Chapter 12: Weasley Trust

"Love, what's wrong?" a male voice quipped from the adjoining room. Ron glanced at the open door and sighed. Blaise walked out of the room with bandages in his hands; his left arm already wrapped well, though blood spots were already seeping through. "I'm sure Harry will come and heal our Marks soon, but please let me wrap it up."

As Blaise began to dress the Mark on Ron's arm he heard Ron mutter; "It's not that..."

He finished his work and then knelt between Ron's knees. "What is it then, Ron?"

"I got a letter from my brother in Romania..."

"Charlie...?"

Ron nodded as he continued, "It seems that he and Bill are in a huge fight, Bill has even moved back to London to work at Gringotts again... Charlie fears that there isn't a way to fix things between them and has asked for my advice," Ron paused, "only thing is, I don't know what to do."

Blaise leaned up and kissed Ron's lips softly. "What would you do if it were us?"

Ron puzzled over it for a few moments. "Try to make it up to you, talk to you...but the thing is, Charlie is more of the one who doesn't know how to say what he means or what to say in person; Bill wouldn't accept a letter, that's why Charlie is so worried, he doesn't know what to do without writing it down first."

He gazed into his lover's Gryffindor eyes and sighed, "Then as soon as Harry comes and heals us lets take a little leave to see Bill; let us talk to him for Charlie."

Ron smiled; "That would be great but... we still have two N.E.W.T. s to take, we couldn't leave."

"Ron, I'll let you in on a little secret; all we have to do is be able to perform a particular spell for Flitwick and a paper for Minerva that we could write now and turn it in by the time we leave. Rumour has it that her paper is required to be ten feet, but it's not. It just has to cover the spell adequately."

His eyes were shining as he asked, "What spell, Blaise?"

Blaise grinned darkly, "Tipidious Spell... do you remember it?" Ron nodded; it was a spell he had learned in sixth year, it transformed objects from around the house into magical substances. A normal steel teapot could turn into a wolfsbane potion or other such things; Snape and McGonagall had both taught it to them, to emphasize the importance of it and what it could be used for...need a healing potion transfigure a napkin into one, it could save your life. Writing an essay on that would be wonderfully easy.

"I believe that we should get to work don't you agree, love?"

"Yes," Blaise muttered softly as he reached over for some parchment. "I'll be in the study, you go a head and work here; less distraction that way..." he blushed slightly as he turned towards the adjacent study door. As he left, Ron smiled and put his quill to the paper; he was determined to complete this assignment tonight, as well as performing the charm for Flitwick.

Both tasks the boys completed with ease and turned their projects in before breakfast, as shocking as it was, and nearly gave Minerva a heart-attack, Ronald Weasley had turned in his N.E.W.T. s early. But before they had left to turn their essays in, Harry had knocked on the door. He was asking to look at their Marks. He healed them right then, saying he was sorry at least a thousand times.

They left for Bill's flat. He had a good-sized apartment in a wizarding neighbourhood of London. In truth, though, it was located behind Knockturn Ally. Ron knocked loudly on the large oak doors and as Bill's voice asked who it was, Ron bellowed, "BILL!"

They both could hear Bill's voice quiver as he inquired, "Ron...?" Ron pounded on the door once more, and, Bill, though hesitant, opened the door a crack. "What do you want Ron? You should be at school!" (rofl…I think it'd be better if Bill just let him in, I can't see darling, adorable sweetheart Ronald Weasley breaking down the door, just cause he was upset over a fight that isn't even his.).

"I think you know exactly why I'm here!" Ron snapped and Bill moved backwards into the living room, fearing the wild look in Ron's eyes and the mirth in Blaise's. Bill attempted to direct Ron in a conversation that was far from the reason that he was there; somehow he knew that Ron had spoken to Charlie and that he had to delay the inevitable, "Are you just giving up on the N.E.W.T. s?"

Blaise spoke first, "No, we finished our N.E.W.T. s yesterday; as for school, we had a family matter to attend to..." Blaise went silent as Ron shot him a glare.

"Why the BLOODY HELL did you leave Charlie?"

"Very discrete, Ron!" Blaise muttered as Bill shrunk back against the far wall in the living room.

Bill looked at Blaise with fear in his eyes; Charlie asked Ron to come talk to him about why he had left? Merlin, he was dead! "Things just aren't working out for us anymore, that's all." Bill hoped that would be enough to satisfy his youngest brother.

"Oh, is that it? Then why did you leave without a word?" Blaise nodded, Ron did have a point.

