I need to be the perfect parent. I never wanted to be so perfect. Lucy deserves me to be perfect
Anthony
The smell of scones tickled Anthony’s nose. It was strange why his flat smelled like scones. He went to turn over in his bed and noticed he wasn't on his bed. He was on a couch. Not a very comfy couch at that. When he opened his eyes. He sighed. Anthony knew that ceiling. It is the ceiling he has woken up seeing the past week.
Anything refused to leave Percy alone. The man was exhausted. Never asked for help from anyone, but he would allow Anthony to help. They would take shifts. When Anthony got up in the mornings. Percy would shower and lie down until he had to leave for the shop. Then when he got back to Percy’s he would take over again. Anthony hasn’t been happier. It felt like he had his own little family. Lucy Gracy was such a good baby. She would hardly cry. Only when wet and hungry. Percy being who he was, had a list and time graphs of how much Lucy ate and when. It was the same with her nappies.
In the kitchen stood Percy with Lucy in a sling attached to his chest. The beautiful man looked exhausted. Percy’s red hair stuck up in all different directions.
“Precious, why are you awake? I told you I would bake this morning.” Anthony walked up behind him and pulled him back into his chest. He felt the redhead melt into his arms.
“I couldn’t sleep. My brain wouldn’t shut off. It’s okay I’m almost done anyway. Lucy was very hungry this morning.” Anthony pressed a kiss on Percy’s forehead.
“Well I’m awake now and I’ll finish up. How about you go sit down? I’ll make a cup of coffee, and we will eat breakfast together before I go into the shop. Are you still going over to Barnaby’s today?” Today was a big day. Arthur is coming over to meet Grace. Percy hasn’t seen his father since his accident. Anthony wanted to go with him but Percy shot that down quickly. He was a little hurt. He thought Percy didn’t want his father to meet him. That quickly changed when Percy told him he would love for him to come and meet his father. Percy didn't want Anthony to miss work because of it. He said they would meet up after he got off work for dinner.
“Yes. We are going over just before lunch. Lucy is more awake in the afternoons.” Percy yawns. Anthony was about to say sod it and close the shop for the day and stay to help.
“Precious, maybe you should go over before then. Barnaby would love to spend extra time with our shortcake.” Anthony walked over to the table and put down a plate of eggs, toast, and a mug of coffee.
“I will think about it. Lucy isn’t that bad. I can handle it.” Percy sipped on his coffee. Anthony watched him. The dark circles under his eyes look almost purple.
“I know you can handle it, Percy. You are the strongest person I know. That being said. You don’t have to be by yourself.” Anthony could tell Percy was battling with himself. His eyes were glassy with tears.
“I need to be the perfect parent. I never wanted to be so perfect. Lucy deserves me to be perfect.”
Anthony quickly kneels in front of Percy. His hands cup Percy’s cheeks.
“Oh, Precious. You are so perfect. You are the best Daddy to Lucy. No one is as good as Daddy as you. Even the best daddies like yourself need help. I know you want me to work, but I’d be here every day with you.” Percy leaned into his touch as tears fell down his cheeks.
“Why? Why do you want to help? Lucy isn’t yours. We have only kissed a few times. Not that I wouldn’t want to do more if I wasn’t so tired. I’ve never wanted to be with someone as much as I want with you, Anthony. I just don’t get it. What are you getting from this relationship? An emotional wreck of a man. A newborn baby who cries, eats, and poops all the time? I mean, she is the most beautiful newborn.” Anthony pressed a kiss on the rambling man’s lips.
“I love you, Percy. Unconditional love. I love Lucy Grace too unconditionally. I get you and her out of this,” Percy sobbed, then crushed their lips together. Anthony could feel everything that Percy couldn’t say.
“Now you are going over to Pops today, okay? I’m going to drop you off before I leave to open the shop. Now hand over my shortcake cake while you eat and then go take a shower.”
“T..Thank you, Anthony.”
“No need to say thank you, Precious. I should thank you.”
Percy
When Anthony dropped off Percy and Lucy at Barnaby and Hagrids. I met them with hugs and smiles. Barnaby handed Lucy over to Hagrid, who looked so small in the half-giant hands. Percy wasn’t worried, though the look of utter happiness on Hagrid’s face put him at ease.
“Now, don’t worry about anything. Let's get you upstairs and in bed.” Barnaby ushered him up the stairs. The smaller man even tucked him in. With a kiss on the forehead.
That was a few hours ago. Percy was now awake. Lucy is in his arms happily drinking a bottle.
“You are such a hungry girl. You remind me of your uncle Ron. Though you are much cuter than him.” Percy was so glad that Lucy looked nothing like her other father. He didn’t know if he could handle seeing Runcorn’s face every day with his daughters. Not that the man would ever know his daughter. That is why he moved. They were safe here.
