Chapter 76 - Shell's Cottage

OoO

"My condition isn't what it's used to be." Lee said, breathing heavily as he stumbled back to the table. CJ was still racing around the playground. "Damn, how can you keep up with him?" He collapsed next to me.

I grinned at him and handed him his drink. "It takes practice."

Lee drank his entire glass empty and put it down on the table with a little thud. "I'm sorry about last week."

I took in a deep breath. "I understand. It must be quite the shock seeing me there, after all this time." Not telling him how hard the encounter was for me. "You know I came to the shop a while back."

"You did?" The look of surprise made me snicker and I nodded.

"I came in disguise. You even flirted with me." I couldn't stop the laughter now. "That was so fucking weird."

Lee looked embarrassed as he fidgeted with his fingers. "Oh, Godric." He chuckled. I told him what happened and how I ran out of there in a panic. "You know Fred felt really bad for just walking away."

I nodded slowly as my eyes followed my son. I didn't know how to response to that. I felt his eyes on me, and without looking at him I asked. "What about George?"

"He didn't really talk to me about it. Fred probably talked to him, but seeing as we didn't know the whole story..."

"It's not like any of you stuck around long enough to hear it." I tried to keep my voice even but failed. Lee took his hand in mine softly.

"I know, I'm s-"

"No, please don't apologise again." I smiled softly and squeezed his hand. "I understand if they're mad. That they don't want to talk to me or have anything to do with me. I'm the one who left."

"They'll come around. Fred is already there."

"I don't think so." I shook my head. "Otherwise, I would've heard something, anything by now."

Lee was about to reply when my phone went off. I took it out of my purse and flipped it open. A smile appeared on my lips as I read the text message.

Gwen!

Harry just told me you're back. I can't wait to see you and CJ. I've missed you!
I know seeing the gang is probably too much, but please come over to the cottage. We can catch up.

Just let me know.

Love, Fleur

Lee respected my privacy and leaned away as I replied to her text. Telling her I would love to meet up. I stuffed my phone back in my purse and glanced at my watch.

"We should be going. I need to go shopping for dinner."

"Can I ask you one more thing before you leave?"

"Sure." I said, and I had a feeling I knew what he was about to ask.

"At the karaoke bar." He started slowly and I was proven correctly. "You and Harry kissed."

"We did." I said evasive, hiding a smirk. It turned fully to Lee. "It was a spur of a moment thing. It was just good fun; we are both single and slightly tipsy that night."

"Did something else happen between you?"

"No." I shook my head. "Just the one kiss. Harry and I are great friends, nothing more."

"Have you had someone after..."

"One relationship for about six months. Even when I was finally ready to move on, it wasn't easy with travelling around the world. It isn't easy if you're a single mum." CJ came running up with a beaming smile. "Ready to get going, sweetie?"

"Can we bring Teddy next time?"

I smiled at him, pushing the hair out of his eyes. "Of course, maybe we can even bring Victoire." Lee chuckled softly as the boy's eyes went even larger with happiness. I stood up and Lee followed my example. I pulled him in a tight hug again. "Maybe dinner next week? Just the two of us? Then you can tell me all about your life."

"I would love to. I'll text you later." He smiled. I waved Angelina goodbye, gave one last kiss on Lee's cheek and the pair of us disappeared.

OoO

It was Friday, it was nearly two o'clock and CJ and I floo'd over to Shell's cottage. The moment I stepped out of the fireplace, I was engulfed in a hug. Blonde hair obscured my vision, and I felt the little hand escape my grasp.

"Let her breathe, love." Bill chuckled behind his wife.

Fleur pulled back slightly, her eyes brimming with tears. "You look beautiful." She said and wiped a tear away from my cheek.

"Me? What about you! You're glowing." I searched her face, then my eyes dropped to her flat stomach. "Are you pregnant?" I asked my eyes turning slightly larger as I looked at the married couple.

Fleur looked over her shoulder to Bill, both had shock written over their faces. "How did you know?" Bill asked, placing his hands on Fleur's shoulders.

"A mother's intuition?" I shrugged my shoulders with a smile. "I don't know, you just look radiating."

"Can you keep it to yourself? Nobody knows yet." Bill said as one of his hands rubbed her shoulder lightly.

"Not even Molly?"

"No, but if you figured it out within seconds, I'm guessing she's going to find out soon." Fleur chuckled. Her English had improved very much over the past four years, you still could her the accent, but her words were pronounced better.

I glanced down to the side, but CJ was already gone. Bill looked at me with a smirk. "Victoire grabbed him the moment Fleur grabbed you." He laughed. "They are upstairs." He stepped closer and opened his arms. "Hey, love."

"Hi, Bill." I fell into his arms, and we hugged. I heard Fleur walk to the kitchen and gave us a moment alone. We hugged each other for a while, not speaking. You could only hear the kids running around upstairs. Or Fleur making tea in the kitchen.

