Ariadne looked up from helping Hazel with her homework to a banging on the front door. She glanced at Hugo, who was at the other end of the table helping Paige with her homework. Hugo was making life simpler with him living here. He moved in last week. He was home for dinner every night. He would play or spend time with the girls. Hugo would take and pick up the girls from school. He knew that he was winning points with her because he was always there.
"I know the way," An angry voice said as they made their way to the morning room.
Ariadne knew that voice and wondered what he was doing here. She glanced at the doorway and her ex-husband stood there.
"Daddy," Both girls jumped off their chairs and ran to their father. It has been a couple of months since he saw them. "What are you doing here?"
Dean didn't even look at the girls but straight at Ariadne. "I came to speak with your mother."
Ariadne didn't know what this could be about. "Sure, Dean, let's go to my study," Ariadne stood and pushed the children towards Hugo.
Dean let her pass and he followed her to her study. He closed the door behind him. Ariadne took a seat behind her desk. She needed the desk between them to keep him away from her. "What did you need, Dean?"
"Is this true?" He slammed the Daily Prophet on the desk.
Ariadne looked down and saw the announcement about the pregnancy. They had finished telling their families about the baby and had put the announcement in the paper. After the announcement Ariadne did get a few letters saying that she was trapping Hugo for life. She had kept those letters away from Hugo. "Yes," She looked from the paper to her ex-husband.
"You didn't think that you should tell me," Dean stared her down.
"Why should I tell you? Last time I checked we are divorce, and you have no say in my life," Ariadne hissed.
"It had something to do with my children," Dean waved a hand to the door.
"Your children," Ariadne raised her shoulders. "Last time I checked you haven't seen your children in months."
"That doesn't mean anything," Dean said.
Ariadne could feel the anger rising in her. "You are in my house asking me about a pregnancy that has nothing to do with you and not asking one question about your daughters."
"You are bringing a man in their lives," Dean placed his hands on the desk.
"A man that has known them since they were born. Hugo knows more about my daughters than you do," Ariadne stood and slammed her hands on the desk. Dean shrugged his shoulders but didn't say anything at first.
"I am still their father," Dean mumbled.
Ariadne had about enough of this man. She tried to figure out why she thought that she fell in love with him. "You were never a father to those girls. You didn't want anything to do with those girls from the moment we found out that we were having them. Your name might be on the birth certificate but all you ever been a sperm donor. You were there for the pictures after they were born, but never put up a fight when we were getting divorce about getting them. You don't have to pay child support because I pay you alimony. I think that you need to get out of my house."
Dean narrowed his eyes at Ariadne. He didn't like that she was telling him what to do. "Your house?"
"Yeah, my house. My aunt left me this house," Ariadne said. Dean made a noise because he knew it was true. After they were married the house stayed in her name. "Unless you have something to ask about my daughters you need to leave."
Dean opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He turned on his toe and walked out of the room and slammed the door shut. Ariadne fell back into the chair behind her and held her breath until she heard the front door close. She really wanted him out of her life, but he was the girls' father and will never be out of her life.
Ariadne placed her face in her hands. She was ready to cry but she heard the door to the study open. She looked between her fingers to see Hugo closing the door behind him. She wondered how the girls were doing because they didn't see their father again. Hugo didn't say anything as he made his way over to the desk. Ariadne watched as he took a seat in one of the chairs that was on the other side of the desk. He didn't say anything, just looked at her with those blue eyes that she hoped their baby would have. He was waiting for her to say something.
"The girls?" Ariadne pulled her hands away from her face.
"Ellie took them to the kitchen for some ice cream after they heard the front door close. They didn't like that Dean didn't come back to see them," Hugo voice dropped with every word.
"Why did I marry such an ass?" Ariadne said it more to herself than Hugo.
"You saw something in him," Hugo mumbled.
Ariadne knew what she saw him in. He said all the right things and Ariadne fell for him hard. She always kept her heart close to her after Hugo broke her heart, but she let Dean in. He only broke her heart some more, the only good thing that came out of the marriage was the girls. Some part of her heart knew that she could never hate Dean for that.
"Ariadne what happen with him?" Ariadne looked up when she heard Hugo ask the question.
"I'm sure that Rose or Lily told you what happened," Ariadne asked.
Hugo shook his own head. "I was going through my own shit."
"It started with little things before we were even married. He started to be controlling about what I should I wear or when I should put make-up on. Did you know that he didn't help spend one Knut on the wedding," Hugo raised one eyebrow. "My parents paid for everything," Ariadne let out a laugh. "He told me that he wanted children and soon realized that he meant boys," Tears came to her eyes. "He doesn't love those girls like a father should," Ariadne pointed to the door. "He came with nothing to this marriage. We lived off everything I brought from my family and job. I was so glad that my dad and brother made me sign a per-up. Now I must pay him alimony until he gets married again but that is something that he is never to do. I should have never married him."
