Author's Note: This is coming to you a smidge early. I just finished wrapping my kids' gifts and I am exhausted. I simply cannot stay up another hour, so hear goes...

Oh! And one more thing...Thank you to everybody who has read, favorited, followed, and reviewed Scarves.

Disclaimer: The world and characters (most of them) belong to JK Rowling.

Epilogue: Weasley Scarves

"Bill Weasley, is that a Muggle contraption you are bringing inside my house?"

"I told you she would not like it," Fleur laughed, carrying a basket.

"It's Dad's Christmas gift," Bill replied, his eyes sparking with mischief, "but you'll like it too."

"Hmph!" was Molly's response to that.

"What is this then?" Arthur asked, coming into the kitchen, eyes bright. "A recordery player?"

"A record player," Bill said. "And no tinkering with it, Dad, I have it set up just so."

"Well, bring it into the sitting room, let's see how it works."

"You are not taking it apart."

Fleur set the basket on the table, pulling palm sized objects out and reversing the Shrinking spells.

"And I found some nice Christmas records."

"But I already have Celestina Warbeck on the wireless," Molly protested.

Fleur grinned.

"Mrs. Tonks helped me pick zem out, you will like it I zink!"

"Don't think I don't know what you are up to, Fleur Weasley!" Molly shrieked after the retreating form of her daughter-in-law.

Molly harrumphed again and went about peeling the parsnips for dinner. Soon Celestina's voice stopped and was replaced by some Muggle man's voice. Well, his voice was smooth and the song jolly. Still, it just wasn't Christmas without Celestina.

Not that it felt much like Christmas anyway. It seemed the family had come to a silent agreement that they were going to make the best of the holidays-the first since Fred died-and at least go through the motions. But each day seemed a struggle getting here. Many times Molly had wanted to chuck it all—the knitting, the baking, the carols—and retire to her bed. Yet, there was nowhere to go but forward. And besides, Freddie loved Christmas, he would hate that it was cancelled on his account.

So, with that in mind, Arthur, Ron and Harry dragged a tree in last night and the girls decorated it as Molly baked treacle tarts. She hung wreaths and tsked after Ron for hanging mistletoe all over the house. As if she didn't know what that was about! (Of course, Arthur had trapped her under the mistletoe several times already…)And Molly played her Christmas music as she extended invitations to the Lovegoods and Andromeda and Kingsley.

Goodness, the Minister of Magic would be at her table for Christmas dinner. So would the Grangers. Oh, dear, it was a good thing Fleur offered to help with the cooking, even if she wouldn't make any English dishes.

Molly noticed Ron and Harry crowded in the sitting room examining the new Muggle thing along with Arthur. Bill was spinning Fleur around the room. Percy would be here soon, along with Audrey. He'd been roped into playing Father Christmas at the orphanage later that day, something that George insisted he had to see to believe. And that George could look forward to anything this day, let alone find humor in it, was a small blessing. So, they were all going to the orphanage to close out their Christmas day.

The shop had kept George busy in the lead up to Christmas, but Molly knew he was struggling. She heard it from Ron or Percy or even Fleur, who George would confide in. As for Molly, she was trying to respect his space, knowing that he had people to support him. She would be there when he needed her.

"So, Mum," trilled Fleur, "not so bad, oui?"

"I suppose," Molly said, not striving to be diplomatic in the least. "When will Charlie be here?"

"When he gets his lazy bones out of bed," Bill answered as he strode into the room. He was pestering his wife as she pulled dishes out of the basket and laid them out on the table.

"Will Mary come?"

Molly did not miss the look that passed between Bill and Fleur.

"Maybe," Fleur said. "She is having a hard time wiz Christmas, she is sad about her husband not being here."

"But it's little Pax's first Christmas," Molly cried, "surely she doesn't want to miss that."

"Charlie will get her to come around," Bill said diplomatically.

