A/N: Happy Valentines Day everyone!!! Thank you all for your reviews last chapter - we even had an anonymous amusing flame that everyone should check out ;) We hope you enjoy this chapter- thanks to ProngsHoof you guys get a little extra scene that we jotted off before we updated this evening.
As always, please let us know what you think! Thanks!!!
Julie dusted the floo powder from her shoulders and called out for her daughters.
"Mummy, you're back!" Katie shouted excitedly.
"How did she do?" Greta asked. "She did fantastic, didn't she?"
"She won the game," Julie announced proudly.
"That's my girl!" Greta said pumping her fist. "I am going to send her some of those chocolate biscuits she loves so much."
"She'll be thrilled," Julie said with a grin as Nick came into the room.
"She did good, eh?" Nick asked.
"She won," Julie said, kissing him hello. "Everyone played brilliantly- and Frankie brought some scouts to check out RJ as well."
"I still think we should have been able to go," Katie pouted.
"Maybe next time," Julie said.
"You can at least tell us exactly what happened," Ashley sat down on the sofa. "Please Mummy?"
"Well," Julie said sitting down. "She was really nervous. But being as she's Saffy, she tried to act as if she wasn't..."
"Tell us what happened during the game," Nick said, smirking a bit. He knew his wife had absolutely no idea about Quidditch and wanted to hear how she would explain the game.
"Mum was freaking out," Julie said laughing. "She kept her eyes covered for the first part of the match. And then, they threw the big ball up in the air...what's it called....the waffle?"
Ashley snickered. "Mum! It's the Quaffle!"
"Right," Julie replied. "And the Ravenclaw team was pretty good, but Gryffindor was better. They were hitting those other ones, the really bad ones around... um... not bladder..."
"Jules," Nick snorted with laughter. "Bludger."
"Whatever," Julie said dismissively. "Anyway, it was pretty touch and go for most of the match, but then Saffy swooped in and she got the Snitch...I know that one. Mainly because Dad kept screaming it in my ear."
Ashley, Katie, Nick and Greta all laughed. "I knew she would get it," Katie said. "Aunt Saffy's the bestest!"
"She's the best," Ashley corrected. "You know you really have atrocious grammar, Katherine Rose."
"At least I have friends Ashley Beth," Katie retorted. "I don't just sit in my room and scribble all day long!"
"I'd rather sit in my room scribbling than play with you," Ashley said rolling her eyes. "Mum, can we please trade her in and get a dog?"
"Stop girls," Julie said. "It'd be really nice to come home and not have the two of you arguing for a change."
"I'm going to go draw something to put in the care package to Aunt Saffy," Ashley said glaring at her younger sister.
Greta took Katie into the kitchen to help make the biscuits leaving Nick and Julie alone.
"Your sister must be on cloud nine, winning her first match and all," Nick said, rubbing Julie's shoulders.
"She was," Julie said closing her eyes. "How did you know this was just what I needed?"
"I always know what you need," Nick replied.
Julie smiled. "Yes you do. How about you? Did you get any work done on writing those songs?"
"A little," Nick replied. "As usual, our two girls decided they couldn't get along for an hour so I could work in peace and quiet..."
"I'll try and keep them out of your hair this weekend," Julie promised. "I know your agent's holding you to that deadline."
"Thanks Jules," Nick kissed his wife. "You're still my biggest inspiration you know."
"Even after all this time?" Julie said smiling at him.
"Definitely," Nick kissed her again. "You know, I like thinking of the first day I ever saw you. I was in the limousine, arriving at Hillsdale with my mother, and I saw you standing on the path with Ethan. All I could think about until I saw you was how rotten of a time I was going to have there."
"And I thought you were an egotistical, arrogant, selfish, spoiled..." Julie started to say.
"Until you got to know me," Nick gave her a mischievous grin.
"Well, you were quite charming," Julie said nudging him.
"Especially once you got used to snogging me," Nick pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"And you didn't hold the fact that I slapped you against me," Julie said.
"Nah, I was way too hooked," Nick pulled her closer. "There was something about you that just got me going."
"Really," Julie said smiling up at him. "What was that?"
"Maybe because you made me pursue you," Nick said thoughtfully. "You weren't star struck like almost every other girl I met."
"And you weren't the egomaniac I thought you were," Julie said resting her head on his chest.
Nick kissed the top of her head. "I'm so glad you're home," he said.
