Bill covered a yawn with a hand as he entered his sister's clinic. It had been another late night with Fabian and he really had no inclination to go into work. Perhaps he'd take a sick day or he'd beg a pepper-up potion from Gin. Frowning as his son let out a pitiful whimper, the man made his way further into the room.

"Hello? Gin?" He peered around the corner. "It's your dashingly handsome brother and his adorable son."



Ginny grinned, clutching a pink chart to her chest, as she made her way into the room and closed the door behind her. "Fabian!" Ignoring her brother for the time being, she bent enough to look Fabian in the eyes, giving him one of her best smiles. "You're so cute! Are you sure he's yours," she asked, looking up at Bill with a smirk on her face.

He made a face. "Very funny, Gin. But be sure to tell me how cute he is after spending the third night in a row screaming his head off." The redheaded man covered another yawn. "He keeps pulling at his right ear and after investigating the baby books, Fleur's convinced he has an ear infection. Please tell me you can fix it."

"Well, let's see what we can do about that," Ginny said, holding her hands out for her nephew. Once Bill handed the blond over, she carried him to the exam table and laid him down, cooing at him the entire time.

"Ear infections are actually quite common in children and infants. The crying in the middle of the night is because his ears hurt, and he doesn't know why. Do you, Fabian? No, no you don't." She looked over at Bill as she pulled her wand from her pocket. "Normally I would have given you a potion to give to him, but lately there have been newer studies saying it's not the best choice anymore."

Bill winced. "So it's unlikely I'll be getting any sleep in the near future?" If that was the case, he was heading home after this and crashing. His wife could take the day shift.

"Has he been irritable lately? Eating less?" Ginny held her wand to Fabian's ear, casting a quick charm to see if there was any fluid in his inner ear.

"Have you missed the part about him not sleeping?" Bill snapped. At his sister's look, he sighed. "Sorry. Sleep deprived. But that would be a yes to all of the above. Just tell me what to do so he can get better."

Walking over to where his son lay on the exam table, he let the baby catch his finger and examine it. "Fabian's usually easy going, if a bit of a night owl. I hate that he's miserable and there's nothing I can do." He gave her a pleading look. "But that's why he has you."

Ginny smiled. "It's understandable. I'm sure Mum felt the same way. Parents hate seeing their children in pain and not having able to help." She turned back to Fabian, nodding. "He had fluid in his ear, which is painful for him. I'm just worried that giving him a potion would mean that, in the future, he wouldn't react the same way to them."

She laughed a bit when Fabian made a gurgling noise and started blowing spit bubbles. "I can tell you a few things that might help him feel better. And there is something I can send you home with while it goes away on its own."

"Thank Merlin." Bill yawned again. "If you can toss in a pepper-up potion that'd be fantastic." Picking up in son, he let the infant snuggle for a moment before turning to his sister. "So how have things been for you? I didn't get a chance to talk to you during Fred's wedding."

"Things have been good. Brilliant, really." Ginny moved to the cabinets behind her, stretching to reach the top shelf and the potion there. "Business is doing well. We have another healer on staff, and an apprentice for Blaise, our potions master."

She crossed to the sink and grabbed a flannel, wetting it with warm water. "If you press a warm washcloth to the ear, it might help with the pain." Doing so, pressing the heated cloth to Fabian's ear, Ginny looked back up at her brother. "How are you and Fleur? Gabrielle?"

"Gabrielle's being a bit difficult, but we're assuming that she's just going through a phase." He shrugged, grinning slightly. "As for Fleur, she's staying home for now until we can figure out other options for daycare." Bill sighed. "I want her to stay home full time, but she's being insistent. We're waiting until Gabby comes home before we have a trial run."

"Fleur is a very strong woman, Bill, and you knew that when you married her. Do you really expect anything different from her?"

"No. Of course not. That's why we're compromising." He smiled slightly. "Otherwise known as me shutting up and letting her have her way. Our couch is really uncomfortable."

