"So we'll put the Nimbus Notes by the Daydream Charms and move the Canary Creams to the same shelf as the individual Fever Fudges?"

"Sounds solid," George agreed, nodding to his twin. "If you want to leave some room, I think the owl parchments are almost ready for market."

"Excellent!" Fred exclaimed as he hopped down from the ladder. "I think I'll nick one to test out."

"Going to show the mastermind, then?"

Fred threw a quick glance around the store, making sure no customers were in earshot.

"I think Dave'll be excited. You should've seen her face when I showed her the swan."

"Ah, to see the face of the infamous lady-love of Fred Weasley. I should be so lucky," George joked.

"Hey, now," Fred replied with a frown. "It's not like I'm trying to keep her from you. It's just that with -"

"Relax, Freddy, I'm just taking the piss."

"I think it upsets her sometimes," Fred admitted. George turned around to the counter and started tallying off the products they had already restocked.

"You mean she actually wants to walk into the circus that is the Burrow?"

"It's not that so much as she doesn't understand why I'm keeping her from you." Fred walked over to lean against the counter with him, looking at the parchment over George's shoulder. "Since you already know, and all."

George glanced over at him but didn't really know what to say. Truth be told, he was a little sour that he hadn't been introduced to Ella yet as well. He understood his twin's concerns, but it was still odd to know for the first time in their life there was something one of them had that the other didn't know everything about. Although, George almost felt like he did know everything about Ella with how often Fred rambled on about her.

"And what do you think?" he asked, instead of telling Fred what he was really thinking.

"I think it's too dangerous. You've seen the Death Eaters lurking outside, they aren't subtle."

George glanced out the shop window and there were indeed two gaunt, very unwelcoming-looking Voldy-wart cronies trying to look like they weren't watching the shop. He was right, they were rather obvious. It was a snowy January day and while everyone else was hurrying along, they remained still.

"We've been poking the bear." Fred continued, nodding to himself. "Much too dangerous for her."

Fred picked up the small clock kept by the register and studied the time.

"I'll bring her 'round once the dust settles and the only Dark Lord we have to worry about is that little first-year pest, Joey Peterson, tossing the Instant Darkness Powder around the shop."

George glanced over at the damn clock for what felt like the hundredth time that hour.

He'd been trying to do the books for the Diagon Alley shop for at least that long but found his eyes returning again and again to the small clock he kept by the register. He finally tossed the quill down in frustration and leaned against the counter. It was 1:45, less than an hour until he was to meet Ella at St. Mungo's, and that was all he could think about. It's all he -had- thought about since she left his flat.

Truth be told, he didn't doubt Fred was the father. He'd seen the heartbreak in her eyes when she talked about Fred and he'd seen the way Fred talked about her. His twin hadn't bought a ring or anything but George guessed it would not have been too far off if Fred had made it out alive.

The sound of the bell above the shop door ringing tore him out of his thoughts and he looked up to see his sister heading his way.

"Happy Tuesday, brother-dear!" she greeted cheerily.

"Gin," he nodded back, watching as she plopped her purse on the counter. "How can I help you today?"

"You sound so professional!"

"I would hope so, after all this is my profession," he replied, pretending to busy himself with his ledger again. "Are you here to pick something up for Teddy, or perhaps some revenge for Harry?"

"No," Ginny replied, rolling her eyes. "Harry's been quite well behaved lately. I figured I would stop by and check in on my hermit of a brother. I haven't heard from him since he so rudely disconnected his floo."

"The scoundrel!" he declared.

"I completely agree."

She waited for him to say something else and when that didn't work she pulled the parchment out of his hands, forcing him to meet her eyes.

"What's going on George? Who was that woman?"

He felt bad for keeping her in the dark. Ginny had diligently been there for him, helping him right the shop and get back on his feet after the war ended and he was left standing without Fred.

"I wish I could tell you Gin but I can't."

"But it's to do with Fred, right?" she pressed on. George blew out a sigh.

"Maybe. And that's all you're getting from me," he added as she went to speak again. "It's not my secret to tell Gin, not yet."

