A/N: “Mad-Eye Moo Moo” was supposed to be only a one-shot, but I thought, “Wynter’s not going to stay on Moody’s lap forever, she’s a pretty active kid especially with her best friends playing near by, but she’s not going to want to leave Moody. What’s a kid to do?” And thus, the second chapter was born. But this is it, I swear. No more. And thanks to Pips for the quick late night half awake beta.

---

Wynter’s ability to sit still lasted all of five minutes before she was squirming on Moody’s lap as she watched the other kids play. She turned her wide amber eyes that she inherited from her father up at him. “Down, pease.”

At least she has manners, Moody thought to himself, setting the toddler back on the ground already missing her warmth and comforting weight against his chest. Must be her father’s work, Merlin knew Tonks could probably use some manners.

“Pway,” Wynter said jerking Moody from his thoughts.

“What?”

“Pway,” she repeated pointing to the children sitting in sandpit Bill had conjured not moments before.

“No, I don’t think so,” Moody replied emphatically.

“Moo Moo, pway!” Wynter said stomping her little foot and pouting. “I tell mum!”

Hmm . . . that sounded like something John would say. James wandered up to them, watching Moody with wide curious, yet unafraid eyes. “Moo Moo, pway?” Wynter asked again her lower lip quivering, threatening another bout of waterworks.

“Merlin’s bloody beard,” Moody sighed, standing. “Fine, fine, I’ll play!”

“Yay!” Wynter squealed grabbing her brother’s hand and running to the sandpit. They stopped half way and the twins turned in unison to watch Moody limp his way over.

“I’m coming, I’m coming, don’t get yer knickers in a twist,” he grumbled. “Potter, if you open your mouth, I swear to Merlin I will hex it shut for life,” he growled as he passed the younger man whose shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.

“Wouldn’t dream of it Mad-Eye,” Harry replied innocently.

Moody growled threats and dire warnings under his breath as he sat the edge of the pit with a sigh. He was going to have sand in places he never knew existed, he was sure of it.

Wynter settled into Moody’s lap again and made her introductions, pointing to the other children as she went. “Hello,” he said to them in his gravelly voice.

They blinked up at him in wide eyed awe tinged with a bit of fear. “Moo Moo pway!” Wynter said, patting his knee and with that the fear was gone and the children returned to what they were doing. Moody watched this dynamic with interest. He knew who was going to be alpha female when she grew up if she wasn’t already.

Tonks leaned into Remus’s side, wrapping her arm around his thin waist. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Moody so besotted before,” she murmured with a grin up at her husband.

“Wynter does have that effect on men,” Remus murmured back, grinning over at the scene. It was an odd sight seeing a grizzled battle scar-ridden ex-Auror sitting in a sandpit surrounded by children ranging in age from Lily who was two to Etienne who was eight, building sandcastles and getting sand in his hair. “Think we can parlay this into getting Moody to baby sit?”

“Not on your life, Lupin!” Moody growled looking up.

Remus’s only response was an innocent expression he couldn’t quite pull off. “I didn’t say a word, Mad-Eye.”

“I’m sure you didn’t.”

“Enjoying the sandpit, Moody?” Harry called out with a wide grin he shared with Ron standing next to him.

“Harry,” Hermione muttered, elbowing Harry in his side.

Moody narrowed his eyes into a glare. “Someone has to protect the children since all of you have let your guard down. Constant vigilance!”

Unlike the others except perhaps Harry and Ron, Tonks didn’t even bother to hide her grin. “Sure Moody.”

“I know where you live, Tonks.”

“Good! You can come over Friday night around seven. Wynter and James should be in bed and John goes to bed at seven thirty. We’ll be home around eleven. Thanks for volunteering!” Tonks smiled happily.

Moody scowled at her. “Not on your life, Tonks.”

“We’ll even set up a sandpit,” Lupin piped up.

“All right, that’s enough teasing Moo Moo,” Molly spoke up walking out with a platter full of sandwiches, Arthur behind her with a pitcher of cold pumpkin juice for the children. “Lunch is served inside. These are for the children, Ronald Weasley,” she smacked at his wandering hand.

Moody sighed and rolled his eyes to the heavens. What did he do to deserve this? He looked down at the pink hair little girl who stood from his lap and kissed his cheek before toddling off for a sandwich. Oh yeah.

But if he heard any one of them saying he was wrapped around her little finger, he knew a few well placed hexes that would deter them from ever saying that again . . . even if it was the truth.