RP: Birthday wishes...

[rar_george]

Date: 17 February 1999
Characters: George Weasley, Fleur Weasley, Soon-to-be Weasley
Location: The Italian Kitchen
Status: Private-ish
Summary: George takes Fleur to lunch...
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_fleur]

Fleur was running late and she detested being late. People always expected it of pretty blond women, just as they expected pretty blond women to be empty headed. She did not like to be stereotyped. Fleur knew George would not think less of his pregnant sister-in-law for running a little late because his niece or nephew decided to tap dance on her kidneys. It did not make her happier about her delay.

"George," she kissed his cheek, "I am sorry to keep you waiting. Ze bebe is very active today." She removed her cloak and took a seat, happy to relax now that she was here.

[rar_george]

"No worries," George said with a smile, kissing her as well, then handing her the flowers with a flourish. "I haven't been waiting long, anyway..."

He settled into a seat across from her. "Happy late Birthday," he added, passing her a menu. "It's too bad it's not on a day that anyone would remember, or anything. I nearly forgot..."

[rar_fleur]

"Thank you, my brozzer. They are lovely." Fleur looked at them suspiciously. "Zese are not going to squirt me will they?"

"Thank you again. Oh, no. Valentine's Day is so 'ard to keep in mind, you silly. Did you and Lee do sometheeng nice togezzer to celebrate?" She opened her menu but asked, "Would you like to share a pizza? Oh! Ze bebe likes that idea." She rubbed where she just took a particularly hard thump.

[rar_george]

George laughed. "No, they won't squirt, or spit fire, or do anything but smell nice. Had the weirdest urge not to charm them..."

He chuckled as she mentioned Valentines, and nodded. "Actually, we did. Had dinner at Bertorelli's." He could feel his cheeks warm, but didn't bother to hide the smile. "A...proper date. It was nice."

He glanced at the menu, then closed it again, setting it aside. "Pizza sounds great, actually." He watched her rub her belly, then smiled. "We talked about you, and the nearly-Weasley, too. Lee wondered if you'd let us mind him once in a while, and I reminded him that you could just be hiding a Niffler under your shirt, and who on earth would want to mind that?"

[rar_fleur]

"Zat is odd, considering ze person with ze urge was you," Fleur blew him a kiss. "Do I need to feel your forehead for fever?"

Fleur beamed, "'ow lovely for you both. 'ave you not been going out togezzer?" She hoped it wasn't because they were worried about being seen.

"I like mushrooms and pepperoni on mine. Plain cheese if fine too if you do not like those theengs. Him or her. You might get a niece, you know. I theenk zat everyone in ze family will get a chance to mind ze bebe, alzough I am sure I will not like to give her or him up very often. I theenk zat I will be an overprotective mama. As for ze Niffler, I theenk 'agrid would not mind zis so very much."

The server came and took their order. "You are looking forward to teaching my child 'ow to play tricks on ze Papa and not ze Mama, I 'ope."

[rar_george]

George shook his head. "No fever," he assured her, then shook his head again. "We...haven't. Sorta started in the middle, y'know? Forgot about how things were supposed to start. So..." He shrugged. "We started..."

"I eat anything," he assured her with a laugh. "Peppers on half," he told the server, then sat back in his chair. "And I guess I wouldn't mind minding the Niffler, if there was...y'know...gold scattered around. Otherwise, I'd get tired of knocking him off my watch every five seconds..."

He leaned forward then, resting his chin on one hand. "I've never been around babies much, actually," he said with a tilt of his head. "Or really, anyone having babies, other than Mum. And last one was when I was what...three? four?" He gestured vaguely at her belly. "Hard to believe there's really a person in there..."

[rar_fleur]

Fleur nodded in understanding. "It is good to make a special effort. You two are 'appy togezzer?" She wanted all of her family to be blissfully happy for they all deserved it.

She laughed. "No Niffler. It is an actual bebe, I promise. I cannot guarantee zat she or he will not be attracted to shiny theengs like your watch, zough. Bebe's like theengs that catch ze eye."

"Trust, Fleur. Your older sister will show you all you need to know about taking care of ze bebe. It only takes love and patience, my brozzer. What is 'ard for me to believe is that I only 'ave two more months to go. I will be as big as a 'ouse by then. A beautiful 'ouse, but still a 'ouse," Fleur lamented the lost sight of her feet when she looked down but aside from 'er swollen ankles she was feeling very well.

[rar_george]

"We are," he said softly, then smiled. "Or trying, you know."

He ran one hand through his hair. "You'll be a lovely house," he teased softly, then peered across the table at the swell of her belly. "When's she coming again? End of April? I'm sure Bill told me, but I can't remember.

"I need to start making a list of things to not forget to teach him."

[rar_fleur]

"My 'ealer says mid-to-late April. I theenk most probably late April," she did not think George wanted to learn about how she was sure about her and Bill's conception date.

Fleur laughed. "I see zat I will 'ave to keep my eye on you. You will not teach how to make explosions until she is at least old enough to clean up after herself," she waggled her finger at him. "I do not weesh to be always doing zis myself."

