Rhia woke up alone in the bed. Raising her arms over her head, she stretched, yawning quietly. They had to be quiet while the babies slept. Every tiny sound usually disturbed little Fred, but he was getting better each day. She pulled up the sheet, covering herself to her neck and rolled over to face the crib across the room. The babies were still sharing one crib while they remained small enough. She smiled, seeing George kneeling next to it, arms folded over the rail and resting his cheek on his hands.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Watching them."

"What are they doing?"

"Nothing. Just sleeping." He continued to stare at them, one hand reaching towards a little red-haired head, but not touching, not wanting to disturb their sleep. They were such good babies. Well, Aubrey was a content baby. She already slept through the night, but Fred…Fred was restless. He was still nursing every three hours or so, and he kept his Daddy awake after that. Rhia would often find George asleep on the sofa with the wireless on low as Fred slept curled up in the crook of his arm, both of them snoring. For all that George loved being in the shop, now he loved coming home from it more, and would often lay on the floor of their flat, one twin on his chest, the other propped on his raised knees, all three of them cooing contentedly, a huge smile plastered across his face.

She was watching her husband now. He hadn't so much as turned his head when she spoke to him, completely spellbound by his children. She followed the line of his shoulders with her eyes, staring at her husband's broad freckled back, his hair just reaching his shoulder blades, watching it rise and fall with each breath. She smiled, feeling herself tingling. She rose from the bed, staying very quiet and when she was standing behind George, she ran a finger from one shoulder across his back, tugging gently on his hair and leaning against him to nibble on his ear. He had been captivated by his babies, still staring, but when he felt Rhia's body press against his back, his body shuddered and his head twitched, and as he swallowed, he noticed her warm skin, soft and willowy curving into his back. She continued to lick his ear, still smiling, knowing that he was now noticing that she was naked. He carefully extracted his hands from the twins' crib and turned to face his wife.

George was still kneeling before her as he smiled. He reached out one finger, touching the center of her neck and traced his way slowly along her soft round breast ending at her dark, hard nipple. He rolled it between two fingers, and wasn't taken by surprise when some milk squeezed out. He remained on his knees and brought his mouth to her dripping breast, flicking his tongue over it, tasting her, then taking as much of it as he could manage into his mouth, sucking and nibbling and getting as much milk as she would let him. When she went to push him away, his arms went around her waist and pulled her against his mouth, using his tongue to lap as much as he could. Rhia felt a rush as George swallowed and then spoke softly.

"I love you," he whispered into her breasts. "I love how you taste. So sweet." He sighed as she took his face in her hands and kissed his mouth. "A soft moan was all he could manage. He stood, lifting her as he did, and carried her to their bed, gently setting her down and covering her body with his. There was a flash of light that they didn't see, and they almost didn't hear someone calling their names. They ignored Percy as George entered Rhia with a grunt. She moaned into his ear and as her hips rose to meet his in a frenzied way, Percy's voice became more urgent.

"Just wait a moment," George grunted, more into Rhia's neck than towards the fireplace. As he finally released, one twin began to cry and then the second. Now, Percy was saying his name, and then Rhia was crying out his name, but there was Percy's voice again, louder, more urgent even than Rhia.

"George! Bloody hell, George! Fleur's having the baby! Right now! Get your arse out of bed!" And with a green flash of light, he was gone. George and Rhia collapsed in a fit of giggles.

* *

Rhia could still hear a baby's cry and looking around the joke shop, she adjusted her robes, trying to keep her breasts from leaking before George brought the baby down. In the three years that had passed since little Victoire had been born, Rhia was both taken aback and wonderfully happy at how close she and George had become. They had fallen into a comfortable rhythm. She had taken on a much larger role at the shop now that Verity had left. Rhia helped to ease George over the fact that she couldn't stay forever. Once she had married Quinn next door, it was only a matter of time before she left for good. After all, Quinn owned his own business as well. Of course, he would expect his wife to work with him. And now that she was eight months pregnant, her leaving should have been no surprise to George, but it was. He hadn't even noticed her expanding waistline.

