A/N: It's so funny reading some of the review you leave us! Thanks for them. This is the last chapter. We write as inspiration strikes and as of now, this story is done. We can't deny nor confirm there will be a smutty epilogue. We're working on something h/f, but we don't know if it will fall into place with this one or become a one-shot or another multi-chapter story. We usually write several times a week without plans in mind. Things just flow naturally and that's the way we like it. For now, though, we're glad you enjoyed this one and we loved sharing it with you all. Let us know what you think!

Chapter 4

Hermione, meanwhile, had only been able to stare, dumbfounded, as Fleur walked away. She was completely taken aback; she never would have imagined that the other woman had felt the same pull she had been feeling.

Though this made some things easier, it also made some other things harder. Fleur had a point, this was a precarious position, but Hermione would never dream of letting her resign. The blonde was too good at her job, and there was no one else that could be trusted the way she was.

She wasn't sure if she should go after her immediately; maybe Fleur would want some space to think about it. Even though her head wasn't sure, her instincts told her to run, not walk, after her.

Striding quickly to the patio, she found Fleur leaning on the rail, head bowed. The blonde was probably deep in thought, and Hermione didn't want to startle her. She leaned against the doorway to the patio, wrapping her arms around her to keep her warm. She was only wearing a tank top and her underwear, and it was a little chilly, twenty stories above the city.

"Fleur," she said carefully, "I know exactly what you mean. I've been... feeling it too."

She inhaled deeply, holding her breath to wait for the blonde to turn around.

As Hermione spoke, Fleur's body trembled in relief. She feels the same, she thought in awe. Hermione feels the same way I do. Oh, Circe, what are we going to do now?

Turning around slowly, she let her eyes roam hungrily over her scantily clad body, lingering on her legs and imagining how they would feel wrapped around her. Shaking herself, she tried to concentrate on the issue at hand.

"You do?" she asked, seeking confirmation. "Because as wonderful as that is to 'ear, it also complicates things a little bit for us." She looked over Hermione's shoulder for a moment, lost in thought. "Although, things could keep going as they are, we can remain professional while working and explore the rest when we're on our own free time," she mused out loud.

Hermione felt Fleur's eyes on her, and couldn't help feel a small tug inside her, her organs twisting slightly at the look on the blonde's face. It was hungry, if she had to put a word on it, and she didn't know if she should be happy or not that she didn't put on pants before coming out here.

"I do," she said, voice surprisingly steady. "I do feel the same way."

She watched Fleur's eyes flicker to the side, her expression melting to thoughtful. "It may complicate things, yes," she acknowledged, "but I trust you, and I trust that you can remain professional when the situation calls for it."

"Of course I can remain professional. It's not like I want to stop working for you, 'Ermione. I truly enjoy my job," she assured the brunette.

She felt it was a bit safer to approach now, and she joined Fleur on the patio, not minding the fact she was dressed in little to nothing. They were twenty stories up, and Hermione had bathing suits that covered less than what she had on anyways. She slid up beside her; they were touching, shoulder to shoulder, but Hermione made no attempt to bring her closer. She looked out at the city for a moment, and she felt Fleur's body turn to face hers now.

As their shoulders brushed, Fleur relaxed even more. Not all was lost. They both felt the same way apparently, so it was just a matter of putting their heads together and figuring things out. She was sure they could do it.

Still looking out at the city, Hermione said, half to herself, "I have no idea how it happened either. One day everything was fine and the next I realized I don't know what I would do without you..." Straightening up, she looked at Fleur. "And I still don't know," she said softly. "What I do know, though, is that I need you."

"I don't know when it started for me, either. One moment I was admiring your intelligence, 'ow brilliant you were about everything you tried and the next thing I know, those feelings of admiration were morphing into something much bigger. It 'appened over time, slowly, and I didn't notice until recently," she explained, hoping Hermione could tell that what she was feeling had grown over time and wasn't likely to go away.

Smiling at her, she covered Hermione's hand on the railing. "I need you, too. So much it scares me sometimes, but I don't want to turn my back on it, or you, anymore." Looking away again, she took a shaky breath. "What do you want to do about it?"

Hermione felt Fleur's hand on top of hers, and she turned her own hand the other way so she could grasp it. Interlacing their fingers, she smiled at how well they fit together before looking at Fleur. The blonde was looking away, but Hermione knew Fleur would be listening.

