A/N: Here is the big talk between Fred and Hermione. It will mostly be dialog with some internal monolog so I will do my best to not leave you confused. Thank you to all the followers, favourites, reviewers and general readers. I love you all. This will most likely be the longest chapter I have written to date.

Chapter 16 Heart to Heart

"Okay, now about last night…"

I could feel my heart beat in my ears as the words came out of his mouth, watching the gentle curve of his lips as they moved. Seeing the kindness in his eyes my body naturally relaxed, never taking my hands from him I forced myself to be strong. I waited for him to continue but he didn't he merely watched me, looking for me to continue.

"Yes, last night." I stammered nervously, my palms beginning to sweat.

"Did you want to start? Or I can?" he looked nearly as nervous as I.

"No, no I should." He nodded beckoning me to continue. "Firstly I want to apologise, not only for turning up at your home at all hours of the night banging on the door waking you but for being such a drunken mess once you let me in. I wish I had a better excuse for my actions other than that I was drunk but I don't. I'm so sorry Fred, really, I am such a prat, I burst in, threw myself at you and when you respected me I got mad at you and trashed your house. Oh Merlin! I trashed the flat!"

I began to pull my hands from his and move away but he caught me, shaking his head and laughing softly to himself. Moving so that my back lay on his chest, he brushed my hair from my cheek and nuzzled into me.

"Was there a secondly?" he teased lightly whispering into my ear.

"Yes. I wanted to say thank you, uh before you interrupt let me finish. I wanted to thank you for turning me down, I know it might sound weird but as much as I wanted something to happen last night I am glad it didn't, I know you aren't a virgin but I am. This is important to me, my virtue is important to me, even if it didn't seem that way. I just want anything that happens between us to be real, I want to feel special and for it to mean something but most of all, I want to be able to remember it the next day. We have to spend the rest of our lives together because of this law and I don't want to have any regrets with you. I want this to work more than anything in the world and after last night I want you know that I trust you whole heartedly. You stopped and respected me when I was too careless to respect myself. So thank you Fred."

I leaned my head back to kiss him on the cheek deciding to ignore the water look in his eyes. Wrapping his arms tightly around me, I could hear his heartbeat as I rested my head into the crook of his neck.

"Your turn now." My voice was barely a whisper but he nodded to confirm he had heard me before taking a deep and sighing.

"You are so beautiful Mia, when I saw you on my door step last night my heart skipped a beat. You have no idea the effect you have on me; you are so caring and good. I couldn't do that to you Mia, I could let you make a decision you might regret because I care too much about you to risk that. It's not about what I wanted in that moment. I would have loved nothing more than to take you in my arms and throw you onto my bed and be with you in every sense of the world, but I couldn't because it wasn't right. You shouldn't have to thank me for doing the right thing; any man should have made the same choice that I did. Never feel like you have to be something you're not with me. Hermione, there are some things I need to tell you."

He moved me away from him and turned me so that we were once again eye to eye. His tone more serious now. My fingers trapped nervously over my engagement ring, each of his pervious words burrowing into my soul. This man cared for me in a way in which I had never been cared for before.

"Yes Fred"

"I would never take your virginity before you are ready Hermione. I understand what a huge step that is, the level of trust and love that is required, no demanded for such a personal and special moment..." I cut him off short leaning forward, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"What was your first time like?" my eyes wide, not in any form of jealousy but in wanting to know more about him, about his experiences.

"I'll let you know when it happens."

A blush crept onto his cheeks and he shifted his gaze away from mine waiting for my response. It took a minute for me to comprehend what he had just said. Was the great Fred Weasley telling me what I thought he was telling me? Was he a virgin? But that was impossible, I had seen all the girls that he and George dated throughout our days and Hogwarts and Ginny had all but confirmed my thoughts. Yet here he was, sharing this with me.

"Fred are you? Are you a virgin?" you could hear the shock in my voice which was louder than I had intended it to be.

"Please keep your voice down Mia. Yes I am a virgin, a piece of information that is not well known. You and obviously George are only aware of this, and before you ask 'what about all the girls from school?' nothing happened. Well that's a lie some things happened but never that. Much like you I happen to view sex as a sacred act between two people who truly love one another. George however did not share my view and being twins' people often get us mixed up, hence the reputation for the Weasley twins being womanisers. So I just let people think what they wanted to and minded my own business. Besides it wouldn't have been fair to anyone, I had my eye on a particular girl from just after fifth year on."

"So last night?"

