As everybody had expected, Fred and Emerald weren't back in a few hours as they had promised. They were well over their limit, even with Molly giving them two extra hours slack time just because she wanted her son to have fun. Now she was just getting pissed off. She checked her watch, at least the seventh time in the past five minutes.

"They have one more minute before I bring them back." She muttered under her breath. Everybody had stayed up with Molly, waiting to see where the two had been. George was even humoring his family by being down there. He personally didn't want to be there when those two walked in smelling like sex, but his brothers had dragged him down there just so that they could make fun of Fred. He wasn't in the mood…

Molly let out a huge huff out of frustration as she started to pace back and forth across the kitchen. It was always a bad situation when she started to pace.

"Those two are in a mess of trouble." She said, pulling out her wand with the tip already glowing. Just as she was about to cast her spell, they heard the Lamborghini pull into the driveway. Bill groaned from the corner.

"Fuck, that's not fair." He muttered. They heard the doors open and then slam shut with a loud titter of laughter. The pair could be seen out the window, holding hands with their eyes all gooey and lovey…George was sick…

They came through the front door, but didn't back down when they saw Molly absolutely fuming in the middle of the kitchen. Everybody was eagerly waiting behind Molly to see what would happen, but didn't expect what was about to happen. Fred raised their held hands with a wide smirk.

"We're engaged!"

All the anger in the room seemed to suddenly disappear and change into questionable excitement as the words slowly sunk into the Weasley family. Fred put an arm around Emerald with his smirk widening. He looked so proud as they waited for somebody to say something, the silence not seeming to phase them in the least. There was no ring on Emerald's finger, but it was unmistakable that the pair were absolutely glowing. The reaction from Molly was immediate and happily welcomed by Emerald and Fred.

"Engaged?" Molly asked, her tears of fury suddenly turning into tears of great happiness. "This is wonderful!" She pulled the two into a tight hug and started sobbing into Fred's hair. Everybody sat behind her completely shocked, the thought not fully sinking into their heads. George was the first one to say something, jumping up from his seat and nearly knocking over the table.

"Are you two fucking kidding me?" He asked angrily. Molly pulled back from the pair, giving them the room to look over her shoulders and over at George. "You two are fucking engaged?" Fred quickly walked to his brother, holding him back by his bicep.

"Calm down, I'll explain everything later." He whispered so that nobody could hear. "We're not really engaged, we're just saying we are…I'll explain later tonight." George bit his lower lip and kept quiet, but he was still raging inside. He quietly sat down, almost shaking he was so angry.

"You better explain." He whispered in a deadly low voice before letting his brother turn away. Fred discretely nodded before taking Emerald's hand again.

"We were thinking of getting married next winter, what do you think mom?"

Molly and Ginny instantly went off planning Emerald and Fred's wedding, but the couple couldn't help but continuously glance over at George. Emerald squeezed his hand, silently asking him if everything would be all right. There was so much worry in her eyes, it troubled him to see her so distressed. He quickly nodded, squeezing her hand back and pretending to listen attentively to his mother. He would explain everything to his brother and hopefully things would go over well.

Later that night, after the wedding had been pushed from everybody's mind thanks to pure exhaustion, Fred went to George. His brother was sulking in his bed and wouldn't even look at Fred, but that didn't matter. Fred would just have to say what he came to say, even if his brother didn't listen.

"Look, I know that you're upset…"

"I don't think that upset is really the right word." George muttered from beneath the sheets.

"Fine, you're pissed."

"Personally, I'd go with enraged, but that's just me." Fred sighed, feeling his temples start to throb. This was not going to be easy.

"Will you stop acting like a chick and just let me talk?" George rolled his eyes, shrugging his shoulders and finally glancing over at Fred.

"Fine, I'm listening." He muttered. Fred sat down on the edge of George's bed, leaning against the cool painted wall.

"Emerald's engaged."

"Yeah, I know, to you." Fred shook his head.

"No, she's engaged to somebody else. Her grandmother has an arranged marriage set up for her with some Irish guy named Kent and Emerald doesn't want to do it so…we're just saying that we're engaged until her grandmother dies and then she can do whatever she wants. It's just a temporary thing…maybe…" George raised his eyebrow.

"You'd go to all that trouble…just for her?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Then explain it to me." George demanded as he threw back his blankets and sat up to face his brother. "Why would you go through all this trouble just for her?"

"I love her." Fred muttered. "I didn't realize that love was so strong, but…I would do anything for her." George stared at his brother for a moment. Fred looked vulnerable and part of him wanted to tease him for being such a prick, but he held himself back. Something very strange had happened to his brother and George suddenly didn't want to mess with him. For the first time in his entire life, he didn't see the need to make a snide comment.

Fred glanced over, expecting George to say something, but there was nothing. His brother merely nodded, even forcing himself to smile a little.

"Great…that's great…really…" Fred furrowed his brow together.

"What?"

"I mean…that's good…about the love and shit…" Fred couldn't help but to just shake his head.

"I think that you've lost it…" He muttered. George pursed his lips together.

"First you want me to like her and now you're saying that I've lost it because I'm acting like I do like her!" George kicked his way out of his bed and started stomping down the hallway and into the kitchen. Fred was close on his heels.

"You're only acting?" George swung the kitchen door open with a loud bang.

"Fuck this whole thing!" He exclaimed. "As long as she's here, I'm sleeping in the barn!" Fred watched George disappear into the night, letting out a heavy sigh as everybody in the house started to slowly wake up.

"What the fuck is going on down there?" Charlie screamed from his room, not bothering to come downstairs.

"Charlie! Don't use such language!" Molly scolded from her bed. "Is everything all right dear?" Fred stood in the doorway, but suddenly turned when he heard padded feet slowly coming down the stairs. Emerald stood at the bottom, her lower lip trembling as they just stared at one another.

"He didn't take it very well, did he?" She asked in a low whisper. Fred shook his head, slowly sitting down at the kitchen table and letting out a heavy sigh.

"I hate my life."

"Did you explain everything to him?" Fred nodded.

"It's George, though, he won't listen to anybody." Emerald pulled a chair close to him and snuggled against his side. Fred instantly wrapped an arm around her as she slid her legs over his thighs.

"Maybe…I should talk to him…" She whispered against his neck. Fred shook his head.

"No, you'd just make things worse." He muttered. Emerald glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"And you've totally helped the situation?"

"You know what I mean." Emerald nodded, wrapping her arms tightly around his chest as they both heard the loud slamming of the barn door.

"He's not really going to sleep out there, is he?" She asked.

"George's stubborn, he'll do anything to get his point across." Emerald bent her face up to gently kiss Fred's neck.

"Just let me talk to him and explain everything, it won't hurt unless we try." Fred sighed.

"Are you sure?" She eagerly nodded.

"Oh yeah, it'll be fun!" She exclaimed with fake enthusiasm. Fred laughed.

"All right, if that's what you want." Emerald reached up to smooth back his hair before lightly kissing his forehead.

"It's nothing that I want…everything that I want is right here."