-Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling

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-Eventually all good things must come to an end! This story will be winding down soon...only four more chapters to go. It's time to move on to other projects as I am starting to get a little burned out on this one and the recent drastic fall off of reviews is telling me that you guys are ready for me to move on too. So, get ready, the rollercoaster is getting ready to hit the BIG plunge as my little story grows closer to its climax!

As Always much love and hugs to my ever-suffering beta Crimsonangel23 who has diligently waded through my lousy typing skills and listened late into the night as I drone on and on about terrible things to do to poor George and Luna! Thanks for the plot idea help!

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Loony for Luna: Forever from the Ashes

Chapter Fifteen

Going On

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Luna's high fever raged for another twenty-four hours before the antibiotic potion began to kick in, and she made a turn for the better. George only left her side long enough to take his meals, and to (at Hermione and Ginny's insistence) partake in daily wash-ups.

They had little time alone, as Weasley's in all shapes and forms kept constantly popping in, spelled only by the appearance of a Potter or Granger. Luna was ecstatic when Hermione told her of Ron's sudden proposal, and for hours on end they talked about what kind of wedding Hermione wanted. Hermione had decided long ago that she wanted a rainbow themed wedding, each bridesmaid wearing a different pastel color of the rainbow. Luna, Hermione announced, would be wearing pale blue.

George and Luna were amused as they took it all in, and they were thrilled with the idea of a big celebration. There had been far too much grieving the past weeks, and it was now time to get on with living.

Finally, four days after she was admitted, Healer Kenning gave Luna permission to go home. Once home, Luna insisted on a return to the rigorous exercise schedule she had set before becoming ill. It had taken all of the Weasley's to convince her to slow down, reminding her that her wearing herself out had contributed to the horrible infection that had made her so sick.

During this time George realized that his family wasn't quite as trusting of him as he'd hoped they would be. Now, Molly made daily visits, usually with Hermione and Ginny trailing behind. In the evening, during the time that had traditionally found them enjoying quiet after dinner conversation together, either Ron and Hermione or Harry and Ginny arrived to have a 'nice visit'.

Though George was convinced beyond a doubt that they were checking up on HIM rather than coming to 'visit' with Luna, he didn't say a word. He had more than earned their mistrust. He would just have to prove to them that he meant what he said that day when he had first returned to the hospital. He should have known they would be laying in wait for him the second he left her room...

-Flashback-

"So..." Ginny crossed her arms across her chest and gave George a scathing look. "Came back did you?"

"Go ahead," George sighed and slid into the nearest chair. "Let's get it over with, shall we?"

"Alright then..." Hermione began. "We want to know what happened before you ran out on Luna."

He gave them a bland look. "That's none of your business."

"None of..." Ginny and Hermione looked as if George had just hit them, Harry and Ron sat on the sofa behind them, smirking into their hands, impressed despite themselves at their brother's audacity.

"What do you mean 'none of our business'?" Ginny asked, her hand twitching in the direction of her wand. "I thought we already settled the fact that anything to do with Luna is our business as she is one of our best friends."

"I mean, it's none of your business." George gave them a firm, unwavering look. "What happened is between Luna and I, and, as she hasn't told you herself, I should think that would make it obvious that she feels it is none of your business as well."

"But..."

"Ginny..."Arthur said quietly. "Leave it be."

"Personally..." Harry began. "I'd rather hear George say he will never do it again, whatever it was."

George couldn't resist a small grin. Even with all the uncertainty, and the fear the very idea gave him, he wasn't about to say that he would never kiss Luna again. Instead he settled for the next best thing.

"Can't really say that...but, I will say that I will never run out on her again. In fact, I will promise that I will never, everrun out on her again."

They looked at him, a puzzled expression on their faces. Then he looked at Molly who was smirking over her knitting. The look on her face made it fairly clear she had figured out for herself what had happened between him and Luna before he had run away, or at least, she had a pretty good guess.

"Oi!" Ron burst out. "What the bloody hell is that suppose to mean?"

George smiled to himself. Thankfully, Ron and Harry were as clueless as ever. Before the other women in the room had a chance to figure it out, he stood from the chair and began walking out of the room again.

