Chapter 20
The sky was cloudy with autumn. Rose knew that it was cold outside, but at the current moment it looked cold as well. Standing in her kitchen Rose waited for the coffee to brew, taking in the scents of the early morning.
"Regret anything yet?" a husky voice said behind her.
Smiling to herself Rose turned around and lopped her arms around Scorpius neck "Are you asking me if I regret coming after you last night?" she said seeing the playful expression in his eyes. Pretending to think the question over "Not yet," she answered deviously.
Scorpius tickled her sides making her squirm "Better not be ever," and he kissed her.
Chuckling Rose pulled away from him and reached for her mug, "So I've got coffee and I've got coffee, which do you prefer?"
He stared at her in amazement "What you've got is a problem," he stated grabbing the coffee cup that she was already holding out to him.
They both stood on opposite sides of the kitchen staring at each other, while they slowly sipped, occasionally giving smiles as they did so. They almost didn't know what to do, this was real and it was happening.
Placing her cup down Rose looked back out the window, subconsciously pulling on the sleeve of her overly large sweater, which fit more like a dress. Staring back at Scorpius she wasn't sure what to say, instead rubbing the back of her foot along the skin of her calf.
Biting her lips, Rose felt his eyes on her, studying her, and she could not shake the feeling that this was the first of what was going to be a familiar scene; the scene of waking up to him and feeling that everything was right.
"Rose," he said pulling her from her thoughts.
Her gaze shifted to him "Hmm,"
"What are you doing?" he asked genially curious.
Rose only gave a soft smile "Thinking,"
Scorpius nodded his head, walking towards her "Good thoughts or bad thoughts?" he asked placing his hands on either side of her hips.
"Great thoughts," she whispered, running her hand through his hair.
Tugging her closer to him, Rose ran her hand down his shoulder, sliding her arms through his, so that she was hugging him. "I'm having my own great thoughts at the moment, as well."
"Oh really?" she quirked up an eyebrow while tracing a fingernail up and down his back.
"Umm hmm," he mumbled lowering his lips to her neck and pushing her backwards so that she was against the counter.
Rose felt her nerves on the edge of speeding. Finding his mouth she kissed him in a rushed way, almost as if she couldn't get enough of it. Digging her hands into the skin of his back, Scorpius moaned. He pushed against her harder and lifted her easily with one hand onto the counter.
It was as if Rose was living off these kisses. How much time she had wasted by running from him. Six years of her life that could have been spent with Scorpius Malfoy down the drain, all because of a single choice that she had made years ago.
Rose liked to say that she didn't have regrets, but she had one, and that was letting him go. She let him walk out of her life, taking the chance that she would never get him back. Admittedly she was young and confused, and she needed to find out who she was without his or her parents influence. But in the end what she found was that she wasn't herself without him, because they belonged together.
Separating their mouths, Scorpius breathed. Rose ran her hand across his forehead brushing hair out of the way. Pausing she looked into his eyes, she knew somewhere deep within him, there was a fear that she would leave him again. It was a fear which she had put there unintentionally and it killed her to know it.
Cupping his face in both her hands, Rose kissed his forehead, "I'm sorry I didn't fight for you before. I'm sorry that I didn't know what I wanted, and was too weak to stand up for you."
Scorpius closed his eyes, lowering his head; he pressed his forehead to her, his hand clutching to her check, strumming his thumb across her skin. "You eventually did fight for me and that's what counts. We can't change the past, but we have the future,"
Rose breathed in the same air that he did, she knew he only said that to make her feel better but she had to make sure he understood "Look at me," she whispered. He did, with an intense stare that had an array of emotions in it. "I'm going to fight for you every day for the rest of my life," she reassured. She wasn't going to make the same mistakes twice, especially when it came to him. "I promise,"
Tightening his grip around her waist, he hugged her tightly. "I love you," he said into her ear.
