As One

George's Sweater

The sunlight streaming in warmed Lila's cheeks as she stirred, her back arching up into a stretch that made her aware of every sore overworked muscle in her body. Yawning, she sat up blearily and looked down at the mussed gray-blue sheets of the massive bed she was in. She looked to her left and right. The massive bed she was in alone. 

She skimmed her hands out over the sheets, feeling the places she knew Fred and George had lain on either side of her, and found that they had gone cold. Her heart sank, and she swallowed heavily. Every thought that ran through her head was full of trepidation and tinged with bitterness as she slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed, running her hand through her sleep-tangled hair. Lila could not put words to how stupid it made her feel, to wake up in a bed alone, the twins long gone, after the night they'd had. 

"Why did I assume I was different?" Lila muttered under her breath.

She stood in front of the window and looked out at the morning sun. Her chest felt tight as she looked at the floor, searching the dark floorboards for her clothing so she could get dressed and get back home. She cursed under her breath as she thought about everything that had happened last night and realized that rather than the floor of the bedroom, her clothes were likely to be scattered at the entryway.

Barely got in the door before you let them have it, huh Lila? She scoffed at herself, If you don't want them to treat you like a common whore, maybe you shouldn't act like it.

"Good morning, Lila!" 

She'd barely padded out into the hallway when her bare feet froze to the floor, the twins grinning at her from the kitchen as they leaned against the counter's edge with coffee mugs in hand. Lila's heart skipped a beat, and she blinked once, slow and hard. The twins looked like a dream, chests bare, their cotton striped pajama bottoms slung low on their narrow hips. It felt different looking at them both in the morning sunlight that streamed in through the windows, their tawny hair early morning-mussed. Their smiles looked so genuine, so happy to greet her. It made her breath catch in her throat.

"I-" She started to speak, her voice husky with sleep, "I thought you'd left."

"And miss this view in the morning?" George started, raising his eyebrows as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Never." Fred agreed, his eyes glinting.

Lila was suddenly aware of the fact that she was still entirely naked as she stood frozen in the hallway and she cleared her throat nervously, shifting slightly on her feet. 

"You know, it's not exactly fair that the two of you are dressed." She said accusatorily, bringing her hands to rest on her hips, and the twins snickered. 

"Stop loitering in the hallway, Lila, we made you breakfast." Fred grinned.

George grabbed a third mug from the counter and brought it to her as she stepped out of the hall, leaning down slightly to kiss her on the temple as he placed it in her hands. "As much as we are enjoying the view, love, you're always welcome to borrow something of ours." He murmured in Lila's ear, the back of his fingers tracing lightly along her collarbone to brush her hair behind her shoulder.

A shiver ran down Lila's spine as he touched her, and her fingers tightened around the mug as he pulled back and gave her a lopsided smile. She nodded and turned back down the hall with her heart pounding to grab a shirt from George's room. She heard Fred whistle appreciatively and a grin cracked across her face. As she closed the door behind her, she bit her lip, her smile still spread wide. Lila had gone from feeling regretful to positively radiant in the span of a few short minutes, and it wasn't hard to get lost in the feeling of unadulterated joy she was experiencing at that moment.