DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognise belongs to JK Rowling. I just enjoy messing with them lots and lots.

A/N: I wrote this because I needed reminding that being loved for who you are is the most important thing. Please remember that.

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-x- Fred -x-

He pushed the door shut behind us and I looked at him, my eyebrows raised.

"Going to see the girls in the village, George? Really?" I laughed, "Merlin, am I glad you're the good liar." he frowned slightly, pretending not to know what I was talking about, so I jabbed my finger lightly into his chest. "You're off to see Katie." I grinned triumphantly as he winced and blushed to the roots of his hair.

"What?! No way! We're just mates, why would I sneak off to see her? Although, she is home alone, and I've not seen her since we got Harry out-"

"Point proven." I smirked, "She must be worried about you as well." There was a pause and he looked at me, confused.

"What?" I indicated the gaping wound in the side of his head. "She…" He ducked his head slightly, embarrassed, "She doesn't know yet."

Now it was my turn for incredulity.

"What?! George, bro, you've got to let her know. She'll kill you… and she'll be well hurt!"

"How? I'm the one whose hearing is fifty percent diminished! Bloody he-" He was thwarted by mum ducking her head out of the kitchen door and shouting at us, her face red and furious.

"Boys? Are you going or not? I want you back by sunset!"

"Yes, mum!" We chorused sarcastically, turned and disapparated to the clearing we'd found when we were eight. I blamed that clearing for so many misdemeanours against Percy, Charlie, Ginny and Ron, but George was happy enough to blame me.

"As I was bloody saying, why would she be hurt? I'm the semi deaf one!" George groaned as he jabbed his own finger into his own chest furiously. I folded my arms and shook my head.

"You fancy her, right?" He blushed to his hair roots and nodded awkwardly, and I smiled a smile of pure triumph. "Well, I hear from Ange that she might well fancy you back." a pair of eyes identical to mine went big and round as George let out a girlish squeak of surprise.

"No way-" he murmured, "But - she's… she wouldn't-"

"For Merlin's sake!" I could have slapped him, "George, you're my twin. You're a sensible bloke, but seriously, wake up and smell the pumpkin juice!"

"Fine… I'll ask her." He pouted pathetically and put his hands on his hips dramatically. "I'm going to hers."

"Exactly what you were planning to do anyways-" I yelled, as I grinned and stuck my tongue out at him and he twisted to apparate away.

I made the same movements, crossing my hands across my chest, jumping and twisting in midair to go and visit Angelina down in Devon for a couple of hours.

-x- George -x-

She rubbed her eyes blearily as she opened her door a crack. I could see her slim legs beneath a pair of pyjama shorts and a light camisole covering her slim frame.

"Who's't?" She yawned, squinting at me, having clearly only just opened her eyes.

"S'George Weasley," I announced. "We met when you snuck into the kitchens at Hogwarts the same time as I did. You thought I was my twin." She nodded and pulled the door open; I flattened my hair over my ear nervously and smiled at her.

She had flung her arms around me and squealed an extremely un-Katie-like hello to me before I could actually breathe another word.

"Oh, God, I was so worried about you, when I heard from Molly that it was going to be you that… oh, George, you're OK!" She pulled away from me and looked me up and down, then moved to reflexively push my hair away from my face. I caught her wrists and shook my head. "You need a haircut, Weasley!" She barked and pulled me closer again, whispering something into my hair. I missed the words, but felt the vibrations against my skull.

"What did you say, KitKat?" She quirked her head slightly and went to whisper it into my ear, brushing my hair away, and gasping.

Fuckfuckfuckfuck! I tried to twist away and disguise it, but I was thwarted.

"G-George? Where's your ear?" Katie Bell. Always one for subtlety.

"I never got the chance to tell you - when I was 'rescuing' Harry," I coupled that with air quotes, "one of the death eaters hit me with Sectumsempra… and thankfully, they pretty much missed."

"Your ear's gone." She repeated, "Because you helped out in the war effort?" I nodded and she drew away from me slightly, as though she was disgusted. At least, I thought so.

"I-I'll go-" Her eyes widened and she shook my head.

"You don't have to!" She tugged me into her bedroom - her parents had been away in South America for eight months, and weren't coming back for another year because they were on a muggle biological research trip - her parents were doctors of herpetology in some institution or another. Any rate, she pulled me into her bedroom and made me sit down.

"Stay here for a second." She demanded, and turned away, quickly gathering some clothes to change into from her pyjamas. "I'll just go and chan-"

"You can stay in your nightclothes, if you want-" Hell, if she was going to ignore the ear, I was going to ignore the clothes. "I don't really mind." Katie had signed up to the Order after her incident last year. She was usually on the tactical or strategic side of proceedings, because excessive movement meant she was in excruciating pain, but as she sat opposite me, I could see her desire to get out and do something special for the Order, although it lay in the balance because she'd just seen someone she… loved? Maybe. Well, she'd just seen me hurt.

I sucked in a breath and leant back in her chair as she stood and deliberated for a couple of minutes.

