Dear Daisy,

By all means, take a shot at being a horrible human being, but I doubt you'll have much success. Not that I don't think you're fully capable of doing whatever you set your mind to, but you just don't seem like the type. Then again, maybe if you start saying nasty things to people, I'll stop. It's possible the universe will just balance out that way, which I wouldn't mind on my end. I do have to warn you, though. You won't feel as fulfilled by it as you might think. Just consider it a friendly caution.

There's actually something I neglected to tell you in my last letter, amidst all the turmoil I was in otherwise. I've mentioned I was with someone, haven't I? Well, that's no longer the case. Wow, that actually makes me sound sort of cold reading it back. I was so caught up in how my behavior affected someone else that I forgot to tell you about a rather serious development in a relationship that's actually important. Not that the other person isn't important, but it's different, if that makes sense.

Anyway, it was a good thing it ended. We'd been drifting for awhile now, and I sort of knew it was inevitable. I've talked to you about it enough that you probably won't even be surprised by this news. I told a friend of mine and the only reason he was shocked was because I, apparently, take way too long to get off my arse and actually make decisions.

I have made one decision though, which brings me to a question. I know I've thrown around the idea of meeting you one of these days, and you've said you'd like to do the same. I also know you've said you'd like more time, but would it be too much to ask you to actually consider saying yes this time? It doesn't have to be too formal. Maybe we could just meet in a cafe somewhere in London. I'm not sure where you live, but that seems like a neutral enough place to me. Would you think about it? It doesn't have to be tomorrow or even next week. I'm just asking for sometime soon.

I won't apologize for my persistence, though I will feel bad if I learn I've read this entire situation wrong and I'm doing nothing but bothering you. I've decided it's time I actually take a shot at the things I want. It's not hard for me to do in my professional life, but the personal one is more than somewhat lacking through no one's fault but my own. I want things in life and I expect them to just happen to me. I've learned that's not how it works when it comes to the things that are truly important and really matter.

You've become incredibly important to me, Daisy, and nothing would make me happier than to be able to tell you that in person.

Leo

Rose quickly folded up the letter she'd read at least a dozen times since it had arrived early that morning as a knock sounded on her front door. She watched her cat Rhea jump up from her place at Rose's feet and move to make a closer inspection. Rose remained seated for a moment, listening. She wasn't expecting anyone.

"Dom?" she called out, but quickly realized that it was up to her to see who their visitor was as she took in the sound of the running shower. As she got up to head to the door, she wished she had her slippers nearby to protect her feet from the hardwood floors that were growing colder with the season. She reached down to pick up Rhea who was now meowing and pacing in front of the door as their visitor knocked again.

She opened the door to find a rather pretty girl with honey blonde hair, looking more put together than Rose could ever remember herself being on a Saturday morning, stood in front of her. Her lips were pursed and her brow furrowed as she took Rose in, who was still in the pants and sweatshirt she'd slept in. The young woman looked oddly familiar, but Rose couldn't quite place her.

"Can I help you?" she asked, unsure if she should let her in.

"Sorry to bother you," the girl began, truly looking guilty for showing up unannounced on a Saturday morning. "My name is Melinda Parker. I work for Mr. Malfoy. Do you mind if I come in?"

It clicked for Rose when she mentioned who she worked for. Not only was she an employee of Mr. Malfoy, but Rose was fairly certain she was dating Scorpius. Uncertain of what else to do, Rose stepped aside to let her in, immediately growing embarrassed at the state of her flat. With Dom still crashing on the couch, it wasn't exactly tidy very often. She was just thankful her cousin was already up, seeing as she tended to sleep rather late these days.

"Sorry about the mess," Rose apologized as she moved a few books off one of the armchairs. "I have some company."

"It's no trouble," Melinda assured her as she sat down. Rose moved to sit across from her on the blanket strewn couch, setting Rhea down on the floor. The cat scurried off, no longer interested in the events going on around her, as Melinda's eyes roamed the flat and they sat in awkward silence.

"Is there something I can do for you?" Rose asked tentatively, as Melinda stopped scanning the flat and looked at her.

"This is awkward," she said with an uncomfortable chuckle. "I'm so sorry. It's just, you see, you've really managed to get yourself under Scorpius's skin and I guess I was curious."

Rose's brow arched skeptically. "Are you here to spy for your boyfriend?"

Melinda's eyes widened and she shook her head. "No, I'm not. I know you two are rivals and all, and I understand that. I might work for the company but I don't stoop to underhanded tactics."

