Authors' note: We hope everyone had a Happy Holiday. Heaven has left me for the week so I'm posting both stories by myself. I might not get the chance to reply to every review, but I will try. I have to go back to work tomorrow and might not have as much free time as I would like. But, I promise to try. In this chapter, you get more of the Malfoys and a little Easter fun. The Hogwarts teens are not in this chapter but Saffron and RJ will be back as the Potters and Weasleys gather at the Burrow. Until then, please read the latest chapter and let us know what you think!
Things around the Malfoy house were quite tense the next week. Nick was sleeping in the studio and he and Julie barely saw each other let alone spoke. They feigned civility in front of the girls, but even they could tell something was wrong.
Nick awoke late Thursday morning and by the time he made it upstairs from the studio, his wife and daughters had already left for the day.
"Good morning, Nicholas," Greta said softly.
"Hey Greta," Nick rubbed at his eyes.
"Julie wanted me to remind you that you're to take Katie to her dance class this afternoon," Greta told him. "You'll pick her up at Maya's after her tutoring session."
"Okay," Nick said, sitting down with a cup of coffee.
"This is the sixth day you've slept down there," Greta pointed out. "You want to talk about it?'
Nick sighed. "She's stubborn, Greta."
"Nicholas, surely you don't believe she and Oliver Wood have something going on," Greta said sitting down across from him.
"It's obvious he fancies her," Nick said. "And she's so damned blind to it."
"Even if that's true, you know Julie would never do anything to jeopardise your marriage," Greta told him. "She loves you."
Nick didn't say anything, just pushed his coffee cup around in a circle.
"You need to talk to her about this," Greta counselled. "You've been through far too much to let this break you apart."
"Why do I always have to make the first move?" Nick complained.
Greta sighed. "Now you sound like Katherine Rose."
Nick rolled his eyes. "She's the one who made this a bigger deal than it is."
"I think your blow-up the other night had something to do with it as well," Greta said touching his arm.
"I love my wife," Nick said. "I just... I don't know Greta. I hate that I feel so jealous."
"Why do you feel so jealous?" Greta asked him.
"I don't know," Nick said again.
"Nicholas," Greta said levelling her gaze at him. "She's known Oliver Wood since she was a little girl. He's friends with her father. He needed someone to help with his transition. And from what I can tell, he's a very nice man who thinks she's an intelligent woman."
"He has feelings for her, Greta," Nick burst out. "She won't acknowledge that!"
"You don't know that he does," Greta argued.
"I could see it that night he was here for dinner," Nick returned. "When he wouldn't say whether or not he fancied anyone. He wouldn't look at Julie and he wouldn't look at me."
"That doesn't mean Julie returns his feelings, Nicholas," Greta said gently.
Nick had no reply to that.
"Talk to Julie," Greta said. "Tell her how you feel. See how she feels. It doesn't matter who makes the first move, Nicholas. Someone has to before things get worse."
"You really think things are that bad?" he asked.
"You've slept on your sofa in the studio for six nights," Greta pointed out. "You and Julie have barely said three words to each other in the past four days."
Nick rubbed at his eyes and then ran his hands through his hair. "How do I go making things up? We've never had a fight this bad."
"Talking always helps," Greta said patting his arm again.
Nick stared thoughtfully into his cup. "I can't ever lose her Greta."
"I don't think you will," Greta said to him.
"Sometimes I think about those early days when we got together, at Hillsdale," Nick said. "And I just remember how I felt when I'd see her. I still feel that way."
Greta smiled at him. "I know you do."
"Do you think I should go to the school?" he asked.
"Perhaps it would be best to wait until she gets home," Greta said thoughtfully.
Nick had an idea. "You're right," he said, feeling better for the first time in days. "I'll be in my studio."
"Take this with you," Greta said handing him a plate of fresh pastries.
Nick kissed her cheek. "Thanks Greta."
He spent the remainder of the morning working on some songs. Later on, he helped Greta with some of the household chores before he left to pick up Katie from Maya's and take her to her dance class. As luck would have it, Jon and Allie invited Ashley and Katie to dinner so he and Julie could talk.