"Can you just...is it bad?"

He felt guilted by the worry in her eyes and moved a hand to cover one of her's.

"I'm fine, Gin. No need to worry. This can only be good."

He could practically see the questions floating around her head, and could definitely see the moment she decided to keep them in.

"So you are coming to dinner on Saturday, right?" she asked, swiftly changing the subject.

"Wouldn't miss it."

"Mum's trying to talk Charlie into bringing his girlfriend."

George let out a laugh.

"We finally get to meet Ursula then?"

"Oh, please, Ursula is so three months ago," Ginny said, her voice very matter-of-fact. "Now he's dating Nari and a little birdie told me it's gotten quite serious."

"Nari, eh? Think she fancies sweets?" George asked conspiratorially.

"Hey," his sister warned, pointing a finger at him. "Don't get any ideas. Apparently he's actually considering bringing her and if you scare her off Mum will have your bollocks."

"Noted."

The bell above the shop rang once again and George looked over to see Verity walking in. He glanced down at the time and saw it was 2:15.

"Perfect timing, Verity," he greeted her. She walked around to be behind the counter, stowing her robe and her bag on a hook.

"If you're looking for a test subject for a product you're out of luck today, Weasley." She donned a Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes apron and turned around to smile at his sister. "How are you today, Ginny?"

"Lovely, just popped in to check up on Georgie. You know he's a bit of a shut-in."

"Speaking of Georgie," he cut in. "I've got an appointment to get to. Verity, could you mind the shop on your own for about an hour?"

The woman cocked her head at him, confused.

"Since when do you have appointments?" she asked.

"Since today, apparently," Ginny responded. "He won't tell me what he's up to either."

"Alright, ladies," he said, grabbing his cloak as he started towards the back room where the private store floo was located. "Talk about me if you must but if you're selling rumors to the Prophet make sure I get a cut."

Once the door was shut behind him and he was certain neither woman had followed him he grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it down into the hearth.

"To St. Mungo's!"

He found Ella sitting on a bench in the lobby, unsurprised to see him show up early. What he didn't know was that she had been sitting there for twenty minutes at least trying to decide if she wanted to go through with this. It wasn't that she didn't know what the results would say. It was that it would make it real.

She pushed herself up as he walked towards her, an easy smile on his face. She would never understand how those damn twins were able to keep a calm demeanor when everything was chaos around them.

"Ella," he greeted with a salute.

"George," she returned as she pushed herself up to stand.

"Alright?"

"Yeah, just a little tired. Work has been a little hectic lately." She shot him a quick smile and started making her way towards the right wing.

"What do you do?" he asked, falling into step with her.

"I'm secretary of sorts for a solicitor. I mostly just file but we've been swamped with civil complaints of property damage against Death Eaters. They seem to have left a lot of damage in their wake."

"Oh." His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "That sounds…"

"Incredibly boring," she finished for him. "I know. I wanted to be a healer originally but it didn't suit me."

More like it didn't suit her stomach. She had passed her N.E.W.T.'s well and fine but quill and parchment weren't quite as daunting as broken limbs and blood. Even the hospital smell made her stomach curdle. Luckily, this time around if she tossed chunks she could blame it on the pregnancy.

They walked in a comfortable silence the rest of the way to the reception desk where an elderly witch with thick glasses sat.

"Name?" she asked, barely looking up from the typewriter sitting in front of her.

"Ella Davies. I have an appointment with Healer Pomeroy."

The secretary skimmed the diary for the healer and nodded.

"Take a seat, it'll be just a moment."

Ella and George found a set of chairs over in a corner, away from the other patients waiting for their Healer's to see them. The seats were just as uncomfortable as she remembered from the last time. You would think they would want to update the room a bit as time went on but it still looked probably as it did back in the 1930's, with rickety wooden chairs and the ugliest floral pattern going around the top of the wall she could imagine. They would need more than a fresh coat of paint to make it look half-way decent.

"Ella Davies," George said thoughtfully.

