"Please," she says looking at his chest. "It scares me when you talk like that."

"It should."

She refuses to meet his eyes and takes a deep breath before responding. "I'm sorry that I used you, Draco. It was wrong and I'm sorry. I took advantage of the way you feel about me and I apologize."

His hand tightens around her arm and she winces. "Don't talk about me like I'm some pathetic loser that you had a pity shag with." He forces her to look at him. "You have feelings for me too and let's be honest with ourselves….. you love the way I fuck you." Ginny's face blushes crimson and he smirks. "Don't you?"

"Let me go." She says tiredly. "I have to check on my son."

"He's my son too."

"Yes, well, I still have to see if he's alright."

"He's fine."

"You don't know that."

"He's in there with Max, isn't he?" she nods. "Then the house-elves are watching them." he eyes her a few moments. "Now answer my question."

"What question?"

He takes a step closer to her, placing his lean body against hers. "You love the way I fuck you, don't you?"

She makes a face and pushes his chest. "Oh, you are disgusting."

He smiles, the stoniness of his face has dropped and his eyes are amused. "And you're wet."

She looks utterly offended, "What are you talking about?"

He leans his head down and his breath is hot on her face. His free hand runs along the top of her knickers. She sucks in a breath and he laughs. "I bet you're ready for me again." His fingers draw little patterns on the soft skin of her legs as he follows the line of her panties. "If you ask me nicely, maybe I'll let you cum again. Even after you've been so bad..."

Embarrassed and angered she squirms away from him unsuccessfully. She clenches her legs tighter together because she knows he's right and she hates herself for it. "Stop it." She says weakly. "I don't want to."

"Really?" he asks lightly as his hand wraps around her back, holding her in place. "I think it's only fair that we see which one of us is right, don't you?"

She shakes her head violently but he tells her to shush. He works his fingers between her legs and smiles down at her smugly when he feels her arousal. "I'm always right." He says. She closes her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder as she gives into his fingers. "I know I've made mistakes." He says softly into her ear as the hand that was around her back lifts up her right leg to give his fingers better access. "the biggest one was choosing to marry Astoria over you… but we're past that now."

She releases a breathy sigh into his ear. He walks her back into a chair and she falls down, he gets in front of her, bent on his knees. He looks deep into her eyes, never breaking eye contact, as he slides the knickers off her body.

"I can make you happy again." He opens her legs and slides his hands up her thighs. "We can start on a new slate." He kisses her sweetly then and works his fingers inside of her. "What do you think?"

"I think," she says softly as his head moves down between her legs. "I think you're the worst thing that ever happened to me."

He lifts his head, with his lips wet from her body. He smiles. "But you love me."

"You wouldn't listen if I said I didn't."

He looks at her then as if he owned her already. "No, I wouldn't." his voice drops an octave. "Give in, Ginny. I want to love you and you want to love me. Will you let that happen?"

Feeling tired and confused and she closes her eyes and feels them sting with tears. He will always get what he wants… "Yes, you win."

He smiles.

X

"Where is my grandson?" Anna Nott walks into the room with her head held high and her back straight and poised. Ginny walks out of the room with the baby in her arms. "Oh, there he is."

Her smile lightens as she takes Jackson and cradles him in her arms. Ginny watches the scene with a heavy heart. Since Theo has been gone Anna has put all of her attention on Jackson… and it makes Ginny feel horribly guilty.

"I know I've seen these eyes before." She says as she smiles down at the blond baby. "Just like my Uncle Thomas." She decides and Ginny turns away.

That is not where those eyes came from. You are not related to him at all, her mind screams. Should she tell Anna that that really isn't her grandson? She should say that the boy is really Draco Malfoy's? She looks again to her former mother in law and her heart clenches. She can't do that to her… she can't take away another family member..

"How are you doing, Ginevra?" she asks in her sharp tongue.

"I'm fine." She answers, stuck in her own thoughts. She goes over to the table and starts to move things around nervously.

"Are you dating again?" she asks bluntly.

Ginny's face shoots up. "What?"

"I heard you are seeing Draco Malfoy now." They look at each other for a few moments. "I want you to be happy, dear, but I will say that you shouldn't be messing around any time soon." She stands up. "I know everybody thinks my Theodore is dead… but I know that he is not!"

The baby starts to cry by her harsh voice and Ginny takes her away from him. "I'm not seeing anyone." She says quietly, bouncing the baby and putting a pacifier in his mouth.

"When we find him…" Anna trails off and the grief lines around her eyes become more pronounced. She sighs deeply and continues. "I do not mean to seem mean, Ginny, but my son is not dead and you are still his wife." She looks to Jackson then. "We don't want to confuse Jackson… he needs to know who is father is."

"He does." Says Ginny with her mind trained on Draco. She walks into the boy nursery and picks up a stuffed lion, handing it to her son. He calms down and rests against her shoulder.

Anna is in the doorway when she turns. "Do you mind if I take him for the afternoon?" she asks with her eyes lingering on the baby.

