I really appreciate all the lovely comments that I'm getting on here and on other platforms, thank you :-) I am receiving lots of comments about what other people feel this needs to include and I want to just say that, yes, there will be more Fred/Hermione, and more Charlie/Lauren, and Molly will meet Lauren and Elliot and we will see Elliot being less well behaved and we will be picking up some of the loose ends and other pairings before this ends, but it isn't going to happen all at once. Just please, enjoy the ride and trust that I know where it's going :-)

Elliot woke at 5.53am and was delighted to see that Graham had remained faithfully beside him throughout the night.

"Miney!" He called to his sleeping aunt, patting her face until she opened her eyes. "Graham's awake!"

"Good morning, Elliot!" she reached her arm out slowly and tickled his little tummy. "And good morning Graham!" She scratched the pygmy puff's head with a finger. "Did you both sleep well?"

"Yes, and I had dragon dreams!" he told her seriously.

"What happened in those?" Fred's early morning voice was deep and a bit rough from sleep, but Elliot didn't notice.

"Fred!" He turned over and greeted his uncle happily. "I went flying on a dragon with my daddy! Can I see him again?"

"Your dad?" asked Hermione? "Yes, of course … I'll take you to find him now." Gathering the little boy into her arms, Hermione carried him into the living room where she found Charlie Weasley snoring on the sofa underneath one of Molly's patchwork quilts. Crookshanks was splayed across his back.

"Daddy!"

Crookshanks rose, arched his back and then sprinted away at the sound of Elliot's voice. Charlie wasn't quite as quickly roused, but after a few moments of confusion he had opened his eyes and then opened them more widely as he remembered the events of the previous evening and the fact that he had a son who was now bouncing on his legs and telling him about a dream in which they rode on a dragon together.

Elliot's excited shouts had also woken his mum. Just a minute later, George's bedroom door opened and Lauren stepped out, tying the belt of her dressing gown. "Elliot!" she whispered loudly. "It's early; you don't need to wake everyone up!" She turned to Hermione. "Was he good?"

"We didn't heard a peep from him until a few minutes ago, when he wanted to tell his dad about his dragon dream."

"A dragon dream?!" Lauren sounded excited for Elliot, who opened his mouth to launch into the story. Hermione decided not to wait for a pause; touching Lauren's arm, she said, "I'm going to try and snooze for a bit longer. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen; you know where the tea is. We'll make breakfast when we get up but if you're hungry before then help yourselves. Charlie knows how to work the stove…"

As she walked back towards her and Fred's room, Hermione saw Charlie sitting up and making room for Lauren and Elliot under his quilt, and her hope rose again that the little family would figure things out and find a way to be happily together. Back in her own room, she cast locking and silencing spells, thinking that she and Fred could probably use another half hour of sleep before their day began.

Fred had other ideas though. Reaching for Hermione's hip with his hand, he shut down his bond with George and kissed her neck. "Are we alone again?" he asked.

"We are. Unless you count Graham…"

Twenty seconds later, Fred returned from his own trip to the living room where he had deposited both Graham and Mr Rabbit onto Charlie's lap. "Just delivering the rest of your family and friends, mate," he winked. Getting back into bed, Fred reached again for Hermione, muttering, "now, where was I? Oh yes, about here..." he rolled on top of her, gently manoeuvring her onto her back and parting her legs with one of his own as he did. He kissed Hermione and then looked into her eyes. "Permission to come aboard for a quickie, love?"

"Cheeky wizard!" Hermione exclaimed. She put her hand on his shoulder, pushing him gently downwards. "You can come aboard for a quickie once you've used that cheeky tongue of yours to satisfy me!"

So he did.

Afterwards, Hermione laid in Fred's arms as her breathing slowed. "Do you think it'll ever be just you and me again? Like on our honeymoon?" she asked him.

Fred pulled her closer and kissed her head. "Honestly? I'm not sure it will for a while, but that's been on my mind too. I wonder if I'm putting enough time into showing you how happy I am that you married me." He trailed his finger in circles on her naked stomach.

"I don't doubt that, Fred. And I love our family. But I like it when it's just you and me, too."

