Good or Bad -- June 1981

I sighed and looke daround us -- nearly no one was in the shoppe anymore.  "Looks like we might want to head somewhere more safe," I suggested to Ember, not wanting things to end badly with the kids.

My eyes did the same sweep October's did.  I sighed and scooped up my kids.  "Alright, yeah," I said simply.  "One of our homes... probably the best idea right now."

"Why don't we go to yours?" I suggested, not wanting Ember to even have the remote possibility of seeing Peter.

I nodded and we ended up at Grimmauld Place.  "Sirius is out doing something with the Order," I said quietly until we got to a certain point in the house out of range of his dear mother.

I followed Ember and we sat down at the table.  "Still can't get that painting down?" I asked, not wanting to discuss the Order.  Not with Peter...

I was kind of surprised by Tobi's change of subject, but shook my head. " No... and she's horrid.  The kids are frightened of her... it's ridiculous," I said.

I nodded, comletley understanding.  "I don't blame them," I said to her.  "I'm scared of her and I'm an adult."

I laughed slightly.  "I have to live with it," I told her pointedly.

"I know you do," I said to her.  "I wonder if there is any way to get it down... or have you tried everything?"

I sighed and shook my head.  "No... I've tried everything I could think of," I relied to October sadly.

I looked at Ember and put a hand on hers.  "Honey, just... be strong," I said to her softly.  "This won't last forever."  I was not going to let her worry about everything.

I was not entirely sure what had made Tobi turn so seriously, but that was true.  This would not last forever.  I tried to smile at my best mate.  "I know," I said, trying to do exactly what she told me to do:  be strong.

I sighed, wishing I could do more for her than I could.  "Ems... I think we need to get someone to babysit the kids and then have a night to try to unwind.  I think it would be good for you," I said to her.  The Dark Lord was gone... things were starting to get better.

I sighed, automatically thinking of my mum... but I knew that she was gone.  "Who would want to take all of our kids?" I asked Tobi.  I knew Chloe and Remus would not mind helping out, but then again... that would end up being a lot of young kids for the two of them to handle.  I would not do that to them.

She had a point.  "We could find someone," I said to her.  "Someone willing to babysit four kids... that would be hard, but I'm sure it could happen."  At least Jada was a little older and not as high maintenance as our toddlers were.  Not that my daughter was not high maintenance she was a litlte girl after all.