DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rose, Scorpius or Pride and Prejudice!


Opposites Attract.

He's just awkwardly confessed his love for her. She's just turned him down. They have nothing in common … he decides to prove her wrong. :Rose/Scorpius NextGen:


Chapter 9: Opposites attract.

"What does it matter if you haven't said it back, yet?" Lulu scoffed. "Hell, you got the man! Enjoy the bloody honeymoon while it lasts, if you ask me."

"Lulu, that's not the point," Rose said, exasperatedly. "I've literally just jumped headfirst into a serious relationship with a man who is desperately in love with me. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, here!"

"Ok, ok, you're having a crisis then," Lulu said. "Just tell him you love him. There, problem solved."

"Don't you have some sort of – I don't know – work to be doing?" Rose put off addressing her comment, seeing as Lulu had been lazing in one of her visitors chairs for the last half an hour. Her friend waved this aside, which Rose could at least understand; she hadn't exactly caught up with Lulu since the whole Malfoy thing and was admittedly dying to gossip about it to someone who wasn't her cousin or brother (who seriously did not need to know about her love life).

However, Lulu's totally helpful comments were starting to make her regret ever opening her office door.

"Ah, work can wait," Lulu grinned at her. "After WAM, nothing else seems that important, really."

"I doubt the Australian Embassy will see it that way," Rose said. "Not to mention our boss!"

"Jessie can go to hell," Lulu said then with vigour. "What's she ever done for me?"

"How about not fired your arse even once since you started working here?" Rose suggested.

"That is a point," Lulu mentioned.

Rose sighed, leaning her head on her hands, elbows resting on her desk. Time to face it. "Look, Lulu … it isn't as simple as just telling him. I don't … I mean …"

Lulu frowned. "You don't love him?"

"That makes it sound like I don't care," Rose complained. "C'mon, course I do! I think it's safe to say that I like him a lot. There's feelings all over the place for that man! But it's barely been two weeks and I still can't even figure out when I started liking him, let alone if I love him or not. What the hell am I even doing? I can't say it back, and I'm starting to freak out–!"

"Oh my god, Rose," Lulu cut in, shaking her head.

Rose fell silent.

She hadn't even realised how many misgivings and doubts she was having in her head until it all came pouring forward. She honestly cared a lot about Malfoy, to the point where it almost scared her. Rose had been in serious relationships before, certainly, but they had all ended in disaster! She didn't want that to happen with her and Malfoy. She really thought this could work, that this could go somewhere, but having leapt into this without thinking was totally making her lose her chill.

Not that she had a lot of chill to begin with, but it got her point across.

"I'm being crazy, right?" Rose asked, weakly.

"Hell to the no!" Lulu cried. "C'mon, girl, you've got every right to be freaking out! If Travis said I love you to me, I'd be effing outta there."

"Yeah, but you've never had a serious relationship in your life," Rose smirked.

"Hey!" Lulu said.

"C'mon, have you ever actually fallen in love before?"

"Wha – 'course!" Lulu insisted. "I mean … there was … remember, that bloke from our first year working together?"

"Lulu, if you can't remember his name, you weren't in love with him."

"Oh …" Lulu was brought up short, slightly. "In that case, no. I've never been in a serious relationship. What the hell're you talking to me for, then?"

"You do happen to be one of my closest friends," Rose pointed out.

"Sucks to be you," Lulu snorted.

Rose grabbed a wadded up piece of parchment and lobbed it at Lulu's head. "I adore ya."

"I adore you too, but seriously, you need to quit worrying," Lulu said without missing a beat. "So he loves you. We've known that from the moment he first said it! Just stick it out until you feel the same way. Besides, if the man tries to make you say it before you're ready, then you should just dump his arse, 'cause he's not worth it anyway."

"He would never do that," Rose said, softly.

Lulu smirked. "Well, there you go then. Oh, hey, how's your brother doing?" she added.

Rose wasn't thrown by the change in conversation. One got pretty used to it when Lulu Gardiner was your best friend. "Still healing," she admitted. "but way better. He's basically under house arrest at the moment, until the Healer gives the all clear that it's ok to go back to work. He's going stir crazy because of Mum's smothering, but even then, I don't think he'll go back to the bar anyway."

"Any idea what that boy will do?"

"If he gets his way, leader of the known universe," Rose deadpanned. "As it is … who knows? He's even talking about maybe going back to school, since he dropped out and never actually finished his NEWTs."

