A/N: Let me start off by saying that I have this terrible problem with intending to address certain reviews but then forgetting to actually do so in my author's notes. NORMALLY I write my author's note when the chapter is finished, but I get so excited to post the chapter that I keep the author's note shorter than I should and don't say all that I need to say.

Taylor reviewed as a guest and expressed interest in talking about working on sequels however I do not know your penname so I am unable to private message you. You are welcome to send me a private message and we can discuss these ideas further.

Another guest asked about my little American-ism slips…hehe. Oops. I try really hard to write my Harry Potter fanfic stories with British English (I even had to google what the British equivalent of a "fanny pack" is because I knew that isn't what they are called in the UK and it translated to "bum bag"). Yes, I very much appreciate when reviewers give me pointers or correct things when I accidentally use American English. Anyone who would like to point out these things is welcome to do so! It definitely helps to improve my writing.

Umm…I think that covers what I wanted to say in this author's note for the most part. About this chapter…well…ah….just don't hate me, okay? I love you guys!

MofDA

Disclaimer: Same as usual

WARNING: Let's see…language, sexual content, and violence in this chapter.

….

Hugo Weasley left the wedding reception kind of early. His intentions were to go home, grab a change of clothes, and spend the night with Heather in celebration. He hardly dared to believe this was actually happening. She and Fred would probably be the first two in line the following morning requesting a divorce.

But as he threw his clothes into a bag, he heard muffled sobs coming from the room next to his. Who was in Rose's old bedroom? With his wand drawn, he inched into the room to find Rose, curled under the blankets, sobbing brokenly. "Rose," Hugo tucked his wand away and rushed to her.

Comforting his older sister was where Hugo had learned to comfort girls in general, which came in handy in his relationships. Now he wrapped his arms around her and drew her onto his lap. As she cried, clutching his shirt tightly with both of her fists, he rocked her back and forth and cooed soothingly to her.

"Tell me what's wrong," he coaxed. Rose shook her head back and forth violently. "Rosie, it's me, Hugo. You can tell me anything. Don't shut me out. Tell me why you're so upset."

"It's Scorpius."

"Oh Godric…don't tell me he wants a divorce?" Hugo's voice squeaked on the last word.

"No, he doesn't," she replied calmly, with only one hiccup interrupting her sentence. "But I might."

"What? Why? I thought you two were really hitting it off recently!"

"We were until I found out that he has purposefully been hiding something from me," Rose was torn between anger and pain and kept jumping immediately from one emotion to the other.

"What did he keep from you?"

"The fact that he chose me! Hugo, he could have had any muggleborn or half-blood girl he wanted and yet he chose me!"

Hugo's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Shouldn't you be happy about this? If I were you I would be flattered."

"Why did he pick me, Hu?" Rose asked barely above a whisper.

"Maybe because he fancied you?"

"No, he didn't. We barely even knew each other then. Yet I was his first choice. It's suspicious, isn't it? Especially after…after Zabini told me that all of the Slytherin boys were talking about me." She winced after admitting this.

"What?" Hugo snarled. "What were they saying?"

"Zabini said that they all wanted me. He said it was because I was fit and famous."

"And now you think that's why Malfoy chose you?"

"Of course it is! Why else would he have chosen me?"

"I don't know, Rose, maybe because he thought you were pretty and smart and that you would be good for him," Hugo didn't exactly like this situation, but he wasn't going to jump to conclusions the way his sister had. "I'm just saying that Malfoy and Zabini are two separate people. It's possible that they had different motives for wanting you."

"Even if Scorpius did think I was pretty and smart, it still doesn't make any sense. Not if he could have had anyone. There are other smart and pretty girls. Probably others that he was closer to or that would have been happier to be paired with him than I was at first. Why me?"

"Did you ask him?"

"No…"

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't have to. Let's just say that you're right. For argument's sake, let's say that Scorpius simply thought that I was the best option for noble reasons, which I highly doubt. Why would he have kept that from me? Norah told you. Leila told James. Why didn't he tell me? If he had nothing to hide then why would he try to hide it?"

Hugo didn't know what to say in reply to that because, surprisingly, his older sister had a valid point. If Scorpius was unashamed of his choice and his motives, why wouldn't he have been honest with her from the start? "Perhaps you should talk to him."