"Was as much for you as it was for me. You didn't want your first time to be a drunken mistake, but neither did I. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had let it happen like that. We both deserve more." He leaned forward pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

"Wait," I pulled away to look in those big brown eyes. "The girl from the end of fifth year..."

"What about her?" he looked slightly amused.

"Who was she? Do I know her?" there was a certain edge to my voice that I couldn't place

"Why Granger? Jealous are we?" he smirked at me, a secret behind his eyes.

"No!" I shot back, "I just want to know that you are over her, you did ask me to marry you after all." I huffed, was I jealous?

"Relax Mia, I will tell you whatever you wish to know. Yes you do know her, and no."

"No what?"

"No I am not over her, and I never will be."

"Oh" my heart sunk, I guess Ginny was wrong and Angelina had miss heard. "So you love her then?"

Fred paused for a moment before nodding. Tears welling in my eyes and a heart that felt like it had been stabbed I went to move away from him but he caught me again.

"Wait…" he said.

I looked into his eyes and cursed myself for believing that he could ever love me. He continued to speak, holding my hand tightly.

"I remember the first time I saw her actually. She was this tiny thing with unruly hair, kept going on about some toad that a boy had lost. I kept telling George that she was going to be trouble for us but he laughed it off as nothing."

My heart began to rise.

"Then she was sorted into Gryffindor and for someone so smart managed to find herself in an awful lot of trouble." He shot me a wink but continued on pushing his index finger up to my lips to stop me from speaking.

"I remember when she landed herself in hospital because she was too stubborn to just let some things go. That was the first time I really felt something for her. Something more than just brotherly concern. I watched as she grew into this beautiful young woman. So strong, so independent. And the way she punched Malfoy was just damn right sexy. But it was when she came with my family to the Quidditch World cup that it hit me. She wasn't a little girl anymore, she was something else entirely.

When the Death Eaters attacked, dad told George and me to take care of Ginny. As we were running I found myself looking for her. I even left Gin and Georgie to go find her. I needed to know she was safe. The relief that flooded through me when I saw her, when I saw that she was safe. And then school came, and I didn't know what to do because how would she ever see me as more than her best friend's prankster older brother, as the pain in her side.

I wanted to ask her to the Yule Ball, but by the time I worked up the nerve to seek her out, I was forced to watch her not only be asked but accept the offer of another man."

I looked at him wide eyed, this was really happening. A tear slid down my face and he lifted his hand to catch it.

"When I saw you that night I was beyond jealous. You were a vision, I watched in anger as every boy who had ever over looked you suddenly saw what I had seen months maybe even years before, that now they saw the beauty not only inside of you but the outside as well. I remember being in the DA with you and watching your every move, the way your eyes lit up the first time you cast a full bodied patronus, watched as you looked on in awe as your otter swam around the room. I nearly lost my mind when you disappeared to go on the run with Harry and Ron. I needed to know you were okay, and then suddenly you were there, and you saved me, in so many ways you saved me. I guess what I am trying to say Hermione is, I, I, I love you and I have since I was 16."

With this I could take no more hearing him talk about how he remembered me, how he loved me was enough to send me over the edge. I pressed my lips to his and began to kiss him feverishly. I put all my pent up emotion into this kiss, sliding my tongue along his bottom lip as to allow me entry. Leaning my body against his so that we slowly reclined, Fred on his back and me above him. One hand in my hair and the other on my waist as I deepened our kiss. He loved me! Fredrick Gideon Weasley loved me, Hermione Granger. He lightly pushed me off him, looking at me he sighed again.

"I mean it Hermione, I love you, and I understand if you need more time but I just, I needed to say it out loud to someone other than George."

I pressed my lips softly to his, pulling away slightly our lips centimetres apart. "I love you too"

His lips recaptured mine and I began to lose my train of thought, allowing myself to be enveloped in his scent and warm embrace.

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We finally managed to pry ourselves away from one another, both of us in desperate need for oxygen. Giggling I nestled myself into his side, my bed was far too small for the both of us and it seemed this was the only way for us to lie next to one another comfortably, not that I was complaining at all. I looked up at the wonderful man whose arms I was surrounded by and at this moment wondered why I had ever been so nervous as to speak with him about the pervious night's events.

Besides things wouldn't change too much now would they? I mean we had only said that we loved one another. Good Godric I told Fred I loved him. I tried to keep my face neutral as internally berated myself. Had yet to even decide if I did indeed love him when my stupid mouth had made the decision to go ahead and tell him without first consulting me. The more I thought about it though the more it seemed silly. It was plain to see that I loved Fred, it explained so much. I buried myself deeper into his body making an approvingly noise as he gripped me tighter.

