Last chapter. I'm surprised at myself, to be honest.
Giving birth was not a fun experience. And sadly, she had to do it twice, technically.
Twins.
Ridiculous.
And utterly extraordinary. The most painful, and amazing experience of her life.
It was happening right now.
Alicia groaned.
George, Charlie, Molly and Arthur were all there. Everyone else would have been there, alas, there were only so many people that could be in the room at once. In fact, the Healer had already given them all dirty looks, practically demanding that some of them leave.
She could have two of them, apparently.
She chose the grandparents, of course. Choosing George or Charlie would have been terrible idea. George had been . . . looking at her. Trying to say things that he felt-as if suddenly that would make a difference. He finally understood, apparently. Too late.
Charlie was just so . . . lovely.
She rather preferred not to think about that right now though. You know, because she was giving birth.
Two babies. One boy. One girl.
"Frederick Arthur Weasley."
She sighed. She wanted her babies to have their father's last name-especially since this family was so important to her.
"Charlotte Molly Weasley." Charlotte was her mother's name, in addition to being a variation of Charlie's name. Which meant something. He'd been there for her, throughout the entire pregnancy. He meant something.
He meant a lot.
Maybe not as much as George. But she didn't want to be with someone who meant something more than George, or even as much. People like that could really hurt you.
She was trying to find the in-between. Something or someone that could make her happy without devastating her heart and her life in the end. After all, she was a mother now. She needed stability.
"Hey, Leesh."
Alicia turned away from her babies and shushed George. "Quiet," she whispered. She got up and walked out of the room into the hallway with him.
"I've been up for essentially a week, and I can barely manage to get them to sleep. If you wake them up I will literally castrate you." She was serious. Probably.
"I'm in love with you."
"So?" Really, that was all she had to say.
"What do you mean?" Apparently he'd been expecting something . . . more than that.
"I've been in love with you for years. And now you choose to reciprocate my feelings? Um, what would you like me to say?"
"Oh. So there's no chance for . . . us?"
"George, I can't do this." Cries rang out. "I really can't do this." She left him alone and went back to tend her babies.
"Charlie! Hi." Alicia-wide-eyed and sleepless-looking-gave him a hug.
"Hey." He seemed nervous about something.
"Are you okay?" She drew back. "What's wrong?"
"I got an offer. Five years in Australia. Dragons. I have to live there, be there. It's part of the deal."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Well, have fun." It was said with faint bitterness, and slight hurt.
"I didn't say I was going to take it."
"Why wouldn't you? It's a great opportunity. You should go."
"Is that really what you want?" They'd been so close . . . and he'd been in love with her for . . . a really long time.
"What do you want me to say?" A tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
"Give me a reason to stay." He wasn't going to beg, but his eyes were pleading with her.
A long drawn out silence filled the room to its seams.
"I can't."
After all, as much as she cared about him-she was still in love with George still, and Charlie deserved more.
"I'll miss you."
"I wish I could ask you to stay."
"But you can't. You're still in love with George, aren't you?"
"You deserve better than what I can give you."
"No. He may be my brother . . . but you're the one who deserves more. I hope you find what you're looking for."
"Be happy, Charlie. I love you-"
"You're just not in love with me. I know."
They hugged.
"Good luck telling your mother."
"I'm definitely going to need it."
She wasn't in love with Charlie.
But she didn't want him-even though she was still in love with him.
George was horribly confused.
Charlie told him that he needed to give her what she deserved, treat her well.
"Fight for her."
Maybe that's what he needed to do. He hadn't given her any reason to believe that he loved her enough, that he truly wanted her-that it wasn't just about Fred, or even about jealousy over Charlie.
He needed to prove it to her.
"I bought a flat."
"Good for you." She really didn't need this.
"I'm not going to give up on you. I bought the flat for you and the babies."
"What?" She was utterly shocked. What in the world was he up to?"
"I'm serious. I love you. And I want to be in the lives of these babies. I want to be like a father to them. I want to be there, for them and for you."
He seemed sincere.
"I can't."
"That's okay. Give it some time, think it over."
"I'm not going to change my mind."
"I'm not going to change mine either."
"Tell me that in a year. And I'll believe you."
She said it in jest, as if his feelings were flimsy.
He took her up on her offer.
"Okay then, I'm not going anywhere. But a year from now, when I come to you, I want you to remember this."
She wasn't sure whether to believe him.
He hadn't gone anywhere.
He'd been . . . wonderful for the past year.
And today was the day.
The day something important would change.
He knocked on the door. She opened it.
"I love you, Alicia."
"I love you too." She propelled herself into his arms and kissed him.
"So are we giving this a chance?"
"Um, George? Shut up and kiss me."
And he did.
And they started something beautiful.