Chapter 4: Making It Work

When Ginny returned to her office after lunch the next afternoon, she stopped half way to her desk. Sitting in the middle of her calendar pad was a beautiful cut-glass vase containing half a dozen large, gorgeous yellow peonies. A smile slowly spread across her face as she approached her work station. Already the air was redolent with the sweet, delicate scent of her favorite flowers.

She sat in her chair and wheeled up to her desk, her fingers touching the creamy petals. You did good, Potter, she addressed him mentally. Digging into her shoulder bag, she pulled

out her call phone and quickly keyed in, Love the peonies. Thank you, and added an emoticon of a flower. Then she sent the text on its way.

Very quickly she received an answer – a winking face blowing a kiss.

She sat back in her chair and just gazed at the vase and its contents. In the eight-plus months before their break-up, Harry hadn't sent her flowers even once.

The ringing of her desk phone broke into her reverie. With a quiet sigh, she moved the vase to the credenza next to the desk and picked up the phone receiver. Time to get back to work.

By the time five o'clock rolled around, Ginny was more than ready to leave for the day. It had been a hectic afternoon, with one call coming in almost as soon as she had taken care of a previous customer. She took one last sniff of the peonies' delicate, rose-like scent. At the door she looked one last time at the bouquet before pulling her office door shut.

Gloria Stevens, CHR's office administrator, was locking her desk as Ginny walked through. "Busy afternoon, yeah?" Gloria had poked her head into the redhead's office a couple times only to find the receiver stuck to Ginny's ear.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "And then some!"

"So who was your benefactor?" Gloria inquired.

Ginny didn't pretend to not know what Gloria meant. "Oh, uh, Harry and I got back together this weekend."

Gloria hadn't known much about Ginny's relationship with Harry beyond his name, that they'd broken up at the beginning of the summer, and that the younger girl had seemed devastated by the break up.

"Aw, isn't love grand?"

"Who said anything about love?" Ginny immediately replied, though she felt a bit of the mortar in the wall she built between her and Harry weaken.

"Honey," Gloria responded pertly, "when a guy goes to the trouble to find out-of-season flowers that not every florist carries in season, that's gotta be love."

"Well, I let him know he was going to have to grovel."

"So far, so good, I'd say."

The two women were now walking through the company car park, with Gloria reaching her car first. Bidding each other cheerful good-nights, the women parted, with Ginny continuing on to her auto. She settled into the driver's seat behind the wheel, buckled up, and turned the ignition. Pulling into traffic, she had to laugh – the deejay on her favorite station had just cued Harry's song, "Stay." It seemed a good omen.

She hadn't been home five minutes before her phone rang, and it was Harry calling. After exchanging 'hello's' and 'how are you's,' she said, "The peonies you sent me are brightening up my office and making it smell heavenly. Thank you."

The smile on his face was almost audible. "I'm glad you like them. I wondered if you'd leave them there or take them home."

"Since I spend so much of my waking time there, I'll leave them until Friday. They're really pretty."

"Not as pretty as you are," he told her earnestly, and she struggled to suppress a smile; somehow he managed to pull off the slight cheesiness believably. "I was wondering if you would have dinner with me?"

"That sounds nice. What time shall I be ready?"

"Erm, twenty minutes from now?"

She agreed, and as soon as they hung up, she set about changing into something more casual, which took longer than it should have because she couldn't decide what to wear, then brushing her teeth, refreshing her make up, and combing her hair. When Harry knocked on her door, she grabbed her jacket and shoulder bag and practically skipped down the stairs, telling herself that she was just happy not to have to cook; she refused to acknowledge that nagging thought that her happiness had much more to do with Harry.

Harry's eyes feasted on Ginny when she opened the door. She looked so lovely, her glorious red hair streaming down her back. Her jacket hung open revealing a vibrant blue jumper over denims that were tucked into brown wedge-heeled boots. "I'm starving," she greeted him, willing her eyes not to roam anywhere below his neck.

"That's good," he assured her. "We're going back to Franco's if that's okay." Franco's had been a favorite of theirs when they dated earlier in the year.

"Brilliant," she declared as she buttoned several buttons on the jacket. She locked the door before leaving the porch at his side.

