The next weekend held Luna standing in her kitchen, flour streaked across her nose, hair on top of her head and her wand flicking madly in the air. Pots and pans were heating and stirring themselves, the bowl closest to her though she was doing by hand. It held cake batter in it and she really was in too much of a rush to deal with batter flying all over her kitchen. Whisking it quickly she looked at her foot to check on Alice, sitting in her carrier on the floor.

"Almost there Ali!" Luna said excitedly. Checking the thickness of the batter she stuck her finger into the edge and then popped it into her mouth, the butter cream tasting just right. She summoned the cake pan from the cabinet and poured the batter into it, forming an even layer. Sending it into the oven she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright now what's left?" Luna mused. "Oh! Pudding of course!" She pulled out her favorite snack and laid it on the counter with the others that she had made. "Now, let's go and get ready love." Luna picked Alice up out of her carrier and waltzed back to her bedroom. Alice laying on her chest and her head on Luna's shoulder, Luna opened her wardrobe. The amount of color would be overwhelming to anyone else , but Luna was quite happy with her collection of clothing that sometimes did resemble a heap of rainbow colored vomit. She scanned the contents, brushing over them with her hand. Finally, her fingers found the soft cotton that they had been searching for. Pulling the royal blue sundress out of it's place in the closet, she smiled.

"Alright love, just a second." Luna layed her daughter down in the middle of her bed and changed. This dress was shorter, something she hadn't worn in a while. The bottom of the third tier fell just above her knee and she slipped her butter beer cork necklace on, watching it fall just below the coral piping of the neckline. It was warm out so the sleeveless dress was perfect.

"There now, what do you want to wear dear?" Alice giggled as her mother cooed over her. "This now? Yes, you look quite nice in yellow." Luna slipped the tiny gown onto Alice and kissed her cheek. "Perfect, now, let's go get those boys."

Plucking her wand from behind her ear she twirled it, remembering her wedding, and her hare patron us came out of the tip. Sending it off to fetch everyone from Harry and Ginny's she checked on the cake. "And done!" the oven door opened and the cake levitated to sit on the counter. "What about icing..." Luna searched in the top cabinet for the jar she was looking for. Locating it she hummed to herself and plopped it onto the top of the cake, spreading it out. Taking out another jar she flicked her wand and turned the coloring green. Moving it again she drew it out and wrote in the air; the icing fell in neat cursive letters: "Happy Birthday Neville!" vines encircled the edges of the cake. Luna stopped to marvel at her handiwork, remembering when she first tried to do this. She had been twelve and made a cake for her father, the icing had ended up on the ceiling, cake batter splattered on the floor, her hair speckled with both. Xeno laughed at her and they danced around that old, circular kitchen happy to have each other.

Her reminiscing was stopped when she heard a bang from the next room, followed by Neville's voice.

"Boys, don't try that on your sister!"

Luna heard their feet patter upstairs and shook her head. Ginny's voice drifted in next.

"I really didn't think that they'd try it Nev!"

"Love, you grew up with twin brothers, I don't understand how you thought that they wouldn't try it." Harry piped up, shutting the door behind him.

"All I did was tell them about Fred and George turning Ron's Teddy bear into a spider when we were little!"

"Yeah, and now Neville is going to have to erase their memories so Alice isn't as traumatized as Ron is."

"Shut it, Harry."

"You're so sweet when you're overly hormonal."

Ginny was now standing in the doorway of the kitchen, she looked at Luna and shrugged.

"Ginny, you never listen to me. You've got to learn to get rid of those Wrackspurts." Luna said with a smile. "Happy Birthday love." Neville was standing on the other side of Ginny, leaning against the doorframe. Luna walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "I have pudding! And a cake of course."

"Brilliant, pudding James?" Harry asked the two year old, clinging to his knee. Shyly, James nodded his head, messy black hair swaying with it.

"Right here love," Luna summoned a stool to move to the counter while Harry got a bowl out and spooned some into it.

"You look great Lu." Ginny said, motioning to her dress, visible beneath Alice.