"Well, whatever he does, wish that boy luck from me," Lulu grinned. "And whatever happens with Malfoy, I wish you the best too. Lord knows it's better seeing you all happy, rather than sobbing your guts out all over my favourite shirt like last time you were in a relationship."

"I was not sobbing!"

"Oh, ok," Lulu scoffed. She glanced at her watch then and her eyes went wide. "Shit! Is it really nearly twelve?"

"Yes, you have been skiving off work for that long," Rose pointed out. "We've got a meeting about the embassy in five."

"Trust me, gossiping about your love life was absolutely essential!" Lulu justified, as both of them stood from their chairs and made their way towards the door. Rose snorted as Lulu blew her a kiss before flouncing for the door ahead of her. Rose had many friends, but if there was someone other than Albus she had to call a best friend, Lulu would be it; they had been through too much and witnessed too many tears on both sides to not. Her job really was always decidedly dull immediately after WAM, since nothing ever seemed to compare to the insane chaos of the festival. However, as the spokesperson for the upcoming Australian Embassy, she supposed she ought to figure out what she was going to say in this meeting to ensure they secured ultimate trade agreements.

Lulu called out, "Hey, how's it goin'?" to someone out in the corridor, but a shriek made Rose glance up. Thinking that she'd seen this before, Lulu apparently tried to avoid stepping on something and ended up staggering out of her office door, nearly tripping into the corridor beyond.

"Oh my god, what happened?" Rose laughed, pausing in the doorway.

"Tell your boyfriend to stop leaving things right outside your door!" Lulu huffed, tossing her blond locks over her shoulder. Rose glanced down at her feet … and noticed a single cupcake sitting outside her office.

A tiny flag was stuck in the top. Rose bent and picked it up, reading the words written on the flag:

I hope you are having a door day. SM x

Her heart gave a twinge.


She was eating her cupcake when she arrived at the meeting, all twenty odd people piling into the conference room off the International Events corridor. Everyone was jostling around, trying to get seats at the back in hopes that they wouldn't be called on to say anything, while others chatted good-naturedly to others while waiting for their boss, Jessie Taylor, to arrive and start the meeting. Rose approached Malfoy with a smirk, still chewing.

"… this icing is to die for," she called out once she was close enough for him to hear.

He held his folder in his arms, but the look on his face was enough to tell her that he was pleased to see her. "I know you enjoy cupcakes," he said.

"Along with many other things that, thankfully, you didn't need to ask my cousin to find out about this time," Rose pointed out. "You want some?"

"Oh – no, Rose, it is yours–"

"Nonsense!" she had already broken off a chunk of cupcake and shoved it at him. He nearly dropped his folder in his haste to take the piece without dropping it.

It was with a surge of affection that she watched him slowly eat the piece of cupcake. She rocked on her toes and glanced around the conference room, wishing that they weren't surrounded by several of their colleagues. Not many of them were aware of their new relationship, as far as she knew (mainly because she had threatened Lulu with bodily harm that if she let it spread as far as Jessie, there would be hell to pay!). Relationships weren't forbidden within their department – on the contrary, everyone tended to congratulate new lovers and bet when the wedding would happen! – but they did unfortunately have to be officially declared with a form thanks to Section B, Paragraph 10 of their contract. For casual relationships, it made the process rather awkward, but it was safe to say that this was anything but casual and honestly … the thought of needing a form sent her heart racing in her throat.

"Oi, Rose!" Lulu yelled out as everyone started taking their seats. "Quit staring and sit down!"

She and Malfoy quickly joined the table.

The meeting went about as well as expected. Everyone bickered over trade agreements and Rose may or may not have gotten into an argument with Kylie across the hall over the pros and cons of suggesting a re-negotiation with the Australians. Rose loved Kylie, but the woman was far too stubborn until you got a few several drinks in her. Jessie led the discussions and every time Rose felt herself getting too pissed off with her colleagues, Malfoy would reach out and squeeze her thigh lightly under the table.

Rose still wasn't entirely used to working alongside Malfoy. She had done her best in the past to avoid him at these things at all costs and never let herself get stuck assigned to the same project. Yet here she was, willingly sitting next to him at the same table and even getting into a heated conversation to two over event plans! Bizarre didn't cover it, especially since she'd discovered it was a bit too arousing to be appropriate whenever they argued. She figured that Jessie would not appreciate it if she found herself taking Malfoy on the table right in the middle of the meeting. But however weird it was … she liked it.

Eventually, plans were made and Jessie organised assignments. Finally, she was announcing that their meeting was over for the day and several people cheered.