Despite her bringing very little to their relationship and marriage in a monetary way, Rhia shared equally with George. She still hadn't been able to enter the Healer program at St. Mungo's, but she knew enough to get by at home. Which was lucky for George when he fell down the workshop stairs a year ago, breaking his leg. And again this year, when the twins got dragon pox and gave them to Victoire, there was hell to pay; Fleur forgave her when she treated Victoire with her mother's recipe for the calming potion. It worked much better than the one they'd received from their own Healer. Right now, she was too busy with the shop and taking care of her young family to think about her dream to become a Healer.

Rhia opened the till to put the money in, and jumped back. A loud crack had sounded as soon as the drawer slid open. Rhia looked at Ron who had just entered the joke shop. He was carrying Aubrey and began to laugh as he set her down on her feet. Rhia was covered in a rainbow of shredded paper confetti. Some was still floating down from the ceiling. George had found bags of confetti in a Muggle party store, and loved torturing his wife by having them explode where and when she least expected it. Yesterday morning, it was in the shower, but that did not go as planned. He hadn't expected the tiny bits of paper to practically dissolve and clog the drain as well as turn the washing cloths into the colours of the rainbow. She frowned at Ron and spoke, trying to keep her voice even.

"Where are Fred and George?"

"Um, well, er –"

Just then, Fred emerged from behind Ron's legs. Rhia looked into Ron's sheepish face as she looked at her son who was completely concealed under yellow canary feathers. "George!" she shouted beyond Ron. She turned back to Ron. "Where is my husband, Ron?"

"Um," Ron began, ears turning red. "Actually, Rhia, I think he's hiding."

"Only if he knows what's good for him."

"And he's holding the baby."

"Traitor," George called out from behind the office curtain.

"Adwr! Coward!" Rhia shouted at him. "How big was the sweet?"

George peeked out from behind the curtain holding his tiny daughter close to his cheek. "One piece, that's all."

"A whole one?" She looked at Fred, who had been desperately trying not to cry. He nodded slowly, and put out his hand with the small remainder still in it.

"I share wif Aubrey."

"Oh no you do not," she said, pointing towards the counter. "Bin it."

"Yes mum." He obeyed and quickly returned. "I wanted sweet, mum."

"Where do you get your sweets?"

He rolled his eyes, looking very much like his father. "Next door at Uncle Quinn's."

"Do you eat sweets from your father's shop?"

"No, mum, but –"

"No buts."

"But it was upstairs," he continued quickly. "It was in the flat; in the kitchen."

She raised her eyes to glare at her husband who had conveniently vanished. She looked at her son again. She pointed towards the swishing curtain. "Go sit in the office until you moult."

"Yes mum," he mumbled, trudging away.

Rhia returned to the counter to continue her work, scratching on the parchment. She glared at the scratches she was making, and when the quill snapped in half, it did not improve her mood.

Finally, George emerged, still holding baby Hannah. Ron took him aside quickly. "Has he moulted yet?"

"He's almost finished. The office is a real mess."

"And you know who's cleaning that up," Rhia called from the counter.

"Yes, love."

"Don't you love me."

"That's not what you said last night – or this morning for that matter."

As she glared at him with no hint of humour, Ron whispered, "I don't understand, George. You and I – we married women exactly like mum. What the bloody hell were we thinking?"

George chuckled and shook his head, not thinking about his mum, but wondering how he would get back into his wife's good graces. Their life together had been wonderful for their small family. With the surprise of Hannah's birth, they had stretched the upstairs flat about as far as it would go. Aubrey and Fred were in small beds placed in an 'L' shape and Hannah had the crib. He thought back to Christmas when Rhia had asked about looking for a house in nearby London, but George was adamant about waiting until they could afford a house in the country, like they had both grown up in. That had been a considerable argument. And they rarely argued. In fact, their last big argument before that had resulted in Hannah. He smiled at the memory, kissing his daughter's pinched face. He watched Rhia for a moment more and then he handed Hannah to Uncle Ron, and moved closer to the counter, putting the most apologetic look on his face that he could muster without laughing.

