A/N: Ok. So you might notice this isn't a new chapter. I somehow skipped posting chapter 4, so you should go back and read that if you received a notification for a new upload. Sorry for the confusion.


Alicia tugged her denim skirt down self-consciously. This had disaster written all over it. How had Fred even talked her into doing something so utterly stupid? His damn red hair and brown eyes and lopsided smile, that was how. It was just lucky he hadn't realised back at school that he could use his resemblance to George against her.

Plus, he had assured her over and over again that George actually would be happy to see her. The one thing he couldn't guarantee was that anyone else there would be happy to see her. Alicia, though, was certain that no one else in the house was going to be pleased when she showed up without warning.

So, that begs the question, why was she standing on Katie's doorstep awkwardly adjusting her clothing then? This night was going to be painful and confronting but she needed to do it, to get it out of the way finally. And Fred had reasoned that it might be beneficial to get it over and done with in one go. See George and Angelina and Katie at the same time, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Alicia had a weird feeling she was the one who was about to have stones hurled at her. But at the end of the day she desperately needed George and her friends back in her life. She was going to have to do this sooner rather than later and she was sick of feeling like the prat who fell over at the Battle and let everyone down. This was her time to prove she was brave and ready to face up to her greatest fear, because that ultimately was her greatest fear, that she had burned her bridges and no one would want anything to do with her anymore.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She heard footsteps come running immediately and Fred threw open the door. They had planned this only a few hours ago in her flat. Fred would be the one to open the door and bring her in. Then, surprise!

"What the hell, Leesh, you look like crap."

"Uh, excuse me?"

"You're paler than Nearly Headless Nick. Are you going to faint?"

Alicia shook her head, which only served to make her feel as if she might truly pass out. "I can't do this, Fred."

"Course you can," he answered cheerfully. "You're already here. The hard part is almost over. Take my hand and we'll walk in together."

"Thanks," Alicia said softly. She suddenly felt very young and small and out of her depth. She blushed and surreptitiously rubbed her sweaty hand on her skirt.

"Come on, before someone wonders what's taking me so long."

Fred seized her hand and dragged her unceremoniously into the house. She could hear voices in another room.

"I don't understand why I can't answer my own front door all of a sudden," Katie was saying.

"That idiot is up to something," Angelina replied.

"Ah, the love of my life," Fred whispered.

Alicia smiled and squared her shoulders. The least she could do was walk in with her head held high. "Thanks for doing this, Fred. I really owe you one."

"Fred! What are you up to over there?" Angelina shouted.

"You don't owe me anything. Just be good to my brother and look after him for me."

Alicia nodded fervently. Fred squeezed her hand and led her through Katie's modest little house. She lived in Edinburgh which didn't surprise Alicia one bit. Katie had grown up in London and was a city girl through and through, so there was no way she could handle living in a little village like Hogsmeade. She needed the noise and the hustle and bustle.

They walked through the living room and stopped in the doorway of the kitchen. George and Angelina were sitting at the table and Katie was walking over to them with three drinks clutched precariously in her hands.

"Oh my gosh! Look who I just found on the doorstep!" Fred announced dramatically.

Three heads turned to them and three things happened simultaneously. George leapt to his feet, sending his chair flying back; Katie squealed and dropped all three glasses which smashed on the tiled floor, sending water and juice everywhere; and Angelina swore and started calling Fred every name under the sun.

Fred quickly pulled his wand out of his pocket and repaired the glasses and cleared the mess away. George retrieved his chair then stood in the middle of the kitchen with his hands on his hips and a confused look on his face.

"Hi, everyone. Hope you don't mind if I join you for dinner," Alicia said tentatively.

Katie shoved past George and threw herself at Alicia. "I can't believe you're here! Why didn't you tell us you were coming? I would have planned a much fancier dinner. We were only going to have pizza. Do you still eat pizza?"

Alicia hugged Katie tightly and studiously avoided eye contact with George. "Anything is fine, Katie. I mainly came to see you guys anyway. I'll eat whatever you're planning to have."

"Oh my God, I've missed you so much!" Katie released her and stepped back. "Let me get a good look at you. Shit, your boobs look fantastic. What have you done to them? And your hair is so long! I love it!"

"Thanks. You're still as gorgeous as ever, Katie. I love the darker highlights in your hair."

