I realized I haven't really had Fred and Sarah have a one-on-one convo in a while. I figured now was a good time for this.

"Fred?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"I'm engaged to your brother."

Now that the shop had closed earlier this afternoon for inventory, Fred and I restocked the shelves while George stepped out to check on a delivery. Anxiety welled in my stomach. It'd been some time since he and I had had a chat. Over the course of our friendship, the two of us would have these little one-on-one talks. While the talks were sometimes about pranks or other silly things, they were often serious in nature. Fred had amazing insight and surprisingly good advice when I needed it most, and I did my best to return the favor when he came to me.

Fred chuckled as he continued stocking. "That you are, love."

"No, I'm engaged to George," I pressed. "I'm getting married to him. I'm getting married. I'm...I'm getting married."

"Yes, you are. Fifty," he said.

Fred tucked the last box on the shelf. I updated the number of Snackboxes on paper and then checked off that they'd been replenished. When I looked up, he'd made a face. My stomach clenched. I didn't blame him at all for being puzzled by my revelation.

Fred tilted his head with a fold of his arms. "Hang on. Sarah, are you saying...do you...do you not want to get married to my brother?"

"Of course I do!" I exclaimed. I lowered my voice and tried to better explain myself. "I do want to get married. Don't misunderstand, I want nothing more than to marry your brother. I love George so, so much, I just...I've realized so many things have to happen. So many things have happened, and all at once. There's plans...and things are falling so easily into place...and then there's dad and he won't be there and I...I…." Catching my breath seemed impossible. My lower lip began to tremble, so I bit it to make it stop.

"Oh, no. I know that face. C'mere." Fred took my hand and guided me over to the set of stairs that led to the twins' flat. He brought an arm around my shoulders as we sat down on the third step. "There we are. Sitting's the hard part sometimes. Well, that and the breathing. Speaking of, deep breath, Princess."

I tried but all that came out were my anxieties. "What if everything goes suddenly wrong? What if George regrets marrying me?"

"Are you mad?" Fred lifted my chin. "I've never seen George this in love with someone. Honest. He's over the moon for you, Sarah."

"But, what if he doesn't? I'm marrying your brother. Your twin, you know him better than he does, yeah? Is he positive he still loves me? Because I'm...we're...getting married. I love him. What if he regrets settling for me?"

"Settling for you? What are you on about? Where's this coming from, Sarah?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I just...I guess it's all been happening so fast that I just realized what's happening and I'm so anxious. I'm excited to marry George. Fred, he's perfect." He snorted and I pushed his knee. "I'm not perfect. What if he thinks I'm not good enough for him?"

"What? Sarah, we—we meaning George and I and you—grew up together. We know each other, right? Good, bad, in between. After that incident our last year with your prank, I'd like to think we got closer. Sarah, George...he's mad about you. He's not settling for you, he still loves you, and I don't think anything is going to change that. He's happy. You're happy, aren't you?"

"More than I've ever been."

"But something isn't…" he paused. "Let's go back to that 'everything going wrong' comment. That's really what this is about, isn't it?" When I failed to answer, Fred eyed me, then sighed. "You know, Princess, sometimes there's not another shoe."

"What do you mean?" I asked, twisting my ring around my finger.

"I think you know exactly what I mean." He placed a hand over mine to stop my fidgeting. "George and I waited for the other shoe after opening our shop, you know. We figured something horrible would happen, right? I mean even despite Bagman and the bumps, we got here. We're happy. The shoe never came. I guess in a way it did because we hurt you with that prank, but I'd like to think that wasn't exactly a shoe since it didn't set us back. There's been ups and downs, fun parts, not-so-fun parts, but it's all so worth it. You and George...I've seen it since we were fifth-years, a bit before that actually. During that summer, the two of you just, I dunno. There was something different in the way Georgie looked at you and I knew. Then I saw the two of you at the ball, and my suspicions were right. What I'm getting at Princess is the two of you fit, right? So, is George worth it to you?"

"Absolutely. He's everything, but I'm scar—"

"You've had some bad things happen. Losing your dad is a big one—the biggest the way I see it. I can't imagine losing mum or dad. But that doesn't mean you're not allowed to be happy, Princess. Don't be scared of being happy."

Fred got to me. I lowered my head into my hands and let out a sob. I was afraid to be happy, to even get complacent. Every time, something bad surely must follow—at least that was my reasoning. At least that's what always seemed to happen. Fred pulled me against him, and I tucked myself under his chin as he cooed.

"It's alright, love. Let it out. Sarah, you deserve George. After everything, you deserve to be happy. The shoe isn't coming, and looking for it will just ruin your happiness. Even if the shoe drops, you'll get past whatever it is together. And you know you both will always have me to help. It'll be fine."

I nodded and pulled back. "You're right."

"Of course I am," said Fred, beaming. "George is gaga over you. Enjoy it! Shag him every night, kiss him all day, tell each other you love each other. Be utterly gross together. Things will be alright."

"Thanks, Fred."

"Anytime, Princess. Oh, and next time? Do me a favor and don't wait until you're breaking down to come for one of our chats. Remember our agreement?"

I nodded. How could I forget? George had the reputation of being the more anxious twin when in reality it was Fred. Being the more dominant twin, he just hid it very well under his joking and confidence. Fred maintained a constant level of anxiety brewing inside him while George let his anxieties out when they first bubbled up. Due to his anxiety, Fred overcompensated around others. He, at times, seemed a bit reckless while George came off as being a bit more cautious than his twin. I didn't realize any of this until one night during second year. I couldn't sleep and had gone down to the common room to try to clear a nightmare out of my head. I found Fred in the common room on the couch, ashen-faced, wringing his hands as he tried to even his breathing. I sat beside him and, once he calmed, managed to get him to talk through what had made him so anxious. There was a lot to get through—things both big and small. From his concern that Ginny was acting somewhat differently, to a disagreement he'd had with George, to the mulling over he'd done regarding starting a business, and several small things in between, Fred let it all out over the course of an hour or so. Once he was calm, he talked me through my nightmare and concerns I had about my slowly dipping Potions grades. He thanked me, telling me George was the only one who knew about him. Fred explained that, despite George being helpful and understanding, he was often hesitant to bring anything up for fear of constantly burdening his twin. Just before we headed to bed, we made an agreement.

"We agreed we'd talk over our anxieties, not bottle them up until we pop," I said, wiping my eyes. I'd let my anxiety grow a little too much before coming to Fred about it this time around. "I'll try not to wait as long. Being at school and away from you two. I just got used to not saying anything again. It was..."

"Agreed." Fred gave a small smile and added, "Talking via Floo and in letters isn't the same as this."

I chuckled. "Wandering ears."

He nodded in agreement. I thought back to the few times I got a chance to see them during my last year. Once was during a trip to Hogsmeade, and there wasn't time for Fred and me to talk things over between my reunion with George. Over Christmas holiday, George and I spent plenty of time together, which left more time with Fred. We'd stayed up all night on Boxing Day delving into the thick of our worries. Easter holiday we talked once over pudding, but couldn't go as deep as we needed because we surrounded by both our families who weren't exactly privy to our anxieties. This afternoon was definitely long overdue.

"I'm glad to be back, Fred," I whispered.

He pressed his lips to my temple and brought me into another hug. "It's good to have you back, Princess. Now neither of us have to keep fighting these things alone."