"Its funny how you had to nearly die for you and Fred to get back together," Nicolai said thoughtfully, before scribbling something into her clipboard. "Nic!" Alexander chastised, his eyes wide, appalled by his friend's statement, "What a horrible thing to say."

"Well she's not wrong though. The healers have mentioned plenty of times that I would have died from that stab wound if it had been a few inches to the left." Florence chimed in, lifting her head up to give Nicolai room to change her pillow. "And that blood. So much blood, you couldn't even imagine."

This made Alexander shudder, "Oh now you're just teasing. You know I hate blood. And if you could refrain from joking about your death, that would be much appreciated."

"Lighten up, Xan, you're not the one who nearly died," Nicolai chortled, earning a brief chuckle from Florence, "Anyway, where IS Fred? I thought it would be practically impossible to remove him from your side after you two got back together."

"Well I asked him to go back and help George with the store. I can't imagine he's doing very well on his own," Florence said, "He shouldn't skip out on work because of me."

"Pfftttt, George will be fine. He has Verity."

"Verity?" Florence frowned, "I thought he fancied Lisa?"

"No, no. Verity is the help they hired for the store. Charming girl, if I must say."

"She has a bit of an attitude, though," Alexander remarked, to which Nicolai rolled her eyes to, "Well that's what gives her her charm."

"Its nice to know they hired help," Florence butted in, before their bickering could escalate. She took a moment to look around her, instantly feeling happy as she realized that it had been awhile since they got together this way, where Nic was cracking jokes that made her smile. She wondered if things were going to go back to what it used to be. Maybe so. Maybe not. Either way, she was thankful for the moment she was in right now.

"Do you know when I'll be able to go home?" Florence asked Nicolai after a few beats of silence. Nicolai looked at her clipboard, then hesitantly up at Florence, who didn't like the look on her friend's face. "Nic?"

"I'm sorry, Flo. I don't think it's any day this week if that's what you're hoping for. They still need to run you by a few more tests to ensure your wound doesn't reopen after the slightest movement."

She felt her heart sink. "Oh. Of course. That's completely understandable."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Florence managed a small smile, "I'm just afraid that if I stay here longer, I might miss out on things in Training."

"Oh don't worry about that." Said Alexander, "The Minister's gave all the other trainees at least a month of leave of absence. You know, those who got out with minor injuries. Your uncle wasn't the only one who gave him severe backlash after that incident."

"I see," she said, before slumping deeper in to her pillow. "I'm so so bored."

"Aw, I know, hun. This will be over before you know it. I promise." Said Nicolai. "Meanwhile, I have to get these charts to Karen—"

"I can bring them for you." Xander chimed in, "Your lunch break is right about this hour, yeah? I'll spare you from some of the walking."

"Thanks, Xan. That would be lovely."

Xander took the charts from Nicolai's grip, giving her a knowing look and mouthing 'tell her', before walking out the door.

Nicolai trudged over to the seat closest to Florence's bed, plopping down on it. "So here we are, huh?"

This made Florence chuckle, "What do you mean?"

"Here we are with our adult jobs, doing adult things," Nicolai elaborated, "I didn't think we could actually do it."

"Oh Nic. I had full confidence that we could. I never doubted it."

"I keep wondering if that Quidditch job would've kept you safer. But then again, you might be knocked out for two weeks because of a bludger as well."

"Too right you are."

A comfortable silence washed over them once more, Nicolai's thumb twiddling growing intense by every passing minute. She played with the hem of her uniform, then scratched the top of her head, and did this over and over until Florence noticed her unsettled behavior.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Florence asked, visibly seeing Nicolai relax at this.

"Flo, you know I'd never do anything big in my life without consulting you first right? You're practically my sister at this point. That's how much you mean to me."

"Yes, Nic. I'm aware. And I feel the same way. So... What's up?"

"Well...I... I've been thinking about this for awhile now. And. I don't know, I... I wanted to know what you thought about it."

Florence frowned, "...about what?"

Gingerly, Nicolai jammed her hand in one of the pockets, pulling out a small velvet box. With her hands shaking a little, she pulled it open, revealing a beautiful ring; a slim golden band with three small diamonds in the middle. Florence's eyes grew wide, reaching over to take the box from her friend's hand.

"You mean... Jillian...?"

She nodded, "I want to ask her to marry me, Flo."

Florence looked at the box, and then over to Nicolai, then back to the box. She raised an arm and smacked her lightly.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Don't be dramatic. I didn't hit you hard enough."

"But why'd you have to hit me at all?"

"Because you've just been carrying this around in  your pocket all this time? What if it had fallen off? Or what if someone pickpocketed you? Or Jillian found it on accident? You can't just carry things as important as this around with you all the time!"

"Well I have to! Who knows when the perfect moment to propose would come! At least I don't have to worry about not having the ring with me!" Nicolai argued, making Florence sigh. 

"Nic... keep it somewhere safe. Merlin, you know you're a klutz..."

"Only at times!" she argued, the frown on her face immediately replaced by confusion, "Wait, was that all you were concerned about? That I might lose the ring?"

"Don't make it sound so shallow. It's a perfectly good thing to worry about."