Rose did her best to stifle a chuckle at the way she spoke. She'd certainly been brought up in a much classier social environment than Rose had. The girl was perfectly suited for a Malfoy.

"He talks about you a lot."

Melinda said it suddenly, as if it took a great deal of effort to get out, but she also spoke very matter-of-factly.

"Mostly about how much you infuriate him, but still."

It was then that Rose noted the jealousy in her eyes.

"Oh, Melinda, no," she was quick to reassure her. "You really have nothing to worry about. Malfoy and I, we hate each other."

"I know that's what it looks like," Melinda said. "And I believe that's how you feel. You just might not be able to say the same for him."

Rose sighed and stood from the couch. How many people would she have to convince of her loathing for Scorpius Malfoy?

"Would you like some tea?"

Melinda nodded, and stood to follow Rose into the kitchen. They were silent as Rose put on a kettle and summoned a few mugs from the cabinets. She distantly heard the shower turn off in the background and calculated that they had at least five more minutes of awkwardness before Dom came out of the bathroom and potentially made the situation even more uncomfortable. A few well placed blunt questions from Dominique were enough to make anyone stammer and blush.

"Are you here to tell me to stay away from your boyfriend?" Rose asked as she passed her a mug of tea. Melinda shook her head as she sat on a stool at the counter bar in Rose's kitchen.

"No. And we actually broke up."

"Oh," Rose said, somewhere between surprise and pleased by this news, although she wasn't sure why. Probably just because she didn't want him to be happy. "I'm sorry."

Melinda waved off her apology. "Don't worry about it. It makes sense. He wants a family and I'm just not ready for that yet. Not sure why I'm telling you this, or why I'm even here, actually. I guess I just wanted to officially put a face to the name of Rose Weasley, after everything I've heard about you."

Rose let out a nervous chuckle. "Can't be very many good things coming from that source."

Melinda let out a chuckle as well, relaxing a little bit as she sipped her tea. "No. But I could see through it all. He admires you."

Rose's mind was working overtime to try and make sense of what exactly was going on.

"If I didn't know any better," she said slowly, "it sounds like you're trying to actually get me to like Scorpius. Which is a rather bizarre thing for an ex to do."

"I'm not trying to set you up," Melinda assured her. "I want him to be happy but I'm not that much of a bleeding heart."

"Then why do this?" Rose asked. "Why come talk to me? You've not done much other than say nice things about him, other than saying he says not so nice things about me. And I already knew that."

Melinda let out a sigh, looking down and swirling her tea around in the bottom of her mug before glancing back at Rose.

"I guess a part of me thought I'd get some closure out of talking to you. Not that I blame you, but you were a spot of contention for us on more than one occasion." She continued as if what she'd said was of no consequence while Rose's mind reeled at this information. "I'm usually pretty good at reading subtleties, and believe it or not, you two have a connection. I've seen it," she insisted when Rose went to protest. "You can deny it all you want, but I suppose I wanted to warn you. He's actually quite taken with someone else."

Rose gave her a look of surprise. "That's a rather rotten thing to do. Didn't you just break up?"

"Yes, but he didn't cheat on me. Not in the typical sense. And, to be honest, we'd both been emotionally detached for awhile so I really don't blame him. I was actually rather surprised when he told me, seeing as I had accused him of having feelings for you a week before. But he seems really taken with this girl, and I just thought you should know."

A skeptical look crossed Rose's face. "Are you warning me against falling for him?"

"Essentially," Melinda allowed.

Rose let out chuckle of disbelief. "Trust me, you don't have to worry about that. Besides, there's someone else for me, too."

Melinda gave her a slight grin, but she didn't seem to buy Rose's denial.

"Well, if you complain to him about Scorpius as much as he complained to me about you, your boyfriend is someone I can truly sympathize with."

Rose worked very hard to keep herself from blushing. Completely ignoring whatever slight Melinda might have just made in regard to herself, she was much more caught up in the fact that she'd been thinking about Leo rather than her actual boyfriend when she'd said there was someone else for her. She was able to keep her composure as Melinda finished off her tea.

"Sorry for disturbing your Saturday morning," Melinda apologized as she stood to leave.

"It's not trouble," Rose assured her as they moved towards the front door. "It was certainly enlightening."

Melinda gave her a genuine smile, sticking out her hand for Rose to shake. "It was actually lovely to meet you, Rose. And good luck with everything. Especially with the new shop opening up in Diagon Alley."

