Scorpius opened the door to his and Albus' house the next morning, feeling nervous. He knew he had been hasty and perhaps overreacted slightly last night, but he was upset. Albus must think he was going crazy.
He walked in and Albus was curled up on the sofa, a blanket wrapped tightly around him. When the door shut, Albus' head shot up and he looked at Scorpius with curious eyes. He looked tired, Scorpius thought and instantly felt guilty. There were large bags under Albus' eyes and he looked pale. Scorpius knew he didn't look much better but he became upset that he was responsible for Albus' distress.
"Hey…" Scorpius mumbled.
"Wow, you're back. I thought you would be gone for at least two weeks," Albus said sarcastically and sat up slowly.
"That's not fair, Albus," Scorpius said, glaring at his boyfriend.
Albus bowed his head, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Albus held his hand out for Scorpius and Scorpius walked towards him and took it.
Scorpius sat down beside Albus and leaned into the Potter's side, "Why did you say that?"
"I'm sorry… it just came out. But you do always… run away when we have an argument. Or when anything bad happens. You can't keep doing that, Scor."
"I'm sorry too."
"We need to talk though," Albus placed a comforting hand on Scorpius' thigh, "I didn't realise you hated it here so much. You should have told me."
"I don't hate it here. I do like it but… it's not where I want to spend my whole life. I want to go travelling and experience different worlds and lives before I settle down… If we stayed here… I just don't know if I would ever leave."
"I didn't know you were so excited about New York either."
"I wasn't as much as first," Scorpius buried his face in Albus' neck, "But the more we talked about it and the more we looked into it… the more interested and excited I got. I just… I want to be in a city, Al. At least while I'm young."
"Then we'll go to New York," Albus said simply.
"I don't want to drag you away from here when you like it. You should do what you want and I should do what I want."
Albus looked at him sadly, "Where would that leave us?"
Scorpius sighed, "We could try long distance."
"But that never works, Scor."
"It might be our only possibility."
"No Scor…" Albus held Scorpius' face in his hands and caught his gaze, "I don't want to risk that. I don't want to lose you. I want to be wherever you are. So if you want to go to New York, then we'll go to New York."
"Albus, I can't make you leave here if you love it so much."
Albus smiled, stroking Scorpius' face, "Romania will always be here. That won't change. But if I don't stay with you… we might lose each other."
"Don't say that."
"I'm just trying to be realistic."
"But what if you start to resent me for dragging you away from here?"
"Scorpius," Albus said with an amused smile, "We'll be in New York. New York City! I think I'll be fine. And I'll always be happy if I'm with you."
Scorpius grinned and surged forward, kissing Albus. Albus laughed against Scorpius' lips and kissed back.
"What happened to the cocky, self-confident boy I first met?"
Scorpius frowned and pinched Albus' arm, "You thought I was cocky?"
Albus laughed, "Only a little."
Scorpius twisted Albus until he was pinned underneath him. Albus raised his chin defiantly but Scorpius kissed him harshly regardless. Scorpius' hands began to roam and Albus abruptly ripped Scorpius' shirt off.
"Bloody hell, you are so gorgeous, Al," Scorpius whispered against Albus' lips.
"Oh I know."
Albus and Scorpius both laughed and dove in for another kiss.
Later that evening, Draco paced his living room, taking glances every once in awhile in the mirror. He looked at his reflection and sighed. Damn, he was nervous. It was his and Charlie's first official date. He didn't think he should feel like this. Him and Charlie had spent a lot of time alone together before the incident. This was no different.
Yet it was.
For the first time, they both knew about each other's feelings. Their mutual feelings. Draco would be excited for it, if he wasn't so nervous. When he thought back to it… he had never been on a date with someone he actually really liked.
Draco sighed and thought about how different his life was within a few months. Before coming to Romania he wouldn't have even considered going on a date, especially with a man. He was actually doing what he wanted. What he had desired his whole life. And no matter how nervous he was, he was so full of life.
Draco was adjusting his hair when there was a knock on his door. Draco jumped ever so slightly, before taking a deep breath. He walked up to the door and after a moment, opened it to be greeted by the sight of Charlie. And he was holding flowers.