“She is gorgeous. Nothing like Ron at all.” Charlie’s voice startled him. Percy looked up with wide eyes when he noticed George standing with their father.
“It’s true Perc our little Lucy is gorgeous. Gets it from her uncle George.” Charlie rolls his eyes and sits down next to him.
“I’m sure she is absolutely gorgeous.” His father commented as he stepped from foot to foot. The older man looked nervous. He should be nervous. Percy is the one who should be nervous.
“Dad, why don’t you go sit down next to Percy so you can get a good look? You’ll see where she gets her good looks from.”
The older man slowly walked over to the couch. It gave Percy enough time to tell him no, but he didn’t. He wanted his father to meet his daughter. Lucy was his granddaughter.
Percy moved her a little so his dad could see her face better. The older man chuckled.
“Sorry to say, George, this little one looks like her aunty Ginny. Wow Percy she is gorgeous. She has your curly hair though.” Percy watched his father gently touch her hair.
“Do you want to finish up her bottle?” His dad nodded with wide eyes. Percy slowly placed the bundle into the older man’s arms. He wasn’t worried the man had held so many babies in his lifetime.
“Oh look at you wee one! You are a hungry one. That’s okay. It means you are growin' eh.” George smiled and sat down in the chair next to the couch.
“So brother, you look better rested. I’m guessing a certain bookshop owner has been helping you out.” George teased. Percy glared at him. Charlie piped in.
“He hasn’t left Percy’s side since her birth isn’t that right Perc.”
“Boys…” Their father chided. Percy sighed and answered. He might as well.
“Yes, Anthony has been with me this whole time. I don’t know what I would have done without him. Well to be honest I don’t know what I would have done without any of you.” Charlie threw an arm over his shoulder. His older brother was much more open since he married Harry. It was a nice change.
“You are our brother! Of course, we will be here for you always. Isn’t that right Dad?”
“Of course Percy. I… I do have something I want to tell you. I have left your Mother. I can’t live with her anymore. I want a relationship with all my children. I will not let her stand in the way anymore.” Percy was shocked he saw the tears in his father’s eyes and knew that he did what he needed to do. He did what Percy did.
“We will support you Dad in everything that you need,” Percy commented without thought.
“Of course we will!” George followed. Their father beamed up at him.
“Thank you, boys. I am happy to spend time with all my grandchildren.” They sat and chatted for a bit when Charlie squeezed his shoulder.
“Perc, there is something that we want to know. You don’t have to tell us if you don’t feel comfortable but…” Percy knew what they wanted to know. He couldn’t tell them. If he said it out loud it meant it was true. Lucy was his and only his. Well if he was honest she was Anthony’s too. The thought made Percy’s chest warm. He knew that Anthony loved him and he found himself feeling the same. Could Percy love someone? The last time he loved well he thought he loved Runcorn. That was only control.
“It doesn’t matter who the other father is. He will never see Lucy or me. She has plenty of people to love her. Me, her uncles, and her multiple grandparents. Anthony as well has been the perfect other father. "Not that I want him to be. Or don’t want him to be."
Both of his brothers chuckled. His father looked up at him and nodded.
“Percy if you ever listen to one piece of advice from me that is to follow your heart. Doesn’t matter how scared you are. How messy it is, the only key to happiness is giving in to what you want and not being afraid of it.” Percy took in what his father said.
“I’m sure once you are ready. I know that many people would babysit. I know Lee and I would love to have a little one around. So would Lola.” George looks longingly at Lucy. Percy knew how much they wanted another baby. Hopefully, soon they will have one.
“I’m sure. Thanks, I needed this today.”
Arthur
It was a great day. He met his newest granddaughter and the man who was completely smitten with his intelligent Percy. Oh, he could tell that Percy was smitten as well. How he was with his granddaughter showed him what kind of man Anthony was.
With a quill in hand, Arthur started his future. He finished the letter he wrote to his barrister. This will be as clean as he could have it. Arthur decided that he would give Molly 60% of everything. The wedding contract stated if either would leave the one who left would only get 40% of their earnings and vaults. Not that they had much. Molly saw to that. She insisted that he go into the ministry. That isn’t what he wanted to do. He was a lot like his twins. He loves to invent and tinker with muggle items. Arthur wanted to make it easier for magical folks to use muggle technology. His prize possession was his blue car. After the twins stole it and took it for a joy fly he never saw it again.
Arthur folded the letter and placed it on the desk. He will owl it tomorrow. The bed was calling his name. Hopefully tonight he would not see those eyes and lips. Those dreams have been coming to him more and more recently. It didn’t matter that love was long gone.