InsaneJournal

Who: Vicky Frobisher, Percy Weasley
What: Percy begs forgiveness for forgetting Vicky’s birthday
Where: Vicky’s flat
When: 26 April, 1998, morning, not long after this journal exchange
Rating: L, for Love
Status: Completed log

As quickly as possible, Percy left his flat. In the excitement of attending the New Minister of Magic’s Dinner, he’d completely forgotten Vicky’s birthday. Kicking himself for the mistake, he apparated to her apartment, wondering if anything he said would actually convey how much of a fool he was.

He let himself in and in the doorway, looked around. “Vicky?” He wasn’t even sure if she would want to see him, after what he’d done.

Vicky was curled up on the couch, clutching a pillow to her chest, her pygmy puffs nuzzling at her hand. She lifted her head and looked toward the door when she heard Percy’s voice and stared at him with red eyes for a moment. “Oh. It’s you.” She laid her head back on the couch cushions and resumed staring blankly at the wall.

Because she’d been laying down, Percy hadn’t noticed Vicky at first, but once he saw her face, eyes puffy from crying, he went to the couch and knelt down beside her. “I’m sorry,” he told her. “I’m so, so sorry. Will you ever forgive me? I… your birthday completely slipped my mind. If you had reminded me…”

“I shouldn’t have to remind you,” she said in a flat voice. She sighed and rolled onto her back. “What was I going to say, anyway? Go to the other dinner where you can meet the Minister of Magic instead?”

She picked up Artemis, settled the puff on her chest, and scratched her between the ears. “I knew it was important to you, Percy. That’s why I didn’t say anything. Besides, I know how you feel about this stuff. Why would you want to spend the night drinking with friends when you could schmooze with the Minister of Magic?”

Percy lifted his glasses to rub his eyes. “You shouldn’t have reminded me because I shouldn’t have forgotten.” He shook his head. “Yes, I wanted to go so I could introduce myself to the new Minister, to make some connections. But I would’ve cancelled it for you. There would always be other chances to meet the Minister, but your birthday is special. And I botched it.”

“Yep.” There really was nothing else Vicky could say to that. She rolled back onto her side, carefully cupping Artemis so the puff didn’t fall, and looked at Percy for the first time since he’d come in. “It’s not even that you went that upset me, Percy. It was the way you just blew off our dinner like it was nothing. If you’d remembered it was a special night and acknowledged it when you told me you were going, it would have been different.” She still would have been disappointed, but if he’d just acknowledged it was a special day before bailing on it, things would have been… better.

It was difficult for Percy to find the right words to say, because every time he thought of a response, he could find an argument that would tear it down and reinforce what a cad he was. He pursed his lips and fought back tears, then hung his head in shame. “If somebody had only said something…” he muttered, hanging on to that lame defense. “Please forgive me. I won’t do it again. I don’t know how I’m going to make it up to you…” he looked up at her to show his sincerity, “... I don’t know if I even can. But tell me, whatever you want, whatever you ask me, I’ll do it.”

Vicky closed her eyes and bit her lip so she didn’t say something she’d regret. He’d said what she wanted to hear, but that didn’t make it stop hurting. Part of her was tempted to tell him there was nothing he could do, but that wasn’t what she really wanted, and there was no reason to torment either of them. Percy was sincere, Vicky had no doubt of that.

Slowly, Vicky slid her hand out and wrapped it around Percy’s. “Just… just mean that, Percy. I don’t want to fight. I don’t want to be upset. I….” She opened her eyes and looked at him so there could be no doubt she meant what she said next. “I love you.”

Percy was going to stress that of course he meant what he said, but then Vicky dropped the bombshell and it stunned Percy silent. His first instinct was to ask what? or perhaps did you just say what I thought you said?, but instead he snapped his mouth shut before he could put his foot into it, again. It felt like a sanctimonious moment, which was only spoiled by his previous transgressions.

Slowly, Percy curled his hand around Vicky’s, threading his fingers with hers. Lowering his voice to a soft and tender whisper that only she could hear, he replied, “I love you too.”

Relief and joy and a few other things she couldn’t be bothered to put a name to flooded through Vicky at Percy’s words. She giggled a little with relief as she rolled closer--carefully pushing Artemis and Apollo out of the way--and kissed him thoroughly. “Good. That would have been really awkward otherwise.” She ran her free hand through his hair, mussing it a little before using it to pull him in for another kiss.

When they broke apart the second time, she rested her head on her arm and blinked up at him. “You owe me one hell of a birthday present, you know.” Hopefully, he’d know better than to just buy her something. She didn’t really care what it was, just that it came from the heart.

The moment felt magical, and for the time being, the stress and sorrow undergone a few minutes before had melted away into the distance. Percy had felt this way toward Vicky for some time, but being as conservative as he was, he didn’t know how to tell her. There was also the anxiety that his feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. A lock of her hair had fallen across her forehead, and he brushed it behind her ear with his fingertips and softly smiled. “I think I may have an idea. But you’ll have to wait just a little while longer, to see if the plan goes through. In the meantime… do you still want to go over to the Burrow to observe my mum’s birthday, this afternoon?”

Vicky was intrigued by the idea he had about a present, but she groaned and closed her eyes when he mentioned going to the Burrow. “Merlin, I forgot all about that.” She’d told Percy she would go, and now that things were okay again she wanted to, but… “I haven’t slept, Percy. I don’t know if I can handle your family without at least a few hours.” She’d tried to sleep last night--it would have been better than lying awake thinking about Percy not coming out with her--but she hadn’t been able to. She might have managed an hour or two of fitful dozing, but that was it.

“How long until we have to leave?” Maybe if she could nap--or, even better, convince Percy to nap with her--she could be awake enough to handle Percy’s whole family. “Do I have time to nap?”

“Oh you have plenty of time for nap. The party isn’t for another five hours. You’ll be more comfortable on the bed,” he observed.

Vicky sat up and stretched. "It was too big and empty last night." She and Percy hadn't spent every night together, but they had spent enough that it had made the bed seem especially empty when she'd wanted him there. "Come lie down with me?"

Percy rose to his feet and held his hand for Vicky to help her up. “Of course. Anything you want. It’s the least I can do, my love.”

“Anything I want?” Vicky raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite an offer, Percy.” She let him help her up, stumbled, and caught herself on him. Now obviously wasn’t the time for anything. “I’m going to have to think about that,” she said with a yawn. “For now, though, bed.” She grabbed his hand and started toward the bedroom, shuffling her feet so she didn’t trip from the exhaustion that had suddenly overtaken her.

“I mean it, Vicky,” Percy said with all honesty, supporting her as they walked. If he were a more muscular sort, he’d offer to carry her, but Percy wasn’t sure if he’d drop her, instead. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened in my life.”

In the bedroom, Percy guided her to the edge of the mattress, and before he laid down beside her, he toed off his shoes and took off his jacket.

Vicky didn’t give Percy time to take off anything else. As much as she liked having him naked in her bed, right now she just wanted to cuddle. She pulled him down, wrapped herself around him, and closed her eyes. “Love you,” she murmured, and then she was asleep.