Rose looked at her in confusion for a moment. "My shop's been open for a few years now, but I guess you could still consider that new."

"Oh, I meant the one the Malfoy's are opening in a few months. Can't deny it'll bring a little competition."

Melinda gave a wave in farewell as she left the flat, leaving a shell shocked Rose in her wake. She was so caught off guard that she froze entirely and barely heard the bathroom door open and Dom make her way into the living room. Had she heard her correctly? And how had she not known? Had she missed some sort of sign? She was going to kill Malfoy. He'd probably sent her over there himself just to toy with her.

No. She'd actually seemed sincere, even if it was a rather odd visit. She still couldn't quite piece together what had happened. The only thing she could think about now was the fact that Scorpius Malfoy was opening a potions shop in Diagon Alley and it spelled nothing but trouble for her own business, no matter how much she didn't want to admit it.

"Rose!"

She jumped to realize Dom had been trying to get her attention and that she hadn't even moved away from the front door.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Dominique said as she moved into the kitchen.

"No, but I'm about to give Scorpius Malfoy the option of becoming one."

Dom chuckled. "What did he do this time?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Rose grumbled as she joined her in the kitchen, plopping down at the table. "How are you feeling?"

Dom shrugged as she pulled a tub of ice cream from the freezer before joining Rose."A little better this morning. The morning sickness comes and goes."

"I see the cravings are as strong as ever."

Dom poked her tongue out at her before taking a bite of ice cream, straight from the carton. Rose chuckled and summoned a spoon for herself, thinking back to the eventful events of the previous day. They'd gone back and had tests done before they'd left the hospital the night before, and had confirmed that Dominique was in fact over a month pregnant. It certainly explained the amount of food she'd been eating.

"Are you ready to talk about it yet?"

Dom poked at the ice cream with her spoon. "Which part?"

"The part where you haven't told your husband."

After they'd left the hospital, Dom had told Rose that she and Ben had actually had a decent conversation. In fact, Dom was starting to believe that Ben hadn't actually cheated on her. He'd told her in vivid detail what had happened that night, and while he admitted that he should have never walked away or put himself in the position he'd ended up in, he never intended to cheat on her, nor did he. But Dom was as stubborn as they come, and she'd insisted they needed more time apart, seeing as they had had their issues before the cheating allegations. She even admitted to Rose that Ben had been inclined to agree, seeing as Dom had given him reasons to be upset as well. He hadn't taken too kindly to being entirely shut out by his wife. Of course, what Rose knew that no one else did, was that Dom was terrified of telling him she was pregnant, even though she hadn't said as much.

"Come on, Dom," Rose persisted when her cousin remained mute. "You guys have been trying for so long. Why won't you tell him?"

"Because it can't be the reason everything's suddenly alright again!" she blurted out, tears beginning to cloud her eyes.

"I'm terrified, Rose," she told her cousin as a tear made its way down her cheek. "I'm terrified he'll be so happy that we'll just stop fighting, but we'll have stopped fighting for each other as well. I don't want one of those marriages where we only stayed together because of the kid. Is that incredibly selfish of me?"

Rose shook her head, moving forward to brush the tears off her cousins cheeks as she sniffed loudly. "That makes perfect sense. So why not tell him that?"

"I've barely gotten used to the idea of being pregnant. And I'm not even two months along."

"But don't you think the longer you wait to tell him, the more upset he'll be when he finds out?"

Dom sighed and took another bite of ice cream.

"I suppose so, but I'd rather we figure everything else out before he knows. I realized when we talked that he's not entirely at fault in all this. I shouldn't have just run off and ignored him for so long. I'd rather he forgive me before he found out I'm carrying his child. He's not too happy with me."

Rose didn't know what to say to that. Marriage was complicated and she'd learned long ago that it wasn't something you could understand unless you'd been there.

"I actually took a test the night he stormed out and it was negative. Guess it was just too early to tell."

"Is that why you fought?"

Dom nodded as she pushed the tub of ice cream towards Rose. "I was frustrated and disappointed and I took it out on him. And I definitely regret it."

Rose watched as another tear fell down Dom's face.

"You know what though?" Rose said in a reassuring voice. "You're going to be a mum, Dominique." Rose felt herself smile as she watched the hint of one flicker across her cousins face. "And maybe you two needed this for some reason, and you'll be stronger for it in the end."