Rhia looked at him, into his eyes, and he spoke very quietly to her. He took her hand, stroking her palm with gentle fingers, but she pulled it away. They were arguing quietly. It was not a new argument. He may have been the inventor, the expert in the shop, but despite having no formal training, she came from a family of Healers and she was the expert there. George just didn't understand how those sweets worked on children, and laughing and joking about it was the reason why Fred and Aubrey couldn't be left alone in the shop. He usually bowed to her Healer expertise, but he countered that the sweets were harmless; they wore off in minutes. Except on children, she countered. It took much longer to wear off on children than teenagers or adults, his usual consumer. George flung his head across the counter, catching her off guard with a kiss. She withdrew her head, almost violently.

"I have work to do. And you," she paused for effect. "You have an office to clean." She stepped away from the counter and began to restock the pet care products.

"I can't clean it yet. He hasn't finished moulting." Rhia moved into the funny hats section, and began to straighten them and organize them properly. Someone had been trying on all of the hats, and left them in such disarray that Rhia thought of putting them under glass. Suddenly, George grabbed her from behind, and grasping her hands, he pulled her back into him, holding her tightly. The hats in her hand dropped to the floor.

"George! Let me go."

"Not until you snog me." His tongue flicked against her ear.

"I am not snogging you, George."

"Good," Ron called over. "I definitely don't want to see that."

Fred emerged from the back room, still covered in feathers. One look at his mum's angry glare sent him right back into the office. George had managed to twist Rhia until she was facing him, and he drew her closer, staring into her dark eyes. He took a chance and released her hands, running his hands up her arms to rest a moment on her shoulders. Then he ran a finger along her cheek and kissed her there. He put one hand in her hair, and without saying a word, pulled her head to his, touching his lips to hers, lightly at first. When her hand reached for and touched his face without slapping him, he encircled her completely in his arms, pressing his lips to hers harder, his tongue begging them to part, which they did. Readily.

He smiled when she moaned his name as his tongue ran along the roof of her mouth. She pushed her lower body against his, and put her arms around his waist, letting one hand move to the front of his trousers as her fingers caressed the space just below his belt buckle. She released a deep sigh into his open mouth, and he seized her mouth with his again. They were soon breathless, and he put his mouth very close to her ear, his words coming out hoarse and urgent. "What if we lock the door, close up shop? Ron can take all three next door for ice cream. We could sneak upstairs. Or not," he whispered, raising an eyebrow and looking around at the shop. He nibbled on her ear, waiting for her answer. She giggled.

"Oi, you two," Ron called. "There are children here." He covered tiny Hannah's eyes, and raised his eyebrows at them. Ron turned towards the front door, which had chimed a new arrival.

"Oi, Ron," George called back, still staring into his wife's eyes, "how do you think those children got here?" Rhia smiled at him, kissing his nose, and then glanced toward the chiming door. Her mouth dropped open, distracting George. He lunged for her mouth again, but she pushed on his chest and he followed her gaze, seeing her oldest brother, Gruffydd, standing in the shop's front doorway. She hadn't spoken to him since her mother's funeral a few weeks ago. Feelings were still tense between them. They had barely spoken at all since the twins had been born.

"Back in the office, Fred," George called to his son, who was peering from behind the curtain. "Aubrey, get your sweater, and meet Uncle Ron by the counter." He approached Rhia's brother hesitantly. "May I help you?"'

Gruffydd glanced over at Rhia who was ignoring him, picking up the hats from the floor that she had dropped and replacing them neatly on the shelf, but returned his gaze to George, speaking quietly, "I'd like to speak with my sister."

"Wait in the office," George said, curtly, pointing to the curtain. "I'll get her."

Gruffydd pushed the curtain aside and entered the office. He was met by Fred, sitting on a stool, a pile of feathers below his dangling feet. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Fred broke the silence between them. "Mummy has your picture upstairs."

"Does she?"

Fred continued to stare. "Who are you?"

Gruffydd bent over to look into Fred's angry face, smiling at the boy. "My name is Gruffydd. It's lovely to meet you, Fred." He put out his hand for shaking. Fred ignored it.

