"Mumma?"
"What is it, Perce?" Molly asked, turning to see Percy, who was now a year old.
"Story."
"You want me to read you a story?"
Percy nodded, and Molly bent down to scoop him up into her arms. After making sure Bill and Charlie were staying out of trouble, she grabbed a book off the shelf. She sat down on the sofa, and Percy crawled up into her lap and she kissed the top of his head. 'He really is sweet,' Molly thought. Percy was an affectionate child, he loved to be held, and cuddled by his mother. Molly suspected that his affectionate nature came from his beginnings, when she and Arthur were constantly holding him. She didn't mind though, she loved spending time with him. As she read the book, she pointed out different things in the pictures and asked him what they were. Even as young as he was, Molly could tell that he would be eager to learn and that he was a very bright child, as he caught on to things fast.
"Mum! Save me! Save me!" Charlie yelled, as he came hurtling into the family room, closely followed by Bill.
"From what, Charlie?" Molly asked, playing along.
"Daddy!"
"What's Daddy doing to you?"
Arthur came running in behind his sons, and gave Molly a wink as he snuck up behind Bill. She gave him a smile, looking at the scene before her. Arthur and the boys had a favorite game, which involved Arthur chasing his sons around the house. Eventually they would find Molly, and the boys would plead for her to save them from their father as when he caught them, he would tickle them until they were all in fits of laughter.
"He's chasing me and Bill."
"What's wrong with that?"
Before Charlie could answer, Arthur swooped down and picked Bill up, putting him on his shoulders and reaching to grab Charlie around the waist.
"Arthur, be careful." Molly cautioned, as he carried them to an area of the living room he had dubbed as the 'Tickle Corner'.
"Molly, really, can't we have fun?" Arthur asked, setting Bill and Charlie on the floor, tickling them under their ribs, causing them burst into fits of laughter.
"Yes, just be careful. I don't want to have to patch anyone up."
"When was the last time you had to patch any of us up after this game?"
"Never, but it usually progresses to rough housing and I can't move very fast because I have Percy on my lap." As she finished this statement, Bill broke out of his father's grip, and climbed on his back.
"Hey, no fair young man. I can't reach you back there." Bill had climbed to the middle of his father's back, so no matter which way Arthur turned he couldn't reach him.
"Exactly, Daddy. Now let Charlie go." Bill demanded, pounding his father's shoulder.
"Bill, easy now, you know not to hit hard." Molly warned, watching her son pound his little fist into Arthur's broad shoulder.
"I'm not Mum. Just hard enough to bug him is all."
"Mol, he can't hurt me. Stop worrying." While Arthur had turned his head to look at his wife, Charlie had wriggled out of his grasp, and joined Bill on top of his father. Arthur maneuvered himself so he was on his back, Bill and Charlie sitting on his chest. "Okay boys, that's enough now. Daddy needs a rest." The boys climbed off of Arthur, and moved to sit next to Molly on the sofa.
"What are you reading, Mumma?" Charlie asked, looking at the book.
"When You Give A Mouse A Cookie."
"Oh, will you read it to me and Bill?"
"Sure. Arthur, will you take Percy upstairs? I think he needs to be changed." Arthur nodded and crossed the room to lift Percy off of his mother's lap. Bill and Charlie slid closer to their mother, so they could look at the pictures as she read. She had not even started reading the first page when Charlie reached over to pull Bill's hair.
"Ouch! Mum!"
"Charlie, you know better than to pull your brother's hair."
Bill than reached over to pinch his brother in retaliation, and a fight quickly ensued.
"Boys! Stop it this instant! Go to your rooms!"
"Molly, what are you yelling about?" Arthur asked, coming back downstairs in time to see his sons go upstairs.
"Arthur go talk to your sons about fighting. They know better."
"Yes, dear." Arthur replied, knowing it was better to do what she asked rather than questioning her about what exactly had happened. He returned a few minutes later, and Molly walked over to him.
"Well, what did you tell them?"
"That what they did was wrong and that we don't accept that kind of behavior."
"I COULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT, ARTHUR! DIDN'T YOU GIVE THEM A LECTURE ON FIGHTING?"
"Well, no."
"ARTHUR WEASLEY, YOU NEED TO GROW A BACKBONE!"
"Excuse me, Molly?" Arthur balked, not knowing why she was tearing into him, he wasn't the one who had been fighting.
"YOU HEARD ME! I SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THIS HOUSE THAT DOES THE PARENTING HERE, ARTHUR! THEY'RE YOUR SONS TOO!"
"Yes, but I don't know how to punish. You're much better than me at that."
"ARTHUR, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, GROW A BACKBONE! YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR SONS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG! IT'S HARD ENOUGH WITH YOU WORKING OVERTIME JUST ABOUT EVERY NIGHT, IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT YOU HELP OUT WHEN YOU ARE HOME?"
