Title: Odd Behavior
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Teddy/Fred ii, Albus
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 583
Summary: Teddy and Fred finally find out why Albus has been acting so oddly.

Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl - Prompts - Pairing: Teddy/Fred II, Character: Albus Sirius Potter, Guinness, Song: Snow Patrol – Chocolate, Dialogue: "Why don't you make me?"

You're the only thing that I love
Scares me more every day

Fred bit his bottom lip as he gazed into Teddy's eyes. "You're the only thing I love, and I've never felt this kind of devotion before. It scares me."

Teddy put down his cup of Guinness. "I love you, too. But I'm not sure that's enough."

Fred glared at Albus. "Will you just go away so I can talk to Teddy alone?"

"Why don't you make me?" Albus replied.

"Why don't you grow up?" Fred retorted

"Stop it," Teddy interrupted the cousins' squabbling. "This is why I'm not sure I can be with you, Fred. Al is one of my best friends. He's like a brother to me. And if you two are always fighting, I'm going to be put in the middle, and I don't know if I can handle that. It might be easier to just keep our relationship platonic."

Fred turned his angry eyes onto Albus. "This is your entire fault. If you'd only act your age, I wouldn't be losing Teddy." He got up and was ready to run away to nurse his broken heart, but Albus' quiet voice stopped him.

"Wait, Freddie, don't go."

Fred glared at him. "Why should I bother staying? You won! You got Teddy all to yourself. What more could you possibly want?" he asked bitterly.

"Not that. I know I've been acting like an immature brat, and I'm sorry."

"Al, you've been acting like such a spiteful person, especially where Fred's concerned, and that just isn't who you are as a person. What's been going on?" Teddy gently asked.

Fred's posture relaxed because Teddy was right. Albus had been totally out of character lately, but he had been so pissed because what it was doing between him and Teddy that he hadn't thought to wonder about his cousin's outlandish behavior.

Albus took a deep breath. "Well, you know how bad things are between James and me. Like Rose, he hates the fact that I'm a Slytherin and best friends with Scorpius. He torments me, and I don't even really think of him as my brother anymore. Teddy is more my brother than James, and Teddy accepts me for who I am, Slytherin and all."

"And?" Teddy prodded.

"Well, if you and Fred got together, I was worried that I'd lose you, Teddy. I don't want to lose another brother. I don't want to be alone."

"Oh, Al," Teddy sighed. "Don't you know that no matter what happens between me and Fred romantically, it has nothing to do with you and me? Just because I start dating someone doesn't mean we stop being brothers. You'll always be my little brother, no matter who else is in my life. I wish you had just told me what you were worried about. It would have made my life a whole lot easier."

"And would have made you less of a prat in my eyes," Fred added.

Albus looked at Fred. "Fred?"

"I'm not trying to take Teddy from you. I never even thought about doing that. I know how important you and Teddy are to each other. I've seen your relationship with James implode, and I understand why you're holding onto Teddy so tightly. I just want you to share him with me. Would that really be so bad?"

Albus was silent, but he shook his head no. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," Fred replied

"Maybe now we can all get along?" Teddy asked hopefully.

"Maybe," Albus and Fred answered simultaneously, and that was a good start.