Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoy it.

Coming to a Realization

George woke up and looked around. It was morning. It was amazing how early they seemed to come now. He quickly got dressed and walked out of his bedroom. He didn't make it any further as he looked at Fred's door.

Fred.

He still didn't think it was fair. Fred shouldn't have died.

But he did.

Fred had died and George lived.

That was life. It wasn't something George figured he could ever really get over. He could continue from there. Go on and handle things as they came. He was working on that. He had dinner with his family. There were a few times he had lunch with Ron. He went out a few times with Lee. He hadn't moved to more than that. There was something that was similar in all the circumstances.

More like someone.

Angelina.

She was the one who was really holding out for him. She was there for him when he didn't think anyone else was. Didn't think…or didn't want.

A knock at the door startled him away from his thoughts. Shaking his head he tore his eyes away from Fred's door and went to the flat's door.

Opening the door he nodded at Lee.

Lee came in and went over to the couch and sat down, "So how are you?"

George shrugged, "Fine." He slowly made his way over and sat down on the seat across from Lee. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

George nodded, "So how are you and Alicia?"

A grin spread across Lee's face, "Very good."

"Fr—Fred and I always figured you two would get together."

Lee's expression changed, first a sad one crossed it but then Lee quickly covered it up with a slightly happier one. But neither man said in response to that. George knew that behind Angelina and Fred's backs it was always spoken on how they would get together.

They had.

Married even.

At this point if he had still been alive they would be well on their way to having a child.

But not anymore.

Fred was gone.

Forever.

Angelina was still here.

No baby.

George knew that so many people had been hurt from Fred's death, but he knew it was worse for him because a part of him had died. Only another twin would have an understanding of this pain.

He knew it was also hard on his family and that was why he tried to still be there for them. But it was easier for them when he was there, even if, at times, it was easier for him to be away from them. Not that he didn't love his family, but…it was hard to explain.

Although it was easier to explain why he didn't like to be at home. At home there were reminders everyone just like the store and the flat. But there was something at home that wasn't in either the store or the flat.

The clock.

Yes, the clock.

Not the ordinary one, but the special one.

He and Fred had found it so much fun and such a bother because you could see where everyone was, which even meant when they were places that they shouldn't be.

Of course the clock still worked. It showed where everyone was, even Fred.

Of course it showed that Fred was dead.

Going home and seeing it was just like looking in the mirror, except that in the mirror there was one ear missing.

"George? George?!"

George brought himself back to Lee in the flat, "Sorry."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Same old stuff."

"Fred?"

"Yeah."

"I know it's not the same, but I do miss him too."

"Yeah."

"A lot of people miss him."

George folded his arms, "Yes I know a lot of people miss him. Others are hurt too. And I shouldn't be so selfish not to think of everyone else. Besides if Fred were here he wouldn't want you to wallow in your misery."

Lee raised an eyebrow, "Are you done?" George merely shrugged and Lee continued, "That's not what I was going to say."

"Then what?"

"I was going to say that a lot of people miss Fred. But they also miss you."

George was taken aback, he hadn't heard that before and…it didn't quite make sense, "Me? I'm right here."

"Are you?"

George was about to respond to Lee but then he stopped. Was he here?

Physically he was. But emotionally? Mentally?

No. He'd been so lost when Fred died….a part of him had died when Fred did.

And the other part? What happened to it? It wasn't still there, was it?

No. George was locking himself away, whatever was left of himself.

"Me?" He whispered again.

Surprisingly as Lee had sprung it on George, it was starting to click. He had gone with Fred.

"Look, think about it mate. I have to get going, but…if you want to talk more, let me know alright?"

George nodded and silently watched Lee walk out the door shutting it behind him allowing George space and time to think about what Lee had said.

When Fred died that was the worst thing that could have happened to George. Death would have been easier. Detention with Umbridge would have been a piece of cake compared to the pain that George felt inside without Fred here. Even having taken Harry's place in the Final Battle…anything. Living without Fred was like an empty gnawing feeling that grew inside him taking the life from him from the inside.

It tore at him at times. Other times it silently pulled a little more of him away.

Fred's death had caused part of George to die, he knew that.

But the remaining part of George.

What was left of him?

That last part was on death's doorstep, awaiting a better time. He was pulling himself away from people. Was?

No, he had already done it. To avoid the pain, he pulled himself from everyone.

They missed him. George realized that even if it hurt he needed to actually live his life. Fred could no longer do that, but George could. It didn't mean he had to forget Fred. No. He could never forget his other half. But he could move on with his life, continue forward, even if a part of George was dead, another stayed behind, he could pull the remaining parts of himself and go forward into the future.