Chapter Twenty-Six

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Still not mine! This is really the second half of last chapter so it is rather short…I just wanted to get some regular updates going…

"Hey guys," George called to his brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew as he and Hermione entered the cavernous main room of George's gorgeous flat, greeting Fred and Angelina and their twins before their night of babysitting the infants.

"Hey Georgie," Fred laughed in reply. "And Mione," He added, smiling widely at Hermione before turning once again to address his twin. "I must say, dear brother, I'm very relieved to see that you've enlisted some much needed backup in taking care of my children." Despite his jovial tone, Hermione noticed that Fred clasped baby Sophie a little tighter towards his chest than normal and she wondered if the generally easygoing Weasley twin was concerned about leaving his infants in the care of his notoriously fun-loving twin.

"Thanks so much for helping us out," Angelina added gratefully. Even though the attractive, tall woman wore her usual wide, white-teethed smile, the slight bags under her eyes and more pronounced creases surrounding her eyes didn't go undetected by Hermione. Taking care of twins, Hermione assumed, must be tiring for her friend.

"What are you two up to tonight?" Hermione asked kindly, excitedly accepting the sleeping Ethan from Angelina and cradling him fondly.

"Well…it's our first night alone in a while," Angelina's grin grew a bit wider. "We'll probably just grab dinner from the Cauldron or something low key."

"More like pick up take out and head home for the night," Fred laughed, running his free hand through his short red hair in an identical manner to the way George would ruffle up his own, much longer hair. "For a little husband and wife time…if you catch my drift," He added to George in a scarcely hidden, stage whisper as he reluctantly handed his young daughter to his brother.

"Yah, I know what you mean, Freddie," George chuckled good-naturedly in response to Fred's aside. His eyes made no contact with his twin; instead he looked down affectionately at Sophie who was giggling contently and balling up her tiny fists as her already beloved uncle stroked her fine layer of curly hair. Looking at the two older Weasley twins standing side-by-side, Hermione marveled at how similar they were: their posture, their crooked smiles, the gleam in their blue eyes was all matched in the other. Even so, there was no way she would ever get them mixed up in the way she occasionally would while at school. The difference didn't simply lie in George's longer hair and Fred's new fatherhood-related stomach paunch; rather, there was something simply intrinsically George about the young man who she had grown so close to as of late that Hermione would never again accidently mistake him for his identical twin brother.

"Great game, by the way George," Angelina said, seemingly nonplussed at her husband's suggestive comment. "Reid told me all about it. Sounded like a real beast."

"Yup…it was tough," George nodded. Hermione looked carefully at him, but couldn't tell if he was favouring his injured shoulder. "But it was a good one. Showed the mates that we can play with the best."

"You'll take league for sure this year," Angelina laughed confidently, sounding remarkably like one of the older Weasley twins.

"Well…as much as I love staying and talking Quidditch, I think I'd like to get going with my lovely wifey," Fred quickly interjected, placing both his hands on Angelina's shoulders.

"Fine," Angelina grinned. "Well, here are the twins' things," She summoned a couple of bright magenta bags from the fireplace where they had been sitting. "Please don't hesitate to contact us if need be," She added in a voice in which Hermione detected an unmistakable falter.

"Ang, we can trust these two…they're very capable," Fred nodded at Hermione who appreciated his vote of confidence.

"I know," Angelina replied slowly. "Ok…well…get a hold of us…even for something little." She said, leaning down to kiss Sophie's forehead and then turning to Hermione to bid goodbye to her young son as well. "And have fun…"

"We'll be great, Ang. You two get going," George grinned, shooing his brother and sister-in-law from his flat with his free hand. With one last, lingering look at her infant twins, Angelina finally turned and joined Fred in the fireplace before disappearing in a shock of bright, green smoke. "Ready for this?" George laughed at Hermione, gently sinking into his couch so as not to disturb Sophie.

"I sure am," Hermione responded firmly, joining George on the couch with Ethan still in her arms.

-o-O-o-

"Hermione do you have any idea how to get him to stop crying?" George sighed dejectedly, continuing to rhythmically bounce his howling nephew upon his knee.

"No…not at all," Hermione muttered, silently cursing her only-child status and the lack of experience with infants that it provided. "I don't understand how Soph can sleep through this," She added, gesturing at the other young Weasley twin who was sleeping peacefully in her wicker bassinette on the floor beside George's couch. Unlike his twin sister, Ethan had started wailing almost the instant his parents had left George's flat and only let up sporadically throughout the evening. Hermione's ears rang from the seemingly continual cries. Her once-neat plait was non-existent as most of her hair fell over her face having escaped her careful braid much earlier in the evening. Her pale lavender tee-shirt was wrinkled from Ethan's tendency to grab tiny fistfuls of fabric whenever she took a turn holding him. Nevertheless, Hermione continued to wear a resolute smile, determined that she and George would manage to get the upset infant to settle down. "Is one twin always a problem and the other always easy?"

