bill and alby
WHO: Alby Potter & Bill Weasley WHAT: Puzzles, chats, cuteness WHERE: Potter home RATING: C for cute. STATUS: Done.
It was getting too tiring, sitting in that hospital. And his siblings had told him time and again to get some rest. Even the mediwitches had started looking at him in concern. Bill would admit to being tired, but the few times he'd tried to get some sleep in the uncomfortable chair, he'd lain awake, or been plagued with nightmares. Sneaking in showers in some of the long term care rooms was also losing its appeal. Especially when, despite his efforts, there was still no change in his wife's condition.
It was with a mostly defeated air that he'd stopped by the Potters. He was afraid he wasn't seeing enough of his children, and he felt bad enough that they were all being split up and taken in by different family members at different times. To make matters worse, his oldest had all been pulled out of school, when he knew they needed to be there. Sabrina had Quidditch, after all, and it was Damien's OWL year. It was bad enough to lose his mum and have his wife in such terrible danger. To feel as if he was letting his children down only made matters worse.
He was sitting on the sofa, holding little Victoire in his lap. The little girl had fallen asleep, tired from a long game she'd been playing with Lily. Absently, Bill stroked her hair, refusing to take notice at that moment of how much she reminded him of Fleur. He knew how confused his youngest was at all of the happenings lately. He had no idea how he'd explain it to her if anything...if anything permanent happened to her mother.
Alby hated to admit it, but he felt rather detached from the situation. While he had adored his grandmother, she was old and he knew old people died eventually. Sure, he missed her and he was sad for his parents and his grampie, but, in a way, Molly's death had always been expected. As for Fleur, Alby wasn't quite sure what was wrong with her. It had been explained she was in a deep sleep, but would hopefully wake-up. As long as there was hope, Alby couldn't find it in himself to be too upset.
Yet, Alby couldn't help feeling guilty for his reactions. He wanted to play and laugh and it seemed wrong. Then he found himself resenting his family for that which just added insult to injury. Oh, he was a terrible boy and his parents would be mad if they knew. Alby just knew it. Clearly, Alby wasn't having an easy time of it so when he was told to greet Bill after the man had time to speak to the adults, he felt worried. His feet dragged to where the man sat. Alby didn't know where anyone else was, but he wished they'd show. Head down, he muttered, "Hi, Uncle Bill."
At the sound of his sister's middle son's voice, Bill looked up with a small smile. He loved these kids. All of them, Ginny's, Charlie's, Fred's, George's, every last child born into the Weasley family had a piece of his heart. This one, so cautious, so practical, reminded him more of himself than some of the others. Where his siblings seemed bold, adventerous, ready to take on the world, Alby was more focused, less leap and more look. He reminded Bill of what it was like to grow up the so-called leader in a group of mischief makers. "Hi there, Alby," he offered quietly, careful not to wake his napping daughter. "What have you been up to, little mate?"
Alby shrugged. "Nothing. I was doing my puzzle but I needed to say hello. It's polite." He still couldn't meet Bill's eyes and didn't so much as glance at his sleeping cousin. He was sure Bill would see how wicked he was if Alby allowed his eyes to rise.
The young boy's behavior puzzled Bill a bit, but he continued smiling just the same. Reaching out, he offered an arm with which to pull Alby closer. "It could have waited, you know. I'll be here for a bit, you could have finished."
Alby shook his head at Bill's declaration. He tensed as his uncle pulled him near him, but sat next to him, careful not to bother Victoire. "I wanted to, Uncle Bill. Missed you and all." He spoke into his chest as his chin was stuck there.
"Well," Bill began quietly, giving Alby a tight squeeze around the shoulders before shifting Victoire's head to one of the couch cushions. "Why don't we go work on your puzzle together?" It would be relaxing, he hoped, and possibly get his mind off of things for a bit.
Surprised by the offer, Alby finally cast Bill a quick look. "But what about her?" He pointed to his cousin.
Bill brushed Victoire's light hair off of her face and dropped a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "She's pretty tuckered out. I think she and Lily were playing tag. If I'm not mistaken, your sister's crashed upstairs somewhere. They've had a pretty busy day." He eased out from under his daughter and reached out a hand to Alby. "But only if you don't mind a bit of help, I know sometimes puzzles are more fun to do by yourself."