Molly didn't know what to think of Charlie's…situation. He seemed quite besotted by the war widow, who was not over losing her husband. And even more than that, Charlie was very taken with the woman's son. Charlie had been the man in the baby's life since he was only a few days old and Charlie was over the moon for the boy.

"Try not to worry," Fleur said quietly as she tied a blue striped apron on and flipped her hair back. "It will work itself out, one way or anozzer."

Molly sighed.

"I suppose." Then, "This is your third Christmas away from your home in France. Your mother must not like that very much."

"Oui, Maman was very dramatic," Fleur said with a roll of her eyes, "but she understands that this is an important Christmas for the Weasleys to be togezzer. However, she did make me promise that we would holiday in France next year."

Just then, Molly saw Percy, Audrey and George coming up the path to the kitchen door. Percy was shooting worried looks over Audrey's head at his brother. George, meanwhile, just tucked his head down and moved forward rather determinedly, hands shoved in his pockets.

"Happy Christmas!" Audrey called brightly, she embraced Fleur, then Bill.

Percy kissed Molly's cheek and wandered into the living room with Bill, but George hung back. He tried to smile for Molly, but couldn't quite manage it. She pulled him into her arms and rocked him gently.

"I know, darling," she whispered. "It's hard."

"It is, but a wise woman told me once that hard things are easier once they're faced."

"Oh, who was that?"

"You!" George did smile then. "The night before I left for Hogwarts and was so scared, but afraid Fred would take the mickey if I told him."

"He was scared too, you know?"

"I do, now."

"We'll make it through this, too."

"I wish he could be here to see Percy in the Santa suit, he would have loved that."

"Yes, he would have," Molly agreed with a sniff. "There was nothing he loved more than teasing Percy and Christmas."

"Well…I suppose I'll have to work extra hard to enjoy them for the both of us then, won't I?"

"Mum!" Ron called, he was coming into the kitchen, pulling on his cloak. "I'm going to meet up with Hermione, we are Apparating her parents to the Burrow."

"Better go with you," George said, a glimmer of a twinkle in his eye. "Hate for you to splinch your future father-in-law."

"Well, don't be long, dears. I am anxious to open gifts before Kingsley and the Lovegoods get here."

oOo

"Mum, what is this?" George demanded as he held up the woolen scarf in the horrendous fuchsia and gold colors of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

Molly blushed.

"I ran out of time to do jumpers this year, I hope you don't mind getting scarves."

"They're great, Molly," Arthur said, wrapping his red and gold striped scarf around his own neck. "I have a dozen jumpers, but my old scarf was a bit ratty."

Fleur fingered her pink scarf lovingly. Molly had made this for her and she could see the loops were more complicated and the wool softer than the other scarves. She looked across the sitting room at her mother-in-law, tears in her eyes. Molly gave her a small smile.

Molly sniffed.

"Well, now that all of this is done," she said, vanishing the wrapping paper with her wand, "I'll just turn off the record-io player and—"

"Did I hear someone knocking on the door, Mrs. Weasley?" Audrey asked. She and Fleur had been with Molly all morning, keeping her away from the record player and keeping Celestina Warbeck off the wireless. Molly gave the girl a suspicious glare, but Audrey gave her a well-practiced, innocent smile.

"You two are going to be in so much trouble," Ginny whispered in Fleur's ear. The younger girl sat on the floor next to Fleur, Teddy in Ginny's lap. "She is going to figure out how to get around your machinations eventually."

"And until zen, we are Celestina Warblebeck free," Fleur laughed. She did not attempt Audrey's innocent smile, she was rubbish at it. Audrey was, after all, the youngest of five and could give Ginny a run for her money in the baby sister act.

Pax crawled over to Fleur, grabbing her arm and pulling himself up, he smiled at her, showing off four white teeth.

"Joyeux Noel, mon petit monsieur." She took the baby and set him in her lap, placing wet kisses on his rosy cheeks.

