A/N: I know it's been a really, really long time and for that I apologize. I have no idea who the guests are that have been sending me messages to update lately, but this is for you. For not giving up and waiting patiently. It's not the longest chapter, but it is all Fleurmoine goodness and I think you will like it! Enjoy!

AT LONG LAST

CHAPTER 11: DECLARATIONS

The next few weeks seemed to fly by for most of them.

True to her word, Fleur had gone with Bill to get their marriage annulled. It had been an easy enough process and after, they had gone out to dinner and discussed how they would deal with their belongings and the things they owned like the cottage.

Knowing it was all he had, Fleur told Bill he could keep the cottage, including everything in it, since she had her flat in London. He had fought her at first, but in the end, he graciously accepted her offer and they transferred everything to his name only. They also agreed that while they were helping the trio and their friends, that she would stay put and he would come and go. Once everyone had gone, she would move to her flat and then he'd be on his own.

Ron had also apologized to Hermione the day after his outburst and while the brunette had listened patiently, her demeanor towards him had changed. She didn't seek him out and only spoke to him when in a group. Their relationship was obviously strained, but everyone decided to stay out of it and let them come to terms with things on their own time. Ron was mopey and spent a lot of time alone in the room he was sharing with Harry and they all gave him his privacy. Harry wished he could fix the issue between his best friends, but knowing how they worked, he just waited them out.

Luna and Dean spent a lot of time together and he started helping in the kitchen as well to pass the time. It was his way of showing his thankfulness and a big help for Fleur, who could now spend more time with Hermione.

Fleur and Hermione spent countless hours outside of the cottage. They took long walks down the shoreline hand in hand, had picnics on secluded areas of the beach or just cuddled against the trunk of a tree in the nearby wooded area. They spent hours talking about themselves and getting to know each other's likes and dislikes. They read poetry to each other and then spent time discussing the poet's words and their meaning. They talked about their fears and weaknesses. It amazed them both that they were so comfortable with each other, that they could talk about anything without fear of rejection and they could feel their bond strengthening day by day.

The only subject that wasn't brought up often was Hermione's imminent departure. When they weren't together, Hermione spent all of her time meeting with Harry and making plans. Fleur didn't ask much about the plans they were making, since they wanted to keep them as secret as possible, but she did give them ideas and helped with the research.

She also spent time teaching Hermione as many spells as she could hoping that they would keep her as safe as possible. They had even gone to France several times so Hermione could learn to make the healing balm Fleur had used on her as well as the different spells that went along with it.

Her family took Hermione into their folds seamlessly and surprisingly, Hermione had even begun to pick up their language. She already knew a little, but being around them helped her pronunciation. The more she learned, the happier Fleur's family became because they could see her effort in becoming an integral part of their family.

Their nights were spent together as well. They would retire to bed earlier than the rest because it was hard to keep their growing affection for each other at bay when they were with the rest of their friends. They knew Ron was still having a difficult time dealing with their relationship, so they didn't want to rub it in his face.

Their kisses and caresses went on for hours some nights and they had gotten to the point where they only slept in their underwear. While they hadn't made love yet, they were getting bolder and they both knew it was only a matter of time before it happened. However, the fact that they weren't alone in the cottage stopped them. Even with the silencing charms they put on their room, it just didn't feel right for them to go that last step just yet.

That night, it was one of those nights were it was all they could do to stop.

Fleur was lying on top of Hermione, her hips rocking slowly between her legs as they kissed and caressed each other. Their panting breaths and breathless whimpers only drove them further. Candlelight flickered across their sweat slicked bodies and soft music played in the background.

"Fuck," Hermione whimpered when Fleur's rocking hit a particularly good spot between her legs. She was going mad with want as she raked her nails down Fleur's naked back before cupping her arse and pressing her closer.

"I know," Fleur whispered back after she let go of Hermione's stiff nipple with a wet pop. "I don't even know 'ow to stop anymore."

"Why do we stop again?" Hermione moaned as Fleur took her other nipple in her warm mouth. "Seriously, Fleur, this is becoming a nightly torture. We go further and further but we don't ever finish and it hurts! I'm so wet and so swollen I can't stand it sometimes. It feels like I'm in a perpetual state of arousal when you're near me."

Fleur let go of her nipple and rested her forehead in the valley between Hermione's breasts, her breathing choppy and uneven. Her hips came to a stop and she just lay there panting, knowing Hermione was right in everything she had just said.

This had been happening nightly now. As soon as they were alone in their room, they would go at each other like starved animals. Hungry kisses were exchanged as bold hands moved up and down each other's bodies, clothes being thrown around carelessly and impatiently until they were tangled in bed in just their soaking underwear. She couldn't really blame her mate for feeling frustrated and speaking her mind, though.

