Time to put the past behind you, Part II -- Summer 1999 (DONE)

At first I was against having this lunch with Percy and CHarlie, but I ended up giving in.  Dora was not home, I had asked her not to be.  It was just going to be us guys.  Seth and Parker included.  We thought the oys would end up keeping tension low... well, at least lower than it initially would be.  I was not sure if this would work.  I did always have a better connection with Percy than anyone else in the family.

I could not believe I was going to meet my Uncle Percy!  I kept chattering away about how cool it was and to meet my little cousin, too!  I had not seen Uncle Charlie in a long time, either.  "When will they be here?" I questioned, hoping that they would get here soon.

I put a hand on Seth's shoulder and smiled at my son.  "Uncle Percy will be here earlier than Uncle CHarlie, okay?" I told him.  He was so impatient... which was how most of us WEasleys were.  So at least he was true to form.  I told Percy to come an hour or so before Charlie.  I wanted to talk to him before our other brother arrived.  There was once a time I understood Percy and I was hoping that we could still be able to do that.  I heard a knock at the door.  I had to keep a hand on my son's shoulder so he would not ombard my younger brother.  I opened the door to see Percy holding a small little boy in his arms.  I stood to the side.  "Percy, come on in," I said.

I shifted Parker a little bit and walked in.  I had been surprised to have received Bill's letter to see each other.  I knew Charlie would be joining us, and to be honest, I was nervous about all of this.  I smiled and looked at Seth.  I have not seen him since he was Parker's age.  I set my son down -- which he then stood up to wander about the best he could. I opened my arms a little bit to see if Seth would hug me.  "Hi Seth," I said tentatively.

I grabed little Parker up and squeezed him.  This was my first time meeting my nephew.  His blonde hair surprised me a little, but Penelope did have blonde hair.  I knew that much that he was with her.  I tickled him a little bit, laughing while the boy giggled in my arms.

I grinned and hugged my uncle.  I pulled away from him.  "I made some cookies with Dad's help," I said.  I noticed that amy dad and uncle seemed odd.  It was not like when Dad was with any of my other unles.

I led the way to the living room that I had made up so the boys could play safely with each other.  I set Parker down and looked at Seth.  "Kiddo, can you stay in here and play with Parker?  Your uncle and I have some adult things to discuss," I said, hoping that Seth would listen.

I nodded at my daddy.  I sat down adn showed Parker some o fmy blocks.  I did not want to be involved in any grown up talk.  There was no point in arguing with DAd even if I wanted to hang with my uncle.

I walked with ill to the dining area.  We sat down adn I held a mug with tea in it.  It was hard being here.  "Bill... I don't even know where to begin.  I guess I'll just start with... well, I'm sorry, ill.  I know you only heard everything through the grapevine since you weren't there," I said, feeling horribly about everything.  "I disappointed you and everyone... but I knekw you were the one who understood everything.  And instead of going to you before blowing up, things got, well, out of hand."  I had, at first, not regretted a thing.  ut as the years went by, I felt worse.  I just figured no one would want me back in their lives, so how was I going to even begin to try to talk to them again?

I had no idea what to say.  I took a sip of the tea.  I set it down and stared at Percy.  "Kid, I have never been disappionted in you.  I've been more than pissed at you, but never disappointed.  I am so proud that you have succeeded the way you have; you have a beautiful family... how can I be disapointed in you?  Hell, you even followed in my footsteps at school, too," I said.  I knew all Percy ever wanted was to be accepted by all of us.  That never happened... we drove him to his break down.  I honestly believed that.  He was always the outsider... all because he was different.

I never thought that I would hear those words come from my brother's mouth.  I hardly ever heard those words from anyone in my family except Mum and Dad.  They used to be proud of me.  I took a seip of tea, having my nerves calmed a little bit.  I never really thought Bill would have been proud of me for anything, raelly.  I tapped my slender fingers against the cup.  "Bill, do you think that anyone else will even listen to me? I don't want to sound like I'm passing the blame, but I wasn't the only one who said things.  I just don't know... I have no idea what to say," I confided in him honestly.  I was even concerned about what Charlie would say to me or how he would react.

I leaned back in the chair a little bit.  I had no idea how to answer my rother.  Things seemed oddly quiet and we locked eyes.  Without saying a aword we both stood up and went to check on our boys.  I grinned when I saw that Seth had his arm around his younger cousin and they were sleeping on the floor.  I looked at Percy and put a hand on his shoulder as we started back towards the dingin room.  "All you can do is e honest, percy," I said to my kid brother.

I suppose Bill was right.  I sighed and looked ack towards our children.  I ended up seeing a flash of red hair passing by the front window.  Charlie was here.  I was feeling uneasy again.  "I think I saw Charlie.  If we don't want him to wake hte boys..." I trailed off as Bill went to the door.

I rushed to the door and opened it as Charlie went to knock.  He almost hit me in the face.  I put a finger to my ips as I pulled my est friend into a hug.  "The boys are asleep," I explained in soft tones, smiling at him.  We walked to the dining room where we could talk adn where Percy was.  I went to refill our tea and to get Charlie a cup of coffee while they talked for a little bit.

I felt bad for nearly hitting my brother in the face.  I had followed Bill to the dining room and saw Percy.  He looked so different yet entirely the same.  I noticed that ill left us alone.  "Hey Perce," I said, acting as if the past handful of years did not happen.  I was the big brother.  I was supposed to be the bigger person.  Desdemona warned me not to push anything wiht Percy.  I really should behave, she told me.