"Why don't we try and find some time together this evening? As long as nothing else happens? Lauren and Charlie can have the flat to themselves, we'll shut Georgie out and I'll take you out somewhere lovely for dinner; how does that sound?"

"Lovely. That sounds lovely, Fred."

Conscious of having visitors and some decisions to make, Fred and Hermione got up soon after that, saved time by sharing a shower and then joined their visitors and entertained Elliot so that Lauren and Charlie could each shower in turn.

Charlie was just coming out of the bathroom when George came through the kitchen door, having apparated into a secret cupboard in the shop that only the twins knew about. It allowed the two of them to come and go even when the wards were fully in place. Charlie greeted his brother with a wave and a grin, gladly accepting the takeaway coffee cup that George had brought him. The two men shared a love for strong, dark coffee that none of their other siblings really understood.

Elliot had been slightly surprised to see George turn up, but after looking between him and Fred for about twenty seconds, he seemed to make a decision. From that moment on, and even when he couldn't see the left hand side of their head and use George's missing ear to distinguish who was who, Charlie's little boy was able to correctly differentiate George from Fred. He looked from one to the other a couple of times, then pointed at George, looked at his mother and said "NoFred".

"That's right," said Hermione. "Lauren, Elliot, this is George. I probably don't need to tell you who he is," she smiled at Lauren, who laughed and held out her hand to shake George's.

"Pleasure, love," he said. "We've heard a lot about you. All good, but only recently. Turns out he's a secretive old bugger," his thumb indicated towards Charlie, who just smiled.

"You're telling me!" Lauren raised her eyebrows and Charlie quickly swooped in to offer her a reassuring cuddle with one arm while giving George half a hug and a thump on the back with the other.

"We're OK now though, right?" Charlie looked at Lauren.

"I expect so, though that doesn't get you out of all the washing up you've promised me. He's been telling me he does it with his wand!" she told Hermione excitedly. The witch laughed, but not as much as her husband did.

"Does he now?!"

"Oh stop it," Hermione playfully slapped Fred's bottom, and then blushed as he raised his eyebrows and pulled a face which clearly indicated that he'd like to continue that game with her. She turned away, not wanting to encourage George to initiate Charlie into his new favourite activity of teasing Hermione and Fred about the effects of their bond and the frequency of their lovemaking. Much better if she could keep everyone focused on Charlie.

But Elliot was the centre of attention and was clearly fascinated by Fred and George. "Fred … NoFred …. Fred … NoFred," he chanted as he pointed his finger at one and then the other.

"I am sorry," Lauren was slightly embarrassed, but George was quick to reassure her.

"I've been called much worse," he laughed. "I'm not bothered, love, so don't you be."

Hermione and Fred looked at him. He was laughing on the surface, but they could both feel that he was tired and welling up with a different kind of emotion inside. Hermione squeezed Fred's hand, letting him know that she would follow up. Letting Fred's hand go, she reached for George's hand instead and led him to the kitchen, announcing that she and George would start breakfast while Fred entertained their visitors.

"What's up then, Georgie?" she asked when they reached the kitchen. She closed the door and flicked her wand to start the water boiling for tea.

"I'm OK, love," he said, jumping up to sit on the worksurface beside where she was collecting mugs. His long legs dangled down and he swung them a little. "Just didn't sleep much. And then seeing the little one and hearing what he called me, it just got to me a bit."

"Do you mind that he called you that?" Hermione was confused. Fred and George were so laid back and spent so much of their time teasing others that they almost always took things on the chin when it was their turn; it was only fair. But something was clearly bothering him, and she wondered if it was the way in which people sometimes (and often without realising) failed to treat Fred and George as individuals; instead assuming that they were two halves of a pair.

"Gods, no, quite the opposite. D'you know what, love?" George spoke quietly. "There were a few days there after the war when I was terrified that I might become just George, instead of andGeorge. I can't even begin to tell you how that felt." Hermione moved in front of him, took his hand and held it tightly as tears filled his eyes. "And things have happened so quickly since; I think I've only just started to process some of it."

Hermione nodded. "I think that's the way it is for all of us. Fred and I are the same. But go on…" She squeezed his hand, brought it to her mouth to apply a kiss and then let it go, deciding that he might open up more without her eyes on him all the time. She was right; as she continued to buzz about making the tea, George talked.

