"A Mother's love is something that no one can explain, It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain," - Helen Steiner Rice

Laundry folded. Dishes washed. Beds made. Furniture dusted.

Molly sighed restlessly for the hundredth time that afternoon. Percy, the twins, Ron and Ginny had all left for Hogwarts two days ago. Bill and Charlie were off living their lives and Arthur was at work.

For the first time in twenty-two years, The Burrow lay silent. It seemed almost unnatural.

No scampering feet or shouting. No one to ask her where their shoes were. No one to cook breakfast or dinner for. No one to depend on her.

She felt a slight prickle behind her eyelids. Sinking down onto the couch, she dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve.

What was she to do now? Molly couldn't remember a time when this place had been so clean. It certainly was easier to maintain when there wasn't a battalion following behind her, undoing in seconds what had taken her hours to clean. But now, she'd give anything to have that chaos back.

The sound of the back door opening and closing brought her out of her reverie. A moment later and Arthur had popped his head around the corner.

"Hello, Mollywobbles," he said with a genial smile.

"Arthur, what are you doing here?" She bustled over to him, placing a soft kiss on his lips. The loneliness that had been threatening to consume her all morning quickly abated.

He gave her a knowing look. "I came home early to spend some time with you."

Molly turned away from him and began to straighten some pillows on the couch. Even though they had been quite straight to begin with. "I'm doing just fine. No need to check up on me."

He caught her hand in his and spun her around once more. "Molly, dear, I know this is hard on you. You don't have to pretend that it's not."

She crumbled under his gaze. Returning to her seat on the couch, she replied, "Well, maybe it's been a little bit lonely."

He nodded. "I know. But you have to look on the bright side of things."

She arched a brow. "Oh? And what would that be?"

Arthur grinned and, turning quickly on the spot, jogged back into the kitchen. Before she could ask what he was up to, he had returned, one hand hidden behind his back.

"Because, after waiting years for this moment, I finally have you all to myself." And with a flourish, he produced a handful of wildflowers that he had surely picked from the backyard.

A faint blush swept across her face as she beamed at him. "Thank you, Arthur. They're beautiful."

"Just like you, m'dear. Just like you."

Their lips met again. Slowly and patiently, because there was no one to disturb them. They had all of the time in the world now.