I didn't even look at him before my feet began to move towards the front door. It felt almost mechanical, like something took me over.

"Fred, wait, hold on a second!" He tripped over himself rushing through the living room and stumbled towards me. "Think about this, mate!"

"I need her back, it's been a week!" I ground out, determination beating down the lump in my throat. I yanked my jumper off the coat rack beside the door and slipped my feet into my old trainers.

Without even saying goodbye to Ange, who'd moved to the open doorway of her kitchen to watch, I pulled the door open and plunged into the dark street.

I wasn't even aware it was night, I guess George and I had been at Ange's all day. I didn't even mind stumbling through the barely seeable cobblestone alley to our place. I only had one thing on my mind.

"Fred, you can't just up and leave in the middle of the night to search for her!" George stage-whispered from a few feet behind me, huffing as he dragged on his jumper. I hadn't even noticed him come out with me.

I didn't respond as I fished my key out from the depths of my pockets and unlocked the shop's door. I yanked it open-not bothering to pull it shut since he was right on my tail-and jogged through the aisles. I made it to the back and took the steps two at a time up to our flat. I heard the door slam downstairs.

"Merlin, Fred, take a breather!" George shouted after me. His footsteps thudded against the wooden staircase but I'd already made it into the flat. I sprinted across the living area and into my room, flinging my closet open. I began ripping clothes out and throwing them over my shoulder onto my unmade bed.

My breath was coming out in short puffs and my chest burned. I tried to ignore the tears gathering in the corners of my eyes.

"Accio hold-all!" I shouted, fumbling as my voice cracked. My bag flew from the corner of the room right into my arms. I dropped it on the bed and started shoving the articles of clothing into it. I heard a light panting noise and slowed my actions, turning to the door.

George was leaning an arm against the frame, his face a bright red and his features set in a grimace. "Just what do you think you're gonna do, Fred? You think you're going to go out and hit all the places you think she might be and just hope for the best? Spend a good chunk of time searching just cause she's been gone a single week? That's not the greatest idea you've ever had, mate."

I pressed forward with packing, putting the last pair of trousers in the bag. I swung it over my shoulder and pushed past George. "You don't understand, George. We had everything planned."

"So? Plans fall apart and come back together all the time." He countered, following me down the hall. "She even explained that she felt guilty planning to get married and everything right now in her letter! She's a smart bird, she's going to be back but she needs time. Just have faith in her, Freddie!"

"I gave her a week! She hasn't shown up safe anywhere or told anyone she's okay! Not even bloody Harry knows she's even fucking gone!" I yelled back, thundering down the steps back into the shop.

"Fred, stop! Just wait!"

"No, I'm done waiting! I need to know she's okay!" I shouted out at him, tears already spilling down my cheeks. I didn't even notice he had taken another aisle to beat me to the front of the store.

George threw himself against the door before I could grab the handle. "You don't even know where to start, Freddie. I'm sorry, but we need to wait a bit longer. We've both read the letter, you know? She said it herself, she just needs time."

"But... " I faltered, looking into his eyes. "What if she's not okay? What if during this week she's been alone and scared and having her nightmares without me to hold her? She didn't even pack any of her Sleeping Draughts, George. She can't get any sleep without them."

I looked helplessly at him while his arms encircled me and pulled me in. I sobbed into his shoulder as he hugged me. "It'll be okay, Fred, I swear. Maybe she had a back-up wherever she went, she grabbed some from her flat or she made more before she left. It's going to be fine."

I mentally gathered myself before I pulled away from him. He squeezed my shoulders and I nodded that I was good. I took a step back and rubbed my face.

"I'm sorry, George." I whispered.

"There's no need."

I was about to say something when we heard the tell-tale pop of an apparition come from the street.

We glanced at each other before George swung out of the way and pulled the door open. A petite figure stood in the middle of the street, wrapped in an oversized black hoodie and clad in blue jeans. George held the door in place and I stepped forward in a trance, exiting the shop.

A soft sigh emerged from the silhouette and my breath hitched.

They were facing away from me but turned the second they heard me gasp. Their hood was drawn so I couldn't see their face, but quickly their pale hands rose to remove the fabric.

"Hermione?" I murmured, inching closer.

She laid the hood back and gave me a watery smile. "Hi, Fred."

I couldn't believe my eyes.

She was here. Her eyes, her beautiful doe eyes, were wide and looking right at me. They were filled with tears and had bags beneath them. Both of her lips were chapped but her bottom one was quivering. Her hair was a bushy disaster, just the way I like it, but she'd obviously tried to tame it with a hair tie. It was pulled back with strands sticking out to frame her face.