While he was setting things up for a romantic evening, Julie was hard at work grading some essays her third year students had done. She was half dreading going home, not wanting to spend another night not speaking to her husband and sleeping alone in their bed.
Oliver knocked on the door to her office. "Hello, Julie."
"Oliver," Julie smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Come in..."
He handed her a file. "I went over your recommendations for Head Boy. I think they're some great candidates in there."
"I'm glad," she said. "I really think despite the incident last year, Peter Lawson would make a great Head Boy. Or Ewan Chase, from Gryffindor."
"On marks alone, Peter certainly is in the lead, but Ewan certainly has the respect of his peers, his marks are great and he's an excellent athlete," Oliver said.
"It'll be a tough choice," Julie said. "But I'm sure you'll make the right decision."
Oliver nodded. He could tell she was preoccupied. "Is everything okay?"
Julie shrugged. "I'm just busy," she lied.
"I'll leave you to it," Oliver said making for the door.
"Oliver?" Julie asked.
He turned. "Yes?"
Julie bit her lower lip and tried to put together in her head what she wanted to say. "Um... well lately..."
"Lately, what, Julie?"
"A lot of people have been..." she sighed as she felt her face begin to flame. "Well they've been saying things about... about you and me."
Oliver shifted uncomfortably. He, too, had heard the rumours.
"I know they're not true," Julie said, the awkwardness between them quite apparent. "But I'd kind of like to hear it from you."
Oliver ran a hand nervously through his hair. He didn't even know what to say given he didn't really understand it either. "Julie---"
"Oliver," Julie stood up. "Please... please don't tell me there's any grain of truth in this..."
"We're friends, Julie," Oliver said looking down at his feet. "That's all."
Julie nodded. "Right."
"You know when I first came to Hogwarts, I had so much stacked against me," Oliver began. "No one thought I was the right man for this job. They all thought I was just some former professional Quidditch player who was going to fall on his face. You heard what they said, I'm sure---"
"But you've proved them wrong," Julie said. "You've done an amazing job."
He smiled at her. "I couldn't have made it---wouldn't have made it, actually, if it hadn't been for you. You were the one person who offered to help me. You were the one who listened to me and helped me settle in and I don't know what I would have done without you."
"I'd have helped even if people didn't have such discouraging things to say," Julie answered.
"That's one of the things I like most about you," Oliver said leaning against the door frame. "And...If you're asking me how I feel about you---"
Julie swallowed nervously but nodded.
"Somewhere in all this," Oliver said looking at her. "I-I started to have feelings for you, but---but I'd never act on them, Julie. You have a family and a husband that loves you very much and I would never, ever do anything to jeopardize that. I hope you know that."
She had hoped he wouldn't say this. "Perhaps... perhaps I shouldn't be the deputy headmistress."
Oliver shook his head. "No, Julie. Please---you deserve that position. I certainly didn't offer it to you thinking that---I would never---"
"I know you wouldn't," Julie said softly. "But I'm just not sure it speaks well for the school to have these rumours flying about."
"People would talk regardless," Oliver argued. "Julie, your parents have had to endure countless rumours over the years, which certainly didn't stop them from living their lives or giving up the careers that they love."
"You have a good point," Julie said. "Look... let me think about this over the weekend. I'll finish out the year as deputy headmistress, at the very least."
"I'm sorry that I've made this difficult for you," Oliver said truthfully. "I was never going to say anything to you about this. And the last thing I want is for you to feel awkward and uncomfortable around me."
"I'll try not to," Julie said. "I care about you but only as a friend, Oliver. And for what it's worth, I think you're doing a great job as headmaster."
Oliver smiled. "Thank you, Julie."
Julie managed a smile. "I should get home," she said.
"Right," Oliver said. "I'm sorry to have kept you."
"You didn't," Julie said. "I do want us to remain friends."
"Me too," Oliver said. "And maybe now I'll ask Professor Sprout to introduce me to her goddaughter."
Julie smiled and shook her head.
"Have a good evening, Julie," Oliver said before making his exit.
