Chapter 2:

She shivers, and not from the cold, as she steps inside the flat. She shuffles off the light snow from her boots and slowly removes her gray blanket scarf. It was an early winter. As she inches off the gloves from her hands a voice calls out from the living room. She walks towards him, avoiding eye contact and focusing on removing the rest of her outerwear. "It's midnight", he says matter of factly. "I know," Rose responds looking anywhere but at his eyes. "You said you'd tell me by now" he slowly draws out. "I know", guilt creeps up her spine. "It's been weeks," his voice is firmer now. "... I kn-" before she can make out the last two letters, he rushes up to her and grabs her by the shoulders. "Can you at least look at me when you're breaking my heart." His voice is calmer, than expected and that hurts more. He practically whispered it. She doesn't know why but she wishes he was yelling, anything to help release all the passive aggressiveness of this past month. She looks up at him. He was handsome, he was smart and kind and cared for her. They had been together through it all, from the day he asked her to the Yule Ball during their 7th year all those years ago. She gazed into his eyes and even after everything they went through ... she felt... empty. There was no spark, there was no fluttering, there was no deeper connection. She knew she loved him- loves him, but she couldn't help but wonder… was this a forever kind of love? She knew she should be with him. She knew he was the ideal, she felt ashamed of herself for even thinking that, but it was true. Her family, and friends they all expected them to be together. She just thought about her cousin Dom, gushing about how lucky she was. His face was structured almost too flawlessly. His hair was as dark as ever, and so were his eyes. He was so much taller than her that her neck felt stiff trying to meet his gaze. Both of them were on the verge of crying.

"I don't know...do you ever think that maybe… maybe we rushed-," she regretted saying that as soon as it escaped her lips, but it was too late. "RUSHED?" That's the yelling she thought she had wanted. "We've been together for YEARS! How is any of this rushed? Was there no endgame in mind? Did you ever even think any of this was REAL?" He growled. He wasn't like this, at least not around her. She could see the pent up frustration set off like a fuse. "Elliott, I didn't mean that, I just think that-," He interrupted her again. "What do you think, huh Rose?" His hands dropped to his sides. "You know what today was? It's the 19th. It's our 5th." She blinked slowly, realizing, that if you count the time they first started talking it was practically six, that's like Hogwarts all over again. "Last night," she slipped out. "What?" "It's 1:06 in the morning, our anniversary was last night, and I'm so-s-so-sssorry." The last words came out shaky, her voice heavy, and tears hot and ready to pour. She bit her lip trying to stop the emotions. She was terrible for forgetting, and she was terrible for not giving him an answer. But most of all, she was terrible for not talking about this a year and a half ago, when she had first started to question their relationship when they had agreed to move in together. It was little things. She didn't find his kisses quite as comforting anymore, the conversations felt more and more superficial, she just floated aimlessly at every holiday party. Dom and her other cousins would swiftly pull her aside, whispering excitedly and droning on about baby names and maids of honor. Everyone in her family married young, even her parents. The men would pretend not to notice, but would happily (and awkwardly) pat Elliots back as he beamed at the idea of the spotlight pinpointed on their love life. She found herself more and more attached to her work and less at the thought of coming home to her boyfriend.

He was busy himself but he always made time. As Quidditch Captain of the legendary Falmouth Falcons his days were equally as long and as exhausting but he was always there to owl off a lunch or portkey to the office to cheer her up. She had especially needed the day the news of her disastrous Auror Mission from the previous month leaked and made it's way to the front page of The Daily Prophet. She hated herself for not loving him the way he deserved, the way he should be appreciated. She suddenly noticed that they had been standing in silence for Gods know how long. She shook her head, tears suddenly making their way down her face. "I can't...I don't think we should… be... together." His eyes suddenly become twice the size, and he seizes up her shoulders again. "WHAT? NO ROSE. If you don't want to marry me that's fine, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pressure you, I just, I just wanted to… Oh my Gods, I can't believe this… here I was thinking you didn't want to be a bride just yet, but this? You don't love me anymore?" She just continues to shake her head and shuts her eyes. She can't look at this, at his perfect self. His hands make their way to her face and he's so close.

"Please… five years? Did it.. mean anything?" Her eyes fly open. She grabs his elbow with one hand, and strokes his face with the other, brushing the hair out his eyes. "It did, it meant something...just not...everything." She couldn't hold back now. "We weren't living, we were just existing, tolerating each other. I think I always knew but you were just so wonderful to me that I couldn't see it for what it was. And believe me, you are wonderful. You deserve someone like you, the one who wants the gown and the flowers and the tons of babies. The one that wants it all... with you. You're so good to me. And I will always love you, but just think to yourself, don't tell me you haven't felt the same way, I know you must have. Were we ever really… happy? Genuinely?" He stares intently into her eyes, his own puffy and red from trying to regain control of his emotions.

"Gen-uine-ly," he sounds out every word and bites his lip. "Look", he begins regaining his composure. "- Maybe we weren't perfect, but I can't imagine...I can't… WE can't give up on this." His expression looks lost and confused. She shakes her head and plants a soft kiss on his cheek. His face turns cold and he backs away, "unless… it seems like you already have." He looks away, arms folded across his chest. She sighs, guilt flutters across her. Was she being selfish? Was it wrong for her to want the best for both of them? She shook her head and pulls out her wand. Elliot steps a foot back as if she is going to hex him. She mutters some incantations and her personal belongings from all around the house come floating into her tiny work bag. Soon her bag is unnoticeably full with a pair of clothes, and anything else she'll need for a couple nights. The rest of her stuff is magically packed into suitcases and boxes against the back wall of their dining room.

Elliot eyes, the noticeably emptier looking flat. After what seemed like hours, yet could only have been minutes, he asks, "Where will you go?" She doesn't have an answer but manages to speak, "I have a place, I'll be back for my bigger stuff soon. I'll come when you're at work so you don't have to… you know." She's holding her breath. "You may not believe in us… but I always will." He says firmly still looking away. Rose sighs and walks out of more than just her apartment and into the dead night.