She tried not to react outwardly when Hermione laced their fingers together, but inside, she was filled with joy. To her, this was a positive sign and she wished with all of her heart that they were able to come to a decision that would benefit both of them.

"It's clear we work well already," Hermione said slowly, wheels still turning in her mind, "so maybe... let's just see?"

"We do work very well together, 'Ermione. We complement each other perfectly. It's a good give and take, a nice balancing act with 'ow 'ectic your schedule can be." Smiling slightly, she nodded. "Oui, let's just see," she finished, repeating Hermione's statement.

What they would end up seeing she had no idea, but she hoped it was a bright future.

Silent for a moment, she watched Fleur watch the city below. She leaned in, kissing Fleur on the cheek to test the waters. "I don't know what to do, but I know I don't want to do anything without you."

The kiss and the statement that followed it melted Fleur into a puddle and she had to keep herself from just turning and kissing her. Where the sudden desire had come from, she had no idea, but it was there all the same. Instead, she nodded.

"I don't want to do anything without you, either, 'Ermione. Most of my life revolves around yours anyways, so it would seem odd to stop that now." Finally turning to look at her sideways, she smiled. "Would you like to spend the day with me exploring the city? I was given tickets to a couple of shows and we 'ave dinner reservations for tonight at a nice restaurant in Manhattan. Maybe we could consider it a sort of trial date?" she finished nervously.

Hermione's eyes finally met Fleur's, and she could see everything she had wanted see. Some optimism, a lot of caring, and just an undertone of desire that had her stomach swelling with butterflies. She knew, somehow, that this was going to work out, at least for now; it was just going to take a little time.

"It's not a sort of trial date, it's a date," she said, squeezing Fleur's hand softly. The two of them stayed like that a moment longer, before Hermione shivered. The morning was breezy, and it didn't help they were high up and hardly dressed either.

"Let's go inside and get ready," she suggested. "I want to explore with you."

She realized, a beat later, that her words had multiple meanings, but she meant every single one of them.

Amazed at all Hermione had said, she allowed the brunette to pull her into the room without much of a fight. A day of just exploring what the city had to offer without worrying about deadlines, meetings and people seemed almost too good to be true and she wasn't about to waste it.

"I like the way that sounds, ma chérie."

As they entered the room, Fleur let go of her hand and went for her suitcase. Opening it on top of the bed, she pulled out a pair of jeans, her favorite black flats and a white oxford shirt. Lacy, white lingerie was thrown on top of the outfit as she zipped the case back up and set it on the floor.

Looking towards Hermione, she noticed her eyes straying towards the lingerie and she smiled inwardly before picking up her things and heading towards the bathroom.

"I won't be long."

"Better not be," Hermione muttered as Fleur swept off. Now that she knew what Fleur was wearing under her clothes, the instinctual part of her wouldn't stop thinking about it.

-

The day started with the Natural History Museum, the two of them quietly walking through room after room of Muggle history. Somewhere in between the dinosaurs and the geological exhibit did their fingers find each other, but neither of them noticed until they had finished walking through the human origins exhibit when they tried to walk in opposite directions.

Both of them blushed slightly, but neither of them let go. By an unspoken agreement, they went to the right and continued on, still holding hands.

When they emerged from the building, it was a lot brighter. Hermione didn't know how much time they had spent in the museum, but she guessed it had been at least a couple hours. "Did you have anything in mind that you wanted to do next?"

Walking around the museum - holding hands with Hermione, no less - had been an incredible experience. She'd never seen anything like it, the exhibits so real it was hard to believe they wouldn't move at any moment. More than glad they had gone in, she smiled as they walked out. Lowering her sunglasses to shade her eyes from the bright sun, she looked across the entrance towards Central Park.

"We can walk in there for a bit. Maybe do that carriage ride? Or we can 'ead over to 42nd street and figure out if we want to catch the show we 'ave tickets for or see something else. As long as we're doing whatever together, I'm 'appy, 'Ermione."

Realizing she was sounding like a total sap, Fleur shut her mouth and smiled sheepishly at her companion as she started down the steps.

Hermione returned Fleur's small smile with one of her own. Everything was already so easy, so natural. She should've known that it'd be this way, since they were already seamless professionally.