"Yup…I was a perfect angel and Fred was a massive hassle," George laughed, adjusting Ethan in his lap so that the cranky twin was no longer pressed against his chest, but was instead able to look around the large living room.

"Somehow I doubt that," Hermione said, casting a playfully withering stare in George's direction. Realizing she needed to take charge of the situation, she lowered herself to her knees in front of the couch upon which George was sitting with Ethan. "Hey sweetie…look at me," She addressed Ethan in the most soothing voice she could muster, gently taking his miniscule fists in her hands. "You're ok, aren't you mate," Hermione continued her stream of chatter while Ethan continued his cries. However, after several frustrating moments Ethan eventually stopped his cries momentary as he looked intently at Hermione. "Hey you, you're just fine…you like hanging out with your uncle George, don't you." Even though she was aware at how ridiculous her high-pitched, baby-like voice must sound, Hermione continued to babble unintelligibly, hoping that Ethan simply found the sound of her voice calming. "Aren't you a handsome man…you're going to grow up and be a big strong Quidditch player, just like your daddy and your uncle,"

"Mostly like his uncle," George added in a similar silly voice to Hermione's. Despite her frustration, Hermione grinned at George's ability to find a joke even in a discouraging situation.

"Yup, just like you're uncle. We're going to have to get you your very own little Puddlemore United jersey so you can look just your Uncle George," Hermione's gibberish came more easily as she talked affably with the suddenly intrigued infant. "I bet you'd look splendid in it,"

"Oh, he already has his own little jersey and he does look splendid in it," George laughed quietly so as not to disturb the finally settling Ethan. "Sweet Merlin, somehow you've done it, Mione," He added, nodding at Ethan whose cries had turned into soft breaths. "I guess blokes just have a tendency to like you," He said, smiling at Hermione over the Ethan's curly hair.

"Good Godric," Hermione grinned with relief. "I can't believe he's let up. Now, careful not to disturb him." She instructed quietly, slowly rising from her knees to join George on the couch.

"I've never appreciated the peace and quiet so much…I don't know how Fred and Ang manage this all the time," George shook his head admiringly. Nevertheless, he smiled fondly at his nephew. "He's especially lovely when he's not fussing, isn't he," George whispered. Hermione could tell that he was just as relieved as she was that Ethan had finally cried himself out. To say that the silence was welcomed was an understatement.

"He really is," Hermione replied, pulling her feet beneath her, leaning against George, and resting her exhausted head against his shoulder. Despite her tiredness and the frustration that the evening until that point had offered, Hermione couldn't help but contemplate on how perfect of a picture the present scenario exhibited. Even though she was completely knackered from tending to the twins all evening – particularly the difficult Ethan – as she sat with George, while he held the finally docile twin on his lap while Sophie slept contently at their feet, Hermione reflected that there was something rather ideal about the situation. George was such a welcomed presence beside her and the twins' rhythmic breathing, mired only by the occasional sigh, was pleasant. With the tiny Ethan in his arms, George looked stronger and larger than he normally did. There was something about having the young person in his arms that made George look extremely capable: a familiar source of constant reassurance. He also, Hermione smiled impishly at the realization, looked exceptionally handsome while holding the adorable infant. His bright blue shirt contrasted nicely with the hunter green of Ethan's jumper. The affectionately bemused expression that George adopted why smiling fondly at his nephew only contributed to his already noteworthy physical attractiveness. Nestling a little deeper next to George, Hermione could feel his chest rising and falling in a comforting cadence and she closed her eyes contently, awash with affection for George and her recently acquired love for the newborn Weasley twins. Even though that she knew that Fred and Angelina would soon interrupt their well-earned tranquility, Hermione still wished that she could simply continue to sit in stillness with George and the two infants for much, much longer.

Hermione's head grew heavier as she cuddled next to George and she didn't hesitate to allow it to fall more firmly into George's shoulder. Fortunately, George didn't seem to mind in the least. Rather than shake Hermione's head off him or ask her to sit up, he merely let her lean into his shoulder, reaching over occasionally to rub her knee with his free hand. Hermione was so overwhelmed with the loveliness of the moment, that when George's fireplace eventually lit up with the familiar, vibrant green smoke associated with floo travel, she was hit with an unexpected pang of disappointment. Reluctantly, she removed her head from George's shoulder and sat up as Fred and Angelina emerged from the grate and into the living room.

"Hey you two," George acknowledged the arrival of his brother and sister-in-law without moving in such a way as to disturb his nephew. "Back already?"

"It's past nine, Georgie. It's late," Fred responded matter-of-factly, rushing to the couch to eagerly accept his young son from his brother.

