Things would never be normal again. They both knew that as they sat side by side their fire-warmed room, surrounded by papers detailing the attack on their friendsâ child. But they could be okay again - they would be. Alice wouldnât let them fight like this again, she wouldnât blame him for things far, far beyond his control. She had been angry before, and vicious. She was still those things, but no longer toward him or the world. Now, she had targets, goals, and bringing her family back together was one of them. Apologizing for herself was another.
As Frankâs arm came around her shoulder, Alice released a quiet sob. They had never been apart for so long before, not really. Even when one was sent away on a mission, they were still in contact. These past few days of radio silence, their only interaction during an interrogation, had taken its toll on her. And even with him now again by her side, she still found herself missing him, like they werenât close enough yet, like they had wasted too much time apart. Alice breathed him in deeply as he nuzzled into her neck, leaving a gentle kiss in his hair right as she felt one of his own land on her neck. So in sync. They always had been. When they first met at Hogwarts, Alice was immediately smitten with the Gryffindor boy who raised his hand at the same time as her, who had the same ideas and answers, who picked the same food off the tables in the Great Hall. They were two parts of one whole - and they had created from themselves a third piece. Heâs here, heâs okay, she told herself over and over, as if she would suddenly wake up to the same news the Potters had recieved.
Alice held his gaze, unwavering, unwilling to disconnect again. His warm brown eyes met her dark ones, as they had done so many times before, so many emotions swarming beneath. There were conversations to come, but now, she just wanted to be with him, with their family. âI love you, too. Forever. Always.â The words were hurried, desperate. Over these past few days apart, she almost convinced herself that she had hurt him so badly that he stopped loving her. Hearing it againâŚshe would never take those three words for granted again.
A soft smile found itself onto her lips as Frank adressed Neville now. The little boy didnât have a clue what was happening. He didnât understand why their parents were so upset, or why he hadnât seen them for days. Nevilleâs joy at being there with both of them was enough to repair her broken heart. âOur little peanut,â she said fondly, running a hand through the boyâs hair, her other finding Frankâs shoulder. After allowing them that moment of peace, she finally mustered up the courage to say what she had been holding back. âIâm sorry. PleaseâŚplease forgive me forâŚfor everything I said and for keeping him from you. It wasnât fair, it wasnât your fault. ItâŚheâs safe. And weâre here. Thatâs whatâs important right?â
It was jarring - being united as a family again, after the time they had spent apart. It hadnât been more than a few days, he knew, but with everything that had happened, it felt much longer. The image of the three of them cuddled together on their bed almost felt like it had no place in their current state - but he also knew it was the only place that he felt truly whole. His mind wandered to the Potters, who would never feel whole again. How do they return home, after something like this? How do James and Lily arrive at their house that feels quiet, cold, and broken and continue on? Do they always listen for soft baby cries from an unused room, do they keep the crib and toys that no longer serve a purpose, do they have the strength to look at each other in the eyes? The questions, and the answers too dark for him to consider, weigh heavily on Frank.Â
The only thing that pulled him out was his wifeâs hurried voice - his anchor, always and forever. He knows that Alice loves him. Knows it to the very core of him. Yet thereâs still some warmth that rises within him when she repeated his statement, his vow to her. It allowed him to turn his attention from her back to their little boy, whose chubby fingers grasped as his as he sat upright. He wanted to vow so much more than love to Neville - protection, happiness, future. He had failed. He had failed as an Auror, failed as an Order member, as a friend. Now he was failing as a father, unable to protect Neville from everything around them.Â
Frank listened as she ushered out an apology - knowing without a doubt that she had meant it, and hoping that he would be able to truly forgive it. âI know,â he said with a nod, licking his lips that had gone dry. He wanted to tell her that it was okay, that it hadnât hurt him, that her voice hadnât echoed thoughts already in his head. But he didnât want to lie to her. âI forgive you,â because he had, mostly, and he knew that he would. âIâm sorry that I -â his words get caught in his throat - sorry that he wasnât a better partner, better husband, better father. But he focused on her words, focused on the little boy squirming in his lap and his wife in his hold. âYouâre right. Thatâs whatâs important.âÂ
They were safe. For now. And now that Neville was back in their care, with his parents, the place he was supposed to be the safest - Frank couldnât calm his thoughts. Though he missed his son incredibly the few days he was away and still thought about him every second, he had felt less worried about his safety. âItâs going to get bad again,â he said, rubbing his hand softly on Nevilleâs back. It wasnât meant to scare her, or to act is if he knew anything - he said it because this was war, because it was always coming. The question he knew he needed to ask sat in his throat, clawing through his pride and fear and own desires. âAre we whatâs best for him right now?âÂ