"I don't like you."

"Fred!" Rhia declared sternly, standing in the doorway, having watched the exchange.

Fred's eyes flicked to his mother, but quickly looked his uncle in the eye. He ignored his mother and continued speaking to Gruffydd. "You make mummy cry, and I don't like you." His eyes flashed and his cheeks became as vivid as his hair. As he glanced at his mum he jumped off the stool, and stepping through the curtain, called out for his father in the shop.

Rhia watched the swishing curtain for a moment, her heart aching. She felt a swell of pride that her young son would defend her so staunchly, but also a sadness of everything he was missing out on. She took a deep breath and turned to face her brother. "What can I do for you, Gruffydd?"

"Mae e un bywiog, na?" Gruffydd was smiling pleasantly and Rhia nodded.

"Mae'n y gwallt coch." She smiled, looking at her brother's head, very nearly the same shade as hers and Fred's.

He took a breath and continued. "They'll be finished with Mam's will soon. I'm sure you're in it, so I'll come see you once it's time for the reading." He looked down into her face and as she met his eyes, she nodded. He gave her a gentle smile. "That's not the only reason I came today."

"Oh?"

"It's Branwen. She turns eleven in two weeks and then it's off to Hogwarts soon after that."

"Hogwarts? Not Yr Ysgol Cymraeg?"

"They've remained closed and it's…it's a much safer time now." Rhia nodded. "I spoke to Celyn and Cadi, and Mairwen, of course, and I'd like for you to come by. We're having a bit of a celebration for her."

"I don't know, Gruff."

He smiled at her use of his familiar name. "I really…I'd like you to be there. And your family, as well," he added hastily. "Your family's welcome, of course." He shuffled his feet and Rhia noticed that it was much like Fred had been shuffling his own earlier. "We've wasted enough time, don't you think, Rhiannon?" He paused to look at her briefly. "I've wasted enough time. Your children are, what, three now? You son hates me."

"He doesn't know you."

"And he should."

"When is it?"

"Saturday, the twentieth."

"I'll have to check with George; see if Ron can mind the shop with both of us away." She had been looking at her shoes, but met her brother's eyes again. "We have three."

"Shops? That's great."

She chuckled, "No, Gruffydd; not shops. We have three children. The twins, Aubrey and Fred were three in January and Hannah was just born in April."

"That's wonderful, Rhiannon. Bendigedig. Is he a good man, this George Weasley?"

She nodded. "He's the best – a good man, a good father, a good friend." They were interrupted by a series of muffled scratchings on the other side of the door next to the desk. They exchanged a quizzical look.

"What was that?" Rhia looked from her brother to the door where the muffled yelp and scratching sound was coming from. Rhia put a hand out to turn the doorknob, but George had come from nowhere, and grabbed her wrist just before she could touch the door.

"You don't want to do that."
"George –"

"Yes, my love." She looked from his hand on hers to his beaming face. The yelping and scratching began again.

"George, we agreed –"

"I can explain, love. Honestly, Rhiannon…" He moved closer to her, continuing to hold her wrist with one hand, using his other arm to pull her against him, leaning down to kiss her.

"I don't think so, George," she said, stepping back before his lips could connect. "We'll discuss this later." She tugged her arm away from him, and turned to face her brother. "Was there anything else you needed?"

"No," he said quickly.

She walked him to the doorway, pulling the curtain aside for him to exit, but stopped him with a hand. "I am glad you came today." He nodded and stepped through the doorway, but surprised both Rhia and George when he turned back and pulled her into an embrace, ending it quickly with a kiss to the top of his sister's head. Rhia watched as he exited through the shop, and faced her husband once more. Unbeknownst to her, he had edged closer, and she stepped right into him. He took the opportunity to put his arms tightly around her. She was glaring at him, but he smiled and kissed her cheek.

The dog was now barking loudly, and George smiled again. "Come with me," he said, and before Rhia could respond, he disapparated, taking her by side-along apparition.