Over dinner he told her, "I searched all over Manchester and finally, just before we talked on the phone, signed a rental agreement." He mentioned that he'd leased his new flat from its absent owner, adding where it was and that he was able to add her name to the access list. The flat came furnished, so all he needed to do was transport his personal items. He told her further that he'd be leaving Wednesday morning, 'relatively early' so it wouldn't be too late when he returned, in order to get what he needed and have a practice session. "If all goes to plan, maybe we can go out Wednesday evening?"

She smiled easily at him. "Why don't you text me when you're ready to leave there and you can let me know whether you're up to it?"

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Tell me about your flat," Ginny invited.

Harry said it had two bedrooms with a bathing room for each bedroom. There was a fireplace in the lounge and a balcony on the front of the flat. It was on the fourth floor accessible by a lift.

"I would hope so," she laughed, "unless you plan on getting lots of exercise."

"Only on days when it rains too badly to go for a run." He smiled when she looked impressed.

"So you go running every day?"

"Not every day, but most."

"I'm a real slug compared to you," she confessed, wondering how she didn't know this about him.

"Maybe you'll have to start running with me."

"Maybe," she said, noncommittally. "I'm more of a yoga girl."

They chatted for a bit after they finished dinner; then Ginny looked at her watch and sighed with regret. "I'm afraid it's time for me to get back home."

"No pudding?" he tempted her.

She frowned. "Not for me, especially not with you telling me how much exercise you get."

Harry helped her with her jacket, left a nice tip for their waitress, and paid their tab at the register before they walked hand-in-hand back to his car.

At her place Harry accompanied her inside just to the bottom of the staircase. "Shall I bring Thai take away tomorrow evening?"

She nodded. "Same time as tonight?"

Harry agreed. As on the previous night, she went up on tiptoe and brushed his cheek with a kiss.

That week they got together four of the five weeknights – Wednesday evening she told Harry that she would fix bangers and mash when he called at half three to inform her he was leaving Bristol; Thursday evening was the only one where Ginny was feeling too stressed and tired from her workday and wanted an early evening. She also wanted to test his response to her decision. Harry was disappointed but understanding. Ginny continued to be standoffish as far as physical displays of affection went. Otherwise, she appeared open to Harry, and they laughed and exchanged talk about their days, current events, as well as Nev, Hannah, and the other men and women who worked with Harry.

It wasn't until the second weekend in October that Ginny allowed things to progress – or rather, revert to what had been in June. Harry told Ginny he would cook for her that Sunday evening, but wanted to spend as much of the day with her as possible since his concert Saturday evening precluded them from seeing each other that day. He offered to pick her up for church that morning, take her out for breakfast, take in a matinee, and then they could head to his flat where he would fix their meal. She liked what he'd planned and agreed. The only problem was, there was nothing showing that either of them wanted to see. Instead they went back to his flat and watched television whilst playing cribbage. He'd decided to make stuffed pork chops with roasted artichoke hearts and brown rice. Late in the afternoon he excused himself for a bit to prepare the pork chops and artichoke hearts for the oven. He put the chops into the oven with a timer that would alert him when it was time to put the artichoke hearts in, too, and when the rice needed to be started. Then he went back to Ginny and the game they were knee deep in.

They sat down to dinner at half six, and everything was delicious. They'd talked whilst playing cribbage but still found things to talk about over dinner. It had been this way from the beginning, their relationship an even, comfortable flow aside from the heady feeling when things progressed in other areas. Afterwards Harry cleared up, steadfastly refusing to allow Ginny to do anything.

"You're spoiling me, you know."

"And I'll keep doing it until you tell me you're sick of it," he told her with a grin.

"Not going to happen," she warned him playfully.

At nine o'clock Ginny reluctantly told Harry she needed to get back home. She, after all, had an office job and needed to be there on time.

Harry ran his fingers through his hair, just as reluctant to bring the day to an end. "I've really enjoyed the day."

"Me, too, Harry. You're a great host … and cook! I wish I could stay longer."

Harry started to say something but held his tongue. They weren't yet back to where they had been when he foolishly stepped away from the best relationship he'd ever had. He suspected if this reunion with Ginny didn't work, he wouldn't have another any better. Silently he helped her with her jacket and they made their way down to his car.

