I looked up, and saw the sun creep in from behind the clouds.

"It's not raining as much" I pointed out, and watching as both Harry and Ginny looked up. Harry took the umbrella down, and turned around smiling at Ginny.

"No soggy boys for you to dry off today" he teased, walking backwards. Ginny glared at him, before yelling,

"Watch out!" as Harry walked into a plastic bin. He stumbled slightly, but caught himself in time.

"Honestly" Ginny muttered, striding over, and taking Lily from him, "You're loosing reactions, Harry" she said, handing him Al.

"Dada!" Al said, pulling at Harry's hood, making him grimace.

"Great, great swap, thanks, Gin" He said, pushing his hood down in the absence of rain, "He's acting like James today"

"He's just growing out of his shy faze" Ginny said, kissing Lily on her forehead. Harry frowned.

"James didn't have a shy faze" he said after a while.

"Well, you had a short faze, and look where we are now" Ginny said, standing back, and measuring Harry between her fingers, one eye closed.

"I'm not tall" Harry said stubbornly, starting to walk again, carefully avoiding the bin. Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"You're almost as tall as Ron" She said, but Harry shook his head.

"Stop now while you're ahead" he said, reaching the car. Ginny smiled in satisfaction, and with a click of a button, she opened the boot, piling the pram inside.

I was about to say my goodbyes, before a sudden, absolutely great idea came to my mind.

"Hey, Ginny," I started, talking to Ginny as Harry was putting Albus in his seat on the other side of the car, "Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Uh, I'm… I'm not sure" she said, looking at me surprised, "Why?"

"We go trampolining, you know, jumping" I said, at her confused look, "Well, we go to this trampolining park every Saturday, and I was wondering if maybe you would like to join us, or even just James, if you don't feel up to it" The more I spoke, the more flustered she became, and I felt slightly embarrassed by the time she had recovered.

"Yeah, I suppose, let me get Harry" she said, looking around, and summoning Harry with two quick flurries of her hand. The communication between the two was unbelievable I thought, as I watched Harry sidle over, tucking something long and wooden in his pocket o the way. I didn't have time to dwell on this, however, because Ginny was explaining my offer to him. I didn't know if it was my imagination, but Ginny had a pleading look in her eye, for what, I have no idea. He nodded, and turned back to me.

"It sounds fun, though if any of you make me jump around on a trampoline, I won't only break my neck, but refuse to speak to any of you again" he grinned, but it faltered when he saw the look on Ginny's face.

"I'm joking, it's not dangerous" he said hastily, touching Ginny's cheek reassuringly. She turned back to me.

"We'll come, where shall we meet you, and at what time?"

"Our session starts at 1 in the afternoon, but it takes us 45 minutes to get there" I said, and Ginny nodded.

"Shall we go to yours at 12 then, and we'll follow you down?" Harry suggested, and I nodded.

"Do we have to pay in advance or something?" Harry asked, and again, I nodded. Ginny looked positively bewildered at this point, and kept glancing at Harry.

"Uh, on that note, do you mind doing us a favour," Harry said, under Ginny's stare, "Could you possibly book us in, and we'll pay on the day, it's just" he gulped, "I'm, we're, not very good at mug – technology" he said, a faint flush appearing on his cheeks at this final part.

"Sure, yes, just the two boys?" I said, feeling sympathetic. Ginny nodded, looking grateful.

"Honestly, Katie, I'm so glad you're you, just imagine if you were a Helen" she said, smiling. I laughed nervously, not sure of what to make of that particular statement.

"Anyway, thank you" Harry said, smiling at me, that shouldn't have made me, but it did, a bit giddy. I was acting like a love-struck teenager, and was determined not to let it show.

"Anytime" I said, waving as he got into the car. He blew Ginny an over dramatic kiss, and she pretended to catch it, shoving it in her pocket, before giving one last grin, and ducking into the car.

"Where'd you find him, Ginny?" I blurted out, almost immediately after reddening slightly, but Ginny only grinned.

"Right old charmer, isn't he?" she told me, before pulling me into a hug. I returned it, again, caught unaware, but happy that our relationship stretched this far.

