It's Better If You Do

The air was thick with silence, but comfortable, as the soft breathing around them gave a sense of security in the fact they were not alone. Rose's eyes were growing rather heavy, but she fought against them, as she watched Fred's sleeping form. The fact he was so close and she was in his bed was rather... she bit her lip, smiling softly, likable.

This was the closest she had ever gotten to sleeping in the same room as a boy, though she knew from experience that Bellamy had had Julian sleep over and a few occasions. Their parents weren't very strict, aside from the standard rules, and so they didn't bother to check in on the girls at night. She had heard them late at night, whispering and laughing occasionally and it always lulled her to sleep, knowing that that was how love was. Now she wasn't so sure, because of what had happened.

But, the small voice inside her mind argued timidly. They can't be all bad, otherwise no one would be together. Rose nodded at this, and thought of her own parents; her slender, almost tiny, mother with her waving brown hair, always warmly smiling, the blush spreading her cheeks like a drop of blood in milk, and their mild mannered father, with his pleasant laugh as he would wrap his arms around her, and kiss her temple. They had been married for over twenty years, and had no major problems in their marriage, as far as she knew.

Inhaling softly, she smelled the clean, woodsy scent of the ginger she so favored, and fell asleep.

When the sun began to stream through the windows with real force, and the street below was loud with the hustle and bustle of every morning, George woke up, stretching and yawning loudly. His back ached, and his hips popped as he stood, grimacing, and noticed the others who were still softly dreaming. Rose slept on her stomach, her legs curled up in fetal position, her hair falling softly into her face shadowing the small pretty smile on her face. Fred, like he, slept on his side, and faced towards Rose, the blanket at his feet and the towel peaking out shyly from under the bed.

And Bellamy, he noticed as he turned to face his bed, was on her back, her lips set into a slight frown, her arms around her head, looking as if a bad dream were haunting her sleep. George wanted to smooth out the frown lines on her pale forehead, but refrained, even though he knew she wouldn't wake up. It seemed a fairly intimate thing to do, even though he secretly wanted to be the one to do just that.

He wondered if her dreams were of the mysterious fair haired Julian, who had broke her heart last summer. Out of habit, he associated all blond men with evil, because of his encounters with the Malfoys. He figured Julian was just like Draco, and that set a frown on his own lips. He realized he had been watching her for a few minutes, when Fred quietly stood up, and tapped him on his shoulder, his head nodding towards the stairs.

"I didn't get much sleep," Fred said, a groan escaping his lips as he walked down the stairs, every step a murder on his back. "Did you?"

"No," George admitted. "Otherwise I don't think we'd have gotten up so early. It's only nine, probably."

Fred pouted, "And on a day we're off, too."

They pondered this for a moment, as their thoughts strayed to their plans for the day. Fred seemed mildly excited, his brown eyes beginning to take on a lively quality.

"It's not like your day is full of torture, mate," George pointed out with a sly smile. "Just make sure you don't mess up this time."

"Oh, I won't! I plan on making this day a good one," his brother said assuredly.

George nodded thoughtfully. "You know where you're taking her?"

"I don't," Fred conceded, with a shrug. "But I have a general idea. I'll show her around Westminster, then take her to the rose garden, and catch a bite to eat after a bit. Then, wherever she wants to go."

Smirking, George teased, "Well aren't you the romantic? Dear brother, I think you've gone soft."

Cutting his brother a rather nasty glare, he grumbled, "Shut it. I am not. I have all the skill I've always had."

Shaking his head sadly, he tsked, clasping a hand on Fred's shoulder. "She's going to have you wrapped around her pinky in a month's tops."

Fred's eyes narrowed, and he smiled wickedly, "Same for you, dear brother of mine."

The smile came off of George's face like water sliding down a window, but his eyes narrowed as well. "Let's bet on it. The one that's whipped within a month has to do all the sweeping, mopping, and cleaning up for three weeks."

"It's a deal!" Fred said shaking his brother's hand hard. They both grinned at each other, before letting their hands fall. He said casually, "It won't be me. Rose isn't like that. Bellamy will have you groveling at her feet before you can go see what the book is."

"We'll see," George said lightly, walking back up the stairs. His twin followed, wondering what he was up to. Entering the room, he crossed over to Rose's said, and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. "Rose."

Mumbling a little in her sleep, she said, "Is it morning already?"

The boys chuckled a little, and Fred tried this time. "Time to get up, Rosie. London is calling."

Rose stretched out on the bed, a slight moan escaping her lips. Her eyes were still closed or she would have seen the way Fred's eyes popped open, and how George lightly nudged his brother, his snickers extremely quiet.

She sighed, and smiled at the boys, sleepy still. "I'm up," she rasped quietly. Her voice always was thick after sleep. She glanced over at the other bed. "I know that's why you woke me, probably. Am I right?" George looked down sheepishly, and she smirked, and murmured, "That's what I thought."

Sitting up, Rose pulled her shirt down, for it had ridden up during sleep. She tossed back the covers, and padded softly over to the other bed, and in a very soft, sweet voice, said, "Good morning, dear. Time to wake up."

Bellamy's lips puckered and she mumbled, "I was 'sposed to sleep in, Rose."

"Oh!" gasped the blonde, remembering yesterday's conversation. She gave a brief glare at the twins, and reassured her sister, "Go back to sleep, Bellamy. I'm sorry."

A sigh escaped Bellamy and she turned over and hummed lightly, asleep once more. Rose turned to the boys with a raised eyebrow, and whispered heatedly, "Were you two trying to get me killed? On any other day, she would have snapped my head off!" The twins grimaced, and scuffed their feet, muttering their apologies. She sighed, and shook her head, addressing Fred, "I'll meet you downstairs, alright?"

He nodded, smiled, and the boys took that as their dismissal.