They traveled to Ginny's mostly in silence. Harry wished he knew what she was thinking and wondered if things would get any better between them. He was beginning to feel more like one of her brothers rather than a love interest. Okay, siblings didn't hold hands, at least not at their age, but they didn't do anything more than peck each other's cheek, either. Maybe forgiveness could only go so far. Maybe she'd really moved on.

At Ginny's place Harry parallel parked, got out, and went around to her side of the car. She waited for him to open her door, something she didn't ordinarily do. Harry took her hand to help her out, and she continued to hold it. As they walked the pavement, fallen leaves crunched under their feet.

Ginny was feeling very mellow. Today was the longest unbroken time they'd had together, and it reminded her of what was so good about their relationship – or at least, part of what was so good. She peeked at Harry from the corner of her eye. He seemed deep in thought. Her heart swelled. He was being very patient with her. She ignored the voice that said, After what he did, he needs to be.

He waited whilst she unlocked the door and was set to turn away when she surprised him by inviting him in. "Don't you have things you need to do before you turn in?"

"Yes," she admitted, "but that doesn't mean we can't have one last cuppa together."

Perhaps she wants our day together to last longer as much as I do. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and stepped inside, following her up the stairs.

Over tea they talked about the possibilities for getting together during the coming week. Harry planned to drive down to Bristol Tuesday and Thursday for some practice sessions ahead of a concert Saturday afternoon in Wales, but he still hoped to get together with her those evenings and all the others in the week. Ginny acquiesced with reservations – if he was too tired after returning either day or her work schedule was too hectic, they could call it off.

"I was thinking I could pick up a pizza on my way home from work tomorrow. There's that new place that will make them to order but customers take them home to bake them."

"That has possibilities," Harry agreed. "I like –"

"Sausage, mushrooms, and green peppers," Ginny finished for him. "I'll make sure half of it's done that way."

Though he was impressed and gratified that she remembered his favorite toppings, he didn't say anything more than, "Half five then?" He placed his empty cup back on the saucer and rose.

"Give me an additional fifteen minutes, just in case there's a line at the place. If traffic's bad just wait for me and I'll be here as soon as I can."

She accompanied him down the stairs, and he decided to try to move things along a little further. She was standing up one stair from him; he moved closer to her and put his arms around her waist, giving her a brief hug and dropping a kiss on her lips.

He put his hand on the doorknob, intending to leave then, but her hand on his arm stopped him. "Harry, thank you for the day. It was … very, very nice."

Turning back to her, he closed the little distance between them and with one arm gathered her even closer than before, her acceptance of his previous kiss making him optimistic. Bold even. The fingers of his other hand slid through the long, satiny tresses of her hair, causing their wild flower scent to fragrance the air around them, and cupped the back of her neck. Slowly, giving her time to stop him if she still thought this was too early, he brought her face toward his. When she didn't protest, instead sliding her arms onto his chest, he covered her waiting, slightly parted lips with his and slipped his tongue inside. Her breasts pressed against his chest when she inhaled with pleasure, Ginny sorely tried his resolve to keep his hands from wandering

Ginny's hands crept up to Harry's shoulders and her arms wrapped around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Her blood was sizzling in her veins, her heart pounding in her chest. Too soon he stepped back from her, both of them struggling to breathe.

She looked at him bemusedly. "Can I ask you something?"

When he nodded, she questioned, "That ex-girlfriend of yours, is she why you've never, erm …." She was too embarrassed to go on.

Fortunately, Harry seemed to be on her wave length. "Tried to get you into bed?"

She made a noise of agreement.

"That's a part of it. I didn't know whether you were protected, and I don't carry any so I have to control … myself, even when I don't particularly want to." He rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. "You are … you tempt me mightily. I've been trying to stay on my best behavior but I have to tell you it's really … difficult."

Ginny swallowed and her voice became softer. "I wondered, when you quit calling, if there was someone else, or if you didn't desire me, if that was the reason."

"Oh, God, no. I mean, no, that was the furthest thing from my mind. I desired – desire – you too much for my peace of mind." To reassure her he did the only thing he could think of at the moment, bringing her back into the circle of his arms for more, passionate snogging. As close as they were, it was easy to feel what their snogging did to him. "You see?" His voice was husky.