"Thanks, George." She crossed the room and threw herself into my lap, wrapped her arms around me and snuggled up to me like she usually did. "Now, do you want to do anything today, or just relax?"

"Just relax, I think…" I paused and smiled down at her, her fingers messily entwining into my hair. Her hand laid against the side of my head where my ear was missing, and I sighed for a minute, feeling the heat of her palm and wishing I could pull her lips to mine simply because that would be perfection.

"Alright." She nodded, then, for a long minute, stared at me, completely caught in something. My brain was trying to work out what she was caught up in, but I couldn't see it. "You… you never said."

"Sorry?" I couldn't work it out still.

"I can't believe you never told me about what happened." She looked utterly broken, "I would have been there in a second. It wouldn't have mattered to me, I would have been there for you-" I breathed in sharply, only realising it was a gasp a second later when she looked at me, her mouth hanging open.

"What?"

"You never thought, did you?" She looked as though she had been slapped in the face, "You never, ever thought I would care-"

"I knew you would-" She looks at me and I know if I don't explain I can expect a punch somewhere uncomfortable, "So I didn't want to worry you-" She climbs off me, turns away and I jump to my feet, pulling her around to face me, to make her look at me.

"Because I'm not worried now, right?" Her face is pink and she looks close to tears, "Because since I found out you'd be helping Harry get to safety, I've slept perfectly well, and not had nightmares, and… and-" Sarcasm courses through her voice as she wipes her eyes furiously and looks at me, her eyes hard and angry, "I could have lost you." her voice cracks and she says it again, before throwing herself at me and hitting me in the chest hard with open hands, "I could have bloody lost you and then where would I be?" every word is punctuated with a shove or a hit, and it's not the physicality that gets me. It's the sadness, the emptiness in her voice.

"I'm never, ever, ever going to leave you-" I lean down and hug her tight; she reluctantly releases me and stops hitting me hard. Her tears are soaking through my shirt and she's hiccupping against my chest. "I will never, in my life, ever leave you, Katie Bell."

The promise sends shivers down my spine. It feels so good to tell her that, it feels as though I'm finally home, finally really there. Then, the moment's over and I can't think of what else to say. She looks up at me, expecting me to speak and I frown.

"Was there anything you needed to do, Katie?"

"Well, I needed to shower, but I don't think you can help me with that-" I poked her in the ribs, she arched away from me, but ground her behind against me. I could definitely… help her in the shower-

"How about I burn your kitchen down and attempt to make you breakfast." I grinned when I had calmed sufficiently enough for me to release her and turn her to look at me, "Is that alright?"

"Hmm." I nodded and released her, she disappeared into the bathroom and I stepped down the stairs.

As soon as I pushed open the kitchen door, I knew there had been a problem in here. There were hex-marks marring the paintwork and the place looked as though it had been crashed through by a hippogriff or seven.

Waving my wand, I did my best to put everything away, to clear it up, but left the marks in the wallpaper. Giving myself the opportunity to ask her about the marks - they were obvious and slightly disconcerting. I would ask him.

As I searched through the cupboards, I felt a pair of hands slide around me and play with the buckle on my belt. Katie and I had always been… close and comfortable - touchy feely for want of a better phrase. Although admittedly, messing with my belt had only been added to the list of things we had done about three seconds ago. Her fingers release the buckle and moved to my shoulders, massaging them gently.

"I've missed you George." She said softly, her hands sliding into my hair, massaging my scalp infuriatingly well, "I hate not seeing you for days on end, and then you turn up with all manner of injuries-" I turned and wrapped my arms around her, smiling as I leaned into her hair and breathed in deep as I kissed the top of her head. Her hair was wet still, plaited down her back. As I went to unravel it, she grinned and ducked out of my grip.

"I know, Katie, but we've got today-"

"Can't you stay?" She frowned and pouted, looking as though I had just stolen Christmas from her.

"Mum wanted me back by sunset," I said hollowly, just as disappointed as she was.

"Why?" I sighed at her question.

"Bill and Fleur-"

"Have a good time." She said, and the hurt in her voice was almost visible in her face. She picked up the cup of tea and the plate full of toast and sat down at the table, picking at the food.

"You're not coming?" I could ask her. I could ask her!

"No invite." She growled and pushed her plate away. That's when I realised exactly how skinny she was. Her clothes were hanging looser on her; she looked a little gaunt and ill.

"Have you been eating, Katie?" She shrugged. Not again. After she had come out of St. Mungo's I had had to convince her to start eating again. She hadn't been interested in food, and her weight had dropped like a stone through water.

I had had to fight with her to make her eat.

"I've finished." She retorted, folding her arms. I looked down at her, considering physically forcing her to eat.

"Katie… you have to eat."

"I'm not hungry." Liar. I bit back the word, knowing she'd just get mad and throw me from the house.

"I like you when you're not ill."

"Sorry?"

"When you've got food in you, you're a lot less… angry." I bit back a smile this time, "And, you'll look a lot better for the wedding-"

"Wedding?" She looked at me.

