This was written for my wonderful daddy on his birthday.
"I love you Daddy!" four year old Ginny Weasley giggled as she was being tucked in for the night. Her bright red hair almost too noticeable on the white sheets. She was jealous her six older brothers; who got to stay up much later than her and this is how her days often ended. With her dad, giggling, as she climbed into bed.
He kissed her forehead, "Now and forever," he agreed.
Ginny was still young and didn't know the power of those three words. She did knew they made her special and meant she was loved.
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny called from the moving train. She was off to Hogwarts for the very first time. Knowing she wouldn't see him again until Christmas upset her. The train was too loud for her to hear it but she saw her father's lips form the words, "Now and forever."
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny said through the tears. That little giggling four year old was now fourteen. She didn't feel much like giggling now; she had just been dumped by her boyfriend.
Her father wiped away a tear with his finger as he said the second half of their ritual, "Now and forever."
Ginny now knew what those words meant but didn't see the depth of them and often took them took them for granitite.
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny said, her head resting on Arthur's shoulder. The war was over. Fred was dead. Her father was the only person who could reassure her now.
Arthur's thoughts turned to Fred who, even now in death, would be loved forever. No one could forget him. Arthur smoothed Ginny's hair and reminded her, "Now and forever." He knew this would bring her even closer to understanding the concept of loving forever because she would. She, and the rest of their family, would love Fred forever.
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny, all dressed in white, said as her father walked her down the isle.
When they reached Harry, Arthur put Ginny's hand in Harry's whispering back, "Now and forever."
Ginny still did not fully understand the concept of forever. She did know it was a long time to love someone.
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny, whose face was now wrinkled with age, murmured as she tossed the final flower on her father's grave. There was no one there to say "now and forever."
Even though her father was dead she knew that their love was forever. She was now old enough to know that.
--
"I love you Daddy," Ginny, old and worn, whispered with her dying breath. No one but her only son know why she said this. Her father had passed on long before her.
Her son squeezed her hand saying, "Now and forever."
Ginny finally understood the concept of loving forever. And she knew that her father was waiting for her in heaven, with his loving arms open wide, waiting to complete the sentence once more.
"I love you Daddy, now and forever."
A/N: Please review. It is my first (completed) fic. I welcome all comments but love a nice rounded critic.