Chapter 80 – I Can't Do This
OoO
The playdate went great. Not that surprising as the twins could act as juvenile as the four-year-olds. While Teddy changed his hair to copy the ones' he's spending time with 80 precent of the time. CJ was more steadfast, always keeping the hair he had gotten from his father. He was a master in changing, but he didn't do it often. He usually only does it when he was playing a game with Teddy. So, besides the few colourful streaks in his hair, you wouldn't think he was a metamorphose. The kids laughed hysterically as Fred and George hung upside down from the horses on the carousel. I tried to reprimand them, but I couldn't help but laugh with them. We stayed the whole afternoon in the park. First long rides on the carousel, then ice cream at the little stand. The twins playing hide and seek with the boys in the woods and sliding off the slide in the playground.
When the evening fell, Fred carried Teddy and George carried a sleeping CJ on their arms. The sight was one of the most precious things I've ever seen. I secretly took a picture of the four of them before I stepped between them.
"Thanks for today. It was amazing, and the boys had a great time too."
"It was as much fun for us as for them." George smiled over CJ's head. "I think he likes me."
Fred and I grinned at each other before turning to look at him. "Yeah, he likes you. You did good, Weasley." I clapped his shoulder lightly. "We should get them home."
"Walk or apparate?" George asked.
"They'll sleep through everything, let's just apparate." I smiled. I took a hold of their shoulders and once they nodded, I apparated us out of the park.
Once we arrived at the house, I asked the twins to bring up the boys, which they gladly did. Andy smiled at us as we climbed the stairs. They put the boys down softly and I changed their clothes into their airplanes' pyjamas. The twins stood at the door as they watched me tuck in the boys. The kids turned to each other as they slept. I smiled as I kissed the top of their heads.
"Goodnight, loves." When I turned, my eyes fell on George's. There was a sparkle in his eye, I couldn't place. "Let's head downstairs." I closed the door behind us.
"It's a shame they're going to be in different years when they start Hogwarts." Fred said once we sat down on the couch.
I shared a glance with Andy before looking at the twins. They had planted themselves on either side of me again. "They will be starting together."
"Weren't you due in October?" George asked.
"Yeah, but I gave birth early. He was born August 28th."
"That's in two weeks."
"I'm planning his birthday party. You can come if you want to, if CJ will have you." I laughed.
"We never say no to a party." George winked.
"We'll even bring entertainment."
"Oh, no." I looked between them. "I didn't invite you to bring something."
"We know." George said taking my hand in his. "But he deserves a great birthday. It's the first one he's having here in England. It should be memorable."
"With you there, I know it will be." I intertwined our pinkies together again. George blushed a little and a smile spread across my face. When I looked back to Fred and Andy, I saw them share a glance and a smirk. I glared at both of them but didn't let go of George.
That night, we planned CJ's birthday party into the last detail. Andy went to sleep not long after while Fred and George stayed for a movie. George didn't wrap his arm around me when I leaned back against the couch because our fingers were fully intertwined now. I fell asleep with my head on his shoulder and a happy heart.
OoO
It was the Saturday night, the night we would be going to the club. I had invited Hermione over to get ready together. So, we could catch up. I was with my head nose deep in the closet as Hermione put on her dress.
"You have no idea how relieved I was when Fred told me George finally got rid of Sara."
"I can image." I chuckled, picking out a dress. "I only met her once, but that was more than enough."
"Yeah, Fred told me about the encounter."
"Humph." I huffed as I put an anti-wrinkle charm over the burgundy cocktail dress. "Tell me... how did you and Fred finally happen?"
"Oh." She blushed fiercely. "I was overworking myself, and Fred demanded I need a night out. And you know how charming those twins can be."
"That I do." I smiled.
"He whisked me away on an impromptu date. Or at least I thought it was spontaneous."
"Let me guess, he'd been planning it for months, not wait years." I grinned at her.
"Yeah." She laughed. "Only found that out about six months ago. But he never said it was a date, he just wanted to help me relax. But then we kissed at the end of the date."
"And the rest is history. Gods, that's romantic." I sighed and fell on the bed. "You got a good one, Hermione."
"I do." She smiled as she let herself fall next to me. "George is a good one too." She tilted her head until she looked at me.
"We're not talking about me." I heard the clock chime downstairs. Saved by the bell. "We should hurry, before we're going to be late."
