broken bottles & wedding bells || fred weasley

Chapter Nine: Henry's Secrets

"Rain?"

"Hi, Freddie," I whispered. He closed his eyes in a heavy sigh, I continued gently playing with his hair.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," I shook my head. "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't mine either. You were hurt."

"So were you," He swallowed. "We- we cancelled all of it. We completely cancelled our lives... together."

"I know," I stroked his face gently. His eyes opened and saw the ring on my finger.

"I'm dreaming," He closed his eyes again. "It's my heart hurting itself. You're not real. I'm hallucinating because of that detox stuff Granger gave me."

I leaned forward and kissed him. "I'm real, Freddie."

He reached his hand up, grabbed my face, and kissed me again. Deeply.

"I didn't mean it... any of it."

"I know," I answered breathlessly. "I know you didn't. They said you'd been drugged and it scared me."

"I'm okay," Fred sat up. "Especially now. Do you... do you really mean that?"

I looked at the ring where he was pointing.

"Of course I do. If... if you'll take me back."

"I was prepared to propose again," Fred explained. "Looks like I have my answer anyway."

I climbed onto his lap and laid on his chest.

"I love you, Fred."

"I love you too, Rain. so much. I wouldn't ever hurt you. I thought I did and it broke me. I hated myself so much."

"You don't have to anymore. Please don't," I leaned back and looked into his hazel eyes.

"You're so beautiful," He leaned in and kissed me again. "You still wanna marry me?"

"More than you know."

"Rain? Is he up yet? I know I'm supposed to be working but I'm worried about him- oh. Oh! Are you two- yes!!" George punched the air excitedly. Fred's chest below me rumbled as he laughed. I felt his arms wrap around me. "Oh, thank Merlin. I was so worried! I thought you two were really over with! Can I tell mum the wedding's back on?! Oh, please let me do it!!"

"Georgie!" I giggled at his excited rambling. "Yes, you can tell Molly the wedding's back on. But tell her we're not rushing. We're taking it slow."

"Why?" Fred met my eyes. "Why not go into this as pumped up as George is?"

"Well- maybe because we just..."

"All the more reason for us to do it all as soon as possible! To make up for the time we've wasted!"

"Oh god," I snickered. "Well, your mother's ready to have the wedding tomorrow."

"Of course she is," Fred laughed and stood up slowly, gathering himself. "I miss my boy. Where's my boy at?"

"My mother's," I answered. "That's... where I was staying."

"Well, how about we go surprise him?"

"I'm writing mum!" George said when he sat at the table with a pen and parchment.

"You have fun with that, Georgie," Fred offered his arm. "Shall we?"

"I think so."

We apparated to the mansion and I opened the door. Fred stepped in behind me quietly. I could hear Henry and my mother laughing in the kitchen, so I raised my finger to my lips for him to be quiet when I entered the kitchen.

"Hello, dear! How'd it go?" My mother kissed my head. "It was longer than I expected."

"Um... I didn't go to the interview, mum," I grinned and picked Henry up. "I went and talked to a certain someone. Who wants to see you, love!" I kissed Henry's cheek. He clapped happily and the flour that was on his hands clouded in the air. Then he sneezed and it was absolutely adorable.

"Bless you!" Fred came out from the hallway and smiled at Henry. "Hi, my boy!"

"Dadda!!" Henry shrieked in excitement and fought to wiggle out of my arms. I set him down and he stood up to his feet and wobbled over to Fred.

"He's walking!?" Both Fred and I asked at the same time.

"Henry!" My mother gasped. We all laughed as Fred picked Henry up.

"What in the world?!" I scoffed and rubbed Henry's back. "Have you been able to walk this whole time?!"

"That or he just missed me so he made it work!" Fred suggested with a laugh and leaned back to look into his boy's eyes. "What in the world, little man! You're walking!"

"Dad!" Henry placed both hands on Fred's cheeks, leaving little white floury handprints on them. "'Ove dad!"

"What?" Fred scoffed. "What was that?! Say it again!"

"Love dad! Dadda!!" Henry threw his arms around Fred's neck. There were tear streaks through Henry's handprints on Fred's cheeks as he hugged Henry back.

"I love you too, buddy."

"So... what in the world happened?" My mother asked after washing her hands. She had just put the last batch of cookies into the oven. "Rain told me everything."

"It was a mess," Fred scoffed. "I was drugged by some tramp at the bar. I had no control over what was going on and neither did Rain. Harry and his auror mates are investigating it now."

"All I care about is that you're alright," Mum told him and hugged him. "So the wedding's still on, then?"

"Yes," I kissed Fred's cheek after wiping the tears and flour from them. "And Molly's already been notified. So. It's likely very soon."

"Well, you three are welcome to stay and relax as much as you need then."

"You know, I think we'll be getting Henry and I's things back to the flat," I told my mother, who smiled even bigger.

"I loved having you two here. But I'm even happier hearing that everything is going back to normal for you."

"Me too," I hugged my mother. "We'll visit a lot more. Especially when... dad gets back."

"What?" Fred's smile faded. "Dad? Your father's getting out?"

"Oh, right," I facepalmed. "We should talk. Come on. While I unpack."