closed: so many gingers
Molly had gotten incessant about requesting some proper quality time with her family in the past few weeks (had gone as far as to send a Howler, actually, a bloody Howler, exploding right in the middle of late afternoon rush hour at the Hogsmeade shop), and while George had some bones to pick with her methods of persuasion (a very thin annoyance
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"By the time those two came along screaming-" he nodded his chin in George's direction, "we'd practically be serving them up shots- oof-" He jerked at the swift backhanded smack Molly landed in the middle of his chest along with a firm "Arthur!"
"Only joking, only joking-" He glanced back at his son with a knowing look, not quite daring to roll his eyes in front of his wife.
George just laughed and shook his head, glancing around the room at each member of the little gathering, struck at he always was by how impossibly warm it all felt. How even the ghosts of Fred's image scuffling around in the multitude of family pictures scattered around the room felt like less of a weight here.
He really had been overdue for a trip home.
"Well, what's few more sleepless nights in the long run of things, eh?" he grinned at Cecilia, half-joking and half-encouraging. A few more months and maybe they'd have a chance at sleeping through the night. Maybe.
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"Though, I'm afraid we might be bestowing a bit of sleeplessness on you two," Cecilia said, referring to the small bag on her arm with a shrug. "Gideon demanded he come and stay the night-"
She adjusted Frances against her chest as she pulled the bag from her shoulder and handed it to George.
"I wanna MAKE STUFF-" Gideon pronounced proudly from atop Arthur's shoulders.
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As proud as he was that his son was clearly showing interest in stepping into the spirit of the family business, he'd had to do a lot of child-proofing where his own workshop was concerned. It was really just a matter of time before that sneaky little bugger made his way into the good stuff that unfortunately had the potential of taking off eyebrows, mangling extremities, or causing temporary blindness (aah, how the years went by).
Still, he'd rather avoid getting a safety lecture for a while, and his father's workshop, what with it mostly dealing with Muggle artifacts and things that didn't tend to or were meant to explode, was decidedly safer for Gideon's tinkering endeavors.
Molly clicked her tongue, waving a dismissing hand. "Oh darling, of course we'll have him. You know you never need to ask. Merlin knows we have the space."
Her eyes flickered over to her husband, who easily nodded in silent agreement to the subject they'd already discussed and agreed upon.
"In fact, we were thinking. If you two are interested, we'd be more than happy to have you here a little more...permanently. All four of you. What with you going back to work soon, and George busy with the shops, and- well, everything that's happening-"
She paused, her eyes unconsciously flicking to a picture on the mantle where Fred was presently roughhousing with Bill while her own portrait incarnation looked on and rolled her eyes. No one here needed to elaborate on the state of 'everything that's happening'.
Arthur placed a knowing hand on his wife's shoulder, and picked up where she'd left off. "-wouldn't it just be easier, with the little ones?" He bounced a little on his heels, jostling Gideon up on his shoulders. "Like your mum said, we have the space. Too much empty space, really."
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It had blurted from her lips before she could stop herself, her eyes widening in utter shock as the suggestion. Move into the Burrow? With Molly and Arthur? The lot of them living under one roof?
But the looks in both their faces were enough to soften her expression, her brows furrowing as a lump caught in her throat. They were welcoming not just their son back into their home but Cecilia and their children as well. It meant more to Cecilia than she could properly convey how sweet the gesture was.
But was it smart? Would this really work?
"Merlin, that's really sweet-" she said, glancing back down at Frances, her hand moving to squeeze her daughter's fingers lightly. Frances cooed, curling against her, her small hand wrapping around Cecilia's index finger. "You couldn't possibly want us running around causing such a ruckus, though, could you?"
She looked at George, unsure of what the right answer was and wondering why she felt so compelled to say yes.
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"Oh, darling. You've met our lot. This-" she gestured generally between Cecilia and Frances, then George, then Gideon still properly distracted with the rubber duck he was bouncing atop his grandfather's head, "-couldn't qualify as a ruckus even you tried."