Angelina stood up and marched over. "Yeah, yeah, we're all still smoking hot. What's going on here? How did Fred know you were coming?"

Alicia could see the anger and hurt in Angelina's dark, almond-shaped eyes. She didn't want any of that anger aimed at Fred. "It was entirely my idea. I thought it might be a nice surprise for you all."

"A nice surprise? It's been almost six years! You can't just show up unannounced like this!" Angelina said.

"Ease up, Ange," George said mildly.

She immediately turned and concentrated her ire on him. "You keep out of it. If Fred knew she was coming then you had to know as well."

"Uh, did you not just see him flip his chair over? No way George knew she was coming tonight." Katie pulled Alicia over to the table and made her sit down. "I want to hear everything, Leesh. How long are you visiting for? Where's your sexy French boyfriend?"

Fred grabbed Katie by the shoulders and manoeuvred her around to the other side of the table. "Relax and give the poor woman some space. George, get her a drink or something."

"Water?" George asked, meeting Alicia's gaze for a split second. "Or something a little stronger perhaps?"

"Water is fine."

"Why don't you sit down and relax too, my sweet," Fred suggested lightly and Alicia noticed that this time he didn't try to manhandle Angelina. He probably knew he'd end up with a few broken fingers. "Drinks all around, Georgie. I'll have a Butterbeer."

Angelina sat in one of the chairs next to Katie and Fred sat on the other one. Alicia felt strange sitting alone on the other side of the table. It felt like an interrogation or something. That probably wasn't going to be far from the truth, she thought bitterly. How was she going to do this? All at once, nice and quick? Or one thing at a time? Let them digest each revelation in turn?

"Well?" Angelina prompted snappily. "I believe Katie asked you some questions just now. Do you plan on answering either of them?"

"Come on, you sound like an Auror now," George said as he dumped some glasses of water and a few Butterbeers on the table. "Give it a rest, will you. Alicia doesn't have to answer if she doesn't want to."

He sat down beside Alicia and she tried not to get her hopes up. It didn't necessarily mean anything that he was defending her. Maybe she should grab his hand under the table and see what reaction she got.

"So how long are you here for?" Katie asked brightly, ignoring the indignation radiating from Angelina.

"I'm back for good, actually. I'm renting a place in London at the moment."

"Yes! That's brilliant!" Katie enthused. "I knew you'd come back one day. Everyone else thought you were long gone."

Alicia swallowed and braced herself for the onslaught. Angelina was openly glaring at her from across the table. "So you decided to move back home and didn't bother to tell anyone? Or don't you think your former friends deserve to know?" she demanded.

"Please don't say former friends. I never meant for it to happen like this." Alicia reached out and grabbed a glass of water and clutched it for dear life. Her hands had started to shake. "I've thought about coming to see you every day since I got back."

"Wait, how long have you been back?"

"Almost a month now," Alicia answered sheepishly.

This time even Katie looked stricken. Angelina stood up and shook her head sadly. "I can't believe you would do this to us. You disappear with barely a word for all those years then you can't even be bothered to see us till a month after you get back. I'm glad I know where I stand."

Alicia didn't know what to say. She stared down at the tabletop and blinked back tears. Fred spoke up for her. "You don't understand, Ange. It's more complicated than you think."

Angelina ignored him. "And these two imbeciles knew you were back before I did. That's the real insult here."

"Angelina…"

"No, George, I've heard enough. I'm not going to sit here and listen to any more."

With that, she stormed out of the kitchen. A door slammed in the distance and Fred let out a loud breath. "Well…not an entirely unexpected reaction."

"I don't understand why you would do this," Katie said. Alicia looked up to see she was also now standing and shaking her head forlornly. "I always defended you when Angelina said you had abandoned us for good. I knew there had to be a reason you hardly ever wrote to us. But if we're still your friends you should have come to see us the moment you got back."

"I'm sorry," Alicia said hopelessly.

Katie followed in Angelina's footsteps and the same door slammed shut again. Alicia took a few gulps of her water and wished she actually had asked for something stronger to drink.

"You shouldn't have come here tonight," George said. "This was a bad idea."

"Yeah. Clearly no one wants me here, so I might as well leave."

"No," Fred said firmly. "Stay right where you are and you shut up, George. This had to be done eventually."

"The Quidditch season is coming to an end so Angelina is stressed and tired. You know better than anyone that this is really bad timing."

