Author's Note: I am so incredibly sorry. I truly am. While I don't believe in excuses, allow me to please explain why at first it took me so long to update. Last spring, we got a new computer and then I lost my flashdrive on which I had the beginning of every remaining Audrey Weasly chapter. No really, I had the beginning of the last chapter written. However, once I lost that, I figured it would only take me a little to start writing again. Obviously, that didn't work out. Of course, this is not at all a good enough reason to completely cease writing, but I always fully intended to return to writing this story. Don't worry: I haven't forgotten about you guys. There. Now that that's been said, onto writing.

Alicia's lip curled into an "I-knew-it-I-knewit-Iknewit" smile.

"Oh, be quiet," Percy snapped, not in the least bit unpleased.

"May I say, mmmm, 'I told you so'?" she grinned.

Percy grinned, but said nothing. He'd just relayed to her the weekend's events.

Alicia's smile faded. She rubbed her throat and it was then that Percy noticed a new silver chain hanging from it. Normally, he would have thought nothing of it except that she seemed to be fingering the part of the chain just above its pendant which she kept tucked in her blouse.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

"Hmmm?" she asked startled. She seemed to realize what she'd been doing and immediately dropped the chain, careful never to reveal the pendant. "Yes, I'm fine."

Percy would have left it at that, but she continued, "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure," Percy was about to say, "anything," but such a word held much weight nowadays.

Alicia looked around, making sure that no one was listening. Satisfied that there was no one around and more importantly no one to pay them any mind, she pulled the chain from her blouse. Percy had just enough time to see that it was a simple diamond ring before she replaced it down her blouse.

It took a moment for the ornament's significance to register. "You're not…?"

"Yes," Alicia nodded. "Lee asked me this morning. Well," she sighed. "Officially."

"Officially?"

"We've been talking about it for quite some time, but I've always said that it could wait until after the war. When we could have a proper wedding, you know? Besides. Who could we get to officiate in a time like this? Almost anyone who wouldn't turn us in is in hiding himself. But…but Lee just kept asking, what if there is no after-the-war? What if…what if we get caught or…one or both of us…what if we miss our chance waiting for a better one?" She seemed incapable of saying the word "die" which Percy could certainly understand.

"Right. And after the war you can always have a large anniversary party. I know it's not the same, but why wait?"

Alicia gave him an appreciative smile.

"But what do you need me for? I can't officiate if that's what you need…"

"Oh, no!" Alicia laughed. "While he is in hiding, Kingsley is still technically qualified. What we need are witnesses to sign the form. Two in fact. Originally we were going to get your brothers, but…" she winced sympathetically, "even we don't know where your family is hiding."

"So you want me officially witness your wedding. Admitting that I was in fact there. And have a general idea where Lee Jordan, a fugitive, is hiding," Percy nodded. "Sure. But I'm only one person. Who else are you getting?"

"I was thinking about that…Audrey's been trapped in that house for what…eight, nine months now?"

XXX

If ever asked how he imagined his first official date with Audrey Simmons would go, Percy would have honestly replied that he hadn't given much thought to the matter. After all, who really spends time pondering about taking one of the fugitives living in your house out to dinner and perhaps an evening at the theater? No one. Anyone hiding fugitives in his or her house rarely spends much if any time pondering something as normal as a date. But here he was, asking Audrey Simmons out on a date, a wedding no less.

Even if he had spent much time considering their first official date, Percy was sure that it wouldn't involve signing a marriage license even if it wasn't their own. Not that Percy had much trouble thinking about himself and Audrey signing marriage licenses, but that was highly beside the point.

"Hi," Audrey greeted Percy at the door (which was usual) and helping him remove his coat (which was also usual) and with a peck on the lips (which was a recent development that Percy was sure he could quite quickly place in the "usual" routine category). "Something on your mind?"

"Do you want to go to a wedding?"

"What?" Audrey, asked, nearly dropping his coat.

Quickly explaining the situation, Percy decided that using the word "wedding" casually with a girl he'd only just admitted having feelings for might not be in anyone's best interest. The two sat on the couch just as Percy was finishing.

"You want me to go out into public? You want me to leave this cottage?" Audrey asked confused. When Percy didn't contradict her, she cried, "Yes! Of course I will! But what about my parents and Joey?"

Percy silently cursed himself. He'd completely forgotten them. "Well…"

"They'll be fine for a few hours, won't they?" Audrey asked, hoping Percy was more confident in this idea than she. At the end of the day, as much as she wanted to leave that cottage, she would never do anything to endanger her family and leaving them without magical protection could very well do that.

"Oh, just go the wedding!" her mother snapped.

The couple jumped, not realizing that both of Audrey's parents stood in the kitchen doorway.

"We'll be fine for one evening," Mr. Simmons rolled his eyes. "Honestly, we're Muggles, not children…"

XXX

The wedding only lasted long enough for a quick exchange of vows and five hands to sign a piece of parchment. In all honesty, Percy felt cheated.

Cheated that his good friend, Alicia, didn't have the large wedding he knew she wanted and deserved.

Cheated that, even though neither the bride nor the groom had done anything wrong, they were forced to marry in secret.

Cheated that, after eight and a half months of hiding, this is what Audrey got to go out and see.

Cheated that, no matter how measly the wedding had been, there were many who weren't lucky enough to have even that.

Cheated that there were some who never would.

"Well, that was fun," Audrey commented, just before they Apparated home.

Once his head stopped spinning, Percy replied, "You don't have to say that just for me. I understand."

"No, really. Who really needs a big wedding?" Audrey took his arm as the two strode down back to the house. It seemed that the Simmons had left every light on in Percy and Audrey's absence. The cottage seemed to glow in the twilight. "A marriage is a marriage, simple as that. It's more about the next hundred years than having a big party anyway."

Percy grinned. Just like Audrey to look on the bright side when he least expected it of her.

"Besides," she let go of his arm and walked ahead, "I'd much rather spend money on the honeymoon than wedding, wouldn't you." Grinning she skipped into the house.

Percy stopped in his tracks, unsure of whether or not to take that as an innuendo, a pass at him, or just a simple comment.