Authors' note: Not going to say anything in the authors' note here other than that we appreciate all of you for reading the chapters and just ask that you please take a moment after reading to let us know what you think.
It had only been five months since Frank and Alice's relapse, and their son was still having a hard time dealing with the aftermath. Neville knew he had been lucky to have the small amount of time with them that he had, but it did not make it hurt any less.
He kept himself as busy as he could, but still made sure that he visited his parents at least once a week.They were shadows of the people they had once been and it pained Neville to see them like that.
"Nev," his wife came up behind him. "Allie and Jon will be here with the kids any minute."
Neville turned. "Right."
Cho smiled at him. "Feeling all right today?"
Neville reached for her hand. "I'm---I'm okay."
"I know it still hurts," Cho said. "I miss them too."
Neville nodded. "I'm just happy we had the time we did."
"Me too," Cho said softly. "Short as it was..."
The fireplace came to life and Allison, Jon and their brood arrived. Eleven year old Emma Weasley led the way, holding the hand of her three-year old sister, Olivia. Adam was the spitting image of his father at the age of six.
"Grandpa!" Olivia squealed, breaking away from Emma.
Neville grinned and held open his arms. "Livvie!"
"I missed you," Olivia told her grandfather.
"I've missed you too," Neville said picking her up and sitting her in his lap.
"Emma was bad this morning," Adam reported with a teasing gleam in his eye.
Emma sighed. "I was not, Adam."
"Emma's not a bad girl," Cho said. "She's a lovely young lady."
"Thank you, Grandma," Emma said giving her a hug.
"I can't believe you're going to Hogwarts next year," Cho said. "Is Caroline getting everyone ready for you?"
Emma giggled. "She'd better. I'm going to take that castle by storm, Grandma."
"And bring me sweets," Adam added with a grin.
"I might," Emma said coyly.
"Sissy be home soon," Olivia said happily. "Right, Mummy?"
"That's right," Allison said. "Caroline's almost done with school."
Olivia clapped her hands and smiled at Neville. He couldn't resist smiling back.
"No sad," Olivia told him.
Neville tickled her side. "No sad."
"Mummy says Olivia's just like me when I was three," Emma told them. "I was pretty funny!"
"You were adorable," Jon agreed. "Still are."
Emma grinned. "I know."
"You used to go around saying, 'Em want to eat'," Cho recalled fondly.
"She still eats all the time," Adam replied.
"I love to eat," Emma said. "And I love to help Mummy cook."
"She's one of my best helpers," Allison smoothed Emma's unruly red hair.
Neville smiled as he remembered Emma helping his mother bake biscuits last year at Christmas. He could still see his granddaughter in a matching apron with Alice, happily mixing batter while Alice hummed Christmas carols.
"I have something for you, Grandpa," Emma said, handing him a photo.
"What's this?" Neville asked taking it from her.
"Me and Grandma Alice," Emma replied. "I want you to have it."
Neville smiled. "Sweetheart...."
"She's so pretty," Emma said. "I love her. I miss her a lot."
Neville nodded. "She--she loved you all very much."
"We know, Dad." Allison said softly. "I wish they were still here with us."
"We were so lucky," Neville said. "To have them for even just a short amount of time."
Cho nodded. "Yes, we were." She remembered the days leading up to Frank and Alice's relapse. It hadn't happened exactly at the same time, but very close together. The weeks before it had been confusing; Frank was mixing up days and dates, and Alice would sit for a few hours at a time and stare off into space.
At first, Neville had tried to play it off. "It's just side effects," he had said. "I'll mention it to the healers."
He had beaten himself up over that these last few months. What if he had listened to Cho's concerns earlier? What if he had paid attention to the warning signs? He had begged the healers to cure them again, offered all kinds of gold, but the healers had refused. Their research had shown doing this again would kill off any remaining brain activity.
So, Neville had to accept what had happened. There was nothing he could do and that was beyond frustrating.
"Nev," Cho's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
Neville looked over at her. "Yeah? Sorry..."
Cho put her hand on his arm comfortingly. "Emma wants to know if you can show her how to make your special spaghetti."
"Please, Grandpa?" Emma asked. "Mummy's tried to show me but it never tastes as good as yours."
Allison laughed ruefully. "There's something about the way you make it, Dad."
Neville stood up. "Special family secret, Em, but since you are my granddaughter, I will show you."
