Teddy threw himself onto her legs as she trailed behind me to the garden. "Phia! Phia!" he exclaimed.

"It's Sophia, Teddy," I reminded him with a smile.

She smiled, kneeling down and scooping him up. "Hi, Teddy."

He placed a sloppy kiss right on her mouth.

"Hey, there, mate. That's my girl you're kissing," I said, ruffling Teddy's electric blue hair.

He wrinkled his nose at me and attempted to swat my hand away. "No, no!"

Sophia's laugh filled the yard as she bounced him up and down. "He's just jealous, Teddy."

"I'm watching you, you bugger," I told him with a smile.

He itched to be put down, and the moment his feet touched the ground he snatched her hand. "Come! Come!" he insisted, yanking her forward.

"Alright, I'm following you!"

Mum pulled me into a hug when I got close enough. "You're late," she accused.

I laughed. "Mum, we're only a few minutes late," I reminded her. "Sophia had a late practice and she insisted on showering before we left."

"Did you ask her yet?" she demanded.

My eyes widened. "Shh! No, I told you I would let you know when I did." I grabbed a bottle of Firewhiskey off the table and took a shot of it. "Give me a heart attack, why don't you, woman?"

She smacked the back of my head. "I just assumed you would have done it already."

"George, enough whiskey!" Sophia yelled across the yard. She shot me a glare. "You know what that stuff does to you!" Teddy laughed as he buried her legs in dirt.

"Teddy, don't—," Tonks started, but her mouth clamped shut at Sophia's laughter. "Oh never mind."

I set the bottle of Firewhiskey down and took a seat next to Sirius, much to my brother's chagrin. "So anything new?"

"I got a promotion," Bill announced.

"That's great, Bill! What will you be doing now?"

He shrugged, glancing at his half empty drink in his hands. "Training the new guys, but the best part is that I'll be staying at Gringotts. I won't have to travel all over the globe anymore."

A warm hand slipped onto my shoulder. "You must be happy about that," Sophia's voice agreed.

He nodded. "I heard you'll be doing some traveling soon though."

My smile was wiped away within an instant. "Not now, Bill."

"You two are taking a trip?" Mum asked, completely missing Dad shaking his head at her.

"The team is set to play against a team in Russia," Sophia said calmly.

I reached for the whiskey, but, in a quick motion with her wand, Sophia had the bottle capped and sitting next to Hermoine. "It's a swig of alcohol, Sophia," I said. There was a harsh edge to my voice.

"And it's one game, George," she hissed.

"Yes, Sophia. It's just one game until a bludgers hits you in the head and kills you!" I snapped, turning to glare at her.

She simply sighed, placing a kiss on the top of my head. "We can talk about it later. Please?"

I pulled her onto my lap and buried my face in her hair as she bounced Teddy up and down.

**Sophia's Point of View**

"When you get tired of him just let me know," Tonks said, trying to suppress a yawn.

Teddy tried to stand on my knees. His legs were wobbly, but with my hands holding his he was able to stand straight. He erupted into a fit of giggles. "Phia! Phia!"

I blew raspberries on his stomach which only made his laughter increase. "I think Uncle George needs a hug," I said, glancing over my shoulder.

George shook his head. "Sophia, now isn't—" His words were cut off when Teddy wrapped his tiny hands around George's neck. "Thanks, Teddy," he said, kissing the little boy's forehead.

He moved back to resting against my chest, smiling up at me. "Phia," he said.

"That's all he says," Remus mumbled.

"All. Day. Long," Tonks groaned. "I wish he'd change it up sometimes."

I snuck a roll off of Percy's plate when he was in a discussion with Harry about something in the Ministry.

He glanced at me with a chuckle, but said nothing.

Teddy tried to pull the roll apart while it was in my hand. When he didn't succeed, he attempted to eat it. "Phia!" he exclaimed, looking up at me.

"Teddy, no yelling," Remus warned.

