Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
25 Days of December
Chapter Two- Presents
Pairing: Bill/Fleur
2nd December 1998
Fleur sighed and sank slowly onto the blue couch, one hand resting carefully on her stomach. There was a small bump there that was just visible underneath her pale blue jumper that Molly had knitted for her at Christmas last year. She curled up against the soft cushions that covered the couch and stared into the flames that flickered quietly in the fireplace. The burnt orange light washed over the room and made Fleur's silvery hair look strawberry blonde and made her icy blue eyes dance with the reflection of the flames.
He was late.
She knew that the war was over, and she shouldn't be worried. But that didn't stop her from being terrified of staying home alone. Every time she found herself alone in the house she started to remember all the terrible things that had happened in the war. She shivered and reached to her neck where a necklace Bill had bought for her birthday hung. She fingered the pendant and smiled to herself.
Bill always panicked when it came to buying presents. He always thought he'd pick something wrong and offend whoever he was giving it to. He spent ages shopping for presents, worrying that he was going to pick something someone else had got, or something they wouldn't like.
But the funny thing was, Bill was the best present-buyer Fleur knew. And everyone agreed. The whole Weasley family looked forward to opening their present from Bill, because the presents he bought were always perfect.
Fleur looked up from the fireplace as she heard the familiar sound of a patronus gliding into the room. It was Bill's. She looked up at it expectantly.
"Sorry I'm late, love. I'll be home soon, I just wanted to pick up an early Christmas present for Gin since she's going to be in Wales for Christmas." Came the tired sounding voice of Bill. Fleur chuckled to herself. Ginny wasn't leaving for a week and a half. That was another thing… Bill hated getting presents last minute.
She smiled and curled up on the couch again, relaxing in the warm glow of the fire. Bill would be home soon. No more worrying.
~-2-~
Bill sent the patronus off and rubbed his eyes distractedly. He hated Christmas shopping. Most of the shops were closing up for the evening, and he still hadn't got anything for Ginny.
He checked his watch. George and Ron would close the shop in about five minutes. He wandered towards it, but didn't really know why he was doing it. He never bought presents from the joke shop; in case he got something George and Ron had already bought. He went anyway; maybe he'd ask George and Ron for advice on what to buy. Then again, they'd probably just laugh at him.
Bill's entire family was under the impression that he was the best present-buyer in the universe. Of course, this just put him under even more pressure to buy a good present. It drove him insane. Especially since he had such a huge family!
He shivered and just as he reached the outside of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes stopped and frowned to himself. Inside, Ron was lounging about the counter, yawning. The shop had just closed. Bill sighed and turned around.
What was he doing? He knew full well Fleur hated being home alone. Most of the shops were closed already. He wasn't going to find Ginny a present tonight. He might aswell go home and get out of the cold… snuggle on the couch with Fleur and the baby.
He smiled at the thought of the baby. Then, he noticed a small trinket shop in front of him. It was open. And in the window was a small mobile for babies. Little shells and seaside things span around slowly. Shell Cottage. Bill thought to himself, a grin spreading across his face. It wasn't a present for him… it wasn't even a present for Fleur really… but it was perfect.
Feeling slightly smug, he went into the shop and bought it.
~-2-~
He apparated onto the doorstep of Shell Cottage and let himself in quietly, hiding the bag containing the mobile behind his back. But Fleur was curled on the couch, wearing one of Molly's Christmas jumpers. She was fast asleep, her lips curved into a smile, one hand curled around the necklace Bill had bought for her birthday and another resting delicately on her stomach.
Bill smiled and walked to kneel down beside her. The firelight made her silvery hair look strawberry blonde. Bill wondered if that was the hair colour their baby would have. He kissed her forehead, then the hand that rested on her stomach and went upstairs to wrap the present he'd bought.
When he came back downstairs, Fleur was awake, and sitting up on the couch.
"Bill?" She asked sleepily, turning around to look up at him with sleepy blue eyes. He smiled and kissed her.
"Sorry I was late." He told her. She smiled back.
"Zat's ok. Did you get Ginny ze present?" She asked.
"No." Bill said. "I couldn't find anything she'd like." Fleur grinned amusedly. "I did find a perfect gift for us though." He said.
"Oh? What was 'eet?"
"You'll have to wait and see." Bill teased, putting his arms around her. She laughed softly.
"I love you." She told him.
"I love you too." He replied, kissing her.
Fleur smiled… She didn't need the perfect present. She already had it.
.
.
A.N- Chapter Two done! Review please!
Toff.x