"Why? So he can lie to me and manipulate me some more?"

"Alright, if you truly believe what you're saying, then why did you say that you might divorce him? Because the Rose I know would already be at the Ministry, camped out all night, waiting for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to open."

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do know, now tell me why you haven't decided whether or not to get a divorce?"

So quietly he almost missed it, Rose averted her eyes and said, "Because I love the bastard."

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Hugo had heard her but didn't believe his own ears.

"I said, 'BECAUSE I LOVE THE BASTARD'!" she shouted. Hugo leaned back, eyes wide and her vehemence.

"When did that happen?"

"When James and Al told me about purebloods getting to request who they wanted to marry. I was so hurt, Hugo. You've no idea. I felt like he broke my heart. That was when I realized…how could he break my heart unless he had it in his hands? Somewhere in the past month, I fell in love with him."

"Are you sure it's not just infatuation or lust? Maybe that's the sex talking…"

Rose chuckled. "No, it's not. I love the way he listens when I talk and takes my opinion seriously. I love the way he reads out loud to me in bed at night. I love the way he challenges the way I think and can have intellectual discussions with me in the way that most blokes can't. I love the way he always knows how to make me laugh and smile…"

"So what you're saying is that he's never, in any way, made you think that he doesn't care about you? Whether his reasons were selfish ones or not, it sounds like eventually fell for you. Trust me, he wouldn't do any of those things if he was only in this for sex and power."

Hugo's use of the word 'power' triggered something in her memory. Scorpius had told her that his grandfather was the one who suggested using her to further his own career and social standing. As a result, Scorpius didn't trust himself to be in a position of power and ended up changing his career choice. If it had been his grandfather who planted the notion in his mind, then he truly hadn't agreed with what Zabini was saying about her in their dormitory.

"Rose? You have that far-away look…"

"I'm just thinking. Merlin, I'm so tired," she relaxed in his grip and Hugo pressed his cheek to the top of her head.

"Do you want to sleep?"

"I think I should. I don't know what to think, Hugo. I'm so afraid of making the wrong decision."

"You could always test your marriage bonds."

"What?"

"You don't have to necessarily file for divorce, just go and have them test the strength of your marriage bonds. If they're strong on his part, then he meant them." Hugo shrugged. "It's the only way you can know for sure."

"I'll consider it. You go on and meet up with Heather. She's probably waiting for you."

"How did you know?"

Rose motioned to the pair of boxers that Hugo had forgotten he was still holding tightly in his fist. "I'm assuming you only came home to grab a change of clothes."

"See, Sis? You're smart. You'll figure this thing out. Just…promise me you won't do anything rash."

"Okay, Hu, I promise. Love you, little brother."

"Love you, too." Hugo pulled the covers back. Rose climbed in and was asleep before Hugo closed her bedroom door behind him.

….

The following morning she found herself strangely groggy upon waking. Probably because she hadn't slept very well at all and had stayed up so late the night before. Then why was she awake? It was only half past seven! With a groan she rolled over and pulled the pillow over her head.

Tap tap tap. Ah. There it was. Apparently it was that blasted owl's fault! Grumbling all the while, she disentangled herself from the bedding and stumbled over to her window. She felt sick to her stomach when she recognized the owl as Scorpius's.

She had half a mind to not accept the owl. But she couldn't bear the thought of sending it away without even reading it. What if it was important? With the sort of dreaded determination one might have on the way to his own execution, she let the owl in and took the letter from him.

Her eyes scanned the letter twice before really letting his words sink in and reading them one at a time to get the full meaning. By the end of the letter, Rose could hardly think past the expanding emotions in her chest.

Her Scorpius. Her lovely, amazing, wonderful husband had been trying to protect her? What a Gryffindor type of thing to do! That was when her brain and her heart decided to make a compromise.

Hugo had said that the only way to know for sure whether Scorpius was being genuine or not was to test his marriage bonds. But Rose knew now that she didn't have to. She knew the truth already. Marriage was about trust and love and mutual respect. If she wanted his trust and respect and love, then she would give the same things to him.

If she wanted Scorpius, all of him, heart, mind, body, and soul, then she would give herself to him equally in return. It was only fair.

