17 Years Later

Megan opened her aging eyes allowing the morning sunshine to fill her room. For some reason she had been dreaming about a Christmas which had occurred years and years ago, when a very handsome man had given her a beautiful golden locket, that was still hung around her neck to this day. She knew she was smiling in a dreamy sense but accepted it and slipped the covers off of her. She didn't want to wake her husband and decided to let him sleep a little longer.

She quickly placed her slippers on and grabbed her dressing gown, before heading downstairs. The house was quiet. Elaborate Christmas decorations were hanging from the ceiling and walls in preparation for the oncoming holiday. She headed straight to the kitchen and began to brew up some tea. She looked up at the calendar on the wall as she made a start on breakfast and smiled once more, hardly believing that her son was finally coming of age. A large pile of presents were stack ready in a bag waiting for the family to depart the house later in the day.

Megan looked up as she head several pairs of feet heading down the stairs. First to walk in was her oldest son. He was a tall lad and was very handsome. His red hair and freckles really set him apart from the rest and he was a bit of a heartthrob at school from what Megan had heard. Fred Jr couldn't have resembled his father anymore if he tried, he even dressed like him. He walked over to his mother and gave her a hug.

" Happy Birthday Freddie." she said kissing him on the cheek. He smiled and took his usual seat at the table before helping himself to some bacon and sausages. If there was any difference between him and his dad, it was Fred Jr was a little more quiet and calm then his father.

Next to come through the door was Megan's youngest child. Molly was the spitting image of her mother, long brown hair trailing down her back and large brown eyes. She was only twelve but was very grown up for her age and very intelligent. She was always smiling and had a real good sense of timing for saying humors things. Naturally her brothers were all protective of her but did spend an awful amount of time teasing her, even though Molly was a good enough match for them. She instantly ran over to Fred and gave him a hug before sitting next to him.

Two figures appeared in the doorway. So identical they were that more times then not people got them confused and they were happy to play on it...but the one person who they never fooled was their mother. Jake and Oliver were identical to the last scar but Megan knew her 15 year old sons way too well. Separated, Jake was the more daring and outgoing twin whilst Oliver was a little more sensitive and careful but together they were evil little geniuses.

They headed over to the table, wishing their older brother happy birthday. Molly was just on the verge of taking the a sausage when Jake decided to play cruel and swiped it. Molly raised her voice telling him to give it back but he just laughed. Fred was always a little more protective of Molly and faced his brothers.

" Give it back Jake."

Jake simply shook his head an evil smile spreading across his face.

" Apologies and give it back...or..." he said again before pulling his wand out, " I'm 17 now, I can use magic."

Jake gave in knowing he was no match for Fred. He wasn't able to do magic for two more years but decided to let it slide for a bit, or at least till he was old enough to get him back.

There was noise once more from over head and Megan waited to greet her husband who had obviously finally woken up. The steps got louder as he reached the hall and then entered the kitchen smiling at each member of his family..

" Morning kids...happy birthday Fred." he said, patting his son on the back.

" Thanks dad."

" Ah, if it isn't my stunningly beautiful wife Mrs Weasley." said an older George Weasley as he strode over to his wife and kissed her, leading to an outcry of sick noises from the twins.

" George every time you call me that it makes me sound like your mother." chuckled Megan looking at George.

The Weasley family had been a little shocked when Megan and George got together. Neither were fully over Fred's death but in the times of grief and for most of the pregnancy they had grown closer, eventually falling in love and realizing that Fred wouldn't want it any other way. George had become Megan's closest of friends, he looked after her and he was her strength and vis versa. The truth remained that yes Megan still loved Fred, she always would but there was room in her heart for George.

He had aged well, still retaining his devilish looks whilst still looking a little more mature. His eyes still bore the signs of mischief but he seemed more grown up, more sensitive. He held Megan around the waist slightly before taking a cup of coffee off her and sitting at the head of the table, his eyes falling on his oldest son.

Fred was fully aware that George wasn't his real father. He had known the truth for as long as he could remember but George had been the one who raised him and the one he had gone to when he was younger, George was his dad. They were close and George always felt like a part of his twin was still alive in his son. It filled him with a proud warmth.

" Well your Nan owled me this morning, we've all got to be there for 1-ish, so I suggest everyone go and get ready as soon as, Molly can go first in the bathroom to settle any forthcoming arguments...but first Fred your mother and I have something very special for you."