"You think she should have waited another month to show her face? That'd make the girls even angrier."

"They're already furious and they don't even know the worst part yet. When Angelina finds out about Warrington she's going to lose it. This was a stupid idea, Fred. You shouldn't have gotten involved."

Alicia stood up suddenly and slammed her empty glass down on the table. "Look, this is my mess and I'm going to sort it out on my own. I'll go tell them everything and if they don't want anything to do with me, then so be it!"

Fred was suddenly looking uncertain about the whole situation. "Maybe you should let them calm down a bit first. We can go for a walk and pick up some pizzas."

Alicia shook her head. She'd mustered some resolve from somewhere and she wasn't going to let it slip through her fingers now. "You two go on your own. I'm going after the girls to tell them everything and if I'm not here when you get back then you know it didn't go well."

"Alicia, stop and think about this."

"No. I'm done keeping Jake and Christopher a secret from everyone. I don't care if the whole world knows anymore because they're part of who I am. Yeah, I admit I didn't handle it well, but I don't deserve to be punished for the rest of my life for one personal decision I made five years ago."

Alicia finished her speech, her chin trembling slightly. The twins didn't say anything this time so she left the table and followed after her friends. She walked right into the lion's den with her head held high.

"So…"

"I'm not talking to you."

"You just did."

"Bloody hell, Fred. Why'd you bring her here? When did you arrange this whole thing?"

"I went to Alicia's place today. Warrington made a point of telling you that he was watching his son this weekend so I knew she'd be able to come to dinner. I was just trying to help."

George shook his head and tried to keep his temper in check. "So that's where the access card to her place went. Why did you go see her behind my back? What were you trying to do?"

"I was trying to force your hand!" Fred answered exasperatedly. "You need to do something before you lose her again."

"I lost her the moment she decided to get involved with Warrington."

"Don't be ridiculous. She wants you, not him! Are you blind? She showed up here tonight knowing she wasn't going to get a warm welcome from any of you. Give her a little credit for making an effort."

"I'm not having this conversation with you," George said firmly. "It's my life, not yours. Worry about yourself and Angelina from now on, okay."

Fred opened his mouth but closed it again when George glared at him. They sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. It was only broken by a loud squeal from the direction of Katie's bedroom.

"That probably means they know about the kid," Fred said with a wry smile.

"His name is Jake," George said quietly.

"I know. So how long do you think this is going to take? Ten minutes? Fifteen tops? I'm bloody starving."

"I think it's going to take a lot longer than fifteen minutes. Might as well go get some pizzas."

George stood up and left the kitchen without waiting to see if Fred would follow him. A scream and a loud smash emanated from Katie's room this time. They both knew it was Angelina and they both knew it could only mean one thing. Alicia had told them about Warrington now as well.

George retrieved his wand and some Muggle money from Katie's coffee table and wondered briefly if Alicia was going to tell the girls what had happened between them over the last week. He'd asked her not to, but he hadn't exactly done anything to make it worth her while to keep a secret from her best friends. Ultimately, he couldn't really blame her if she told them everything. Anyway, Fred would probably tell Angelina eventually and then Alicia would be in more trouble for not coming clean herself.

"I can't remember, is it left or right?" Fred asked as they walked down Katie's driveway.

"It's left." George threw his brother an incredulous look. "We walk to this same pizza shop every few weeks. How come you're twenty-six and still have no memory for directions?"

"How come you're twenty-six and you still have no idea about women and relationships?" Fred shot back. "And you won't even accept help from your own twin brother who happens to be an expert in the field."

"Fine! Enlighten me then. What should I do?"

Fred hummed thoughtfully to himself, as if he really was about to give a master class in relationships. "At this point, you could do anything and it'll be a good start. I mean, you just need to do something more than what you're doing now, which is nothing."

"You suck at this."

"I can't tell you exactly what to do! I don't know Alicia well enough to know what she likes. I buy Angelina jewellery whenever I fuck up real bad. Could you do that?"

George rolled his eyes and fought a sudden urge to stick out his foot and trip Fred so he would fall flat on his stupid face. "Oh yeah. Here Alicia, I'm sorry I shouted at you and showed you my ugly scar. Have a pair of earrings."

"Earrings and a necklace then?"

"That's dumb. You're dumb. In what universe would you ever be considered an expert on women?"

