Getting together with friends to share cookies spirals into a discussion of the effects of sugar on small children. When did Chess Club change so much?
Song: Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
"Where is the bag?" Ginny's question echoed throughout the house. "I need to find his bag before we go to Ron and Hermione's. Harry, have you seen his bag?"
"Darlin, it is hanging on the back of the front door." Harry wrapped his arms around his frantic wife. "Right where you put it after you packed it this morning. If you keep yelling, our darling boy will not finish his nap."
"And be a royal terror at his aunt and uncle's house." Ginny leaned into Harry. "I don't want to forget anything and I feel like I am forgetting everything. I don't like this stage."
Harry kissed her cheek and nuzzled into the crook of her neck. "That is why I am here, darlin. To help you when you feel frazzled and make sure everything is okay. I promise, everything is okay."
"What time do we have to be there?" Ginny rested her head on Harry's chest. "Do I have time for a nap? I really would like a nap."
"Go take a nap. I'll wake you when it is time to go." Harry nudged her towards their bedroom. "I'm going to check on the cookie tins while you rest."
Harry: The house is quiet
Ron: Nap time
Harry: Yup
Ron: My sister is taking a nap?
Harry: Yup
ROn: Is she okay?
Harry: Yup
Ron: Can you answer with anything else?
Harry: Nope
Ron: Never mind … I'll see you around 2
Harry reached in the back seat to get James out of his car seat. "Are you sure you are feeling up to this?"
"I'm fine." Ginny stood up with her arms full of biscuit tins. I just have to have a few minutes for things to settle before I start going again. I am not missing this event."
"You could have sent me and stayed home to rest." Harry settled James on to his shoulder, grabbing the baby's bag. "We are just going to nibble on cookies and marvel at Ron's cooking skills."
"I am here to make sure you all don't give Hermione a hard time." Ginny used her hip to close the car door and headed for the front door. "She is better in the kitchen than she used to be and, in case you forgot, she is pregnant and more sensitive right now."
"So we are not allowed to pick on Hermione today." Harry nodded and followed Ginny to the door. "But the girls …"
"Will be enjoying the cookies while you boys play chess." Ginny rang the bell. "Just keep yourself out of trouble."
"Me, trouble?!" Harry raised an eyebrow as the waited for Ron to open the door. "I never get into trouble."
"Tell that story to someone who hasn't known you since childhood." Ginny laughed and shook her head. "I remember your next to last year in Secondary."
Hermione: Where are you?
Daphne: Stuck in traffic
Luna: Really?
Ginny: You were supposed to be here 30 minutes ago
Daphne: He forgot something and we had to go back
Hermione: What did you forget?
Luna: Brownies?
Ginny: Yum, Brownies
Daphne: We forgot the cookies … I did not have brownies today
Hermione: Do not lie … You like to have brownies
Luna: I might have brownies tonight
Ginny: Be careful how often you have brownies, they can make you fat
Daphne: Really?!
Ginny: Just ask Mione
Hermione: I am not fat … just pregnant
"James, no more." Ginny pulled James' hand from the tin of cookies closest to him. "You have had enough cookies for this week. As it stands, we may never get you to sleep."
"Come on, Gin. Let him have another one," Ron teased as he watched her try an keep the baby from getting another cookie. "What harm can a couple more cookies do?"
"Just you wait, big brother," Ginny smiled and lifted James from the chair he was sitting in. "When your little one gets big enough to want foods full of sugar. The more sugar you let them have, the less sleep they think they need."
"It can't be that bad." Ron shrugged as he tried not to laugh at his nephew's attempts to get another cookie. "My child will sleep no matter how many cookies she has."
"Let me mark this on the calendar." Harry placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "When your little one is the same age as ours is now and you cannot get him to sleep after cookies, I will expect an apology. It is time for us to take our not so sleepy, sugar fueled child home."
"Thanks for coming." Ron got up from the table and began to pack up tins of cookies. "Hermione wants to do this again soon. I just wanted the cookies I didn't have to bake."
"Go take care of your sleepy wife." Harry gestured towards the sitting room. "We've got the kitchen clean up taken care of."
Ginny: Thanks for the cookies
Hermione: I had fun
Luna: The chocolate peanut butter ones you made, can I have the recipe
Daphne: Are those hard to make?
Hermione: Super easy to make. I'll bring the recipe to Chess Club
Ginny: I'm headed for bed
Luna: I'll be there eventually
Daphne: Lights are out at my house
Hermione: Good night ladies
Luna: Night
Daphne: Night
Ginny: Sweet dreams