…

Scorpius didn't know what to do. He hadn't heard from Rose yet and it was almost nine in the morning. Had his owl missed her? Had he been too late? Worse; had she read the letter, decided it was a lie, and went to the Ministry anyway? Merlin, he couldn't take this. He was going to have some sort of break down.

"Stop pacing," Draco sipped at his tea and watched his son warily as Astoria and Draco sat in the dining room. Scorpius had originally planned on joining them for breakfast, but found that he couldn't eat a thing.

"She'll come around," said Astoria gently. "I know she cares for you, Scorpius. Your father and I have been living in this house with the two of you for the past month. We can be perceptive when we want to be."

"Yeah, well, you've been seeing the good side of Rose," he remembered Albus Potter's words about Rose being the best and the worst. "She has a stubborn side that-"

"Let me guess," mused Draco with obvious amusement. "She blows up and gets mad before reasoning through things which normally results in her doing or saying something extreme? Then, later, she has time to think it over but sometimes it's too late and her rash reaction comes around to bite her in the arse?"

"Er – yes."

"Hermione did say she was just like her father," Draco unrolled The Daily Prophet lazily.

"This isn't funny, Dad," groaned Scorpius as he covered his face with his hands. "My wife might be reversing our bonds right now!"

"She can't have the bonds reversed without you there," Astoria corrected.

"Fine! You know what I mean! She could be asking the Ministry to perform the un-bonding ceremony!"

"Calm down, dear, have a croissant."

"I don't want a bloody croissant!"

"Rin!"

"Yes, Master Draco?" Rin immediately popped into the room at the summons of Draco Malfoy.

"Astoria and I are going out for the rest of the day as our son is acting like an immature angsty teenager. Be sure he eats something, alright?"

"Yes, Master," Rin squeaked. Draco quirked an eyebrow at his son, daring him to argue with these orders. He was basically assigning Scorpius a babysitter in the form of his house elf.

Scorpius scowled but said nothing as his parents left. Angrily, he stomped his way up to his bedroom. "…treating me like a damn child…don't they understand…fucking hell, why haven't I heard from her yet? Even a jovial 'sod off!' would be better than nothing!"

As he approached his bedroom door he heard sounds. He paused. Was someone else here? Surely no one could have entered the house without him knowing about it. Unless his parents had come back for something?

The sounds were coming from down the hall, in Rose's room. The music room. The room where they spent most of their evenings together watching muggle movies and discussing books. It had become more than just her room; it was their room.

Piano music. His heart leapt in his chest. He recognized the way the melody was played. It was being performed in a way that only she could manage. Pachelbel's Canon in D. It had been a while since he'd heard her fingers stroking those particular notes in that particular order. She hadn't played that song since the day he'd proposed.

Hoping desperately that he wasn't just dreaming, he let his feet carry him to the room. He hesitated for only a second before reaching for the doorknob. When he pushed the door open, the beauty of the music almost overwhelmed him, but what was even more shocking was the girl seated at the piano.

It was Rose, of course, with her back to him, her long curly hair flowing down her back in sweet cascades of crimson and…what was she wearing? He inched closer to discover that she was wearing the most risqué piece of lingerie he'd ever seen her in. It was a black lacey number that had thin straps and the cups didn't even cover her breasts as they dipped so low they barely concealed her nipples from his hungry gaze.

The one-piece lingerie clung to her curves deliciously and made her shapely arse really stand out, even though she was still seated! Scorpius swallowed hard. Her lace-clad center was only just out of his view as the frilly bottom of her outfit barely reached her sex.

His eyes followed her creamy thighs down to her knees, her silky calves, and – oh Godric! Those black stilettos on her feet made him even harder, the bulge in his trousers almost painful. Unsure as to whether or not he wanted to wait for her to finish the song before ravishing her, he licked his lips unconsciously while her blood red nails danced on the keys.

As the last note died away into silence, Scorpius put his large hands on her shoulders and said, "I'm sorry."

"No," Rose stood and turned to face him. "I'm sorry. I did warn you that when we fought I would run off."

"You did," he agreed as he used his leg to push the piano bench aside so he could press himself against her. "But you also promised that you'd always come back."

"And I did." Their lips met in a mixture of passion, desire, and longing. This is what they needed. And sweet Circe, if this was her way of apologizing then he should make her feel guilty more often!