"Bye," Julie said softly. She was struck with a sudden, longing urge to see Nick and have him hold her.
She gathered up the essays and stuffed them into a folder. She'd finish them tomorrow.
She closed up her office and threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace and headed for her home, intent on apologising to and making up with her husband.
Nick was sitting on the sofa, waiting for her when she arrived. "Hey," he said quietly.
Julie didn't say a word, just stared at him.
"The girls are having dinner at Jon and Allie's," Nick said getting to his feet. "They should be back in an hour or so."
Julie nodded, still not saying anything.
"I made dinner," Nick offered. "My peace offering---"
She cut him off as she strode forward and kissed him passionately.
Nick hadn't expected this, but he had missed her very much and it didn't take him long to give in to the moment.
"Nick I'm so sorry," Julie said breathlessly.
"That was going to be my line," Nick said brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But it's mine," Julie said burying her face in his shoulder. "I love you so much Nick. Nothing on earth could possibly change that."
"I love you too," Nick said holding her tightly. "I hated this past week--"
Julie clutched onto him as he stroked her hair. "We don't need to fight like this."
Nick knew they had to talk about this and as much as he'd like to get to the making up part, he had a feeling he should get this off his chest. He took Julie's hand and led her over to the sofa.
"I realise I acted terribly the other night when Oliver Wood was here," Nick began.
Julie nodded. "I wasn't acting all that great either."
"I might have been imagining things, but I really did think that he fancied you and I just couldn't deal with that," Nick continued. "And it seemed like he was always there to help you and be your friend when I wasn't---"
Julie was quiet for a moment. "You were right," she admitted. "But he knows it could never happen. I wouldn't let it, and he wouldn't let himself do it. And no matter what Nick, we're a team."
Nick clenched his fists. "You talked about this with him?"
"It was right before I came home," Julie put a hand on his. "I asked him if he'd heard the rumours and it all came out. Nick, don't be jealous. You have no reason to be."
"I don't want you working with him anymore," Nick said trying to keep his emotions in check. It was one thing to think that the older man had feelings for Julie, it was quite another to know it was true and that same bloke would be around her for long periods of time.
"Nick, it's my job..." Julie drew back. "I'm not quitting my job."
Nick sighed. "Julie--"
"What's the real reason you're so upset about this?" Julie asked, moving away.
Nick thought long and hard about this before he answered. "I kept hearing from you about how great he was. How you could talk to him about what was going on with Katie and how he helped get her involved with Maya and then the other night when he was over here for dinner, I watched how you acted around him. He praised you and your entire face lit up."
"Of course--" she said. "He's my boss..."
"Somehow, I don't think that's all," Nick said looking at her.
Julie stared at him in disbelief. "Are you saying you think I have feelings for him too?"
"Maybe not to the same extent that he has for you," Nick replied.
"I'm insulted that you would say that to me," Julie snapped.
"Jules, I'm just telling you how I feel," Nick said hastily. "I've never felt threatened by anyone else, not even a few summers ago when we ran into Ryan in Brighton."
"But you know I love you," Julie said testily.
"I do," Nick said.
"And if you know this, why are you threatened?" Julie crossed her arms.
"Because I'm an idiot," Nick admitted.
Julie sighed. "Nick--"
"I should know better," Nick said quietly. "And I do trust you, Julie."
Julie nodded. "I don't think I've ever given you a reason not to," she said. "Nick, nothing on earth could make me give up what I have with you and the girls."
"I know," Nick said walking over to her. "Julie, I am a complete idiot."
She looked at him. "You don't need to be," she answered, pushing his hair out of his eyes.
"I love you," Nick said leaning in and kissing her.
Julie closed her eyes. "I love you too," she said. "And I don't want us to fight over this anymore."
"Me either," Nick agreed. "I will trust in you and me and not worry about anyone else."
Julie nodded. "Okay," she said. "And I can promise you that nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever come between us."
Nick looked down at the beagle who was now nipping at Julie's feet. "Except for Katie and Ash's new dog. Did they ever agree on a name?"