"I'll see you later, yeah?" Ginny said, releasing me, and stepping into the car.

"Yeah, see you later" I said meekly, waving absentmindedly, my mind elsewhere. She grinned, and stepped over to the car, with one last wave.

"Mummy, am I going to go to school with Al?" a sudden voice said from beside me, and I was jumped from my daze.

"Uh, no, he's a bit younger than you" I said, shaking my head, and grasping Mabel's hand.

"Oh" she said, rubbing her eyes, indicating that she's bored.

"Let's go home, yes?" I suggested, picking her up from the floor. She nodded, and I walked over to my own car, driving off quite happily.

"Park?" Mabel announced, making me jump and I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

"What?" I said, narrowing my eyes, as I had full well heard what she had just said.

"Park" she repeated, picking at the strap of her seat.

"Later, Mabel, Sarah is coming over" I told her, remembering as I spoke. 2 weeks ago, I had invited one of my friends' round for lunch. I had completely forgotten amidst all the commotion that had happened this past week to remember though.

"Oh" Mabel sniffed.

"You like Sarah," I protested, before adding, "And she'll be bringing little Alex, and her new baby Posie"

"Alex?" questioned Mabel, and I nodded, before I realised that she probably couldn't see me.

"Yes, you know, her son" I explained.

"Oh" she said for the second time, "I like Al more" I raised my eyebrows to myself, and grinned.

"You like Al?"

"Yes, he plays with me" she said earnestly.

"Doesn't Alex play with you?"

"No, he talks too much"

"I see"

"And," continued Mabel, "He's not as pretty as Al"

I finally let out the chuckle I had been suppressing for the previous 5 minutes.

"Alex is pretty too" I said, seeing how far she would go.

"No" Mabel said stubbornly, "Al has very pretty eyes"

I nodded in agreement, smiling.

"You like green eyes then? Is James pretty?"

"Green eyes" Mabel said happily, succeeding in pulling the strap of the fraying car seat off.

"Yes?"

"Yes" she confirmed, waving the strap around. I was smiling crazily, and pulled up in our driveway slowly.

"Come on, we only have 2 hours until Sarah and Alex come" I said, switching off the engine and opening the door.

"Out!" Mabel cried, and she clicked off her seat entirely. I swung open the door and placed her on the wet pebbles.

"Don't slip!" I said, as she almost tripped on the slippery gravel.

"I not!" she assured me, as she carefully walked over the rocks. I made sure she was under the porch, before I reached into the boot and gathered the coats and umbrellas.

"Open" Mabel yapped, bending her knees up and down.

"Why are you so excited to get inside?" I questioned as I put the key in the lock.

"Trampoline gets bouncy when its rainy!" she answered, zooming into the house and skidding into the kitchen.

"Oh, be careful" I said warily, dumping the things in the corridor, and following her to the back door.

"Yah huh, door open" she said quickly, pointing at the door.

"Patience, darling" I said, opening the door, nonetheless. She shot out extremely quickly and leapt up onto the dripping wet trampoline.

"Sweetheart you'll get wet" I said, watching as her knees got increasingly wetter as she scrambled onto the spring held material.

"Bouncy bouncy" she cried, giving me no indication she had heard what I said.

"Careful" I repeated, as she got higher and higher with each bounce.

"Bum plop!" she yelped, again ignoring my piece of warning. I winced as she went up, and came down, spraying water all over me.

"Right, come off please you'll get soaking" I said firmly, placing my hands on my hips.

"No" she said, shaking her head, and continuing to seat drop.

"Off, come on" I said, starting to walk over.

"NO!" She screeched, and she bounced over the other side.

"Suit yourself," I shrugged, retreating back, "But you won't be able to come on Saturday to Soar"

"I go!" she said, crossing her arms.

"You most certainly won't" I said, smugly thinking how I had already won this argument, "Al's coming too"

"Al comes jumping?" Mabel asked, wide eyed.

"Yes, but it looks like you'll be staying at home" I said, fake frowning.

"No, I'm coming" Mabel said, finally scurrying over to the entrance.