"Me too," Julie said relaxing against him. "Nick, it was such a nice day today. And Gran seemed like her self again. She didn't really know much about what was going on, but she was so happy for Saffy."
"I'm glad to hear that," Nick said. "I was thinking we could have her over soon for Malfoy Pizza."
"She'd love that," Julie said smiling at him. "And I think the girls would love that too."
Nick kissed his wife again. "I've missed you a lot lately Jules. I feel like I never see you these days."
"I'm sorry," Julie said softly. "I just really want to prove myself. Snape is such an arse, Nick. He makes smart remarks all the time about me being able to come home and right before I think of telling him off, I remember that I'm a mature professor and I should ignore him."
"I wish I could meet this Snape character," Nick replied. "I'd tell him a thing or two..."
"He was really close to your dad and your grandfather," Julie said.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Nick rolled his eyes. "Enough talk about that."
"Yeah sorry for bringing up those three," Julie said giving him a kiss.
"It's all right," Nick kept her lips pressed to his. "Perhaps this weekend we can go out for dinner, just you and me."
"And dancing?" Julie said eagerly. "Please? We haven't done that in ages..."
"It's a date," Nick promised.
"Yes," Julie said gleefully. "I'll have to find the perfect dress..."
"You have a closet full," Nick pointed out.
"That you've already seen me in," Julie said. "I want something new. I'll see if Chi wants to go shopping with me tomorrow afternoon."
Nick hugged her close as Ashley came back into the room. "Mum have you seen my new pencils? I left them on my dresser this morning and now they're not there."
Julie shook her head. "No, sweetheart."
"Katie!" Ashley yelled over her shoulder.
"You don't know that she took them, Ashley," Julie said quietly.
"She probably hid them," Ashley said angrily. "Just to make me mad!"
"What?" Katie impatiently asked, coming into the sitting room. She was wearing one of Greta's aprons.
"You took my new pencils!" Ashley snapped at her before Katie could say anything else.
"No I didn't," Katie said defensively. "I didn't touch your stupid pencils."
"You're such a liar," Ashley retorted.
"Girls," Julie said getting between them. "Ashley, if your sister says she didn't take them..."
"I promise I didn't," Katie said.
"Come on, Ash," Nick said standing up. "Let's go 'Accio' your pencils."
"They better not come from your room, Katie!" Ashley said glaring at her before following her father out of the room.
"I didn't take them, Mummy," Katie said innocently. "I promise."
"I believe you sweetheart," Julie said. "You wouldn't lie to us about that."
Katie beamed at her mother and gave her a hug. "I'm glad you're home. I missed you."
"I missed you too," Julie kissed the top of her daughter's head.
"Aunt Saffy's going to love the biscuits," Katie said. "Greta told me I was the bestest helper."
"You are," Julie replied. "Especially when she lets you lick the spoon."
"She said that Aunt Saffy used to help when she was my age," Katie said giggling. "But I can't imagine Aunt Saffy being little."
"You remind me of her," Julie said.
"I do?" Katie asked.
Julie nodded. "You have the same hair colour and eyes as she does. And you're headstrong just like she is too."
Katie grinned. "But I can't play Quidditch as good as she can."
"If you practise you will," Julie said. "You'd better get back to help Greta."
"Okay," Katie said. "You want to help too?"
"Maybe in a bit," Julie said. "I'd like to go in and change clothes first."
"Don't be long," Katie said. "We're going to put them in the oven soon!"
"All right," Julie smiled. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Okay," Katie said giving her mother a kiss on the cheek before running into the kitchen.
Upstairs, Nick handed over the pack of pencils to his oldest daughter.
"How did they get in the loo?" Ashley asked.
"Why don't you tell me Ash?" Nick teased.
"I don't know," Ashley said staring quizzically at them. "I swear they were on my dresser this morning. And I didn't move them, Dad. I swear!"
"I don't think it was your sister," Nick told her.
"It would be the first time she didn't do something," Ashley said grumpily. "Dad, she's always using my stuff without asking..."
"Cut your sister some slack," Nick told his oldest daughter. "I know it's hard for you both to get along, but once in awhile just be the mature one and don't go accusing her of things without proof all right?"
"You don't understand," Ashley tried to protest. "You were an only child..."
"I know that, but I'm also a parent," Nick said. "And being as how you're the older one, sometimes your mum and I hope that you'll try to get along with Katie instead of fighting all the time."
