Chapter 82 – Best Birthday


OoO


"Hey." I breathed.

"I'll just -" Lee pointed behind me before he hurried inside, leaving me and George alone.

We stared at each other for a long, silent moment before he looked away. "I- uhm... About the club..."

"It's okay, you don't have to apologise. We just had our signals crossed." He said looking at the wall of the house.

"George, no-" I started but George interrupted me.

"We better find the birthday boy; Lee and I were already late. Don't want to let him wait any longer."

"Yeah." I looked down. "Right." I stepped aside. "Come in."

George walked in slowly, not looking at me and I followed after him, leaving a few metres between us. Harry had put om some kids' music and Fred was making a spectacle of showing the kids and the others some fireworks. George made his way to his twin while I leaned against the doorframe watching them. George jumped in like a well-oiled machine much to the kids delight as the show got even more spectacular. But my eyes didn't follow the fireworks or the exploding candies, it followed the way George moved his hands, the way his eyes twinkled in the exploding fireworks, the secret smile that tugged on his lips as the kids gaped up at him. When my eyes roamed to the others who were watching the things, George's eyes were on me, but I didn't see it because every time I looked back, he was looking at the kids or Fred.

"So, you and George, huh?" Bash had come up next to me and shook me out of my thoughts.

"Not really." I sighed and looked to Bash.

He scoffed at me. "Everyone at the party can see it, little one."

"I messed it up anyway." I muttered looking at the ground. Bash wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him.

"Tell me. What did I miss?"

I let out a strangled laugh before I told him about the last couple of months.


OoO


"Mummy! Mummy!" CJ came running over to me and Bash. "Did you see what Uncle Freddie and Uncle George did?" He was practically bouncing. I smiled as I kneeled in front of him.

"I did, sweetie." I stroked his cheek. "They are pretty amazing, aren't they?"

"Yeah!" He breathed out. "They told us we could play with the endless streamers, and they would do more after the cake."

"And let me guess, you want the cake now?" Bash chuckled.

"Please." He pouted, giving me his puppy dog eyes that reminded me of Cedric so much. "It's my birthday."

"Alright." I laughed, and felt the others look at me. "Let me go get it."

"Catch me!" CJ yelled and ran towards Bash. Bash caught him easily and threw him over his shoulder before running around in the garden as I went to the kitchen.

I was placing the candles on the large dragon cake when Molly walked in. She gasped as she saw the cake. "That cake is amazing! Where did you get it?"

"I made it." I smiled softly as I lit the candles the muggle way.

"I didn't know you could bake."

"I didn't. Not before CJ anyway." I chuckled. "I took cooking classes after he turned one."

"Cooking classes? You mean to say you made that from scratch, the muggle way?" She asked impressed.

"Yeah, from scratch without a wand." I chuckled as I carried the cake to the garden. "I took cooking classes in every country we visited." I smiled at Molly as she opened the screen door. "If you want, I can come over someday and we can cook together. If you want to learn how to make dumplings or something like that."

"That sounds lovely, dear. What about we make something together for the next Sunday brunch?"

"I would love to." We stepped up on the terrace to see George standing next to the door. He was looking at me like, I don't know, like I was the only one there. I looked away quickly and gestured to the others to start singing.

George disappeared inside the house for a few minutes, and when he came back out my heart stopped. His hair was short and black, and he was wearing a Superman costume. I pushed back the tears as I saw CJ running up to him in pure delight. The boy jumped into George's arms, and he carried him up on his shoulder. That man is amazing! I knew people were watching me, but I couldn't tear my eyes of George and CJ. Seeing them together, knowing George did all of this for my little boy, I let out a shuddered breath as I saw them walking through the garden.


OoO


I leaned against Charlie as the party dwindled down. The cake was eaten, the presents unwrapped and already in use. Lyra and Odin had left an hour ago, together with Molly and Arthur. But George left without a word, at least to me. I saw him whisper to Fred before he said goodbye to CJ and apparated away. CJ, Teddy and Victoire were playing with Fred and Hermione on the grass, I closed my eyes as I listened to the kids laugh and vaguely following the conversation of the others around me.

I must've drifted off because when I woke up it was nearly dark out and only Bash, Charlie and Harry were still present. I opened my eyes up groggily.

"Where are the kids?" I pushed myself up.

"Harry and I put them to bed. CJ didn't want to wake you." Bash smiled.

"Oh. How long-"

"Just about an hour. The others left thirty minutes ago, and Andy went to bed just now." Harry said across from me.

"Alright. Thank you." I smiled and sat up a bit straighter, Charlie's arm still around me. "I'll start cleaning up." I went to stand up, but Charlie held me in place. I tilted my head to look at him.

"Already done, love."

"You didn't have to."

"I didn't." Charlie grinned. "I was busy keeping you comfortable. You can thank those two." He pointed at Harry and Bash.

"Thank you." I kissed them both on the cheek once Charlie had let me go. "I don't want to be rude-"

"Go to bed, Gwen. I was on my way out anyway." Harry chuckled as he stood up and walked me inside. "Today was great, CJ will never forget this."

"Me neither, it was fun seeing everyone again. I even made plans with Molly."

"That's great. I'll see you Wednesday." He kissed my cheek. "Goodnight, Gwen."

"Night, Harry." I smiled as he popped out of the room.