His hands cupped her bottom and lifted her onto the piano keys. They rang out in a clanging of out-of-tune noise as he dropped her onto them and pressed his erection into her center. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he could feel the sinful prick of her heels on the backs of his thighs.

A groan escaped him as she stroked him through his trousers before impatiently tugging them open and dropping to her knees on the floor before him. Those blood red lips wrapped around his cock and he barely had time to register the amazing sizzle of pleasure before he was fully encased by her, the mouth he loved to kiss was tasting him for the first time and – oh fuck – he was going to bust in mere seconds if she kept sucking like that.

When she brought a hand up to cup his balls and moaned around him, his knees almost gave out. Swiftly he bent to grip her upper arms and pulled her up, slamming her back down on the piano keys. Knowing what he wanted, Rose spread her thighs wide, giving him the best view he'd ever had in his life.

His witch, opening herself to him, panting breathily, wearing the sexiest damn thing he could have imagined, begging him to fuck her. After enjoying the view for a moment, he gave in to what they both craved so desperately and pushed himself into her tight opening.

Fucking hell she was tight, hot, and slick around him as he buried himself inside her. His head dropped down to the crook of her neck, panting against her pulse point while his hands moved to pull the flimsy cups down so he could roll her nipples between his fingers as he thrust roughly into her.

There wasn't exactly anything sweet about this. It was desperate, wild, almost animalistic. The only noises filling the room were their moans, panting, flesh slapping against flesh, and the banging of piano keys.

As he drove himself into her silky center again and again and again, Rose found herself staring into his beautiful light blue eyes. She wanted so badly to tell him that she loved him. The words were ringing through her head so loudly that she wouldn't be surprised if he could hear them. I love you, I love you, oh gods, Scorpius, I love you!

But she didn't want to say it the first time in the midst of passion. Knowing Scorpius, he wouldn't believe her because she said it while he was shagging her, and she didn't want to have to convince him of the truth later. Instead, she bit down onto his neck and kept herself from saying those three little words.

His thrusts were wild now and so quick she could barely keep up with him and eventually she gave up trying and instead just let herself get lost in the pleasure of it, letting out sharp cries every time his hips met hers in unrelenting power.

"Scorpius, please, I need to feel you…to feel you inside me," she managed to gasp.

"I am," he grunted in response.

Rose shook her head, kissed his lips chastely and clarified, "I need to feel you finish inside of me. I need to feel your hot essence filling me up and – Oh!" at her words, he found his release and, as requested, spilled himself deeply inside of her, reveling at the fact that this is what sparked her own orgasm. Her body trembled in his arms and her nails bit into his forearms as she continued to grind herself against him, lost in her pleasure.

As they both came down from their highs, Scorpius continued to pepper her face with sweet kisses. Rose's deep blue eyes, still slightly glazed over, met his, and she opened her mouth. Now was the moment. She would finally tell him the words he'd been longing to hear for so long… "Scorpius, I-"

"Master?" Rin the house elf popped into the room. Rose gave a startled squeal and scrambled to cover herself as best as she could with the flimsy lace she was wearing. Scorpius pursed his lips but kept his back to the elf as he tucked himself into his trousers, zipped them, and turned to face her.

"What is it, Rin?"

"Rin is sorry to bother you, Master and Mistress, but Master Zabini just Flooed into the sitting room. You needs to hurry, Master Scorpius, he seems angry."

"Ah, bloody hell," Scorpius ran a hand through his hair. "I'll go talk to him."

"I'm coming with you!" Rose stood on shaky legs (shagging Scorpius always left her feeling so sated and weak!)

"Rin, fetch her a robe, will you?" With two sharp cracks, Rin had disappeared and reappeared almost instantaneously with a robe. Rose slipped it on and followed Scorpius down to the sitting room.

Nathan looked crazed when they saw him. He was pacing quickly, wringing his hands together, and he was scowling at the carpet beneath his feet as he tread across it. "Nathan," Scorpius said in confusion. "What brings you here?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Malfoy! I went to talk to Norah this morning and she's not at her flat! She's not at Albus's flat either! Where are they?"

"On their honeymoon," said Scorpius with a frown. "Did you need her for something? Maybe I can help-"

"What about Dominique? I went to her flat today, too, and she wasn't there either!"

