Leigh!fic- What Might Have Been (1/1)- Bill Weasley/Fleur Delacour
Title: What Might Have Been (1/1)
Author: Leigh, aka leigh_adams
Characters: Bill Weasley/Fleur Delacour
Rating: G
Word Count: 500
Summary: On the anniversary of Sirius' death, Fleur helps Bill move on.
Author's Notes: This was written for the interim competition at genhp_ldws. The prompt was the anniversary of Sirius Black's death, and the only other requirement was that it not be from Harry's POV. Yeah, not a problem. It got completely buried, but that's okay. It was nice to bring Fleur back out for a spin.
Looking out the window of Shell Cottage, Fleur's keen blue eyes watched her husband amble aimlessly along the beach. Tucker, their dog, ran alongside him, yapping happily and chasing seagulls, though Bill paid neither beast nor bird any heed. He was there, on their beach, but his mind was a million miles away.
Dominique was down for her nap, and Victoire was spending the day with Gabrielle, leaving Fleur was a bit of peace and quiet; a rarity in any Weasley household. It was a nice reprieve, though she did enjoy having her girls around to pepper their Papa with kisses, each clamoring to be the first to leap into his arms when he came home.
With a heavy sigh, she summoned her wrap- there was always a breeze blowing in from the water- and slipped out the back door.
So caught up in his thoughts was he, Bill didn't even notice her coming down the sloping back yard until she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"Chéri, what is ze matter?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
His brow furrowed, and he frowned as he looked down at her. "Fleur, you shouldn't be out here. The baby-"
His wife shook her head. "Non, eet ees alright, Bill. Ze 'ealer said so. You must not worry so much."
Bill stopped their forward progression and turned to face her, letting one calloused hand drift down to rest on her swelling stomach. "I can't help it," he admitted softly. "Especially today. I just can't help but think about it."
Fleur didn't need him to extrapolate. She knew all too well the nightmares that plagued him. They were the same ones that haunted her own sleep. "Eet ees normal zat you are scared," she replied. "Je suis effrayée aussi. But..." she trailed off and took his hand, entwining their fingers together, "everyzing will be alright, chéri."
"It's been ten years," he said abruptly. "I... I didn't realize so much time had past." Glancing out towards the sea, he continued, "S'why I came home, you know. Ron, Ginny... they almost died. Sirius did die. And yet, all I could think about was how I'd failed to protect my little brother and sister. Not that a man, a good man, had died."
"Bill," she said patiently, "you 'ardly knew 'im. And zere ees no shame in wanting to protect Ron and Ginny. Eet ees no different for me with Gabrielle. But do not blame yourself because you were not 'ere, d'accord? You do not know what would 'ave 'appened."
He sighed and gave a resigned nod. "I know." Looking back towards her, he mustered a small, crooked smile. "I love you."
"Je t'adore aussi," she murmured, leaning in close to press a kiss to his jaw. Drawing back, she gave him a little smile. "Now come. Dominique will awake soon, and she will be wanting 'er Papa."
And with that, Bill let Fleur lead him back home.
Author: Leigh, aka leigh_adams
Characters: Bill Weasley/Fleur Delacour
Rating: G
Word Count: 500
Summary: On the anniversary of Sirius' death, Fleur helps Bill move on.
Author's Notes: This was written for the interim competition at genhp_ldws. The prompt was the anniversary of Sirius Black's death, and the only other requirement was that it not be from Harry's POV. Yeah, not a problem. It got completely buried, but that's okay. It was nice to bring Fleur back out for a spin.
Looking out the window of Shell Cottage, Fleur's keen blue eyes watched her husband amble aimlessly along the beach. Tucker, their dog, ran alongside him, yapping happily and chasing seagulls, though Bill paid neither beast nor bird any heed. He was there, on their beach, but his mind was a million miles away.
Dominique was down for her nap, and Victoire was spending the day with Gabrielle, leaving Fleur was a bit of peace and quiet; a rarity in any Weasley household. It was a nice reprieve, though she did enjoy having her girls around to pepper their Papa with kisses, each clamoring to be the first to leap into his arms when he came home.
With a heavy sigh, she summoned her wrap- there was always a breeze blowing in from the water- and slipped out the back door.
So caught up in his thoughts was he, Bill didn't even notice her coming down the sloping back yard until she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"Chéri, what is ze matter?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
His brow furrowed, and he frowned as he looked down at her. "Fleur, you shouldn't be out here. The baby-"
His wife shook her head. "Non, eet ees alright, Bill. Ze 'ealer said so. You must not worry so much."
Bill stopped their forward progression and turned to face her, letting one calloused hand drift down to rest on her swelling stomach. "I can't help it," he admitted softly. "Especially today. I just can't help but think about it."
Fleur didn't need him to extrapolate. She knew all too well the nightmares that plagued him. They were the same ones that haunted her own sleep. "Eet ees normal zat you are scared," she replied. "Je suis effrayée aussi. But..." she trailed off and took his hand, entwining their fingers together, "everyzing will be alright, chéri."
"It's been ten years," he said abruptly. "I... I didn't realize so much time had past." Glancing out towards the sea, he continued, "S'why I came home, you know. Ron, Ginny... they almost died. Sirius did die. And yet, all I could think about was how I'd failed to protect my little brother and sister. Not that a man, a good man, had died."
"Bill," she said patiently, "you 'ardly knew 'im. And zere ees no shame in wanting to protect Ron and Ginny. Eet ees no different for me with Gabrielle. But do not blame yourself because you were not 'ere, d'accord? You do not know what would 'ave 'appened."
He sighed and gave a resigned nod. "I know." Looking back towards her, he mustered a small, crooked smile. "I love you."
"Je t'adore aussi," she murmured, leaning in close to press a kiss to his jaw. Drawing back, she gave him a little smile. "Now come. Dominique will awake soon, and she will be wanting 'er Papa."
And with that, Bill let Fleur lead him back home.