"Well thank you. You're lovely as always. Nev, come see the cake we made for you!" Luna tugged on his hand and he followed her over near Harry, the cake making him smile.

"Great Luna, thank you."

"Now, I dont think well have to obliviate them, but we do need to get them down here to eat...And to make sure that they're not already trying something."

"I'll get them." Neville said.

"Oh no, it's your party, hang on then."

Luna walked away and up the stairs, the sound of her twins laughter guiding her. Rapping lightly on the wall outside of their room, she got their attention. "Boys, it's cake time. Did you have fun with Aunt Ginny?"

"Yes mum!" Lorcan said, tumbling off of his bed and to is feet.

"Is there pudding?" Lysander asked.

"There's always pudding Ly! You're such a git."

"Lorcan, he is not a git. And yes there is pudding. Come along now."

She felt Alice yawn against her neck as she led the boys back down to the kitchen.

"No, you have to share the cake with the rest of us. You act like Ginny never feeds you two." Luna said, descending the steps.

"I do too feed you!" Ginny declared when she heard.

"But it's never any good food Aunt Gin!"

"Lysander Romulous, just because I don't give you ice cream for breakfast every time you ask for it doesn't mean it's not good food. Harry, James has pudding all over his face."

"Getting it."

"Come sing Happy Birthday to Daddy!" Luna chimed.

"Merlin love, you're set on making me feel like I'm turning eleven, aren't you?"

"Oh not at all, just happy."

"I see then."

"Well get on, kids!"

"You're so impatient today Ginny."

"Harry, would you like to sleep on the couch tonight?"

"No, I'd like to celebrate my mates birthday if you don't mind."

"Sorry Nev."

Neville rolled is eyes and the playful banter stopped, but was succeeded by Luna and the twins singing Happy Birthday in a very upbeat manner with James yelling out random words. It was a sight and it was indeed a happy one.

The warm summer evening came to a pleasant end with everyone piled into the sitting room. Harry in the arm chair with James in his lap, Ginny in the chair next to him, finishing off a last piece of cake. Neville was on the sofa, Alice laying on his chest. Luna was cross-legged next to him sharing a bowl of pudding with Lysander while Lorcan perched on the arm of the sofa reading.

"Thanks guys, it was a good day."

"Welcome Nev." Ginny said with a yawn.

Neville grinned at her and she laughed mid-yawn.

"Mum, what's this word mean?"

"Let me see dear." Luna took the book from him and he pointed a skinny finger at the page.

"Diadem darling, the crown I told you about once, remember?" He nodded and curled back up to the book.

"I can never thank you enough for helping me find that Luna."

"Harry, it was ten years ago, it's quite alright." She brushed the comment aside with a spoonful of pudding and then leaned her head into Neville's shoulder.

"Luna, what did you put in that cake?"

"It was the same recipe that we used for the twins' cake in the spring."

"It tastes different. Better."

"I think you were just craving cake, Gin."

"Oh shush, Lune."

Luna retaliated with sticking her tongue out, and both laughed.

"And you both have children?"

"Yes Neville. Sometimes I wonder how he doesn't drive you crazy, Lu."

"He does." Luna was still giggling, but Neville raised a curious eyebrow. "In the good way, of course love."

"Crazy. In the good way. Alright then Lu."

"Mummy, you must have gotten into Wrackspurts somewhere, you can't be good crazy." Lysander stated matter of factly.

"Yes you can love." he too rose an eyebrow at her but stuck the spoonful of pudding back in his mouth and looked at Lorcan, still completely absorbed in is book.

"I think Lysander is onto something there, Nev. But I do think that we need to head out, James is getting tired." Harry said with a sigh of contentment. Ginny took the now empty plate back into the kitchen and Harry hoisted the yawning toddler onto his hip, laying his head on his shoulder. "Happy Birthday Nev." he gave his friend a warm smile and took Ginny's hand as she walked back into the room.

"Thanks, and be careful!" They disappeared into the fireplace and flames took the place of friends.

