School Grounds, Saturday Morning

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund had had a particularly good night, even though it hadn't started out that well. He rose early, despite not having another nightmare, and quickly dressed with the intention of an early walk.

[OOC: Open for beings big and small.]

Comments

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

He'd known they'd get around to him being lost eventually. Mom would have picked up on it sooner, but Dad had big stuff to worry about so sometimes he missed things. "Uh uh, but I like stories?"

It was worth a shot.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Unlike Princess Louisa (aka George, as he'd named her in his head), who demanded things were her way, Michael seemed to be a sensible lad who might be easier to deal with. Edmund knelt on one knee so he was more on a level to talk with the boy. "Then I have a story for you, and even though it's a real story, you don't have to worry because we'll sort everything out. Do you want to hear it?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

He nodded solemnly and sat down on the grass, gazing up at his father. "Yes, please."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Okay. I'm not your father." He waited for a moment for that to sink in, then realised that pausing for dramatic effect probably wasn't the best thing to do with a little boy. "At least not yet. Or I might be your father from a different universe. See, I'm still at school and I don't have a wife or any children because I'm too young for all of that. But that's not to say I won't be, or that some version of me will turn out to be your father. Are you with me so far?"

Ed really had no idea how to talk to kids.

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

Michael set his chin stubbornly. "I don't like this story."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I don't really either. But look at me. Doesn't your father have, I don't know, wrinkles? A beard? Liver spots?" Good grief he didn't want to end up with liver spots.

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"No. You look like you."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Well, at least there's that to look forward to. Let's forget the story, Michael." He was getting a headache trying to explain it to himself. "Does anyone else know you're here?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh," he nodded, even though they really, really didn't.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Do you know how to get back?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

Michael shook his head. "Dunno how I got here."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Well that complicated the situation. He nodded. "It's alright. We'll work it out." At least wherever he came from, it seemed as if Peter was alive and well. "You're not worried, are you?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Nope. You're here, so I'm safe," he said. It was one of Michael's earliest truths. He glanced around. "Where's Mom?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Should she be here?" Please not Willow again. Please.

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"I dunno," he shrugged, "Depends. She may have wizarding stuffs to do back in Chicago with Uncle Harry."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He tried to place the details and after a moment, it clicked. "Molly?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh." Dad seemed to be having a weird day, all things considered. "Is she here?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund stood up from where he'd been kneeling and seemed to have a sudden bad headache from the way he was holding his head. "That's not how it's supposed to work! I may not be an expert, but I definitely know that that's not how it's supposed to work." He paused a beat, then asked a silly question that didn't seem so silly at the time. "A stork didn't bring you, did it?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Noooooo. Grandma said Mom did most of the work and she only helped."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Smothering his face with his hand, Ed peered through his fingers at Michael. He did look like her. And him, a bit.

This was just Fandom being funny. You didn't get a son overnight, especially when you didn't even do anything to warrant that. He took a deep breath and composed himself. "I think I know where your mum is." No, he didn't, but he knew where Molly was and that was bound to be an interesting conversation. "Do you want to go and see her?"

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Okay. And then can we have pie?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You can have a whole pie if you're really, really good." Ed was going to need a whole pie after all this.

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

"Can it be apple?" He asked, clambering to his feet and grinning widely at his father.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"If you're so well behaved that you're never going to match how well behaved you are ever again because you were far too good, I will get you a whole apple pie and a fork and you can eat the whole thing on your own. I just have to get Lou and then we can go."

[weenarnians.livejournal.com]

He eyed his father suspiciously. "Who's Lou?"