Percy was freaking out.

He could admit that. This was a highly stressful situation that was about to occur.

He'd spontaneously invited Abby over for dinner to meet Molly and Lucy.

"Hey," Abby scooted closer to him, repositioning herself so her head underneath his chin, snuggling into him. "What's wrong?"

Percy wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"My girls," He admitted. "I can't help but feel guilty. They don't know I'm here. I don't have the heart to tell them."

Abby squeezed his hand.

"Would you-" He hesitated. "Would you be interested incoming over for dinner Friday night? I want them to meet you so I can get this out in the open."

"Oooh, yes! I'd love to!"

He'd decided it was finally time for them to find out that he'd been seeing someone. They deserved to know. It was probably best to rip the figurative bandage off now than for them to find out on their own. His only worry was how they would react to the news.

Molly was his hot head; she might get angry for not being told right away or for the fact that he was doing this at all. She didn't take kindly to change sometimes and this was a huge change to get adjusted to. Percy didn't think he'd ever really discussed the notion of dating again to them-and promptly shut any talk of it if one of his siblings brought it up.

And then there was Lucy. She was a tad more sensitive than her sister was. She cried more than Molly but she also kept her feelings bottled up sometimes. He didn't want her to cry or lay awake at night because of this-as she was prone to doing when she was upset about something.

Another part of him felt guilty for hiding it at all. The girls weren't young children anymore that might not have minded it because they couldn't fully comprehend the situation. They might feel betrayed by him for not confiding in them sooner and that was the last thing he wanted for them to feel. Ever since they were old enough to speak and understand, he tried to be as open and honest with them in the most age-appropriate way he could.

He ran a hand through his hair nervously, letting out a deep breath. His heart was starting to beat faster within his chest. "Girls," he called out weakly. "Can you come here, please?"

Two heads popped into the living room.

"Yeah, Dad?" Molly said.

"Sit down, please," Percy gestured towards the two empty chairs.

They exchanged curious glances but did what he said nonetheless.

"What'd we do?" Molly groaned.

"I didn't do anything," Lucy said matter-of-factly.

"Well neither did I!"

"No one did anything," Percy interrupted their banter with a slightly too big, slightly painful looking smile. "I just wanted to talk to you girls."

They didn't believe him, he could tell.

Percy cleared his throat, his brain racking to figure out a starting point. "Do you remember when Uncle George tried to set me up on a date?"

Smooth. Very smooth

They'll take that well

A frown appeared on Lucy's face. Whatever she was feeling, Molly did not match her on that. She snickered.

"That was hilarious."

Percy rolled his eyes. It most certainly had not been. This was prior to him meeting Abby; his brother had the bright idea that if he wouldn't go out and meet people willingly, then he would do it for him. Thing is, George never told Percy this was happening. So, naturally, Percy had been caught way off guard when a woman looking for a good time, all while wearing an incredibly short dress, knocked on his front door.

"What about it?" Lucy asked.

"Well..." Percy hesitated. "I think your uncle might be right-"

"Uncle George is right about something?" Molly grinned. "I thought he was never right?"

He was grateful for her remarks this time-it helped soothe away some of the tension he felt. "I'll let him have this one time."

Lucy did not share his or Molly's amusement. "What's he right about?" She said, getting straight to the point.

He didn't get the chance to answer, Molly did it for him. "About Dad dating again."

Lucy's entire body language changed. The frown deepened, she stiffened. Percy's concern rose significantly. She was attempting to smile, to laugh a little but it was not convincing. "Why does Dad need to date?"

Molly gave her a weird look. "Why shouldn't he?"

This was where Lucy grew defensive. "I was just asking!"

Percy quickly diffused the situation. "Okay, okay. There's no need to argue."

They continued to glare at each other.

Molly broke it briefly. "Why're you telling us anyway?" She said, puzzled.

"Did you meet someone?" Lucy said quietly.

"Well-" Percy started.

"You did!" Molly grinned. "Nice. Didn't think you had in you, Dad."

"Thank you," Percy said dryly. Lucy was not saying a word. "Lucy, honey..."

"Wow," She finally said. "That's, err, that's great."

"Sweetheart, I know this is a big change but-"

"Dad, it's fine," She told him. "Just surprising is all."

"Really?" He was skeptical.

"Really."

Percy didn't quite know what to do. He was smarter than his daughter believed; he wasn't falling for her insistence that it was alright now. She was very clearly not thrilled with the idea but he didn't want to further push it.