"She doesn't make it easy," Ashley said. "She's always talking about me not having friends. I'd never admit this to her, but it hurts when she says that, Dad."
"I know it does," Nick hugged her. "It doesn't matter to us that you're not as outgoing as her. We love both of you just the way you are. You have all the friends you want to have."
"Thanks, Dad," Ashley said. She set her pencils down on her bed. "Did you get to work on your songs earlier?"
"A little bit," Nick replied. "I'll get it done later."
"I love listening to you play the piano," Ashley said.
"Well how about I give you a little private concert right now?" Nick offered with a grin.
"Really?" Ashley asked excitedly.
"Sure," Nick held out his hand. "Mademoiselle?"
Ashley giggled as she took her father's hand. "This is going to be great."
*** *** ***
Maddie spent most of the night going over some case notes and nibbling on pretzels. Ethan was working late again and had already owled her to let her know he didn't know when he'd be home and that she shouldn't wait up.
It seemed that they were spending more and more time apart lately. Maddie understood or at least tried to. He couldn't tell her much about his case, but he had mentioned that they were close to making a break.
She was really knackered and knew she should probably just get up and get ready for bed, but she didn't have the energy to move. She leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes.
She was almost asleep when a vision broke apart before her eyes. Maddie strained to see, normally her visions were quite clear but this one was foggy, hazy. The haze almost seemed to represent a feeling of despair as she fought waves of sadness that were washing over her.
"....don't trust me," she heard someone say. "...what more do we have..."
She'd know that voice anywhere. It was Ethan. But she couldn't see him.
Maddie heard another voice, at first she couldn't hear it properly but then the realisation hit her like icy cold water. It was her- and she was telling him to leave.
"...don't want to stay if you don't trust me," Ethan said angrily.
"How can I?" Maddie heard her voice, laden with tears. "Ethan I saw it with my own two eyes!"
"You think I'd do that?" he asked icily. "You really think I'd do that?" She had never before heard him sound so angry. But what was he so angry about?
Maddie heard something fall onto the floor.
"That's yours," Ethan's voice said. "I gave that ring to you..."
She slapped her hands over her mouth in horror. Her ring? She was taking off her ring?
"It was a promise ring," she heard herself say. "And you broke every promise you ever made to me."
"I did not!" Ethan said angrily. "I've told you what happened--"
Maddie felt tears running down her cheeks as she heard herself say in a final, determined tone to Ethan, "I don't ever want to see you again."
She could feel his angry stare. "If that's the way you feel..." he sounded choked up as well and Maddie wanted to hold onto him to keep him from leaving. What could he possibly have done?
She awoke with a start. Immediately, she looked at her right hand and was relieved to see the promise ring still on her finger.
"Ethan," Maddie whispered.
She didn't know how long she sat there on the sofa staring straight ahead. Ethan's words echoing in her head. All of her visions so far had come true. But this...this couldn't possible be....
"Maybe it's not real," Maddie said. "Maybe it was only a dream..." she had to go back to her office and see if Smythe was still there. Maybe her mentor could help her make some sense of what had just happened.
She Apparated to the Ministry and then took the lift down to the department.
Part of her wanted desperately to go find Ethan and have him hold and comfort her, and tell her he'd never do anything to make her not trust him.
Jared was thumbing through that day's Daily Prophet when he heard the door open. He was working the late shift since Smythe had been called away on an emergency. When he saw who was here, he couldn't believe the gift that had just been dropped in his lap.
"Maddie?" he asked coming forward. "What are you doing back?"
"Oh," she jumped. "Jared- what are you doing here? I thought you went home hours ago..." she kept her head averted, not wanting him to see her red eyes.
"Smythe had an emergency," he replied. "It's my week to be on call, remember?"
"Right," Maddie said softly. "I'm sorry to bother you. I just needed something in my office..."
He knew right away that something was off with her. She wasn't her usual bright, cheerful self and she looked preoccupied and distant. "You're not bothering me. I was desperate for company."
"I wish I could stay," Maddie said. "I'm sorry Jared- I'm just not having a very good night..."
"Maddie..." he said gently putting a hand on her arm. "Did something happen?"
"No," she answered quickly, pulling away to root through her desk for a book she thought might help her.
"Maddie..." he said.
"Nothing's wrong!" she snapped at him.
He recoiled and stared at her with a hurt look on his face.