"Would you rather we didn't do zis anymore?"

Hermione sighed and held her close, wrapping her arms and legs around Fleur's body. She kissed the crown of her head and shook her head.

"No, but honestly, Fleur, I don't know just how much longer we can keep going like this without taking things to their natural conclusion, love. Your marriage was dissolved a few weeks ago and we're free to love each other as we please. I just don't understand why we keep stopping when it's obvious how much we want and desire each other."

Fleur lifted her head and just looked at Hermione for a moment without speaking. She cupped her face and sighed.

"You're still a virgin, 'Ermione, no matter 'ow far we 'ave gone lately. I've yet to touch you zere. I don't want your first time to feel rushed or for other people to be around. When we finally make love, I want us to be free and on our own so zat we can fully express 'ow we feel without fear of interruptions or anyone 'earing us. You deserve a night you will always remember fondly and I aim to make zat 'appen. We just 'ave to be a little patient."

"I don't want to wait anymore!" she exclaimed as tears of frustration filled her eyes. "I have all of these feelings I don't know what to do with and I just want to show you how I feel. I want to feel like I am one with you. I want to know I'm fully yours and you're mine. Is that so hard to understand?"

It broke Fleur's heart to see her mate like that. Seeing the unshed tears felt like a spear was being pushed through her heart. The last thing she wanted was to upset Hermione but it seemed she was hurting her without meaning to anyways. She had to find a way to make her realize waiting was the right thing to do.

"I do understand because I feel ze same way. I want nothing more zan to show you 'ow I feel, to make you feel zings you've never felt before. I want to claim you as mine and give myself to you in every way, but not rushed like zis. I refuse to do zis ze wrong way with you."

"So what then? We keep torturing ourselves nightly and keep waiting? We're never going to be alone in this cottage, Fleur, no matter how much we wish we were. I don't want to go away without us bonding fully and for zat to 'appen we 'ave to make love to each other."

"So you would rather we 'urried zrough zis zan wait a little while longer? You don't care zat ze others might 'ear us? Zat your first time is 'ere in ze cottage zat belongs to my ex-'usband? Because I want so much more for you, but if you insist, I can give you what you want right now, even if you 'ave regrets later. I only want to make you 'appy, mon amour, so I will do whatever you want," Fleur finished despondently, not knowing how else to handle the situation.

Hermione's tears finally fell down her temples and into her hair. She looked at Fleur for a few silent seconds, not sure how to feel just yet. What Fleur had said made sense. Did she really want to hurry through her first time in case someone knocked on the door? Did she really want to make love to her mate in the house her ex-husband had built for her?

The answer was a resounding no and she knew Fleur was right in wanting for them to wait a little longer, or until they had the privacy they deserved. She cleared her throat and sighed tiredly before looking back into Fleur's intense blue eyes.

"I'm sorry if I'm acting like a brat."

Fleur smiled at her as she cupped her face tenderly. Her own eyes filled with tears at the sudden realization that Hermione had become her all. This girl had stolen her heart, mind and soul. She ached for her in ways she hadn't known were possible. She wanted to be with her always and the sudden knowledge stole her breath away. She blinked a few times in vain because the tears fell down her cheeks the second she realized there was no going back, only forward, with this precious, precious angel she was lucky enough to call her own.

And she decided there was no denying how she felt, no use in hiding it because she knew it was reflected in her eyes and Hermione had learned to read her well.

"Je t'aime, 'Ermione Granger," she whispered reverently. "I don't know 'ow or when it 'appened, but I 'ave fallen in love with you and there is no turning back for me. I am yours and yours only from 'ere until ze day I cease to exist."

Hermione's mouth parted in surprise as her eyes widened at Fleur's sudden and unexpected confession. Her heart started beating at a furious pace and she could barely breathe. More tears fell as she cupped Fleur's face.

"Oh, my darling girl, I love you, too!" she whispered back adoringly. "How could I not when you've been nothing but wonderful to me from the moment we arrived. There is just so much to love about you, so much to adore. I'll never stop loving you, either, Fleur. 'Till death do us part."

Fleur lowered her head finally and kissed her passionately, their tears of joy mingling as they held each other close. Their kisses turned from passionate to tender and loving, their caresses no longer meant to excite but to convey all of the love they were feeling.

When they parted naturally, Fleur gathered Hermione in her arms and held her close.

"I promise we'll make time before you leave to go spend a few days alone at my flat in London. No one will know we're zere and we'll be able to show each other 'ow we feel. Talk to 'Arry tomorrow and see 'ow soon we can leave, d'accord, mon ange?"

"D'accord, ma chéri. I will speak to him tomorrow and we'll make plans to go away for a few days." Hermione pecked her lips softly and smiled lovingly at her. "Thank you for that."

"Anything to make you 'appy, as I've said before."

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