Emma clapped her hands. "Someday, I'll teach Livvie."
Jon smiled and patted his stomach. "And I'll eat it."
"If Em don't eat it all first," Olivia piped up.
Neville knew that this was just what he needed to make him feel better. "Maybe we'll make it for Hannah and Caroline for their welcome home from Hogwarts."
Emma clapped her hands. "Caroline will love that."
"Come along, Miss Weasley," Neville said taking Emma's hand.
Emma eagerly followed him in the kitchen. "I've been waiting for this day!"
Neville chuckled as he handed Emma her red apron. Alice had embroidered Emma's name on it.
Emma looked at it thoughtfully. "Is it okay to feel sad about Grandma and Grandpa?"
Neville nodded. "Of course."
"Cause I really do," Emma said, tying the apron on. "A lot of the time. But I don't really say anything because I don't want you to be sad."
Neville looked at his granddaughter. "You don't have to hide how you feel at my expense, Emma. I'm sad, too. You can talk about it with me anytime. I'm sorry if I made you feel like you had to hide it."
"Mummy told me I should only talk about it with her," Emma said. "Cause none of us want you to be sad anymore."
"It's okay," Neville reassured her.
Emma reached over to give him a hug.
"They both loved you very much," Neville told her. "They thought you were hilarious."
"I always like to make people laugh," Emma replied.
Neville grinned. "You always have."
"It's what I do best," Emma quoted.
Neville nudged her. "Well, let's see if we can add spaghetti making to that, Em. First, you have to promise not to tell anyone who is not a Longbottom about this."
"Cross my heart," Emma said solemnly.
Neville shook her hand. "Okay, then."
Allison looked over at her mother. "How's dad doing, really?
"He's coping," Cho said thoughtfully. "Some days are worse."
"I've been worried about him," Allison said.
"I think bringing the kids here is just what he needed," Cho said lifting Olivia into her arms.
"Hello, pretty girl. You know, you were just a baby when your great-grandfather and great-grandmother had their first Christmas with us."
Jon smiled. "It was your first Christmas, too, Livvie."
"Was I funny?" Olivia asked.
"You were just a few months old then," Jon told her.
"But you were funny," Cho kissed her granddaughter's cheek.
Olivia smiled. "What was it like?"
"You got lots of presents," Adam recalled.
"I did?" Olivia asked eagerly.
"More than anyone," Adam said. "Grandpa Frank and Grandma Alice got everyone loads of stuff..."
Cho smiled at the memory.
Neville had wanted to make the holiday special since it was the first real Christmas he could remember having with his parents. For so many years, he had made his way to St. Mungos with his grandmother to visit them. His only gift from them would be an old bubblegum wrapper. He treasured them though because it made it seem...real.
"The tree is lit, hot chocolate ready, and breakfast all set," Neville announced. "Happy Christmas!"
Alice smiled. "Neville, this is---"
"The Christmas I always wanted," Neville hugged his mother.
Alice hugged him tightly. "A few years too late."
"Better late than never," Neville quipped. "Everyone should be here soon."
"I can't wait to see them," Alice said looking at the tree. "And for them to open their presents..."
Frank laughed and put his hand on his wife's shoulder. "Alice, you bought out that toy shoppe."
"I couldn't resist," Alice replied. "Our first Christmas with our grandchildren... they deserve to be spoiled properly."
"Isabelle will love the dollhouse," Neville told her. "She's wanted that one for ages."
"Good," Alice said happily. "I can't wait for everyone to arrive."
Neville grinned, almost busting at the seams as it were. Cho laughed at the expression on his face.
"Our first real family Christmas," Neville said. "I better make sure I have my camera ready."
Frankie, Will, Hannah and the twins arrived first. Alice engulfed all three of her great-grandchildren in a bear hug. "My Hannah, my Nathan and my Izzie.."
"Happy Christmas Grandma!" Hannah said. "I made you a present!"
Alice touched Hannah's cheek. "Sweetheart, having you here is present enough."
Hannah grinned at her. "Well... we all made it. It's really for both of you."
Nathan waved at Frank. "Open it!"
"Right now?" Frank asked.
Frankie laughed. "You'd better. The three of them might revolt if you don't."
Frank sat down with the package. He opened it to reveal a framed picture with Hannah and the twins grinning and waving at the camera. At the edges were three handprints.
"That's mine," Hannah pointed out. "That one there is Izzie's. And that one is Nathan's."
