*****2 June 1998*****

"Dad, this is ridiculous. And Megan's agreed to this?"

"Agreed? Lad, her parents have insisted. Think of it as a lesson learned."

"Lesson learned? Dad, I'm only 18. It's the rest of my life. I hadn't planned –"

"Which you should have thought about before you went and put your –"

"I didn't. You're not listening to a word I've been saying. I've already told you –"

"So are you saying Zacharias, that this Jones girl is lying – that her baby is not your baby? Because if that's the case, the remedy is simple. You wash your hands of this girl and her baby –"

"No! You don't understand. I don't understand."

"Zacharias." He put his hand on his son's shoulder, and Zacharias looked up at him. "Is this child yours? Or are you trying to protect her reputation at the expense of your own? You said yourself that you stopped dating after the Easter holidays. She could have been with another boy between that time and now. You could say –"

"No! I refuse to believe that." Zach stood up and looked into his father's eyes, thinking about the hurt that came over Megan's face when he accused her of just that. That would always haunt him. "No. It's my baby. I'm sure."

"Glad that's settled. We'll meet the Jones' at the Ministry in the morning. You should try and get a good night's sleep."

*****3 June 1998*****

Zacharias adjusted his tie in the grimy mirror. It was a dingy toilet and Zach looked down as he leaned his hands on the sink, brooding. The porcelain was cold beneath his palms and he looked into the mirror yet again. His hair was too long. He should have had it cut. Perhaps if he used a severing charm, it would look better. He wondered where Megan was waiting; what she was thinking. He hoped that it wasn't in a dirty loo. A girl's wedding day was supposed to be special. This wasn't what she deserved. After everything he'd done to her, and now this, it was no wonder she wasn't speaking to him. That didn't seem as though it would change any time soon either. The marriage would be official, but with his training about to begin, Megan would be staying with her parents. He thought that was mostly her decision to stay away from him.

He turned around and leaned back against the sink, arms folded over his chest. At least, he'd have a job to go along with his new found family. He was glad that Auror Robards agreed to let him start the Auror Academy in the next few days. They were short-staffed and Zacharias knew that he could do a good job if given the chance. He had heard that other DA members were joining up as well…but of course, he wasn't DA, was he? Megan's silence was only a reminder of that; of what he'd done; what he didn't do. He wasn't wrong. He knew that he wasn't wrong. Not about leaving. Just about Megan. He was certain that she'd follow him out; that she'd stand by him. She didn't. That hurt, but when Colin took it so personally and banned him from the DA, he effectively banned him from Megan. Zach didn't know if he could ever forgive Colin for that.

Well, he wasn't going to spend his morning here. This was like waiting for the hangman, and that wasn't the way he would start off his new life. He left the toilet in search of the office where he would be married. He saw his parents talking quietly at the end of the hall, and there was Mr. Jones, still looking formidable in his wheelchair. He made eye-contact with Zacharias. When he and Megan's step-Dad had ganged up on him the other morning, he felt like he'd been hexed seven ways to Sunday. He definitely didn't want to see either of them right now, so Zacharias ducked into what he thought was an empty office.

It wasn't empty.

Megan turned around at the sound of the door clicking closed and he stopped, staring at her. Her hair was pulled back in a single plait, but there was a strand that had fallen across her eyes. He wanted to pin it back behind her ear. She was wearing a pale yellow dress and her arms were bare and she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. He took a step towards her, needing suddenly to touch her.

"Megan," he started to say, reaching out his hand, but before he reached her she simply turned away; looking back towards the window. She didn't say a word to him.

Soon they were in the proper office, his family on one side, hers on the other. He smiled at her. She did not return it. There was a fog in his mind as they repeated what the Ministry clerk said to them. Zacharias held Megan's hand in his. He looked into her eyes, but quickly looked away. She was still full of anger, but her parents were even more insistent, if that were possible, than his that they marry and marry soon. He moved his thumb back and forth across hers as they said their vows that he would barely remember.

"Will you?"

"I will."

He chuckled inside as she hesitated when it came to her turn, needing the encouragement of her Mum. He had many regrets from the past three months, but this may have been the greatest one. She hadn't spoken to him since the Battle, but there was an underlying anger hanging in the air when they were in any room together.

"Zacharias?" The quiet voice brought Zach out of his memory; his regret and he looked at the Ministry official, who looked expectantly at him with an eager smile.

"You're married, Zacharias. Kiss your bride." Megan's fingers tightened on his hand. He was glad that he couldn't actually read her mind. She really was angry. He took one step forward, but stopped when he felt her flinch. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips – not too quick, but not lingering. He'd missed her so much and the taste of her lips brought it all back to him, but before he could say a word, she pulled out of his arms.

Megan crossed her arms and leaned against the door jamb. Zach stood nearby in almost an identical stance while their parents spoke. He glanced at Megan and she looked away quickly. He swallowed. She had been staring at him. Was that a good sign? Or was she plotting his death?

He unfolded his arms and walked over to her. She tried to back away, but was already against the door. He put his hands on her shoulders and moved them down slowly, caressing her bare arms. She looked away. He tilted his head as if to kiss her, but instead leaned his head against hers, kissing the side of her head, continuing to press his lips to her while he spoke.

"Meggie…I'm…I'm sorry – for this. I know you're angry…for a lot of reasons…and I know I have a lot to ask your forgiveness for, but…I love you Megan Jones. Smith. I have for a long time and I promise…I'll make this right for you." He kissed her again, softly, gently, and even though he wanted more, wanted to touch her skin under his fingertips, but instead respected her boundaries and he stepped away. When he turned back, she was watching him.

*****3 June 2003*****

Zacharias and Megan stood together in their garden. She was wearing the same yellow dress she had worn five years ago, the first time that they had been married. The biggest difference between this day and that, aside from their three children in attendance, was that she also wore a joyful smile when she looked at him. And she was speaking to him. This was the loveliest gift that her parents could have given them, well, in addition to minding the kids tonight so he and Megan could be alone for a few hours.

Minister Robards stood before them and Zach couldn't help it, but knew he was also grinning like an idiot. Megan's Mum was holding tiny Morag, barely two weeks old and he was overcome by emotion thinking about the last couple of weeks, simply happy that his kids were safe. Standing beside him, serving as best men, were Neville and Wayne, both looking older in their dress robes than their four and three years.

Megan stepped into Zacharias' arms and kissed him.

"Just a moment, Miss Jones," the Minister said with a slight laugh to his admonishment. "We're not up to that part yet."

Everyone laughed and the Minister continued, albeit briefly.

"Kiss your bride, Zacharias."

He took one step and when he put his hands gently on Megan's face, she grabbed his arms to pull him closer to the amusement of his fellow Aurors in the front row of chairs. As soon as his lips touched hers, he forgot about them, relishing in the softness, noticing how moist they were, how lovely they tasted. His hands left her face, going around her waist to pull her against his body tightly. He barely heard the low commentary from the row of Aurors, especially Callahan, and smoothed his hands flat across her back, dipping into her waist that was slowly returning. He might have gone lower, but he heard an "Oi" from the audience, and hoped that it wasn't one of their parents. They certainly got enough of the mickey taken out of them about their brood of children.

He slowly ended the kiss, licking his lips, looking into his wife's eyes, so pleased that she would get the wedding she deserved, even if it was a few years late.