"Oh God Jared," her face crumpled. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to sound so harsh."
"It's okay," he said softly. "I only want to help Maddie. I can tell something's wrong."
"It's nothing," she lied. "Just a dream is all..."
"A dream or a vision?" he asked.
"I hope it was a dream," Maddie said softly, still digging through her desk.
Jared wondered if it was about Ethan. He could only hope that it was. He was becoming very impatient. With each passing day, he wanted Maddie more and more.
"I know you don't want to talk about it," he said instead. "But you've done so much for me since I started here and I'd like to be here for you."
"I appreciate it," Maddie said, wondering if she should tell him.
But she couldn't bear the thought of voicing that awful vision or dream to anyone. It would make it seem more real. She found the book she was looking for and turned back around to face her friend. "I'm just going to go home," she said quietly.
"Are you sure?" he asked. If he wasn't the only one working he could make sure she got home safely. He could also provide the comfort she so obviously needed.
She nodded. "I'm just hoping Ethan will be back soon. He's usually the only one who truly understands this... and it's not that you don't. Ethan just understands me in a way that not many other people can."
Jared nodded and tried to hide his disappointment. "That offer still stands," he said giving her a hug. "If you need to talk, I'm here."
"Thank you Jared," Maddie forced a smile onto her face. "You're a good friend."
Jared wanted to tell her he could be so much more if she'd just give up the do-gooder boyfriend. He settled for walking her out of the department. She clutched onto her book, but to his delight pecked him on the cheek before leaving.
He spent the next couple of hours basically thinking of Maddie and what he wanted to do with her. Smythe arrived back and asked him to take something up to Auror Headquarters.
Eager for a change of scenery, he grabbed the package and set off for headquarters.
Justin, Ethan and Bree were in one of the interrogation rooms basically going stir crazy. Justin volunteered to go on a food run and Bree and Ethan were currently having a heart-to-heart talk.
Bree confessed to Ethan how she and Mason hadn't slept together yet.
"He wants to, but I'm not so sure," she confided. "I really fancy him, Ethan, but I'm not sure. Does that make any sense?"
At the sound of those familiar voices, Jared froze just outside the door.
"That's really up to you," Ethan told her. "I mean... I'm rather in the same boat with Mads. She told me she wants to wait until she's married."
Jared hadn't known this and he leaned against the wall careful not to make a move or a sound.
"That can't be very easy on either of you," Bree said thoughtfully. "I mean you're living together."
"I'd never admit it to her but it's a lot harder than I thought it would be," Ethan said. "Just to be around her all the time and never really touch her or anything. We've taken a few steps closer since we were in Brighton; we actually had a big argument over it when she first got there."
"But you worked things out right?" Bree asked. "I mean you two looked so in love the other night..."
"Lately things couldn't be better," Ethan replied. "I mean, I'd love for us to break this case so I can finally spend more time with her, but she knows that this is what we have to do. It's the same way with her being a Seer."
"I know what you mean," Bree said. "Mason's the same way. He thinks I work too much. I don't know. I guess I'm just scared that he might not stay and the only..." her voice trailed off and she blushed.
"He'd be completely mad to want to give you up Bree," Ethan told her.
"Thanks," she said smiling at him. "I was going to say that the only person I ever wanted to do that with...was you. And we nearly did so many times..."
"I know," he said. "You were... you were very good Bree..." Ethan laughed self consciously. "Who'd have thought you and me would be sitting here talking about what we did or almost did while we were dating?"
"Not me," Bree said laughing. "I'm glad to have you back in my life though. I've missed your friendship Ethan."
"I missed you too," he said honestly.
They held each other's gaze for quite some time before Bree finally spoke. "You were the only bloke who was able to distract me from studying...."
"And get you out dancing once in a blue moon?" he teased.
Bree laughed. "We had some good times, didn't we?"
"We did," Ethan agreed. "We definitely did..."
Jared heard the lift ping open and he quickly ducked behind a door as Ethan's friend Justin breezed past him carrying a paper bag.
"Okay," Justin said. "I got cheeseburgers and chips for Ethan and me and the big chef salad for Miss Bree..."
"With extra cheese?" Bree asked.
"Extra cheese for the Bree," Justin teased her.
Bree crumpled up a piece of paper and threw it at him. "That was terrible..."
"She's right," Ethan said. "That was pretty bad..."