"Have a nice birthday dear?" Luna asked as she bent up to kiss his cheek.

"Yeah, thank you very much love." He returned the kiss onto her and she laughed once more.

Luna traced Alice's sleeping cheek with the backside of her index finger, Neville's eyes watching. "I do wonder what she's dreaming about."

"She'll tell us one day Lu."

"I had a dream that I was seeker of the Chudley Cannons!"

"Ly, you've spent too much time with Ron while you're at Ginny's haven't you?" Neville said, jokingly.

"No! He just shows me lots of pictures and I'm the only one that likes them."

"Well, wait until you go to school, then you can try out for seeker. I think you need to go to bed for now though."

"But Dad-"

"He's right Ly. Maybe we can go to a match at school when it starts again." Luna said, taking the empty bowl from him.

"Really?"

"Yes, but only if you go to bed."

Lysander sighed and Lorcan grudgingly put his book down. Luna led them up the stairs and put them to bed while Neville took Alice to the bassinet that was kept in his and Luna's room for the time being.

Luna walked back in minutes later and found her husband leaning over their daughter, a perplexed look on his face. She approached him from behind and linked her arm in his thoughtfully, laying her head to rest on it as well.

"Are you alright?" she said softly.

Neville was quiet for a long time, when he spoke his voice was a whisper. "I don't want them to go through what we did."

"No one wanted that darling."

"I know, but.."

"It feels too good to be true?"

"It's been ten years, there are still Death Eaters, there's still dark magic, there's still tourture and Luna, I know that you have nightmares. Or at least had them. I still do, I know everyone else does too, that's all we talked about in the pub when you were gone..."

Her eyes downcast in the sleeping infant before her, so small and perfect and innocent, yet all the same a creation of their own. She wanted Alice to stay that way, but she knew that everyone had their own dementors to fight in life. Luna had come to know several. "There will always be bad things Nev. But there will always be good people to try and stop them. There will always be love, and we love our kids. We'll protect them, but we can't fight for them."

"Our kids."

Luna tightened her grip in his arm. "Our kids." She heard him smile next to her. That was one of the things tthat had made her like Neville as a person so many years ago: He listened to her. Around him, she wasn't mad or Loony, or anything else. She was a person, a friend. And that alone meant more than anything to Luna.

They stood there like that, marveling over Alice, or even just staring into the night, thinking, for a good while. The moon was high in the sky and Luna sighed.

"Come to bed, love." She gently tugged on his arm and he turned, embracing her. Luna hugged her best friend, her husband back with a reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"I think Alice needs to meet her grandparents tomorrow." She kissed him, and that was that.

Except they had waited much too long to go to bed and Alice awoke. Luna was in the middle of pulling the covers back on the bed and she looked absolutely bedraggled. Neville had noticed the shadows under her eyes deepening last week. "I'll get her, Lu." He walked around the foot of the bed, kissed her temple and took Alice out of the room and back to the kitchen.

"Shh, here Ali." Neville stopped bouncing her and put the bottle to her lips and it was greatly appreciated. "What'd you say to meeting your grandparents later today, love?" he looked at Alice, her hair was a light brown, not as dark as his by far. She had her mothers eyes. In the past five weeks, Neville's world had been contained to this tiny girl. She quieted and he felt the bags under his eyes grow heavier. Settling her back down to the center of his chest, he put her back to sleep and walked back to his bedroom in a daze. "Here darling," he whispered, voice husky. "Sleep well." He turned from the crib and made out Luna's figure in the darkness, spawled out in a dead sleep. Neville crawled in next to her for the best four hours of sleep he had gotten in a long time before needing to tend to Alice again.