"When the little one called me NoFred, it just really hit me what a miracle it is that we're all here to make kids of our own, and it reminded me that there IS a Fred for him to know and for me to not be. Things could have ended so differently … if that fucking wall…" He wiped his eyes, and Hermione passed him a tissue on her way to the fridge. "Thanks, love."

George wiped his eyes and then blew his nose with a degree of restraint that surprised Hermione. "Gods, I'm full of tears lately! I cried at your wedding, I cry at every little thing. I'm not sleeping, that's half the problem." He leaned in closer. "Unless it's my hormones; do you think I might be pregnant?"

Hermione reached for her wand, pointing it at his abdomen. "Do you want me to swirl it for you and find out?"

He managed a full smile that time. "Nah, I think we're good, thanks."

"I think it's probably quite normal," she told him, placing her wand on the worktop and putting her hands on his knees. "It's been a crazy few weeks since the final battle. Freddie and I both still have nightmares, and I know Harry and Ron are affected by it. Probably others are too, but we don't all talk about it. It's great that we're all moving on with relationships and the shop and living life to the full and stuff, but that's been so full on that we've kind of forgotten that we have a load of stuff to get over. We can't expect it to all dissolve as if it never happened."

"I thought I was OK for a while after; I was so relieved that it was all done and that Fred was OK, well and everyone else of course, but it seems to be worse now than just after. Like a delayed reaction."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, that's what we're finding as well. Ron and Harry too; we talked about it last week. Is there anything we can do to help?"

George lowered his eyes and shook his head.

"What is it, George? I can feel there's something you want to say. Please tell me… Or I can get Fred if you'd rather tell him?"

George shook his head. "It won't be any easier telling him, love. I just … I really struggle at night sometimes. If Ange isn't there; if she's staying away for work and I'm at hers. I've been trying to give you two space by going there more often, and I wanted to help Lauren by giving her my room, but the nightmares are worse when I'm away from Freddie, and if you've got the bond closed then sometimes I panic…"

Hermione had abandoned the tea making and took both of George's hands in her own before moving between his legs to give him a hug. Leaning her face against his tummy, she said, "Georgie, I never meant to push you two apart. You need to come back to the flat more. Starting tonight. It's your home more than mine. And you should come and get in with us if it's that bad … I can share Freddie with you. I never meant to take him away." She pulled back and kissed his tee-shirt clad tummy.

"I know, love; you didn't." He stroked her hair. "If it wasn't for all of Voldemort's shit, I wouldn't need him in this way. I thought having our Wednesday dates would be enough. I love them, but it's in the night that it gets me at the moment."

"You were alone last night, weren't you … is that why you didn't sleep?"

He nodded. "When Ange said she was going early, well I didn't want say anything because I didn't want to fuck it up or get in the way of Lauren and Charlie being reunited. I should have gone to stay at Lee's but he doesn't know and I feel like such a baby…"

"You're not a baby, George Weasley. Well…" she smiled at him, "unless we count you being my bond baby!" He tried to smile back. "But it's nothing to be ashamed of. Promise me you'll come back and stay more. And that you'll come and get Fred in the night if you need to?"

He nodded. "I will."

"For the record, it's always OK with me if you need to get in with us, as long as you get in his side of the bed, not mine. It's not that I don't want to cuddle you," she looked up at him, "but one human storage heater alongside me is enough; I don't think I could cope with being a Fred and George toasted sandwich filling!"

He laughed at that. "It's OK … I don't think Ange would be happy if I cuddled up to you anyway!"

"Probably not. Does she know, though?" Hermione knew that Angelina would be just as concerned as she was; likely more so.

"Yeah…" he was hesitant. "But I don't want to worry her. I'm afraid she might want to give up quidditch so she could sleep with me every night, and I don't want that. So I've been coping, but I guess it's catching up with me…"

"Is she still away tonight?"

"All weekend."

"Right then..." George could tell that Hermione was entering what he and Fred used to call 'prefect mode' in the days when their hair was long and their worries were few. "When you finish whatever you're doing today, I want you back here at the flat until Ange is back. I don't know what Lauren's doing yet but either way I'll get Freddie to keep our bed enlarged and you can get in with us – no, don't argue, we had Elliot last night so it's hardly a problem. You can have a proper night's sleep and then a lay-in with your lazy brother. He never gets up til halfway through Sunday, so you can catch up on sleep together. How does that sound?"

