A/N: Huge thanks to everyone who's reviewed this; I really appreciate your nice comments!

Also thanks to Katy - for betaing this chapter!

Enjoy!

XXX

December 25th, 1996

"Merlin!"

With a satisfied groan George collapsed on top of Alicia, breathing heavily. Patiently, Alicia waited for him to move but nothing happened. "George!"

"Yeah?"

"Get off me."

"Oh. Right. Sorry –" He moved over until he came to lie on his back next to her.

They lay silently for a moment enjoying the sunlight that came streaming into the room through the window. It was a crystal clear, icy day; no cloud was covering the blue sky.

"Well?" said George finally.

"It was okay –" Alicia grinned, knowing that he was talking about sex.

He turned his head over to look at her, grinning. "I am getting better with every time," he said smugly.

"Oh – you're insufferable sometimes," Alicia complained boxing him lightly before getting out of bed. She used her blanket to cover herself until she had reached the bathroom where she got dressed in an old t-shirt and sweatpants. When her eyes met with her reflection in the bathroom mirror she grinned at herself, happily, thinking about last night. They had done it twice in one night. Once at night and once in the morning after waking up together – something she could very well get used to. That was a way to begin Christmas Day.

A very unholy way, said a voice somewhere deep inside her head, but Alicia didn't care.

The second time had even been good. Okay, she hadn't had an orgasm, yet, and George had been done a bit too quickly, again. But at least it hadn't been awkward, like it had been the times before. They were really getting better.

"Where're you going?" asked George from the bedroom.

"I'm going to make breakfast," said Alicia as she emerged from the bathroom.

"Can I stay for breakfast?"

"I haven't decided that, yet."

"What if I say please?" he called from the bedroom in a whining tone. He knew that that tone was bound to make her weak. Arse that he was.

"Okay," she shouted finally. "But you can help me put it up as well." She turned around to get some milk from the fridge and walked straight into George who was suddenly standing in the kitchen.

"Woah," he said, "what are you shouting for?"

"Sorry. Didn't notice you coming in," she apologized and could feel herself blushing. He was only wearing boxer shorts.

"You're cute when you're going all red, Spinnet, did you know that?" he told her.

"Oh, shut up", she said. "And get dressed."

"Only if you kiss me first."

"But –"

"No buts," he said and gently grabbed her arms, pulling her close. It felt strange somehow, but not in a bad way. She shook her head inwardly – would she ever get used to this? But then – wouldn't all the excitement be gone once she had got used to this?

Alicia ended up making breakfast all by herself. After getting dressed George had run around in the kitchen for a while, attempting to be helpful but really just creating chaos, until she had told him to sit down at the small table and stay there. She did suspect him of being rather unhelpful deliberately, though.

Half an hour later they were both on the verge of bursting when they had finished eating.

"Woah," said George, leaning back on his chair and rubbing his full stomach. "I don't think I'll be able to move at all for at least a couple of hours." He looked at his watch. "Though, at some point this morning I suppose I'll have to move."

"Why?"

"Because," said George, making a dramatic pause, "I will have to go to the shop today. Thanks to my dear, lovely, lazy twin brother. And Mum's asked us to drop by for lunch, too. Hope I can make that, there's lots of work to do in the shop –"

"Work – today? Why? It's Christmas Day! And I thought we could spend some time together, before we'll both go and see our families."

"I'm sorry."

Alicia didn't answer at first. She was angry – this wasn't how she had planned the day. "Why do you have to go and work, anyway?" she finally asked. "Surely you're not opening the shop today? Nobody would come."

"Don't underestimate our –" George began but Alicia pouted and punched him lightly and he rolled his eyes. "Fine. You're right. We aren't going to open up the shop. But I really need to do some bookkeeping. I'm very behind on that. Don't look at me like that, Licia, I'd rather stay here with you, too."

"But it's not just your business. Why can't Fred –"

"Because he's an idiot."

"Oh –"Alicia was surprised at hearing George say that.

He sighed. "Don't tell him I said that, I didn't mean it. But unfortunately, as good a salesman as he is, he's just incapable of doing the books."

"Why?"

"Dunno. I guess he's just too impatient. I asked him to do it once or twice, and it was all rubbish, I had to do it all over again. So I can as well do it myself in the first place."

"Well, okay then," said Alicia sulkily. "That means I'll see you – when? Next week?"