Her body was tingling all over; she ignored it so they could finish this conversation. "I just wasn't sure if that was just because we kissed or if you … wanted me … even before we kissed."

"Yes. Even before. All the time." Mindful of how late it was becoming, he pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'd like to continue this – the talking and the snogging – but you have to work in the morning." His curled forefinger caressed her cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow." A much-heartened Harry returned home, anxious to see what the new week would bring.

Ginny locked the door, and as she climbed the stairs touched her lips with her finger tips. Mercy, the man's still got the touch. Why in the world has it taken me this long to allow him to kiss me like that again? Just thinking about him gave her a rush. As she slipped beneath the duvet she thought about their conversation, what she'd revealed about herself and whether she made herself too vulnerable. How was he going to react to her admissions when he'd had time to think about them? Much as she'd rather have skipped over their lost summer, Ginny was glad they'd been forced to talk things out. Since reuniting, she couldn't help but notice each of them had begun being more open and honest. It was unsettling, surely, to let someone in but despite his failings, Ginny still thought Harry was worth the risk.

For the next week Harry kept himself in check. He felt there was too much at stake for him to push her and was content with the snogging she allowed. But, bloody hell, she sure can kiss. I love that woman. One day soon I'm going to tell her again, he promised himself.

Another week went by. She hadn't broken a date since the middle of September. Dare he hope he was winning her back?

At the end of October Harry had two concerts in Scotland, one on Friday evening and the other Sunday afternoon. She made plans to go home for the weekend; she hadn't seen her family since she and Harry began dating again in September. She felt it was an expedient time to go and made arrangements with Alfie Collins to leave mid-afternoon Friday so she could get to Ottery St. Mary by eight.

It was a relaxing, rare weekend when none of her brothers were expected at the homestead. Harry called around ten Saturday morning, and she excused herself to her Mum and disappeared to her old room to talk with him. After their conversation concluded she went back downstairs, and she confided to her Mum that she and Harry had renewed their relationship. When Molly Weasley's brows rose Ginny, despite her disinclination to reveal much more about it, knew what she was asking and assured her that she was making sure they took things slowly. Molly was very relieved to hear it, relaxing back in her seat, and didn't press for any more information than that.

They spent a lot of time in the kitchen Saturday baking biscuits – shortbread, oatmeal, lemon, and treacle. She packed half a dozen of each in a tin to take home with her, wanting to give Harry some. That evening she helped her Mum make shepherd's pie, part of her amused that she enjoyed the process so much now when as a pre-teen and teenager she'd whinged about having to help. She smiled at remembering how much Harry enjoyed the pie she baked the day she agreed to begin seeing him again.

Harry was most appreciative of the biscuits, particularly the treacle biscuits, when they saw each other Monday evening. He picked up a curry for their dinner and met her at her place, immediately giving her a hug and telling her he'd missed her. He asked about her weekend and listened attentively, mentally filing away comments she made about her home and especially her parents. Once clean-up was accomplished, Harry folded his dish towel and hung it on a rack before leaning against the bench and slowly, gently pulling her into his arms.

She stepped between his spread legs and allowed him to kiss her, opening her mouth to his and participating fully and enthusiastically as his lips caressed hers. After a time, their lungs about to explode, their mouths had to part so they could gulp in oxygen. Even with ragged breath, though, Harry pushed her beautiful red hair away from her face so he could forge a trail of kisses from her jawline to her ear where he traced the inside of it and tongued her lobe. She shivered and moaned from the delicious feelings he stirred inside her. Then his lips continued the path down her neck, kissing and tasting it with tiny flicks of his tongue. "Harry," she moaned softly. Her hands moved restlessly from his chest to his back, caressing the length and breadth of it, her nerve endings overwhelmed by all the sensations tingling through her body, overwhelmed by Harry. .

It was all wonderful, but now she wanted, needed, his mouth on hers. She tugged his face back up to hers, slamming her mouth against his, her tongue surging into the recesses of his mouth.

