A.N.: Here's your next dose of fluff. I felt like I needed it this Sunday and I thought maybe you do, too.
Thank you lilvictoire for betaing this chapter for me.
Chapter 6: … is not nearly enough
Hermione could not have wished for a more perfect first date. Even though she had first been sceptical about the London Eye it really had not been so bad, maybe because she didn't have much time to think about the heights she was in as Fred had successfully distracted her.
When they finally were back on the ground, they had taken a stroll along the Thames, eating ice cream while holding hands. It was almost like they were a real couple, like going out together had been their choice and not the result of the ministry's meddling. On the other hand… maybe it was their choice? She could well imagine that some of the ministry-made couples did not even try to get to know each other better. But she could not imagine leading a life next to each other without leading it together, it would mean leading a lonely life - which she was not ready to do. After they had finally lived through the war Hermione found she deserved a little happiness and Fred did too. Was it so unlikely that they could find this happiness together?
"Thank you for this wonderful date," Hermione murmured just as Fred led her to a quiet corner of Hyde Park, planning to apparate them back home. "I really enjoyed myself, Fred."
"So did I," he said, pulling her close. Hermione found herself gravitating towards him, her lips seeking him out before she realized what she was doing, but Fred welcomed her with a happy smile. "Luckily for us, this evening does not have to end, if we don't want it to. We have all week, you know?"
His lips found her then, kissing her oh so sweetly while his fingers ran through her hair, before coming to rest against her neck. Merlin, it was so easy to get lost in those kisses, get lost in him but how much longer until she would forget that this had not been his choice, or hers?
"And it is our honeymoon, after all," Fred murmured, breaking their kiss with a gentle smile. "Fancy continuing this on the sofa?"
Hermione nodded mutely, as words somehow would not come to her. Fred did not seem to mind though, as his arms closed around her back a moment later, whisking them away without forewarning, right into their living room. There she landed with a surprised gasp, Fred chuckling as he pushed her backwards, right towards the sofa. She squeaked in surprise as her knees connected with the seat a moment later, making her lose the balance, but Fred caught her around the waist and lowered her gently, before he sat down right next to her, resuming their kiss as if nothing had happened. It took her a moment to let go and relax, but when she did she felt him smile against her mouth, while his brown eyes looked at her with something like adoration. Even though she was probably just imagining things she could not help her heart melting in her chest, hope and tenderness blooming where days ago had only been doubt and uncertainty. Maybe things between her and Fred would truly work out. Would kissing him feel so good if there wasn't at least a little bit of affection and chemistry? Would he look at her like that, if he didn't feel something for her?
'Because I definitely feel something,' Hermione thought while she ran her fingers through his short red hair, relishing in the soft feeling of it. 'I just don't know if this scares or excites me.'
Ssssssss
Things were actually going pretty nicely, Fred mused as he stretched out on the mattress next to Hermione, his wife. It still sounded strange to call her that but all in all he got used to the idea of them together, and he did not just mean bedding her. He always knew he'd have no objections to the latter, as the witches' petite body had always had its appeal to him. He had always thought Hermione would never be interested in a bloke like him, as far as he could tell she had never looked at him twice.
But she did look now and Fred could only hope that she liked what she was seeing. He definitely enjoyed the sight of her, or her company in general. It was no secret that his wife was intelligent, but only now he realized how witty she was and how much fun it was to listen to the little observations she shared with him now and then. This and the several stories she shared with him during their date made the day pass oh so quickly, making him anticipate their next date even more. There was lots of stuff they could do together and he would have to pick something good, even though all he wanted to do right now was stay inside the flat and make her his. But if the last hours had told him anything it was that he would have to tread very carefully and not hasten things along. No matter how much of a Gryffindor Hermione was, when it came to that aspect of their marriage, she was as skittish as a Pixie. Luckily there was no hurry for now, they had five more days until they would have to consummate their marriage. With a sigh, he looked at the woman next to him, tucking the large blanket over her exposed shoulder. He could tell he was already falling for her, his heart rate increasing whenever he considered their shared future. This was really happening. Now all he had to do was make sure that he didn't mess it up.
Ssssssss
Hermione awoke in a bubble of warmth feeling strangely content. This time she did not even need to open her eyes to know where she was, her brain was still somehow caught up in the previous day and the developments it had brought for her and Fred. There had been many kisses - definitely more than two - and in the end it had not mattered who'd initiated how many of them. Somehow they had both been equally enthusiastic about it and after a while there did not seem any use in keeping count.
"Good morning, Mrs Weasley."
Fred's mouth whispered softly into her ear, his lips brushing her earlobe ever so slightly, making her shudder. She did not know how he could tell that she was awake, she had not even opened her eyes, but he had probably already been up, waiting for her to wake up. How late was it anyway?
"Good morning Mr Weasley," she greeted back, slowly turning around towards him. "Did you have a good night?"
"The best," Fred answered, softly kissing the spot behind her ear. Hermione giggled, trying to hide the shudder that ran down her body when he touched her like this. "I love falling asleep with you in my arms," he whispered into her ear, "and waking up knowing that you are there. Wouldn't wanna have it any other way."
Strangely, she felt the same. Having Fred here just felt right in a way she could not explain but instead of worrying she decided that she was just going to enjoy her luck of having been assigned him as a husband.
"Me, too," she admitted before slowly turning around. When they were finally facing each other she smiled, before continuing: "Is it strange that we think like this, after just two days of being forced into marriage?"
"Not at all," he replied, his thumb caressing her cheek. "As I said, I've fancied you for quite some time now and I am a handsome bloke."
Hermione giggled, playfully shoving Fred's chest. "You're impossible!"
Instead of replying, he kissed her, his lips warm and gentle, while his eyes looked at her full of warmth. She held his gaze, her lips dancing against his while she studied him, noting the happy wrinkles around his eyes. "Impossibly happy," he corrected her, his fingers running through her hair, caressing her scalp. Hermione moaned, she could not help it, it just felt too good. Before she knew what she was doing her fingers reached for his chest, where they took hold of his T-shirt. Somehow holding onto him helped her to stay calm even though she felt like they were going to encounter foreign territory. Not that they hadn't snogged in bed before, but this morning things felt different for her, more exciting. And from Fred's reaction she figured that it wasn't just her. Every one of his kisses tasted more tempting than the last one and soon she could feel his hands wander down her back to the hem of her pyjamas. First his fingers only brushed the naked skin of her back, but soon they wandered to her belly, playing with the hem of her trousers. Hermione found herself tracking their path full of excitement, her skin starting to tingle wherever Fred's fingers went. Hell, she wanted this, wanted him and she decided to show him just that. In a bold move she pulled up his shirt and started to explore his chest. Somehow this seemed to have been the sign he had been waiting for, because suddenly she felt him undoing the buttons of her pyjama top with nimble fingers and each little pop made her stomach flutter in excitement.
"You're beautiful," Fred murmured as he pushed the shirt from her bare shoulders, underlining his thoughts with more kisses and caresses. "Absolutely gorgeous."
For a moment she felt like contradicting him, but she decided against it. Instead she tugged on his shirt, saying: "And you are overdressed, Sir."
Fred chuckled and with a grin he rid himself of his T-shirt, exposing his muscular chest. He really had many freckles, she realized and for a moment she had the urge to count them. Maybe one day, she decided, already getting distracted by his kisses and his large hands again. One day she would count them all, kiss them, every single one of them. Luckily, with the new addition to their rules she now could, because one kiss a day would not be nearly enough - not when it came to Fred Weasley.