"Yes," she answered. "Since Max, Puddles and Paddington were out of the picture they named her Ginny," Julie said, barely keeping a straight face.
Nick laughed. "Very funny, but we wouldn't want to do that to the dog."
"Sophie," Julie said giggling. "They named her Sophie."
"That's cute," Nick said. "Sophie," he bent down to rub the dog's head.
"Now they're arguing about who she gets to sleep with each night," Julie said kneeling down.
"For now, it's in the kennel," Nick replied.
"I was thinking of putting you in there," Julie said nudging him.
"Only if you'll sleep in there with me," Nick nudged her back.
"It's a little small," Julie said grinning at him.
"We can make do," Nick said, touching her cheek.
"No matter what," Julie said softly.
He nodded. "We still have some time before the girls come back..."
Julie smiled knowingly at him. "Yes we do."
"We can make up properly..." he said, taking her hands in his.
"The only good thing that comes from fighting," Julie said.
"I love making up with you," Nick said, kissing her neck. "But I like it better when we do it without a fight."
"Me too," Julie said closing her eyes as he picked her up.
"Been awhile since I carried you," he said huskily.
Julie giggled. "Way too long."
"I love you," he said, setting her down on the bed. "Always have loved you Jules."
Julie pulled him down with her. "I feel the same way."
*** *** ***
"Are you ready girls?" Will teased his daughter and nieces, who were posed with baskets ready to tear around the backyard and find as many eggs as possible.
"Yes Uncle Will!" Caroline said anxiously.
"There are prizes in each of the eggs," Frankie told them.
Emma dropped her basket and ran over to her mother who was sitting with Adam cradled in her lap. "Em gonna get you lots and lots of eggs, Adam. Promise!"
"That's very sweet Em," Allison told her daughter. "But you'll have to keep all the sweets for yourself."
"No, Em share," Emma said leaning down and kissing her baby brother on the forehead. "Em share with Adam."
"You'd better get back over there," Allison smiled and brushed a wisp of hair off Emma's forehead.
"Kay," Emma said before running back to stand beside Hannah.
"On the count of three," Frankie announced. "One...two....three....Go!"
Hannah, Caroline, Mia and Emma tore around the backyard looking for the eggs Will had hidden that morning.
"This is really sweet of you both," Allison told her sister. "To do this for those four."
"We wanted to do it for Hannah since this is her first Easter with us," Frankie said smiling at her sister.
"And they all look so pretty in their Easter dresses," Cho said smiling as Hannah picked up her first egg and held it up for everyone to see.
"That's my girl!" Will cheered her on.
Hannah beamed at him. She wanted to know what was inside but Caroline had told her that they waited until they'd collected all the eggs before they did that.
"Em found one!" Emma shrieked. "Adam look!"
"I don't have the heart to tell her he's asleep," Allison said to Jon.
"It's okay," Jon said, smiling down at his son. "Want me to take him?"
"Let me," Cho said eagerly.
"Grandma," Allison teased her mother.
"I can't help it," Cho said taking the baby gingerly from Allison as not to wake him.
"She's missed the start of three of her classes because she's busy holding him or feeding him," Allison told the others. "I think our being there is a distraction."
"That's not true," Cho said, but not convincingly.
Neville laughed. "I'd be the same way."
Frankie grinned at her nephew. "He's adorable," she said. "I think I could easily get distracted too. I can't blame you Mum."
Cho smiled at her. "Kind of like you are with Hannah, sweetheart."
Frankie looked over at her daughter, who was giggling as she and Emma dug through some shrubbery. "I think you're right."
Maddie came out of the house giggling. She had just helped Ethan get into his Easter Bunny costume after having promised him to do whatever he wanted when they got home. He hadn't wanted to do this, but she'd given him her Maddie face and he was a goner.
"He says the suit itches and if any one of us laughs at him he's not going to ever forgive us," Maddie said to Frankie.
"Just as long as he comes out when he's supposed to," Frankie said.
"He will," Maddie said. "So laugh now."
"It was really sweet of him to do that," Allison said.