"Oh, she is coming" I said idly, helping her off.

"Yes" she said, nodding, "I go with Al"

"Good, now lets get you into some dry clothes" I said, shutting the door firmly behind us.

I got her changed, and re did her windswept hair, prior to walking back downstairs and cleaning up the rooms. Sarah would be coming at 11, only 30 minutes from now, and the house bore the unmistakeable signs of messy children. I busied around, taking the chicken breasts out the freezer to defrost, and shoving empty plates and glasses in the crammed dishwasher. Our house couldn't keep clean for more than 20 minutes, I was sure of it. Proving my point perfectly, Mabel trudged downstairs, holding a handful of barbies, and dropping them all over the place as she walked uneasily over the floor.

"Stop!" I yelped, as the floor grew messier and messier. Mabel glared at me.

"I play barbies downstairs" she growled, sounding too much like Robert.

"Oh no you're not, you're going to play upstairs and keep the downstairs nice and tidy for Mummy" I snarled back, and she scowled, before padding back up the stairs.

I sighed, and proceeded to pick up all the dolls she had left in her wake.

I kept glancing at the clock after I had made sure that every part of the house was a clean; I simply had nothing else to do.

Finally, at long last, I heard a car moving up the driveway. I peered out the window and noted that Sarah had got a new car. Well, she had 3 children now, and a 4-seater mini probably wouldn't have fitted 3 children plus 2 adults anyway. I watched Sarah get out, and she saw me looking out the window. She waved, and got Alex out. I pulled my head away from the window, and opened the front door fully instead.

"Katie!" Sarah greeted, holding a baby, and giving me a smile.

"Hi, long time no see" I grinned back, waving to Alex, "You look well"

She grimaced, "Posie's a horrible sleeper" A stab of Déjà vu shot through me as I remembered the conversation I had had with Ginny last week.

"Sounds like my friends' baby" I decided to tell her, as I stood back to let them through.

"I didn't realise you knew someone with a baby, other than me" Sarah commented, making me slightly annoyed.

"Yes, I do, just a bit younger than Posie" I said, shutting the door.

"Right, ok" Sarah said, ushering Alex into the living room, "How've you been, anyway, its been 6 months" she added, sitting down on the sofa, and looking at me.

"Great, I mean, Liam's settling in at school more" I smiled, sitting opposite her.

"I'm glad, how is he?"

"Wild" I said with a grin, "What about yours?"

"Maisy's settled in great, and Alex has finally grew out of his Gruffalo faze, so that's a bonus" she chuckled.

"Maisy goes to, what school again?" I said, after forgetting yet again where Sarah had sent her oldest child.

"Brompton Westbrook" she said nodding, "Liam goes to Downlow primary, doesn't he?"

"Yes, Mabel will go there too"

"Is Mabel here?" she asked, looking around for my daughter.

"Upstairs" I said, thrusting my thumb upwards, "She seems to be in love" I said with a grin. Sarah shot me bemused glance.

"Don't tell Robert, am I right?"

I laughed, "I only got it out of her in the car this morning"

"Who is it?" she said, chuckling.

"Liam's friend's little brother, he's a gorgeous child" I replied, shifting in my seat. She smiled.

"I was going to ask if I could accompany you to collect Liam today, I would like to see him" she said, half asking, half stating.

"Sure, but what about Maisy?" I said, a bit unsure of this new plan.

"Dillon can collect her, have a special Daddy Daughter evening" Sarah said with a cheeky grin. I gulped, and turned my head.

"You haven't met Posie yet, have you" she said, in my obvious discomfort. I shook my head, and held out my arms to receive the baby. Sarah handed me the baby, and I took her eagerly. I seemed to be around babies quite a lot recently, but I wasn't objecting.

"When was she born?" I said, gazing down at the sleeping infant.

"19th of April" Alex said proudly, pausing from his play with the toy cars.

"Oh wow" I said, running a finger over the baby's face, "How heavy is she?"

"She's 9lbs 6oz" Sarah said, looking at Posie affectionately. The baby opened her eyes and I saw the dominant brown that was the same as her brother and mother.