"I'm working on an empty stomach here," Justin said defensively.
"Awwww poor baby," Bree said in a baby voice. "Do you want me to feed you sweetie pie, honey bunch...."
Ethan laughed heartily at that. "You sound just like Sarah," he snorted.
"We're not that bad," Justin said defensively handing Ethan his cheeseburger and chips.
"I wish Mads was here," Ethan said. "Half my burger would probably be gone already though..."
Jared listened for a few more minutes. A plan was already forming in his head. Ethan and Maddie weren't shagging. From what Bree had said to Ethan, it was obvious she still harboured feelings for her ex. It would take a little work on his part, but Maddie was definitely worth it.
*** *** ***
"Grandpa," Caroline began. "I promise the Magic Mud doesn't hurt when I put it on... and it makes you beautiful!"
"Byooful," Emma chimed in tugging on Ron's leg.
"I'm sure Grandma would love for you to give her a makeover," Ron said.
"Grandma's already beautiful," Caroline said. "She doesn't need Magic Mud."
"Thank you darling," Luna swept Caroline up. "And I think your grandfather definitely needs some work done."
"I'm sitting right here!" Ron said outraged. "And I happen to think I'm rather hot actually."
Caroline began to laugh. "You're just silly and old Grandpa."
Ron clutched his heart. "Caroline!"
Emma toddled over to him and held her hands up. "Hold! Hold!"
"Emma, darling..." Ron picked her up. "Do you think your old Grandpa is handsome?"
Emma looked quizzically at him and patted his cheeks with her chubby hands.
"Handsome," Ron prompted her.
"Hasum," Emma repeated.
"That's right baby," Ron gave his granddaughter a kiss on the cheek.
"I like staying with you and Grandpa," Caroline said putting her arms around Luna's neck. "Grandpa said he was going to set up a tent for me and Em."
"He did?" Luna asked. "That sounds like a lot of fun. If you two girls are good like I know you always are, you can even sleep in there!"
"Will you sleep in there with us?" Caroline asked.
"I doubt there will be room angel," Luna told her.
"Oh," Caroline said. "Well can we leave the lights on? Em's scared of the dark."
Luna knew that it was Caroline who was actually scared of the dark, but she didn't call her granddaughter on it. "We can leave the lights on for you."
"Good," Caroline said happily. "You know for Em..."
"Right," Ron grinned. "For my little Emma here."
"Eat!" Emma clapped her hands together. "Emma eat!"
"This is a girl after my own heart," Ron said picking her up. "Let's go see what we can find..."
Caroline sat back down with her beauty supplies and started setting them out. Whether her Grandpa liked it or not, he was going to get a makeover.
"Your mummy told me that you were doing great in school," Luna said sitting down with her.
"I love school," Caroline agreed happily. "I learned to count up to a hundred and twelve!"
"My smart girl," Luna said pulling on one of the little girl's ponytails.
"Thank you Grandma," Caroline beamed. "I miss Aunt Maddie. I wanted to play beauty salon with her this weekend."
"I know," Luna said softly. She was more than a little worried about Maddie.
"I didn't get to see her since two months ago," Caroline said.
"She's really busy," Luna said. "I'm sure she misses you just as much as you miss her."
"Mummy told me maybe Aunt Maddie can play in a week," Caroline continued.
"I hope so," Luna said helping Caroline lay out the rest of her toys. She didn't want to make any promises for Maddie. Her daughter visited last week very briefly and seemed like she had a lot on her mind.
"Can I brush your hair Grandma?" Caroline asked.
Luna smiled at her. "I would love for you to brush my hair."
"I do a really good job," Caroline said. "Mummy sometimes lets me do her hair and she told me soon as Emma's more grown up, I can do hers too."
"I'm sure Emma will love that," Luna said. She noticed it was unusually quiet in the kitchen. "Ronald? What are you and Emma doing?"
"Uh..." Ron said. "Eating?"
With Ron's attention diverted, Emma stuck her hand into the bowl of ice cream. "Yum!"
"Ems!" Ron said. "No, no!"
Emma laughed and pulled her hand out of the bowl and reached out for Ron's face.
Ron began to laugh as his granddaughter smeared chocolate over his chin. "You're a naughty little baby," he chortled.
"Bad?" she asked giving him a toothy grin.
She reminded him so much of Drew and Darla when they were that age.
"Nah," Ron grinned. "Not my little Emma..."