George nodded. "That sounds brilliant, love." He was a bit choked up again, but for different reasons this time.

"Good. Tell Angie first though, and make sure she's OK with it. And we won't turn the bond off any more today either; I'm a bit concerned that all the shut-down time hasn't helped either."

George shrugged. She was probably right, but he didn't want to say it. It was hardly fair that the newly married couple had to limit their intimacy for the sake of the groom's twin, but then the circumstances of the previous few weeks had been rather difficult.

"Look, I really do need to get on with breakfast, but why don't you pop into our room for a nap now? You'll need a silencing charm though, with all this lot here. I'll save some sausages and bacon for when you wake up."

George gave Hermione a smile. "Thanks. I might just do that."

"Good. Do you want to take anything with you?"

"No, I'm OK, love. Just my coffee." He jumped down off the worksurface and engulfed Hermione in a hug. "Thank you. I can't tell you what this means."

Hermione was filled with a feeling of love and gratitude across the twin bond, accompanied by a sense of relief and happiness from her husband in the next room. "Well you don't really have to, Georgie … I can feel it!"

"Oh yeah," he laughed. "I still forget!"

Once he had left, Hermione turned to the fridge, sourcing the remainder of what she needed for breakfast. She heard the door open and turned to see Fred heading towards her. He leaned down to give her a kiss. "Hello, lovely. Couldn't leave you to do all the work … is Georgie OK?"

"I think so. At least he will be," Hermione pointed Fred towards the stove and he began to cook sausages and bacon while she found a tray and began to gather plates and cutlery for everyone. "He's not slept and he's having nightmares. I've sent him to get into our bed for a nap."

Fred looked concerned. "Nightmares?"

Hermione nodded. "I don't know if Ange knows how bad it is. I think it's mostly about you and that bloody wall. And we've tuned him out quite a bit; I hadn't thought about how that might affect him. So I've told him he should sleep in with us tonight … hopefully being close to you will help him sleep properly."

Fred hung his head. "I should have paid more attention. Got all caught up with my sexy new wife and then Charlie's romance…"

Hermione walked up behind him. She put her arms around his waist and leaned her cheek into his back. "It's not your fault, Fred. I think it's been a delayed reaction for quite a few of us. Ginny and Harry were fine at first but aren't sleeping so well now. Ron too."

"Buggers up our night together though."

"Oh, Gods." Hermione had forgotten about that. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."

Fred shrugged, but Hermione felt his churning emotions. He was distressed for his twin, torn between his love for Hermione and his family, sad that she had put George's needs first, even though he loved George more than his own life.

"What should I do, Fred? I've cocked up," she said. "I just wanted to be nice…"

"That's the trouble, 'Mione," he said. "You always want to be nice. To everyone. Sometimes I wonder if there's enough room for me…"

She felt his sadness through the bond but it was hard not to react. "What would you have had me do instead, Fred?" She was aware that her words were almost a hiss, in her care to not have everyone else hear. But Fred was not being reasonable; she really hadn't felt that she had a choice. She was making so much effort to help his family – their family – and she felt that Fred could be a bit more understanding. Then she had a thought. "Can George sense this?"

Fred took a few deep breaths. "I closed him off just then, but I'll not torture him. Which is why I'm going to calm down and attempt to be mature. I'm sorry, Hermione. I know you're trying to do the right thing. I can't promise to keep being OK with it if we don't start making some time for us, though. I just love you so much and the bond pulls me to you all the time. I want to spend time with you."

Hermione nodded. "Me too. Let him back in while I kiss you. He'll think that's what we were up to all along…"

Fred chuckled and then did as she asked. When he pulled away, he took hold of the hand that she had wrapped around him and squeezed her fingers gently. "How about we both think about having our own date night, and we'll negotiate it with George?"

"That sounds like a good plan. Best talk to Angelina and find out when works for her."

Fred nodded. Row averted, this time, but he had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time that they would have this kind of conversation, especially with everything that was happening. He decided that a change of subject might be in order. "Our newest family members seem to be fitting in well."

