"Yes?"

George walked over to his brother and punched him right in the nose.

"Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?"

Fred asked, feeling his nose to make sure it wasn't broken, it wasn't.

"That was leaving everyone without so much as a note."
George huffed, walking into the kitchen and flicking on a light.

"What? Look, you don't even know half the story so maybe you should-"

"Maybe I should what? Just forget that for ten years my own twin disappeared and no one knew where he was? That our entire family is in ruin because of it? Do you even know how many people's lives you affected?"

Fred gawped at his brother.

"I can explain George, look-"

"You better have an excellent explanation for it then."

Fred sighed, "Remember how I used to manage our joke shop's finances?"

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A little while later, Fred finished his story.

"Why didn't you tell me? You used to tell me everything Fred, how come not this?"

George was leaning against the counter.

"I was so ashamed of it, and I thought I could handle it on my own."

George shook his head and chuckled.

"How is everyone anyways?"

"Well, Percy has dad's job now that he retired, Bill is still working for Gringott's and married to Fleur. Charlie went back to Romania again, he loves it there, apparently. Ginny's had another child since you've left. Mum and dad, well, dad retired since you left, so he could take care of mum, she hasn't been quite the same ever since you disappeared. Still calls me everyday to see if I've heard anything."

Fred could feel his eyes watering.

"And Lav…ender?"

"Funny thing, I just bought the shop right next to hers. She's er, she's married now. I was at the wedding actually."

He tried to slip in the last part casually but Fred caught it and looked up abruptly.

"M-Married?"

"Yes, her name is actually, Lavender White now."

"She got married."

Fred said flatly.

"I'm sorry Fred, I probably should've broken it to you-"

"N-no! It's fine, I mean, it has been ten years…"

George nodded again.

"You should visit her with me tomorrow! For old time's sake, and after that we'll drop 'round everyone else's too."

Fred nodded, his eyes glazed over.

"Well, you can take the couch tonight."

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Nothing, could have ever prepared Lavender for what happened the next morning. Nothing.

She'd been having a particularly busy day in her shop, and it had finally calmed down, much to her relief. She sighed and waltzed with herself into the backroom, removing her heels and sitting down. She also took her hair out from the tight bun it had been in, and then stood up to look in her floor length mirror. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders, just hitting her off the shoulder shirt. Wiping her hands off on her jeans, she started humming to herself and braiding her hair, something she'd enjoyed doing ever since she was a child. She undid them however, when the bell on the front door sounded, signifying that someone had entered the shop. She hurried out, slipping on her shoes as she did so to greet them.

"Bloody hell."

She whispered. Fred's reaction mirrored Lavender's and he stared at her, drinking in her appearance. Lavender shook her head and walked over to him, cocking her head to one side.

"Is that, is that really you?"

She asked, amazed.

"Yeah…"

Slap

"Why does everyone keep doing that?"

Fred complained loudly as Lavender stormed into the backroom again. George was in hysterics and doubled over beside his brother.

"I warned you, don't be expecting any pansies and roses from anyone else either, when I floo'ed Charlie he cracked his knuckles right in front of me and gave this funny little grin."

Fred grimaced and followed Lavender into the backroom, surprised to find her crying.

"Lav?"

"What?"

She snapped.

"Are, I-I heard you got married…"

Fred looked at the ground and Lavender hiccupped, nodding.

"I did."

"Oh, um, that's…. great."

"What, Fred, did you expect me to wait this long? Yes, that would've been terribly romantic, but it's not realistic. I waited Fred; I waited 6 years before I got married, hoping every single day of those years I hope that you'd come back to me," She brushed some hair out of her eyes, "But you didn't."

"I wanted to-"

"But you didn't. So when I was introduced to Ethan…"

"Do you have children?"

"No, not yet."

Fred looked up at Lavender, and his eyes travelled along her face. She'd aged well, a laugh-line here, maybe what could have been a wrinkle but was more likely to be a stray hair there. She still looked the same; the only thing that had changed really was now instead of the natural smile that used to seemingly always be there was gone, and now her face seemed tight, distraught almost. But Fred would've bet anyone that if he could get her to smile for him right now, she'd still have that tiny dimple that he pictured every day since he'd left right in her left cheek.