"You probably don't want to know what I promised him to get him to do this," Maddie replied.
Jon covered his ears. "No, Mad Dog. So please don't give us any details, okay?"
Maddie giggled.
"Mummy look!" Hannah came running over. "I found seven eggs!"
Frankie tugged affectionately on one of her daughter's plaits. "Want me to help you find some more?"
Hannah shook her head. "I think we found them all."
Frankie grinned. "Fantastic! I guess it's time for our special guest to arrive." She waved for Caroline, Mia and Emma to come over.
"Special guest?" Hannah asked.
"That's right," Frankie looked over at Maddie.
Maddie walked over to the back door. "Esteemed members of the Princess Club. I am pleased to introduce our special guest...the one...the only...Easter Bunny!"
Maddie opened the door, but Ethan didn't come out.
"I said," Maddie said peeking inside. "It's time for the Easter Bunny..."
Ethan sighed and put the bunny head back on before stepping out of the house. He hoped none of his Auror buddies ever found out about this. He'd never hear the end of it.
Maddie had told him to keep silent so the girls wouldn't recognise his voice, so he waved as he stepped outside.
Jon snorted and Allison elbowed his side.
"Girls, why don't you show the Easter Bunny how many eggs you found?" Maddie asked.
Caroline and Mia came forward first.
"I found twelve," Mia announced.
"And I found eleven," Caroline said. "I would have had 12, but I let Emma have one."
"Em has..." Emma looked into her basket. "Em has..."
"Fourteen," Caroline said importantly. "I think she won!"
Ethan hopped up and down causing Emma to giggle. Ethan patted the top of her head.
"Em loves bunnies," she said, hugging his leg.
Maddie beamed at her husband. She was really proud of him for doing this and she knew it meant a lot to the girls.
"I-I found seven," Hannah said shyly.
Ethan hopped for her as well and nodded the large head.
"That's brilliant for your first ever hunt," Frankie said proudly.
Hannah motioned for her mother to lean over.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Frankie asked.
"I put some of mine back so Em could find them," Hannah whispered. "So she could win for Adam."
Frankie picked her up and hugged her tightly. "Sweetheart, that was really, really nice of you."
Hannah put her arms around Frankie's neck and hugged her back.
Frankie felt tears welling up in her eyes as she patted her daughter's back. She caught Will's eye and smiled at him.
"What does Em get as the prize?" Hannah asked.
Maddie linked her arm in Ethan's. "Well, he has a special bag that has prizes for all you girls. But since Miss Emma Madeline Weasley found the most eggs, she gets to pick the first prize out of the Easter Bunny's basket."
"I do?" Emma asked excitedly. "Adam pick too!"
Jon carried Adam over to where Emma stood. He was awake now and he cooed happily at his sister.
"Watch Adam," Emma told him. "Watch Em!"
Emma pulled out a box wrapped in pastel pink paper. She looked to make sure her brother was watching before she opened the present. Inside was a stuffed blue bunny.
She squealed in delight. "Look what Em got!"
"Great job, Baby Girl!" Jon said grinning at her.
"Mia," Maddie announced. "Since you found 12 eggs, you get to pick a prize next."
"Okay," Mia reached into the bag. She opened up her package and found a box of chocolate from Honeydukes.
"Thanks," Mia said smiling at the Easter Bunny. "These are my favourites!"
Ethan nodded again then offered the bag to Caroline.
Caroline picked out a yellow package and quickly opened it to discover a tin of Bertie Botts also from Honeydukes.
"Yummy!" she said happily. "Daddy we can eat these like we always do!"
Jon laughed. "We sure can, Angel."
"And last but certainly not least," Maddie said grinning at Hannah. "Hannah Emily Barron."
Hannah blushed and reached into the bag. She too, had pulled out a box containing a stuffed bunny, only hers was pink.
"We got bunnies, Han!" Emma said holding hers up. "See?"
"Yeah," Hannah said happily. "Thank you Easter Bunny."
"How about we get some pictures of the girls?" Neville asked producing his camera.
"Adam come sit by Em!" Emma said. "And Han here!"