"I know it was tough during this year's WAM," Jessie yelled over the 'wooo!'s and 'yusss!'s. "And I know everything that needed to be said was done during our debriefing last week, but I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone yet again. What we do isn't easy, and we all got through it thanks to our determination and teamwork. Good work, everyone."

"PARTY AT SHIFT END, PEOPLE!" Travis called out and several others laughed and cheered once more.

"Don't start packing up yet!" Jessie thundered, and everyone hastily dropped files and reports that they'd started gathering up in a hustle and bustle of noise. "I want to remind you all – ALL reports related to the festival need to be in BEFORE you go out and get trashed. That means you too, Travis," she threw him a hard look across the table.

"Aw," Travis threw back to Jessie. "but we were so hoping you'd come join us, Jessie! Right, love?" he asked Lulu over the table, giving her a wink.

"I'm sorry, do you want a B-10 form?" Jessie asked, sweetly.

Travis blanched. Lulu quickly hid behind a report, as several people snickered in amongst clearing up.

"No, nope, we're good …"

"Rose, do you think we need a B-10?" Malfoy murmured anxiously as they filed out of the conference room.

"What do you think, Malfoy?" Rose asked him.

They paused in the hallway, people striding around them. Malfoy looked down at her with such an expression that it was amazing that Jessie didn't call them out right then and there.

"I think you were incredible during that meeting."

His words threw her slightly. "Pardon?"

"You are such a natural speaker," Malfoy hung his head, talking to his perfectly scrubbed shoes. "I … I am slightly envious of how easy you find it. I had to do a presentation a few years ago and I remember I was quite violently sick the entire week leading up to it."

"Malfoy, I don't think anyone is good at public speaking," Rose said. "You were great, too." She wished she could reach out and squeeze his hand, trail her fingers down his chest … though, of course – professional boundaries. She glanced behind her and noticed Jessie just filing out after the last of their colleagues, closing the conference door with a flick of her wand behind her. Rose turned to look back up at Malfoy.

"C'mon," she smiled. "we've got a form to request."


Everything came out at the pub later that night at shift end.

"I KNEW IT!" Nathan was yelling with glee and pointing excitedly at their joined hands. "C'mon, you asked me where his office was and I TOTALLY knew something was going on! I KNEW IT!"

"Really?" Travis said from his space next to Lulu at the table. "You're shagging Malfoy?"

"Oh my god!" Lulu thumped him on the arm. "It's not just shagging, you idiot! They're in effing love, it's something beautiful, ok?"

Travis was put in his place as others laughed, but Lulu's comment made Rose's chest seize up. She caught her friend's eye over the table and she accepted Lulu mouthing, 'Sorry', to her but it couldn't stop the worry crashing through her. She couldn't meet Malfoy's gaze, lest she see his wonder of is it really love? in his eyes and instead, turned to face their friends and grin her thanks for their congratulations.

She honestly hadn't planned on dragging Malfoy with her to the pub after work. No, it was only when he'd noticed her getting ready and had asked simply, "When are we leaving?" She'd tried to tell him that no, you don't have to go just because I am, I know you don't care for it … but he had insisted.

"I am actually rather curious," he'd said earlier that evening in her bedroom, stepping forward to wrap his arms around her. "to experience the pub scene. Last time I was a bit too anxious to take much notice."

"That, and I chewed you out for being ridiculous," Rose had grinned back.

"You do not think I am being ridiculous this time?"

"You're not doing it to prove anything," Rose had pointed out. "You're doing it because you're genuinely interested. I'm not sure you'll like it … but I suppose you'll never know unless you try, right?"

So that was how she'd found herself sitting there next to him at a loud and rowdy table in the middle of The Flash Dragon. Their intertwined fingers sat on top of the table and Rose was calling down to her friends that yes, she and Malfoy were together and no, they weren't snogging in front of them just to prove it. Malfoy was understandably quiet; he greeted those who acknowledged him with politeness and he'd even smiled and accepted Nathan's enthusiastic handshake hello, Rose knowing that the two had worked together quite a lot, but he still bristled often at the commotion of the pub. She would squeeze his fingers in those moments, but all things considered, he seemed reasonably calm.

She was rather proud of him.

Nathan had moved down to their end of the table so that he could catch up with Malfoy and Rose had chatted to Lulu and Travis. It was only when Nathan said her name that she actually tuned into their conversation.

"Sorry?"

"When the hell did this start, then?" Nathan asked once more, nodding at the two of them with a grin on his face.

