Gunpowder & Cinnamon {Fred Weasley}

Chapter Eighteen

"Have a good night, dear!" Molly said hugging Eleanor as she got ready to leave.

"Oh I will. I'll probably be heading to bed." she yawned.

"You and me both." Tonks yawned as well. "If I can get Teddy here to agree."

Eleanor glanced down at her little brother. "Teddy, go to sleep."

Teddy babbled something before burying his face into his mother's chest.

"Hmm...nice work Ellie." Tonks laughed.

Before Eleanor could leave, Molly decided to have a private word with her in the kitchen.

"Is everything alright?" Eleanor asked.

"Oh yes, everything is fine." Molly reassured her. "I guess my curiosity is just getting the best of me. I was wondering...well..."

Eleanor smiled. "You're wondering if I know who George is dating." Eleanor said.

"Well...yes." Molly admitted.

"I'm sorry." Eleanor said with a slight frown. "But I don't. I guess we'll just have to wait until George is ready to introduce her...or him."

"You're right. Yes, you're right." Molly nodded. "Alright, well you get some sleep." Molly kissed her cheek and sending her on her way.

Eleanor returned to the flat, expecting to find everyone asleep, she found Fred awake in the living room, alone.

"What are you still doing up?" she asked.

Fred peered over the back of the sofa and smiled at her. "Working, what else?" he said.

She walked over and sat down beside him.

"You know it wouldn't kill you to take a break sometimes..." she said leaning into his shoulder.

"I did take a break just a few minutes ago, sorry you missed it."

She looked down to the blueprints he had drawn out. "Wow, you've really gotten a lot done."

"Here, I think I might of figured out a way to incorporate your idea into the fireworks."

Climbing into his lap, Eleanor crossed her legs as Fred took the time to read out and explained what he had developed. She rested her head on his shoulder, listening to the excitement in his voice as he went over the details. Eventually, all she wanted to do was cuddle up to him and rest. Fred seemed to understand and placed the plans down.

His arms wrapped around her, and the two laid back on the sofa.

"So, did George enjoy his date?" Eleanor yawned once more.

Fred ran his hand through her hair. "Apparently, he's still out."

Eleanor lifted her head up. "What? All day?"

"He showed up at one point during the day, stayed for a little bit up here and then left again."

"Whoa..."

"I know." Fred said. "Our little Georgie is growing up."

"Oh Georgette..." Eleanor sniffed.

"Tiny Georgia."

"Wee Giorgio." Fred added.

"Jorge pequeño!" Eleanor laughed.

Fred stopped. "Since when do you speak Spanish?" Fred asked.

"It's not like I'm fluent, but there was that one time that those customers from Spain came while only Verity and I were working. Well, we were terrible trying to communicate, so afterwards, Verity and I brushed up on Spanish."

"That's actually precious." Fred said.

"Thank you. We'll teach you some phrases sometime."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Suddenly, there was a cracking sound behind them. The two turned around to see George had returned for the evening.

"Wee Giorgio!"

"Jorge pequeño!"

George just stared at the two. "What?"

Eleanor smiled at him. "How was your date?" she asked.

"It went well." George said placing his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Fred shook his head.

"It went really well?"

"Well enough for another date?" Eleanor questioned.

"Yes."

"Yay. Good for you, Jorge!"

"Okay, I'm really confused, why do you keep calling me Jorge?"

"Because that's your name in Spanish." Eleanor explained.

"Right, but...you know what, it's probably best that I don't ask. I'm heading to bed, goodnight...er Eleanora and Freduardo."

"Buenas noches, Jorge!"

Eleanor was slipping on her pajama shirt as she spoke with Fred in the bedroom about his day in the shop.

"Wait..." Eleanor interrupted the conversation about the incident involving the Headless Hats. "Verity showed up to work today...right?"

"Yes."

"And I bet Lee showed up didn't he?"

"That he did."

"So what happened?" Eleanor asked sitting down on the bed.

"Well, after several minutes of painfully corny pick up lines, and odd flirting, Lee asked Verity out on a date."

"What? And you didn't think to tell me this?"

"Well, you didn't ask until now, love."

"Okay, okay...so what did she say? Oh goodness please tell me she said yes, I'm going to feel terrible if she said no. First Marnie and then Verity...although I warned him not to use the pick up lines. Didn't I say that? I know I told him. Ugh, what-"

"Ellie." Fred pulled her back so that she was lying down on the bed. "First off, breathe."

She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Second, Verity said yes."

"YES!" She cheered as if she had scored the winning goal at the Quidditch World Cup.

"You're almost as excited as Lee was earlier."

"I'm just happy for the two. I hope everything works out well between them. GAH! I'm excited I don't think I'll sleep tonight."

Thirty minutes later, Fred let out a small laugh as Eleanor was sound asleep nestled in his arms.

"Goodnight, Ellie." He whispered as he leaned over carefully and turned off the lamp.

More fanart by @AsrieltheArtist !Thank you for your work!