"If you never married him, you wouldn't have those two beautiful girls in the other room," Hugo said. Ariadne nodded. She knew that he was right about that. She doesn't know where she would be if she didn't have those girls. "What was the final straw that broke the camel's back?"
Ariadne sighed. "Rose was having brunch and invited everyone she knew," Hugo nodded. That sounded like something his sister would do. "Dean told me he couldn't make it; I didn't let it bother me because he was always missing family things. I was already looking to divorce him. I saw how unhappy I and the girls were. So, I had forgotten something that I was going to give someone at brunch. I can't remember who it was."
"It doesn't matter," Hugo whispered.
Ariadne nodded. "I had come home and heard something coming from upstairs. I thought that it was Dean, and I was going to ask him again about coming to brunch," Hugo nodded. "I went upstairs and opened the door to see that Dean wasn't alone."
"He cheated on you with another woman," Hugo growled. Ariadne saw the anger in him.
Ariadne nodded. "That was it for me. I threw him out that day and got the best divorce lawyer out there. I wasn't going to pay for him to cheat on me. I had a feeling that my money paid for his girlfriends. You know what he told me before I threw him out," Hugo shook his head. "He was trying to find a woman to give him a son."
"I'll kill him," Hugo said between cliched teeth.
Ariadne shook her head. "He is out of my life and that is all that matters. I wished I could have gotten a father for my girls, but we all make mistakes."
Hugo nodded. He wanted to be the father that the girls needed but first he had to win over their mother to marry him. He wants to make it right and adopt those girls so they could call him Dad. He looked up at Ariadne. "Come here," he held out his hand over the desk. Ariadne took his hand and went around the desk. Hugo sat her in his lap. He leaned closer. "I'm never going to cheat on you. If you want me gone, you are going to have to throw me out and I will put up a fight."
Ariadne placed a hand on his cheek. "You'll fight for me even if I'm done with you," She leaned down towards him.
"Yes," Hugo leaned up and kissed her. He wrapped his arms around to hold her close to him. \
"Mummy, Hugo," Paige came running into the room a moment later. Ariadne broke the kiss laughing because Hugo let out a groan. Ariadne patted him on the chest before turning to her daughter.
"Yes, Paige," Ariadne smiled. She couldn't remember the last time that she had felt this happy.
"Ellie says it is time for dinner," She looked between her mum and Hugo.
"Okay, go and wash your hands before dinner," Ariadne stood up. She watched as Paige ran from the room. She turned around and held out her hand for Hugo to take. Hugo took her hand, stood, and straightened his pants. Ariadne let out a little laugh because she liked that she could do that to him. Hugo gave her a look. She leaned closer. "Later, Mr. Weasley," She took his hand and led him out of the study.
Ariadne finished checking on the girls before heading to her room. Hugo was already changing. She closed the door behind her. "Hugo, I wanted to ask you something," Hugo looked up from unbuttoning his shirt. "What happened between you and Rachel?"
Hugo gave a half smile. "I wanted children, and she didn't." Ariadne nodded. Hugo sighed and sat on the bed. "I only married her because the person I wanted was married and had a baby. I thought that Rachel could make me happy, but she didn't," Hugo looked up at Ariadne.
Ariadne heart beat a little faster because she knew that he was talking about her. She stepped in between his legs and placed her hands on either side of his face. She leaned down and kissed him. Hugo pulled her close and deepened the kiss. Ariadne moved her hands down over his chest to the buttons he hadn't unbuttoned yet and started to unbutton them. When she was done, she pushed his shirt off his shoulders. The shirt fell on the bed.
Hugo reached out, pulled her shirt over her head, and let it fall on the floor. Ariadne was ready to reach for his under shirt when there was a small knock on the door. "Mummy, I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you and Hugo?" Paige asked.
"Yeah, give us one second," Ariadne said. Hugo reached down, picked up her shirt, and handed it to her. Ariadne put the shirt on and watched as Hugo picked up his shirt and headed for the bathroom.
Ariadne opened the door to Paige. Paige looked up at her with her blue eyes. Ariadne nodded and moved out of the way. Paige came in with her stuff animal. Ariadne watched as she ran towards the bed. She climbed into the bed and went right to the middle. "Hugo and I will be out soon," Ariadne headed for the bathroom.
Ariadne saw that Hugo was already in his pajamas. She reached up and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry," She whispered.
Hugo smiled. "No, don't worry about it because it is going to happen. I am dating a single mum," Hugo leaned down and kissed her.
Ariadne could feel her heart beat a little faster. Hugo was making her feel like a schoolgirl on her first love. Ariadne returned the kiss before changing. They headed out to bed together. They climbed in on opposite sides of the bed. She smiled as she looked over the child, sleeping between them. Hugo returned her smile, reached over, and took her hand. It was moments like this that Ariadne loved.