Hey guys, its a relatively quick update for me. I was debating whether to do a direct follow or give you guys a treat and take a journey back in time. I decided to take a trip down memory lane so if you like this chapter and want more like this then just send me a review!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, I own my OCs.

~Chapter 21. I turn up out of the blue uninvited~

George POV

-Almost twenty years ago-

I walked into the flat and saw Ellie sitting there; sticking pictures into the photo album Charlotte had gotten her almost a year ago. She looked like she was fighting hard not to cry but at the same time was in deep concentration so I didn't want to disturb her.

"I'm almost done." She said, glancing up at me for a moment.

I sat down next to her on the sofa. "How did you manage to get so many pictures?"

There were a whole variety of photos with either me, Charlotte, Ellie or Fred in them, each dated in silver ink.

"I asked people if they had any. I want to put some by his grave and the rest I just want to keep as a memory. I want to remember us like this." She pointed to a picture of Fred and Charlotte wrestling each other into the lake. "Not like this." She gestured to the mess around us.

Everything was being prepared for the funeral and the flat had turned into a storage space whilst we decided what to do with my twin's belongings.

"Have finished your eulogy yet?" She asked setting aside the photo album and turning to face me.

I nodded. "I think I know what I want to say."

"Me too. I'm just worried that I won't be able to get it out, that I'll break down and cry or something. He saved my life, George. He died saving my life."

I gathered Ellie in my arms and held her carefully. "You can't blame this on yourself Ellie. He wouldn't hold you responsible. We would have all died for each other, you know that."

She relaxed a little. "I just want to forget. Just for one night I want to forget everything. Everything that has happened and everything that will."

"Not possible." I sighed.

"There wouldn't be any harm in trying." She moved slightly so she could press a kiss to my lips.

I kissed her back. "Don't ever leave me, Ellie. Promise you won't ever leave me."

She didn't reply, didn't promise, instead she just leaned into me, the salt of her tears falling onto my bottom lip as our mouths met.

~XC021~

Charlotte POV

I brought my knees up to my chest and stared at door opposite imagining that at any moment either Fred or Ellie would walk through telling me that it was all just a bad dream. Occasionally someone would place a hand on my shoulder and offer me their condolences but mostly people whispered things, making comments about my sanity.

Several people dressed in black flocked around George all at once and I could see the effort it took him to keep composed. I stood up and walked over to him, taking his hand and leading him away from the crowd. He gave my hand a friendly squeeze as we went outside, and then pulled me into a hug. The last of my resolve faded away as I sobbed into his chest.

"Riley told her she had to leave and now she's gone. She's gone and I don't think she's ever coming back." I cried.

"Charlotte it's ok." He said. "As long as she's safe, it's ok."

I pulled away and wiped a hand across my face. "It was too much for her, it was too much for her to cope with."

"I know. That's why we have to let her go Charlotte. It's the only way she can be happy."

"How did you know? Did she tell you?"

A look of pain came over his eyes. "She didn't have to. She started looking at me like she'd never see my face again and even before it was over she was saying goodbye." He smiled wistfully. "I've had my goodbye. It was her last gift to me and I think I could be ok with that."

~XC021~

Ellie POV

-Present Day-

"I'm sorry for dropping by here so late the other night. I should've been more careful." I said to Rizzo whilst making myself a cup of coffee.

"Pregnant women aren't supposed to apparate, especially not alone. Anyway we haven't done a mother daughter thing in ages." She said taking out a bag full of cookies.

"I don't think me crashing here after having an argument with Angelina counts as a mother daughter thing."

"It could if you stayed for dinner."

I smiled and gulped down my coffee. "I've got some things to do first but I can come back in time for dinner."

"You can bring George with you, if you make up." Her voice was filled with hope.

"If we make up, I'll consider it."

I finished the drink, gave my daughter a hug and ran to the door. Outside it was raining heavily so I wrapped my coat tight around me and braved the weather. I didn't want to risk apparating again so I decided to walk to my favourite place. It was somewhere I used to go with George whilst Fred and Charlotte were out on dates. We'd started going there before we were a couple but it was still our secret place.

It took me almost an hour to get there but it would've been quicker had I not been pregnant. I sat on the bench and closed my eyes, legs crossed and hands placed on the bump. Droplets of cold water continued to fall onto my face but a cocoon of heat was beginning to envelope me so I wasn't worried about catching a cold.

"Hey."

My eyes snapped open at the sound of George's voice. I smiled just a little.

"Were you actually looking for me or did you just want to be here?" I said, staring into his eyes with hope.