"Let's go see what tickets we have? I'm curious," Hermione suggested. The two of them took a cab down, both of them looking out the windows at the sights they were passing by.

The cab ride seemed short, and before they knew it, they were at one of the many box offices, Hermione waiting patiently as Fleur insisted she look into the tickets herself. Loitering on the curb, she watched the hustle of the city.

Fleur enjoyed the cab ride, still surprised at how much she was enjoying being a Muggle. They really had some amazing things going for them. After insisting on picking up the tickets herself, she made the line, gave the attendant her name and she was given more choices than she had planned on getting. Not sure what to choose, she asked the lady to explain a little about each to her, trying to not sound like an idiot.

The moment the name Wicked was given and the mention of witches, she knew they would get a kick out of it and just told her she'd take that one. Since they had an hour to go before the show, she figured they'd have a small bite to eat before it started. Walking over to Hermione with a smile on her face she presented the tickets.

"You won't believe this, darling!" she started with a smile. "They 'ave a show about witches!"

Hermione laughed. "I can't wait to see what Muggles think of us," she said, lowly so they wouldn't be overheard. Louder, she added, "Sounds like it would be fun!" She took the tickets to see the name of the musical. Catching sight of the start time, she looked at her watch and realized that they had spent more time in the museum than she had previously thought.

"Why don't we go get something to eat? We don't have too long before show time," she suggested. The two of them walked up and down the street, looking at different hole-in-the-wall places and food carts before settling on grilled sandwiches from a food cart.

Somehow, in between wiping their hands and lining up for the show, their hands found each other again, and Hermione felt the butterflies in her stomach start to come alive again.

Had Fleur known things with Hermione would be so perfect, she would have confessed how she felt before now. They were so good together; walking around holding hands like it was the most natural thing in the world, falling flawlessly into their new role.

As they settled inside the theater, Fleur's hand moved to rest naturally on Hermione's thigh. "I 'ope you enjoy the show," she whispered in her ear before settling in to watch.

"I know I will," she said back before the lights dimmed.

As it turned out, it was very entertaining. She could hear Fleur scoff at Elphaba being green - "Silly Muggles," she had whispered into Hermione's ear - but in truth, she was close to snickering as well. All in all though, the musical was very entertaining.

Two and a half hours later, as the lights brightened again, Hermione blinked and turned to Fleur, smiling broadly. "That was really good," she said. She had been impressed with the talent, the Muggle effects, and the fact that she had completely forgotten about everything but the musical in front of her.

She stood, stretching, and held out a hand to Fleur to help her up. Squeezing her hand softly, she kept their hand holding up as they left the theatre. "What did you feel like doing now?" she asked. The sun was setting, but it was still warm, and the lights of the city made it still seem like daylight.

"That was wonderful," Fleur admitted as they walked out of the theater. "I never would 'ave imagined liking a Muggle musical so much, but I wouldn't mind watching another one!" Looking around them, she noticed more people were walking around than before and she didn't feel like going back to the hotel just yet. "'Ow about walking around this area and just checking things out? We'll grab dinner before 'eading back to the 'otel, 'ow's that?"

"That sounds good," Hermione agreed. "I could do with a meal." The two of them walked around in the direction of the hotel, waiting for something to catch their eye. The nice part of being on a vacation like this was the fact that there was no structure. They could do what they wanted, and to Hermione, that was the most relaxing thing in the world.

She squeezed Fleur's hand tighter as they walked. "I'm really glad you forced this vacation on me," she said, speaking loudly enough to be heard over the sounds of traffic and people. "I've never been so relaxed in my life."

Fleur, not giving a damn about the people around them, leaned closer and kissed her temple. "I'm glad I did this, too. Both of us needed the time away from work because it's been crazy as of late."

Spotting an art gallery as they walked down the sidewalk, Fleur pointed to it. "Can we go in 'ere for a bit? I wouldn't mind taking artwork back with me if I find something suitable."

At Hermione's nod, they walked in and Fleur was immediately drawn to the pencil sketches being displayed on one wall. "These are amazing," she gushed.

Most of them were of things you saw every day in the city: people walking their dogs, children playing in the park, couples walking hand in hand. She was especially drawn to one where two women were walking hand in hand, their backs to the person drawing them.