George grinned, "Hey – don't be angry with me before you've even heard me out."

Alicia was still pouting. "Well?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to dinner with my family tonight. I, er –" He hesitated a second but then he said, "I got you a Christmas present, too. And I've already asked Mum if –"

"Wait a minute", Alicia interrupted him. "Does this mean, you've told your parents about us?"

George's ears went slightly pink. "I sort of told them, yeah. Shouldn't I have?"

"But George –"

He looked slightly alarmed now. "Look, I didn't even mention your name – I just told them that I might bring a guest."

"But it's great!" shouted Alicia, making George wince. He eyed her carefully.

"So you're not – I dunno – feeling like it's all going a bit too fast?"

"If you bringing me home for Christmas dinner that means that we're like a proper couple," said Alicia, beaming excitedly.

"I thought we already were."

"Well, we were going out together –"

" – and sleeping together –"

Alicia ignored George's comment. "– but only Fred knew."

"Don't tell me you haven't told Angelina," said George.

Alicia looked guilty. "Okay, I did. But what was supposed to do? Keep it secret from my best friend? I had to tell her. She would've found out anyway. By the way, it was you who told Fred."

"I didn't tell him –"

She gave him a stern look.

"Okay I told him," he admitted. "But I had to."

"Why?"

Shrugging, George answered, "Well, he would have found out, anyway."

Several minutes later he had left, while Alicia cleared up the mess they had left in the kitchen. George had offered to help, but thinking about how he had helped her earlier, she had declined his offer. It was only a matter of waving her wand a couple of times, anyway.

After everything was done Alicia sat at her table, thinking. George had got her a Christmas present. She hadn't even thought about getting him one. God – how could she have been so careless? How could she have underestimated how much he really cared about her? How, in the name of Merlin, could she have thought that this was only a casual thing to him? It hadn't even felt like it was casual. They had both just been scared to take their relationship for what it was.

Well, obviously George had overcome that. Now it was up to her to get to the same level – and that meant getting him a Christmas present, too. But what was she supposed to give him as a present? And where was she supposed to get it from? No shop would be open.

She had still not found a solution by the time she arrived at her parents' house to spend the day with her family. Unfortunately they started asking her all sorts of uncomfortable questions after she had told them that she wouldn't be at home for dinner and where she would be instead.

"Do you think it's wise, mixing with this family?" asked her mother.

"Well, they're the kind of family that would stand up for people like us," replied Alicia. "We're far from being a pure-blood family. Dad's muggle-born, so is part of your family."

Her mother sighed. "Alicia," she finally said, using her best I-understand-you-but-I-know-better-tone. "I think you're a bit too young to understand this properly."

But Alicia wasn't listening. She had finally had an idea that would solve the problem that had kept her busy all day – where to get a Christmas present for George.

"Sorry, Mum, but can we discuss this later? There's something I really need to do."

Alexandra Spinnet wasn't happy, but she nodded, "Fine, off you go then. But we will talk about this later, okay?"

"Great," said Alicia and rushed up the stairs to her younger brother's bedroom. "Michael!"

"Yes?" He looked annoyed when he opened the door but Alicia didn't mind. He was fifteen, he always looked annoyed this days.

"Can I come in?" she asked impatiently.

"If you must."

"Yes."

He scowled but moved aside to let her in. His room was as chaotic as usual, but Alicia found a small bit of space on his bed where she could sit.

"Oi, who's invited you to sit down?"

"Oh, shut up, Mikey," said Alicia, grinning, knowing how much he hated this nickname.

"What do you want?" asked Michael.

"This won't take long, don't worry. I was just wondering whether – you know, those tickets for the concert of the Masochistic Magicians Aunt Elfie gave you for Christmas –"

"Yeah – what about them?" said Michael moodily. "Wanna buy them?"

"Yes," said Alicia.

"What?" Her brother stared at her, open-mouthed. "Why? You don't even like their music."

"Neither do you."

"Yeah, but what do you need them for?"

"My boyfriend likes their music."

Now Michael looked even more bewildered. After a while, though, his expression turned to one of pure disgust. "You together with somebody who likes the Masochistic Magicians?"

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Are you going to sell me those tickets or not?"

Michael grinned smugly. "Well, they won't be cheap."

"How much?"

"Twenty Galleons each."