Megan smiled and walked over to George placing a hand on his shoulder. He had handed Fred a square box which contained a watch. It was tradition for wizards to receive a watch on their birthday but this one was special as it belonged to Fred when he was alive. George explained it to his son who was looking at the watch lovingly.

" Mum...do you think maybe you, me and dad can go to dad's grave today...?"

Megan, who was twiddling the heart shaped locket, smiled warmly at her son and nodded. She hadn't been to Fred's grave for a long time, as for a long time the pain was to much to handle. George had taken Fred Jr a couple of times but Megan had never been able to go. But it was 17 years on and for the first time Megan felt that maybe she could be strong. Fred Jr had had to grow up knowing his real father had died before he was born and he still somehow managed to carry on. If her son could do that, then she could to.

Megan watched as Fred walked over to his father's grave. She couldn't suppress the giggle that got to her as he flicked his wand and a bunch of flowers appeared. Part of her was suspicious that he had done so to show his father he could now use magic. Slowly Fred sat down right next to tombstone and began talking rapidly to it as though it was a real person.

Jumping slightly, two arms appeared around Megan's waist and she held onto them leaning her head back against George.

" You okay?" he asked, kissing her ear.

" Yeah, its a little tough but not as bad." she replied turning in his arms and placing her own around his neck. " Thank you...for everything, for our children, for your love...thank you."

" Ah what can I say, I love ya, you don't have to thank me...now, you feel strong enough to go over?"

Megan let out a deep sigh. The time had come for her to do what needed to be done. George led her by the hand over to the grave where Fred looked up. His eye were slightly bloodshot but he seemed to disregard it. He stood up and joined his parents, hugging his mother tightly.

" Hey Fred, why don't you and me go in and see if ya Nan needs any help." suggested George.

Fred understood why it was essential that he left his mother for a moment. George squeezed her hand and she mouthed thanks to him as he walked side by side into the Burrow with Fred. Megan watched their retreating backs with a smile on her face. That was part of what made her fall in love with George, he'd never once tried to replace the love Megan had for Fred and accepted that he would always be her first and true love. He was under no illusion that had Fred been alive then he, George, never would have married Megan but he had learnt to deal with that.

" Hey Fred..." she began in a small whisper, " I miss you...and I'm sorry I haven't visited in awhile but it was just too hard...you'd be so proud of Fred...he's a good kid...and just like you." Megan held herself for a moment feeling tears developing. She looked up at the sky to prevent them from falling. She had done her crying for many years, she was determined to be strong. Slowly she continued talking to the man she would always love.

" I'll always love you Fred...goodbye." she finished, placing two of her fingers to her lips and kissing them against the headstone.

As she walked into the Burrow, her mind spinning slightly, she could hear the sounds of her family. She found them all sitting in the living room where George was telling them the story of how he and Fred had left Hogwart's, his kids favorite story about his teenage antics. The rest of the Weasley's and their respective other halves were perched around the room listening, smiles gracing their lips. Their eyes fell on Megan as she entered the room, but they diverted back to George almost as quick.

Mrs Weasley, though aging stood up and hugged her before walking into the kitchen to grab Megan a mug of tea. Megan sunk down onto the arm of the chair George occupied and placed an arm around his shoulders. He lifted his hand to hold hers and turned to smile at her.

It was there that Megan realized that although her heart still laid with Fred, George and the love he had shown her over the years was just as strong. Her eyes fell on that of her children, lastly on her oldest son and she felt the warm glow build in her stomach, knowing that her life was where it should have been and she was blessed with what she had.

She would always love Fred but finally she felt ready to let him go, remembering when he once told her that she deserved to be happy, and for the first time in 17 years she finally felt that.

A/N - Well there you have it. The last chapter of this story and hopefully you enjoyed it. I know some people won't have but for me this is how I felt the story panned out best.

I think I mentioned it somewhere before but I'm planning a few one-shots revolving around this story to fill in some of the blanks left within it and after checking this chapter out an idea for a sequel about Megan and George's relationship sprung to me so I will be getting on that.

Thank you to everyone who's kept with the story and reviewed. And although this is a shameless plug please feel free to check out my other stories, 'Shadow of the Man' and coming very soon 'Calista Prewett'.