Nanny McPhee: A ThesLally AU

Five

Theseus sat in his study that evening, feeling completely dreadful. His daughter had asked him to read to them and he had to brush her off. He was going through the file he'd taken from work, completely zoned out, when Nanny McPhee appeared in front of him.

He jumped in his seat as she said, "I did knock."

"Of course you did." Theseus said to her.

She looked reverently, "Lesson two, to get up when they're told, is completed."

Theseus, fiddling with the pens lined up on his desk, sighed, "Of course. Very good, thank you."

Nanny McPhee nodded, "Good night, Mr. Scamander."

She went to leave, but Theseus quickly said, "Nanny McPhee?"

"Yes, Mr. Scamander?" she responded.

Theseus waved his hand confused, "Didn't you used to have two—" he panicked and gestured at his own face, unable to find his words, "— nevermind. It's my imagination."

Nanny McPhee left the room and Theseus banged his head on the desk. He turned it towards the empty chair by the fireplace and sighed.

"If only you were here, Leta."

The next morning, Theseus sat in his study, reading the newspaper, when Cook entered the room with a letter. He took it, expecting it to be another bill.

"Oh—" he said rather startledly, "Oh, my goodness."

He rushed to his children's nursery. He opened the door as Lally was starting the children's lesson.

"Children! I've got news." he said, a straining sound pushing through his smile, "You're great aunt, Cordelia, is coming for tea!"

Ernie dropped the toy he was playing with and started to cry some.

"No!" Samantha said loudly.

Isabella complained through a mouthful of pastry, "Aunt Cordelia is vile and viscous!"

"She's blind as a bat!" Samantha added.

"And we are convalescing, for heaven's sake!" Oliver reminded Theseus.

Theseus threw his hand through the air, "Now that's enough! I don't want to hear anything bad about Aunt Cordelia." he looked at his children and added on, "Newt and Tina are arriving today." the children perked up at the mention of them. Theseus couldn't imagine why, "Anyway, don't talk about Aunt Cordelia. She pays the rent."

"She scares me." Isabella told her father.

He looked at Isabella then Oliver and Samantha, "Oh, come on now. She's only coming for tea." he glanced up at Lally, "I'll let you carry on with your lesson, but I'm sure you'll all be on your best behavior and put on your best clothes." he looked at the corner where Nanny McPhee stood, watching, "And Nanny McPhee will keep you on your best. Won't you, Nanny McPhee?"

Nanny McPhee nodded, "I shall do my best, sir, in consideration of the fact that today is Sunday and, as I'm sure you remember, I am off duty this afternoon."

"Off duty..." he murmured to himself. Nanny McPhee made a small confirming sound. Theseus began to sweat, stammering, "N-no. I mean, I need— they need you."

Nanny McPhee exhales drastically, "Sadly, I shall be leaving at noon." she stated very calmly, "Thereafter, I'm sure the children will do exactly as they're told." she lifted her chin slightly, "Won't you, children?"

Theseus shifted his eyes around the room, meeting all his children's eyes as they nodded in a promise. He saw something that worried him in Oliver's eye. He sighed worryingly before they heard the doorbell ring.