"As I said, my and Luna's business is none of yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the gift shop. Honestly," he shook his head, anxious to get at least ONE over on the lot of them in all this. "I can't believe not a one of you, beside mum and dad, have brought Luna flowers."

He shook his head and tsk'ed them all the way to the hallway.

-End Flashback-

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George could barely keep his eyes off Luna as she sat next to him in the yard of the Burrow under a gleaming white canopy, a sultry August breeze ruffling the loose strands of hair that fell from the unusually neat bun she wore instead of her usual messy one. Hermione and Ginny had arrived that afternoon, a gift box in hand, and insisted on getting Luna ready for the party that evening.

The gift box, it turned out, held a new dress and sandals. It was dove grey with small pink rosebuds. The full fluffy skirt reached to mid thigh, and the spaghetti strapped top was demurely cut. Yet the dress as a whole was still incredibly sexy. The sandals, flat because of Luna's recent procedure, were held on by a single grey ribbon that crossed her toes and laced around the ankle three times where it tied with a bow. Around her neck she wore a strand of tiny clear crystals, with matching earrings. And of course, she wore the silver combs that George had given her, securing her hair in place.

She watched, greatly amused as Harry carried his godson, Teddy Lupin, around on his arm, showing him off to any who's attention he could catch. Not that it was difficult. Teddy was adorable in his black infant size suit, a tiny black bow tie at the base of his neck, and his hair brilliant in his late mother's favorite shade of bubblegum pink.

"Luna..." Harry said as he at last stopped in front of them. "Have you had the pleasure of meeting my godson yet?"

"I don't believe I have." She smiled as she reached up and Teddy grabbed her finger in his tiny fist.

"Handsome little guy isn't he?" Harry beamed.

"Takes after his godfather in that respect," Luna grinned. Harry did indeed look handsome that evening, dressed in a light cotton summer shirt sans tie.

"Now you've done it," George mock groaned into his hand. "His head was big enough before."

"Speaking of yourself again?" Harry tsk'ed. "Really George, must you always be the center of attention?"

Luna ignored them. "May I hold him?"

"I don't know…" Harry held Teddy up. "What do you think Teddy? Would you like to go see the pretty lady?"

Teddy gurgled loudly, right on cue.

"I guess that's a yes then." Harry grinned as he handed Teddy off to Luna. Luna held his tiny body close, and breathed in the irresistible scent of baby. He smelled so incredibly sweet, a wonderful combination of baby shampoo, soap, baby powder, and that simply lovely baby smell.

"Hey, little guy." George's voice unconsciously rose into glaringly obvious baby talk. "How are you? Huh?"

"Harry, George..." Molly called from across the yard where she levitated an extra table in front of her. "Could you help me a moment?"

"Coming!" They called back.

Harry looked down at Luna. "You okay with him for a minute?"

"Of course," Luna smiled at Teddy. "We've got this covered, don't we Teddy?"

Harry and George rushed off to help with the table. They quickly set it up, and while Harry followed after Molly to help bring out the chairs, George turned back to check on Luna.

Everything, every sound, every voice, flew from his mind as he took in the sight of Luna sitting with little Teddy Lupin in her arms. He'd always thought there was something particularly attractive about a woman who was holding a baby, but this was beyond anything he had ever experienced before.

In his mind Teddy's bright pink hair darkened into the famous Weasley red, and George was able to quite accurately picture what Luna would look like holding their own child. She had never looked more beautiful, and it nearly knocked him to his knees as the air rushed from his lungs.

"Hey, are you helping or not?" Harry yelled from behind him, and George forced himself back from the haze that had filled his mind.

"Err...yeah." He gave Luna a last longing glance, and then turned to help with the chairs.

"What's with you?" Harry grinned at George.

"Nothing." George tried, and failed, to inject his usual lighthearted tone into his voice.

"Nothing?" Harry nodded as he put the last chair into place. "Sounds like you just got hit by a confundus curse to me."

"Shut up Potter." George said as he turned toward the house. "Tell Luna I'll be right back, would you?"

No way was George going anywhere near Luna while he still had that picture in his head. He'd be on his knee begging her to marry him (and bear his child) if he did. Instead, he walked around the tables to where the food and drinks had been set up, picked up a glass of butterbeer, and drained it without stopping.

