Songbird ; Fred Weasley

One-hundred and one

Six months later, I was back at work.

Or, well not back, because I was no longer working in England.

I had gotten a job here in New York, working as an auror for the magical congress of the United States of America.

Today marked two weeks since I started, and my colleagues had welcomed me with open arms. They were all really nice.

It was actually really exciting to get a change of scenery.

The ministry over here was a lot bigger than the one in London, and it was overall a lot more different here.

"Look. Mama's right here." Fred's baby voice carried through the room before he came into view, holding almost twenty-month-old Theodora on his arm. "Tell mama what you told me, darling."

Dora looked at me, resting her cheek against Fred's shoulder, and she smiled mischievous, shaking her head.

"What?" Fred laughed. "Tell mama what you said just now."

"No!" Dora laughed.

I grinned, cocking an eyebrow at Fred who sighed and looked at me.

"She said 'I love you'." He told me, and my eyes widened before I looked at Dora again.

"You said 'I love you'?" I asked, walking over to take her from Fred. "Can I hear?"

"No." She shook her head, giggling.

Dora knows a few sentences with three to four words in them, and she can count to five which is amazing. Though saying 'I love you' is completely new.

"Hmm..." I narrowed my eyes at her. "Well, that's alright baby. You know why?"

She stared at me, shaking her head.

"Because I love you." I grinned and kissed her forehead before I walked over and put her down on the bed.

She squealed with excitement, crawling up to the pillows where she laid down.

"You ever think she'll leave her defiant phase?" Fred asked, smiling while looking at Dora.

"Probably not. Second born children are always the worst." I said, shaking my head.

Dora squealed again, digging her face into the pillows while pulling herself up to stand, but she was unsteady on her feet when she stood on a bed, so Fred walked over in case she fell.

"I love you." Dora's quiet voice filled the room, and my jaw fell as my eyes landed on her again.

She saw the excitement on my face, and yet again she squealed, jumping on the bed while flapping her hands.

"Daddy!" Phoebe came stomping into the room, her expression angry. "Callum ruined my doll!"

Fred placed his hands on his hips, looking exhausted. He had been alone with the kids all day while I was at work.

"It's my favourite doll!" Phoebe exclaimed.

"Darling, take a deep breath, yeah?" Fred urged  her. "Go get the doll and I'll see if I can fix it for you."

When she walked out of the room, Fred turned towards me.

"She's going to grow up to be just as scary as you." He said. "Did you see her just now? She looked exactly the same as you do when you're angry."

I rolled my eyes and walked over to the bed, picking Dora up.

"Let's go downstairs to Callum, yeah?" I whispered to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

I carried her downstairs where I put her down. She ran over to the playpen where Callum was standing up, holding onto the bars as if he was in jail.

"Phoebes?!" I called out to where she was in the kitchen. "Did you give him your doll since he managed to ruin it?"

"I wanted to share it with him." She said and walked back into the room, the Barbie's body in one hand...

The head in the other.

Oh boy.

"He ripped her head off." Phoebe said and showed it to me. "She was my favourite."

"Well, you know what, baby? It is very nice of you to want to share her with your brother. Looks like he couldn't contain his excitement, huh? Go find daddy. I'm sure he can fix it."

I ruffled her hair on her way past me, before I leaned over the playpen to pick up Callum.

I don't think I've ever seen a baby as beautiful as Callum. His eyes are bright blue and his hair is light brown, a reddish tone to it, and it's just as curly as my hair.

When he smiles, his entire face lights up, and you can see the two teeth at the bottom of his mouth. He has two dimples. The one on his left cheek is more defined than the one on his right cheek, and it's super adorable.

"You know what we should do mr smiley face?" I asked. "We should start dinner."

Then I turned to Dora and reached for her hand.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked her, walking into the kitchen.

I put Callum down on the counter, knowing he wouldn't crawl away and fall off. He was a careful baby.

"What are you doing?" Fred asked, following Phoebe into the kitchen, but his words were directed at me.

"What do you mean?"

"You shouldn't be cooking." He tsk'ed at me, guiding me over to the dining table. "What if you're pregnant?"

I cocked an eyebrow at him, then laughed.

"Baby, I'm on the pill." I told him. "I can assure you, I am not pregnant."

"Phoebe was conceived even though I wore a condom." He said, placing his hands on his hips. "Callum was received even though you were on the pill. Dora is the only one who was planned."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I'm on my period right now, Freddie. Therefore, I can't be pregnant."

"Hmm..." he muttered, then sighed. "Well, it's been six months so maybe we should have the conversation."

"What conversation?" I asked. "Six months since what?"

"Since the last time we discussed having another baby. You said it was too soon because Cal was just six months old. Now he's almost thirteen months, so maybe—"

"Babe, I didn't say no only because it was too soon." I laughed. "Look around. We have our hands full already. Phoebe turns seven in four months and she keeps getting into trouble at school. Theodora is even more mischievous than her older sister, Callum is a year old, and I've just gone back to work after maternity leave."

"Okay, then I'll go on paternity leave next time." He said.

I pouted at him and stood up, sliding my arms around his neck.

"I love you so much, baby." I whispered, pressing a kiss to his lips. "And I know how much you want another child. Which is why... I'll think about it, yeah?"

His face lit up, and my heart melted. I couldn't help but smile at his reaction.

"You will?"

I nodded.

"I'll think about it, but then if I still say no, please don't push it." I begged him. "Yes, eventually I'd be nice to be able to fill out another one of the bedrooms we have, but if I say no for now, please just wait with me until I'm ready."

"Okay." Fred pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I promise I won't push it."