She swayed in his arms and he steadied her. "What did you do? Where are we? You could have splinched me!" She slapped his chest hard, and when he grabbed her hand, he was smiling broadly, bringing her hand to his mouth, kissing first the back and then pressing his lips into her palm. She shivered when she felt his tongue on her skin. They were standing in a large garden next to a house. It was a decent-sized house, not tremendous, but it had three stories and there were two out buildings and a copse of apple trees peeking out from the other side of the garden. This side of the house had raised beds filled with wild daffodils, lilies and other wildflowers that Rhia did not recognize. Nearby, giving some shade was a tall tree, where a bench swing hung from a sturdy branch, swaying gently in the cool breeze. Above their heads was a balcony with double glass doors that opened from the inside. Rhia could see a flower pattern covering the sage coloured curtains over the windows on the pristine white wood doors. "George, where are we? What is this place?"

He clasped her hand in his, tugging her towards the large door. "Come inside." George pushed on the dark wood, and the door opened into a large kitchen. There was a substantial fireplace that divided the kitchen from what appeared to be the sitting room on the other side of the hearth. On the left side was an entryway to the sitting room which was well lit from the wall of windows. To the right, was a staircase heading to a second floor. There was no furniture, not even a kitchen table. Rhia walked around the brick and stonework and looked through the windows, seeing the orchard. George followed her into the room, and leaned against this side of the fireplace. Rhia turned, surveying the empty room again until her eyes fell on George, looking slightly smug.

"George," she said quietly. "Whose house is this?"

His grin widened, but he didn't answer straightaway, enjoying Rhia's confusion.

She took a step towards him. "Sior, cariad."

He met her in two steps, taking her into his arms. "You know, I love when you call me that."

"I know. George –"

"It's ours," he blurted out.

"Sorry? W-W-What did you say?"

"It…is…our…house."

Her breath quickened and she looked into his eyes, trying to see the joke, but he was being serious. He was almost never serious. Not even when he broke his leg. He pushed her towards the windows again, kissing her cheek and then her neck before sitting her down on his lap on the hard wooden window seat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him.

"Ours?"

"All ours." His lips brushed against hers, but she pulled her head back, staring very seriously into his eyes. She bit her lower lip.

"Can we afford it?"

He smiled, adding, "Yes."

She glimpsed out the window they were sitting next to. "Where are we? Far from London?"

"Only a floo away." He gestured towards the large fireplace, and Rhia now saw that George could almost stand inside of it. He smiled again, kissing her neck, but at the same time nudging her head so she could the apple trees. "Do you see those trees?" She nodded, pulling her head away with a giggle. "On the other side of them are our new neighbours – a lovely couple whose children are mostly grown."

"You've met them already?"

"Mmm hmm." He began to nuzzle her neck, poking with his nose and kissing her there.

"Wizards?"

"Mmm hmm." He stopped nuzzling her neck. "Rhia." She looked at him and saw excitement in his eyes. They were twinkling and she knew he was hiding more surprises that were just bursting to get out.

"Go on, then. You're dying to tell me."

"Behind those trees is The Burrow."

Her eyes widened and she jumped up from his lap, facing him. "The Burrow?" He nodded.

"Our kids will grow up next to their grandparents?"

"Yes. Learning about Quidditch and Muggles and how to de-gnome the same garden I did."

"Oh George."

"Mum says she'll watch them as well. You can go back to school and become a Healer if you like."

"Really?" she breathed out. He nodded. She covered her mouth with her hands. "Really?" He nodded again. She took a long look around the sitting room.

"Do you like it?"

Her eyes caught his and she moved closer. He separated his knees to let her slide in and she sat on his lap again. She kissed him deeply, surprising him slightly. He responded eagerly with his tongue until they were both breathless.

"Oh Sior, I love this house." She ran her palm across his cheek, settling her finger on his jaw, clean-shaven for once. "I love you, cariad."

He smiled. "Can I show you the upstairs? I have so many plans," he said with the excitement of a five-year-old. He pushed her off his lap, rising with her, but as she stepped away, he pulled her back against him. "Say it for me," he whispered in her hair.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Please." His breath was hot on her neck.