"Eat," Emma whispered. "Eat..."
"All right we'll eat," Ron chuckled, grabbing a spoon. "Ice cream baby?"
Emma nodded and giggled as Ron dug into the bowl and scooped out a little bite for her. "Open up, Em."
"Eat!" Emma screeched happily.
"You are such a Weasley!" he said grinning at her.
Emma grinned back, ice cream oozing out the corner of her mouth.
In the sitting room, Caroline was trying to plait Luna's hair.
"Did I tell you what I'm going to dress up for Halloween?" Caroline asked.
"What might that be sweetheart?" Luna winced as her granddaughter pulled on her hair accidentally.
"Sorry Grandma," Caroline said patting her head. "I'm going to be...Jasmine from Aladdin and Em is going to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Nana Molly made our costumes."
"Oh that sounds quite lovely," Luna said. "You both will make beautiful princesses!"
"Katie was going to be Tinkerbell," Caroline said. "But Ashley called her Stinkerbell and she changed her mind."
Luna pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. "What are they planning on dressing up as?" she asked as Caroline tied her plaits at the end.
"Katie's going to be a ballerina," Caroline replied. "And Ashley is going to be Dorothy."
"Dorothy?" Luna asked.
"From the movie," Caroline said. "Come on Grandma! You know the one with the nice witch and the mean witch and the lion!"
"Oh of course," Luna nodded. "That... one..."
"Did Daddy ever dress up for Halloween when he was little?" Caroline asked.
"Not really Angel," Luna replied. "We never celebrated Halloween much."
"Really?" Caroline asked frowning. "Why?"
"We just never did," Luna answered. "And then they were away at school."
"That's so sad!" Caroline said in a hushed voice.
Luna laughed. "Now how about I do your hair before we get your grandpa in here for his makeover?"
"Okay," Caroline said changing places with her grandmother.
"THAT'S MY BOY!" Luna and Caroline heard Ron shout from the kitchen.
"Ronald?" Luna called out. "What on earth..."
"Er..." Ron said as his wife appeared in the doorway.
Luna looked at her husband and her youngest granddaughter whose face was smeared with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Ron was holding a letter in his hands.
"R.J.," Ron said handing her the sticky letter. "That scout from Puddlemere came to see him play again!"
"What are you doing with all that ice cream?" Luna scolded him, taking the letter.
"Mess!" Emma said holding up a sticky hand.
"That's right baby," Luna set the letter down and took a damp rag. "Very, very messy!"
"Lu!" Emma said giggling as Luna wiped off the chocolate from her face.
"My boy is going to be the next keeper for Puddlemere Luna," Ron said proudly.
"He'll do a wonderful job," Luna commented, trying to clean a wiggly Emma.
"Grandpa," Caroline said from the doorway. "Ewww....you're all messy!"
"It's your sister's fault," Ron said, grabbing another rag and wiping his chin off.
"I'm sure it was her idea to get the enormous bowl," Luna said shaking her head.
"Completely," Ron made a goofy face and scooped Caroline up. "I may just let you make me over after all my little angel!"
"You smell like chocolate," Caroline said giggling.
"I bet a little Magic Mud will take care of that," Ron tickled her.
"I'll write R.J. back once I get this one down for a kip," Luna said. "I'll tell him how proud we are."
"Proud?" Ron asked. "Tell him we're fu-"
"Ronald!" Luna chastised.
"Having fun celebrating," Ron covered hastily.
"Good save," Luna said laughing. "Emma, what do you think of your Grandpa?"
"Eat!" Emma cried out. "Gamma Lu!"
Luna rested her forehead on Emma's. "You just ate baby girl."
Emma grabbed around Luna's neck and hugged her.
"Gamma Lu loves Emma," Luna said hugging her back.
"Come on Grandpa!" Caroline said excitedly. "It's time for your makeover!"
"Okay," he said. "But no plaits. No makeup and no nail paint or whatever that stuff is...those are the ground rules!"
"Your hair isn't long enough to plait," Caroline told him. "And I didn't bring any nail polish!"
"Thank Merlin for small miracles," Ron said relieved.
"We'll start with some Magic Mud," Caroline explained.
"Start with?" Ron asked apprehensively.
"I have my work cut out for me," Caroline said seriously. She'd heard her father say that every time her mother asked him to mow the lawn.
"Do you now?" Ron asked. "Am I a lost cause then?"
