Rain Will Make the Flowers Grow

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

A/N: Thanks to all of you that sent me messages, clearly concerned about the fate of this fic. I truly appreciate your support. I must now apologize profusely for the delay. I was working full-time this summer and the little time I spent on my computer was spent checking emails and occasionally reading my subscribed fics. I really didn't realize that it would consume so much time. Also, for about a week, I was without my laptop, as it was sent off to HP for a new keypad. It works beautifully now, though. After re-reading my first chapter (finally!), I got some inspiration.

Without further ado, here it is.

Chapter 2 "A Little More Exposition"

Alicia Spinnet couldn't be sure when it happened. She should have seen it happening. It had been so gradual that she almost missed it. She had been his friend and confidant first. But now it was true. She was in love with George Weasley. But it wasn't easy. But that didn't make her love him any less.

Then he had lost everything worth having: his mother, his older brothers, his twin, and his sanity. He felt guilty over Fred's death, though she was sure somewhere deep down he knew there was nothing he could do. When he had told her he needed space, she hadn't argued, only granted it. She understood. She had already lost a friend and understood how the heart aches with the sudden loss. After three lonely, heart-wrenching weeks, he had come back to her. And she had finally shown him the physical side of her love for him. Falling asleep beside his warm body was comforting in such a dark and troubled world. She knew everything would be fine; George was her anchor.

Then he had called off several of their dates. At the absolute last minute, without a reason. He cited "family problems" later, but he often used that excuse. She wondered if there was just a fear of commitment to blame. So she let her insecurities get the best of her the next time they met up. She accused him of everything: of using her, of under-appreciating her, of not loving her. And he just gaped at her, unable to say anything to show her how wrong she was. So she left him.

The next few weeks were absolute murder. She saw brief glimpses of him at St. Mungo's as he came in with his family for counseling and check-ups. She caught him sending her a look of longing once, and almost bolted away from her patient and into his arms. But she was Alicia Spinnet, pediatric healer. And George had never uttered the words she so desperately needed to hear. I love you. She knew he wanted her, but she had to know he loved her.

So she threw herself into her work. She even got a bit of a promotion, getting the chance to train as an assistant department head. Healer Bennett even told her that if she kept up the good work, the department might be all hers in a few years.

All hers. All she wanted for hers alone was George Weasley. Work was just an empty substitute. After a few days spent sobbing alone at her flat, she knew she couldn't just mope around and wait. No, if she wanted George Weasley, she was going to have to go after him. If he didn't want her back, it was his loss. (Not that she actually wanted to ponder life without him…)

So she went to planning how to approach him and the subject. She saw his characteristic red hair, so different from the rest of his family's (in a lover's eyes, of course), and considered going up to him right then. But then Ginny walked up beside him and leaned her head on his shoulder, tears running down her pale face. George squeezed her gently, then they walked toward the floo point.

It would have to wait. Right now George was needed by his family more than her. He was the only one making any kind of recovery, so he had to step in and help Ron with the finances and their sister and father.

Tomorrow might be better for them all.

A/N: I know this wasn't my best, but I felt Alicia deserved her say. I guess you can assume what happens next chapter, eh?

Thanks again to all my reviewers and to my beta jwoods471, whose very presence inspired the creative process again. : D