Home for the holidays -- December 1995

I went right over to Pops and grabbed the cookies.  I grinned at him.  "Tanks Pops!" I said, stuffing them into my mouth quickly so Daddy would not see me.

As I watched my son with his uncles, aunt, and grandparents... and sitting here next to Tonks, I knew that I would definitely put in for a job here in England.  Seth deserved to be with his family; to grow up getting spoiled.  I took a deep breath and clinked my glass.  "Oi, everyone," I said in my not so delicate tones, grinning.  "Now... I'm not entirely sure if this will work out, but I want you to know this is going to be one of the last times you guys can stuff Seth's face like this... because you'll end up seeing him more often, I want him to stay healthy."  I caught Charlie's eye and we grinned at each other.  He knew I was having a hard time in Egypt being away from everyone with a two year old.  It was hard being there with reminders of Annette and even my life's safety when I had a young child.  I would be okay being at a desk job.  I knew they could end up finding me something exciting to do eventually.  "I'm going to be putting in for a job here in England... I plan on moving back home," I announced, looking more at Mum and Dad than anyone else at the table.  I always had a close relationship wiht Dad, but I knew Mum would be the happiest to hear I was coming home.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning as Bill made his announcement, just seeing the beaming in his eyes as he looked over to Molly and Arthur. I leaned on George, " Fantastic!" I said to him. " Your mum looks like she's going to burst. Not to mention how red Tonks is turning." I pointed it out. I loved happy times.

I raised my eyebrows.  I never would have thought that Bill would come back home.  I think I looked as shocked as everyone else in the room.  "That's great!" I agreed, everyone seeming to talk at once again.  I grinned across the table at Bill and Tonks.  "I don't suppose she had anything to do about it, either, did she?" I had not noticed Tonks's face until Lenni pointed it out.  I could not help but to add to pointing it out.  I was curious as to how red Tonks could get.

I could not believe waht I just heard.  I was probably the loudest of them all.  I bustled around hte table and embraced my son.  "I am so happy to finally hear those words," I said to him.  I hated how he lived so far away -- especially with my grandson with him.  I turned to Charlie.  "Now we just need to work on you," I added.

I laughed and squeezed Charlie's thigh where my hand had been resting casually.  "I wondered if it would com earound to you," I said, smiling sweetly.  I loved the dynamics going on at the Burrow.  I had never expected anything like this and I was so happy that Charlie let me meet his family.

I felt the heat rising to my face as my hair changed colour. Looking over to George and Lenni, I grinned. I was so happy he wasn't leaving again. I felt like nothing could make me happier than knowing he wasn't leaving. I took his hand after Molly let him go from her hug. I held his hand tightly, this was worth the wait.

I shook my head at everyone.  "It won't be right away nor may it actually happen," I pointed out, not wanting everyone to get too worked up about it.  I was sure it would be fine, but I did not know for sure that it would work the way I wanted it to.  I knew that no one really heard anything else besides I was coming home.  I squeezed Dora's hand and smiled at everyone.

I was just happy beyond belief, not sure how to feel other than happiness. I am so happy he is coming home. All of this and it just felt like no time had actually passed. I leaned on him as I couldn't stop grinning. " Stop it..." I said to the pair looking at wlus with giant grins.

I raised my eyebrows innocently.  "Stop what?" I asked, smirking at Tonks.  She really was, by far, my favorite of Bill's girlfriends.

I had smiled and agreed with George, " Stop???" I asked her as if I didn't know the answer to her question in the first place. They looked so cute right now as they were both beaming with happiness.

"Isn't the logical thing here, though, is to remember that Bill said he was thinking of coming back?" I asked above the noise.  "He said it might not happen... so why all the fuss?" I figured I would at least bring our mother back to reality.  I could see the look on Bill's face and knew what it meant.

I rolled my eyes.  Ronald always tried to stick up for Bill no matter what the reasoning.  Prat.  "Oh, shut it, Ronnie-kins," I said, teasing him and sticking out my tongue slightly at him behind Mum's back so she could not see me.

I shook my head at Ron and moved so I could bop George on the back of the head lightly.  "Don't think I didn't see that, George," I told him.  Directing my attention back at Ron, I added, "You are such  a ray of sunshine, Ron... honestly."  There was no way any of them could wipe my smile from my face, though.  My eldest would be returning home.  There was no question about that.

I smiled, as I watched the group of people talking. They had missed him as much as I did, this was almost to good to be true. His family was almost as excited as I was. " You know... you're stuck to me....." I whispered quietly.