"I want that one. It will be my reminder of our first vacation together," she told Hermione as she looked around for the sales person.

Hermione eyed the sketch. It was strange; she could swear that the picture was of them. The taller woman had longer hair than the shorter, whose hair was a bit wilder, and she could just envision them being blonde and brunette, just like them.

Fleur was on the opposite side of the store, still looking for the sales person, when the associate in question ended up being right beside her. Purchasing it quickly, she took the rolled up sketch in the cardboard tube and walked to Fleur, who was walking towards her.

"Here you go," she said, handing her the tube with a kiss on the cheek. "All yours."

Fleur couldn't help the grin that stretched her lips as Hermione handed her the tube. "Merci! You're amazing, 'Ermione."

Taking her hand and walking out of the store after thanking the sales person, Fleur started walking in the direction of their hotel again. They stopped now and again to see something that called their attention, or to watch people. As they neared their hotel, Fleur caught sight of what appeared to be an Italian restaurant and pointed to it.

"I think this is where we 'ave dinner reservations."

The restaurant Fleur had pointed to looked perfect. Small and quaint, and just what she needed. "Looks good," she said, and she let Fleur lead the way in.

As they sat down, she couldn't help but notice how isolated the restaurant was, despite being on a busy street. The pace in here was like a snail's, compared to the hustle outside, and the dim lighting and soft music were perfectly relaxing. She felt like she was at the restaurant equivalent of a spa.

"Fleur, this is perfect," she said quietly, as to not disrupt the quiet atmosphere. "You're amazing."

Their meal was excellent and they spent the time talking about themselves. By some silent agreement, work was never a topic and they just enjoyed their time together. When it was time to pay, they were told the meal had been taken care of already, something Fleur hadn't known about. They were even given a complimentary bottle of wine to take with them.

Walking back out of the restaurant, their fingers intertwined once again as if by gravity alone and they walked at a slower pace back to their hotel. They were quite during the walk, each lost in their own thoughts, happy to be together.

In Fleur's mind, however, was the thought of what would happen next. She wasn't dropping Hermione off anywhere, so she had no real excuse to kiss her goodnight, but she wanted to. She wanted to know what she tasted like, if her lips were really as soft as they looked, what her response would be like to their kiss.

Lost in thought as she was, she was surprised when Hermione stopped walking and she was pulled back. Stopping and looking back, she noticed the little smirk on Hermione's face when she happened to look up and notice they were at the entrance to their hotel. Smiling sheepishly, she took a step back and walked over to the doorman, who was already holding the door open for them, a smile on his face.

"Evening, ladies. Looks like you had another long day, but a more relaxing one."

Fleur nodded. "Work is over, thankfully. The next couple of days are just for relaxing, 'Enry."

Four days in New York and she was already on a first name basis with their doorman.

Hermione was still smirking to herself when the two of them were waiting for the elevator. She knew Fleur had been lost in her little world, but so was she; she was just more observant. Everything had been flawless, and she knew that this was the way things were supposed to be.

She caught sight of both of them in the mirror next to the elevators; Fleur's eyes were sparkling, and she couldn't stop smiling. They looked happy and relaxed, again, the way things were supposed to be.

As they stepped into the elevator, a sudden thought struck Hermione. They were going to the same place. Sure, they could go through their night time routine of watching the Muggle news, reading, and showering before going to bed, but would Fleur want... more? She knew the blonde wouldn't force her into anything, but thinking about it …

While she wasn't a virgin, Hermione hadn't been with a woman before. She wasn't sure about Fleur; while the two were close, they respected each other's boundaries, and didn't just blurt out information that could be construed as an overshare. One of the things that could be an overshare seemed to be their sexual history. She wasn't sure how exactly to approach this.

You're thinking in circles again, her mind sing-songed at her.

As Fleur opened the door to their room, she told herself to just relax and if anything happened, well, it did. She wasn't going to go looking for anything or pushing for that matter. Their relationship – be it professional or friendship – seemed to fall into place naturally and there was no reason to upset that balance. She felt her shoulders ease with her decision and knew right away she had made the right one.

After putting the bottle of wine on the table, she turned and smiled at Hermione.

