It was noon when Harry pulled back in the driveway to find Carrie and Kit sitting on the porch, smoking. He shook his head as he slammed the door.

'Did you get the job?' Kit asked sulkily as smoke escaped from her lips.

'Yes,' Harry said, frowning at them both. 'And you both should stop doing that. It's disgusting.'

Carrie and Kit shrugged. 'At least we're not doing it inside,' Carrie reasoned. Harry rolled his eyes.

'And besides,' Kit added, flicking her ashes, 'it's either this or tear the house apart in worry for my son.'

Harry actually laughed. 'Why don't you do crosswords or read instead?' he posed, sitting next to them.

'Because they're boring!' Carrie exclaimed, putting the butt out in the ashtray between them.

'Play with that animal then,' Harry offered, but Kit shook her head.

'He's sleeping,' she said wisely, mimicking Carrie. 'And besides, the muffins should be done now.'

Carrie clapped her hands and Harry sighed, following Kit inside and to the kitchen.

'They aren't that bad,' Harry commented five minutes later as they sat in the living room watching Caleb run in his cage.

'Excuse me?' Kit gasped. 'They're marvellous.'

'Superb,' Carrie agreed, pulling on her shoes. 'But I must be off to work. Pop by sometime for tea, would you?' she asked them both.

'Of course,' Harry said, standing up and walking her to the door.

Carrie grinned. 'Until next time!' she called to Kit, giving Harry a quick hug.

Kit grinned as the door shut behind her and Harry sat back on the couch next to her. 'She's fantastic, hey?'

'Superb,' Harry mocked, and Kit smacked him playfully. 'So,' he sighed, laying his head on her shoulder, 'Dave says I can work eight to four during the weekdays, but I have to pick one day of the week to work the night shift – six to one.'

'That's good,' Kit said indifferently. 'At least you'll be home on weekends, right?'

'Yes,' Harry sighed. 'He was really good about it too. He's a father too, so he knows that family time is important.'

'Then why do you have to work a night shift?'

'Part of the job,' Harry said, frowning at Kit's pout. 'Now come on, it's one night a week. It was either that or a Saturday night shift.'

Kit shrugged. 'At least you have a job now.'

'There's the spirit,' Harry grinned, kissing her on the cheek. 'Now, what will we do for the rest of the afternoon?'

'Get ready for dinner,' Kit said, and her tension seemed to lift slightly.

'All afternoon?' Harry asked, taken aback.

'Well, we are going to have guests,' Kit said softly, a smile coming to her lips.

'Who?'

'Ron and his brothers.'

'No Hermione?'

Kit shook her head. The last thing she said that afternoon was, 'Pick up Nate, would you? Carrie said she'd look after him while we all ate.'

'Bill, will you cut this for me?'

'Sure, Kit.'

'Aww, poor dear can't cut a roast.'

'Shut up, George.'

Fred laughed as Harry and Ron sat down at the table.

'So, what's the occasion?' Charlie asked as Kit poured them all wine.

'Ask Ron,' Kit smiled.

Ron blushed as everyone looked at him. 'I actually just wanted to ask you, Harry, if the pub you work at now has space open for a stag party.'

'We apparently throw them all the time,' Harry grinned.

'Wait now, the girls will want that bar for the hen party as well,' Kit interrupted, setting down a platter of vegetables in front of them all.

'During a night when Harry's working, too,' George cut in. 'Ginny told me,' he said, answering the questioning looks on Harry and Ron's faces.

'Then it shouldn't be a problem, as long as Harry doesn't work a Saturday night,' Charlie said. 'Do you?'

Harry shook his head, his mouth full of mashed potatoes.

'The meat isn't even on the table yet, Harry!' Kit scolded him. Heshrugged. Fred snorted into his wine.

'When are you proposing?' Bill asked as he sat down.

'You'll be there, don't worry,' Ron grinned.

'Do you have the ring?' Charlie asked eagerly.

Ron nodded, blushing again. 'Dad gave it to me – it was mum's engagement ring.'

'Passing down through the generations,' Kit smiled. 'That's brilliant.'

'Yeah, it is,' Ron agreed. 'Pass the peas.'

The days passed quickly, Nate enjoying his time at day care, Harry getting used to the time spent working in the pub, and Kit learning a new recipe or cooking trick from Carrie. Friday evening was an eventful ordeal as they got ready for Hermione's birthday party. Kit and Harry had bought Hermione's present (an analogy of romantic short stories) earlier in the week at a department store. She and Nate wrapped it while Harry was at work. And so they sat in the car, on the way to the party at Oliver and Sasha's.

'Dave said that there could be a discount for Ron's stag party and Hermione's hen party,' Harry commented as he changed lanes.

'Is that right?' Kit asked. She had warmed up during the week to Harry working at the pub. The stories he came home with always made her laugh – something she fell in love with him for the first time.

'Yeah, so I think they'll be happy about that,' Harry continued. 'You know – spend less money on – oh, I missed the turn off.'

'Daddy missed the turn off, Nate,' Kit said, pulling a face at their son in the back seat.

'Daddy doesn't know where he's going,' Harry mumbled.

'Daddy's stupid!'

Harry shot Kit a look. Kit looked outraged.

'Nathaniel!' Kit scolded. 'Where did you hear that?'

'Tommy said it to Jill yesterday,' Nate said quietly.

'It's a bad word, okay?' Kit asked softly. 'You aren't to say bad words.'

'Okay, mummy.'

'Now what do you say to daddy?' Kit prompted him.

'Sowwy, daddy,' Nate whispered.

'Good boy,' Kit said, smiling at him. 'I'll let auntie Herm give you an extra big piece of cake because you're so good.'

Nate's eyes lit up and he clapped as Harry shot a desperate look at Kit. 'I love you, mummy!'

'I love you too, bud.'

Harry shook his head, taking the turn off.