She can't remember the last time that she was this enraged. Voldemort came close. After she found out how he murdered her parents, that was probably the closest she had come to this anger. But this was different, she could tell. This—this was worse because it didn't come from the betrayal of a nameless, faceless enemy but from the love of her life.
The reason she lives and breathes.
The—hopefully, if she doesn't kill him and he finally gets his head out of his ass and properly asks her— future fiancé and husband. It was frightening how all of the negative emotions coiled and writhed and fought for dominance in her mind. She was a woman on fire burning from the inside out with the power of her fury. The hurt, the pain, those emotions only seemed to make it worse somehow because how dare he.
How dare he.
How dare he paint her love for him as some passing fancy. How dare he taint her love as something that was based solely on appearance, on strength. As if those things have ever mattered to her more than him. How dare he treat her like some frivolous woman easily swayed by money and power. By others, when all she has ever wanted is him.
"Your such an idiot" she spoke choking on the tears that made themselves a home on her face and in her voice.
"Helena" Fred whispered her name, the first time he had addressed her properly since the doctors left over four and a half weeks ago.
"Don't!"
"How could you?! How could you sit there and claim that my love for you is anything other than genuine?!
"I didn't…" Fred started but was just as soon cut off by Helena.
"Yes, you did! Is that what all this silence has been about?! For weeks I have stayed by your side waiting for the day that you would look at me again, touch me again, speak to me again. And this whole time you've been scheming of ways to make me leave you! Constantly breaking my heart with every word ignored and casual brush offs!
All of this because you believe that my love is something that can be so easily brushed aside and for what?! You sat there making both of our lives miserable because you're too much of a coward to face me now that your outer appearance has changed?!
Are you really so vain? Or do you really think me so vain as to turn you away based on your looks?
That day that you asked me to be your girlfriend we promised each other that through thick or thin we would be together, always.
You promised that no matter what came our way we would face it as one. Did you or did you not make me this promise?"
"Yes but—"
"And all this time I've kept it and yet it seems like I'm the only one capable of keeping the promise we made each other."
"Helena, you don't understand! I'm doing this for you! You deserve a life where you don't have to make compromises. I won't be able to give you the happiness you deserve. My body physically won't be able to handle the stress that it once did.
Just yesterday, I tried walking the length of the hospital for an hour and I had to give up after thirty minutes. If that's the extent of my capabilities, how will I ever be able to dance with you for long stretches of time or play and race with our children if I'm constantly worn out after a light jog."
"Then we'll figure it out! But just because things get rough doesn't mean we give up! I refuse to give up on you, Fred Weasley!
"Helena we can't—"
"Do you love me?" Helena interrupted brusquely.
"I—Yes" Fred sighed tiredly.
"Good because I love you too and no matter what happens I'm never leaving you. So, heal, sleep, yell at the walls and take all the time that you need but know this.
No matter what happens I'm not leaving. I'll wait. Whether it's days, months, or years, I'll wait for you Fred because that's what it means to be in love with someone. And when you're ready, come find me. You know where I'll be. You always do."
And with that Helena shut the hospital door, leaving behind a stunned Fred and a smirking George.
It was days later when Fred, still wrapped in bandages from head to toe, rang the doorbell of a small, comfortable townhouse right on the outskirts of London. He was carrying a bouquet of artfully arranged wildflowers in one hand and a small velvet box in the other.
He was nervous, sure, but also determined when Helena opened the door, surprised but also happy that he had come for her.
Finally
And after a long talk that included a lot of screaming, crying and, finally, laughing sobs Fred proposed to Helena in her living room and she agreed to be his fiancée and wife.