Lavender, too, looked at Fred, her eyes searching him for any glimpse of a man she'd known once. Same build, same violently red hair (it was a bit longer) same eyes, and yet, something was different. He seemed, he seemed tired almost; the look on his face was weary and pleading.

"Well, you should go,"

"Oh, okay, uhm, could I come see you aga-"

"No, Fred Weasley, you cannot come see me again, ever."

She said coldly. Fred nodded and walked out the front door, meeting his brother. Lavender flipped the sign hanging in the door to 'CLOSED' and walked back into the backroom, sobbing.

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A key in the door, and Ethan looked up from his paper.

"Lavender?"
Lavender walked into the living room, dropping her keys on the coffee table and sitting down without a word.

"Lavender?"

She cringed, of all the things, he couldn't just call her Lav, no, it had to be Lavender.

"What?"

"How was your day?"

"Fine."

"Anything exciting happen?"

Yeah, the guy who I promised my heart to ten years ago and who up until now was supposed to be dead visited me.

"No."

"Why are you being so stroppy?"

Lavender huffily got up out of her seat and started walking to their bedroom.

"I'm not being stroppy, I'm fine, and I'm going to bed."

Ethan slammed his paper down on the table and followed her into the bedroom, locking the door.

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A boy has his arms wrapped around a girl's shoulders and the girl has one arm extended, pointing at something in the distance as if saying: "Look at that! Are you looking?" The boy is nodding when really he's only staring at the girl.

Flip.

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Fred's visit to his siblings was eventful. Not only physically, but emotionally painful as well. The worst was when Ginny's children ran over to him yelling, "Uncle George! Uncle George!", and when he told them he was actually Uncle Fred, they started laughing, and said, "We don't have an Uncle Fred, what are you talking about?"

The only people who hadn't slapped him, slammed the door in his face (That was Bill, and he'd opened it right after, he just wanted to let Fred know how angry he was without actually hurting him, Charlie, on the other hand…) were his parents. Mrs. Weasley had "never looked happier in years!" as his father put it. Arthur also had somewhat of a grin on his face. Molly was even happier to inform Fred of every detail of Lavender's wedding, exclaiming that it was "the first thing the girl's done right in years" and that it was okay because she and Fred had been "terrible for each other." George could see how badly this was affecting Fred and shot him a reassuring smile. Arthur countered Molly's words later whilst he was talking with him.

"You two seemed really happy together."

"Yup."

"You know, it's not her fault or-"

"I know, it's my fault."

"No, let me finish. It's not her fault, nor is it yours. Things could've turned out differently. She waited six years Fred, and then her mother told her to stop being so foolish and get married while she was still young. Sometimes I think that she had every intent of waiting for you, no matter how long. Those 6 years, she never lost contact with our family, Ginny's children even recognize her as an aunt now. But after she got married… I don't think her new husband liked her keeping contact with her "dead" boyfriend's family," He shot Fred a glance, "So she only visits Ginny now."

Arthur clasped his hands together when he was done.

"Er, thanks dad."

Fred stuttered, getting up to leave.

"No problem."

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Meanwhile, at Ginny's house, Lavender was telling her everything.

"It looked like he expected me to just drop everything, run into his arms and everything would be alright!"

She exclaimed incredulously.

"So what did you do then?"
"I slapped him."

"Me too."

The girls exchanged a quick, nervous giggle.

"I just, I almost hate him for coming back now Gin, I mean, now I'm analyzing every part of my marriage!"

"Oh shut up and be happy like I know you want to."

"Ginny! The very fact that he came back is destroying my relationship! I mean, I married a doctor who-"

"Abuses you? Beats the living daylights out of you?"

"That was only 3 times Gin."

"I don't care!"

"-Who over-analyzes EVERYTHING! Yesterday night instead of letting me sleep he forced me to tell him what had happened!"

Lavender hung her head and Ginny frowned, narrowing her eyes.

"Take off your polo-neck."

"What? Why?"

"Because it's the middle of summer and you're wearing a polo-neck, take the sodding thing off!"

"No it's fine I'm a bit chilly and-"

"Lavender Brown!"

Ginny crossed her arms. Lavender shamefully removed her sweater and closed her eyes, not wanting to see the expression on her best friend's face when her eyes met with the purple welts on her arms and neck.

"Lav…"
Ginny's tone softened and she went to go hug her friend. Lavender shook her head and stood up, putting her sweater back on.

"Bye Gin."

She walked out of the house.

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