"That's the name," she replied, glancing at him.

"I always wondered why he called you Dave when we were at the store. Thought he was mental the first few times."

Ella cracked a genuine smile for the first time since he stepped out of the floo.

"We had code names to throw any eavesdropping ears off."

"What did you call him?" George asked.

"Frank." She turned towards him and her smile grew at his confusion. "Allegedly I overuse the phrase 'to be frank.' He would always get really dramatic and say 'Ah, to be Frank! The true love in your life!'" she exclaimed, tossing her head back, giggling a bit at the memory.

Before George could ask any more questions, the bespeckled woman called out Ella's name and gestured towards the doors that led to the exam rooms. They followed an assistant to the room where they sat for another short wait as the healer worked his way to them. It wasn't a long wait, as what felt like just minutes later Healer Pomeroy found his way into their room, his eyes trained on the parchment in his hand.

"Ella, back again." He glanced up at her. "Still having trouble?"

"No trouble, just wanting to make sure everything's going alright in there." She threw him a bright smile but dropped it when she saw how unimpressed he was by her show.

"And who is this?" he asked, turning to George.

"Weasley, sir," George replied, holding out his hand. "Geo-"

"Weasley? I thought you said he died?" Pomeroy asked, turning his attention back to Ella. She opened her mouth but George beat her to it.

"He did die, Fred that is," George explained. "I'm his twin. Just showing some moral support for Ella here."

Pomeroy paused and looked between the door, clearly thrown off.

"Oh, uh, sorry to hear that." He rushed to steer the conversation back to easy grounds. "So, you ready to take a first look at the little bowtruckle you've got in there?"

She avoided looking at George as she explained, "I was actually hoping you could do a paternity test of sorts as well."

Pomeroy threw another uncertain glance towards George.

"I thought you said you were sure of who the father was," he asked carefully, his voice dropping low as if George wasn't right in the bloody room with them.

"I am sure, but things are a bit...complicated, with his family that is."

"Trying to uncomplicate things before she shares the news," George added.

"Right," Pomeroy cleared his throat. "Of course, we can do that indeed. I'll just need a lock of your hair, Mr. Weasley." He turned to the witch next to George. "And Ella, if you could."

Her eyes widened as he pushed a small glass jar towards her. She threw a questioning look his way.

"We need you to, uh, -relieve- yourself in the jar, if you could." the healer clarified. Ella's face burned scarlet.

"Sorry?" she asked. She would admit she didn't know how, exactly, these tests were run before she came in but she had imagined it was more wand-waving and less cauldron stirring. Clearly, she had been incorrect in that assumption.

"There's a toilet down the hall, dear, just hand it off to a junior healer when you're done and tell them it's for me. We can take a look at the baby when you return"

Ella stood up as quick as she could with the baby weighing her down. She gingerly picked up the jar and left the room without sparing a glance at either man. She had no problem peeing in the jar but she hated that they knew she was doing it.

Luckily, a baby pushing on her bladder meant it wasn't ever a challenge for her to "relieve herself", as Healer Pomeroy had so elegantly put it. Almost as quickly as she left she was back in the room, sitting next to George in awkward and tense silence as they both thought about how the healer was somehow combining their...deposits together. Or at least that's what she was thinking about. George's eyes were as closed off as Fred's sometimes got, where it was near-impossible to tell what was going through his mind.

"Now if you could," Pomeroy started as he slid another glass jar towards her, this time filled with a light purple liquid. "Drink this up and we'll see how the little one's going in there."

She lifted the glass, initially planning to drink it as ladylike as possible. Once the bitter taste of it hit her tongue, however, that plan was chucked straight in the bin and she practically chugged the rest. She set the glass back down and pushed it as far from her as she could and looked back up at the healer with a look of shock and mild disgust on her face.

"Yes, it's rather awful, isn't it?" he sympathized, although she wondered if he saw this happen so much that he said it out of habit. "And now...infans revelare!"