"Thank you for today, 'Ermione. I've 'ad a marvelous time and I'm really glad we did this. It was probably the best date I've ever 'ad, to be honest, and I'm glad it was with you."

Kissing her cheek tenderly, she walked into their room to look for her night clothes. She was in too good of a mood to ruin it by thinking ahead. She was just going to shower and hop into bed.

Whatever happened, it would happen unsurprisingly and because of the pull they had towards each other.

Hermione was not that surprised to hear Fleur praise their date; while it may have seemed cocky, she was pleased to hear that the blonde felt the same way she did about their date. She knew Fleur was going to get ready for bed - it had been a long day - but Hermione wasn't sleepy yet.

"Did you mind if I open the wine?" she called after Fleur's back.

Fleur looked over her shoulder and shook her head. "No, I don't mind. Go ahead and open it and I'll 'ave a glass when I come back."

Walking into the bathroom and closing the door softly behind her, she leaned her back against it and took a deep breath. It seemed Hermione wasn't ready to go to bed yet, which meant alone time together. While she had a pretty good handle on herself, with more wine flowing through their system, she might be more willing to kiss her.

Sighing softly, she undressed and showered, taking a little time to enjoy the water flowing down her body. When she was done, she dried herself before applying her lavender lotion on and putting on a tank top and a pair of very short boxers on. She had actually gone out to buy some pajamas and hadn't been able to resist the cute, pink and white stripped girl boxers. The white tank hugged her upper body and she was hoping Hermione would notice.

Stepping out of the steamy bathroom, she walked out into the sitting room and found Hermione standing by the balcony doors, looking out.

"Your turn," she called out quietly, as not to startle her.

With Fleur gone, Hermione uncorked the wine and poured herself a half-glass. Taking it to the balcony, she looked out the glass doors, her mind running through the day. Things had been flawless; the extended date had definitely been a good idea.

While musing over the day's perfection, she heard the door open and she turned to see Fleur standing in what appeared to be new pajamas. The tank top was tight, and Hermione found her eyes lingering an extra heartbeat before looking at her legs, looking miles long, unhidden.

Taking a long sip from her glass, she set it down on the table. "Thanks," she said. Fleur's skin looked soft from her shower, and she couldn't help but brush arms as she walked past her into the bathroom.

The mirror was still fogged, and Hermione charmed it clear while she got undressed. She couldn't help but look at herself, watching her eyes get brighter and the lines around her mouth relax as she thought more and more about the day. She didn't even know what Fleur had in mind for the rest of the night, and nor did she care. It would probably feel just as good as the rest of the day. The irrationality of the thought was a little disturbing, but Hermione trusted Fleur, and she knew that the blonde probably had a perfect end in mind.

As their arms brushed, Fleur felt tingles run down her spine and settle on the small of her back. She took a deep breath once Hermione had gone into the bathroom and closed the door. She had to wonder if the brunette had brushed against her on purpose or if it was just an innocent touch.

Filling her own glass with wine, she walked towards the bed and folded the cover and sheet back and settled against the pillows behind her back. Picking up the remote control, she flipped the television on and searched for something to occupy her mind. Thoughts of Hermione, naked and wet with just a door separating them were not something she wanted to dwell on for too long.

After their first date, she didn't want to just sleep with her. She wasn't ready for that step and she was almost positive the brunette wasn't either. She didn't want to jinx their relationship so quickly by letting sex become the centre of attention. She wanted to get to know Hermione as more than her boss and her friend. Getting to know the woman was her plan, and that included romancing her good and proper.

If she got a good night kiss, she'd be happy, but right now she wanted to cuddle with her and go to sleep with her arms wrapped around her. Some might call her way of thinking old-fashioned and antiquated, but to her, Hermione meant more than some quick shag. Hermione could become so much more and she wasn't about to ruin it by going too fast.

Finding a show on the Discovery channel that looked interesting, she took a sip of her wine and settled more fully into the bed to wait for the brunette.

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione was incredibly relaxed and clean, thanks to the shower. She charmed her hair dry and toweled off her body. She changed into her own pajamas and walked back into the bedroom.

Fleur was engrossed in a television show about Africa, so she fetched her wine from the outer room and sat down on the bed quietly to watch with Fleur. They both sipped their wine and watched, and Hermione realized that she enjoyed quiet downtime with Fleur just as much as she had enjoyed their day out.

