"They are so cute," Katie said as she watched the babies playing on her living room floor. Though George wouldn't really call it playing so much as laying in front of each other and giggling madly for no apparent reason. It still perplexed him how Katie, Alicia, and Angelina had all managed to get pregnant around the same time. Katie had Jack in November, then Freddy came along in February, and finally Brandon in May. The girls had been so excited about it, giggling over names and discussing what they'd need for a nursery.

That was a almost a year ago.

In a few short months, Freddy would be one. It didn't seem possible.

Neither did the fact that he'd hadn't taken his wife out on a date since before February.

"You don't need to worry about me," Katie said, a bright smile lighting up her blue eyes. "I've got them taken care of, and Oliver should be back any minute. You two go and have fun."

George nodded, stroking Freddy's hair once more before standing up.

"I wish you luck, Kates," he said, grinning. "I certainly don't envy you."

Katie rolled her eyes as he made his way out of her flat. He kept telling her and Oliver that they ought to just get a house, but they kept putting it off, for whatever cursed reason.

George Apparated back home, snow crunching under his boots as he landed in the yard. His house loomed in the distance. After they'd gotten married, he and Angelina had stayed up in his flat above the shop for two months until they'd realized they needed something bigger. George swore they looked at dozens of house before the they found this gem. It was a two story house in the countryside with a cute front porch and lots of room in the back for a dog to run should they feel the need to get one of those later on.

As he climbed the stairs to the porch, Angelina stepped out of the front door. A pair of tight jeans hugged her curves. Under her black coat, she wore a maroon sweater, which looked gorgeous against her skin. Her hair was in braids again. When he'd left her this morning, it had been loose around her shoulders. She must have gotten it done after dropping Freddy off with him.

Her hair hadn't been in braids for a while. She'd cut it to her chin a several months before she had Freddy and had been growing it out since. The style took him back to his days as a teenager when he couldn't have hoped to have been in her league and Fred had teased him mercilessly for it. That nerves that blossomed in his stomach came on so suddenly that he stopped halfway up the stairs.

It had been a long time since he'd felt self-conscious around Angelina.

Her smile started his heart back up again though.

George found a grin overtaking his own face as he started to move again and reached the top of the stairs. Quickly, his hand found Angelina's waist, and he pulled her to him, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla and saffron as he dropped his head into the crook of her shoulder.

"Missed me?" she teased.

"Always," he answered. "You ready?"

"Yes."

Without looking up, George Apparated them to the new restaurant that had opened a few months ago in Diagon Alley. Laughter and chatter filled his ears, while the scent of fresh bread wafted on the breeze. Gradually, he untangled himself from Angelina and glanced over at the new shop. The restaurant was painted a bright blue that stood out against all the snow. There were white curtains in the windows and a sign above the door that read 'Mel's Mystic Kitchen.'

"How was Freddy when you left him?" Angelina asked as she pushed open the door to the shop.

"He was alright," George said, following her to an open booth. "You know he's not all that fussy."

Angelina sighed. "I guess I was just hoping for a dramatic story about how up he was so upset that you were leaving him with Katie."

"Nah, he knew we needed alone time." He picked up a menu and perused it. "How else are we going to make him little brothers and sisters?"

"I've only just had one baby," she protested. "And you're already dreaming up seven more."

After the waiter took their orders, they fell into easy conversation — about the shop, about Quidditch laws, about how overbearing his mother was sometimes. George had forgotten how easy it was to just sit and talk to Angelina. Normally, they shared how their days had been, but it was always brief, their time consumed mostly by their son. He was thankful for this time to focus solely on Angelina.

Until now, he hadn't realized that he missed sitting across from his wife while she complained about her annoying secretary who only got the job because he knew someone who knew someone. Their lives were consumed by when Freddy ate, when to put Freddy down for a nap, how long he slept, until their lives were quantified by work and a baby. He supposed that's what it meant to be a parent — to wake up one day and realize that you measured your time in aching gums and baby formula.

"I'm glad we did this," Angelina said as they were finishing up their meal. "I didn't realize I needed a day of rest and relaxation until you suggested a date."

"Well," George said drawling out the 'e.' "I technically didn't come up with this idea. Katie did."

"Oh, she did?" Surprise colored Angelina's voice.

"Yeah. So, we're babysitting Jack next week when she and Oliver go out."

Angelina nudged him under the table. "Your wife might have liked to know that."

George shrugged. "She won't mind."

"No?"

"Nah, she loves kids."

Angelina glanced down at her watch. "We've got a few more hours if you want to head home and work on those babies you're so keen on."

George grinned. "We don't have to be trying for babies to do that."