Ella and George watched with curiosity as Pomeroy swished his wand over her small bump, drawing out a purple fog. With a wave, he sent the fog flying towards the ceiling, where it disappeared with a poof once it made contact. As the mist dispersed, they stared up in wonder at the image left on the ceiling.

"It looks so much like an ultrasound photo," Ella marveled, before quickly realizing where she was. "That's what the Muggles call the process they use to get the photo of the baby while its-"

"Yes, yes," Pomeroy interrupted while taking a magical camera and snapping a photo of the image on the ceiling. "Much more convenient for the mothers, that way is, but we can see more definition this way. Look at those tiny toes there, you can see the nails starting to come in! Eyelashes as well."

The healer focused all of his attention on the image, looking down only to jot something else on the parchment in front of him.

"Seems like everything is developing just as it should," he muttered. "Good heartbeat as well, can you hear it? Would you like to know the sex?"

He finally looked back up at the pair only to see them staring up, enthralled by the sound accompanying the image. Without any real awareness of what she was doing, Ella grabbed George's arm and started squeezing. He might've complained about her grip but he was too distracted by his own emotions bubbling to the surface. His twin did that. He couldn't know for sure, but he felt it in his bones.

"Well?" he prodded. Ella snapped her attention back to him, her eyes still wide open.

"I... hadn't really thought about it," she said. She looked over for George for guidance but he was also at a loss considering he hadn't even known this was going to happen when he floo'd in.

"Is there...an in-between?" he asked.

"Tell you what," Pomeroy started. "I'm going to write it down on a scrap of parchment and you can look at it you're ready. Or burn it, doesn't really matter."

He scribbled some words down on parchment and tore it away from the rest of the roll and folded it over. As he began to reach out and hand it to Ella, another piece of parchment came zipping in the room and landed on the counter in front of him.

"Ah, that'll be your paternity results!" he explained. "Looks like...congratulations are in order for you, George. You're going to be an uncle! Unless you're already an uncle, then this may be slightly less exciting."

George felt the air leave his lungs at the news. A little piece of Fred was alive and well, or at least would be in a few months. He looked back up at the ceiling. There were little fingers and toes, hell, a nose. He'd heard the heartbeat! Now his own was racing at the confirmation.

"Now, you take this copy and the scrap with the sex and do with that what you'd like. Oh, and I'm sure you'll want this," Pomeroy moved on smoothly, and with another wave of his want the image on the ceiling was now shrinking down to a photo that fluttered into her lap. George was struggling to process the healer's all-business approach when George had just received possibly the most shocking news of his life, at least since Fred's death.

"Anything else we can do for you today Ella? Have you been sleeping better since I prescribed that last potion for you?"

She tossed a quick, nervous look at George before answering.

"A bit better, yeah."

"Hmm." Pomeroy studied her. "I'd ask you if you're eating better but I have a feeling I don't want to hear the answer."

He set his quill and parchment on the counter and sit in the chair across from Ella.

"A healthy baby needs a healthy mum, Ella," he lectured. "You've got to start taking care of yourself."

"I know, and I am." Her weak protest didn't convince the healer of that and she knew it. He turned his attention to George instead.

"I assume she'll have some help in you as we get into the final stretch here, what with the results?" Pomeroy asked him. George sat up a little straighter and nodded.

"Of course, she's family." The healer studied George for another moment before giving a quick nod and standing up.

"Right then, I think we're all set. You two leave whenever you're ready Ella, I'll see you back here in two months' time, sooner if you're not feeling well," he warned. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Weasley." The man nodded towards the pair before leaving the room.

Without looking towards George Ella quickly glanced inside the paternity parchment before holding it out for George to take. She wasn't surprised by what it said, and to be honest neither was he.

Name: Infant Davies

Mother: Ella Jane Davies

Father: Fred Gideon Weasley

In testing the paternity of Infant Davies with samples from Miss Ella Jane Davies and Mr. George Fabian Weasley it is determined that Infant Davies is a biological match for both Miss Davies and Mr. Weasley.

"So I guess that's that," he said, still staring at the parchment. "This is real."

"Yeah," she grimaced. "This is real."