Damn it all to hell, couldn't Charlie keep anything to himself? "Look, Ron, it's none of your business why we split... We just did things weren't working out on many different levels. If Charlie asked you to come find out why I left then tell him to ask our brother-in-law, all right? I need to go find those three anyway, why don't you come with and ask Oliver about him and Charlie!" As Bill said the last sentence tears began to spill down his face.

It was clear to Blaise that Bill hadn't wanted to leave, or at least he still loved Charlie, and so whatever was wrong was cutting them both deeply. "Ron, settle down; Bill tell us what happened." Blaise's voice was soft, comforting and yet still commanding. Slytherin like...

Bill sat down on his couch and motioned for them to join him. "I'd have to say that things between us started to get bad when Charlie insisted on adopting a child; he knew that I am NOT ready for children but he was already looking around at the orphanage. After a long battle of wills, I won. Things started to go great again, until about three weeks ago..."

Bill paused, unable to speak. He swished his wand and three glasses of water appeared before them. He took a drink as Blaise encouraged him to continue. "What happened then?" his voice low and had a timber to it that sent a shiver down Ron's spine.

Bill glanced at them and then continued, "I woke up one night and went to get something to drink, when I got back Charlie was moaning. Being that we're the only ones in the house, I felt that him moaning was strange. As I grew closer and laid back down I heard Charlie moan "Oliver" extremely loudly and clearly. The next morning he and I fought about it. It happened three other times, each moaning Oliver's name and gasping right after. I was going to let it slide, until it got worse..."

Bill gazed off into the fireplace, which ignited. A slight blush crept up onto his face, "We were making love one night and he... and he gasped loudly and moaned HIS name again. The next day I was gone, a note on the pillow saying goodbye."

Ron and Blaise both shuddered; moaning someone else's name in the middle of making love was extremely bad... and tacky. "Bill," Ron began softly, "would you at least consider talking to Charlie," he paused, then added, "with us there?"

Bill looked into his brother's eyes and sighed. "If you promise to keep us at separate corners?"

Blaise nodded and turned to the Floo. As he summoned Charlie, Ron went over and put a hand on Bill's shoulder. "Do you still have your pensieve?" Bill nodded and got up, retrieving the requested item. "Thanks, this might be able to sort things out." Again, Bill nodded. Charlie entered the room, his arm in a sling, and Blaise lead him over to a chair where Ron soon joined him. Blaise went and joined Bill on the couch again. "Charlie," Ron started with a fixed tone of control in his voice, "Bill seems to think that you're cheating on him."

The expression on Charlie's face was one of pure shock. "That's insane, Bill; you know how much I love you, why would I sleep with someone else?"

Blaise spoke in Bill's stead; "Charlie, from what it sounds like you're either sleeping with someone else or that you fantasize about it every night."

Charlie blinked several times trying to place what was being said. "Oliver, you think I'm sleeping with Oliver."

Bill nodded; "Yes, and there was time too... A month ago, he and the twins were visiting us. George, Fred and I went to observe the Ridgebacks, while you took Oliver to look at your darling water dragon. There was plenty of time to get a few good rounds in before we met back up!"

Charlie sighed. "If you'd be so kind to remember, I also broke my arm again while they were there; defending YOU from the mommy Emeraldback, because you thought her baby was adorable!"

Bill glared at his ex. "What has that got to do with anything?"

Charlie looked at Ron and the pensieve beside him. "I take it that's for me to use?" Ron nodded and Charlie proceeded to put two different memories into it. "The first I'll show you is the first time I broke my arm!"

Charlie was lying in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts, Oliver, it had to have been Oliver's first year, was walking over to Charlie. He sat besides him and helped him drink out of a water glass. Poppy hadn't had a chance to mend his arm yet, but she'd be over as soon as a few others were taken care of. Charlie didn't mind, at least he wasn't alone.

"Charlie, what happened up there?"

"Bludger to the arm, rather painful actually, but Poppy's no pain charm works wonders while I wait." Charlie smiled, "Why, Oliver?"

"I was trying to figure out what happened, it was so misty that I was having trouble following..." Oliver blushed, "And you're like an older brother to me, I was worried."

Charlie chuckled softly, "That's sweet Oliver, but I'm fine. If you don't believe me, go ask Bill." Oliver smiled and nodded, reaching over to lightly move the ice that was slipping off Charlie's arm. Unfortunately, Oliver pushed a little too hard and Charlie moaned in pain, "Oliver," loudly.

