I let that tear make its way down my cheek, not bothering to brush it back, and with it, my pain. So Draco did care for me. I should be happy, for that is what I wanted, is it not? But still, the loneliness did not subside. Some of the pain and the anger left, but the loneliness was still there, still as painful as before.

Suddenly, as if compelled by some outside force, I swung my legs over the bed and I walked to my door. Slowly, I turned the handle and made my way outside of my room. I crept towards the living room where I saw Draco staring thoughtfully into the fire. I crept towards him and tentatively touched his shoulder. I saw him tense up but then relax again upon realizing that it was only me.

"Draco…" I whispered softly, not sure whether it was safe to venture any further.

"Yes?" he asked in what sounded like a tired voice.

I ventured closer to him until finally I just climbed into him lap like I used to do before he got so mad at me. Instinctively, Draco began to stroke my hair as he pulled me closer to him.

"I'm sorry, Draco," I whispered into his shirt, another tear running down my cheek.

"I know, Peach, I know."

"Last chance?"

"Last chance."

I sat there, still in his lap for another couple of minutes, both of us silent and content in each others company. Finally I spoke up, "I don't really hate you, you know? I don't think I know how to."

Abruptly, Draco stopped stroking my hair. He pulled me a little closer to himself before responding. "I know, Pans. But you must never say that again. You challenged the devil in me, and next time, I may not win."

"I won't, I promise."

"Now, I think that you should be getting to bed."

I clung tighter to him, "I don't want to be alone yet."

Draco laughed. "There you are. I wondered where my Peach Blossom had hidden just now. Tell you what; I will sit with you in your bed until you fall asleep."

I smiled a small smile that I was sure he didn't see. "Thank you."

Draco picked me up and carried me into my bedroom and deposited me on my bed. Then he sat down and began to stroke my hair again until I had fallen asleep.

The next morning I woke up alone in my room, but at least I had the reassurance that today, I would not be met with my fiancés silence. I stretched out and smiled to myself before curling up into a ball. My life was coming back together and I was happy again. Sure, I had made sacrifices along the way. I had given up a friendship and made another one with someone I didn't particularly like. I had given up a good deal of my pride, but instead, I had Draco.

Suddenly the door to my room opened and Draco crept in. "Oh, good, you're awake. I thought that you were going to sleep the day away."

"What do you mean?" I asked, burying myself deeper in the covers.

"It is almost noon. You didn't forget that you're supposed to meet Daphne at one, did you?"

"Oh, bother."

"Pansy," Draco said in a warning tone.

"I just mean that I have to leave the warmth of my bed. I haven't slept this well in, well, maybe not ever."

"Yes, well, you have obligations." I groaned, preparing to hear the "obligations speech" again, but, much to my surprise, Draco did not reiterate the lecture. "Come, I must insist that you get up."

I sighed but pulled myself from my bed and headed towards the shower. When I emerged, I found that Draco had picked out the clothes that I was to wear. Although I had the option of selecting my own clothing, I decided that I wasn't willing to risk my happiness on something as trivial as which clothes I was going to wear.

I pulled on the outfit that Draco had selected for me and then walked over to my vanity. I quickly brushed my hair and applied make up. The final touch I added were my simple white gold hoop earings and a necklace with a simple emerald stone pendant hanging on the end.

"What is the significance of those earrings?"

I spun around swiftly, sighing in relief when I saw that it was just Draco, leaning against the doorway. "You startled me," I said.

Draco pushed himself away from the doorway and walked towards me. "I didn't mean to. Anyway," Draco continued, pushing my hair away from my ear so that he could see the earrings better, "what significance do these earrings hold?"

"I don't know what you mean. I like them because they are simple and they match with everything."

Draco tilted his head and then slowly shook it. "No, I don't think that is the truth. Do you know how I know that isn't the truth?"

"No, Draco, I don't know why you would suppose that."

"I 'suppose that' because you only wear those earrings when you are happy and life is running relatively smoothly. You didn't wear them on Christmas, so I knew something was off. You didn't wear them after our disagreement in January, yet you wore them on the first day of classes, on the day after Christmas, and you're wearing them now. Every time things go from bad, to good, you put on those earrings. That is how I know that you're lying to me and that those earrings hold more significance to you then the fear of lying to me."

I looked at Draco, a look of mild surprise on my face. "You are a very good observer."

"You are my fiancée, I have to be. Now, tell me why you wear them."

I looked away from Draco's searching eyes, realizing that I had underestimated him. I slouched momentarily before sighing in recognition. "It is stupid, really. Umm, these earrings are the only piece of jewelry that I own that someone didn't pick out for me. They are the only pair that wasn't forced on me in some attempt to make me…make me…well, I don't know, really. I guess that you could say that they represent freedom. When I am with my parents, I am chained to there rules and their beatings. When you are angry at me, I am chained to my unhappiness. When all is well in the world, I can be me. So I wear the only pair of earrings I actually picked out."

"But, Pans, you're chained to me," Draco whispered.

I looked at him and smiled softly. "I know, but it isn't repressive, like everything else. I know that there are rules and guidelines, but I am happy, and therefore, I am free."

"You are a funny little thing, you know that. Now come, a Malfoy must never be late,"

I smirked at him cheekily before reply, "But I am not a Malfoy."

Draco smirked right back as he replied, "Nor will you be if you keep that train of thought. Now off you go."

I got up and started to walk out of the room. Just as I reached the door, I looked back and stared at the boy that was looking through my jewelry with a pensive look on him face. He must of sensed that he was being stared at because he suddenly looked up, straight at me. He raised a single eyebrow when he realized that I had stopped walking towards my destination. "Yes?"

I smiled to myself and shook my head. "Nothing. I'm going, I'm going."

I walked out of the room, happy that finally, things seemed to be looking better for me and Draco, hoping that this time, I wouldn't find some way to screw it all up.