Jon laughed. "How about I sit down with him beside you girls?"
"Kay Daddy," Emma patted the grass.
Jon sat down with Adam and Emma snuggled up beside him.
"Easter Bunny, behind them," Neville directed.
Ethan did as he was told, but hoped he'd be able to get out of this getup soon. It was hot in here and the costume really was making him itch.
"Everyone smile," Neville directed.
"Come on, Han," Emma said waving at her friend. "Get in picture!"
"Okay," Hannah edged shyly into the frame.
Emma put her arm around her best friend. "Em and Han."
Hannah grinned at her. "That's right Em."
Neville took three shots of them. "Perfect."
Maddie knew her husband was probably dying inside the costume. "The Easter Bunny has to go visit other houses now girls." she said.
Ethan gave his wife a hug and spun her around to the delight of the girls.
"I think the Easter Bunny fancies Aunt Maddie," Caroline whispered to Mia. "I guess he doesn't know she's married."
"Maybe he's just giving her a hug since she was his helper," Mia suggested.
"I bet that's what it is," Caroline agreed.
Ethan waved his hand at the girls before beating a hasty retreat for the comfort of the cool house. He couldn't wait to get out of that costume.
Maddie followed him in. "Let me help you," she said, pulling the large head off.
"Thank you," Ethan said breathlessly. "I am never doing that again."
Maddie smiled at him. "You were sweet to do it today."
Ethan grinned at her. "Well, you kind of left me no choice."
Maddie leaned in and gave him a kiss. "I love you for it, Ethan James."
"And I'd be entirely grateful to you if you'd unzip this thing and help me out of it," Ethan said turning around.
"Of course," Maddie said, helping him shed the costume. "Better?
"Much," Ethan said smiling at her. "I think my dad should have gotten this gig."
"But you're the one getting rewarded for it later," Maddie reminded him.
Ethan gave her another kiss. "And I had such a great helper."
Maddie wound her arms around him, kissing him back passionately. "That's to tide you over until later," she said huskily.
Ethan gave her a goofy grin. "Mmmmmmm...."
"Come on," she laughed. "We should hide this so the kids don't find it."
"I'll put it in the closet," Ethan said. "You go on out."
"I'll wait for you," Maddie said. "We'll tell them you had to run to the store for more eggs..."
Ethan nodded and picked up the costume. "Be right back."
Maddie waited for her husband to hide the costume and clasped his hand in hers as they went back outside.
"Hello, Ethan," Jon said grinning at him. "We're so hoppy to see you."
Ethan looked to make sure none of the children were watching before flipping Jon a rude gesture.
"Don't worry," Maddie told her husband. "When we have kids we'll make Jon dress up as the tooth fairy."
"Yeah right Mad Dog," Jon scoffed.
Maddie gave him her patented look.
Allison laughed. "You're already stuck," she told her husband.
"Josh'll do it," Jon said just as Emma came running up to them. "Uncle Ethan!"
"Hey Em," he said, scooping her up.
"You missed the bunny!" Emma said hugging him around the neck.
"The bunny?" Ethan asked. "What bunny? Are you telling me the Easter bunny was here?"
Emma nodded and then whispered in his ear. "He loves Mad."
"What?" Ethan asked. "Who does?"
"The Easter Bunny," Emma said giggling. "He loves Mad!"
"Em, he was just giving her a hug because she helped him," Caroline said to reassure her uncle.
"Wow," Ethan pretended to think about this. "The Easter bunny loves my Maddie? I wonder what I should do about this."
"Don't hurt him!" Emma squealed. "He's cute!"
"Well I guess all I can say is the Easter Bunny has good taste," Ethan told his niece. "Because Mad is just gorgeous, isn't she?"
"Mad is byooful," Emma said grinning at her aunt.
"Aww thanks Em," Maddie took her from Ethan. "And I think you're just byooful as well."
Emma kissed her aunt on the cheek. "Eat?"
"Is brunch ready?" Maddie turned to look at Frankie.
"Yes," Frankie said. "I put a heating charm on everything so whenever you guys are ready we can eat."