"This is lovely," Alice said. "I'm going to hang this in our bedroom so we can see it every day."
The three children beamed at her. Nathan climbed up on Frank's lap to give him a hug.
"Love Grandpa," Nathan told him.
Frank mussed Nathan's hair. "I love you, too, Nathan."
Isabelle caught sight of the mountain of presents by the tree and her eyes jumped. "Are those all for me?"
"Those are for you, your brother and sister and your cousins," Frankie told her.
"Oh," Isabelle nodded. "Can we open them now?"
"We have to wait for everyone to arrive, love," Cho told her.
"Come on Izzie," Hannah took her sister's hand. "We can help Grandma and Grandpa hang this up."
"Kay," Isabelle said.
It wasn't long before Allison and Jon arrived with their children. Caroline was full of tales of her first few months at Hogwarts.
Alice listened intently, but could sense a sadness from Caroline when she mentioned Katie. Alice took her aside.
"It just hurts, Grandma," Caroline confessed. "Katie's been my best friend for so many years and now...she acts like she doesn't know me."
"Sometimes when you're young, you don't know what you want," Alice said. "And you hurt other people in your own confusion."
Caroline nodded. "What can I do when she makes fun of Mia and me in front of her friends?"
"You should hold your head high and walk away," Alice told her. "Never be afraid to show who you are inside."
Caroline smiled and hugged Alice. "Thanks, Grandma."
Alice was happy to have helped her great granddaughter. "Anytime you want to talk, I'll listen."
"I've loved writing to you," Caroline said. "And getting your letters."
"I've enjoyed that too," Alice told her.
"Grandma!" Emma exclaimed. "Sukie and Mas are here! Time for breakfast!"
Alice laughed. "Come on love. We'd better go grab something before it's all gone."
Caroline laughed when she and Alice entered the dining room to find Emma directing everyone where to sit.
"I'll sit next to Hannah," Emma said. "And Sukie on my other side."
"Me!" Isabelle raised her hand.
"You can sit next to me," Hannah promised her. "I won't leave you out."
Frank lifted Emma up and spun her around. "And what about me, Miss Weasley? Where are you going to sit me?"
"At the head of the table!" Emma giggled.
"Right where he belongs," Neville said grinning at his father.
Everyone found their seats and Neville began levitating the food into the dining room. "I made lots," he said. "And no, Cho didn't help..."
This was greeted with laughter and good-natured teasing at Cho's cooking abilities.
"I could always make some pancakes," Cho said jokingly.
"No, dear," Alice said shaking her head. "That's fine..."
"Mum and Dad have already been treating to some of Cho's meals," Neville joked, grinning at his wife.
"They were very polite because they didn't want to hurt my feelings," Cho said, sharing a look with Frank.
"It wasn't that bad," Frank replied. "We just ate around the burned bits."
Emma scrunched her nose up. "Never, ever eat Grandma's cooking."
"Emma!" Allison admonished.
"That's what Daddy says," Emma said innocently.
Jon's face turned bright red. "I never said that, Em. I just said to um... be careful what you eat."
Cho laughed. "Very good advice, Jon."
"Sorry, Daddy." Emma said sheepishly.
"It's okay, Em," Jon said. "I'm used to being in the doghouse."
Adam laughed. "Daddy you can't sleep with Maxi."
"The doghouse," Frank tried to explain, "is where we go when we're in trouble."
"Em should go there," Adam replied.
Emma glared at him and was about to say something in response when Alice set a tray of waffles before her. "Dig in, sweetheart."
"Yum!" Emma was distracted. "I want one with lots of syrup!"
Neville watched his mother as she helped the children with their food. The grandchildren clearly adored her.
They still had their good days and bad days, but the good days definitely were more than the latter. Harry was also enjoying hearing tales about his parents.
Allison was sitting with Olivia and Frank offered to take the baby so Allison could eat. "This is your first Christmas, Grandpa. You go ahead..."
"Nonsense," Frank said. "I'm not that hungry yet and I'd love to be able to hold her for more than thirty seconds."
Allison smiled. "Okay, then." She gingerly handed Olivia to Frank.
"Hi there," Frank said to the tiny baby. "Hopefully I'll get to hold you for a bit..."
Olivia looked up at him and smacked her lips.
Frank laughed. "You look just like your mother."
Allison smiled. "She's much cuter, I think."