Teddy reached for Pax, his blue hair going black to mimic the other baby's. Their hands tangled and babyish giggles filled the room. A feeling like joy swelled Fleur's heart. She looked around and caught Bill's eye where he stood with Ron, Hermione and the Grangers. She gave him a secret, little smile as his eyes took her in, baby in her arms, and he smiled back. Suddenly, Fleur had an answer to the question he had asked all those months ago. She knew what she wanted to do next.

"Fleur," Ginny urged, "do that Muggle song for the boys."

Fleur squeezed Pax again, then climbed her long fingers as if walking up a water spout.

"Incy Wincy Spider," she sang huskily, "went up zee water spout…"

The babies giggled, clapping their hands, but Ron was standing over them, pale and gaping.

"What are you doing?" he gasped in horror.

"Honestly, Ron, it's just a Muggle nursery rhyme," Hermione admonished.

"But they are just babies, that's horrifying."

"Oh, and The Warlock's Hairy Heart is a tale for the faint of heart."

"It's spiders, Hermione! Muggles are mad, the lot of them…" Then he looked at his Muggleborn girlfriend's parents and went a fiery shade of red.

Ginny laughed at her brother's agony, even as George flung an arm about his shoulders and did his best to salvage the moment. There was a general buzz of conversation over the strains of Christmas music. Charlie was sitting on the hearth with Mary, who was smiling despite the sadness in her eyes. Harry and Percy had the chess set out, Audrey propped on Percy's knee advising him. Arthur was peppering the Grangers with questions about Muggles, as Molly and Andromeda disappeared into the kitchen. Ron and Hermione were still squabbling in the corner, George helpfully taking the mickey. Bill came to sit beside Fleur and Pax, leaning on one hand and tickling the baby with the other.

"I just have one question," Ginny said, fingering the yellow scarf around her neck, "did you make my scarf?"

Fleur narrowed her eyes at her sister-in-law.

"Yes, why?"

"Well," Ginny smirked, holding the scarf aloft, "one side is wider than the other."

Bill laughed, Fleur tried to glare at him, but broke into a smile herself.

"I would like to see you do better," Fleur shot back.

Ginny laughed.

"We might make a Weasley out of you yet, Phlegm!" Then she reached across and hugged her sister-in-law. "Happy Christmas, Fleur, Bill."

She got up and wandered over to Harry, who was in serious trouble against Percy and Audrey. Bill took Pax and laid back, the baby sitting on his chest. Fleur cuddled in close, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand over his heart.

"Pax and Teddy don't notice my scars," he said, striving for a casual tone.

"Non, zey only see zeir good and kind Uncle Bill."

"And Teddy doesn't seem to have any of Remus's contamination."

"I always zought zat was a silly fear. Everybody knows zat lycanthropy is transmitted by werewolf bites during zee full moon."

Bill tickled Pax under the chin and the baby giggled. Fleur looked at her husband, who was so handsome to her eyes. She reached up and kissed his cheek, stroking her fingers through his hair. He looked at her and smiled, then went back to playing with the baby. She felt warm and content in that moment.

oOo

Audrey bounced down the stairs.

"Okay, here he comes," she announced breathlessly. "No laughing, you lot."

"No laughing?" George demanded incredulously. "You mean like this?" He grabbed his belly as if it were large and pudgy and burst out with a loud, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

"That's it, I'm not bloody doing this," Percy's voice could be heard just out of sight of the kitchen full of Weasleys and guests.

"No, Percy, it's not that bad," Audrey called desperately, turning back up the stairs. She shot a glare at George over her shoulder. "If he bails on me, George Weasley, I'm stuffing you in that Santa suit!"

Her pronouncement, though fierce, was met with much laughter.

"If Percy doesn't marry her, I will," George said. "She has spunk!"

"Oh, George," Mum admonished, as Charlie elbowed him in the ribs.

"I wouldn't worry on that account," Bill said, his arm around Fleur. "I think Percy has that well in hand. Or should I say, Audrey has got Percy wrapped around her little finger." Fleur elbowed him, but she was smiling, too. She knew it was true.

