Marooned - Fred Weasley

Chapter 85: Daylight

25th of December 1998

Sarah was sound asleep, after an exhausting week at the hospital. Shortly after in the aftermath of the War, she reached out to Hippocrates, and although she expected to be taken back after an interview and a performance review, Hippocrates actually took her back immediately, because a crisis fell on his hands just as she had entered, Sarah didn't think twice, fell back into the rhythm of her place of work like she had never left and helped get the Healers out of what could have turned into a catastrophic situation. She was back full time, and offered to take the shift around the holidays, which was the most avoided one but she was trying to work her way up to High Healer.

The levitating fire had dimmed down to a light brittle a few hours before, and she was covered head to toe by the warm blanket. Fred wasn't there.

He'd sneaked out early in the morning, and returned just now. The cold in the room was nothing compared to the one where he'd been for the last few hours. Preparing her present while she slept without a clue. He sneaked under the blanket and pulled her flush against him, heard her take a sharp breath as soon as her warm skin touched his.

"You're cold," she breathed, taking one of his hands from around her waist to wrap hers around it so he'd warm up faster. "Why's that?"

"I was outside," Fred answered, murmuring against her hair as he nuzzled in the nook of her neck, the cold tip of his nose coming into contact with her skin and it made her breathe in sharply again.

"Merlin," exclaimed Sarah, grabbed the corner of the blanket and pulled it over Fred's head, tucked his now warmer hand under her chin and took his other one, which he greatly appreciated. "What were you doing outside?"

"It's a surprise." His voice came out muffled by her hair and it tickled her neck.

"You're dying to tell me, though, I just know it," she smirked against her pillow, her eyes still closed. She wanted to get back to sleep, but reality was awfully better lately.

"Yes, you're right, but I won't."

After a small pause, Fred whispered again, "Mum made cinnamon biscuits, the ones we like."

"That's great," Sarah mumbled sleepily, that short moment of silence allowed her to almost slip back into her land of dreams. "You should go have some."

"Is that your way of telling me to go away?"

"Not at all, let's talk for a long time."

Fred was the one to scoff now, ran the pad of his thumb over her jaw while a smile tugged at his lips. "You're such a pain in the arse, McCauley." He nudged her hair out of the way and nuzzled in the nook of her neck, his face still cold, "Now I'll stay here just to annoy you."

She let out a groan, before snuggling against him, "You little shit."

He snorted against her skin, "I love you, too." He also shifted them so she'd be lying on her stomach, with his leg over her.

"Tell me," Fred rested his head over hers, "Am I more beautiful today than I was yesterday?"

"Honestly, just shh." She covered his mouth with her hand but Fred couldn't stand still, he picked her up and rolled around in bed, making it creak under their weight. It blended with their laughter.