Nanny McPhee: A ThesLally AU

Three

Theseus was starting to grow tired in his chair, newspaper atop his chest. He blinked for an extra long second and when he opened them back up, Nanny McPhee stood in front of him. He was fully awake now, the startle giving him more energy than he needed.

"I did knock." McPhee stated simply.

Theseus swallowed, "Of course. You wouldn't just be sneaking up on me for no reason." he fumbled with the paper.

"The children are all tucked and in bed." she informed him.

"Right, well, yes—" he looked up suddenly, "—really? Good grief."

McPhee made a small, flat toned sound in confirmation, "I shall see myself to my room. Goodnight, Mr. Scamander."

Theseus nodded and watched her out. He had a sudden thought and ran after her, "Wait!" she was half up the stairs as he caught up, "I just— um... what are your terms?"

"You recall me saying they have five lessons to learn. Lesson one: to go to bed when they're told. It is completed." she explained to him before finishing, "As for my terms, I'll take Sunday afternoons off."

Theseus stood at the base of the stairs for a minute as McPhee went to her room. He turned back to his office, thinking how odd that lesson she gave the children was.

The next morning, Nanny McPhee stood in the center of the children's room; hands on hips.

"Time to wake up." she announced.

Oliver, Samantha, and Isabella wriggled in bed; unwilling to leave the comforts of their mattresses.

"Hm." Nanny McPhee made a face of oh well, walking to the door, "I'll give you thirty minutes to be up, washed, dressed, and beds made for some healthful time in the garden before breakfast." she turned to the sleepy lumps in their beds, "Miss Hicks will be here for your lessons at 9 sharp."

After she left, Oliver looked up and in a groggy voice said, "I don't know about you lot, but I'd like to stay in bed." he got up on his elbow and looked at his sisters, "Isabella, run the thermometer under the hot tap. Samantha; chalk and crayons."

Samantha grabbed the stuff, "How do you know she won't do something horrid to us?"

Oliver looked at his sisters seriously, "I figured it out. She's a trained hypnotist. That's how she made us do all that stuff last night. Just don't look directly at her and she won't be able to."

Theseus was rushing out the door that morning as he had to go to work early. He grabbed some bread and jam from the kitchen, running down the footpath to town. He wound around a corner when he bumped into Lally.

"Oh, I'm sorry." they said together, trying move around each other.

He flattened himself against the wall and laughed. Lally, who was beginning to walk past him, stared at him confused.

"Is something funny?"

Theseus looked at her, "I found a nanny."

Lally stared at him, "Oh, did you? That's wonderful."

He chuckled, "And I think she'll last." he beckoned her toward him, "She got them to go to bed when they were told."

Lally gasped, covering her mouth. Then, she started to laugh under her hand, "I've never thought that would be an accomplishment."

Theseus laughed with her, "Neither did I until L—" he stopped himself abruptly, "I've got to get going."

Lally watched him proceed to work quietly. And a lot slower. It had been that long since his wife, Leta, had passed away, and she could tell it still hurt him quite a bit. She turned and restarted her own path.