Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoy.

A Different But Good Christmas

December 25, 1998

Angelina woke up slowly, she reached out and pulled her blanket up closer to her, as she did she realized that it wasn't her blanket, in fact the bed didn't feel familiar. It meant that she wasn't on her bed or couch, and she wasn't in Fred or George's bed or on their couch. As she opened her eyes she then realized where she was. It was Christmas and she was at the Burrow.

She and George had spent Christmas Eve with her family. Though she and George had went on their first actual date less than a week ago it felt like it would be wrong if they weren't together for Christmas. Maybe some of it had to do with her having been married to Fred…still married…that was still one that she wasn't she about. Technically she and Fred were still married, after all there hadn't been a divorce, but since Fred was…gone…then perhaps that simply meant they weren't married.

She knew that she could get married again, even though it might be odd…at that moment George popped into her mind. Shaking her head from the thought she quickly decided to abandon the idea of marriage at the moment.

The night before she and George had gone over and had Christmas Eve dinner with her family and then opened some of the presents. It was nice and quiet, which was sure to be quite a difference then today would be at the Burrow.

With her family it was her parents and her, so adding George only added an extra one. However at the Burrow there would be everyone, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Percy, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Teddy and his grandmother, and or course Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. There was a lot of people, it would be quite different then staying at hers or Georges' where it was only the one there, maybe two. Having Alicia and Katie made three of course, but that still wasn't as full as it would be now.

She wasn't sure how it would be…it could be very nice.

There was a knock at the door and then it opened, Ginny came in, "Morning Angelina. I wasn't sure when you were going to wake up."

She sat up, "Morning. Happy Christmas."

Smiling Ginny nodded towards the end of Angelina's bed, "Happy Christmas."

Angelina looked at the pile that lay at the end of her bed, it was the first Christmas in such a long time without Fred, the thought made her sad. She saw Ginny go and sit down on her own bed.

She glanced down at the end of Ginny's bed and saw that no presents were there which meant that Ginny had already opened them. She looked over to the other bed in the room which was also empty. Angelina gestured towards the bed, "Hermione?"

"She and Ron and Harry are talking."

Nodding Angelina looked towards the door, "Do you want me to leave?"

Ginny as though coming out of being in deep thought shook her head, "No, sorry. It's not you, don't worry."

Puzzled Angelina was quiet for a minute before she looked over at Hermione's bed again, "It's because it's the three of them talking without you?"

"Something happened Christmas last year when they were gone, I don't know what. Bill told me not to think about it." She shrugged, "I get it. I mean…it was hard last year."

"As is adjusting after the war."

A sad smile flashed across Ginny's face, "It's over and that's the first good thing."

"I agree."

"Do you want to see George? You can go; you don't have to stay here with me."

"I like talking with you Ginny."

She smiled and the two girls talked while Angelina opened her presents.

George opened his eyes and slowly listened to any sounds around him. It was relatively quiet, but there was distant sounds. Sounds which allowed him to realize that he was at the Burrow.

His home.

Their home.

It was nice being back here and yet there was still the pain that seemed to be much more evident now than it was a few days ago. Then again he had expected certain days to be harder than others, today would make sense. Sighing he sat up in his bed and looked around. There was no one else there which he was grateful for. He noticed the pile of presents at the end of his bed and decided to go ahead and start opening the gifts.

He remembered when he and Fred would do theirs together. Usually people tended to get them the same thing for them or perhaps they would get them one present for the both of them.

Opening the gifts took a lot longer than normal since there was only one person and he wasn't trying to rush through it.

When he was almost done he heard a knock on his door. Frowning he realized that odds of it being most of his family was unlikely, they didn't always knock. It could be his Mum…or it could be Angelina. At the current time he would have preferred for it to be Angelina than his Mum. He just wasn't sure if he could do with the attention of a Mother right now.

"Come in."

Thankfully someone had listened to him. He smiled slightly as Angelina came in and shut the door. Sitting down next to him she gestured towards the presents, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Fred."

She said it so simply without any attachment that felt like he had to talk or even confirm that it was where his mind was. Instead of questioning it further she reached over and placed her hand on top of his and just sat there.

George welcomed the gesture, he was glad it wasn't anything big. The simple quiet gesture held more to him than he realized it would. He wasn't sure how long they sat there before Angelina spoke up, "Are you ready or do you want some more time by yourself?"

He didn't respond right away and instead thought about the question and wondered about what he really did want. He could go downstairs and be surrounded by the remainder of his family or he could stay up here with either Angelina or by himself.

He didn't really want to stay up by himself, it just…the idea felt so…sad and alone. Angelina could stay up here with him. He loved her company…he loved her. It was at that moment that he realized he wanted to tell her. When he looked over at her he realized that he couldn't tell her then. He wanted to make sure he told her at a good time, and he didn't figure bonding over the loss of someone important to both of them was a good time. He didn't want to dishonor Fred's memory.

Perhaps going downstairs would be a good idea.

Angelina stayed quiet while he thought and after a while she raised an eyebrow, "Downstairs or here?"

"Downstairs."

"Sounds good to me."

The two of them went downstairs. Before they had made it all the way to the ground floor they were hit with wonderful smells and exciting sounds. He could hear his Mother in the kitchen, he was quite sure she was either cooking or cleaning and from the sound of it getting Ginny and Hermione to help her out. In the living room there was a lot of noise and he figured that Bill and Ron were playing chess, while others were talking.

He looked over at Angelina who smiled at him and nodded. The two quietly entered. It was a much different feeling then when he and Fred would enter. He was glad that Angelina was there. Most of the time the two were together, but there were the times that she was off talking with some of the others that were there and he was off talking too. He realized that he was having fun, it wasn't the same as when he and Fred were together, but in and of itself it was good.

There was a lot of things that he found enjoyable, even if it was done slightly different than what he and Fred would have done.

Christmas day went by quickly and before he knew it he and Angelina were back at her apartment. He had brought her back and the two ended up sitting on the couch talking.

"I'm glad we had Christmas together."

Smiling she nodded, "Me too."

They leaned together and shared a kiss. "It was a good day."

"It was."

Before coming back to her place they had both visited Fred's grave. It was nice having someone there, but he knew that he wouldn't give up his time alone with Fred, just as surely as Angelina wouldn't either.

Not much was said, but they remained there for a while before they both wished Fred a Happy Christmas and told him they missed and loved him. A simple message, but very sweet. George already knew that he would be visiting his brother again tomorrow, but for now that simple visit would do.

Besides he knew that he needed some more alone time with Fred. He and Angelina had gone so far in what seemed like such a short time…was that a disgrace to Fred, or was it just something that happened? Surely Fred would have understood and even encouraged it…had he been able to take to George.

Settling in with her head on his shoulder he realized that Fred would still be happy for him. George was content. He knew that he could be happier, but the only reason he could be happier would be with his brother back with him. For now he had Angelina and that was something that helped him in more ways than one.

He did love her and he knew that he wasn't just using her. He would tell her…but at this moment when he could tell she was falling to sleep, he would wait. George wasn't worried about telling her, he knew that she would be there for him regardless, and besides things would happen the way they should.

Tonight was Christmas night and he was more than content to just sit here. As the time wore on he felt himself slowly drift to sleep with Angelina by his side.