Dom actually let herself give Rose a small smile, who sighed in relief that she hadn't said the wrong thing.

"Want to go back to the hospital with me? I told Al I'd help them get all packed up to head home today."

Dom shook her head as she pulled the ice cream back towards herself. "You go on. Spend time with your goddaughter."

Rose watched her skeptically. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"

Dom rolled her eyes. "I'm pregnant, not dying, Rose. I'll be fine. It'll probably be good for me to just have a little time on my own and let all of this sink in."

Giving a reassuring smile and a pat on the arm, Rose left her cousin to her ice cream and headed to St. Mungo's. What she'd forgotten until she showed up, was that a certain friend of Al's had said he'd be stopping by in the morning. She unintentionally let out an audible groan when she walked in to find him holding Holly. Scorpius smirked at her as she made her way into the room.

"Morning, Weasley," he said cheerily. "Why so glum?"

"I forgot I'd have to deal with a pompous ass this morning."

A look of mock affront crossed his features as he tucked Holly slightly closer to his chest. "Watch your mouth around my goddaughter, Weasley."

With a dropped jaw, Rose turned to glare at her cousin and his wife. Al seemed amused while Abigail looked nervously between her husband and his cousin.

"I told you you should have said something to her yesterday," Abigail hissed at Albus. He didn't seem fazed by her rebukement as he kept glancing between the two godparents with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Maybe, but this is more entertaining."

Rose rolled her eyes at her cousin. "Al, this isn't a good idea. Pick someone else."

"Excuse me? What's this have to do with you anyway?" Scorpius asked.

"I'm her godmother, and I don't want her to be exposed to such a bad influence."

Surprise flickered across his face for a moment, but he didn't seem nearly as shocked as she had been.

"Says the person who just swore in front of her," he managed to bite back.

"Alright that's enough," Abigail said as she continued packing up a bag of nappies and other odds and ends. "You two were the people we wanted in Holly's life to help raise her and you might not get along but you will cooperate, got it?"

They both nodded sheepishly as Abigail started handing things to Al.

"I actually should be heading out," Scorpius said. He didn't seem keen to do so as he watched Holly stretching her arm out in an uncoordinated manner. Rose watched him tickle Holly's hand with his index finger and grin when she made a grab for it. The words Melinda had said earlier suddenly came rushing back to her.

"He wants a family and I'm just not ready for that yet."

It hadn't really registered with her earlier, but watching Scorpius now, she realized that Melinda was probably right about what she'd said. He was a natural with their goddaughter.

"Thanks for coming, mate," Al said, shaking Scorpius's free hand.

"No worries," Scorpius said, daintily brushing back the small tuft off black hair on the top of Holly's head after shaking Al's hand. "Sorry I had to run out last night."

"As long as you think you did the right thing," Al said. Scorpius nodded, looking down at Holly with a slight grin on his face. Al smirked at his friend before directing it at Rose. She gave him a questioning look, but he looked away before she could be sure that the look he gave her had meant anything at all. He slung a bag over his shoulder and helped Abigail to stand from the bed.

"Rose, do you mind taking Holly so Al can help get me to the Floo? I'm still a little sore."

"No problem," Rose said, glancing at Scorpius who slowly walked over to her and gently deposited Holly into her arms. Rose didn't find she minded when he didn't move away immediately and continued to look at Holly, gently stroking her arm with his index finger. She couldn't help but glance up at his face. She felt her heartbeat quicken and couldn't help but blame it on the thoughts that Melinda had planted in her head about the so-called connection that they had. The moment was fleeting as he stepped away a moment later to give Abigail and Al hugs in farewell, before leaving the hospital without another word to her. The new parents began to make their way towards the Floo with Rose closely behind them, gently cradling the infant.

"Weren't Teddy and Vic supposed to be here today?" Rose asked, remembering what her uncle had said the night before.

"They were," Al told her. "You do realize it's after eleven, right?"

Rose hadn't actually been paying that close attention to the time so was a little surprised at this news.

"They came straight here from their portkey so they went to get settled in at Bill and Fleur's. Amelia was getting a little cranky. We need to get everything settled so they're planning on coming over tomorrow if you want to see them."

Rose said she'd try and stop by as they made their way back to Al and Abigail's flat. She stayed around for awhile and helped Al watch Holly as Abigail got some sleep and they put away everything they'd brought back from the hospital. They'd been given a countless amount of nappies and a few blankets and different potions that she'd need to take throughout her first year.