With a deep breath he picked up two more glasses and returned to where he had left Luna, thankfully, both Harry and baby Teddy were long gone.

"So that's where you went," she smiled as she took the glass. "I wondered, you looked a little...well, odd for a moment there."

"Odd?" He said as he swung back into his chair.

"Like you had horrible gas or something," Luna grinned. "If that's the case, I do hope that you took care of it before returning."

George looked at Luna and grinned. "That's incredibly crude," he took her hand and held it in his. "Funny, but crude."

Luna opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off as soft music swelled up around them. Luna had been walking on her own for the past week, mostly getting in and out of her wheelchair to the bed, and around short distances. George decided it was time to push her exercises a little further, so he stood and smiled down at her.

"Shall we give it a try?"

"George," Luna shook her head and smiled. "I am barely walking."

He shrugged. "That's what I'm here for."

Luna put her hand into his, and he helped her to her feet. She clung to him tightly as they walked the short way to where a dance floor had been set up, where he pulled her into his arms, supporting most of her weight as he pulled her tight against him.

George realized instantly that he was probably making a huge mistake. Luna smelled even better than she looked. The scent of lilac teased his nose as his face brushed against her hair when she laid her cheek on his chest, but even as part of him wanted to run away from her, an even bigger part of him wanted to stay there forever.

He was instantly assaulted by memories, dancing with her reminded him too much of dancing at Bill and Fleur's wedding nearly a year before, just before everything went to hell when the Ministry fell. He'd been holding her just as he was now, softly swaying to the music, when Kingsley Shacklebolt's lynx patronus had arrived with the horrible news.

-Flashback-

George looked up just in time to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparate away. His eyes scanned the crowd, looking for his parents and Xenophilius Lovegood. He found Luna's father first and Xenophilius gave a silent nod of approval.

Then, without a word to Luna, he pulled his wand from inside the pocket of his robes and apparated away with her, taking her to the place that he and her father and agreed upon meeting should something like this happen.

"George!" Luna's fingers were like talons digging into his arm. "We have to go back...Daddy..."

"It's okay," he assured her, prying her hands lose and pulling her tightly into his arms.

"What's happening? The patronus...I couldn't hear what it said..." She whimpered against his chest.

"The ministry's fallen, Scrimegour...he's dead."

"Oh no..." She agonized. "No...no...it can't be."

"Just relax," he urged softly as he rubbed her back. "You're dad will be here in a minute or two."

"I'm scared George, I don't think I've ever been so afraid."

"Shhh...it will be okay." He kissed her hair and held her even tighter. "I won't let anything happen to you, I'll protect you, I promise."

-End Flashback-

But he hadn't protected her. Because of him, she had fallen into Voldemort's hands, and he hated himself for it. So many things would have been different if he had only kept his promise to her father.

"Stop thinking about it George," Luna said softly into his ear. George bent lower to whisper softly back to her.

"Thinking about what?"

She pulled back and looked up at him, her eyes soft and worried.

"You can't fool me, I know you too well." She looked deep into his eyes, daring him to lie to her. "You're thinking about that night…when the death eaters came."

"You do know me too well." He pulled her close again and sighed against her skin, his breath causing her to explode into goose bumps.

"Are you cold?" He asked.

"It's August George; of course I'm not cold." She grinned. "You've always had this effect on me."

He laughed softly. "Sorry."

Luna looked up at him and grinned. "I can live with it if you can."

George shook his head and laughed. "Cheeky little thing."

"And don't you forget it." She dimpled up at him for a minute and then the smile faded from her face again. "George, I know you said that you couldn't offer me any promises, but…would you give me just one?"

"If I can," he nodded.

"Will you stop torturing yourself because of me?" She looked near tears. "The promises you made to my father, and to me...I can't stand watching you tear yourself apart over them."

"Luna...." He sighed again and rested his forehead on hers. "You're asking me to just forget my culpability in the things that happened to you...you were hurt, you could have been killed...I don't know if I can forgive myself for having been responsible for that."

"I thought we agreed that the one to blame was you-know-who." She took a deep breath before going on. "George, blaming yourself for the things that happened isn't going to change anything. They happened, and there is no getting around that, no matter how much you beat yourself up about it."