"Do you think they're OK?" Hermione asked him.

"I think so. I just hope they tell Mum and Dad soon. Like today… I don't like keeping this secret."

Hermione nodded. "I know what you mean. We'll bring it up again after breakfast." She let go of Fred and lifted her wand in search of some kind of bread. Ten minutes later, Fred carried a platter of sausages, bacon, fried eggs and buttered crumpets into the living room.

"Breakfast!" he announced.

"Fred!" Elliot was as pleased as ever to see his uncle, then looked around. "Where's NoFred?"

"He's just having a nap, sweetheart," said Hermione, who had followed behind with plates and cutlery. "He's a bit tired, so he's in our bed. You can see him again later."

Elliot's eyes widened and his eyes danced with happiness. "He sleeps in your bed too?"

Fred's mouth pulled into a couple of different shapes while he caught Charlie's eye and decided how to best answer that question. Charlie's eyebrows danced in reply. Hermione's eyes briefly met with Lauren's and the two shared a look of amusement. "He does when he's tired and your mummy's borrowing his room," she told the little boy.

"Cool!" Lauren's eyes rolled skyward, and Hermione laughed. It had taken Elliot less than a day to adopt his father's favourite word. He turned to Lauren. "So tonight, mummy, can I sleep with Fred AND NoFred?"

Fred laughed, loudly enough that Hermione was glad she had told George to put up a silencing charm. Lauren was a bit lost for words. Hermione beamed at him and said, "Well why don't we see how the day goes. I'm not sure what we're doing yet. On which note…" she tailed off into silence and left that thought hanging.

"I know..." It was Charlie who picked up the thread and Hermione was happy that he was taking responsibility. "I need to talk to Mum and Dad today, I think. With or without Lauren, depending on how you feel, love?"

Lauren chewed and then swallowed her food. "I feel fine either way. But something you said last night made me think your mum might not react well, and I don't want Elliot there if there's any chance of it not going well."

"I don't think she would react badly…" Fred frowned. "Do you?" He looked at Hermione.

"She's a lovely, caring woman who dotes on her children and will the best grandmother you can imagine." Hermione loved Molly and didn't want to paint her in a bad light for Lauren, but she had been on the receiving end of Molly's relational misunderstandings some years ago, and she didn't want Lauren to be unprepared for that possibility. "And she's a bit excitable and therefore not always predictable in emotional situations … especially if she thinks anyone is not doing right by any of her children."

"Like getting pregnant by them and not telling them for two years?"

"Gods, no," Charlie said. "And I'll be very clear that none of it is your fault. But Hermione's right, so I should go by myself first…"

"Will you go today? And should we stay here then?" Lauren asked. "Because Elliot is going to want to go out and run around at some point; I can't keep him cooped up all day. He's already getting a bit antsy…"

"Oh, I know a few people like that!" Hermione laughed, nodding towards Fred and Charlie.

A few minutes later, they had a plan. Charlie would go to The Burrow mid-morning to talk to Molly and Arthur, leaving Lauren and Elliot at the flat. Fred – and George, when he woke – would be in charge of some boisterous games to help keep Elliot busy until Charlie returned, and then they would find out how it went and decide what to do next. Hermione was about to remind Charlie that he would need to apparate back into Diagon Alley, because the flat's wards were still up to prevent unexpected visitors when her words were interrupted by a happy shout from Elliot which sent all of their planning into disarray.

"Horse!"

Elliot stood up on the sofa, pointing to the kitchen door, through which an elegant silvery horse was slowly galloping. Lauren looked as terrified as Elliot was excited. Charlie immediately took her hand. "It's OK," he whispered. "Nothing dangerous."

"Hermione Jean!" the horse spoke, further delighting Elliot, who looked at his father and clapped his hands together in joy before turning back to watch Ginny Weasley's patronus deliver the rest of its message. "I don't know WHAT you're doing with my brother to need the floo closed and the wards down for this long – and yuk, by the way – but we really need to discuss Kingsley's plan and our outfits. So if the floo isn't open in fifteen minutes then I'm bribing the-boy-who-lived-to-learn-how-to-break-through-wards-last-week-in-auror-training to bring me through. See you in a bit!"