(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

There's a clattering noise coming down the hall. Also chatter, the excited sort of chatter of coming home.

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[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

In the kitchen, doing prep work on dinner, Bernard doesn't hear at first. But then they get close, and he does. Striding out of the kitchen, he's about halfway to the door when it bursts open, and Ellie beats him to 'Dora and the kids by a mile.

Doesn't mean he's not grinning.

[clumsy_auror]

"Ooof. Hi, Ellie-- yes, good girl, get down--"

'Dora's laughing as she gently pushes Ellie down, patting her on the head. Anthony wibbles slightly, and Sunny hugs Ellie around the neck. Then the toddler grabs Bernard around the legs and squeezes him tightly before scampering down the hall to ensure that her Office is in order.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Ellie runs after Sunny, tripping over nothing halfway down the hall, and Bernard's left with 'Dora and Anthony.

"Well. We're not dead yet."

[clumsy_auror]

"Good to hear." A soft smile, and she steps closer, tipping her face up to kiss him briefly. The baby gurgles from his sling.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

His arms slide around her waist, pinning her close, and he kisses her again for a longer moment, then tips his head down to kiss Anthony's round cheek.

"Hey, little monkey."

[clumsy_auror]

Anthony flails delightedly, because it's Dad and he hadn't noticed that, till just now. He wriggles quite a lot, and looks suddenly anxious to be out of the sling.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard pulls him out, grinning, and zerberts his cheek.

[clumsy_auror]

"So you didn't pine away to nothing in our absence?" she asks, tugging idly on the sleeve of his shirt.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Very nearly," he replies, settling Anthony against his shoulder. The infant immediately starts to examine Daddy's shirt. It tastes like... shirt. This is Important Knowledge.

Bernard steps close again. "Missed you like crazy."

[clumsy_auror]

"Missed you, too. Could you tell by the ten whole minutes it took us to get here after your letter arrived?"

She's snickering, and wrapping an arm around his waist, her head settling on the shoulder their son's not occupying.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Anthony looks over at Mummy, smiling and laughing, and he grins gummily as well, the corners of his big blue eyes crinkling just a bit. Over the last few weeks, they've got progressively darker, and by now it's clear who he looks most like when he's happy.

After a second he hides his face in Daddy's shirt, peeking at Mummy sneakily, his eyes still laughing a bit.

Somebody discovered Peek-a-Boo.

Bernard presses a kiss to the crown of 'Dora's head. "I noticed."

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora's grin widens when she catches Anthony peeking, and the baby hides his face again. "Oh! Where did Anthony go? I don't see him!"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard begins to snicker, and tips his head down to watch.

Anthony wriggles in his arms, and happens to peek up at him. Bernard makes a Surprised Face, and Anthony goes :O!! and hides again.

This is the Best Game Ever.

[clumsy_auror]

"Dad, you lost him again!" she says, laughing, and reaches out to gently poke Anthony in the side. The baby starts and looks up at his mum, then freezes.

OH NOES. We've given away our position!

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard busts out laughing, and Anthony gives up the ghost, wriggling with excitement and near-laughing with him.

"Look at you. All sneaky like your sister."

Anthony just smiles in agreement.

[clumsy_auror]

Giggling, Nymphadora kisses Anthony's rosy cheek one, two, three times, and then leans up to kiss Bernard once more. "So what's the plan?" she murmurs against his lips.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Do we need a plan?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Well! I don't know what you've been up to. Could be in the middle of something, for all I know."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Another soft kiss. Anthony's examining Daddy's shirt again. "I was just starting dinner. You wanna help?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Best offer I've had all day."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"All right, then."

And they're off to the kitchen, and it's like any other day, really, except that Bernard stops to kiss her twice as often as usual, and spends extra time playing with Sunny in her Office while the lambchops roast, and he makes his wife a chocolate mousse pie for dessert, because it's her favorite.

And they're all home.