"No, I like to do them with others." Alby accepted Bill's hand, but still didn't offer even a hint of a smile. "I ask James sometimes, but I don't think he likes them much." Alby shrugged. He was used to that. "Luc does sometimes. Not Billy."
"I bet it's hard for James to sit still for that long, isn't it?" Bill asked, squeezing the small hand in his. Though not as small as it had been recently. His babies were all growing up. "Probably Billy, too, I'll bet. Is Luc more patient?" He'd seemed almost like a little adult when Bill had spent time with him, he could see the boy being more quiet than his friends.
Alby nodded. "He likes me better too." He led Bill to his room, gesturing the abandoned pieces. "Here it is!"
He liked him better? Well, that wasn't a fun thought at all. Still, Bill settled down on the floor, crossing his legs that had grown much too long for such a position years ago. "What is it we're making, hmm?"
"It's a seeker. A comic one though." Alby pushed the box with the picture on it toward Bill. "See? Like that?"
"So happens I knew two pretty great seekers once," Bill said, grinning at the picture and picking up a random piece. He'd been right to offer to help. The mediwitches were right when they said he wasn't doing himself any good sitting by Fleur's side and making himself sick. "I'm pretty sure you knew them, too."
"Daddy and Mummy!" Alby exclaimed, too excited for that moment to remember he needed to be quiet. However, as the seconds ticked, he realized he had 'slipped' and clamped a hand to his mouth. "Sorry, Uncle Bill."
And suddenly, Bill understood Alby's change in behavior. "Sorry for what, my boy?"
Alby shook his head and busied himself with trying to push together a few pieces of the puzzle.
Bill scooted over slightly, resting his hand at Alby's lower back. Instead of confronting the question right away, he placed a few pieces of the puzzle into their locking spots. "You're really good at this, he said a moment later, as Alby had placed five pieces to Bill's two.
Alby found himself smiling. "I'm better than James and Billy even. With this." He leaned into Bill when he felt the hand resting on his back. "I'm sorry Auntie's sick, Uncle Bill."
A brief flicker of grief passed over Bill's face, but he only rubbed his nephew's back lightly. "Me too, Alby," he said quietly, taking a moment to rest his head against the boy's before finding the location of the puzzle piece he was holding. "She's strong, your Aunt Fleur, though. We just have to keep hoping is all."
"I am hoping, I promise." Alby's little voice became earnest. "I prayed to Auntie Mione and Grandma. They'll help. I know they will!"
These little ones were facing far too much, and Bill couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to view the third war in his forty-two years. It horrified him, and he had to swallow hard to keep his demeanor normal with the boy. "Of course they will. They're together now."
"Really? So you believe too?" Alby gripped Bill's shirt, his little fists balled tightly. "I want everyone to be happy again!"
"I know you do, sweetheart," Bill said softly, realizing how much his own pain had begun to hurt those around him. "It takes time sometimes, is all. When bad things happen. Your Uncle Teddy was really sad when we first lost your aunt, but look how much better he's doing these days. We'll never forget, Alby, but it does start to hurt less." He just still hoped he'd never have to worry about it hurting less with Fleur gone.
Alby's eyes brimmed with tears, but he wiped at them with the back of his arm. "I am tried of it all and that's bad, I know, but I am and I can't help it and I'm sorry, but I just want to have fun again!" He buried his face into Bill's chest. "I'm sorry," he whimpered again. "I don't wanna be naughty like this but Mummy and Daddy are so sad and so's Uncle George and and…EVERYBODY!"
His poor little ones. Were they all feeling this way? Bill wasn't sure, and he felt terrible. Carefully, puzzle abandoned, he scooped his nephew into his arms and held tight, rocking him gently. "We don't want to be sad, baby, you know that? But you're not naughty for not wanting them to be. You're still allowed to have fun, you know that? One of your grandma's favorite things in the world was to watch you and your brother and your sister and all of your cousins play."
