A/N: Back again. This is a shorter chapter (for me anyway), but I feel it needed to be in order to move the story on. The story is wrapping up for me very nicely. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Thanks always for reading, please, please, please review, your feedback is inspiring. Hugs and Kisses.

Only the dead have seen the end of the war- George Santayana

Chapter Two

Brother's Keeper

When we grow up we'll both be soldiers,

our horses will not be toys,

And maybe we will remember

when we were two little boys.

Two little boys- Rolf Harris

Ok breath George breath. I can do this. I let out a deep breath. Having your girlfriend go to the bathroom right as you're about to pop the question is a little off putting, but I can deal. I take a peak at the ring, it took some doing but I finally got it. I went to Hermione for help, I know Katie and Alicia wouldn't have be able to keep their gobs shut. I first saw the ring in a little shop in Hogsmeade called All things forever. When I first saw the ring I knew I had to have it for Angelina.

It's weird to be making plans for the future without Fred here. It's especially weird to make plans to marry my twin brother's ex. We all have to move on in life I suppose. I look at the antique opal ring, it's tradition in the Wizarding world to give your fiancé an engagement ring that's the same stone as their birthstone, I know that she'll love it, something about it feels alive, like she's already wearing it. I see her coming back towards me, walking that sexy walk. Her dark brown skin looks amazing against the white dress she's wearing. I want to remember the way she looks forever.

My heart starts thumping faster, I know I've already asked her to marry me, but this is different. This will make it official until I officially make her Mrs. Weasley. I like the sound of that. Angelina Weasley. Mines at last. I lick my lips. Show time Weasley. I can feel my smile spreading across my face and I know I must look like a lunatic but I can't help myself. I love her.

"George you know that I-

I stop her from speaking completely by getting down on one knee."

"George what are you doing?" She squeaks, her eyebrows are arched so high they seem as though they'll fly off of her head.

"Ever since I saw you on the train that day I have loved you, a lot has happened in our lives, a lot of things have changed, but the one thing that always remains the same is the way we keep finding our way back to each other. I know we were meant for each other. I slip the ring on her trembling finger. "There's no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. Angelina Nicole Johnson, will you marry me?"

I stay on my knee waiting for the gasp, expecting the hysterical yells and tears but Angelina doesn't do anything like that, she only stares at me as if I've made a major faux pas at an expensive dinner party. My grin isn't so wide anymore. Why is she taking so long.

"I Have to say this, if were going to be married, I have to tell you things that you might not like."

"What are you on about?" I ask standing up now.

"The way we've been with each other, we have to stop it, we're breaking the rules and undermining why you're here." She says.

"What in the bloody hell are you talking about?" I ask. She's gone barking mad.

"You're in therapy to face what you've done George, not to be sneaking around to shag each like we're bloody school children."

"You don't think I'm not facing what I've done? How long are you going to keep beating the same dead horse Angelina?"

"You think it's really that easy to forget? You think I like having these memories? I hate this, but this is the reality of you and I."

"So what you want to take a break? Is that what you're saying?"

"No not a break, I don't know what you'd call it, I just want to give you time to heal, I just want you to focus on that."

"I am, that's all I've been doing here, do you have any ideal how hard all of this is? I know how far I sunk I can still feel it, and it's not a good feeling. I miss Fred so much that I feel like it's driving me literary mad."

"I'm just so scared, I don't know how to deal with this sometimes, I just want to protect you. I love you."

"Then don't leave me, I need you." I grab her and kiss her desperately. "I love you."

"Why do you do this to my heart George? One day it's going to kill me."

"Don't talk like that, how could you even say that."

She grabs me. "Do you know how much I love you?" She asks. "I love you so much it scares me, I would die for you, I wouldn't even have to think twice about it. You are all I see, you're my world, there are no words for how much I love you."

"So don't punish for what I've done."

"It's not punishment it's a consequence." She says.

"Your consequence." I say.

"Don't make me the bad one here."

"You're not so innocent, what about you and Wood."