Ginny worries her lip between her teeth. She doesn't like being away from him for so long, and she doesn't really like leaving him with anyone else. Anna's desperate look makes her change her mind. She knows that she's hurting and she uses Jackson to fill the void. Anna is convinced that she can see traces of Theo in Jackson's face… Ginny hates it when she says that….

"Alright," she says uneasy. "I'll pack his bag."

She goes around the small room and packs diapers, bottles, and toys. With a long hug and kiss she says goodbye to him and he leaves with his "Grandma." With a heavy heart she falls onto one of the large black couches and closes her eyes. When did her world become so messed up? When did she become a single mother with a dead husband, and when did Draco Malfoy become so obsessed with her? Life is not fair.

"Look at you, lazing about all day."

Her eyes snap open and she glares at Draco as he enters the room. With a loud groan she takes a pillow and puts it to her face. "Why can't you ever leave me alone!?"

He pouts and makes a face at Max in his arms. "She's acting like she doesn't like us." He says to the baby. "That's not very nice of her, is it?"

Muffled under the pillow she replies hatefully. "I like him, I just can't stand you."

He laughs at her and takes a seat on the large black couch. He removes the pillow from her head and watches her with a certain fondness in his eyes that makes her want to scream.

"Why do you say such things." he says with a fake sad voice. "You know it wounds me."

He looks around the room and takes in the over stuffed furniture and the play pen against the wall. "Where's my son?" he asks and she scowls at his use of words.

"Your son is in your arms." She answers sharply. "My son is out with his Grandma."

His face screws up in disgust. "I don't like the idea of him spending so much time with your relatives. Their Weasleynish may rub off on him."

That earns him another glare but he doesn't seem to notice. Max begins to fidget around in his arms so she takes him and stands up. "He's out with Theo's mother." She says gently as she scoops up a toy and hands it to the child in her arms. "And don't say anything hateful." She adds knowing he has a nasty comment stored away.

He watches her play with his son for a few moments and then he shakes himself out of his daze. "I do have a reason for coming here." He says suddenly and she looks up from what she's doing to focus on him.

"To annoy me?"

He laughs. "Not this time." He stands up. "I have a surprise for you… I want you to come with me."

She eyes him skeptically. "You're not going to kidnap me or anything, are you?"

Again he laughs but she doesn't smile because it's seems entirely plausible that he would something like that. "You silly girl." He says. "No, come with me I swear you will enjoy it."

Reluctantly she follows. She's too involved with strapping Max in his stroller that she doesn't realize where they've apparated to. When she looks up her breath catches. She's standing in a large meadow full of wildflowers and daffodils. There's a small pond that she knew so well from her childhood down at the bottom of the hill and thick dark trees surround them. She looks behind her and sees the small cottage that her Grandfather built when he married her Grandma.

"Draco…" she says as she looks around the place in amazement. After her Grandma died she never knew what happened to this place. The state had bought it and they were going to tear it down and build some sort of factory here. "How…" she trails off again.

He smiles at her and picks a flower. "I bought it for you."

"But I thought that they were going to tear it down." She says amazed. This was her favorite place when she was a child and she was heartbroken when she learned she would never see it again. "How did you know?"

He hands her the daffodil and she looks at him like it was the first time she's ever seen him before. "You had mentioned that it was important to you… so I thought you'd like it." He walks away from her and surveys the land. "I think it would be a good summer home to visit."

She smiles at him. "You actually listened to me?" she says with a tight throat. She didn't think he was paying attention to her when she mentioned this place so long ago.

He looks her in the eyes. "I listen to everything you say."

This is probably the sweetest thing he's ever done for her. Over come with happiness her senses leave her and she hugs him tightly. "Thank you." She says against his neck.

"I knew you would like it." He says and steps away. With a wave of his wand a blanket is set out with a basket full of food….He set up a picnic too. Ginny can feel her heart beat painfully, where did the old Draco go? "The house needs to go under renovations since it's been abandoned for two years… so we'll have to eat out here."

She watches him as he sets out their plates and situates their food. She takes Max out of his stroller and sits down on the blanket, shielded from the sun by the large branches of the tree they're sitting by. They eat in peaceful silence listening to the calming noise of the wind blowing through the leaves. Max sits patiently on her lap and she smiles down at him. She does love the little guy, she's been by him since he was a month old and she doesn't feel like she could be with out him, just like her own son.

She studies Draco as he leans against the tree and eats an apple. He's looking around the field through narrowed eyes because of the sun and his cheeks have a faint blush to them because of the heat. Wearing casual clothes and his hair is a mess, he barely looks like himself and she decides she likes him this way. He is a good looking man… She wishes that Jackson could be here now to enjoy this happy moment, one of the few she has had in a while. She looks to Draco again and he smiles at her. Could she be a family with him after everything that's happened?

"This is wonderful." She says breaking the silence. "Thank you, Draco." She hasn't been content like this in a long while.

"I like it when your happy." He replies. "Do you want to walk around for a bit before we go back?"