Luna rolled over onto Neville's arm that morning and lifted her eyelids. He had fallen back asleep with Alice laying on him, both were out cold. She smiled and went to reach for the camera on her bedside table but she hit something: It was Lorcan. Sitting up, she looked at her foot, Lysander was curled at the bottom of the bed. Shaking her head and smiling she did grab the camera and photograph the other four members of her sleeping family. Luna managed to crawl over her son, and not disturb anyone. Rising, she went into the kitchen, clad in an oversized shirt and pajama bottoms. Flicking her wand to summon pots and pans for breakfast and the much needed caffiene boost of coffee, she glanced at the camera in her hand, a mischievous grin splitting her lips. She looked around her nervously though she knew she was alone. Luna sucked her cheeks in and opened her eyes wide, mimicking Lysander's favorite 'fish face.' Laughing at her act, she flicked her wand again at the camera in her palm; three pictures came out, her, Neville and Alice, and the twins. Sticking them to the fridge she opened it and got out the creamer for her coffee and generously poured it into a steaming mug.

Luna looked at the clock and got ready to feed Alice breakfast while putting some toast on plates for the twins. Shuffling tiredly back to her bedroom, she smiled at the four of them exactly how they were before. Gently, she laid her hand on Neville's arm that was supporting Alice. "Nev darling."

He muttered groggily "Nev, I need to feed Alice."

"Hm? What? Oh, Luna. Okay." He stammered, he was always like this when awoken and Luna found it adorable. "Here," He started to get up, but she stopped him.

"You were up all night. Go back to sleep." She planted a kiss on his forehead, took a now slightly fussy Alice from him and gave him a push back onto his pillow.

...

"Lorcan, do you have your shoes on?" Luna asked, shoving her foot into a flat and hair out of her eyes.

"Mummy, do I really need them?"

"Yes darling, they don't like it when you go barefoot in 's, we've had this talk before. Lysander, oh, never mind."

"What?"

"Nothing love. Nev, are you and Alice ready?"

"Where's my wand at?"

"On the counter." She directed, taking Alice from him while he went for it, finishing sliding his arm into the jacket sleeve.

"And we're ready." He said, emerging seconds later, jamming the wand into his pocket.

"Get in the fireplace boys."

...

Filing out into the visitors lobby in 's they took the familiar halls and checked into the ward. Luna always felt her heart speed up when she walked these halls, a glimmer of hope that maybe they would all be better one day. Maybe, but probably not. Opening the door with her daughter, her hope was lost again, and her eyes dimmed, though already exhausted. Xeno was sitting as always in his rocking chair, muttering long lost stories. Sighing, she approached him.

"Luna."

"Hi Daddy." He smiled at her, his eyes absent, her heart breaking. He hadn't seemed to have noticed the small bundle in her arms, or the boys and Neville behind her. "Uhm. I, um, I can't stay today Daddy. But I wanted to tell you that I love you." Her pale hand brushed his candy floss hair away from his aging cheek.

"I love you too dear." Xenophilious smiled and Luna nodded as she slowly turned, head bowing.

Luna opened the door again and leaned against the wall, looking down at Alice.

"Lu? Lu are you alright?" Neville rounded the doorframe, guiding the twins outside.

"Yeah. Just um, that was harder than I thought..."

"Early lunch?" He asked, brushing his lips against her cheek.

"Please," Luna nodded, a tiny smile forming on her lips.

Entering the Three Broomsticks, they chose a table and sat down.

"Boys, how do you feel about going to George's today?"

"The shop?"

"No, his kitchen. Yes the shop Lorcan."

The boy blushed scarlet, "Yes Dad." Neville ruffled his hair and winked at him.

Hannah came and took their orders, friendly as ever. Neville noticed the band on her finger, vaguely remembering seeing an announcement in the Prophet about her engagement to Ernie. Cradling Alice while Luna ate he watched her.

"Luna. I dont think that today is the day. None of them understand. She will, one day, but not today."

She nodded, motioning for Lysander to hand her his plate so she could cut up the rest of the chicken he'd ordered. "I just wanted it to be different, but I guess it's not." Luna handed the plate back and twisted the cork necklace's twine through her fingers. "Here Nev, you need to eat too." Taking Alice from him she looked down at her daughter hoping that she would understand the mess that was considered normalcy to her family.