Arthur wondered if his wife and youngest children had noticed he had been quieter than usual over the last week. He felt like he was spending more time in his shed than before, but perhaps not. He had always wanted a peaceful life but had the bad luck to be a young man in a war. His wife gave him seven children, which was its own kind of chaos. Then Voldemort returned, and at first, it had been those chaotic days again. But since the death of Dumbledore and the taking of the ministry the same day as Bill's wedding things had ground to a halt. Only the odd skirmish keeping things going. For the thousandth time, he pondered Hermione's offer. A truce, what would it take for him to agree? Would Molly ever agree to any terms? The death of her brothers during the first war had changed her, had hardened her. He sighed, acknowledging that any price Molly named in vengeance for her brothers would be too great for Hermione to let them pay, for were not her crimes against another worse than slaying someone in battle? She had agreed with Albus about the obedience charms, only Arthur's fierce refusal kept her from using them on their children, namely the twins. But to agree to peace with her enemy he knew she would demand the lives of those thought to have killed her brothers. He scrubbed his hands with his face. Back to the dilemma that drove him to his shed for most of the evening the last few days. After all of his deliberation, he came back to the fact that he loved his family and couldn't bear to lose them. At least not through his actions. And yet, he hoped to find a way to have both.