"For someone who likes covering her tracks, your hiding places are very obvious."

He sat down next to me and took my hand. Despite running at a higher temperature than most I still felt warmth from holding him.

"I couldn't go back to the castle. I don't trust myself not to hurt her and I don't want to sit and explain everything about my life either."

George gave me an apologetic look and I knew I wasn't going to like whatever he said next. "Ellie I have to give you an ultimatum. I don't want to but I have to ok."

"Ok go ahead." I sighed.

"You have to leave today or stay forever. I love you Ellie, I do and if you stay then we can all help you get through this, I will help you with whatever you need but if you want to go then you have to leave now. I think that's the only way I can cope with you going, if you go right now."

"I want to stay but you know what I'm like. Little things just pile on and on until I don't think I can cope anymore. I get freaked out, George and then it feels like I'm suffocating."

"Then I'll help you. If you need a few days off from being a mum then I'll look after the twins whilst you relax, I'll do night feeds and take you out and stay up with you all night. I'll talk things through with you, sit and listen to you for hours, do all the housework; all you have to do is come home every night."

I laughed. "George, I know you'll be there for me, you don't need to sell me your soul."

"Come on lets go for a walk."

As we wound our way through the quiet park it continued to rain. My hair was drenched and sticking to my face as was George's. He told that Charlotte had slapped Angelina after I had gone and then she had stormed out asking for a divorce. I told him about what had happened in the years that I was gone. Only I told him the truth this time. About how it was looking after Rizzo, Jess and Gen, about training to be a Naorta and raising a family in South Dakota.

All the while the rain hammered down on us and we got soaked to the core. He came to a stop at the entrance to the little clearing we had made our own over the years. The tree house still had our picnic blanket and pillows inside and fairy lights still circled the trees suspended by magic.

"Haven't been here in forever." I breathed. "We were here when you first told me you loved me and I remember fearing that day because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to say it back. In the end though I had nothing to worry about because I when you said it I realised I was in love with you too."

I looked up at the grey clouds. "It was raining then a well. This weather is ridiculous, I don't think we should stay out here too long."

I turned back around to George only to notice that he was gone. I frowned. "Hey George, where did you go?"

I turned around again and saw him down on one knee behind me. I half grinned, half gaped at him whilst he beamed up at me.

"Whenever I imagined this moment I was constantly thinking of what story to tell and then I realised that there isn't just one story that defines our relationship because I'm falling more and more in love with you every day. Every story is our story and every moment is the moment. Some things never change, Ellie, I want to be with you for the rest of my life and I don't care how long I have to wait. I'd wait another twenty years for you and if I thought I'd live that long, another fifty."

He took a small purple box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside was a beautiful platinum ring with three diamonds on either side of a blue sapphire stone. Engraved on the inside were the words: life is about the legacy you leave behind. That was one of the first things I'd told him on the journey to Hogwarts all those years ago when we'd only just met. He always said that those words never left him, now they were permanently etched into my engagement ring.

"So will you fulfil my wish? Will you marry me?"

"George you are the only person who would take someone like me back over and over again because you are a good person. I know I don't deserve you but I love you. Before I thought that loving you meant leaving so you'd have room to grow and live your life but now I realise I was wrong. We are only happy when we're together, loving you means holding your hand and being by your side in the good times and the bad. You saved me George, more times than you could ever remember, you saved me. And from that day I just fell in love with you over and over again. So yes, I will marry you and yes I will stay. Forever George, because we need each other, forever." I said breathlessly, unable to think properly, my head reeling with what had just happened.

I felt George put on the ring and then I pulled him up. I didn't care that we were both drenched by now, I just brought him close to me and kissed him. He kissed me back and wrapped both arms around my waist. I let heat trickle out as our lips crashed together, just butterfly pecks at first and then growing more passionate. He trailed a line down to my shoulders, where the sleeves of my shirt began and moved his hands up along my newly found curves to the top button so he could undo it.

I turned my head slightly so that my lips were close enough for him to feel my breath on his face.

"Just because I'm pregnant, doesn't mean I'm any easier to catch." I whispered, stepping back just as he'd undone the last button.

"Well luckily for you, I enjoy the chase."

Well, that's all for now folks. I have to tell you that I cried whilst writing this one so I hope it made you feel just as gooey inside. So George and Ellie are engaged, awww. But why do I get the feeling that something's about to upset the peace. Mwahahaha.

Anyway, until the nextime, Subscribe and REVIEW!

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Ella Bella xx