Harry couldn't remember ever being so aroused before, and certainly not with Destiny. Ginny was temptation personified, and every touch inflamed him. Their kisses, her body pressing against his, her hands on his back and in his hair, all combined to make him feel as if he was melting. He felt like he'd awakened a sleeping tigress and, oh, did he want more. Much more.

Air quickly became an urgent need once again, and with their lips and tongues no longer tangling sanity returned. His arms enfolded her, his hand held her head against his chest, and his chin rested lightly atop the crown of her head. "Ginny," he rasped, "we need to stop. God knows it's the last thing I want, but we need to stop." He kissed her hair, a poor substitute, lovely as it was, for her mouth.

She nodded, the friction of her head moving across his chest making his decision harder to follow through on.

"Oh, Sweetheart, I want you so badly," he whispered, unaware that he was actually speaking until she answered him.

"I noticed," she murmured in reply, not meaning to be funny, but it brought an amused smile to Harry's face.

"Minx." There was a wealth of affection in his voice.

"Tease. You're altogether too good at this, you know."

"I'm flattered you think so."

She was silent a moment. "I know you've got to go, but could you stay a little longer and just hold me?"

"Your wish is my command." I'll stay forever if you want me to.

Her whole body was tingling. I wish you could stay the night and just hold me.

Ten minutes and a short, light kiss later that left both wanting more, she was alone.

November arrived and flowed into December. Harry continued to want to see her every evening she made herself available for him, which was the vast majority of them. With Christmas closing in, his last concert of the year was in Dublin, and he invited Ginny to accompany him. She accepted, choosing to sit amongst the concert-goers rather than 'be in the way' backstage. Since it was a mid-day concert, they were able to make it back to Manchester instead of having to spend the night in a hotel, though the crew would stay over after breaking down and packing. It would have been a long day for them to take the ferry and drive back to Bristol.

Ginny was pleased with how well things had gone in the three plus months since she and Harry had reunited. He was as attentive as she could wish, fixing dinner for her at least once each week, taking her to dinner or taking dinner to her, sending her flowers, running errands for her whilst she was working. She smirked at that thought. He does that as much for himself as for me since it gives us more time to spend together. She had been to his flat a number of times, Harry picking her up at work and afterward toting her home. When that happened, he would get up the next morning to take her in. Always he was the gentleman, never pushing her further than she wanted to go.

Christmas was very quickly approaching, and she was racking her brains to come up with an idea for a gift for him.

What do you get for the guy who has just about everything? She didn't know his sizes but would've felt awkward buying him clothing anyway. After purchasing a nice pair of rabbit-lined leather gloves she decided to follow the old motto, "The way to a bloke's heart is through his stomach," and the rest of his gift was foods made with his favorite ingredient – treacle.

Saturday afternoon, after spending much of the morning debating with herself, Ginny took out her cookbook and baked treacle tarts, biscuits, and toffee for Harry. The toffee would keep stored in a tightly-covered tin, but she froze the biscuits and tarts since they planned to exchange gifts the evening of the twenty-third; Ginny was going home to Devon Christmas Eve. To cover what she'd been doing, she also made a treacle pudding for him for that evening. As soon as she opened the door for Harry Saturday evening, he began to grin. "I smell treacle!"

She laughed. "Can't put anything by you, can I? We'll have it for dessert when we get back from the cinema."

Harry pouted. "You are a hard-hearted woman, making me wait through dinner and a film!"

"C'mon, you baby," she chivvied him. "Sooner we leave the sooner we get back."

Three and a half hours later she unlocked the door for them on their return.

"If I wasn't such a gentleman, I'd race you to the treacle," he told her, shutting the door behind him, blocking out the cold wind.

"You've no idea where I put it, so there's no profit in that." The smile in her sapphire-colored eyes warmed him.

"There's that," he agreed and followed sedately behind her. The best part about it was he was able to watch her climb the stairs, her shapely legs encased in nylons, her jacket short enough to show her full skirt swaying with each step she took. Bloody hell, she's killing me and she doesn't even know it, he thought with an appreciative grin.

He enjoyed the dessert so much he had a second helping and would have had a third except for being so full from dinner. Setting his spoon carefully on table, he patted his belly. "When you feed me like that it's no wonder I love you."

She stared at him, gobsmacked. Realizing what he had confessed, he sat stock still.