Rose let out a quick breath, holding him she laid her head on his shoulder "I love you too,"
Rose sat stiffly at her desk, with an unreadable expression on her face. Matt sat across from her, with his heels on his desk and his hands behind his head. He was beyond happy that he was off file duty, although he had been nervous that he was going to lose his job, after he went with Rose to rescue Scorpius.
"You know, I thought that you would be a bit happier that we're partners again." He commented.
Rose pulled her attention to Matt, "I am," she said quickly "I'm just worried is all," she admitted leading her gaze back to the direction of Cornell's office.
"Will you relax," Rose could on glare at Matt, that was easy for him to say, she didn't have worry about him possibly going back to London, because he couldn't get a job in the New York auror department. "Listen, Cornell likes him, he'll get the job."
But Rose didn't hear his words; instead she went back to fretting over what was taking Scorpius so long in Cornell's office. Finally after another half hour the door opened up and Scorpius walked out.
Rose's eyes were glued to him, as he nodded his blond hair for her to talk to him outside of the office. Not realizing that she was holding her breath she stood up slowly.
"Don't freak out yet Rose," Matt stated knowing his friend well, as she passed him.
Reaching Scorpius she followed him out of the office into the stair well. "So," she said as soon as they were out of earshot.
Scorpius gave an indifferent shrug, not saying a word, which prompted Rose to hit him on the arm. "What happened in there?"
"He said he's not one to give second chances," his voice flat.
Rose crossed her arms giving a deadly glare to him "Scorpius this is not funny." Pursing her lips together she gave a heavy growl "Please just tell me are we moving back to London or not?"
She hadn't told Matt or Carla about this yet, but last night Scorpius asked what would happen if he didn't get the job, and Rose's first response was "Then I guess I'm moving to London," Now she didn't want to do that by any means but if he was going then so was she.
Scorpius chuckled at her frustration "I got the job," he finally said, relieving Rose of her worries.
Rose stepped closer to him, with a smirk on her face "You're awful for putting me through that," but her voice was upbeat and cheerful.
Giving her a quick kiss, "I had to have my fun,"
Rolling her eyes "Yes, well now that you have had it, what's the next step?" she rubbed her hand up his arm.
Scorpius thought for a moment "To find an apartment," he said simply.
Rose's smile fell slightly, "An apartment," she repeated.
Scorpius smiled "I refuse to go back into the auror departments housing, especially if I am staying indefinitely."
"Oh," she said hoping that her face looked excited even though she was far from it.
"I thought you would be happier," Scorpius said shocked.
Shaking her head of the silly thought she was having, she pushed a bright expression on her face "I am happy dear,"
"Good," he said engulfing her in a hug. Tightening her arms around him she nuzzled her head into his shoulder, with a scowl on her face.
Rose was thrilled that Scorpius was staying, in fact she was beyond thrilled, but there was just one problem and she was staring at it. Giving beady eyes to the black duffle bag, that held all of Scorpius belongings in it, she knew that if he were there he would be shamelessly laughing at her, but she honestly couldn't have cared less. At the current moment in time that bag was the enemy.
Scorpius said he was only temporarily staying with her, just until he found his own apartment. Rose understood, department housing had limitations, she had felt the same way, hence how she ended up in her current apartment, but still in the course of the week that he had been living with her Rose knew two things. First she knew that she never wanted to spend a single night without Scorpius ever again, and second she knew that she wanted that bloody bag permanently out of her life.
Call her insane, but she loved sleeping beside him, waking up next to him, kissing him whenever she desired, touching him, loving him, just being around him. And to her the only thing that stood in between Scorpius staying, and moving was the thin fabric of the duffle bag. She already hated the bag because it was the one he packed to move back to London, but now she despised it. She wanted to see the hideous thing shredded.
Circling around the bag, which was sitting in the middle of her coffee table, Rose crossed her arms, debating what she was going to do with it. Not paying any attention to her front door closing behind her she was slightly startled when a pair of arms wrapped firmly across her chest.
Instinctively leaning into Scorpius, he kissed the side of her face "May I ask what you are doing?"
