So, introducing…Chapter 4! Yay! It's a little shorter than I would have liked, but I wanted to cut off so I could start the next one at the beginning of a scene so, here it is. I also wanted the thank those of you who reviewed, because your input really means a lot to me.
P.S. I put up some pictures of Annabelle, Elizabeth, and the bond markings on my profile, so check it out!
I scrambled into out living room, clutching Fred's hand for balance. Once we had all gotten in, I sat on the couch, bringing Fred and George both with me.
"Okay, fess up, what do we have to do?" I questioned.
They fidgeted in their seats. I don't really know how to explain this, but it was like I could feel their discomfort. I could sense what they were enduring.
"Please, guys, just tell me. I want to keep us all safe."
"In order for you to be as…connected to us as we are, we have to, uh, familiarize ourselves with each other, or more you, actually, inside and out." George answered, trying to put it as delicately as possible.
"Hm?" I was still perplexed.
"We have to open ourselves up as much as we can to another person," Fred continued.
"Inside and out." They repeated.
"Oh." I managed, once the meaning of what they said hit me.
They had to familiarize themselves with me, I had to open up to them. Like, intimately open up to them. That was a lot to ask. To be honest, the idea of sex had popped into my head as soon as I figured what the marks meant. I mean, us being connected like this, on top of all the other feelings, I doubt we could all withstand the sexual tension for very long. But to be asked to it, as a mandatory instruction instead of just a pleasant outcome was something different altogether.
I'd only ever slept with two people my entire life, and I regretted both. Sex was supposed to be passionate, intimate, heated, and animated. Could we ever have that if it forced upon us? I know its necessary and I know we have to, but that doesn't mean I want to. Not like this anyway.
I don't know if Fred and George could sense my feelings, or if they just saw it on my face, because they wrapped their arms around me, holding close to both of them.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Annabelle." George mumbled.
"No one is forcing you." Fred soothed.
"No, no, we have to. If it'll keep you two safe, then I'll do it." I pushed them away so I could look at them. "We-we don't have to do it now, do we?" I was almost too afraid to ask.
"No, we'll go back to Dad on Saturday, see what he thinks." Fred chuckled.
"Go to bed, love."
They both kissed me softly, and walked me to my room. I guess I should get used to this. The kissing, and the hugging, and the overall closeness. It weird, odd, but not unpleasant. Fred, George, and I, we're…close. It shouldn't be that hard to sip into this new bond thing…right? But it's still so new, and odd, and I'm not sure if I'll ever adjust completely.
Deep in my own thoughts, I showered, slipped on an over-sized t-shirt and got into bed. Closing my eyes forcibly, I willed myself to sleep. This went on for probably 10 minutes, in which I tossed and turned profusely. Giving up, I stared at my ceiling, my head still slightly buzzing.
That's when I first felt it. Initially, it was just the mark, sending currents through my body, effectively waking me up even more. Then it was the nerve wrecking feeling that I needed to get to Fred and George, now. It was as if that single thought overcame my entire being, and I pulled myself out of bed. I wasn't quite sure what my intentions were, but it seemed that a magnetic force was pulling me out of the room. I stepped quickly, dashing through the halls toward the gravitational pull. It wasn't until I came face-to-face with the door to George's bedroom that I knew what I was doing.
Quietly, unsure if he was sleeping, I opened the door and tiptoed in. The curtains were pulled open, letting white light from outside illuminate the room. I could see George's bed, and lying on it was George, wide-awake. He looked up at my arrival, and gave a small half-smile.
He didn't say anything, he just moved a bit to the side, making room for me. I climbed in the bed and stretched out over his chest. I don't know how I knew that I was supposed to be here, I just knew that I felt a lot better once I was here. But there was still something not quite right…Fred. He wasn't here, and I started to get slightly panicky again.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind when Fred opened the door, saw us on the bed and sighed, sounding relieved. George and I instinctively moved over more, allowing Fred to lie on my left, while George was on my right. Fred draped an arm around my waist, holding me to him as I held George to me. I laid there, sandwiched between the two people I loved most in the entire world, and my worries from before ebbed away, and I relaxed.
George kissed my forehead and laid my head in the crook of his neck. Fred kissed my shoulder and traced patterns slowly on my stomach with his fingers. It wasn't weird, or odd. And we were silent, and it wasn't awkward, it was a nice silence. The comfortable kind, where you can sit there and not feel the need to say anything, or be hyper-aware of where your hands are, the kind where you don't want to ruin the moment with spoken words, because you all know how the others are feeling already.
Fred and George Weasley were not expecting to form an extremely powerful, possibly dangerous magical bond when they admitted that they were both in love with Annabelle. They agreed on pursuing her after months of arguments with each other and with themselves. But, since she undoubtedly knew all their tactics, they needed a way to slowly show her they were serious without scaring her off.
After some thought, they decided luring her into facing the feelings they all knew were in her was the best way to go. Who knew it would catch on this fast?
They had courted their fair share of women by working together, but it was always as a favor to the other. Annabelle had bee different. Of course, the brothers didn't want to fight over her, and the relationship between the three seemed too strong to break over any silly territorial claim.
The morning after they went to their parents to seek help was one of the bests either twin could remember. Waking up with Annabelle between them, sleeping softly, her short cropped curls brushing against her jaw line and cheekbones. It was getting hard to remember why this bond was a bad thing.
Just ignore them Annabelle, they'll go away.
They have to stop staring at some point.
Eventually they'll get bored and leave.
Ugh. I sighed, irritated, and continued stacking the Patented Daydream Charms on their shelves. A few minutes ago I had reached up to put one on a high shelf and my robe slipped off my shoulder, revealing the bond mark in front of a pack of middle-aged wizards. While their kids bustled around the shop excitedly, they all decided to stand there and stare at me as if I were behind a sheet of glass.
I swear if their kids weren't buying so many products, I'd be kicking them on their arses right here.
"Alright, Annabelle?" George asked, sauntering over from the other side of the shop. The four gentlemen blinked and fixed their eyes on him.
"I'm fine," I said quietly, looking back to the shelf.
"They're not giving you any trouble, are they?" He mumbled to me and jerked his thumb at the men.
"No, just gawking like idiots, but it's fine, George, really." I assured him. "They'll probably leave soon anyway."
"Fine. But don't expect us to sit by if anymore people start treating you like a zoo exhibit." He kissed my cheek before turning away, but before he left sent a menacing glare at the group, which in turn sent them scrambling to retrieve their children.