"You're right, as charming as they can be, they can be drama queens." She chuckled and we rolled of the bed, to get dressed. Hermione was wearing a navy-blue cocktail dress with a boat neckline. I was wearing a burgundy cocktail dress with a V-neck, the cords tied around my neck. When we descended the stairs, we were surprised to find a full living room.
Andy was pouring drinks for Fred and George, both wearing strapping muggle clothes. They both had one kid in their arms. CJ spotted me first and started to wiggle in George's grasp. Hermione and I chuckled at George's confused face as he sat the little one down. CJ ran over to me and said,
"Mummy, you look beautiful." His large eyes looked up at me. The others in the room turned to looked at me and Hermione. I felt George's eyes on me and felt my cheeks warm. I kneeled in front of my son.
"Thank you, sweetie." I kissed his cheek.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked as she walked over to Fred and gave him a light kiss. "I thought we were meeting with you at the club?"
"Mum taught us to always pick up a lady." Fred smiled, and I could see the love in his eyes for her. "Merlin, I don't deserve a beautiful witch like you." Hermione turned crimson again as she hid her face in Fred's chest.
"Aunt Winnie?" Teddy appeared next to CJ. "Can we come?"
"Oh no, sweetie. This is only for the grown-ups."
"But you dressed so pretty."
"Tell you what, why don't I pick a very nice dress for CJ's birthday. You two can pick out your finest clothes too." They grinned excitedly.
"Alright. Now say goodbye to everyone and head upstairs. Brush your teeth and change into your pj's." Andy said sternly. The kids turned and said goodbye to the twins and Hermione. All three of them surprised when CJ came to give them a kiss. They smiled sweetly at him and bid them goodnight before they came back to me.
"Night, mummy." CJ gave me a wet kiss and a tight hug.
"Night, Aunt Winnie." Teddy did the same.
"Goodnight, my little demons. I love you."
"We love you." They chimed as I kissed the top of their heads. They raced up the stairs as Andy came next to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Have fun tonight." She smiled and followed the young boys up.
I looked back to the three in front of me. George still had his eyes on me, a look that made me all flustered. "Weren't we supposed to meet up in an hour?"
"Yes, but we thought we might grab something to eat first." Fred grinned.
"Why am I not surprised. Weasleys and their appetite." I rolled my eyes playfully and Hermione chuckled. I stepped up next to George. "I'll apparate with you?"
"Absolutely." He grinned. While we looked at each other Fred already had apparated Hermione away. George wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me close. He leaned down to whisper. "You look gorgeous, love." Before I had a chance to reply, he whisked me away.
OoO
The dinner was filled with laughter and jokes. Nobody asked me about the past four years, all silently agreeing this wasn't the time. It was a time to have fun and hang lose. Sitting next to George with Hermione and Fred across from us, it felt like a double date. They didn't call it that, and we even invited Harry to join us, but he politely declined, telling me last night he didn't want to be a fifth wheel. I scoffed at him then, but now I could see what he meant. But still if Harry was here, I would've never excluded him. George laughed at something Fred said and placed his arm over the back of my chair. I looked to him with a soft smile.
I've missed that laugh more than I care to admit. I thought to myself as he kept laughing. He threw his head back, and his long hair fell over the back of his chair. Like most days he had the top part in bun while the rest long loose. Seeing his hair dance as he laughed, I wanted to run my fingers through it and tug it. I quickly shook the thought out of my head. Because I could never date George again. I focussed back to the couple in front of me, and Hermione shot me a confused look. I shook my head lightly and she started to talk about something that happened at work.
After the dinner, the twins whisked us away again. Now to the club in Manchester. Even from afar you could see it was a magical club, the Phoenix that was flying over the name sign was a dead giveaway. I grew nervous about the thought who I might bump into. George seemed to notice this and rubbed reassuring circles on my back. Ten minutes later, we got inside the club.
"Something to drink, ladies?" Fred asked.
"Red wine." Hermione and I said in unison. We smirked at each other before looking to the twins, they both wore a certain look.
"Come, Hermione." I tugged her hand and she looked at me with wide eyes. "Let's dance."
We left the boys at the counter, and I guided Hermione through the crowd until we found an empty spot on the dance floor. I twirled her around as we laughed. All the while as we danced, we could feel the eyes of the twins on us. We didn't need to turn around to know that. Hermione leaned into whisper.
"They're watching."
I laughed at the younger girl in front of me. "I know." I grabbed her waist. "Want to make it interesting?"