"Oi Freddie…that's late now for you, is it?" George joked in reply, vigorously shaking out his left arm, which had evidently fallen asleep from the weight of his nephew. "Do you two want to stay? Have a hot drink or something a little bit harder? Visit for a bit?" He asked as Angelina gently picked up Sophie's wicker bassinette and balanced it upon her hip.

"Sorry, George," Angelina said sweetly. "We really have to get these two to bed. It's well past their bedtimes." Angelina's tone was cheerful and Hermione noticed that the other woman looked significantly less tired than she had when the twins had been dropped off.

"Did you two have a nice evening?" Hermione asked, self-consciously shimmying along the couch in order to increase the distance between her and George.

"Yah, it was lovely," Angelina smiled.

"Simply fantastic," Fred winked at the same time.

"Thanks so much you guys," Angelina added.

"Any time," George offered kindly. "Although, you'll have to find another babysitter sometime so we can all hang out together."

"Will do," Fred grinned assuredly.

"We will see you next weekend…For Ginny and Harry's stag and hen party..." Angelina pointed out.

"Of course," Hermione laughed, recalling the dazzling, animated, silver invitation that she had received from Ginny several days prior. "I assume that will be a lot of fun," She shrugged, knowing already that it would be.

"Well…you know Ginny…it's pretty much guaranteed to be hilarious," Angelina replied with a knowing nod.

"That's true," Hermione giggled. "Well…have a safe trip home," She offered even though she was aware that floo powder travel didn't present a great likelihood of danger. "And I'll see you on the weekend."

"Sounds great, Mione," Angelina said, squeezing Hermione into a hug with her free arm.

"See you two later," George carefully wrapped both his arms around his sister-in-law, mindful not to upset her grasp of Sophie's wicker bassinette. "I'll be seeing you too mate," He turned to Fred and gave him a half-hug, half-handshake goodbye.

"I'm sorry they couldn't stay and visit," Hermione gently remarked once the young Weasley family had disappeared into the fireplace with a flash green smoke, leaving her and George standing completely alone.

"Hmm…it's understandable," George shrugged. Although he spoke nonchalantly, Hermione could tell that he was displeased that Fred and Angelina were unable to stay longer; it was obvious that George missed the once-constant companionship of his twin brother. "Want to stay for a bit?"

"Of course," Hermione grinned, allowing George to lead her into the couch with his hand on the small of her back. She smiled a bit wider as George tugged her down to join him on the plush cushions, appreciating the way he easily wrapped one arm around her back and securely pulled her ever so close to him.

"Thanks for being here tonight, Mione," George said quietly, bending over a bit to plant a soft kiss on Hermione's forehead. "You were invaluable…In all seriousness, it would have been a disaster if it was just me,"

"Any time…I'm always there to help out Fred and Ang, obviously," Hermione chuckled at George's self-deprecating remark as she burrowed her head into the nook between George's arm and his torso where she fit so perfectly.

"I know that…but it's still nice of you…you're really always there for people," George replied. "That's exactly why I love you," He added speculatively.

"You what?" Hermione quickly responded, pulling her head slightly off George. Minimizing her actions as much as possible, she turned her head and peered at him intently, unsure if he had meant what he said or if his comment was merely a slip of the tongue. "Did you just say you love me?" She asked in a barely audible whisper.

"I think I just did," George answered, tenderly rubbing Hermione's shoulder with the same arm that was entwined behind her.

"Oh,"

"And it's quite true," George continued, softly yet assertively. "I realize that it's all too sudden for me to be saying this, but it's true, Mione. I really am entirely in love with you."

"I, ah, wow," Hermione was simply able to muster. George's sentiment had caught her off guard. She realized that their relationship was rapidly progressing, but she hadn't supposed that his feelings had evolved so far in such a short amount of time.

"I realize that this might scare you…and I don't want to make you uncomfortable…but Mione…how could I not be in love with you?"

"I, er, have no way of answering that," Hermione sat upright on her knees as she and George shared slightly self-conscious laughter.

"I don't want to put you on edge. You don't have to say anything," George volunteered shyly, centering his intense blue eyes affectionately on Hermione.

"It's not that George, I love you too," The words left her mouth and Hermione knew full well that she spoke the truth. "It is very sudden, but it really is undeniable…I am quite in love with you," Hermione continued with an anxious giggle. Stating such an intimate fact made her feel instantly very vulnerable.

"That's-that's just so brilliant," George breathed through a wide smile. "Now, you get over here," He commanded gently. Entwining his arms around Hermione's waist, he guided her tightly against him and kissed her deeply. Her mind flooded with perfect thoughts, Hermione eagerly returned the kiss, content that the night couldn't have ended in a more ideal fashion.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Really really appreciate all my regulars and all the newbies…everyone really! See you in the new year with my next update!