George, who had been glancing back and forth between his parents, looking for the silent approval and confirmation of the offer, running through the idea of it in his head, stepped in, lightly pressing a hand against Cecilia's lower back.
"Mum- I think Frankie's probably due for a change- d'you mind?" he asked, pointedly glancing at his mother, then to his dad, who simply nodded a smile and tipped him a little salute before turning his attention and conversation back up to the toddler on his shoulders as they went bouncing off back towards the kitchen, Gideon's laughter echoing along the way.
Molly similarly nodded, understanding as always in silent communications, reaching to take over holding up little Frances.
"Oooh, come here, you little darling. Granny's got a special treat for you today. How'd you like some fresh sweet mashed pumpkin, hm?" she cooed at her granddaughter. She cast one last smile at both George and Cecilia before following along behind Arthur and Gideon in wide swaying steps, Frances's gurgling smiling noises of approval trailing off into the next room as her parents were then left alone in front of the fireplace.
George finally fully turned to Cecilia, eyebrows raised in a soft question, his other hand reaching to take hers.
"So...what'd'you think?"
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She looked up at him, feeling a mix between relief and a sudden burst of anxiety.
"So, they want us to move in, right?" she asked, her brain going a mile a minute. "That's what they meant by permanent? Merlin, do you think this is a good idea?"
She was rambling now, she knew.
"It would be brilliant to have them look after Gideon and Frank, and knowing it was them and not some wishy-washy nanny. But would it completely ruin our dynamic?"
She sighed.
"I dunno, love, I'm sort of leaning toward a yes, but what do you think?"
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He had to admit, the offer had him torn. On the one hand, the Burrow was home. He couldn't imagine a time in which he wouldn't feel right here, wouldn't take comfort in its little details, its nooks and crannies filled with stories and memories, with the feeling of safety and love and warmth. And there was no doubt that, with Cecilia going back to full time soon, they'd have an extra handful to take care of, juggling daycare and nannies and passing the kids along from place to place - having them all in one place, with willing live-in babysitters, would certainly take care of that extra stress. And there wasn't anyone alive he'd dare to trust more with the care of his children than their own dotting grandparents.
On the other, well. It would be living with his parents. Again. As a damn grown adult. With his wife.
Honestly, he wasn't too overly proud to admit that the pros heavily outweighed the cons.
"Hey-" He let go of Cecilia's hands to reach up to cup her face, focusing her attentions. "It's- well, it's not a bad idea? At least, y'know, for a while?"
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Her eyes traveled to the floor below them as she tried to think of the cons that could really prevent them from doing this.
"Think we could make sure there are at least two floors between us?" she asked, not being able to help the wicked glint in her eye as she looked up at him. "You know, for.. sound reasons?"
He could interpret that as crying babies if he'd like but she was cleared for more extracurricular activities recently and well, there was nothing more embarrassing than the idea of Molly and Arthur hearing them.
"Or we could just sound proof our bedroom-"
Her brows furrowed as she smiled.
"I think we should do it."
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"Oh, babe, my old room's been soundproofed for years," he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows at her, playfulness covering the quiet, sharp twist the mention of his- their- room inevitably brought up. No, this wasn't about that. This was looking forward, moving on, not backwards and back. "How do you think we got away with experimenting at home? Well, there was that fire that spread into the hallway that one time, but other than that-"
He shrugged, tugged Cecilia in a bit closer, fingers drumming against the small of her back. "Anyway, there're are enough open rooms in this place nowadays, we can take our pick."
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She rested her head against George's chest, inhaling the scent of him for a moment before tipping her head up to look at him.
"I hope we're good roommates-"
She stifled a laugh, the relief washing over her. There was nothing that could make her happier than Gideon and Frances getting to spend so much time with their grandparents. They only really had the one pair and she was thankful it was Molly and Arthur. They really were incredible.
"Gideon is going to be to excited."
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"He'll have a live-in tinkering pal to ramble at all day. That's his dream."
George wrapped his arms that much tighter around Cecilia, smiling softly as he leaned down to press a kiss against her forehead.
"This'll be good, I think. For all of us."
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