Within a heartbeat tears had sprung to Teddy's eyes and he began wailing.

"Aw, you're just hungry, sweetheart." I pushed his, now dark brown, hair away from his face.

"I'll go get his food," Tonks said.

I looked up at her with a smile. "I can do it."

She stopped mid-step. "Are you sure?"

"Of course! You look like you need a break. Just tell me where I can find his things."

"The bag is on the sofa," she said, sitting down with a smile. "Thank you."

Teddy clung to me as I got to my feet. "Phia!"

I hiked him up on my hip before giving George a kiss. "Please no more whiskey," I pleaded softly.

He sighed and stood up. "I'll come help you with him."

The two of us went into the house with the little boy. I sat on the sofa, trying to calm his cries as George readied his food. A few moments later a silence filled the house. Teddy lay curled up in my arms as he alternated reaching for his bottle and opening his mouth for more mashed pumpkin.

"You know I didn't want to fight in front of your family," I mumbled apologetically.

George nodded, but kept his eyes focused on the toddler.

I reached out and my fingers trailed down his face. "George, we can compromise on this."

"How?" he demanded. His eyes had finally met mine again.

I thought about it, but eventually had to take a deep breath. "I don't know, but I promise we will figure something out. I just… I want you to be happy with my career like I'm happy with yours, George."

"And I want you to be here one day so we can get married and…and…and have kids of our own," he stuttered out. He waved his hands at Teddy. "Don't you want this for us, Sophia?"

"A baby? Of course, I do, George!" My mind reeled at the thought. Did he honestly believe I wanted nothing more than a few months of dating?

"So say we get married, and then a year later we want to start our family. Are you going to give up quidditch for it?"

My eyes softened at what he was saying. "George, love, the day you propose to me I will give the team my letter of resignation. I'll find another job whether it be in teaching or helping out at the shop. Quidditch pays immensely well, though. Why not save the money I'm making now so we'll be better off later?"

He gave Teddy the last bite of pumpkin before setting the bowl on the table. "Because if you get hit, I could lose you."

I stood up, pulling him with me. "We'll go back out there, eat dinner with everyone, and then go home early," I whispered.

"Mum won't let us. We were late getting here."

"Use proposing to me as an excuse."

His eyes widened and I let out a laugh. Once outside I handed a sleeping Teddy over to Tonks.

She smiled gratefully. "You even got him to fall asleep. I might have to bring him to your place during his crying fits from now own."

Before I had a chance to tell her I'd love that, George was rushing out of the house. "How did you know?" he demanded.

I rolled my eyes. "I can see the ring box, George. It's resting right there in the front pocket of your pants."

He spluttered nonsense, looking at me frantically. "You can't know! It was supposed to be a surprise, Sophia!"

"Well I do, so come eat." I took the seat next to Percy.

"Marry me," George said behind me.

I took a sip of my water, shaking my head. "No." I was met with incredulous looks and a shocked George. I reached out and grabbed his hand. "This isn't how you wanted it to go. I can tell that much, George. So let's wait until you're ready."

He collapsed in the chair between Sirius and me. "I wanted this to be perfect for you after everything you've gone through."

I picked up my drink and spilled it on his lap.

"Sophia!" he exclaimed, quickly trying to wipe the liquid.

"Don't you ever use my past as a bloody excuse again, George Weasley," I said as my hands clenched into fists. "I don't use yours, so don't you be an idiotic git!"

He chuckled, yanking me onto his lap as he kissed me smack on the lips. "Merlin, I love you, you insane girl."

"So are you two getting married or not?" Ron asked a moment later.

"No."

"Yes."

I glared at him as he covered my mouth with his hand. "We are getting married." He looked down at me with a sly grin when I stuck my tongue out onto his cupped hand. "I'll remember that."

Grabbing his hand, I moved it away from my face. "One day we'll get married, but for now I'm happy with just being us."