We chatted for some time, before I said I would start making Lunch. I made it as quick as possible, and I yelled down to Mabel. Eating took another hour, and before I knew it, it was time to collect Liam.

"Right, uh, I usually collect Liam around this time" I said, pushing myself off the sofa I had recently sat back down in, and indicating to Sarah.

"I'll follow you in my car" she said, reaching for Alex's hand, and hugging Posie to her chest. I nodded, and gathered Mabel from her room.

I got into the car, and, making sure Sarah was behind me, set off to the complementary trip to the school. Timing was good, as usual, and I hopped out of the car to see Ginny waving to me by the gates. I waved back, and proceeded to unbuckle Mabel. Sarah suddenly appeared beside me, holding Alex firmly by the hand, and Posie still in her arms.

"Is that your friend" she asked, following my gaze and landing on Ginny.

"Yes, she's very nice" I said, locking the ford with a click of a button. We got to the gates, and I saw Ginny shoot a questioning look at me.

"Ginny, this is Sarah, Sarah, this is Ginny" I introduced, slightly nervous. Ginny held out her free hand, and Sarah shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Sarah" Ginny smiled, making me feel reassured, "Nice baby" Sarah smiled, and said,

"Thank you, you've got one too, I assume" indicating the pram that lay in front of Ginny.

"Yes, indeed" Ginny smiled, reaching into the blankets, and withdrawing Lily, who was free from her bundles of clothes she had had on earlier. Lily was awake, and was yawning hugely. Posie's eyes found Lily, and she stared. The two infants looked at each other, un blinking.

"Do you live near here?" Ginny asked, grinning at the two babies.

"No, I live in Gillingham, but we're thinking of moving back over here" Sarah replied, glancing at me.

"What? You never told me that?" I said, astounded. Sarah shrugged, "Its not for definite. Maisy needs a place here first"

"At Downlow Primary?"

"Hopefully" Sarah nodded, "We're on the waiting list"

"How far up?" I wondered.

"She's 3rd at the moment" Sarah replied, adjusting Posie, "And when Maisy get's in, Alex and Posie get places automatically."

"Alex would be with Mabel" she added, patting Alex on the head. Ginny grinned.

"Your daughter would be with mine" she said, "What's her name?"

"Posie" Sarah smiled, "Yours?"

"Lily"

"2 little flowers, now that's adorable" Sarah laughed, and moved her gaze to the little boy by Ginny's feet; Al, "Will he be with Alex and Mabel"

"No, he's a little younger, I think" Ginny said, shaking her head, and watching Albus. He was looking at Alex with as much scrutiny as his father had given to Helen, "Al, don't glare"

Albus jumped, and looked up at his mum, wide eyes.

"Where's Harry, Ginny" I asked, looking around for her husband.

"Work" Ginny muttered, rolling her eyes slightly.

"Again?" I asked. Ginny nodded.

"They need to 'assess the outcome'" she said sarcastically, placing Lily back into her pram, "It's stupid"

"Have they solved the case then?" I asked, surprised. Ginny shook her head.

"No, but they're close"

"Sorry, am I missing something – " Sarah said, looking confused. I opened my mouth to talk, but Ginny spoke before me,

"My husband – Harry – he's in charge of the Sheffield murders. He's been away for a couple of a day's recently, all under cover." Ginny said, with bored indifference, as if she's said this many times.

"Oh, they've been all over the news" Sarah said, looking sympathetic, "Dillon, my own husband, he's in the Police too, though not important enough to be in the front lie of the action"

"Really?" Ginny said, turning her head slightly.

"Yes, he's helping to work out routes where the murderer might be going" Sarah said, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"They might be working together, you know" I suggested, but Ginny shook her head.

"I don't think so, unless Dillon works up in London." she explained.

"No, he works in the village" Sarah said.

It was silent for a couple of seconds, before Sarah's head snapped up, "Did you say your husband was in charge of the entire case?"

It was Ginny's turn to look uncomfortable now, "Well, yes, in a way. But-"

"Sheesh" Sarah said, looking incredulous, "That's a big job"

Ginny gave a grim nod, and just then, the chatter of children started to flood from the school, diverting everyone's attention.