"You didn't," Draco said flatly.
Charlie thrust out his hand, offering Draco the flowers, "I did."
Draco took them begrudgingly and cocked his head indicating for Charlie to come inside. Draco went into the kitchen and pulled out a jug, and poured water into it, "I still don't appreciate you treating me like a girl."
"Oh, you secretly love it."
Draco turned his head and smiled at Charlie. He placed the flowers in the jar and placed them on the kitchen table, "They look good. Thank you."
"You look good," Charlie said with a cheeky smirk, which Draco responded by shaking his head playfully. Charlie held out his hand for Draco, "Should we go?"
Draco ducked his head, feeling his cheeks flush. He grabbed Charlie's hand, and let him lead him out of the door.
They went to Draco's favourite restaurant, that little Italian place he always went to. Draco instantly relaxed and forgot why he was even nervous in the first place. It was Charlie for Merlin's sake. They talked, laughed and flirted. Charlie hardly stopped holding his hand the whole time. Draco had a warmth in his chest that he only experienced with Charlie.
"So, would it be presumptuous to say that you've never been with a man before me?" Charlie smiled warmly, comfortingly.
Draco sighed, "No… never. I have only ever been with my wife…"
"Have you always known you were attracted to men…?"
"Yes, since I was a teenager."
"Why have you never… y'know pursued it?"
"Articulate as always," Charlie squeezed his hand painfully and Draco laughed, "It's complicated… me and Astoria were engaged even before the war. When Astoria died I just thought I was too old to meet someone. And you know me… always proud, always stubborn. I've spent my whole life resisting these feelings and burying them… Embracing who I really am… is something I've never done before."
"You're amazing, Draco," Charlie whispered, "I'm so glad you are embracing it. And that I can be a part of it."
Draco smiled widely, "I'm glad you are too."
Charlie insisted on paying for the meal and as much as Draco insisted, he ended up letting him. They had a drink in their usual bar and Charlie, uncharacteristically said they should only have one.
They walked back hand in hand and Draco didn't try to resist when he saw other members of the reserve walking past them, and looking. Draco smiled, thinking that for once he was happy and proud to be with someone in his life.
When they reached his home, Draco twisted around to face Charlie, "Thank you for tonight. I had a really great time."
"Me too," Charlie took both of Draco's hands in his and pulled his body closer, "Draco… I- Merlin, I'm nervous. I just want to say… I know you were worried about me being a bit of a… playboy and everything. But… I want you to know that I'm really serious about us… I think I'm falling for you."
Draco turned his head to the side and closed his eyes, "You once said you've fallen for a lot of people…"
"Yes, and I also said that I never missed them anymore or needed them… which shows I wasn't in love with them. But those few weeks without seeing you… I've never felt so terrible in my life," Draco locked eyes with Charlie and felt he was dangerously close to crying, "I don't want to lose you, Draco. I know you're closed off… and I understand that. But I want you to be the one to free you from the shell…"
Draco let his head fall on Charlie's chest, nuzzling in close, "I've never felt this way about anyone before. I really… I really like you. I'm falling for you too…"
Draco felt a hand on his chin and Charlie captured his lips within a second. Draco immediately succumbed and wove his arms around Charlie's neck. He pressed back and kissed Charlie heartingly.
The kiss was short, but sweet and passionate. Draco felt like he was floating. He was absolutely absorbed in Charlie and everything about him.
Charlie pulled away, smiling. Draco looked up at Charlie curiously, yearning for more.
"We need to take it slow, okay? As much as I would… like to, I don't think I should come in," Charlie explained as he stroked the Malfoy's hair.
Draco pouted his lips ever so slightly, but said okay.
They kiss briefly again before Draco opened his door and they said goodnight. Draco watched Charlie walk away, trying to suppress what could only be described as butterflies in his stomach.
~x~
thank you JDTEA and GingerHannah for reviewing! So this is the penultimate chapter aaaah! I've loved writing this story, but it might be a while until I do another Harry Potter story, I'm working on a Fruits Basket one at the moment! Tell me what you think of this chapter, especially the date!