Her fingers tightened on his shoulders, reminding him of how her terrified hands had gripped him that night, and a look of pure agony crossed his face.

"Stop doing that!" She said as she buried her face in his chest. "Please, just...just stop...you say you don't want to hurt me anymore, but…it hurts me to see you in so much pain because of me. It's time to let go of all that George, it's time for us, all of us, to get over the past and go on."

George felt the front of his thin cotton shirt growing damp.

With a deep sigh, he pulled his arms tight around her and buried his face in her neck. As always, her scent made him feel at peace.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "I'll try...I promise."

The song ended and Luna stepped away from George and smiled.

The quiet was interrupted then by the soft clanging of silverware against glass. Harry stood up at his table, Ginny sitting next him, across from Ron and Hermione.

Harry lifted his glass with a huge grin on his face. "As the future best man, it falls on me to make a toast. I think we're all a bit surprised by the sudden proposal, but coming from one who has been there since the beginning, I just have to say...It's about time!"

Harry continued to shouts of laughter from the fellow Gryffindor's in attendance, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, and Dean Thomas.

"Believe it or not, when Ron and Hermione met, it was far from love at first sight." He went on. "In fact, Ron and Hermione loathed each other and both prayed fervently they wouldn't end up in the same house. Well, all I can say is...thank GOD that the sorting hat was much smarter than they were. And, as long as we are giving thanks, we mustn't forget to be thankful for mountain trolls!" He grinned. "Without them, we would not be celebrating the upcoming nuptials of the best friends a guy ever had."

He turned and lifted his glass to Ron and Hermione. "Ron, Hermione...we've been to hell and back together, at times I wondered if we would all live through it...but always I knew that I could count on one thing, that you two would be there. So, as your future best man, I get the pleasure of being the first to wish you a very happy future."

He raised his glass and tipped it to them while everyone cheered and drank the toast.

"If I could take just one more moment of your time..." he said as the general chatter had picked up again. All went silent around him once more.

"As long as I'm at it, I want to recognize someone else, someone who has also stuck by my side these past seven years. Though, God knows why she did." He grinned.

"We've been through a lot together, Ginny and I, and like with Ron and Hermione, there have been times when everything nearly came undone. But she stuck with me, even when I wasn't able to stick with her. Most of you know the full story of what happened the night of the battle, but what most of you don't know is that it was Ginny who gave me the strength to do what I had to do. And it wasn't just that night, but all the months leading up to it while we were on the run trying to track down the keys to destroying Voldemort. Ginny was my strength, my reason to go on even when things seemed hopeless."

"If she'll have me, I want her to be my strength for the rest of my life...as my wife."

He smiled, and bent down on one knee as he dug in his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. "Ginny, will you marry me?"

Ginny couldn't speak, and she couldn't see through the tears. She just nodded furiously and whispered…

"Yes!"

George looked at Luna, and his mind flooded with memories and images. The way she had looked the morning after he'd made love to her for the first time, and the way the pink light of dawn flooded across their bodies as he decided that she was the one he wanted to one day marry. How it had felt to kiss her the night before she got so sick, and even closer was the memory of how she had looked when she had held little Teddy Lupin. He looked at her...her face so beautiful, so happy and glowing, that he was seized by an urge so strong he couldn't breathe. He wanted her to be his forever. He wanted to marry her and he wanted to ask her now.

George turned to Luna and took her hand...

"Luna..."

"It's wonderful isn't it?" A single voice broke through the happy din, coming from behind him.

Luna turned to back to him. "Yes George?"

"Would you..."

"It's a shame though..." The familiar voice spoke again. "...if only Fred were here. He'd be so happy about all of this."

"George?" Luna asked, her voice concerned as George had suddenly gone horribly pale. "What is it?"

"Would you..." George felt strangled. "Would you like something more to drink?"

Luna smiled up at him. "That would be lovely, thank you."

George nodded and gave her hand a squeeze before standing and rushing to the food and drinks table. He stood, breathing heavily, his heart and mind in a total panic.

What was he thinking? What had he almost done...? He couldn't ...but he had...

...he had nearly asked Luna to marry him!

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Chapter 16 Preview

Luna is ready at

last to stand on her own

but on the eve of George's moving out

news comes that will change

everything.

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