"Mummy!" I heard Liam yell, and I saw him running over to us, his coat and bag trailing behind him.

"Hi Liam" Sarah said, waving to my son. He waved back enthusiastically, and dumped his bag by my feet.

"Where's James?" I heard Ginny mutter, and I suddenly noticed that James hadn't come tearing out with Liam.

"Hey, Li, where's James?" I said, grabbing Liam's arm as he started to run away.

"He's helping Presley with her bag" Liam said quickly, straining to get away. I saw Ginny raise an eyebrow, and narrow her eyes towards the school building.

"I said I'd help" whined Liam, but his need to help was proved not to be needed, as two figures emerged from the building, holding a bag each. The little girl had wavy golden hair, and she had deep brown eyes against hooded lids. I assumed this was Presley, as she was walking out with James.

"Oh god" Ginny murmured, shooting me an amused glance. James saw us, and gave sheepish smile, "So like Harry" she added in an undertone. I grinned, and finally let Liam go. He darted off, and grabbed James' hand, pulling him over to us.

"You took your time" Ginny announced, taking James' bag and shoving it under the pram.

"I was helping" James said proudly, puffing out his chest, and glancing back to Presley, who was being escorted away by her mother.

"Jamie kissin'" giggled Al, darting behind Mabel. James scowled.

"No I wasn't, I was helping, Al" He said, glaring at his brother.

"Kissin'?" Mabel said, turning around to face Al. Albus nodded vigorously, before moving to stand beside his own mother, giggling madly

"I wasn't" snapped James, "Tell them I wasn't, Liam"

"He wasn't" Liam said, obliging.

"See?" James said, folding his arms, "I wasn't, Liam said so"

Throughout this whole exchange, Ginny had only shot James bemused glances, shaking her head in despair.

"Let's get you home" She said, hushing a still giggling Albus, and tilting her head towards James.

"See ya" James said, giving Liam a high five, and a grin.

"Bye"

"Nice to meet you, Sarah, and, see you tomorrow, Katie" Ginny smiled, shaking Sarah's hand once again, and giving me a brief hug.

"Yeah," I said, before I remembered, "Hang on, you still up for tomorrow?"

"Sure, why not" she shrugged, "12 O'clock, right?"

I nodded, "Yes, we'll drive over to yours at 12, and you can follow us from there"

"Sounds like a plan" Ginny smiled, giving me the thumbs up.

"See you, then" I grinned, waving to the children.

"See you tomorrow Liam!" yelled James, spinning around on one foot.

They left, James chatting animatedly to Ginny, whilst she nodded, and smiled.

"She's very nice" Sarah said, watching the Potter's retreating forms, "She's new, I reckon"

"Yeah, James only joined on the first day of term"

"Have you met her husband?" Sarah asked, turning her head towards me.

"Uh, yes, he's very nice" I nodded, taking Mabel's hand, and Liam's coat and bag.

"It's weird," Sarah said absentmindedly, "How would her husband get up to London every day?"

I hadn't thought about this before, now I come to think about it, and I started wondering myself.

"Car, train, taxi, I don't know" I shrugged, clicking the key, and strapping Mabel in.

"Head of the whole case" Sarah said, in deep thought, "Dillon must know him"

"Yes, I suppose so." I said, dumping Liam's things in the boot.

"What was his name, Katie?"

"Um, Harry, Harry Potter" I said, uncertain of what Sarah was thinking.

"Great, thanks, I'll ask Dillon." Sarah nodded, starting to walk over to her own car, "He definitely is head, though, isn't he?"

"Yes, I've seen him, and why would they lie about it anyway?" I said firmly, shutting the passenger door with a bang.

"They wouldn't, I was just checking." Sarah said quickly, placing Posie in her seat, "I'm going to head off now, rather than at your house, if that's ok?"

"Yes, that's fine" I smiled, giving her a hug, "Keep in contact; tell me if you're moving back"

"For sure" she smiled back, waving to Liam ad Mabel through the window.

"Bye, safe journey" I said, stepping into my own car, with one last wave.