"No. Molly, look, I'm sorry. This is all new to me. I've never been a parent before."
"NEITHER HAVE I, ARTHUR. YET, I CAN TELL MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE BEING BAD!" Molly heard a whimper come from the stairs and she looked over to see Bill and Charlie crying. Then the guilt set in. Arthur was doing his best, he was right; this was all new to both of them. She crossed the room and gathered her sons in her arms.
"Mummy, are we bad boys?" Charlie asked, burying his face into his mother's ample bosom.
"No, Charlie, you're not bad boys. You misbehave, but you're not bad. You're a very charming boy and Bill is a sweet boy. You're not bad, you're very good most of the time."
"But you were yelling at Daddy. You said we were bad boys." Bill said, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"I didn't mean it Bill. I was angry with your father and it slipped out. I'm sorry. You're my little Bill, and you're a very good boy."
Charlie broke out of his mother's embrace and toddled over to Arthur who picked his son up.
"Daddy, are we good boys?"
"Yes you are." Arthur replied, giving his son a hug.
"Boys, go back upstairs, your father and I will be up in a minute to tuck you in."
Bill and Charlie went back upstairs, and Arthur drew Molly close.
"I'm sorry, Mol."
"I'm sorry too, Arthur. I shouldn't have yelled." Arthur planted several quick kisses on his wife's lips before moving down to kiss her neck. "Arthur, please stop."
"Why? I think we're due for some lovemaking."
"We can't Arthur."
"Why? We'll put Bill and Charlie to bed, and go to our bedroom."
"Arthur, we can't. I'm on my…. well, you know…"
"Your period?" Arthur asked, whispering into her ear.
"Yes. You know the rules. No lovemaking when I'm on my menstrual cycle."
"Yes, I do." Arthur replied with disappointment. 'That explains a lot', he thought thinking back to the argument. "How long, Mol?"
"I just started today. Arthur, I'm sorry. I want to, I really do, but-"
"Hey, I understand. You can't control when your body decides to function that way. How about next week then?"
"I'd like that. Besides, I've been meaning to ask you about trying for another baby."
"Okay then, next week it is." He bent down to seal the deal with a kiss.
They headed upstairs to put the boys to bed, and both of them got a surprise from Bill and Charlie. Molly put Charlie to bed and Arthur put Bill to bed, but before they both got out of the respective rooms, the boys asked a question.
"Mumma, do you love Daddy?" Charlie asked, as Molly turned to walk out the door.
"Yes, Charlie, I do. I love him very much."
"Then why did you yell at him?"
"I was upset with him. Go to sleep."
"You didn't give me my goodnight kiss and hug, Mumma." Molly leaned over her son; kissing his forehead and giving him a hug, then tucking him back in.
"Goodnight Charlie. I love you."
"Goodnight Mumma. I love you too."
"I know. Go to sleep."
Meanwhile, in Bill's room, a similar conversation was taking place.
"Daddy, do you love Mumma?"
"Of course I do, Bill. What makes you ask that?"
"Well, she was yelling at you."
"Look, Bill, does your Mum yell at you sometimes?"
"Yes."
"You still love her don't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, I do things to make your mum get upset with me too. I know that she loves me, and half the time she winds up apologizing afterwards. The other half of the time, I have to apologize to her, but that doesn't make me stop loving her."
"Oh. So it's like when she yells at me and Charlie, she expects us to apologize for what we did wrong."
"Exactly. Now young man, I believe it's time for you to go to sleep."
"Goodnight Daddy."
"Goodnight Bill."
"I love you, Daddy."
"I know. I love you too, Bill. Go to sleep." Arthur stood up and after planting a tender kiss on Bill's forehead, he headed to his own bedroom to exchange an 'I love you' with Molly.
"Arthur, did Bill ask you if you loved me?" Molly asked when her husband entered their bedroom.
"Yes he did. Why, did Charlie ask you the same thing?"
"He did."
"I love you very much Molly, you know that don't you?"
"Yes, Arthur I do. It's a little hard to doubt that when you tell me almost everyday."
"Good. Get in bed you. That female thing makes you absolutely irritable if you don't get enough sleep."
Molly immediately obliged, and once Arthur had changed and crawled into bed she snuggled close to him.
"Arthur,"
"Molly, don't apologize. It's like your mood swings when you're pregnant. You can't control them, I know. I've also known you since we were eleven years old, I know what to do."
"I know you do, Arthur. But that doesn't stop me from feeling bad when I yell at you."
"Hey, come in like a Gryffindor lion and go out like a lamb for all I care Molly. I know you still love me, and you usually wind up apologizing anyway."
"I know. Arthur, I really am sorry. For everything, yelling at the boys, you, and stopping you when all you wanted to do was make love to me."
"Molly, I know that thing doesn't stop for lovemaking, and that you can't control it. I got over that years ago."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Go to sleep now, you need your rest." He kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and watched as she drifted off to sleep.