"We always say that," Frank bounced Olivia gently.
Chiaki laughed. "You're quite good with her, Grandpa."
"I missed out on holding everyone else like this," Frank replied. "I don't want to miss a moment now."
Chiaki reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Everybody hurry so we can open presents," Sukie said eagerly.
"You can't rush food," Emma told her.
All the adults roared at her comment. Emma looked confused. "It's what Grandpa Ron tells me..."
"Little Ron," Neville said affectionately to his granddaughter.
Jon shuddered. "We were nicer to our kids than Nana was with their names. Bilius? Ginevra?"
"Percy," Chiaki said grimacing.
"It's pretty bad," Hannah agreed with a giggle.
"Presents!" Sukie tried to remind them.
"Finish your eggs," Toshio told his daughter.
Sukie sighed. "Okay, Daddy."
"I'm done with mine," Mas announced.
"Good boy," Chiaki said to him.
Sukie made a face at her brother and hurried to finish her own breakfast.
The family finished their breakfast and afterwards they gathered in the sitting room to open presents. Alice and Frank happily watched as the children opened their gifts.
"My dollhouse!" Isabelle screamed. "I got my dollhouse!"
Neville nudged his mother. "Told you she'd love it."
"What do you say?" Frankie prompted her daughter.
Isabelle ran over to Alice and threw her arms around her. "Thank you so much, Grandma!"
"You're welcome, my darling," Alice hugged her tightly. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Isabelle said happily.
"I love my books," Hannah said. "Thank you!"
Frank smiled. "Your mum helped us."
Hannah grinned at her mother. "We can read these later, right?"
"Absolutely," Frankie promised. She looked over at her grandfather. "You know, Frank Longbottom, you've just about put Santa Claus to shame."
Frank laughed. "We couldn't help ourselves."
Alice nodded. "We wanted to do it."
Frankie hugged her grandparents. "You just made Isabelle that happiest girl in the world.
Thank you so much."
"All of you have made us so happy," Alice said wiping at her eyes. "This is our first Christmas with all of you and...and I know we'll have many more. I just wanted to make this one really special."
"It would be special even if you didn't give us anything," Caroline said. "We're all happy you're here."
"Me too," Neville chimed in.
"Thank you," Alice said as Frank put his arm around her.
Hannah looked at Frank. "Grandpa, this one is for you. It says 'from Mum and Dad'." She handed him a box.
"You didn't have to get anything for us," Alice protested.
"We wanted to," Neville said.
Alice carefully unwrapped the box and Frank looked over her shoulder as she opened it.
"Neville," Alice gasped.
Neville had found some old photographs in one of his Gran's boxes of his parents' wedding.
He'd had them put together in a nice leather bound album for them.
Frank grinned at his son. "Thanks, Neville..."
"You're welcome," Neville said. "Cho and I had fun looking through those."
"You had some funny looking hair, Grandpa," Emma commented.
Frank chuckled. "Emma, that was the seventies. It was the style then."
"I don't like it," Emma wrinkled her nose.
Frankie grinned. "Grandpa, didn't know you had an afro..."
Frank laughed. "Quite the American style, wouldn't you say?"
"I made him cut it for the wedding," Alice said. "And he looked very handsome."
"You both look so happy and in love," Cho said. "That hasn't changed."
Alice looked at Frank. "We've been through so much together."
Frank squeezed her hand. "We have the rest of our lives now for more."
"Here, here," Neville said beaming at the two of them.
Allison sighed. "That was a lovely Christmas," she said. "Frankie told me Isabelle won't let anyone move the dollhouse out of her room."
"I want a dollhouse like that," Olivia said.
"Maybe if you're a good girl for Christmas this year Santa will bring you one," Jon told her.
Olivia grinned. "Always good."
"You are," Jon kissed her cheek.
Olivia beamed at him. "Sketti ready?"
"Why don't we go check," Jon said, standing up and swinging his daughter into the air.
Olivia giggled. "Kay."
"Something smells good in here," Jon said, bringing Olivia into the kitchen.
Neville held his hands up. "It was all Em."
"I did a lot," Emma said happily. "Next to eating, cooking is my favourite thing to do."
"You might want to hire her at the pub," Neville said proudly.
Emma giggled. "I'm too young to work!"
Neville put his arm around her. This really had been what he needed to put him in better spirits. His parents were for all intents and purposes gone, but he could treasure the memories of the time that they had.