"Do you want to come with me?" I blurted suddenly, her lips curving into a small smile.

"Are you sure?" I looked at her; she tilted her head and smiled, "We're only friends. You don't have t-"

"I want you to come as my date-" I swallowed, "Katie, I-"

"What?" She froze and her voice went flat. I changed direction in a second.

"You don't have to, just-"

"You want me?" she said softly, "As your date?" her eyes were bright and glassy, and she looked a little afraid.

"I… um, forget I said anything." Somehow, I doubted that was going to happen. "I-" My fingers reflexively ran through her hair - when did she get so close? - My lips crashed against hers, but I hadn't moved, "I'd love for you to-" Her leg swung around my hip and my fingers wound into her hair and she groaned, her lips swollen and kiss bruised as she pulled away.

"I-" she leaned forward and whispered something against my lost ear. A second later, her fingers were screaming through my hair and she was pushing me back against the counter. "I've missed you, George." She breathed in and out as though the kisses were painful, "Don't leave me again. You take part of me with you every time and-" I nuzzle up against her neck and pull her close. "I'll come back tomorrow, I promise." She said softly into my ear.

"I'll stay tonight." She smiled at me and kissed my cheek, "I promise I won't leave you."

-.- Katie -.-

I laid quietly on the bed beside him, watching him read to me, rather than listening to his words. My left arm is propping me up against the pillows, trying to ignore the pain in my right leg that came on earlier, my right and is playing with George's belt buckle, enjoying the moments where my thumb slid under his shirt and his muscles tensed, his chest puffed out slightly, his knuckles whitening as the grip he had on the book shifted and tightened slightly.

"You're making it hard to concentrate, Katie." I grinned up at him, and he ran a hand lightly through my hair. "Pretty girl." I smiled again, unable to keep the goofy grin and crimson blush from my face as he looked at me.

"Pretty boy." I returned, running my fingers up his arm. He frowned and put the book aside, "My perfect boy."

"Imperfect boy." he said, looking as though his very words were tearing him in two. "I'll never be perfect for you, Katie." His words were insults, hurled at me as I sat here, defenceless.

"I want you more for knowing that." I returned once more, leaning close to his side and looking up into his face. He frowned a little but I was sure I saw his lips turn up slightly as I continued, "In fact, if you were perfect… I don't think I'd want you." He grinned widely and I smirked inwardly, knowing he'd been defeated.

"Well, that's handy then, isn't it?" I grinned and kissed his cheek, then moved up to his temple, kissed his nose, his lips, "What on Earth are you doing, Katie?"

"Loving you." I moved to the side of his head so I could kiss his non-ear, "For who you are."

"Sorry?" He turned so he could hear.

"Never apologise for who you are," I grinned and he pulled me into his arms, "George, can we sleep now?"

"Of course," He smiled. I ran a hand through his hair and he mimicked me, his fingers lazy and slow, "After you-"

I got up, tugged my t-shirt and pyjama bottoms off, leaving me in a pair of shorts and a bra. George stripped down to his t-shirt and boxers, and then clambered under the duvet beside me.

"You," I found myself murmuring as I curled up against him, feeling his warmth in my side, keeping me warm, making me feel safe, happy at last. He hadn't asked me about the hex-marks in the kitchen, but I would explain it to him in the morning. "You never fail to astound me."

"Howzat?" He asked, but I was suddenly too tired to explain.

"Not out." I smiled at my muggle joke, then kissed his shoulder, closed my eyes and collapsed into a dreamless sleep.

-.- Fred -.-

"Where's your brother?" Mum was yelling as I stepped through the door thirty seconds before sunset. "I told you both to be back by sunset. Both of you, and-"

"He's working something out… some things out. He's safe mum," He's probably knocking Katie off at this very second… good on you, twinny, "But I doubt he'll be back tonight…" She stares at me, and within a second, has me disarmed and pinned up against the wall.

"Where is he?" She said furiously.

"I can't say." She stares at me, "Please, mum, let him have tonight. He can contact me, and he's with someone. He's safe and I know she can look after him-"

"I hope so." She looked as though she was going to either hit me or hex me. I breathe out and I feel the restraints on my chest drop away, so I can move freely.

I drop down into a chair and run a hand through my hair, my fingers finding small twigs and leaves in my hair. That's the result of an hour's messing around with Angelina in a forest. My hair is a nesty-mess. Bloody hell.

"Is it Katie?" I look up at mum's soft question, she is unsure and afraid.

"What?"

"Is he with Katie Bell?" Her knuckles were white and she looked terrified.

"I think so." She let out the breath she had been holding and smiled at me.

"Good." She nodded. "Bed. Now." She shouted, "I'm not having any more of your shenanigans."

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A/N. I've tried being nice, and it's despressing. There's a second part to this story. I want you to review. Because if you don't this is going down as complete, and the second part is epical. Or something like that.

Review, please. Or I will get mad. … well, I already am, but you know.

Love ya

xxx