Oliver moved instantly and screeched softly, "Oh, Charlie, I'm so sorry; please forgive me, I didn't mean to honestly! Please don't get mad at me... I'm so sorry!"

Bill's eyes were wide, it sounded the exact same as his moaning did when he was asleep. "Oh," Bill mumbled quietly.

Ron inquired, "What about when you moaned his name in the middle of... um, you know," Ron's face burning to become the same shade of his flame hair.

Blaise chuckled at his lover's modesty and finished his sentence for Charlie who didn't quite understand. "When you two were making love, you moaned Oliver's name once... the night before you woke up to find Bill gone."

Charlie blushed, "Geez, Bill, why'd ya tell them about that? Can't you keep your trap shut!" Bill just smirked softly and waited for Charlie to answer the question. "I was going to have you watch this with just us... but if you'd rather they watch us then..."

Bill blushed a darker red than his hair and looked at them. "Could you give us a moment?"

Ron and Blaise walked down the hall to sit in Bill's bedroom. Charlie nodded as they were out of sight and moved with the next memory.

Bill was thrusting into Charlie with only passion to guide him; he was lost for the lover's instinct to be gentle with his lover... He gasped and Charlie moaned. He could tell that they were both close; could see that Charlie was about to lose the battle. Bill's features blazed with pleasure as he climaxed; Charlie following only seconds behind. They lay there, cuddled together for a few moments when Charlie gasped and as Bill moved to see what was wrong heard Charlie moan, "Oliver..."

Over Bill's shoulder Oliver stood, beat red and turning away. The Floo was still open, he'd just arrived; before another word could be uttered he fled into the fire. This left Charlie gaping at the fireplace and Bill's betrayed eyes glimmering with tears as he stood and fled into the other room.

Bill rushed Charlie; squeezing him tightly as he started to cry into Charlie's shoulder. "Merlin, Charlie, I'm sorry I should have trusted you... Can you forgive me...?"

Charlie's eyes brimmed with unspilt tears. "How do I know that you'll trust me, like I've always trusted you? As much as I want to forgive you and take you back, I can't if it could happen all over again."

Bill wheezed and turned away from Charlie, reaching for something on the bookshelf. When he turned around, tears were falling harshly down Bill's cheeks. "Charlie, I can promise that I will always trust you. I can promise that I'll always ask you about things, if something seems to be amiss. I can promise you so many things...but, it's not enough; not anymore...

"So let me offer you a promise that you can choose to accept or not... I offer myself and all that comes with that bond... Marry me, Charlie," Bill's voice faded as he held up their father's first wedding ring, not the one he now wore which was his renewing of vows ring—his second wedding ring. Charlie gazed down at the plain silver ring, how had Bill gotten it...? Should he take on this new commitment, when he wasn't sure if Bill was ready for marriage... let alone children?

Bill paled; Charlie was actually considering not accepting. If he didn't accept, Bill didn't know what he would do; though, he did know that living was not high on the list. Charlie began to cry; "Yes, Bill, of course yes." Bill's eyes glowed brighter than they ever had and he kissed Charlie with a passion as fierce as the flames in the hearth.

"Merlin," Bill whispered in praise as he sensually removed Charlie's shirt, "I'd thought I'd lost you."

Charlie gasped as his silk shirt vanished only seconds later, "I love you Bill..." Charlie's pants and boxers were stripped quickly.

"And I you," he whispered as he entered Charlie with a shuddered sigh. "And I you..."

It seemed like hours later, full night had descended upon the small apartment, as Bill awoke to Charlie's soft moan of contempt as Charlie wrapped him in a loving embrace. Bill chuckled and pulled Charlie to his feet; "Come on, love; let's go to bed."

Charlie nodded and followed Bill into the bedroom when they both blinked in shock. There on the bed was Blaise and Ron; curled upon Blaise's robe, Ron's robe covering their naked bodies from view. Charlie chuckled whispering into Bill's ear, "Maybe we shouldn't have left them alone for so long?" Bill only smiled. "Should we wake them and tell them to get back to Hogwarts?"

Bill gazed at the two vulnerable figures on his bed. "No, let's get them under the covers; it's freezing tonight... You get one, I'll get the other." Charlie smiled and pulled Ron into his arms; Bill hauling Blaise into his grasp. Charlie glared at the robes and they flung themselves off the bed and the covers pulled themselves open to admit the four. Charlie placed Ron in front of Blaise and had them cuddling as he climbed between Blaise and Bill, snuggling happily into Bill's embrace.