She nods her head and stands up with the baby in her arms. Draco's hand rests on her back as they explore the grounds. She recounts stories to him about her summers here when he was a girl and he seems generally interested in them. She almost forgets all the terrible things he's done and she barely even thinks about Theo. They reach the pond and she smiles at the old wooden swing that hangs off of a low swinging branch on a tree.

"Do you want to swing?" he asks her lightly, watching her reaction.

"I might."

"I'm a very good pusher," he says enticingly in her ear. She giggles then and sits on the swing, placing Max in her lap.

With one hand she holds onto the rope of the swing, with the other she holds the baby to her chest. Draco starts pushing her lightly and she closes her eyes, barely believing that this is actually happening. Suddenly the movement has stopped and she opens her eyes and her mouth sets in a frown.

She feels his breath by her ear and his shadow shields her from the sun. "I can give you anything you want." he says against her skin.

She pauses for a moment and then looks over her shoulder at him. His hands are holding on to the ropes on either side of her body and he's crouching down so that his face is only an inch above hers, making his hair fall around his face. Her mind flashes with thoughts of his cruelty and of Theo but she pushes them aside. She's tired of feeling bad and guilty all the time. She's tired of thinking. She can't help herself… she kisses him.

X

Well equipped with two kids and a pocketful of Draco's money, Ginny goes to the grocery store. She's going to make him dinner tonight to repay him for the kindness he showed her yesterday, she still can't believe it. Her mind keeps on telling her that it wasn't real, that it was just a dream of hers but in her heart she knows it's true. Maybe this is a chance to actually be normal with him. She knows he's never going to leave her alone and deep down a part of her does want to be with him… so she may as well make the best of the situation, right?

She goes down the produce aisle a picks up a few tomatoes, weighing them in her hands and checking them with her fingers. She places them in her cart and smiles down at Max and Jack who look up at her with wide eyes. They both have pacifiers in their mouths and they're sleepily looking around the store… it's almost time for them to take a nap.

"What do you think, my little men? Do you think your daddy will like my cooking?" she asks them both.

Max gurgles something in reply and Jack lifts up his arms so she'll hold him. She bends down and kisses his cheek. When she stands up she runs her fingers through Max's dark hair and sighs happily. How could you not love boys like them?

"Ginny?" a deep uncertain voice is behind her.

She turns and stares in disbelief at Greg Goyle and she looks around nervously for a quick exit. "Hi." She says awkwardly as she places her hands tight on the cart that holds the children.

"I need to talk to you." He says roughly.

She looks around the store. "Why?"

"It's about your husband."

Her head snaps to him then and she frowns. "What about him?" she snaps, not knowing what he's going to say.

"Do you honestly think it was accident?" he says, looking deep into her eyes.

Her breath quickens. "Okay, I'm leaving." She says quickly and starts to walk away from him, pushing the cart in front of her. What does he think he's doing talking about Theo? Opening old wounds? Why did he do this in a grocery store?

"Wait," he says to her, but she doesn't look back. She remembers the night at the charity event where he snapped at her. He's probably just messing with her because he doesn't want to see her with Draco. "Don't tell Malfoy."

She ignores him again and pays for her things. When she leaves the store she hurries back to Malfoy Manor where Draco's waiting for her with a kiss. She can't bring herself to tell him about her encounter with his friend Goyle, and she can't understand why.

X

It's morning and she stretches her self out like a cat on Draco's bed. He watches her as he gets ready for work. Her naked body stands out boldly against the darkness of his sheets. He smiles to himself as he puts the green tie around his neck. Things are working out exactly as he had wanted them to.

She opens her eyes slowly and looks at him under thick lashes. Desire pools inside of him and he almost jumps on the bed and takes her again. He controls himself though and gives her a lazy smile. "Good morning, beautiful."

She smiles at that and sits up, grabbing his discarded tee-shirt from the floor. She pulls it on and yawns as she walks towards him. Her hands automatically go to his tie and she starts doing it up for him. He smiles at her, she's only been officially seeing him for a week, but she's falling into her old habits.

"Do you have to go into work today?" she asks, her voice still thick with sleep.

He sighs. "Yes, I must." He says regrettably. He kisses her then. "Give the boys my love." He says and then leaves.

She looks back at the clock and sighs. The kids won't be up for another hour. She falls onto his mattress and closes her eyes, marveling at how comfortable it is. A pang of guilt goes through her. What is she doing here? Is it the right thing? She shakes her head and sits up, too many thoughts are going through her head and she won't be able to go back to sleep.

She starts looking around his room for something to entertain herself until the kids need her. She flips through books on his shelves and picks up small statues that decorate his room… nothing holds her attention. She goes to his side table and opens the drawer. Inside is a bunch of keys that she suspects goes to the house. Bored again she goes to shut it, but something in the back catches her eyes. She puts her hand down and pulls out a pair of sleek, expensive looking glasses.

She lays back against the pillows with the glasses in her hand and she studies them closely. Draco doesn't wear glasses and this pair looks oddly familiar to her. She can't place it but she knows she's seen them before.