Caroline shook her head. "I can work with anything."
"Where do you get this stuff?" Ron asked as he set her down on the sofa.
"Mummy," Caroline replied.
"And when does she say stuff like that?" Ron asked sitting down on the carpet.
"When Daddy won't do what she tells him," Caroline said innocently.
Ron stifled a laugh. "Well, I'm putty in your hands Caroline. Make me handsome!"
"You're already pretty handsome," Caroline began to dab her mud on her grandfather's face.
"Stunningly handsome?" Ron asked in a dramatic voice.
"Maybe," Caroline said. "Aunt Frankie says Uncle Will is stunningly handsome." she stumbled over the last words a bit.
"You like your Uncle Will?" Ron asked wincing as he saw Caroline dip deep into the tin of mud and cake some on his forehead.
"He's fun," Caroline answered, her cheeks turning a bit pink. "He calls me and Emma 'princess' all the time."
"I don't know him very well, but your other Grandpa seems to think he's a good bloke," Ron said. "And anyone who thinks my girls are princesses is okay with me."
"Grandpa Neville says he's the best for Aunt Frankie," Caroline recited.
Ron chuckled. "Sweetheart, don't you think that's enough...."
"Maybe now it is," Caroline decided. "It has to sit on while I do your wax."
Ron froze. "I beg your pardon? Wax?"
"Your legs Grandpa," Caroline replied. "They're very hairy."
"Boys are supposed to have hair on their legs," Ron told her. "And I'm not that hairy, Caroline."
Luna carried Emma back into the sitting room.
"Luna," Ron said pleadingly to his wife. "Tell Caroline I don't need any wax."
"Oh I don't know," Luna teased. "It might be nice to see your legs all nice and smooth Ronald."
"Oh no you don't," Ron said shaking his head. "I will let you put this wonky mud on my face, but I will not and will never agree to wax."
"Grandpa!" Caroline pushed her lower lip out. "You said you would do everything but nail polish!"
"That was before I knew there was wax involved," Ron said feeling himself crumble under Caroline's sweet, pouting gaze. "Have you been taking lessons from your Aunt Maddie?"
"Maybe," Caroline giggled. "Grandpa I'll tell you a secret. It's not real wax." she showed him the mound of clay. "Remember? This is pretend beauty shop!"
"Oh," Ron said sheepishly. "That's different then."
"Like Allie and Jon would let Caroline have hot wax, Ronald," Luna said laughing.
"Mummy?" Emma asked looking around at the sound of her mother's name.
"No sweetheart," Luna stroked back Emma's curls. "Mummy and Daddy are on a little holiday together."
Emma's lower lip began to tremble and she buried her face in Luna's shoulder.
Luna kissed the side of her head. "It's okay baby," she said soothingly.
Caroline went to Emma's side. "Mummy and Daddy will be back really soon, Em. And we get to have a sleepover with Grandma Lu and Grandpa."
"Gamma Lu," Emma repeated.
"And I'll be here to keep you safe," Caroline said patting her sister's back. Luna winced a bit as Caroline's hand was still covered in the Magic Mud.
Ron grinned. "Oops," he said, knowing what his wife was biting her lip about.
Emma turned and wrapped her arms around her sister's neck. "Sissy."
"I'm here Em," Caroline said. "I won't leave you I promise."
"That's the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Ron said grinning at his two granddaughters.
"Aye," Luna agreed as Caroline patted her little sister's back again. "You are such a good big sister Caroline."
Caroline beamed at her. "Thanks Grandma. You're a good Grandma too."
"Thank you darling," Luna smiled at her.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but found he couldn't. The mud on his face had hardened and he couldn't move his lips.
"Mmmm..." he mumbled.
"Grandpa!" Caroline said. "You have to go wash it off!"
Ron got to his feet and rushed into the loo.
"Grandpa's silly," Caroline said shaking her head.
"Yes he is," Luna smiled at her granddaughters. "But I bet his face looks lovely after the mud treatment."
Caroline giggled. "He'll be gorgeous!"
Luna laughed- if only Ron could hear himself be described as gorgeous. "Why don't we go see if he needs any help?"
"Okay," Caroline said. She finally caught sight of her sister's back which had muddy handprints all over it. "I'm sorry Em!"
"I can charm it off Angel girl," Luna told her. "Don't you worry about it."
Caroline smiled. "Let's go help silly old Grandpa then."