Move
Chapter 7

June came as a shock to Fred. He had spent the past few months sending George and Katie off on their honeymoon, babysitting with Harry and Ron, opening the new store just weeks before Christmas, working with George on new products for summer, and the thing he looked forward to most, spending a day or two with Ani every month. They would spend hours in the snow or watching TV until Fred had to go back to his bare apartment and the women trying to seduce him. He went on more dates now, able to suffer through them by thinking of Ani.

Fred knocked on Ani's door and she burst out, throwing her arms around him. She seemed so excited to see him; not that he didn't get a hug when he visited, but she seemed so hyper today.

She kissed him passionately, their lips moving slowly. They never kissed like this, pausing only a second for quick breaths before their lips and tongues were once again dancing slowly together. The loved each other, though neither would admit it, even to themselves; and both thought the distance was too far, so they constantly refrained from the long passionate kisses they both loved.

Their lips drew apart but their foreheads touched and they looked into each other's eyes. Fred's heart yelled for him to tell her how much he loved her, but his mind pushed away and he continued to look into Ani's amber eyes.

"I'm moving to London," she said her smile growing wider, something that seemed impossible.

"Really?" Fred said as his eyes grew larger with his smile.

"Yes."

Fred spun Ani around, her feet flying in the air as they laughed happily. They would finally be able to have a relationship, one that didn't span an ocean, one that was more than the close friendship they shared.

When Fred finally set Ani down he pulled her into another long passionate kiss, his hands gripping her tightly. He could barely contain his excitement as he pulled her body into his, neither of them wanting to leave the moment. They couldn't stand in the hall forever, no matter how much they both wanted to, so Ani pulled Fred inside quickly when he had pulled back for a second to look into her eyes.

"I haven't told Greg," Ani said referring to the man neither of them brought up. "And I think I should do it alone," she was afraid Fred would get angry, but he couldn't, because she was moving to London, and today nothing could jar his good mood.

"Right," Fred said before another long passionate kiss after which he walked back to Ani's room. He couldn't help but listen to them talk, and the conversation began as soon as Greg came in the door.

"Hi," Ani said happily and Fred had no doubt in his mind that she was giving him a hug, but he didn't care.

"Hi," Greg replied before Fred could hear their footsteps as they walked into what Fred guessed was the living room. "Ani," he said his voice filled with an emotion Fred could not yet read, "I wanted to take you out, but it smells like you already have dinner ready."

Why would he want to take her out? Did he already know she was moving?

"I love you," he said and Ani was speechless, Fred hoped. He couldn't help but wonder if she was kissing him as passionately as she had just kissed him. Fred heard a shuffling noise and feared it was Ani and Greg's bodies moving against each other, but that was pushed by his mind when he found out what it really was, "Will you marry me?" He had moved to get on his knee.

Fred wanted to run form the room, to walk into the living room so Ani didn't forget him and so Greg would know he was there.

"I'm moving to London," Ani said giving him neither a yes nor a no.

"What?" Greg asked his voice squeaking. He had read that reply as a no, but Fred was worried that it wasn't a no, but a yes.

"I mean, no," Ani said firmly. Fred smiled; she didn't want to marry Greg.

"You're moving?" Greg asked devastated, "to London?" Seconds later he remembered Fred, the British jerk who had taken Ani from him. "It's that guy, isn't it? You're leaving to be with him!"

Fred would've been happy to hear a yes come from Ani, but he knew she was going to London to get her Ph.D., something he still didn't understand, and because she had always wanted to live in England, not for Fred.

"No, it's not just because of Fred," Ani said angrily. She was going to England for Fred, not just Fred, but partially for Fred. "I'm not the kind of woman to chase men around the world."

Greg gave an almost evil laugh, "Whatever, we both knew if I had an accent, you'd have been in my bed every night," he said bitterly. Fred heard the unmistakable crack of her hand hitting his face hard seconds later.

"Greg, I might have had a crush on you as a teenager, but when you didn't feel the same way, we became friends. I invited you to New York because you couldn't find a job, and I wanted to have a friend with me. I don't love you the way you love me, don't insult me or the people I care about because of that," she said before storming away.

Fred stood a few feet from the open door and she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the kitchen.

They were quiet for the first few minutes, the silence broken when Fred burnt his tongue. Ani laughed as he hurriedly and frantically gulped water down from the faucet.

"Glad I could make you laugh," Fred said, his tongue still burning.

Neither of them mentioned Greg, even though he could be heard packing in his room.

Two weeks later, Fred was helping Ani move into the empty apartment across the hall from his own.

They fell onto the couch after hauling the last boxes in, each filled with what Fred guess was a small library. Ani slipped her arms around Fred, happy to finally have him all to herself. She had been ready to forget her classes and move to London months ago, but she had stayed and gotten her Masters degree, which was in a frame already hanging on the wall.

They spent as much time together as they could over the next nine months, eating breakfast and dinner together before going to work, class, or their own bedrooms. It took them that long to finally admit to themselves how much they cared for each other.

They hadn't admitted it to each other yet, each not sure what to say, but as they stood under a store overhang on a cold rainy night, the cold freezing their ears, they both knew it was the time to say something.

Fred had his warm hands cupped over Ani's icy ears, hoping to keep her warm as they both shivered, their bodies inches from touching.

Fred moved one hand to cradle Ani's head while the other moved down to become firmly planted on her back. He pulled her into him for a quick, soft, and cold kiss. He pulled back to look into her eyes, each of them had smiles playing across their lips.

"I love you, Ani," Fred said softly almost drowned out by the rain.

"Thanks," Ani said playfully. Fred let out a short chuckle before Ani added, "I love you."

Fred kissed her again, his lips warm and soft against hers which still held a small amout of clear gloss.

Fred quickly realized how lucky he was. The months passed with him watching Ani cook or working at her desk and falling in love with her all over again. The light would catch her hair in just the right way and he could feel his heart beat a little harder. He marveled in the moments of perfection, making sure to tell her how much he loved her a few times a day.

He bought the ring months before he had the courage to propose to her. He had it in his pocket at all times, hoping he would find the right time to ask.

They were walking in the rain when he realized that it was time for him to ask her. They had met in the rain, professed their love in the rain, and now they would get engaged in the rain, if Ani said yes.

Fred led Ani down the streets until they stood in front of Big Ben, Ani's favorite place in London. They stopped and Fred kissed Ani's cheek softly.

"Oy, love," he said gently, "I was thinking," he paused and pulled the velvet box from his pocket; "your finger looks a little starkers." He winked at her, a small gesture that always made her smile, "Will you marry me?" he asked as he opened the box.

She looked at the dull platinum ring that held a diamond the size of a small car, "Wow," she said softly before looking back into Fred's eyes. She could almost see how much he loved her in his eyes, the way he wanted to keep her within arms reach so she would always be safe, the way he could watch her for hours and every second fall in love with her all over again.

"Love?" Fred asked wondering if she was going to say anything other than "Wow."

"If I say yes, will you twirl me around?" she asked tying to get another smile out of Fred in that moment that seemed so private and intimate.

Fred laughed, "Of course."

"Yes."

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AN: You've taken the time to read... so please review!