8 YEARS LATER

"Why can't I come?" Albus whined, lying on our bed as he watched me from his position.

"Because you're not allowed," I said with a roll of my eyes, walking past our bed to get to our closet.

Albus sat up, tracing my movement across the room. I could feel the weight of his stare on my back and did nothing but roll my eyes. Honestly. Searching through my closet, I pulled out the dress I'd bought especially for today and laid it out on the bed. Dropping the robe wrapped around me, I stepped into the dress and waved my wand to magically do the zip at the back. Turning back to face Albus, I couldn't help the slight smirk that I gave him when I realised that he'd watched me change.

"What?" he demanded defensively, rising to his feet. "We're married, I'm allowed to –"

"Did I say anything?"

He fell silent as I walked towards my vanity and picked out a pair of earrings. I watched Albus through the mirror as I put the earrings on, rolling my eyes when he made a face at me. He could be so childish sometimes.

"Why can't I go?" he demanded again and I sighed; how many times were we going to have this conversation? Why was he dying to come with me anyway?

"I've already told you, Al. Now stop asking me, I need to go."

"Where are you going to go without your shoes?"

I furrowed my eyebrows, making a face when I realised that he was holding my heels hostage above his head. Meeting his eyes, I gave him a frown but he wouldn't budge. I cast a simple accio and the shoes sailed out of his hands and into mine. Walking around Albus, I sat down on the bed to fasten the heels around my ankles.

"You know," I looked up briefly to find Albus standing in front of me, "I don't see why you're so desperate to tag along with me – normally you're alright with letting me go out with the girls so I don't see what's so wrong with me going out alone with the girls today." I paused, gaining context and rose to my feet with a sigh; I should have known. "It's because you know what we're doing today, isn't it?"

He nodded slowly, "Of course I do." Crossing his arms over his chest, he levelled me a flat look. "What kind of woman throws a hen do in a strip club?"

"Don't look at me, I didn't plan Rose's hen party, she did." Walking over to my husband, I wrapped my arms around his waist and stared up into his face. He tried to remain resolute, not returning my embrace. He wasn't doing a very good job.

"I don't want that to –"

"Stop freaking out Al," I said softly, giving him a smile, "We had a last-minute change of plans." He visibly perked up and I couldn't help but scoff as my arms returned to my side. Stepping away from him, I returned to my vanity to spray some perfume as a final touch before I left the house.

"You had a change of plans?" He followed after me.

"We did." I glanced at him from over my shoulder, "Apparently, Rose's fiancé threw a fit too – he's insecure as well, it seems."

"I am not insecure."

"Sure," I said flatly, "Long story short, there's been a change of plans. We're all going around to her parents' house."

"And that's why you're so dressed up?" He wrapped his arms around me from behind, staring at our reflection in the mirror.

"Don't you have a stag do to be getting ready for?"

"You dodged my question," he noted casually, his hands splaying across my stomach. "We're meeting up later and I've got loads of time to get ready. So, what's the plan now?"

He pressed a kiss to the base of my neck. "We're going to go to her parents' house and the male stripper's going to come to us."

Albus froze against me, pulling back to look down at me in disbelief. "You are joking."

"I am," I assured him with a smile, watching the tension visibly ease out of him.

"That's not funny," he murmured, slightly petulantly.

"I thought it was." I put my hands over his, "We're planning on going for some drinks and then dancing."

"I don't know about that –"

"It's ok Albus," I assured him, "I won't even touch alcohol, you should know that. And you know what Rosie's like, even if she's smashed, the moment she sees alcohol in my hands she'll become sober and smack the glass away from me before I can take a sip, so relax."

"I'm just worried."

"Well don't worry." I turned in his arms to face him, bringing a hand up to frame his cheek, "Stop worrying Al, I can look after baby Potter."

"I know you can," he insisted, nuzzling into my hand. "I'm just worried, it's still so early on and anything could –"

"Nothing will happen," I cut him off, "Besides, baby Potter is currently the size of a pea, I think I'll be able the handle the two of us for a few hours."

"If you say so."

"I do say so. So listen to me."

He dropped a kiss to my lips. "Whatever do you say, Mrs Potter."