OoO


I had changed into a shirt and shorts before I climbed into bed. A few minutes later, I heard Bash and Charlie come up and take the spare room. I tossed and turned in bed for about an hour, I couldn't find any sleep as George's face didn't leave my mind. His shocked face at seeing me, the hurt in his eyes when I fled the club. But what stuck out the most was his kind eyes, filled with love and history. I thought about what Hermione said, and Harry and Andy. About moving on, about the fact that Cedric would want me to be happy. I clicked on my nightlight and took the wedding picture from the nightstand.

I sighed as my finger traced over his face. "I miss you so much. I will love you forever and I see you in CJ every day. But I think it's time for me to move on, I think I'm ready to move on. I just wish I knew you would be okay with it. I wish you could give me sign."

There was a gust of wind from my open window, and something blue caught my eye. Cedric's superman shirt fell from the chair, and I smiled. "Okay." I nodded. "I got your message. I love you, Ced." I wiped away the tears and hopped out of bed and without thinking another second I apparated out of my room.


OoO


I was standing in the alley next to the shop. I glanced up on the spiral staircase that let up to the twins flat. My chest tightened as I walked up the staircase slowly and soundlessly. With a trembling hand, I pressed the doorbell. One, two, three. The door stayed closed. Four, five, six. My hands started to sweat. After a minute or so, I gave up and turned around. Just as I was about to take the first step, a voice came from behind me.

"Guinevere?"

I turned to see George standing in the doorway confused, his eyes tired from sleep. He ruffled his long hair a little, strands of hairs hanging between his fingers. He was only wearing chekered pyjama bottoms with nothing on top. I almost smiled thinking back when we were kids, but the nerves were taking the best of me.

"Hi." I said a little breathlessly. "I - I couldn't sleep." I fumbled with my sleeves.

"Alright." He said with no emotion, not making a move to let me in.

"And I wanted to thank you. For today, for making CJ's birthday so special."

"I was happy to do it, I'm quite fond of the little man." He offered me a small smile before it vanished. "You could've sent me an owl or tell me when you're coming over to the burrow or something."

"I wanted to see you." I said quietly.

"Guinevere-" He ran his hand through his long hair with a sigh.

"Our signals weren't crossed." I blurted out. "I just needed to figure this out."

"And did you?" He asked carefully.

I smile tugged my lips. "George Weasley, would you do me the honour of going out on a date with me?"

The smile that appeared on George's face let the butterflies in my stomach soar. He didn't answer but instead he stepped forward until our toes touched. As his bare feet touched mine, I only realised how I was standing in front of him. Bare feet in pyjama shorts and an old Weird Sisters' shirt. But I didn't have time to think about how I looked because he wrapped an arm around my waist and his lips crashed against mine. My arms were still hanging loosely next to me from the sudden kiss, but now they crept up his bare chest, tracing a few scars and his abs until I curled them around his neck pulling him closer. His hands cupped my bum, and he picked me up, my legs wrapped around his waist immediately.
The kiss deepened and George stepped back until we were inside the flat. He closed the door behind me and pushed me gently against it. And finally, FI-NA-LLY! My hands went through his long gorgeous red hair. Marvelling the feeling of his hair between my fingers, I tugged it. George moaned against my mouth and his hand cupped my breast. He pulled back slightly and rested his head against mine, his eyes closed.

"Are you sure? I need you to be sure. I can't take it if-"

I gave him a long soft kiss. "I'm sure." I caressed his cheek with my thumb.

"Then I would love to go on a date with you, Queen Guinevere." He smiled as his eyes fluttered open, and I started to laugh.

"Fred and Hermione?" I asked after the laughter subsided.

"At her place." He said as he leaned down to kiss the sensitive spot on my neck he still remembered.

"So, we have the whole place to ourselves then?" I traced my fingers over his shoulders and down to his chest, loving the way he shivered beneath my touch. "That's good." I smiled as I kissed alongside his jaw.

"Oh, really? Why's that?" He murmured tilting his head as I kissed his throat.

"I think you know." I breathed before I captured his lips again.


OoO


The next morning, I woke up on George's chest. He was breathing deep and slow, so I knew he was still asleep. I leaned on my arm and looked at him. His long hair was everywhere, I smiled as I wiped the hair out of his face. He was still as handsome as before, but now he was more a man than just a boy. I traced small runes on his chest, and he involuntarily shivered. I kissed his lips softly before I stepped out of his bed. I went over to his closet and took one of his shirts. Only dressed in a shirt, that just covered my bum, I walked to the kitchen. It was still early in the morning, so I quickly send Andy a fire message, since my phone was still at home, to let her know where I was, and I'd be home later. Once the message was sent, I started to make a pot of tea. I hopped up on the counter as I let myself wake up. I poured myself a cup of tea just as George came rushing out of the room, his eyes were large, and he looked panicked.

"George, what's wrong?" I made a move to jump off the counter, but he was in front of me and rested his hands on my face.

"I thought you'd gone. I thought-"

"I told you I'm sure, I'm not changing my mind." I leaned in and kissed him lazily. "Just a heads up, I'm a single mum. So, I'm used to getting up early."

"Oh." He frowned. "A single mum? That's kind of a dealbreaker." He kissed my collarbone.

"It doesn't feel like that." I grinned as I rubbed his boxers, his erection visible. He groaned as he let his head fall in the crook of my neck as my hand slipped in his boxers.

"Merlin, I missed doing this." He said as his hand slipped under my shirt.

"I've missed you." I said. "George, I -" I swallowed as I let my final walls break down. "I love you."

George looked at me, his eyes searching. His hands cupped my cheeks and his thumb grazed over my bottom lip. "I love you." His voice shook. "I never stopped." Then he kissed me so passionately, it made my knees weak, thank Merlin I was still sitting on the counter.