I broke first, falling forward and wrapping my arms around her. She let out a sob the second I grabbed her and she gasped for breath. Her arms snaked around my neck as I lifted her and tightened my grip for dear life. She put her forehead against mine and our tears melted together as we embraced. We cried together and soon enough she was peppering my face with sloppy kisses.

I laughed as she got to work making up for lost time. Her fingers tugged on my hair once I managed to capture her moving lips with mine. The familiar taste of her vanilla bean chapstick was incredibly faint, overpowered by salty tears and dried blood in the cracks of her lips. I didn't mind the taste of pennies as her body curved into mine. We moved in a familiar rhythm as she smiled against my face and I pressed my lips harder against hers. I pulled her tighter against me and she giggled, removing her hands from my ginger locks. She gingerly cupped my face and damn near knocked me out when she gently bit my lower lip. I felt so dazed I couldn't even open my eyes.

I barely registered the steps of George leaving the door frame and slipping by us. His footsteps became fainter and I knew he had left to go to Ange's.

I gave a small whimper as she began to pull away from me and I reluctantly lowered her until her feet touched the ground. I kept my arms firmly around her waist and her hands trailed to my shoulders. I sighed and she hummed in response.

"I'm sorry, Fred." Her quiet voice broke the comfortable silence and I forced myself to open my eyes. "I needed to think about everything and process it all. On my own."

"I understand, but you should know I was this-" I raised my hand in between us and pinched my index finger and thumb together. "-close to abandoning George and going full-Godzilla on this world to find you."

She snorted and I couldn't help but grin at her amusement. "Oh, bloody hell, I should never have let you watch those movies."

"Hey, you're the one who wanted weekly date nights." I put my hands up in surrender and she rolled her eyes.

"But, seriously. I was worried about you, doll." I sobered, cupping her blushing cheeks. "You scared me and I wasn't sure how long you'd be gone or if you'd even come back."

"Frederick, that's exactly why I said what I said in the letter." She furrowed her brows and gave a small smile, holding my wrists. "I knew you'd overthink it and go manic with worry, but I'm fine. I even told you 'this isn't the end'!"

I chuckled at her incredulous features which prompted her to cross her arms. I pulled my hands away from her grumpy looking face and took to running them up and down her biceps. My thoughts roamed to another important part of the letter as we stood in silence.

"Hey, you also mentioned your parents." I seriously noted, looking into her eyes. "Did you find them, Hermione?"

She didn't respond for a moment; she just searched around my eyes before shutting hers tight. "I found them."

This didn't seem like a good response. I waited while she took a few minutes to continue explaining.

"They were still in Australia, they'd been living in a small condo there. They, um…" She swallowed hard and I stopped rubbing her arms. She immediately uncrossed her arms and took my hands in hers. Her eyes dropped down to watch as I rubbed circles on her hands with my thumbs. "Fred, they died in a car accident a few months ago."

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding in. Her parents were gone. She'd never be able to walk down the aisle with her father at our wedding like she's talked about wanting. They'd never meet our future kids. She was so excited to find them after the war… I was so excited to meet the two people who created the most wonderful witch I've ever encountered in my entire life. I can't even imagine what she's been through this week. I stared at her and a tear found its way down my cheek. She finally looked up at me and I saw the devastation.

It looked like every ounce of fight was taken and crushed to a pulp. Her lip started trembling and I couldn't handle seeing her like this.

My right arm hooked around the back of her neck and pulled her into me. My left arm immediately wrapped around her waist. She sunk against me, not even bothering to move her arms. I hugged her as tight as I could, as if it could somehow make it all better.

"Love, I am so terribly sorry." I whispered to the top of her head. I felt a slight nod against my chest and an even slighter whimper.

I placed a small kiss to her hair and she snuggled closer.

"Why don't we head into the flat and make some tea?" I suggested, realizing we were still in the middle of the street at nearly 1 in the morning. "Or we can go straight to bed, whatever helps you best, baby."

She sniffled and pulled back enough to see my face. "Bed sounds really nice. Tea in the morning?"

"Of course. Anything for my girl." I smiled at her tear-streaked face and wrapped an arm around her shoulder to guide her to the shop.

We went inside, through the shop and up the stairs. Into my room and onto my bed. Under the covers and into each-other's arms.

"Hey, baby?" I murmured against her forehead as she nestled deeper into me.

"Yes?"

"I think we're gonna be alright."

A/N: And that's it, folks! Again, I apologize for taking two years to update and finish this extremely short story. But hopefully you enjoyed it! If you did like it, please be sure to leave a review and definitely check out my other stories! Thanks, y'all!

Best,

thatwritermadeofpotatoes