"What did you say?"

"What do you think I said?" he countered.

"Don't play games!" She was a little angry that he hadn't just answered her.

He stood up and took her by the hand, pulling her up into the circle of his arms so she melted ever so slightly into his chest. "I said I love you. When I told you that when we first got back together, you made it clear you didn't want to hear it. I wasn't going to tell you again, just yet, because I was afraid you wouldn't believe me. It just slipped out."

"Do you mean it?"

"Very much so. I told you that the night we met up again," he repeated. "That's why I wanted you back so badly. When I … left you, it was because the intensity of my feelings for you terrified me. Once I came to terms with the reality of just how much I love you I was disturbed, to put it mildly. I thought I'd blown the best part of my life. Then you came back into my life when I least expected it, and I was afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. You didn't trust me, and rightfully so. You didn't believe me before so I decided to wait a while."

Ginny cupped the back of his head and brought his face close to hers. "You're probably right, but since then you've eased my heart." She pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him with everything she felt for him behind it, hoping he would understand what she couldn't yet put into words.

When their broke apart, he held her close to him, smelling her fragrant hair and relishing the feeling of her body against his. "I do love you, Ginny. I think I always will."

The sincerity in his voice brought tears to her eyes and she didn't think she could hold the sentiment back any longer. "I … ditto, Harry," she said, at the last moment unable to say the exact words or hold back the grimace at her poorly worded substitute.

Harry seemed disappointed that she hadn't expressed her emotions better but accepted it. "I know I hurt you very badly, Ginny, but I've been trying to let you see how much you mean to me. I thought you knew what I wasn't saying." He brushed aside the single tear that streaked down her cheek. "I wish I could turn back the clock and redo that time. I never would have left you."

Wordlessly she nodded. Harry held her closely, burying his face in the red cloud of her hair, breathing in her scent, departing shortly after that, taking the rest of the pudding with him and assuring her he would be by to take her to church no later than eight the next morning.

Over breakfast Sunday Ginny brought up her plans for Christmas Day, reminding him that Collins, Hollis, and Rollins were closing their office Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and that she planned to travel down to Devon the afternoon of Christmas Eve so she could go to Midnight Mass with her parents. "I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?" She held her breath, not knowing how he would answer but hoping he would say yes.

Harry's hand raising a forkful of scrambled eggs arrested in mid motion. "Is it okay with them if I do?"

"Yes. Mum's a night owl, so I called her last night. She and Daddy are fine with it. There's plenty of room for you – heavens, they have six bedrooms!"

"Six? Really?"

"Yeah – you do remember I have six brothers, right? Bill and Charlie shared a room and the twins, of course, shared one. The other three of us had our own rooms. There was just too much age different between Percy and Ron to make them share, Mum said, and, of course, being the only girl, I had to have my own. Bill and his wife will be with her parents this Christmas and the other boys live close enough to stay in their own homes Christmas Eve."

"Will they go to Midnight Mass, too?"

"No. Charlie and the twins will go Christmas morning, but Percy and Ron don't attend church. It gives Mum heartburn."

Harry couldn't help laughing at that. "Then I'd love to have Christmas with you and your family." He covered her hand with his. "Thank you for asking me. This means a lot to me."

"Christmas wouldn't be as enjoyable without you there," she replied simply and Harry's heart stuttered. "I'll call Mum later and let her know you'll be there."

"When do you figure to come back to Manchester?"

Ginny thought that an odd question. "Christmas evening. We have Christmas dinner early in the afternoon. I thought I told you that. I'm taking off the rest of the week, through New Year's, but Mum and I would go spare if we had to spend all that time together with nothing specific planned. She'll be roping me into knitting or pushing me to look through Auntie Muriel's old clothes and take some home." She grinned when Harry laughed. "As if!"

Still grinning, Harry suggested, "Since we'll be going and coming back at the same time why don't I drive us and you can navigate?"

"Sounds wonderful!"

"Ah, now your plan is revealed!" he teased her. "You just want to be chauffeured."

She snapped her fingers together. "Alas, you've seen through my plot."

AN: Once again, thank you to gryffindormischief for her wonderful work as Beta on this chapter! Thanks, too, to all of you who read and especially review the chapters!