It's Better If You Do

The couple stood quietly for a moment, watching their respective siblings dissapear down the alley. Rose tilted her head slightly and smiled, murmuring, "Isn't it funny that they're getting along now? She hasn't even acted like she wanted to strangle him once since George and I got back."

Fred laughed with an appreciative nod. "It's quite an improvement. I'm sorry to say that bad situations tend to shed light on petty behavior." His brown eyes had turned very downcast and he lowered his head shamefully, an apology already rising on his lips. "I'm so-"

"It's alright, honestly," Rose insisted, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it gently. "I'm fine." When he continued to look unconvinced of this fact, she sighed ruefully. "I guess I'll have to prove it to you, won't I?"

"More than likely, yes," he replied, but a twinkle was in his eye as he said it. "I expect full creativity out of you, Rosie." The blonde laughed merrily in reply, and began tugging him back to the shop, a warm, careless smile curling her pink lips. All of the hectic chaos of just an hour or so ago seemed so far away, and she could find no fault in the world around her, though this was due more to how everything had seemingly fixed itself, including her wand. Her thoughts were interrupted when Fred asked, "So what do you think about Mum?"

She smiled, and answered, "She's wonderful. So cheerful, and full of good humor, well, except for when she got onto George about you two dropping out of school, but other than that-"

"She started a row over that again?" Fred asked with amusement. "That's got to be the fifteenth time in the past month." He shook his head as to show what he thought of his mother's coddling.

"Yes, she did, but George handled it rather well. I assume you two are used to it," she said ruefully, casting an admonishing smile to which he merely grinned and shrugged. "Trouble you two are, I swear. I think she rather likes me, though, or, atleast I hope," she paused to bite her lip in anxiousness, but shook off the insecurity and warmly told him, "Your house is so... fitting to your family. It's unique, eclectic, and more. It's charmante in it's own little way."

Fred beamed outwardly and swept a kiss across the top of Rose's head in affection. He knew that his house wasn't much, and for someone like Rose, who grew up with so much, to like him and all of his family was incredible. A mischevious thought crossed the boy's mind and he glanced down at the small girl with a grin. "You didn't happen to run into your best friend Fleur, did you?"

A scowl turned Rose's lips and she huffed at the notion of her and Fleur ever being anything close to best friends. Fred had to choke back a laugh at her expression and she cast him a warning glance when she noticed. "No, I did not, thank Merlin," she said resolutely, her blue eyes snapping with anger. "She was taking a bath, although she's probably never done anything close to getting herself dirty." Grinning widely at the normally easy going blonde's vicious reply, he chose to goad her further.

"But, Rosie, you didn't want to say hello? I'm sure she would have loved to have seen you! And you tell me I have no manners! For shame!" he cried mockingly, clasping his left hand over his heart and Rose's chest puffed up in indignance, about to really let him have it, until she saw the look on his face. His lips were quivering from holding back laughter and his eyes were full of mirth. Before either of them could help it, laughter erupted loudly, causing people passing by to watch the young ones and smile, remembering their own care free days in their youth.

When their laughter finally died down, they looked at each other fondly, their hearts in their eyes, and a soft kiss was shared, before they continued down the alley, towards the joke shop that would cause many others to laugh as they had just but a few moments ago.