She took a sip of her water, "Besides you and Lee, is anyone else still living with you? I have been too busy to bring food, but Mama Molly tells me you are learning 'ow to cook more theengs, yes?"

[rar_george]

"April's good for birthdays," he said with an attempt at a smile, and it widened as she shook a finger in his direction.

"Yes'm," he said, ducking a bit. "Just be careful where you point that thing, wouldya? Mum had one of those fingers...it was deadly."

He sat back and toyed with the corner of a napkin, then tossed it aside. "Angelina's still there," he said with a nod. "She's sort of looking, I think, for a place of her own, but...she's not in a rush, I think. She's working at the Sweet Shop and it seems like we hardly see her..." He shrugged. "Lee and I hardly see each other, some days...

"And I'm not sure if you'd call what we do, cooking, exactly. The meatloaf turns out okay, but everything else is a bit hit or miss. Good thing we're not too picky..."

[rar_fleur]

"Where do you theenk I learned to do zis?" She waggled her finger again. "Your mama, she conveys very much meaning with just one finger, non? Mamman was one for stamping her foot and raising her eyebrow. I theenk I will stamp and shake ze finger, I do not want either of ze bebe's grandmozzers to feel slighted," she laughed.

"I met with Angelina and ze owners of The Sweet Shop yesterday. I need to set an appointment with ze owner of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes alzo. You would not 'appen to know 'im would you?" Fleur looked at him, "Are you all so busy? I feel as if I 'ave been neglecting Bill some days because I 'ave been working on what needs to be done to 'ire people before ze bebe comes, and on ze theengs I need to do for ze new Cultural Centre."

Fleur smiled, "You are always welcome to come to Shell Cottage and bring your friends. Or yell through ze Floo for 'elp with your vegetables. I am not promising with meat because pork still bozzers me to smell."

[rar_george]

He imagined an angry Fleur, stamping and waggling, and covered his mouth to muffle a laugh. "No, you can't insult the grandmothers," he agreed, shaking his head. "And they'll both think that you like their way best."

He took a sip of water, then raised an eyebrow. "Owner of the Wheezes? Yeah, I think I could get you an audience. Might manage a dinner meeting, over pizza or something..." He chuckled.

"I just hired someone full-time, actually, so I've got more time for coming up with stuff, and you know...family and all. And hopefully Lee's getting someone in his department too, so...maybe we'll have more time to figure out Mum's recipes. There's always fish and chips, if not..."

[rar_fleur]

Fleur laughed, "I was hoping I could talk you out of one of your deluxe boxes of Wildfire Whizbangs or sometheeng even more special to use in a Silent Auction to benefit ze Cultural Centre I am trying to open. Many of ze ozzer businesses 'ere in Diagon Alley and Madam Rosmerta in Hogsmeade 'ave donated special items for us to use to raise funds." Fleur did not like to take advantage of her family but she had asked the other business owners. There was no reason to leave off George just because he was her brother-in-law. "Terror Tours 'as even donated a trip. What you donate will be well advertised."

There pizza was sat down in front of them and Fleur inhaled deeply. It smelled delicious. "I theenk I could live on ze pizza 'ere and my salads. Did you hire anyone I know? I saw Lavender working ze ozzer day but she said she was part-time."

[rar_george]

"Would that make me like...a cultural supporter or something?" He grinned. "Because you know that I'll do anything to be cultured..." He lifted a slice of pizza high off the plate, ducking his head under it to catch the stringy cheese that dangled off it.

"Not that I think it'll work," he mumbled around the mouthful. He chewed for a moment, then swallowed. "Damn, that's good."

He took another bite, then realized she'd asked a question. "Don't think you know her, actually. Verity Jackson. She worked for me...for us. When we first opened the shop. Her family's just come back to London, and she happened in just as I said I'd hire the first applicant with half a brain. I'll get her to put something together for you. You know, something subtle and understated."

He snickered around another bite of pizza.

[rar_fleur]

"Not only a cultural supporter but I supporter of diversity and equality too, all very good theengs for you to be," Fleur nodded sagely.

"Per'aps not, but it would be good publicity and I know you weesh to 'elp your pregnant sister-in-law meet her agency's goals. I will send you ze literature and you can decide for yourself when I am not threatening to take you pizza away if you do not do what I want," she grinned.

"Subtle and wheeze do not go togezzer, I theenk. I will trust you anyway." Fleur cut her pizza and blew on a small bite. She did not wish to burn her mouth. "You will get two free tickets with your donation to come to ze dance, so you can bring Lee and it will be a lovely date. Ze Flaming Pixies 'ave donating their time to play and the band zat was at Bill's and my wedding, ze Golden Toads will play also. It will be a very nice time."

[rar_george]

"Sounds fab," George said with a nod. "Pixies and Toads and Wheezes all in the same room..." He grinned.

"And I just hired Verity. I could use the publicity, and keeping in my big brother's good graces by doing something for his incubating wife is always a good idea."

He took another bite, then gestured. "When's this dance, then?"