Even though she looked a little nervous, she nodded her head, and I pulled her against me. Without waiting a heartbeat, she curled her arms around my neck, and I gripped the sides of her waist. We danced slow and seductively, our fronts pressing together. We both wore a smile on our lips as we danced. We turned simultaneously to look at the two gingers that were coming closer. They both had dark eyes and swallowed thickly as they stopped in front of us. I don't know how, but Hermione and I thought the same thing. We let each other go, she walked over to Fred and I to George. But once we reached them and they wanted to place their hands on our hips, we switched partners and dragged the other with us laughing.
To say they looked stunned is an understatement. Hermione and I laughed as we danced with them. Coming over from their shock, they took us in their arms and started twirling and dancing us around in an excessive manner. Fred took my hand and twirled me around until I got dizzy, he then dipped me with a massive grin. It felt good, letting go like that. As Fred, twirled me around again, he let go of my hand and I fell against George's chest.
"You two really have that move practiced, don't you." I grinned up to George. He gave his famous lopsided smile, and I pushed down the flip of my stomach.
"Only with the pretty ones." He smirked. While Fred danced with me excessively, George held me close, like he didn't want to let me go ever again. When I looked to Fred and Hermione, it was the same. I curled my arms around his neck, and he pulled me flush against him. We didn't say anything as we danced slowly, our eyes didn't waver from each other, and it burned right through me.
"Gwen?" Our gaze on each other was broken when someone called out to me. I turned to see Luke next to us. A large smile appeared on my face, and I leaped into his arms. "I can't believe it."
"Luke, how are you?" I pulled back and looked at him. "Fuck Helga, you look good."
"I'm good, I'm good." He looked behind me as he chuckled. "Hey, George."
"Luke." His voice was a bit strained, as I turned to look at him, he gave a flashing smile, but his eyes told me something else.
"Let's find a quiet corner." I turned to look at George. "Are you coming?" I asked, holding out my hand. He smiled softly and intertwined our hands together as the three of us walked off the dance floor. Once we found an empty table, Luke and I sat down, I looked curiously at George who remained standing.
"I'll go get us some drinks." He smiled before he headed to the crowded counter.
"So, you and George?"
"No." I shook my head.
"It sure looked like it." He smirked and I slapped his arm with a laugh.
"I just got back a few months ago, I didn't see him for over four years. We're just getting to know each other again."
He nodded slowly. "Tell me what you've been up to."
So, I did. We swapped stories with each other, while my eyes always flickered back to the red head still waiting at the counter. He told me, he was engaged and that this was his bachelor party. When he told me that, I started pushing him out of his chair to enjoy the time with his buddies. We promised each other to write and meet up later. I laughed as I saw him going to his mates with weird dance moves, already a new pint in his hand.
I turned to look at George, and my stomach dropped when I saw who was standing next him. Sara. I made my way over to him, neither of them saw me coming up and I stood behind George's tall frame.
"Let's get out of here, Georgie." She purred and caressed his arm. "That little friend of yours is busy with another guy anyway."
"I'm not interested, Sara. When I told you to leave before, I meant forever."
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I stepped up next to him and looped my arm through his. Sara glared at me, while George looked surprised before he saw it was me, a goofy smile appeared on his beautiful face.
"Want to go dance?" I asked, not looking at the witch in front of us.
"Lead the way." He smiled and we turned to walk away from her. Sara stopped him by placing a hand on his arm.
"I would like my bra back. I forgot it last week, you know after..." She smiled seductively. George just shrugged off her arm and guided me through the crowd.
He wrapped me up in his arms and held me close. "You know I didn't-"
"I believe you." I said quietly. "And even if it did, it's not my place to say anything."
"Guinevere." The way he said my name made me shiver all over, and he cupped my cheek. He took in a shaky breath. "I never forgot about you, about us."
"George-" I slightly shook my head.
"Guinevere." He said again, even though it was a whisper in a loud room, I could hear him clear as day. "I never stopped loving you."
He leaned down slowly, giving me chance to pull away. But I was captured by his eyes, by his words. Then his lips were on mine, softly and hesitant. I tugged on his collar to pull him closer. The kiss erupted something in me, I haven't felt in years. Our lips merged together like they were made for each other, but that couldn't be. Cedric was the one for me... When his tongue asked to deepen the kiss, I pulled away.
"I - I can't do this." I pushed him away and stepped back. I apparated the hell out of there, the last thing I saw was George's confused and hurt eyes, as he stood frozen in the middle of the dance floor.
OoO
Only three more chapters to go!
