My voice and heart were breaking -- 2017

I smiled, grabbing the bouquet, smelling them.  "Oh, Dad, thank you!" I said to him, giving my dad a big hug.  I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye and laughed slightly.  "Ayden... you'll put these in water?" I finished.  I wanted to tell him to stop with the pictures, but I did want pictures of this.  I wanted pictures of me and Dad, so I changed what I was going to say.

I kissed my daughter on the cheek.  I smiled when I saw the flashes.  Good... remember this as something good rather than something depressing, though I knew tears would be involved.  I watched as Ayden went to put the flowers in water.  "Honey... are you okay?" I asked her, though I knew the answer already.

I went to the kitchen and put the flowers in a vase with water while Remus and Lucy had their moment.

I reached out and took my dad's hand.  "I'm alright.  Probably the same as you," I said, then shook my head.  "No... probably not quite like you... but you know what I mean."

I chuckled and squeezed her comforting hand.  "I do," I assured her.  "Do you want to get going...?  Or wait to at least say goodbye to Ayden?"

I walked out of the kitchen and looked at the two of them.  For the moment, they seemed happy.  "Before you leave... I would like to take a picture," I told them, motioning for them to take a pose.  I snapped hte picture and was glad to see that they at least were looking happy at the moment, even if Remus was looking really tired.

I was sure that would be one of my favorite pictures.  I went ot my husband and kissed him.  "Thank you," I said to him softly.  "We'll be back ad we'll be alright," I assured him.  I was with my dad, what was the worst thing that could happen?

I gave Ayden a smile and then Lucy and I walked out the front door, holding hands like we used to do when she was little.  "I figured I would let you choose this time what you'd like to do most," I said to her.

Why not try to embrace the innocence that neither one of us no longer had?  "Let's play on the swings," I said to him, grinning.  I was letting my inner child out.  Besides, I wanted Dad to laugh a little bit more... maybe it would help him win the fight against Boris.  It would do him some good... he hardly laughed anymore with Mum gone...

I looked over at my daughter, surprised for a moment, but then smiled because it was not surprising at all.  Lucy always had an inner child within... and I loved her for it.  I followed her towards the park where there were definitely swings.  "I think this is the best idea in the world," I assured Lucy, keeping our arms linked as we walked.  "I bet I can still beat you with the high jump off of them, too."  Yes, I would try to make this a good day for both of us.

I looked at Dad and shook my head.  "efinitely not," I assured him.  "I'm not so small anymore... I will beat you."  Once we were in the park, I went ahead of my dad and turned back, looking at him and grinning.  "C'mon old man," I teased.

I smiled at her.  "I don't think you will," I said to her.  "Granted, it's been awhile... but I am still pretty positive I can beat you."  I started going towards the swings, smirking at her.  She started to walk a little faster to get to the stwings first.  "I don't recall saying I'd race you to them... just that I can beat you at jumping off of them."

I turned and grinned at him, a real grin.  That was something I had not had in awhile it seemed.  "You're just saying that because you know I'm going to beat you there," I said, turning bac around and hurrying towards the swings.

I laughed and raced her to the swings... at least nowadays I did not have to let her win -- she just naturally beat me.  I shook my head.  "You're still faster than your old man," I pointed out to her, sitting down onto a swing.

I laughed and started to use my legs to start to swing.  "Of course... and it isn't because he let me win like he used to, is it?" I asked, smirking at my dad next to me.