It wasn't swimsuit-warm on the beach near Rose Cottage, but with the sun bright on her face, Ginny could tell it wasn't far off. The breeze was enough to keep her from getting overly heated, and she turned her cheeks away from the sun and squinted in the boys' direction. They were playing in the sand with shovels, a small pile formed between the two of them. Devon laughed whenever Corey pushed the pile he'd just made flat, and proceeded to gather up enough sand to repeat the whole action over again.

"They're ridiculously larger than the last time I saw them," Ginny said with a small smile, turning her attention to Katie, hand held aloft to block the light from her eyes. "Mum said Fred and George seemed to double in size every time she blinked. Of course, it might have had something to do with what Bill and Charlie were sneaking them whenever she wasn't looking."

"Enhanced bikkies?" Katie asked, grin playing at her lips as she padded back towards the blanket and dropped down unceremoniously next to Ginny. Her sister-in-law had been a pleasant afternoon surprise and all too happy to come with her and the boys to spend some time on the beach.

It was nice to see her smile, small though it was, and it warmed something in Katie. Hazel-blue eyes flicked to the boys, still playing safely, and then back to Ginny, and Katie reached out to take one of her hand in both of hers. "How've you been?"

"Tired," Ginny answered honestly. She hadn't been sleeping well, and when she did sleep it was either fitful and darkened with visions of black eyes and a cold but comforting voice, or heavy and drugged. Neither scenario really meant any rest was had, but she'd been managing to perform on fumes rather than fuel for several months now.

"The clinic in Diagon Alley is almost ready to open, we just have a few more permits to see about," she added, partially for a reason for her tiredness and partly because she was simply proud of the venture to branch out. Even with everything going on in her personal life, her professional life seemed to be moving on perfectly fine. Ginny was very adept at appearing and carrying on as if nothing was wrong.

"That's fantastic," Katie said, grinning even as she squeezed Ginny's hand lightly. "Though..." she tipped her head, hesitant to probe, but afraid not to at the same time. "... though ... everything else? Besides the clinics? How are you?" she pressed, something she'd not been quite able to make herself do once upon a time. Being a Weasley Mum and Fred's wife had taught her that a little assertiveness could go a long way, however.

Nodding, Ginny kept her hand in Katie's but turned her attention back towards the rolling waves. It was a hard question to answer. There were quite a few things wrong, and though she loved Katie like a sister and knew the blond would never judge or make her feel ashamed, Ginny had a hard time voicing the inner turmoil she felt.

"I'm tired," she repeated, voice soft, almost inaudible over the surf. "Insecure. Lost. A million other adjectives that mean the exact same thing and don't do anything to make me feel better." She licked her lips, looking back towards Katie. Her eyes were dry. She'd cried enough tears, she wouldn't do so in front of her nephews.

Katie let out a breath and offered Ginny a small smile. "I had hoped that maybe wasn't the case. You smiled," she pointed out, gaze steady though soft. "Your eyes look haunted though. Reese would say you're lost in here, I think," she added, a random afterthought as she tapped the spot just over Ginny's heart.

Raising her gaze back to Ginny's, Katie tipped her head. "Do you want to talk about ... any of it?"

"Thank you," Ginny said after a few moments of quiet, "but not now. Maybe later, when things are better. Thank you," she said again, wanting Katie to know that the offer was appreciated.

After several moments where the only sounds were Corey and Devon playing and the waves brushing along the sand, Ginny cleared her throat. "I'm thinking of going away for a little bit. Getting away," she clarified, attention fully on Katie then. She hadn't spoken of her thoughts to anyone yet, and speaking of them only cemented that the thoughts were concrete and possible.

"Yeah?" Katie pulled hazel eyes away from the boys to Ginny again. She couldn't say it was entirely unexpected. The few visits they'd had since the holidays had only brought to them a quiet, reserved woman. Though Katie knew she tried, it was almost impossible to reconcile her as she was now, to the woman she'd once been - vibrant and happy. She was not unaware of what a broken heart did to a person - she'd watched Fred wallow in his grief for George for years - but it was just as hard to watch Ginny and be able to do nothing as it'd been to watch Fred.

"There's a healing symposium in France in a few weeks, and I have a friend I trained with at St. Mungo's who lives there now. He's told me I could have his couch if I wanted to stay for a bit afterward." Jacob was funny and had kept Ginny amused and focused during training when she'd needed it most. His offer had been thought upon seriously.

"I think it'd be fun to spend a few weeks in France before the new clinic opens and I can't really travel."

Katie nodded, a warm smile curling her lips moments later. "I think that's a really great idea, Gin. A vacation from here and worries that are tied to things here." Fred would likely worry at his sister being too far away to protect, but Katie knew he would think it for the best too. It wasn't forever, after all. "You might even get a tan," she said, eyes squinting when she tipped her face up to the weak sunlight. It would warm in a month or so, but the bright orb was still faraway yet.

"I don't tan," Ginny said with a soft laugh. "It might look like it, but it's actually just every freckle on my body popping out and merging together."

Satisfied that the idea of leaving for a few weeks didn't seem entirely insane, she nodded. She'd owl Jacob and let him know that she'd take him up on his offer of shelter. Nadine and Theo could handle the patients while she was away, and she'd come back with new techniques from the symposium and, hopefully, a better and more relaxed mien.

"I always wanted freckles," Katie confessed, a tinkle of laughter escaping moments later. "These days, though, I'm just happy to get out of the house. Winter is nice for awhile, but I love the sunshine most."

Ginny seemed more relaxed, even now having spoken of her planned trip, and Katie was glad for it. It was already doing the job the ginger woman had allotted it.

"Outside is much more favorable," Ginny agreed, turning her face up to the bright sun, letting the warmth spread over her skin.


SUMMARY: Ginny spends the day on the beach with Katie and the boys, and makes the decision to take a small vacation.