"What? They're not even worth half of that."

Michael shrugged. "So?"

Alicia sighed. He was a right little pest sometimes. "Here's my best offer," she said. "I'll give you ten for each, okay? That's still more than then they charge usually. And since they are no use for you otherwise –"

"You must really love that bloke then," said Michael, grinning broadly. "Okay, you're on. Ten Galleons each."

After they had made their exchange Alicia bit her family good-bye – not without promising to be there for dinner at her muggle grandparents' house on Boxing Day – and went back to her flat. It was almost time to get ready and she hadn't given it a thought what she was going to wear. Not that George would notice, probably (he had told her himself, several times, that he liked her best when she was naked) but she wanted to make a good impression, especially on his parents. His siblings did all know her already.

His siblings.

Her excitement increased at once when she thought about them. They didn't know anything about her and George. Except Fred of course, but so far he hadn't been very supportive of their relationship, either.

"Don't worry," said George when he came to meet her an hour later. "They will all be thrilled. A bit surprised, though." He sniggered, "Come to think of it, maybe I had better not make that joke on the pretty girl who works in the paper shop the other day." He attempted to take Alicia's hand, but she pulled away.

"What girl?" she asked.

"Just some girl. She works in –"

"Did you just say that she is pretty?"

George stared at her, looking rather bemused. "Are you jealous? Just because I mentioned some girl I know?" A grin appeared on his face when she didn't answer. "Oh yes, you are."

Alicia could feel herself going red. Damn that nerves of her, always making it so obvious what she was feeling. "So?"

"Nothing, I'm just flattered."

"I meant, what about the girl?"

"Oh, she's just a girl who's fancied us for years."

"Us?"

"Well, me and Fred. Actually Fred, though. He is the one who flirted with her a couple of times. But she's never seen us together so when I come by the shop she always thinks I'm him and tries to flirt with me, too."

"And you flirt back, of course."

"No, I don't."

"Really?" She couldn't help feeling self-conscious while she stared at him trying to look angry.

Lifting his hands defensively George said, "Honestly. I don't. Not since you, at least. It must be very confusing for her, come to think of it."

"Tell her you have a girlfriend."

"But I'm not even interested in her. Though she is pretty –"

"George!"

"Okay, okay, I promise I will tell her the next time I'll see her. I'll do anything for you but don't hex me, please?" he mock-begged her and gave her puppy-dog eyes.

Alicia shook her head trying not to laugh. "Oh – you're so insufferable."

"That's why you love me, though, isn't it?"

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

She stopped laughing when they arrived at The Burrow. Fiddling with the hem of her cloak nervously she tried to catch her boyfriend's eye for reassurance.

"Don't worry," said George, when he saw her look, and nudged her gently. "It's going to be alright. In fact, I'm sure it will be far worse for me than you."

"Why?" asked Alicia while grabbing his hand.

"Because I bet Mum's going to tell you all sorts of embarrassing stories about me and Fred when we were little, that's why."

That thought cheered Alicia up a bit. She had never met Molly Weasley in person although she had seen her a couple of times of course, seeing her children onto the Hogwarts Express. She was a person hard to miss. She seemed to be very energetic. Bossy as well, if the twins were to believed. Fortunately George had also told Alicia that there was no way his mother wasn't going to like her.

They entered the house through the back door which was unlocked and led straight into a small kitchen where a young woman (was that Fleur Delacour?) was busy watching several pots on the stove.

George cleared his throat loudly, and the young woman (it was Fleur) winced and turned around.

"Oh Merr-lin!" she breathed when she saw them. "Don't do zat again, Fred!"

Sniggering, George replied, "Do what?"

"Startle mee like zat," said Fleur, frowning. But then she saw Alicia, standing shyly half behind George and a smile lightened up her pretty face. "Hello! Who is zis?"

Alicia went over to Fleur to shake her hand and introduce herself.

"So zats Aleesha," said Fleur and narrowed her eyes looking at George again. "Zen you're not Fred."

George shrugged and grinned.

"I thought you didn't mention my name," Alicia said to him.

"I did, after you accepted my invitation. Everybody knows. I told them at lunch."

The moment Molly Weasley came bustling into the kitchen. "Fleur, have you –"

"Hi Mum."