"There is one more thing I wanted to talk to you about Hermione."

"Anything for you." I sighed happily.

"Would you consider moving into the flat above the shop with me? Just for the time being, I figure it will make wedding planning easier and we can start to really get used to one another that way, oh and we can start looking for a house!" his voice was beaming with excitement.

I looked up at him again, my mind going a million miles per hour as I contemplated his question. He was right we did have to live together eventually, I hadn't even thought of where would live once married. We hadn't discussed much of anything now that I thought about it, well much about the future anyhow. Where would he want to live? How many children did he want? Did he expect me to stay at home and take care of them? What about finishing my final year at Hogwarts? I could feel myself begin to hyperventilate.

"Mia? Mia baby breathing! Its okay, it's okay. I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked you tonight it's a lot to take in in one go. Ugh I'm so stupid, I'm sorry Mione." He tightened his embrace briefly before releasing me.

I moved away slightly trying to catch my breath, blood pooled in my cheeks as I attempted to calm myself. Placing his hands in mine I focused on my heartbeat and the warmth in his eyes.

"No, you're right we should talk about this, there is so much we need to talk about. Fred I was planning to go back to Hogwarts come September, now what am I going to do? We are getting married a month into school returning. Fred how are we meant to start living together and get married if I am at Hogwarts!" I could hear the panic in my voice and Fred could see it in my eyes.

"Relax Hermione, relax. I may have already spoken to Kingsley about this. According to him that whilst our weddings must all take place within the time frame, those wishing to return to school to finish their final year are more than welcome to. It means we get an extra time before we have to have kids. I also spoke to Professor McGonagall about this. You see, it was meant to be a surprise but George and I have bought Zonko's in Hogsmeade. There are two flats above the shop. One for us and one for Ginny and Harry while Ginny finishes school. Minnie has agreed that all seventh year students may live with their spouses. For couples like us we can live in Hogsmeade or for interschool marriages they will be given their own dorm. I'm not rushing into this Mia; I have thought everything out so that we can make this work. And as for the wedding well I managed to get your dear old headmistress to give you some time off just before and after the big day, what kind of husband would I be if I didn't take you on a proper honeymoon." He nudged me playfully

"So, so I don't have to give up my education?"

"No."

"Or have a baby right away?"

"No."

"And we can take our time finding the right house for our kids to grow up in?"

"Yes Mia, we have time, so, will you move in with me?"

My mouth opened but no words came out, I just stared at him, my mouth gaping. He really had thought of everything, he had answered all my questions, all except two.

"How many?"

"What? How many what?" he looked at me confused and slightly taken aback.

"How many children?"

"Umm, well, and don't get me wrong I love my family, but I only want two, maybe three. It's not that coming from a big family wasn't great because it was and being a twin I always had someone there for me, it's just I want to give you and our children the world. Yes the joke shop makes good money, great in fact and I know you will want to help pay for things because we are not living in the past where woman couldn't work and there money was deemed worthless. Crap I'm rambling. My point is, I want to spoil you, all of you, and being more makes it harder to do so. I know from experience. I don't want to have to pin them against one another if they wish to receive a gift. George and I were the only ones not to become prefects you know? And mum always says how every child in her family has been one. It's like Forge and I don't count, like we weren't good enough. Even when we made the Quidditch team we got Bill and Charlie's old brooms because they received new ones when Bill got head boy and Charlie was a prefect and Quidditch captain. We never got anything new or special because we focused on our dreams and not just academics."

I took him in my arms, I could hear the hurt in his voice at how he felt like he was never good enough for his mother, how because they left school early to open a joke shop that that made him less than his siblings.

"Listen to me, you are special, what you and George do is amazing! OWL's or not, NEWT's or not, it takes real brains to create what you two have done, the spell and potion work alone baffles me to say the least. Yes a part of me wishes you had applied that more to your studies as you wouldn't have been as much trouble for me to deal with but you are perfect the way you are. You are you and you are a part of this family," I wiggled my fingers between the two of us. "And two or three sounds perfect."

I kissed him softly before pulling away again

"I guess I better get packing then. But you are telling Ginny!"

We laughed together on the bed, embraced in each other's warmth. I could feel myself falling deeper and deeper in love with this man and I didn't want it to stop.