etc. // hs

iv. (part two)

omg this chapter is so long

*Norah's POV*

Harry brought the boys home and I slept until six, when all of my children decided to jump on the bed and see who could wake me first. Children meaning the actual kids and Harry. Actually I think Harry may have been the ringleader...

"It was me! It was me!" Theo squealed triumphantly as he flopped down next to me and grinned. "Did I wake you mommy?"

"Sure you did, darling," I laughed, kissing his soft curls.

"No, it was me!" Jude cut in as Harry picked him up and held him upside down. "Dad!" He cried in protest. "Mom, help me!"

"No one can save you!" Harry boomed with his free hand perched on his hip. "You'll never escape me!"

After Jude finally wriggled out of Harry's arms they all tore down the stairs and into the backyard to the large, very labor-intensive playground set Harry and I built together when I was pregnant with Theo.

Feeling obligated to monitor my children's behavior, I slowly made my way down the many stairs and slid the glass doors open, finally sinking onto a bench on the patio.

"Mommy!" Theo yelled from the top of the slide. "Watch this!" He laid down on the slide and slid down headfirst, his legs flailing right up to the second when he hit the grass and I winced.

"Careful, darling," I instructed weakly. "Don't hurt yourself."

Harry spotted me and stopped pushing Stella on the swings, his hands gesturing me over as she began to cry out in protest.

"Come here, mommy," he called across the yard as Jude ran by, Ernie hot on his heels.

I reluctantly stood up and wandered over to him, my head settling on his shoulder as he began pushing her again. "What's wrong, princess?"

"Nothing," I answered with a sleepy smile. "Just tired."

"You're a bad liar, you know," he chuckled as Stella made grabby hands for his hair. "Isn't that right, sunshine? Isn't mommy a bad liar?"

"Mama," she giggled loudly. "Mama, I love you."

Harry's eyes grew huge and we both erupted in clapping and hugging her, proud words spilling from our mouths while Jude tugged at my shorts.

"Mom, I'm starving," he groaned with a roll of his eyes. "When are you making dinner?"

"Don't talk to your mother like that, son," Harry corrected him as he continued bouncing Stella in his arms. "Apologize."

"Harry, let him be," I sighed, shaking my head. "Just run along and play for a few more minutes okay?"

"No, come here son," Harry frowned at me as he held Stella to his chest. "Tell me you understand."

"I already heard you," Jude spat, his clear brown eyes shining with anger.

Harry's jaw ticked. "What did you just say to me?"

"I said I already heard you!" Jude screamed at the top of his lungs. Before I could try to calm them down, Harry had Jude's arm in his large hand and he was dragging him inside, Stella still cradled in his arms but now crying for me.

"Harry, let him go!" I ordered as I followed them closely, narrowly avoiding Ernie and Theo tearing by me in the kitchen. "Theodore, cut it out!"

Theo stopped in his tracks and sat down with his arms crossed, a sour expression on his handsome face. I could deal with him later.