His head nestled in her neck and she spoke softly, breathing each word into his ear. "Rydw i'n garu di, Sior." He covered her mouth with his and smiled through their kiss, pulling her around to the side of the brickwork and running up the stairs, practically dragging Rhia behind him. He stopped in the centre of the hall with a door on either side of them. He pushed open the door to the room on his right, which was empty but had brightly coloured walls in yellow and green.

"I thought the little ones could share for a bit. Aubrey and Fred could use the beds from the flat and Hannah has her cradle, and as they get older, well, I guess, Fred will have to move out since he's the only boy. That means we'll need a new bed, but that will be fun, won't it? Bed shopping." He was so pleased to see the excitement in her eyes. "Do you like the colours?" She nodded, and squeezed his hand, leaning against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "Do you want to see our bedroom?" He turned Rhia so that she faced the opposite door and he stood behind her as he pushed the door open, revealing a true surprise.

Rhia expected this to be like the rest of the house, empty of furniture, but freshly painted like the twins' room. This room had a light coat of pale green paint, picking up the deeper sage of the curtains on the balcony doors she had seen from the outside. This was the room that was attached to that balcony she had looked up at briefly from the garden.

This room was completely furnished. The entire room was perfectly decorated with matching fabrics and throw pillows. Candles surrounded the large wrought-iron bed, across the bureau and wardrobe and across the mantle of the fireplace across the room. There was a wooden rocking chair between the hearth and the open balcony door. Rhia returned her gaze to the bed, and stared at the quilt covering the bed. It was a patchwork, and looked very much like the one Rhia saw at George's parents' house. The fabrics matched the door curtains with pale purple flowers on a sage green background. She let out a small gasp as she let her eyes, now becoming wet with tears, glance once more around the room. She couldn't believe how beautiful it was. She looked over her shoulder, smiling at her husband.

This was the one surprise she had never expected from him. She looked back at their bedroom, where they would wake up every morning together for the rest of their lives. They would rest and read and sleep here, and play and make love and be together forever. She went to step in, but George held her back. She gave him a questioning look. "You didn't have much of a honeymoon," he said, lifting her easily into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as he stepped through the doorway carrying her.

"Welcome to your new home, Mrs. Weasley." He spun her around in a circle, and set her gently on the bed. Rhia ran her hand over the quilt, which was covered in flower petals of many colours. Rhia admired the detail of the ironwork on the bed, and thought that it was twice the size of the bed she and George currently shared. She wiped at her tears which had begun to flow freely as she looked around the room, amazed, and then her gaze fell to her husband once more.

"It's so beautiful, George. Did you do all this by yourself?" He sat beside her on the bed, helping to rub her tears away with his thumbs.

"If I say yes, will you believe me?" She smiled, but before she could say anything, he continued, "Mum and Ginny did a lot, but I picked out the bed." He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "I haven't tested the mattress yet. Care to help me with that?" As their lips met, he pushed her down on the bed, climbing on top and covering her with his body. He was quickly unzipping her magenta work robes, his fingers nimbly revealing her body to him and Rhia soon forgot about the yelping dog in Diagon Alley as George happily won another argument.

Chapter End Notes:

Welsh GlossaryAdwr - cowardBendigedig – an exclamation meaning blessed – I used it like CongratulationsMae e un bywiog, na? – He is a lively one, no?Mae'n y gwallt coch – It's the red hair. Mam – mum, motherYr Ysgol Cymraeg – The Welsh SchoolSior - GeorgeCariad – love, darling, sweetheart

Rydw i'n garu di, Sior – I love you, George.

I'm putting this here since this is the last full chapter. The short epilogue will follow sometime was truly the first undertaking of this magnitude for me. Completed, it will total almost 72,000 words, and I would like to express a deep appreciation to all of the readers, past, present and future for reading, enjoying and commenting. Thank would not have been at the caliber that it was without the help of sopaltenbass as beta. I could not have asked for a better person to help me. I would also like to thank peredur_glyn for the times that he corrected my Welsh. I cannot believe that I was so lucky.