She was sitting on the couch folding some laundry as Al held his almost sleeping daughter. It was beautiful to watch him be completely enchanted by her. He was already a fantastic father and he'd only been one for less than twenty-four hours.

"How are things going with your burn paste testing?" he asked in an undertone so as not to wake his daughter.

"Pretty well, actually. I've been able to work on it the past few weekends, although this one's been a bit of a bust. Not that I mind in the slightest," she said with a smile. "I actually think I might have had a breakthrough last weekend, but I haven't been able to test it out further. I just want a solid product by the time the benefit rolls around, so I'll probably be holed up in my lab for the next month."

"Are you going to go with Abel?" Al asked. The uncomfortable feeling that had recently been accompanying any mention of her boyfriend made another appearance.

"I suppose so," she said with a lazy shrug, focusing on her task of folding and ignoring the look her cousin was giving her. "Is there a reason you keep asking about him?"

She finally glanced up at him but he was watching his daughter as he responded. "You just don't seem that invested and I'm wondering when you might realize you're wasting your time."

"Isn't that a little harsh?" she asked, feeling slightly offended.

"Depends. Are you still talking to that other bloke?" He looked at her, his face showing that he already knew the answer to his question.

"And if I am?" she challenged. He gave a slight shrug and rocked his daughter as Holly gave a soft cry.

"Do you have feelings for him?"

There wasn't judgment in his voice as he asked the question. He merely sounded like he genuinely wanted to know and actually cared about what her response would be. But Rose wasn't entirely sure how to answer his question.

"I don't really know," she said in a soft and unsure voice. "It's a little hard to know how you feel about a person you've never really met, but then again, I can't deny I already know Leo better than I know Abel, which makes me feel horrible."

"Why?"

"Because he's my boyfriend!" Rose almost yelled, cringing a moment later when Holly didn't seem too pleased with her tone. "It just doesn't seem right."

"Which is why I think you need to do some reevaluating," Albus reasoned. It annoyed her how right he was, and the conversation just made her think once again about the letter she had received early that morning. Maybe she should meet him. Maybe it would provide clarity. If she was honest with herself, she knew enough to feel confident that her relationship with Abel wasn't solid, and her relationship with Leo was doing nothing but growing.

"He wants to meet me," she found herself telling her cousin. "Well, to be honest, he's wanted to for awhile," she clarified when Albus looked at her in interest. "I keep putting it off, but I think it'll actually give me some clarity, you know? Help figure out if this thing is real."

"You sure you're ready?" Al asked. Rose rolled her eyes.

"A minute ago you wanted me to figure all of this out."

"I know," he said. "But that doesn't mean I want you to make the wrong decision."

"You think I shouldn't meet him?"

"I think you should try to figure out what you want."

Rose sighed and relaxed back on the couch having finished with her folding.

"Scorpius's ex-girlfriend came to see me today." She said it lazily, but she was watching closely to see how Al would react to this news, and he didn't disappoint. His eyes widened in shock.

"Melinda? Why?"

"Not really sure," Rose said. "It was all rather odd. She went on about how Malfoy and I have some sort of connection and that I shouldn't get attached to him because apparently there's someone else he's interested in."

Al chuckled and shook his head. "Melinda's rather meddlesome at times so I'm not that surprised. She's right though. You two make quite the odd pair."

"We hate each other," she said forcefully, regretting having brought it up. "And!" she continued, sitting forward suddenly when she remembered Melinda's parting words. "He's opening a shop in Diagon Alley, can you believe that?"

"Oh yes," he said with a chuckle. "I was wondering when you'd hear about that."

Rose grumbled as she slouched back on the couch. "This is going to be a disaster."

"Maybe," Albus said, smiling softly down at his daughter. "But you'll be okay."

Rose gave him a grateful yet pessimistic smile. "Thanks, even though I'm not sure I believe you."

Holly eventually fell asleep and Rose left her cousin to get some rest of his own not long after, feeling rather tired herself. She'd made up her mind though, after talking it through with Al a little longer. She wasn't due to respond to Leo until the coming weekend since she'd written to him Friday morning, but she agreed with her cousin. If there was a chance of whatever this thing between her and Leo being the real deal, it might be worth the risk, no matter how terrified she might be to actually go for it.

A/N: Hello all! I want to try and update more frequently but I've been a little blocked lately. Thanks for the kind reviews! Keep them coming. They help get my inspiration wheels turning :)

Happy Reading!