"I'm ready," Maddie said and Emma also nodded emphatically.
"Em's hungry too!"
"Emma Madeline, you are always hungry," Allison said grinning at her daughter.
Hannah took Frankie's hand. "I hope they like my biscuits, Mummy."
"Are you kidding?" Frankie asked. "Everyone's going to love them. I had to hide them from your daddy so he wouldn't eat them all this morning."
"Cooking with you is my most favourite thing in the whole world," Hannah admitted.
"Just being with you is mine," Frankie kissed her cheek.
Hannah smiled up at her. "Thanks, Mummy."
Will led the way into the house where they'd set up the buffet table for the brunch. "Please eat up, everyone. We don't want any leftovers!"
"Oooh," Emma's eyes grew wide. "Em wants everything!"
"Let me set Adam down and I'll help you load up your plate," Allison said.
"I've got it Allie," Maddie told her. "You go sit and relax."
"Thanks, Maddie," Allison said gratefully. "It's about time to feed the little guy anyway."
"Mummy need Em's help?" the redhead looked anxiously at her mother.
Allison shook her head. "No, sweetheart. You go with Aunt Maddie. I'll be just fine."
"Kay," Emma said. "Em will go eat!"
Allison carried Adam into the sitting room and sat down. "Hey, little guy."
Adam looked up at her with his blue eyes and waved his little arm in the air.
Jon smiled at his wife. "You want me to get you a plate?"
"I'll get one after we're finished," Allison told him. "He usually goes right to sleep after he's done being fed."
"Sounds a little like me," Jon joked.
"Like father like son," Allison returned with a grin.
"You really don't think Mad Dog is really going to make me dress up as the Tooth Fairy, do you?" Jon asked.
"I don't know Jon," Allison kept her face serious.
Jon turned red. "That's a way's off. I mean, she'll probably forget by then."
"Daddy!" Emma called out. "Come eat!"
Jon laughed. "Emma calls. You sure you and Adam are okay?"
"Oh we're fine," Allison said, shifting him in her arms. "He'll be down in ten minutes and I'll join you."
Jon gave his wife a kiss before heading back into the dining room. He took his seat beside Emma who was happily nibbling on a biscuit. "Han made!"
"Hannah made those?" Jon asked. "Can Daddy have a bite?"
Emma nodded and held out the biscuit to him.
"Wow," Jon said. "Those are delicious!"
Hannah blushed. "Thanks, Uncle Jon."
"All I had to do was read her the instructions," Frankie said. "And put them in the oven. She did everything else."
"Hannah's quite the little chef," Will said proudly.
Hannah blushed even more.
"And how are you liking preschool?" Claire asked her niece. "Will tells us you've made some new friends?"
The little girl nodded. "My friend Jessica."
"And she's doing well in school, too," Will said grinning at his daughter.
"That's great, Hannah," Caroline congratulated her.
"Thank you," Hannah said shyly.
"And how are you enjoying your first Easter as a Barron?" Jack asked her.
"It's good," Hannah said. "I got a basket today with lots of sweets in it."
"Em did too," Emma told her friend.
"We all did," Caroline said. "And I got the new Disney movie for us to watch next time we have a Princess club meeting."
Hannah grinned. She loved being included and her cousins always had made her feel welcome. She caught her mother's eye and giggled when Frankie winked at her.
Will also smiled at his daughter. He could hardly believe Hannah had been with them for four months already.
"I'm really proud of you," Neville whispered to his daughter.
Frankie smiled at him. "For all this? It was nothing..."
"Not just this," Neville said.
"For what then?" Frankie asked.
"For providing a loving home for that little girl," Neville told her. "For being a great daughter and a wonderful mother."
Frankie blushed. "She makes it easy, Dad."
"I know she does," Neville said patting her hand. "I'm proud of all my girls."
"Thanks Dad," Frankie leaned against him for a moment. "I had great role models, you know."
"I don't know about all that," Neville chuckled.
"Yes you do," Frankie answered. "You and Mum are the best."
"I completely agree," Allison said coming into the room.
