Being Parents

Best Gift Ever

 

Ginny’s bed rest orders had come and gone and Harry hadn’t caught X.O. yet. With her shoulder better and energies recharged, she was excited to have more time at home with her boys, since Harry (and the whole family) had forbidden her to leave the house and she was only allowed to visit protected locations (as the Burrow, Ron and Hermione’s house or the Ministry in special cases as when she went there for deposition). 

What Ginny didn’t think through was the fact James was getting better and better at the whole walking and talking business and Teddy wanted to have his friends from school over everyday. And so, her days were filled with Teddy’s requests and James’ running around. Pushing into the fourth month of pregnancy, Ginny was starting to get tired at her daily routine. 

But it wasn’t her impossible sons that were getting on her nerves. What Ginny was really preoccupied was Harry’s state of mind. X.O. had really got to him, even though he didn’t admitted it, not even to her. He had been working extended hours, leaving before the sun had risen and arriving after dinner. One day, he had gotten home and found her sleeping on the couch waiting for him. Susan had come by the house a couple of times, during her lunch break, to tell Ginny how Harry is not even stopping to eat properly and had several times canceled his lunch dates with Hermione, something that her best friend had mentioned a few times over dinner. Hermione had become a quite emotional pregnant woman, and Harry standing her up at lunch time had caused Ginny to receive a teared up Hermione at her house as well. 

Her husband had become bitter and angry and Ginny couldn’t help to remember the dark times when Harry had Voldemort within him. His twenty-fifth birthday was around the corner and Ginny was determined to get him away from all the stress consuming him inside. She and Mrs. Weasley had planned a surprise birthday party at the Burrow for him. All his friends were invited but Harry thought he was only agreeing to a birthday lunch with the family. Only thing she had to work on was getting him the perfect present. 

On July’s last Monday, Ginny woke up with Teddy on her bedside, screaming out for her. It was the day his new best friend, Tobias, was coming for a play date. Ginny sighed with the sight of Harry’s empty side of the bed, before getting on her feet and kissing her godson’s head. 

“What time is it, love?” Ginny asked, putting her robe and flip-flops on.

“9 am, mummy.” Teddy answered, accepting her hand and going down the stairs and into James’ room. He was already awake, sitting up in his crib and playing with some of his toys.

“You’re awake already, baby boy?” Ginny got James from his crib, receiving the sweetest smile from her son. “Why didn’t you call for me?”

“I asked him not to.” Teddy admitted. “I came in here when I woke up and he was already up and saying mummy. But I asked him to wait a bit and gave him some toys.”

Ginny’s eyes watered up to his godson’s gesture. “I- I-,” she shuttered. “Thank you, Teddy. Now, why don’t we have some breakfast before getting ready for Tobias’ visit?”

“YEY!” Teddy yelled with James following suit, before the little blue headed boy ran down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“No running inside the house!” Ginny yelled after Teddy, going on a slower pace than the boy. 

Getting to the kitchen, Ginny placed James on his high chair and went to the fridge to get some eggs and bacon. It was Flory’s day off, so she was all by herself on everything. Teddy was sat next to James, teaching him how to say his own name. James’ vocabulary was limited to mummy, daddy, nana, Dy (he couldn't pronounce Teddy properly), itch (it was the best Teddy got from him to say Quidditch) and, for much of Hermione’s disappointment for several reasons, Won-Won. Ginny was serving Teddy’s milk when she heard the front door bell ringing.