"In this universe right here where I've had a perfect relationship with my soulmate for the last nine years." Fred hummed thoughtfully again. "Okay, what about a romantic gesture then? Make some fireworks in the shape of a big love heart?"

"That might work if she was still fourteen years old."

"Point taken. Don't worry, I'll think of something else."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Fred would open his mouth every once in a while then frown and close it again. He clearly wasn't going to be of any help. George was going to have to work it out for himself.

They made it to the pizza shop and placed their usual order. While they waited, George wondered how things were going back at Katie's. Would the girls really drive Alicia away once they found out everything? He hadn't exactly reacted maturely either but part of that was the way he found out. Hearing it from Alicia would have undoubtedly softened the blow.

Besides, Angelina and Katie probably wouldn't be quite as disgusted as he had been. They'd want to hear all the gory details. On the other hand, the thought of Alicia being with Warrington still made George's stomach churn. How was he going to handle being around their son all the time? Was Jake going to be a constant reminder that Alicia had once slept with Warrington?

A woman called out their order number and slid three boxes across the counter. Fred handed the top two boxes to George and they left the shop. As soon as they were outside Fred opened the box he was carrying and started eating a slice of pizza as they walked back.

"I've got it this time," he said through a mouthful of pepperoni.

"I don't want your advice anymore."

"No, I've really got it this time. When we get back you have to walk straight in and grab Alicia and kiss her."

"What?"

"Yeah! All the girls will think it's so sweet and romantic if you just march right over to her and kiss her without saying anything."

"That's sexual harassment, not romance. That's the worst suggestion so far." George sighed and figured he might as well come clean. "I haven't even made a decision yet."

"What do you mean?" Fred demanded, spraying pizza everywhere. "We both know you want to be with her. You were too dumb to notice back when she wanted you, then by the time you wanted her she wouldn't even look you in the eye. After school you procrastinated and then she disappeared for years. Don't wait around any longer because Merlin knows what could happen this time."

"But it's not that easy. What if Warrington is-"

"Don't worry about Warrington!"

"What if Alicia realises she should get back together with him," George pressed on. It felt good to tell someone about everything that had been flipping back and forth through his mind for the last few days. "He is the father of her child after all. That's a major connection. I'm just the bloke she had a crush on at school."

"You lost your virginity to each other – that's something."

George almost dropped his pizzas. "Don't you dare mention that to her. She doesn't know that you know about that night."

"Never fear, it's locked away in the vault," Fred assured him. "I don't get why you're worried though. If Alicia wanted to be with Warrington she'd still be with him."

"What if she changes her mind in a few years?"

"Why would she? He's a fucking prick and it sounds like Alicia knows that now. You should be more worried about someone else snatching her away. You think she's going to stay single while you take forever to sort out your shit?"

George had been so focussed on Warrington that he hadn't even considered that possibility yet. That panicked him a little bit. She was beautiful and funny and sweet, of course she wouldn't stay single forever. It was sheer dumb luck that she hadn't met the love of her life back at school, back when he was focussed on making trouble and having fun. He may have been a late bloomer when it came to the opposite sex, but plenty of other blokes at school had fancied Alicia. Right now it didn't seem like she was obsessed enough with him anymore to ignore any other man who showed an interest.

"So what do I do?"

"I told you already! Just do something, for Merlin's sake. You need to man up and cut her loose or tell her you want to be with her. What you're doing to her now is just plain cruel and you know it."

Fred was right about that at least. George knew doing nothing was the worst thing of all, but he didn't think tonight was the right time to make his choice. He needed time alone with her. Maybe they could take a walk together later.

If she was even still here. Fred opened Katie's front door and they both paused in the entryway and listened hard.

"It's awfully quiet," George said ominously.

"Wait. I think I can hear someone crying. Go and take a look," Fred hissed.

"No way! I'm not going into that room on my own."

George followed Fred towards Katie's bedroom. As they got closer he noticed the door was ajar and he too could hear someone crying.

"Ladies! Come on out, we have pizza!" Fred announced cheerfully as he kicked the door open.

All three women were still there. All three of them were huddled on the floor together and it looked like they were all crying.

"You're the self-proclaimed expert, is this a good or bad sign?" George asked.

Fred shrugged and helped himself to another slice of pizza. "Wouldn't have a clue, mate. I honestly don't understand women at all."