"Adam down for the count?" Jon asked as she slid in next to him.
Allison nodded. "Out like a light."
"Em give Adam chocolate when he wakes up," Emma said to her mother. "Kay?"
Allison smiled. "Em, he can't eat chocolate."
"Little bit?" Emma asked.
Allison shook her head. "Wait until he gets a little older, baby."
Emma pouted. "Don't want to."
"Em, he can't eat chocolate yet," Caroline told her sister. "Believe it or not, you didn't eat it until you were a year old."
Emma stared at her. "Em always ate chocolate!"
"Not when you were little like Adam," Caroline told her.
"It's okay Em," Hannah said to her cousin. "When he gets older, you and me can both make him some biscuits with loads of chocolate."
Emma grinned. "Bestest biscuits from Em and Han."
Caroline shot Hannah a grin. "Good job," she said quietly so Emma wouldn't hear.
"Thanks," Hannah smiled back at her.
"Don't worry, Maddie," Frankie told her best friend. "I managed to pack away some things for Blue."
Maddie beamed at her. "Thanks, Frankie."
"You should have seen him this morning," Ethan said. "Maddie had a little basket in his cage when he woke up."
Frankie giggled. "Maddie!'
"He's my baby!" Maddie said defensively.
"What did you have in his basket?" Caroline asked.
"Well he loves fish and chips," Maddie said. "So I put together a little plate for him. Plus he loves chocolate, but it's bad for him- so I got some carob sweets instead."
"Aww," Caroline grinned.
"Em likes Blue," Emma said.
"I like him too," Hannah said.
"You girls are welcome to come over and play with him anytime you like," Maddie told her nieces.
"Adam too?" Emma asked.
"Adam's always welcome," Maddie told her.
"Have you seen much of Saffy since she's been home?" Frankie asked Ethan.
"Are you kidding?" Ethan laughed. "Her birthday is this weekend. She's been off with Andrew the entire time."
"Harry was complaining that he'd barely seen her," Neville said.
"She's so hooked on Andrew," Ethan said. "He's really a good bloke."
"It's a shame Wimbourne couldn't pull out a victory in the Cup," Neville said. "As happy as I was for RJ, I felt bad for Andrew. He played extremely well."
"He really did," Ethan agreed. "That match... that was damn near the best match I'd ever been to."
"We were all really proud of Junior," Jon said.
"Your father screamed the whole match through," Allison joked.
"He was really loud," Caroline admitted. "But funny!"
"I'm really proud of my team," Frankie said. "This is huge for them."
"And for their head of public relations," Maddie said.
"Yeah," Ethan grinned at Frankie. "Does this mean the head of PR gets a raise? Better office?"
"I don't know, but I think she certainly deserves one," Frankie replied.
"What's raise?" Emma asked.
"That's what you get when you do really good work," Allison told her. "And you're boss rewards you by giving you more money."
"Oh," Emma said. "Daddy should get raise!"
"Daddy is the boss," Caroline giggled. "Em, he can't give himself a raise."
"Oh," Emma said. "Mummy get raise?"
"Emma Madeline," Allison said hiding her laughter. "I think your grandmother pays me more than enough for what little I do."
"Oh," Emma said again. "Kay, Mummy."
"You've been a great help to me at the studio," Cho said to her daughter.
"I'm glad," Allison said.
"Em loves it there, too," Emma said finishing up what was on her plate.
"And I love having you there," Cho smiled at her granddaughter.
Emma slid off her chair and walked over to her grandmother. "And we look out for Adam."
"You're such a good big sister Em," Cho kissed the top of her head.
"Like Sissy," Emma said.
"Thanks Em," Caroline said.
"You going to Nana's later?" Jon asked his sister.
"For dinner," Maddie said. "I already can't wait."
"Let's just hope they're aren't too many fireworks thanks to my sister and RJ being in the same room together," Ethan said.
"We'll keep them apart," Maddie said.
"It should be interesting to say the least," Frankie commented. "You'll have to tell me all about it, Mads."
"I'll fill you in," Maddie teased her.