George needed some comforting, so I made up a character to do just that :)
"George?" Why was he in her room? He stumbled in, looking slightly intoxicated by his demeanor and stance, and instantly she checked to be sure Hannah was sleeping soundly. Natalie got out of bed quickly, going to kneel on the floor next to George, where he was now sitting against the wall, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression on his face. "Come on, George, come with me," she said, taking him by the elbow and leading him up the stairs to the top of the tower.
She led him to one of the couches under the pavilion and sat down, and he looked at her for a second before he started to cry. Hannah's mood quickly changed from worry to panic.
"What, George? What are you crying? Come here, its okay," she said, pulling him toward her on the couch. He curled up and laid his head in her lap before whispering three simple words that shattered her calm.
"Fred is dead," he said quietly and Natalie's breath caught in her throat. Fred, comical Fred with all his jokes and smiles, was dead?
"How- when- George!" George had started to sob now, and his body shook as he pulled himself up and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into her neck.
They cried together for a long time and eventually Natalie stopped shaking, whether it was because she had stopped sobbing or because George had stopped sobbing, she was unsure. Silent tears still flowed freely, dripping down her nose and jaw as she lay beneath the stars.
Eventually the sky started to lighten and the stars faded away. Whether or not either of them had slept was unsure, but it didn't really matter.
"George, we should probably-" she started, but suddenly he looked at her, furious.
"No. We don't have to do anything. We are going to stay up here for as long as we please!" His gaze softened as he took in her alarmed and bewildered expression, and he spoke again, softer this time. "I'm sorry- I didn't mean to scare you. I just don't want to face it. Any of it. I need a few more hours to pull myself together," George said, and Natalie nodded in agreement. They lay in silence for a few minutes, a comfortable silence that only old friends could possibly understand.
Suddenly, George's face changed. He sighed quietly and sat up, pulling Natalie into his lap, much to her surprise.
"George, what are you-"
"I need to say something, and because of what has happened, I want to say it now. I don't want to regret never telling you this. Natalie, I love you," he said, and she simply sat there, shocked into silence. "I have loved you for a long time, and I want you to know that I will die for you, I will do anything to make you happy. Please- making you happy is the only way I will ever be happy," he said, and he looked at her pleadingly. She was speechless for only a few more seconds, and then she was kissing him.
Her hands moved on their own, sliding around his neck and knotting themselves into his hair. Her breathing accelerated and her pulse beat in her ears as he kissed her back.
As she kissed George, Natalie forgot about Fred, about the war that had been raging around them only twenty-four hours ago. All she could think about was George; his lips, warm and soft but urgent as they pressed against hers, and his hands, which were holding her so tightly she didn't think he would ever let go, nor did she want him to.
When they broke apart, Natalie was pleased to note that George was gasping for air, just like she was. As soon as she got the air to speak, she grabbed George's face, making him look right at her.
"I love you so much, George," Natalie said, making him smile. He leaned in to kiss her and this time they were both ready. Natalie marveled at how soft and yet still so strong George's hands were as they held her, and how warm and gentle his lips were as they moved with hers.