"George!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, looking surprised. Her eyes fell upon the open door and she gave her son a stern look, putting her hands on her wide hips. "Did you take your guest through the kitchen? That's not very polite. Remember, we do have a front door. – I am sorry, dear," she said to Alicia. "I've been trying to teach them manners for years –"

"I don't mind, Mrs. Weasley," said Alicia. "That's how I know your son."

"Yeah," said Mrs. Weasley grumpily, "that's how a lot of people know him, I'm afraid."

As the evening proceeded it became clear quickly, Alicia was most welcome at the Weasleys'. Apart from Mrs. Weasley and Fleur Delacour, also Mr. Weasley, Bill, Fred, Ron, Ginny and Harry Potter were there and dinner was very noisy with all of them together. And everybody was very nice. Only Fred kept throwing Alicia glances that made her feel slightly uncomfortable. Secretly, Alicia suspected that he was a tiny bit jealous because he wasn't used to sharing his twin brother with anybody.

After dinner they all sat in the lounge together, Mrs. Weasley asking Alicia questions about her part time job at the Magical Menagerie. Later, when there were no more questions left to ask and Mrs. Weasley had had a couple of glasses of wine, she started telling stories about her children when they were younger, just like George had predicted.

"– you wouldn't believe how clingy he was," she said, talking about George who had slightly pink ears, "wanted to be kissed and cuddled all the time. Well, until he was about four years old."

"What happened then?" asked Alicia curiously.

"My influence got the better of him," said Fred. "Fortunately."

"Kissing and cuddling isn't necessarily a bad thing, Fred," said Mrs. Weasley. She turned to Alicia again, "Fred, of course, has always fought off my cuddles, as soon as he was big enough to push me away."

"Mum!" said the twins in unision. "Stoppit!"

It was a memorable evening for Alicia. She couldn't remember being so happy for a long time. George took her home afterwards. They sat huddled together by her fireplace and she asked him to stay overnight again.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I have to –" he hesitated "– take care of some things."

"What kind of things?" Alicia wanted to know.

"I can't tell you."

"Why can't you tell me? You're not in trouble, are you?"

"No," he tried to assure her. "No, I'm just – well, busy."

"George –"

"I promise, okay?"

Alicia sighed and put her arms around his neck to pull him into a tight embrace. "I'm scared," she admitted. "I know there will be a war sooner or later and I am scared as hell that something might happen to me. Or my family. Or you."

George sighed, "Yeah, I know that. But I promise you I'm not in any trouble – or danger for that matter."

Alicia couldn't help smiling. "That helps a bit," she said. "But aren't you scared at all?"

"Of course, I am," he said hesitantly. "I would be scared out of my mind, actually, if I thought about what is to come. But I don't think about it too much. That certainly does the trick, you know."

"What's your biggest fear?" asked Alicia quietly.

George answered without thinking for a second. "Losing you or Fred. That'd be the worst that could ever happen to me." After a while he added, "Let's not talk about war. I haven't even given you your present, yet."

Alicia had totally forgotten about the presents. She reached into her pocket for the envelope that held the concert tickets she had for George and handed it to him.

In turn he gave her a small, nicely wrapped parcel and watched her with a mix of excitement and anxiety when she took it. "I thought about it for a long time," he told her. "Open it I want know if you like it."

Carefully, Alicia opened the parcel. It held a small box and when she opened that, too, she found a silver watch, decorated with tiny, red stones that gleamed in the light of the fire.

"It, er – it magically changes its colour if you want, you know, and tells you the time if you ask it, in case you don't want to take your hand out of your pocket – so it's practical, too," said George rather unromantically. "It's a WWW product, by the way – just in case any of you girl friends might ask –"

Alicia giggled. "I never saw it at the shop."

"No, it's not out, yet. I wanted you to be the first to have it. Had a huge argument with Fred about that, too. He wanted it out before Christmas."

"It's wonderful," said Alicia and kissed him on the cheek. "Now open yours."

He did. When he saw the ticket he grinned broadly. "I thought you hated the music?" But before she could reply anything he kissed her, making her forget her worries for a moment.

But they came back later when she was lying in bed alone. Why hadn't he told her the reason he couldn't stay? Was he really not in danger? After all, his family was very active in the resistance. Maybe he had lied to keep her from worrying.

But then, why don't you just stop worrying? said the small voice in her head. This was one of the happiest days in your life. Don't let it all be spoiled by unnecessary worries.

XXX