"I know, I know, you have a point but..." she paused in hesitation, "What do you think about the asking her to marry me part?"

A sincere smile dawned on Florence's face, taking Nicolai's hand, placing the velvet box in her palm, "I think it's the best idea you've had in your entire life, and I am very happy for you, Nic."

"Really, Flo? You mean it? No objections?"

Florence frowned, "Why would there be any objections?", her frown deepened, "Who objected? I'll give them a firm talking to."

"No, no," Nicolai said immediately, "I mean, I kinda told Penny and my parents about it and they said that we were both too young to get married. It's been barely a year since we got out of school. But you know, we have a place we're saving up for, so we'll be living together before the year ends and well, I think it's the perfect time to ask her to marry me."

"Nic," Florence said, "You might have had... a rough start with Jillian and all that but truly, truly, I've seen that she has brought out the best version of you. She makes you happy. You make her happy. And both of you look so sure about each other, which is why I don't have any objections whatsoever. You're young yes, but that just means you'll have more of your life to spend with each other... I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

Nicolai was teary-eyed, throwing her arms around Florence to give her a gentle hug, "I love you so much, you know that right?"

"I know that."

"Thank Merlin you didn't die."

"I feel the exact same way," Florence chuckled, "I would hate myself for eternity if I died before you got married."

"You know another good idea I have? You should get married too! So we can do a double wedding." Nicolai joked as she pulled away from the hug, making Florence snort.

"Now, now, let's not be that hasty."

"Hasty about what?" a voice said, Fred coming in to view with a paper bag in his arms, Nicolai grinning at the sight of him.

"Marriage."

"Oh," he said, putting down the bag he was holding, "You finally told her then?"

"You knew before me?" Florence said incredulously, "This is betrayal at its finest. What happened to seniority?"

"Well, love, it would have been applicable if you hadn't spent the last two weeks knocked out cold," Fred chuckled, taking her hand and planting a soft kiss as Florence scowled, "Still, it's not fair." 

"Welp, I guess this display of affection is my cue to leave." Nicolai said, getting up from her chair, "I have to get something to eat before my break is up. I'll come by after my shift to check on you, Flo."

"Take care, Nic."

The two of them waited until the door shut close, Fred sitting on the chair Nicolai had vacated, "So, how are you?"

"You know, the usual. Still stuck on this bed." Florence sighed, taking Fred's hand in hers, "What's it like out there? Is civilization still standing?"

"Last I checked, yes." he mused.

"What are you doing here anyway? I told you to help your poor brother out at the shop."

"Georgie can handle it. He's a big boy." he said, with a smile on his face.

Slowly, Florence moved to cuddle his arm, closing her eyes and letting out a contented sigh, "I missed this. I missed you." 

"I missed you more, even though its not a competition,"

She looked up at him, studying his face. It was exactly as she remembered, except he looked more tired, like life had worn him down a bit. She kissed the back of his hand, "Let me make it up to you."

His brows drew together, "What do you mean?"

"I was supposed to move in with you and George after Hogwarts, remember? We can still do that. When I get out of this hospital, I'll come live with you. In our room, and plus I can help out with the shop and everything too."

"Oh love, you know I'd love nothing more, but..."

"But?"

Fred looked hesitant, "After what happened, I don't think Sirius or Sloan would allow you to live anywhere other than the Manor. The apartment isn't the safest place for you at all with all these death eater activities ."

"Sirius and Sloan don't have a say in what I want to do with my life, they can't tell me where I can and can't live."

"Florence, they're just trying to keep you safe."

"I know, I know that but I don't ever want to be without you anymore Fred. I need to be with you. And if the only thing that's preventing that now is them thinking its not safe then they can screw right off."

"Florence..."

"What?"

"Don't be mad at them. They love you. They may seem controlling but really they only have your best interest at heart. Look, I feel the absolute same way. I don't want to be anywhere where you aren't there but right now we just have to find a way to compromise... Maybe... Maybe I could go live in the Manor with you for a bit... Just until things mellow down, and when they do, then we'll move in to the apartment."

"What about George? I don't want him to be lonely."

"Like I said, he's a big boy. And if he does, hell, he can live at the Manor too. I bet you have enough spare rooms to accommodate him."

She gave him a small smile, "I guess so."

"See? Everything will work out. I promise you, Florence." he leaned down to plant a kiss on her lips, "But right now, we just have to focus on you getting better, okay?"

"Okay,"

"Speaking of which, mum made you some soup. New recipe, I reckon, it smells great. Would you like some now?"

Florence smiled, nodding her head, "Please."

Fred helped her up to a sitting position, before pouring soup in to a smaller bowl he had brought with him as well.

"Hey," Florence said, just as Fred was about to feed her a spoonful.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

////////

a.n: HELLO IM SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN FOREVER AGAIN. I was busy with finals and graduation and final arrangements for college and whatnot. Basically, the past few months have been hectic and I've only gotten to breathe now.I can't believe I'll be starting college in the FALL. I started this book the summer leading to 10th grade so I really got to get my shit together and finish it. It's been too long. As usual, I appreciate your patience with my whole heart! Expect more frequent updates this month! (I swear, my summer's been so boring I have nothing to do!)

-Denise