"How many times to I have to say I'm sorry?" She yells.

"How many times do I?" I counter.

"If we're fighting like this now then what's the marriage going to be like."

"Are you saying that you don't want to marry me?"

"No that's not what I'm saying at all, I'm just saying there's a lot we've to work through, you said it yourself"

"Yeah but I never said anything about you abandoning me."

"I'm not!"

"You are, how convenient for you, end things with me when I'm going through all this though shite, and then come back when I'm all better." I grab her hand and yank the ring off. "Sorry love, but that's not how love works."

"George!" She gaps shocked. "What are you doing?"

"Taking this back!" I squeeze the ring like I want to destroy it, and it feels hot in my hand like it's burning into my flesh.

"No!" She grabs for my hand but I shove the ring in my pocket.

"I have done nothing but be there for you, I stayed when any other women with half as much common sense would have run, keep the ring George, better yet choke on it." She says scathingly and walks away.

I want to run after her beg her to come back, but I have my pride. If she wants to marry me then she can't just see me when she likes. I feel like she was never going to forgive all the things I did during those dark days. Deep down she knows that I'm really nothing like Fred and she resents me for it. Fred would have handle this with aplomb, he would have been married to Angelina by now.

Sometimes my love for Angelina feels like a cruel trick, like I had to trade having a twin for being with Angelina. I know that's not how it is, but sometimes that's what it feel like. Perhaps I'm the one punishing her because I feel so damn guilty. Guilty for being alive, guilty for loving Angelina, guilty for not being there when Fred needed me most. We always swore we'd go together. I toss and turn in bed all night. Why did I rip the ring off her finger? She must hate me now. What in the hell have I done? Why do I keep sabotaging my life?

I pull the ring out of my pocket, it looks lonely with out Angelina's finger. It still feels alive, still feels warm as if it's being worn by her. I'll never forget the look on her face when I pulled the ring off her finger. I squeeze the ring and it burns hot in my hand again. I've messed it all up again. Fred would never fuck up things so badly, he should be the one alive not me. Then he and Angelina could have their happily ever after.

Fred my life feels unnatural without you, I feel like I've no right to be alive. I wish I knew where you were right now. I could use my big brother. I want to be a twin again. I think to myself. I'd give ten years off of my life just to see him again. Then I do see him, standing by the door of my room. I sit bolt upright in bed.

"Fred?" I ask not sure if he's real or not, and not really caring. He's here. I jump out of my bed run across the room and hug him, he feels solid. I sob as I touch his face and stare into his eyes. This can't be real. It feels real. He's wearing the same outfit he was when he died. He hugs me back just as hard.

"I've been waiting for you."

"What?"

"Here on the other side, I've been waiting for you, I thought you would have come by now."

"What are you saying."

"I've come to get you."

"Get me?"

"I came to bring you over, to the other side the veil, I can't stand us being apart, they can't expect us to live apart."

"You want me to kill myself?" I ask.

"It's not dying it's crossing over, just being together again."

"I don't know."

"This isn't a trick George, there's no pain beyond the veil, but I don't want you to do it now."

"Then when?" I ask eagerly.

"The anniversary of my death, you have to do it then it's the only way."

"Ok." I say.

"We'll be together again soon George."

I wake up or at least I think I do. I'm on the floor next to the door right where I was hugging Fred before. Angelina's ring is by my feet. I pick it up and put it in my pocket. Maybe it isn't too late. If I grovel if I spend all night on my knees and keep apologising she'll have me back.

"She won't take you back, she doesn't love you, never did" He's back again. "She loves that git Wood."

"No, she never loved him."

"She does. always did, she's always come between us, she's just using you because she can't have me, she doesn't love you. I do. I'm your twin." Fred says.

"You wouldn't lie to me would you?" I ask.

"Have I ever?" He looking into my eyes, his eyes look honest.

"No."

"I've always looked after you, just like you've always looked after me." Fred hugs me. " Expect that one time, but you can make up for it. It's what brothers do. Twins are forever."

"Forever." I say.