Katie had felt marginally better about Greg after talking things over with Fred and distracting herself with friends, though there was still a tickle of worry in the back of her mind whether he was okay or not. However, the owl she'd received had brought all that worry to the forefront of her mind again, making her feel antsy, as if she needed to do something. But there was nothing for her to do, no way for her to get to Greg, not that she would if she could. He'd left her and she wouldn't seek him out if he didn't want to be found. It didn't stop her from worrying though.

It didn't help her sleep much either. She had nightmares, not as often anymore, but with her anxious frame of mind, dark shadows were stalking her dreams.

With a start, Katie was awake, breathing fast and legs tangled in her sheets. She felt trapped. Almost in a panic, she untangled herself from the blankets that seemed to be grabbing at her and slipped off the bed, a little shaky, heart pounding against her chest.


Pea was looking at her from the edge of the bed with lost puppy eyes and Katie scooped her up, holding the small dog close to her chest, comfort for both of them. She didn't want to go back, the dark painting her bed in shadows and old memories.

Grabbing her wand off the bedside table, Katie Apparated with a soft 'pop' into #93 Diagon Alley, Fred's flat. She was in the dark again, the dim light of street lamps illuminating only parts of Fred's sitting room. Her thoughts were still hazy from nightmares and sleep, and as she stood there in his old Quidditch jersey and sleep tousled hair with Pea tucked under her arm, she had a moment's hesitation that maybe she shouldn't have come, especially in the middle of the night.

Skin prickling him awake from his doze as his wards alerted him to someone's presence in his flat, Fred shook the fog from his head and threw back the duvet, sliding from his bed to investigate. The light from his bedside lamp let him know he was alone in the bedroom, which left relatively few places to check in the small flat. Figuring that anyone who had access to Apparate in had already seen him in boxers or less, he padded barefoot through the doorway and along the short hall to the sitting room.

He blinked in surprise as he saw Katie standing near his sofa, Pea cradled in her arms. "Princess?" he questioned, instantly alert and worried. "All right, Katie? You're not hurt, are you?" he fretted, striding the few steps across the room into touching distance, hands smoothing her wild hair, down over her arms, returning to tip her face up to his, eyes searching for injury.

"I'm okay," she answered as his hands moved over her, Fred's presence already chasing the shadows away. "I ... there was an owl and Greg and bad memories and I couldn't get the blankets off." Her voice was quiet, rough with sleep and she couldn't seem to find whole thoughts. "I ... sorry for waking you ... I just ..."

"Shhh," Fred soothed, cupping Katie's face in both his hands. "You're welcome here, always. Any time or reason. I was just worried. Come on," he directed gently, wrapping an arm around her waist and guiding her along back to his bedroom, "you'll stay with me tonight." Her skin was cool beneath his hands, and he tucked her under the blankets in the warm spot where he'd been laying, dousing the bedside light with a muttered "nox" before he slid into the other side of the bed, moving over immediately to pull her into his arms. A tiny smile snuck through his worry as Pea burrowed under the duvet to curl up against Katie. Brushing a kiss across her forehead, he promised quietly, "We'll talk about the owls in the morning."

Fred's arms around her, the smell of him in the blankets, on the pillow were already pulling her towards sleep. He was safe, warm, hers. Snuggling against him, even as Pea cuddled into her side, Katie's eyes fluttered shut, bad memories unable to push through. She heard his words like they were far away and replied, "okay," on a soft exhale of breath against his chest before she was asleep again.

Stroking Katie's hair as he felt her breathing go slow and even, Fred smiled against her temple, whispering, "Sleep, princess. I'll guard your dreams until morning." He knew she wouldn't hear, but it didn't matter.


[Summary: Katie has nightmares prompted by worry for Greg, and Fred's there to chase them all away.]