Always

KAT

I sluggishly walked into work and collapsed into a chair in the back room. Blaise and Draco looked up from their work, confused.

“What’s wrong?”, Blaise asked.

“You and Ron are okay right?”, Draco asked quickly. I looked up at them confused.

“Huh? What? Oh, yeah, we’re fine. Just not feeling very well today”, I said. I sighed and went to stand up so that I could help with the potions, but a dizzy spell took over and I sat back down quickly.

“Woah there”, Draco said, reaching out and holding on to my arm so that I didn’t fall.

“If you’re not feeling well, you should take the day off”, Blaise said. I started to shake my head, but Draco interrupted.

“Shop is closed today anyway. We needed to restock up on potions. Your inventory spell is amazing”, Draco added. Before I could protest, him and Blaise pulled me up and shoved me towards the door. “Go home and we will see you tomorrow”, Draco said before giving me a final push out the door. I walked to the alley and used my magic to get home. I pulled out my phone to text Ron, so that he wouldn’t worry.

Me: Hey. I am not feeling good. They sent me back home.

My Fiancé <3: Are you okay? Do you need me to come back home?

Me: No. You have that important meeting today. I am okay, I’m good.

My Fiancé <3: I love you beautiful

Me: I love you more

I walked into the bathroom and filled the tub with hot water and a lot of bubbles. I walked back into the bedroom to grab a book. I took off my clothes, put on some music and climbed into the bath. I sat in the tub reading until the water turned cold and forced me to get out. I reluctantly got out and threw on a pair of Ron’s sweatpants and a t-shirt. I brushed out my hair and threw it back up into a ponytail. I grabbed my book again and headed to the living room. Watching tv, while reading sounded like a great option to me. I was walking as I read when I heard a noise from the kitchen. I dropped my book quickly and casted a silent defense spell towards where the sound came from. I heard a yelp, and then a crash.

I grabbed the closest thing to me that I could find, which just happened to be a picture frame. I smashed the glass and carefully picked up one of the broken pieces and walked towards the kitchen. I immediately dropped the glass when I saw Charlie, bound, and gagged on the kitchen floor. I rushed over to him and released the spell from him.

“What the hell Katie?”, he demanded.

“Well, you scared the crap out of me first. Why didn’t you say you were coming over or come and get me when you got here?”, I yelled back at him.

“Ron told me you weren’t feeling good and asked if I could come over and keep you company. I heard the water going when I got here, and I decided to let you relax”, he said, standing up and using his magic to clean the mess he made when my spell hit him. “At least my brother doesn’t have to worry about you defending yourself”, he added before grabbing the supplies to make us more sandwiches.

I moved to the couch and turned on the TV. I was just settling on a channel when Charlie came in and plopped down next to me. He handed me a sandwich, but I shook my head. I wasn’t hungry. He just held it out to me again.

“I’m not hungry”, I said, trying to decline the sandwich yet again.

“I don’t care. Eat”, he said, forcing the sandwich into my hand.

“I see what is happening. Ron sent you to babysit me”, I grumbled.

“Well, after what you did a couple of months, can you blame him?”, he said between bites.

“I didn’t try to hurt myself; I am not suicidal!”, I shouted.

“And in high school?”, he asked.

“I… that’s… that’s beside the point. That isn’t now”, I said. I handed my half-eaten sandwich back to Charlie. “Really, I’m just not hungry”, I said. He took it from me with a side glance.

“Well, he doesn’t want to risk losing you again, so you get me”, he said. “Any plans for his birthday?”, he asked.

“Well… now that you ask… I do have a few ideas”, I smiled at him. We spent the afternoon watching TV, playing card games, and talking. Eventually I did eat a small bowl of fruit, which he watched me to make sure I ate all of it. At some point I must have fallen asleep. I heard the front door shut and Ron come in.

“Shh”, Charlie said, moving my feet off of his lap. He made sure the blanket was tucked in around me before he walked over to Ron. I could hear them whispering but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Charlie was about to walk out the door when Ron invited him to stay for dinner. I felt Ron kiss my head before he settled into the chair next to the couch. Charlie resumed his spot on the couch, placing my feet back on his lap. I fell back asleep as Ron and him had quiet conversations while watching whatever was now playing on the TV.

RON

I was about to walk into the meeting with Fred, George, and an investor, when I felt my phone go off.

Kitty Kat: Hey. I am not feeling good. They sent me back home.

Me: Are you okay? Do you need me to come back home?

Kitty Kat: No. You have that important meeting today. I am okay, I’m good.

Me: I love you beautiful

Kitty Kat: I love you more

I closed the text message and dialed Charlie.

“Hey… Kat was sent home… she said she’s not feeling good… she asked me not to come home… you think you could… yeah, I just… I’m nervous after the last time. Thanks Charlie… yeah love you too… okay bye”. I hung up and headed into the meeting.

The meeting went great, and we were on our way to opening a second shop in Hogsmeade. It would be a great move for our company and a good opportunity for me to run a shop by myself. I would love to steal Kat for myself, but I don’t know if she would leave Blaise. Maybe I could talk her into working a little bit with us both. Waving goodbye to my brothers, I apparated home. I walked in the door and quietly shut it behind me when Charlie motioned for me to be quiet. Charlie slowly moved Kat’s feet off him and came to greet me by the door.

“How is she?”, I asked, taking my shoes off.

“Doing good. I finally got her to eat not too long before she passed out. I had to practically beg her to eat though”, he said. He was about to head out the door when I stopped him.

“Wait, why don’t you stay? You can join us for dinner. I bet Kat would like that”, I said, shoving him towards the couch. I sat in the chair by Kat’s head so Charlie could resume his spot on the couch. He gently placed her feet back on his lap before turning to me.

“You’re really lucky you know”, he said. I looked up at him and smirked. “Don’t give me that look, I can have a serious conversation you know”, he said.

“Yeah, I know”, I sighed. “And yes. I know I’m lucky to have her”, I said smiling down at her. “I don’t know what I would do without her”, I said, looking back at him.

“You know she once told me that thinking of life without you was like not being able to breathe. She’s always had you; I think she would really be lost without you”, Charlie said, rubbing her leg softly. She shifted in her sleep and kicked his lap. He chuckled and stopped his movements.

“I know, I feel the same about her. That time apart… I never said thank you. For taking care of… me… of her”, I said looking down embarrassed.

“Of course. She is pretty amazing”, he said. Kat stretched and sat up.

“Pretty amazing? Are we talking about my ass again?”, she laughed.

“No, just you”, Charlie said, poking her nose. She bit his finger and laughed. She moved over so that I could sit on the couch. She sat in the middle, her head on shoulder, while her feet still rested on Charlie’s lap. I leaned down to kiss her head.

“Love you beautiful”, I whispered in her ear.

“Love you more”, she said, kissing my cheek. Charlie made a gagging noise and we all laughed.