Rose and Malfoy both glanced at each other.

"I dunno," Rose said.

"No, actually, I'm rather curious to know this answer myself," Malfoy mentioned, lightly. "When did you begin to change your mind about me? Because it is clear that it was not straight away."

Rose felt her face burn as she thought back and he hid her ridiculous smile in his shoulder for a moment. "Oh, I don't know!" she said, glancing embarrassingly up at him. "When we were dancing to the shitty teenaged bands on the last night? No!" Rose laughed as Malfoy continued to stare at her, unimpressed, while Nathan looked on amusedly. "Look, I really do have no idea … I guess, getting to know you during the festival … it just sort of slowly happened until I figured it out. What about you?"

"Me?" Malfoy blanched at that.

"Oh yeah, mate," Nathan smirked. "You can't back out now!"

Malfoy glanced between the two eager faces with a look of great trepidation. Then, he began awkwardly, "Erm … I suppose it began a long time ago. But I cannot think of one particular moment. Every time I saw you, I fell a little bit more until I suppose, in the end … I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."

Oh my god.

Rose kissed him on the spot for that. She heard Nathan cry, "Whoaaaah!" and several others catcall at them, but she didn't care. She held his face over the table, pouring all her unspoken words into that kiss. She only pulled away because she figured that they were starting to get a little inappropriate for public viewing, but it was worth it.

Nathan was talking to Kylie on his other side now, apparently deciding it was safer (and significantly less creepy) to continue staring at them. Not that it would have stopped some people (Lulu). Rose sighed, keeping her forehead pressed to Malfoy's. Her chest was clenching painfully in guilt. She needed to tell him, she really did.

Time to do it.

"Malfoy," she said, softly. "I don't think I can say I love you, yet."

He pulled back so that he could meet her gaze. She winced at how harsh that had come out, but she hoped that Malfoy would appreciate getting straight to the point. "I understand," he said at once.

"No, really!" Rose burst out. "I – I don't mean it like I don't love you! I mean, I don't, but I do – I – Jesus, I really have no idea what I'm saying, I'm sorry …"

"Rose," Malfoy leaned his elbow on the table, before cringing no doubt at the many germs residing on the table top and hastily pulling his arm back. Rose tried not to giggle at the motion. "It is ok, it really is. I apologise if my telling you that has made you uncomfortable."

"It's just," Rose sighed. "you've been in love with me for years! You'd think I'd be able to do a thing as simple as love you back, but I can't even manage that! I'm sorry–"

"Hmmm," Malfoy mused, tilting his head slightly. "You say years … Rose, I do not think I properly understood the true extent of being in love until recently. I might have told you those words during that day in your office, and I might have meant it, but I do not think it was true until now."

"I still feel bad," Rose sighed.

"You do not need to at all," Malfoy insisted. "There are many great works of fiction where love happens almost instantaneously with meeting, but in other cases, love takes time. There are also many stories of friends falling in love, whereas otherwise, it is two people with very few things in common who do. It is a truth universally acknowledged that very case of love is unique, and I promise to stop saying it until you are comfortable."

"I think we'd be worthy of a great work of fiction," Rose smiled.

Malfoy squeezed her hand. "As do I."

"Oi! Malfoy, Rose!" Travis yelled over the table. "Go on, give us another snog, eh?!"

Rose sighed. "Why are our friends such perverts?"

"Talk about a truth universally acknowledged, am I right?"

Rose choked. "Oh my god – Malfoy, you need to warn me whenever you're about to crack a joke like that!"


Fin


A/N: I give in. I want to write a sequel to this sometime. It doesn't feel like this story is quite over yet, I'm not the only one who feels it, right? There's still lot's of potential source material remaining and lot's of room for character development. And let's face it, who doesn't want more DARCY!SCORPIUS, amiright? Haha, but really. What are your opinions on this?

Either way, I hope you enjoyed the crazy Austen-inspired story and I hope that this is a good enough ending for now. :)

Also, I leave NZ in less than a week. No, I'm totally not freaking out. NOPE. But in all seriousness, this will probably be the last you hear of me for a long time. I'm going to miss all of you so much! But I do promise to be back eventually, whether it's later this year or next year. I've got many more stories to tell. :) I'll try to update tumblr every now and then so you know I'm not dead.

I love all of you. You honestly mean the world to me. Oh my god, I'm emotional now, SHUT UP, YOU'RE CRYING!

THANK YOU SO MUCH. XOXO

Until next time -

- Moon. :D