"I j-just feel like everyone will be mad if I make noise or something." Alby sniffled, but didn't make to leave the comforting arms. "I know I should feel real bad about everything, but I still want to have biscuits and play tag and stuff."
"Oh, my Alby, you're still allowed to do all of your favorite things. Mummy and Daddy may be sad, but they don't want you to stop being their boy." Gently, Bill smoothed the mop of hair at his chest, unruly like his father's.
"But I keep hearing about how we have to be quiet and good cause you're sad and Mum's sad and..." He shook his head, unable to articulate all he felt.
Bill's smile was rueful. "I bet that's how it seems, isn't it? But you still have to laugh and to smile and to be Alby. I like you to be good all the time, because I know you won't get in trouble, but I don't think you should have to just because your mum and I are sad."
Alby finally pulled away some to look into the man's eyes. "But I don't want to make you more sad, Uncle Bill. I love you a whole bunch."
Taking the tiny face into his hands, Bill met Alby's eyes earnestly. "I love you a whole bunch, too. Know what? You being happy won't make me more sad. It's one thing that makes me happy right now."
"Really? Promise? Cause I will do whatever you need. Honest!" Alby rested his hands on Bill's shoulders, nuzzling his cheeks into the warm hands.
"I promise, little one," Bill said soothingly. He rubbed his thumbs gently over the pronounced cheekbones. "Your Aunt Fleur wouldn't want to know that her being so sick made you not be able to be happy, either. She'd want to wake up to hear all about your adventures."
Alby didn't know about that one. His aunt, as much as he loved her, seemed so prim and proper most of the time. "I'll tell her we did a puzzle and you had fun too then!"
"I sure did," Bill assured, settling Alby more comfortably in his lap before reaching for another piece. "But we've got to finish it for it to count. Now, where does this one go?"
"Um...hmmm...there?"
"Perfect!" Bill declared with a note of triumph. As worried as he was about his wife, he couldn't let these kids stop being kids just because of him. "Two more, think we can do it?"
"Yes!" Alby bounced excitedly before snatching up one of the two. "Ohhhh....there! Yes! You finish it, Uncle Bill!"
Bill smiled, resting his cheek against his nephew's as he took the last piece between his fingers. "You have to help me, okay?" He took Alby's hand in his, reaching for the empty space left on the picture.
"Oooh, we share." Alby did as Bill instructed before turning to kiss his uncle's cheek and hug him hard.
"We did it," Bill declared, brushing a soft kiss against Alby's forehead. "There's lots of things you're good at, mister."
"Puzzles most." Alby giggled. "And reading. Uncle Teddy said so."
"Hey, those are very important things," Bill informed him, seriousness in his voice. "Especially reading. Good readers can grow up to be very good writers, and you can do lots of things with good writing. You could even be the Minister some day."
Alby's eyes went wide. "Uncle Percy would LOVE that!"
Bill had to hide his laugh. "We'd all love that, you know. It would be pretty special, having you as Minister. You'd be a good and fair one, though, wouldn't you? Not a mean, stinky one?"
"Ew, no." Alby's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Gotta be nice, Uncle Bill! Daddy says so and Mummy knows too!"
"Then that must be a pretty smart daddy and mummy you've got, huh?" Bill smiled, nuzzling Alby's wrinkled nose lightly with his own. "Then I think you'd probably be my favorite Minister so far."
"And you can be my favorite uncle ever!" Alby laughed at Bill's nose tickle before reaching up to whisper to Bill, "Don't tell the others!"
Nodding solemnly, Bill crossed the space over his heart with one finger. "I promise, the others will never hear it from me."
"And that's why you're my favorite!"
"Now, do we want to do this puzzle over again, someday, or keep it solid like it is?" Bill asked, looking at the puzzle with a curious eye.
Alby considered. "Can you seal it with magic, Uncle Bill? We can 'member it as our special time, yeah?"
Bill ruffled the boy's hair, giving a nod. "That's what I was planning on, actually." He pulled out his wand, one of the first times he'd done so in weeks, and gave it a light flick. The puzzle stayed in one piece as Bill picked it up and turned it over. He conjured a quill and some ink and wrote 'Bill Weasley and Alby Potter', as well as the date on the back. "There, see? You and me, always."