Bill pulled back with a smile. "Fleur is right, you look beautiful." He tugged my fringe. "Cool hair."

"Thank Helga, Fleur isn't the jealous type." I chuckled.

Bill laughed and wrapped an arm around me as he guided me towards the kitchen. Fleur was just putting the tea and biscuits on the table when we entered. She smiled as she caressed her stomach.
We talked while the kids played upstairs. Even though Harry and Andy already told me what happened at brunch last Sunday. Fleur and Bill said their part too. Then we talked about the lost years as we caught up. When the skies cleared, we made our way outside. The kids were playing hide and seek in the dunes.

"They really need to learn how to play hide and seek." I chuckled as Victoire giggled as CJ looked for her. Victoire giggled again before she yelled. "I'm heeeeerrreee!"

We all shared a look before we started laughing.

Bill took his place behind the BQQ while Fleur went to prepare the vegetables inside. I offered to help, but Fleur almost bounded me to the chair, insisting I was a guest. I heard the kids whispering behind one of the dunes and I sneaked up behind them. I crawled on the sand until I could peek over the edge. The two little ones were playing with shells, making rows from large to small. Buckets and shovels sprawling around them.

"BOO!" I called out. The kids jumped, and when they saw me, they laughed and ran away. I growled like a bear as I ran after them. Running around in the lose sand is even more exhausting than I remembered. I caught up with them and picked them up around their waist. I turned and let myself fall on the sand, the kids on top of me. CJ and Victoire smiled at each other before they started tickling me. Not one for defeat, I started tickling them back. Our laughter filled the air around us, and in the corner of my eye I saw Fleur and Bill looking at us with a soft smile and what appeared to be a camera. But the kids took my attention again, as CJ pointed out my sensitive spot. I laughed loudly, not noticing that the tips of my hair were turning in every colour of the rainbow. But I saw it happen on the boy on top of me. While CJ's cute little laughter filled me ears, his hair started to change colours. Victoire looked mesmerised by us for a moment before diving in to tickle me again.

In the corner of my eye, I saw movement on the terrace, but I didn't look. I just thought it was Bill moving around up there or Fleur setting the table. But Victoire glanced sideways, she said something that made me freeze.

"Uncle Gred, Uncle Forge!"

My heart was beating fast in my chest, the kids were still on top of me, as I turned my head. Fleur and Bill looked shocked, so they didn't know they were coming over. Next to them, George and Fred were standing, looking at us. George was holding a box smiling, but when he recognised me, his smile faltered. I deflated and something clenched inside of me when I saw his reaction of seeing me. Victoire crawled off my lap and ran over to her uncles. I pushed myself up in a sitting position with CJ on my lap. It seemed like minutes passed as we stared at each other. When Victoire reached them, George handed her the box, the smile back for a second. When he turned to me, it vanished once again. He turned around and walked back to the door.

"George!" Fred called after him and tugged on his arm, stopping him. Fred whispered something that I couldn't hear. But I couldn't stay, not with the look George gave me.

"Mummy?" CJ asked, as he saw tears in my eyes. I stood up and held his hand, in my other I held my wand.

The twins looked back at me again, they must've seen the tears because they looked worried at me. Then one of them called out to me, but it wasn't the one I wanted. "Guinevere, don't go-" Fred called out as I made the familiar wave of my wand and we disappeared from the beach.

OoO

After Gwen had disappeared, Fleur looked at her brother-in-laws, with a rage filled face.

"Are you freaking kidding me!" She nearly screamed as she stepped closer. Bill's eyes turned large as his wife charged at the twins, he hadn't expected that to happen. But she stopped in front of George, poking one of her bony fingers in his chest. "We talked about it just this Sunday! And you were about to do the same thing if Fred didn't stop you. Didn't you see her face!?"

"She was nearly crying." Fred mumbled, looking to the spot Guinevere had disappeared from.

"Oui, and only after you gave her a death stare and turned around. Don't you see how you affect her? I can't believe you."

"Fleur, love. Calm down." Bill rested his hands on her shoulders, and she breathed in deep, her hand going to her stomach. But the twins weren't paying any attention either way. Fred was looking at his twin, while George looked at his feet. "I should go talk to her."

"No." George said in a firm voice and all eyes turned to him. "I'll go."

Fleur mumbled something in French to herself before she faced George again. "Think before you speak, George." She said in a more friendlier voice as she patted his shoulder. "I think she apparated home. Andromeda's house."

"Don't floo over there. Apparate in front of the house and use the front door." Fred said and clapped his twins back. "Good luck." George gave a solemn nod and disappeared with a pop. "I hope she doesn't hex his -" He glanced at Victoire who just came out again. "- his Christmas balls off."

"It's not Christmas." Victoire said with a frown, her face turned sad when she couldn't find her friend. "Where is CJ?"