"What do you want with Dominique?" asked Scorpius. Rose was still on the steps that led down to the sitting room, not coming fully into the room as the look on Nathan's face made her just slightly apprehensive.

"We were supposed to get married today and that bint thinks she can just walk out on me? I'm not a fucking doormat! I don't care if the Ministry abolished the marriage law or not! We were still engaged and I think that I at least deserve the chance to talk to her!"

Scorpius said calmly, "You can't force Dominique to have affection for you, Nathan. Woo her, be patient and gentle. She's a woman, for Merlin's sake, not a dog!"

Something was wrong with this picture and both Rose and Scorpius knew it. Rose could just sense it, but for Scorpius it was more than that. Just the night before Nathan had been almost happy at the thought of not getting married, but now he wanted to force Dominique into it? What the hell?

Rose was watching the scene before her unfold with trepidation. Nathan was clearly beyond reason. He had his wand out, pointed at Scorpius, but they were a good distance away from each other. She was standing at the bottom of the staircase, off to the side of the arguing duo, safely out of the way.

"Just tell me where I can find her," Nathan said through gritted teeth.

"I honestly don't know, but even if I did I wouldn't tell you," Scorpius sighed and shook his head. "You can't talk to her like this, mate, are you drunk? Listen, there are plenty of spare rooms here, take a nap, sleep it off, and maybe when you wake up you can talk to her-"

"I'M NOT DRUNK! I just want to – to talk to someone! Where did Norah and Albus go on their honeymoon?"

Scorpius didn't answer his question but asked instead, "What do you need to talk to her about?"

"About coming back home you ignorant tosser! She can't just marry that Potter git and not even invite our parents to the wedding. What kind of slag does that? Ungrateful bitch!"

"She didn't want them there so they weren't invited. End of."

"No, that's not the end. She wouldn't even speak to me last night. I'm her fucking brother."

"You don't always act like it," Scorpius stated bluntly.

"Tell me where the fuck they are, Malfoy of I'll fucking kill you!" Nathan roared. Rose debated on going upstairs to get her own wand, or Scorpius's, as they'd both foolishly left them in the music room in their haste to reach Nathan, but she couldn't tear her eyes off of what was happening.

"No," Scorpius replied steadily.

"Fuck you, Malfoy! She's going to be my wife and I'll treat her however I damn well please."

"Then you'll end up in Azkaban. Again." Scorpius said in exasperation.

"This is your last chance," snarled Nathan between gritted teeth. "Tell me where Norah and Dominique are or you'll regret it."

Scorpius looked entirely unconcerned. "No." He repeated.

Rose knew what was going to happen before Scorpius did. She saw Nathan's eyes change, like a wild animal just before it attacked. She was already running when the word left Nathan's lips. "Sectumsempra!"

With nothing else for her to do, Rose spun sideways and took the curse against her back, her front facing Scorpius's shocked expression. The curse hit her with such force that it pushed her forward, into Scorpius's arms. He caught her easily.

The expression on her face was full of surprise but not pain. Her pupils were dilated and her plump red lips were forming a soft O. "Rose," her name escaped him in a raspy voice as she sagged in his grip.

Behind her, Nathan was sweeping out of the mansion like a bat out of hell, but Scorpius didn't even care. That was when he noticed the slick wetness against his fingers. He pulled her hard against him and looked down at her back. Red coated her body. Blood was spilling out of the open wounds in her back, draining her of life. His entire body began to tremble. This wasn't happening. This wasn't fucking happening.

He looked at her face again and she fucking smiled at him. "…I love you," she told him and with the smile still on her lips, her eyes rolled back in her head.

"No!" He screamed. "No!" Kicking into gear, he spun on the spot and took them directly to St. Mungo's. "Help!" he screamed. "Somebody help me!"

Healers rushed to his aide immediately but panic raged inside of him. Had his hesitation, even though it only lasted a moment, cost her life? Was she already gone? She'd lost so much blood. Even now it coated his arms thickly. How could she possibly survive this?

…

A/N: Apparently I am incapable of writing a Scorpius/Rose story in which nobody gets hurt or dies. I know what's going to happen in the next chapter but have not written it yet. This chapter was short because it was SUPPOSED to be combined with the previous chapter but I decided to separate them so there wasn't too much information/drama at once.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!