"So who is she?" Molly wanted to know. Lucy was less enthusiastic than her sister. "Come on, tell us!"

Percy chuckled a little. "Alright, alright. Her name's Abby. She used to be Aunt Ginny's dormmate at Hogwarts."

"How'd you meet her?"

"It was at Florean Fortescue's," Percy wore a tiny smile as he remembered that day. "She accidentally ran into me with her ice cream."

Molly snorted. "Brilliant, I like her already." She pulled her feet up, throwing her legs over the arm of the chair. Percy almost corrected her on that out of habit, but decided to let it go this time. "Is she nice?" She asked when she was comfortable.

Percy smiled at that. "She most definitely is," He said.

"You should ask her out, then."

Lucy's lips went into a tight line upon hearing that. That in itself confirmed his hunch that she was not happy with this at all.

Which meant she would be even more unhappy about this next part.

"That's...that's an idea," He winced. He squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them again. Oh, for Merlin's sake. Just do it. "Girls...we're already dating."

Lucy was stunned.

Molly was not. In fact, she grinned wider. "Way to go, Dad! How long?"

Lucy's glance at him was rather accusatory.

"Not long," he assured them-mostly Lucy. "Just a few months."

"Why...why didn't you tell us?"

Percy was afraid of this. "Lucy-"

"I thought you said you wouldn't keep secrets from us?" Lucy's voice wavered slightly.

Percy's face reflected his pain. "I did. Sweetheart, it's just that-"

"You promised," Lucy whispered, gathering herself to her feet. She whirled around to storm out of the room, running all the way upstairs to her bedroom where they heard her slam her door distantly.

He sighed heavily, leaning back.

He'd made a huge mistake.

/

It was a tense couple of days in the Weasley household.

This, unlike other instances that lit Lucy's fuse, did not mull over as quickly. She was deeply hurt by what she perceived to be a betrayal. Percy had no idea which bothered her more; the fact that he was dating again or that he'd hid that small piece of information from her and Molly.

Speaking of Molly, she'd take the news quite well. He had to admit, it was surprising, given how hot her temper was. He would have assumed it to be her that would have gotten upset. Regardless, he was thankful it wasn't both of them.

Even so, it was unsettling to have his baby girl angry with him for so long. She'd taken to giving him the silent treatment, with the occasional glare here and there. Sometimes to provoke him, she spoke directly to Molly but he never took the bait.

Molly seemed to find great amusement in this, as it was typically her who was at odds with him. It really wasn't helping the situation when she inserted a remark or two; she was already warned once by him.

He almost canceled dinner but ended up not. Lucy was generally well behaved, surely she wouldn't act up. She would conduct herself in a mature manner, even if she still wasn't fond of what was happening. So, he sent Abby a letter, asking if they were still on and she had replied yes.

Now that meant only one thing-tell the girls.

He waited until they were surrounded at the dinner table where he casually brought it up.

"Girls," he said, pausing when a look of alarm flashed over Lucy's face, "Abby's coming over on Friday evening for dinner and I want both of you to be on your best behavior." He looked them over with a stern look. Molly didn't mind, merely nodding as he ate her shepherd's pie-without waiting for it to be cooled off. He swore one day she would burn her taste buds off.

Clink!

"I don't want her here," Lucy said through clenched teeth.

"Here we go," Molly muttered.

"No! You may be okay with this but I'm not!" Lucy jmpd toher feet, slamming the chair forward into the table, causing it to wobble slightly. Percy hurriedly grabbed his mug to keep it from falling over. He didn't get a chance to reprimand her because she was already gone when he refused his attention again.

He buried his face in his hands, groaning.

This was a terrible idea. He should just cancel and be done with it. This was more trouble than it was worth.

He never wanted to upset his girls. That was the last thing he ever wanted to happen. He'd hoped, perhaps naively, that they would be alright with it. It wasn't like he and Audrey had just gotten a divorce and now he was seeing someone again. He'd been single for as long as they could remember.

"She's just being dramatic," Molly shrugged.

"She's upset."

"And dramatic," His oldest daughter snorted. "Come on, Dad, it's not a big deal. Who cares if you're dating or not. You're, like, old anyway. Pretty sure it's not good for you to be alone."

"I am not old," he scowled.

"You're thirty-three," She made a face at him. "Isn't that, like, middle age?"

"Eat your dinner, Molly."

"Did I strike a nerve?" She snickered.

"Eat your dinner, Molly."