"She must," Ron said, looking rather wrapped about a girl's finger himself. "If she can get Perfect Prefect Percy into a Santa suit."

"I never would have thought it," Charlie chimed in, "She must be a great—" his mouth snapped shut and he went red all over.

"What were you about to say, Charlie Weasley?" Mum demanded, hands on her hips.

Three separate stinging hexes lit Charlie up at once, making him howl. Ginny, Fleur and Mary shared wicked looks as their wands disappeared.

"Really, Char," Bill drawled, "you'd think you lived on a dragon reserve with a mouth like that."

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" George chimed in, never one to be left out of a good ribbing.

"Boys," hushed Arthur. "Really, Charlie, you were raised better than that."

"Yes, sir," Charlie muttered miserably, rubbing various sore body parts.

Footsteps clumped down the stairs and a rather unhappy Percy appeared, Audrey pushing him from behind. One of them had done some nice transfiguration on his face and hair, giving him a long white beard and hair. He was wearing red, velvet robes over a big belly and big black boots that Bill realized were his dragon hide boots.

"Oi!" Bill protested.

"See, Bill wants his boots back…" Percy tried.

"It's all for a good cause," Audrey said brightly. "Right, Bill?"

"You could ask next time," he growled.

"I asked your wife."

Bill glared down at his wife, who was blushing and avoiding eye contact.

"I'll deal with you later," he whispered in her ear.

Fleur turned even pinker, much to his delight.

"Blimey, Perce," George said with a wide grin.

"Shut it, George," Percy warned.

"Can I sit on your lap? I've got a long list of things I want for Christmas."

"Shove it."

"Oh, Father Christmas is a bit grumpy. I promise not to wee on your lap."

Percy made a rude gesture, which only encouraged his younger brother.

"Can you do the laugh? No? What about your house elves? Do you treat them fairly? If not, our Miss Granger might have some words for you. Right, Hermione?"

"Erm, George, if I could interrupt," Dad said.

"Please do," Percy muttered.

Dad used his wand to Levitate mugs of eggnog to everybody. Bill couldn't help but noticed the serious set of Dad's eyes. His brothers quieted down, sensing that something important was about to happen. Once everybody had a mug, Arthur cleared his throat and stood.

"Before we go onto the orphanage," he cleared his throat again. "Well, this is one more difficult Christmas to muddle through, isn't it? But we did muddle through and we did it together. I am proud of all of you for the effort it took to make this a nice Christmas, even if our hearts were not in it.

"I am made happy by all the new faces I see around the room. Andromeda, Teddy and Audrey who have become like family in these last months. Mary and Pax, who I hope will become a part of the family as well. Kingsley, Xeno, Luna, lovely Luna." He gave Luna a smile. "But that does not take away from the sadness of all those who are missing. Ted, Tonks, Remus, Mary's husband, Sirius, so many others. And the one closest to my heart, Fred.

"But I know that they would not want us to be sad on a day that should be about family and happiness. Especially when they gave their lives so that we could have this happy day, free from fear. And so my Christmas wish to all of you is that you look to a new year which will hopefully be happier than the one we are leaving.

"And so, here is to a year—a future full of new weddings and new love and new beginnings—"

"And grandchildren!" Mum chimed in, her eye on Bill and Fleur, who, for their part, were avoiding eye contact.

"Yes, that would be nice," Arthur said, "Although, some of you do not need to get started on that any time in the near future. Ginny. Ron."

The two youngest Weasleys turned a bright shade of red, shifting away from their significant others.

"And maybe us old folks can find romance again," Dad said, putting an arm around Mum, but he eyed Andromeda and Kingsley.

Andromeda cleared her throat.

"To the New Year."

"To a better future," said Harry, raising his glass.

"To a better future!" everybody chimed in, raising their glasses.

The End

A/N2: Merry Christmas!