Ginny laughed. She held up a small glass vial with a dropper in it. "So, this is just some simple numbing potion. It's safe enough to use on an infant's ear, and it will help with the pain. This," she said, holding up another bottle, "is a normal pain potion, diluted enough for Fabian. It'll help with the pain. Other than that, I'm sorry I can't really do more. It's better to just treat the pain, and let it clear up on its own."

Bill nodded, pocketing the potions. "Pepper-up?" he added hopefully. What could he say, he was tired and had a one track mind. "So things are good here. How about at home? With you and Malfoy? I saw him at the Festival. I didn't get to dunk him near as much as I would have liked."

"Yeah, yeah," Ginny said with a glare. "You and the rest of the family." She turned her back to him, going back into the cabinet for some pepper-up potions. "Things at home are fine. Things with Draco are fine." She turned back to Bill with confusion on her face. "It's like you all are waiting for something to go wrong. It's rather annoying."

"Yeah, yeah." Bill waved off her complaints. "May I remind you of your adorable nickname for my wife? Phlegm?" He grinned. "And besides as an older brother I have every right to dunk your boyfriend all in the name of charity. If you were still going out with Harry I'd be doing the same thing."

Ginny couldn't help but laugh at the memory of Fleur's first forays into the Weasley Family. "Yes, well, I got over my dislike, didn't I? I realized she was the one for you and let up. When are you guys going to do the same?" She reached out and let Fabian wrap his tiny, pudgy hand around her finger.

"But I don't dislike him, I'm just unsure if I like him." At her look, he sighed. "He's a decent enough bloke, alright. He helped us get the car out of the Forest and he's doing good with the school. You just have to accept that you see a side of him we don't."

"Oh, I'll accept that when you all accept that." Ginny reached out and ran a finger over Fabian's cheek, her face breaking into a grin when the baby's eyes widened in response. "You'll call me if he gets worse? Or if he gets better? How about you just owl me either way?"

"Look, I don't want to see Malfoy naked, alright." Bill shuddered as the image flashed through his mind. "And of course I'll owl you. So Fabian's fine otherwise? No life threatening diseases we should be aware of?"

"Flesh-eating bacteria, but it's not too concerning yet. He probably got it from our other healer. He's a zombie, you know." Ginny rolled her eyes. "He's fine. You worry too much."

"Fleur worries. Not me," Bill grumbled. "But can I quote you on that? The Flesh-eating bacteria thing? It might be funny to see her freak out. On second thought, maybe not. Don't want to get hexed."

Ginny snorted. "Don't get me killed because you have a death wish, brother."

"All Weasleys have a death wish. Didn't you read the handbook? Or do girls get a different one?"

"We get a much different one, apparently." Ginny pulled the door open, tossing the rag into the rubbish bin. "Just owl me if he needs anything else. Or if you need anything else after Fleur kills you."

"Love you too, little sister." Bill snorted. "Tell me, how comfortable is your couch?"

"I don't know. I've never had to sleep on it."

"I can tell when I'm not wanted." Bill gave into his childish urges and stuck his tongue out. "See if I send you anymore baby pictures."

Ginny rolled her eyes and darted in to kiss Bill on the cheek. "You should come by more often."

"I will, once things calm down a bit at home and we have a live in babysitter. Unless you want to offer?" He rose an eyebrow. "You know, for practice? Mum's grandmother biological clock is ticking loud and clear."

"Yes, and as the final child, my time is no where near up. It's up to the rest of you to satisfy her insatiable need for grandbabies."

"But you're the girl. Aren't you supposed to want babies and all that girly-stuff?" He whined before realizing exactly who he was talking to. "Right then. Never mind. I'll be leaving now before I get hexed."

Laughing, Ginny nodded. "Don't let the blondes get you down, brother."

"I don't know how to respond to that," Bill answered. "Screw going to work today. I'm going to go home and sleep. Think you can give me a healer's note incase anyone asks?"

Ginny pointed to the door. "Out!"

Laughing, Bill made his way out the door. "What's the good of having a sister for a healer if she can't give you an alibi to play hooky every once and awhile?" He called out over his shoulder. It took some fancy footwork on his part to avoid the hex she sent his way.

Summary:: Bill takes his son in for an appointment with Ginny.