The show ended and Fleur shut off the TV. Hermione turned to her. "I know I've said it a few times, Fleur, but I really enjoyed our date today."

Fleur turned towards her, a shy smile curling her lips. "I did, too. Maybe we can do a few more things tomorrow? Sleep in, 'ave a nice breakfast and then go play tourist again? Go shopping?" She turned until she was on her side, facing Hermione, and ran the backs of her fingers over Hermione's cheek. "As long as I'm with you, I know it's going to be a wonderful time."

As their eyes locked and held, she moved even closer and cupped her cheek. Her eyes dropped down to Hermione's lips as she wondered if she could be so bold as to kiss her at least once. Looking back into her eyes, she traced her bottom lip with her thumb, eyes dropping again to follow the movement. She moved until there was barely an inch between their mouths and then stopped, giving Hermione time to pull away or move forward.

Hermione had a reply on the tip of her tongue - all of that sounds perfect - but it was quickly forgotten as Fleur moved closer. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the blonde's, and the only other thing that floated through her head was that Fleur's thumb was on her mouth.

The space between them shrunk, and Hermione realized that this was the precipice; she could pull away, or push onward. Without another thought, she tilted her head forward, brushing Fleur's hand away so she could kiss her.

The first - and only - thought that occurred to Hermione was that Fleur's lips were softer than they looked. As that figment gave way to feeling, she could only sit there, and kiss Fleur Delacour properly.

Fleur felt her insides start to melt the moment Hermione's lips touched hers. Her eyes closed automatically and her hand rested on the brunette's waist as she tried to keep herself in control. She didn't want to let it get out of hand too soon, especially since neither had gone this route before.

Hermione's lips were soft and warm and she couldn't help but nibble on them, wanting to draw more of a response. Sucking the bottom one between hers, she ran the tip of her tongue over it.

Hermione felt a funny flutter in her stomach as she felt Fleur's tongue tease her lip. Of their own accord, her hands left the bedspread to hook around the blonde's neck, ensuring that she wouldn't be stopping anytime soon.

Their lips parted naturally, but Hermione pushed forward again, her tongue now tracing the seam of Fleur's mouth.

Wanting to give Hermione all control, Fleur let her lips part as her thumb moved under the brunette's shirt to caress the warm skin she found there. A little breathy sigh flowed from her mouth and into Hermione's as the kissed deepened and she let her hand rest on the small of Hermione's back, pulling her ever closer.

Their tongues tangled together, and for a brief moment, there was nothing but Fleur; even the need to breathe evaporated. They could have kissed for mere moments, or maybe it was an hour, but when Hermione couldn't last any longer, she pulled away.

The two of them were sitting closer than ever, and Fleur's hand was still on her back. Lips swollen and eyes darker, Fleur looked like she was ready to pounce again. Truthfully, Hermione was as well, although she said something before she realized this.

"Okay, so I really enjoyed our date today," she confessed, a small smile on her lips.

Fleur smiled at Hermione's words and rubbed the tip of her nose against hers before moving back a few much needed inches. Again, she ran the back of her fingers down her cheek softly and tenderly, head tilted to the side as she let her eyes roam over Hermione's face.

"It's been one of the best days of my life," she confessed. "'Ow about some sleep now so we're fully rested for more fun tomorrow?"

Hermione grinned; it had been an amazing day, and she couldn't remember a time in recent memory where she had ever felt happier. "As long as I can sleep curled around you," she said, before she could stop the words. She didn't mean anything except the literal sense, as waking up with Fleur snuggled up to her had been one of the best ways to start her morning.

"That sounds like a brilliant idea," Fleur said with a shy smile.

Moving so she could lay on her back, she waited for Hermione to cuddle up to her side before pulling the covers up and around them. Kissing her forehead, she nestled more comfortably against her before closing her eyes, a little happy sigh soon following.

"Good night, darling."

A/N 2: The End? We may or may not add an epilogue to this.

We'll also be posting another story – a different type, if you will. It will be Fleur and Septima Vector this time and it will be glimpses of their relationship – mostly smut. It won't have a set pattern to it, an actual storyline, but glimpse of their time together as they work and live at Hogwarts. We have a fondness for Septima and Fleur we can't control!