry I didn't hug you," she mumbled.

"Don't be," he told her as she shifted around to sit in his lap. "It's alright. Now, are you ready to tell me what was bothering you?"

She shook her head.

"Why not?"

She shrugged.

"Noooo," he drew out the word, tightening his grip just a smidgen, "I think you do know."

"No," she shook her head again.

"Oh, really?" Percy raised his eyebrows.

"Yes."

"I see." Time for tactic number three. "I do hope you're going to let me see you smile. It's my favorite, that beautiful little Vicky smile. I'd hate to go home without seeing it. Are you going to do that to me, hmm?" Knowing what it would do to her, he tickled her stomach. She immediately began to giggle and squirm. "There it is! That's that smile!" He cooed.

"Uncle Percy ," she laughed, twisting and turning. "N...no!"

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he said, playfully. "Or will I be forced to tickle it out of you?"

"Okay," she squealed.

He stopped, allowing her to catch her breath. She giggled once more, snuggling up against him. "Are you going to tell me what's made you so cross?"

A scowl re-appeared on Vic's face. "The baby," she said, flatly.

"And you don't like the baby?" he said, asking for clarification.

" No! "

She couldn't have been more clear on that.

"I see," he rubbed his chin. "And why is that?"

"Daddy's always with her," the five year old said, angrily. "And Mummy can't play tea party no more 'cause the baby needs tention."

"That's right," he nodded. "She does need attention. Do you know why?"

She pouted, saying nothing.

"Because Dom's just a baby. She can't do things for herself like you can. But ," Percy booped her nose, which brought out another smile, "you're her big sister, which means you get to teach her everything."

She looked skeptical. " Everything ?"

"Everything," he confirmed. "About flowers and books and tea parties ."

"Oooh," Vic's mouth was like an O .

"Indeed," he said, kissing her on the head. "Now do you want to know a little secret?"

She nodded eagerly.

"Your daddy's told you about Uncle Fred, yes?"

For the second time, she nodded her head. "Daddy says Uncle Fred's in the sky."

"That's right. Your Uncle Fred and Uncle George are- were twins which means they were little at the same time. I was like you, just a little bit older."

"Did you get cross too?" Vic looked up at his face.

He wore a sad smile. "Loads of times. I wish I didn't."

"Why?"

Bill and Fleur most likely wouldn't appreciate Percy spilling his life story and regrets to their young child so he refrained. "It's not nice," he settled on. "Your mummy and daddy don't like you being mad at Dom."

"But I am mad! I want mummy and daddy to give me tention too!"

"I know you do," he gave her a squeeze. "They will. You have to give them time. A new baby isn't easy. They've got to feed her and change her nappies and make sure she sleeps."

She made a face.

"Uncle Percy?"

"Yes?"

"Can you take the baby?" She smiled up at him and he laughed.

"Oh, you want me to have Dom?"

"Yes," she was firm.

"But I already have two little girls. Besides, won't your mummy and daddy miss her?"

"They can visit," Vic said, confidently. "Like we go to see Grandmum and Granddad."

"I don't think they would like that idea too much," Percy had to admire her persistence. "They seem quite attached to her, don't you think?"

She harrumphed.

"You know," he continued, "I heard something about you. Do you know what that was?"

She looked curious.

"I heard you tried to kick over Dom's bassinet with her in it." Vic ducked her head and glanced down at her hands.

"Mummy was mad," she said, quietly.

"I bet she was," he said. "Sweetie, I know it's hard to adjust to the new baby, but you can't do things like that. You could've hurt Dom."

Vic's lower lip trembled. "But it's not fair. She always gets tention. I want daddy to read me stories and mummy to make biscuits with."

Percy made a mental note to talk with both of them regarding that issue. There was a time when he'd been young, around Vic's age, when he was extraordinarily jealous of how much attention Fred and George received, "Have you told them that?"

"No," she whispered.

"Why don't we go do that now?" Percy suggested as he leaned her up enough to stand and rose to his own feet. "I'll be right with you, okay?"

"You promise?" She held out her pinky.

He wrapped his own pinky around hers. "I promise."

I have a poll on my profile for what Percy centric fic I should do after my current one (Invisible Bruises), if you wouldn't mind, please vote on it