It's kind of short and I apologize. I must say that I absolutely adore Charlie and perhaps he will be my next fanfic :) We'll see. Enjoy!
Chapter Eighteen
Ella passed through her second trimester and again physical misery set in on her. Nearly her whole body ached and if it didn't ache it was terribly swollen. George had had to buy her a plain silver chain to put her wedding ring on when her finger became too swollen for it.
George was being a dream husband and was spoiling his wife rotten. If being pregnant wasn't so miserable, Ella could have gotten used to the treatment.
"You know, love, maybe you should take some time off before the baby is born," George suggested one day when Ella got home. She had been planning to work until the baby was born, but Ella saw the reasoning to his statement.
"I just don't want to leave them all before their exams," Ella sighed, allowing George to kiss her forehead.
"I know, love, but Professor McGonagall will find someone capable to take over for you. You weren't going to be there up to the exams anyways," George said.
Ella nodded. "You're right. I'll speak to her next week."
"Good. I just want you to be rested and ready for everything that's about to happen." There was the same gleam of excitement in his eyes that had been there for the past six months. He laced his fingers through hers. "Now come upstairs so I can show you something."
"Oh George. I don't feel like it," Ella said. "I've seen that thing a thousand times."
George laughed out loud. "Not that! Although it isn't a half bad idea." He kissed her cheek and pulled her to the stairs.
"If I get upstairs I'm not coming back down," she muttered. Any little bit of physical exertion had begun to tire her out. True to form when she got upstairs she was out of breath and her legs were burning.
George pulled her along the hallway and pushed the door to the nursery open. They hadn't gotten around to decorating the baby's room, but when George opened the door Ella's jaw dropped.
The walls were painted with a mural of a meadow. There was tall grass magically swaying, fluffy clouds floating lazily in the blue sky and in one corner a blue-green pond, with bright, swimming fish. It was so beautiful and Ella hugged George to the best of her ability in her swollen state.
"So you like it?" He chuckled.
"It's perfect." Ella pulled away and looked at the room.
"I won't take all the credit. Charlie and Lee helped." George smiled.
"Well I will have to thank them. It's so great, George. That's one less thing to worry about," Ella said.
The young couple had been successful in getting all of the material things they would need for the baby. However, as time drew nearer Ella was once again apprehensive.
-ooooOoooo-
It would seem that Ella wasn't the only apprehensive one. Her due date was literally days away, a couple of days after May second unfortunately, when things went wrong once again.
The dreaded May second came around and Ella had spent the day at home, nervously trying to keep herself busy. She had been at home by herself a lot since she had quit teaching, which put George on edge and he often sent a family member or Lee to check on her. However, that day no one came to see her.
Ella walked slowly around the house, waiting for George to come home, praying he would come home. A year ago exactly had been the worst day of her life and she didn't care to repeat it.
Finally, she heard the door open and close and she went to the entryway. George smiled at her and kissed her forehead. He didn't seem too bad off, but he was quiet. Quietness in George always unsettled Ella because it was such a rarity.
"I made dinner." Ella smiled and took his hand.
"You didn't have to do that, El. I could've done it," George said, allowing himself to be pulled into the kitchen.
"I know, but I wanted to. Who knows when I'll have time to cook for you after the baby gets here?" She set two plates on the kitchen table.
They began to eat in silence. George was still unnervingly quiet, but at least he was there. Ella remained quiet, unsure of what to say. As she was moving a forkful of food to her mouth she received a sharp kick from the baby. She groaned a little and pressed her hand to the spot.
George slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin and then placed it on the table as he stood. There was a look of fear in his eyes and Ella reached out to touch his hand, but he left the kitchen and then the house, without a word.
Ella sat speechless, unsure of what had happened. Pushing her food away, she stood shakily and moved into the living room, sitting heavily on the sofa. She put her head in her hands. How could he just leave like that? His wife was in no condition to be left in such a manner.
She stayed alone in the sitting room, nearly unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. When she finally looked up at the clock it was a little past one in the morning. Ella didn't' know what to do. She couldn't very well go out looking for him herself.
Finally, she came up with an idea. She didn't want the whole Weasley family to now of the problem, but she needed someone's help. Ella drew her wand out and tried to think of something happy in her current state of misery.
Paris. She thought of her honeymoon and procured her falcon Patronus. "Charlie, I really need your help." With a wave of her wand the silver bird was gone.
Less than fifteen minutes late, Charlie apparated directly into the entryway of George and Ella's home. He came striding into the living room stopping in front of the sofa.
"Ella, what's wrong? Are you alright?" He asked scanning her with his eyes to make sure that she was physically okay.
"I'm fine." She looked up at her brother-in-law. "George left though."
"Where did he go?" Charlie asked gently, sitting next to her.
Ella only shrugged her shoulders, one tear sliding down her cheek.
"I'll find him, don't you worry." Charlie stood up and disappeared for a second. He came back with a steaming cup of tea. "Drink it," he ordered softly.
Ella didn't question him, but put the cup to his lips and drank deeply. Charlie made sure she was completely asleep before he gently lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bed.
Hours later Ella woke in a foggy haze to a heated one-way conversation just outside the bedroom door.
"You're a real prick, you know that?" Charlie asked roughly.
"You've told me a couple times already." George's speech was a little slurred.
"And I'm going to keep telling you until it properly sinks in. Now you're done this to her one too many times, George. Ella deserves better than this." Charlie took an angry tone with his younger brother. "You have a beautiful wife asleep in there who, for reasons unknown to me, is willing to deal with your moods and disappearances. Ella is about to have your baby, George. I would imagine she would want you to be around for your child." Before George could get a word in Charlie continued. "Now go find a guest bedroom and sleep this off until you're sober enough to realize how bloody lucky you are to have a woman who wants to deal with you."
There you go! One important announcement: I only have two or three chapters left in this fic. I'm thinking about doing a Charlie fic, but I would appreciate any ideas you have for another HP fic! Let me know in your review!
Happy reading,
Avonmora