The third and final pairing that I swayed you on. We both know I have a Charlie obsession, and because of you, I love 'cest. It's the best of both worlds.

Bill/Charlie

.

"the consequences"

You purposely wait until the last possible minute to arrive at the Burrow. You have spent the last hour pacing around your flat because you knew this moment would come. As you stand in the bedroom you used to share with your older brother as a child, your eyes rake over Bill's appearance.

He's dressed in his best dress robes. His hair combed back and a smile on his scarred face. You watch as he struggles to tie his tie. Taking pity on him, you turn him around with a, "Here, let me."

You don't dare to look into his, because you can't be held accountable for your actions if you do. Instead, you keep your eyes firmly on the tie as you fix it. It takes several minutes, but you finally get it to perfection. You take a step back, still not looking him in the eyes, and murmur, "That's better."

"Thanks," he whispers. You take a risk and meet that familiar pair of blue eyes. You see happiness swimming in them. It makes your heart hurt slightly. But he must see the desire in your eyes because he says firmly, "No, Charlie."

But you don't listen. Because it's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. You press your lips against his. They taste exactly how you remember – sunshine and coffee. And you think that he's never tasted better. You pull back after a while, and whisper, "I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm really not."

He doesn't say anything. There's a loud knock on the bedroom door, and you hear your mother call, "It's time, Bill!"

"I'm coming!" he calls back. And you listen as your mother makes her way down the stairs. Bill turns to you. He presses his lips to yours in a quick, nearly bruising kiss. "You know, this doesn't mean that I don't still love you."

You don't know how he knows that's what you're afraid of, and you're half expecting him to say, "I'm your brother, Char; I always know these things." But he doesn't. Instead, he continues on with, "I do love you. But I love her too."

There's another impatient knock on the door. "Bill, you're going to be late for your wedding if you don't get out here now," you hear your mother call again.

"Are you ready?" you ask him. And he nods. You open the door and follow Bill out of your room and right out of the house.

You take your place next to Bill as his best man. And every emotion you've been trying to contain hits you full force. He's getting married. He's sharing himself with someone who isn't you. She gets to see what only you have – the good and the bad. Jealousy flares in you, but you take a deep breath. You smother your emotions because now is not the time to break.

As much as you want to look away while Bill and Fleur share their first kiss as husband and wife, you don't. You count to ten and pretend that it's his lips on yours. It's just enough to stop you from breaking completely.

It's only when you get home that you crumble. The only though on your mind is, "I do love you. But I love her too."

A/n – so many thanks to my awesome wife, Paula, for beta-ing this for me.