Chapter 4

If Charlie was smart, he would have followed Gretchen home because that was clearly what she wanted, but he decided to go ahead and spend the day with Ingrid and buy some Christmas/anniversary presents. He figured the more he spent on her, the happier she would be. Charlie didn't know Gretchen as well as he thought he did.

The house was dark when Charlie, Ingrid and Minnie (along with Hercules) apparated back. He wasn't sure if Gretchen was home, but he went upstairs to their bedroom and found her sitting on their bed. She looked like she'd been crying and she swiped a tear when she looked at him.

"Hi," he said walking up to her. "I bought you an anniversary present."

She didn't say anything.

He stood over her, not sure what to do. "Are you mad at me?"

She gave him a surprised look and shook her head. "No, I'm not mad."

He let out a sigh of relief and sat down next to her. "I'm glad." He reached for her and she stood up.

"I don't think I want to do this anymore, Charlie," she said facing him.

"What? Don't want to do what?"

"I don't think I want to be married to you anymore," she said quietly.

Charlie had no idea what to say. Should he beg?

Gretchen sighed, "I guess I thought you'd change, but I was being unreasonable when I honestly believed that you wanted this to work as much as I do. I love you Charlie, but I'm not happy and I don't want to end up resenting you. I'm going to move back into the apartment and we'll work on a separation and the divorce."

"Gretchen," he began, but she stopped him by putting two fingers on his lips. She shook her head.

"Don't," she said with a smile that broke his heart.

With a great deal of determination she took a deep breath and started to walk out of the room. Numbed by what had just happened, he started to let her go.

"Wait!" he said, fianlly "please don't make any decisions right now; we need to talk about this. We can talk when I get back."

"Are you serious?" She shook her head. "I tell you what, Charlie, you think about everything while you're gone and come and find me when you get back. What are you going to do with Ingrid?" she asked.

"Minnie will take care of her. Don't worry about her."

"Charlie," Gretchen said, "Minnie is a house elf."

"She'll protect her with her life. I trust her, she won't abandon her."

A strange feeling washed over Charlie. He was starting to get angry although logically speaking he was the one at fault. How could he ever imagine that Gretchen would be committed to their marriage when he just wanted to go off and do things his way? He didn't consider her feelings when he decided that he was going on the expedition. It wouldn't have mattered to him if she hadn't wanted him to go. She was not a factor in the decision at all. Frankly, the only one he considered was Ingrid. That revelation showed him something.

"Are you saying you think I'm abandoning you?"

Charlie was in the middle of his sorting out so he didn't hear or understand what Gretchen was saying.

"What?"

"I asked if you thought I was abandoning you because I don't want to live like this. I need love and companionship, Charlie..."

"Yes, you do," he said cutting her off. "I thought you were happy, but I just realized I'm the only one around here that's happy. Wow," he said after his revelation. "Son of a bitch." He sat down on the bed and looked at her.

She wanted to reassure him, but he cut her off again. "This has always been about what I want. God, I'm a real prick. Why did you marry me in the first place?"

At first, Gretchen thought he was being ironic, but she looked deep into his eyes and saw for the first time the real Charlie Weasley. He was an asshole. No, he was a selfish asshole. Maybe he was having an epiphany and that he was on the road to changing his life, she hoped.

"I have always gotten everything I wanted," he said, with the sudden realization, "working with dragons, Quidditch, wealth, a beautiful wife…"

"Charlie, I…" Gretchen said desperately wanted to hold him.

"Problem is I don't think I'll ever change. I realize I'm more upset at the prospect of you leaving only because I hate to lose."

Charlie's harsh words cut her like a knife. She was hoping that he'd say something else; that he was wrong, but he was being honest. She exhaled and nodded. "All right then, I'll be going." She didn't want to move, but she forced her feet to move one step at a time.

She walked out of their bedroom carrying an overnight bag. By the time she reached the first floor, she wanted to heave herself into his arms and beg forgiveness, but one look at his stony expression made her turn back around. Her hand was on the door when she heard him clear his throat.

"I'll send the rest of your things to the apartment," he said.

"Thank you," she said thickly. "We'll talk when you get back."

"Uh huh," he said. He'd replaced her hand on the door knob with his and when she stepped outside he slammed the door behind her before she could turn around or say anything. He waited a few seconds before hearing the pop of her disapparating before he pulled himself away from the door.

He called Minnie and told her what happened. Minnie erupted into a fit of tears but Charlie told her harshly not to waste her tears. She'd never heard her master sound so abrasive before. She sniffed a couple of times before the tears stopped altogether.

"I'll be back," he said barreling out the back door where he disapparated.