"I'm debating about how I'm going to mutilate that bag once it's empty," Rose answered through gritted teeth.
"Oh, I see," Scorpius gave an expression as if he understood Rose's train of thought "Purely for curiosities sake, may I ask why you are going to mutilate my bag?"
Sighing, she turned around so that Scorpius still had his arms around her, but she was now facing him "That's the bag you took to leave me," she said with sincerity. "Can you blame me for not wanting it in my apartment?"
Scorpius peered over Rose's shoulder to the bag, stifling a laugh. "Well can you at least wait until I get my own apartment before you go lightening it on fire?"
"I hadn't considered burning it," she joked, taking his hand and leading him to the couch. Sitting down she tucked her legs under her and snuggled her head on his shoulder "Why are you in such a rush to get an apartment? I told you, that you could stay here as long as you wanted,"
Slipping his arm over her shoulder, Scorpius turned his head in and kissed the top of her hair. "It sounds like you don't want me to move,"
Giving a coy smile and an indifferent shrug, that was exactly what she was implying.
"Rose I love you but I cannot live here," he stated sternly.
Rose got a defensive look on her face, "And what's wrong with living here?"
"First of all your apartment is too small for four people," Rose couldn't argue against the statement, so she narrowed her eyes instead. "Hell your apartment is too small for two people."
Playfully hitting him in the arm "And what do you want a penthouse,"
"Did you not see the size of my apartment in London?" he argued.
"That was way too big for one person," Rose gave him a humorous look.
"Bollox," he grunted "That apartment was perfect for a bachelor,"
"Maybe so, but you're not a bachelor anymore," she stated coolly.
A bright smile appeared across Scorpius' face "Very true," Looking to Rose with a loving expression, he kissed her forehead.
Closing her eyes Rose pressed her hand to his neck, moving her head up to kiss his lips. Pulling his body closer to hers, Scorpius slightly lost his balance as he fell forward, pinning Rose between his arms, as she lay down on the couch.
Sliding her back up so that her legs could fully stretch out, she devoured his lips. Allowing him to deepen the kiss and explore her mouth, not caring that she needed air. Never in a million years had she thought that they would end up here in this situation, never had she thought that she could be this physically happy.
Nibbling on his lower lip, she parted hers from his and looked into his eyes, giving a weak smile. Running her fingers down his hair, she readjusted herself so that Scorpius had more leg room, on the couch. Running her sock covered toes along the leg of his jeans, she intertwined her fingers with his. His heat radiating through her body made her warm.
"Do you really want to move into a large apartment?" she whispered more curious than anything.
Kissing the tips of her fingers, he perched himself on his elbow so that he wasn't crushing her "I'll tell you what, we'll go apartment hunting until we find something that suits both our needs," He suggested.
"Scorpius I'm just giving you a hard time, you don't have to find something that is going to make me happy, you being here makes me happy." She said lightly.
Scorpius bent his head down to give her a tender kiss "I don't want to live somewhere that you don't feel comfortable, especially if you are planning on us living together," He said cocking an eyebrow, "and judging by the tone of this conversation I think that's what you are getting at,"
Rose gave a blushing grin. Not even a month ago, she had had a very similar conversation with Rex, and she was terrified with the thought of living with someone else, but she wanted this with Scorpius, "Only if you want to," she ran her fingers across his forehead.
"Rose I want to spend every second of my life with you," he confirmed.
Her cheeks became a deeper shade of crimson, as she skimmed her lips across his, only to turn her head away and get a perplexed expression. "So where does that leave us on the issue of burning the bag?" she looked back to him with wide eyes.
Scorpius shook his head and cupped her cheek "You can throw it in the bloody fire place for all I care,"
Rose got a satisfied smirk as she went to kiss him again.
A/N: Once again sorry. I had to put all my focus and attention in my finales, but they are over now so... I hope you enjoy the chapter. This story only has 9 chapters left until we move on to book 3 yay! Thank you for reading.