Eleven Years Later

The morning sun was burning brightly in the blue sky. Clouds roamed through it like marshmallows in a cup of hot chocolate. Small birds sang merrily creating a pleasant feeling for all those around. The humming was broken only by two pops announcing the arrival of Ginny and Draco. The curtains twitched instantly and then pounding feet broke the air.

"Mum you're home!"

"Did father return with you?"

Ginny sighed as the two eleven year olds ran out to them. She chanced a small look at Draco. His attention wasn't with her. His eyes had grown wide as he watched the two children stand side-by-side surveying him.

"Ralph, Alysia I want you to say hello to Draco."

"Hello Draco."

"Ralph your suppose to call him father!"

"Mum said to say Draco."

"She meant father."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Ginny watched silently as they got louder with each did not and did too. It suddenly did feel like home to her. She was stood in her family home with her children arguing. If that didn't say home nothing did.

"Umm… children."

Instantly the squabbling stopped as two sets of eyes zoomed in on Draco again. Ginny could see he felt awkward as he watched them. Part of her thought that he deserved not knowing how to interact with them. But then she felt sorrow. Draco didn't know how to act with his children because he didn't know what being a father meant. Lucius Malfoy had never really set an example he could follow.

"Ralph, Alysia why don't you take your dad down the garden and show him the stream."

Without much hesitation they were off. Both took hold of Draco's hands and led him away from the house. Ginny watched him turn back to her and mouth thanks. She just stood there though watching him walk away from her again.

"I can't believe you brought him back."

Smiling Ginny turned to look at Ron. He was leaning against the door watching the three as she had been.

"It's not as though I had much choice in the matter."

"You should have just told them he was dead."

"Alysia saw him."

"Then you could have told her that he was her uncle."

"Ron she would have still wanted to meet him."

"Then you should have said he was her father's evil twin brother. Although I don't think that it would be possible for Malfoy to have an evil brother, I mean he's bad enough himself."

Ginny just laughed as she moved in to hug Ron. His arms rested gently around her as she rested her head against his chest.

"Do you think things will get better now Ron?"

"Maybe, if you can remember your nieces' names!"

"Jynx, Electra and Amber! See I do know and my nephew is called Ciaran before you ask. I wonder what Fleur and Bill will call theirs?"

"That's easy Christophe if it's a boy and Isabelle if it's a girl."

"How'd you know that?"

"Gin you've only been back here for what a week? We've had to spend the last six months listening to them come up with names for the baby!"

Pulling away from her brother she slugged him in the stomach. He made a face like a little wounded soldier before lunging for her. She ducked easily running down into the garden. He caught her easily swinging around and onto the grass. He quickly sat on her stomach tickling her ribs as he had done many times during their childhood.

"Ron stop!"

Slowly, after a long while, he did let up. Ginny pulled herself up and looked at him closely. A question quickly struck her.

"Hey how come you're not in work anyway?"

"It's my day off. I'm suppose to be at the beach with the others. But instead I'm here with you waiting once more for Malfoy."

"Thanks."

Something in the air changed and she could see something in Ron's face. There was doubt mixed with worry. Reaching out her hand she ran her fingers along the length of his arm.

"Ron are you alright?"

"I need you to be honest with me about one thing Gin. You're not going to get back with Draco are you?"

Laughter erupted from down by the stream. Ginny's face softened thinking of her children with their dad. But her answer wasn't for them, it was for her.

"He's got a part to play in my life and will do forever. But nothing can ever be the same between us. That part of my life is truly over."