October 22, 2026
The news soon spread throughout the family about Dom. In the next two days, every single member of their extended family had made a trip to the hospital. Everyone had similar statements of awe and disbelief about Dom: they couldn't really believe she had taken street drugs, was addicted to them, was living on the street, had gained a lot of weight, and almost died because of the drugs. Everyone who made their visits seemed to question Rose, Lucy, and, Molly about every single aspect of their lives, and to Rose, it felt like they were being blamed. Dom stayed unconscious throughout the exclamations and explanations. Rose didn't talk much and left most of it to her cousins. She sat hunched in a chair with her head in her hands while Molly shifted uncomfortably on her seat as her father was asking them questions. Lucy had a sullen face when their Nana Molly had her turn to ask them about the situation. Nobody could really believe that this happened, it was almost inconceivable to them and their family.
Rose's parents came and went. Thankfully they were one of the few people who didn't seem to blame the three girls, or subtly suggest that maybe they should have paid more attention. Her parents were so relieved she was safe and well. Rose was sure if her relationship with her mum was just a little better she would have gotten some sort of talk, but as it was her hand was squeezed hard and concern and questions were in her mum's eyes, inviting conversations that Rose didn't want to have. She pretended she didn't see it.
Her parents wanted her to come home for a few days, but Rose didn't want to leave the hospital yet, not while Lucy and Molly were still there. The twins were given the week off of work, but they didn't intend to leave their place of work. Lucy had pulled some blankets from the storage room and was passed out cold laying over three chairs in the waiting room, her head in Molly's lap. Molly was looking rough; her brown hair was frizzed out of its ponytail, bags under her eyes.
Molly barely acknowledged her parents when they came to check up on them and see Dom. She seemed to still be traumatised about everything; about the fact that she hadn't been there for Dom and didn't notice anything in the past few weeks.
There was nothing they could do to help Dom out of the coma. It was a whirlwind of a time and everything else in her life seemed to take a seat on the backburner, to the chagrin of the voices in her head who wouldn't shut up.
Scorpius hadn't replied to the letter and Rose hoped he wasn't dead on their couch, but Lucy didn't seem concerned at all.
Her Aunt Fleur came out of the room on the fourth day and shook her head, her hands shaking. She went to talk to their Nana Molly, her steps light on the floor as she crossed in front of them, eyes averted.
I need a break, Rose thought. Right now.
It felt like she couldn't breathe in, her lungs were compressed.
She felt so vacant, so distanced from her body. Her mind was in turmoil, everything was looming on the horizon. She just needed to get away – a day off from the sickly smelling hospital. It was better than waiting indefinitely. It was perhaps insanely selfish of her, but Rose just didn't care. Anything was better than sitting in silence, day after day, for Dom to come around. She thought she could handle it, but it was too much. As soon as she was awake they'd have answers, but all this whispering, speculation, and interrogation was driving her mad.
Once out of Mungo's, she closed her eyes and listened to the noisy kerfuffle around her.
Where should I go. . .
She wanted to be alone, away from the noise and traffic and people, away from Canwood and gangs and drugs. Away from an angry Scorpius who was probably looking for answers, if he wasn't already dead in their apartment. She needed to go somewhere in the wilderness.
She eventually thought of an area she hadn't been to in years.
Rose was still in the magic part of the world, so she didn't even move from her spot on the sidewalk as she lifted her wand and whisked herself away to a meadow kilometers outside the city. There were a few wildflowers in the swaying grass and trees that were shifting colours from green to red, orange, and yellow in the autumn.
Rose stumbled out to the middle of the meadow and laid down in the tall grass, letting her world turn towards the sky and the grey clouds that were within it. She was completely alone, no sounds of human civilization or technology was anywhere. The grass surrounded her, encompassed her. She was at peace, for the first time in a few weeks.
When the clouds opened up a few hours later and rain started coming down, Rose closed her eyes and hummed. It was a soft sweet melody, reminiscent of a conglomeration of popular folk songs she picked up from her travels.
The rain cooled her cheeks, soothed her head.
After about half an hour of humming, she heard the soft crack of apparition not too far away. She stayed in her calm place even when she heard footsteps walk through the grass towards her. There was only one possible person that it could be and she just didn't care what he thought of her at this moment so she kept her soft tune going.
Typical.
She didn't want to talk to him at all; she just wanted to be alone. He was obviously going to be mad and pissed at her. Maybe he'd start yelling or hex her as she lay in the grass. Goodness knows she would deserve it for what she did, but there were too many heavy weights on her at the moment and she felt like she was being drowned in all she was carrying inside.
Just leave me alone, Rose wanted to say. I just need time before I'm ready for you to confront me.
The footsteps were light and they paused right before her. She kept her eyes closed, her humming steady as she tensed and clenched her fists. She wasn't going to speak and she didn't want to talk to him. Not right now.
He seemed to sense her mood, for he said nothing. She could hear the weight of him sit down beside her, and then lay down. Grass crunched quietly beneath him and she could feel his body heat, he was close enough to her. She was confused by his actions.
She finally peeked out of the corner of her eye, still humming softly. Scorpius' hands were clasped on his chest, arm unbandaged, but face still multi-coloured. His eyes were closed as well. His shirt was soaked with rainwater already; Rose could only imagine how she looked; there wasn't a dry spot left on her.
He stayed steady and silent in his vigil, letting Rose do her own thing and not disturbing her. Rose gradually became less tense, letting her body slowly relax once again as they laid side by side in the grass.
OK, maybe it wasn't horrible that he was beside her, especially since he wasn't saying anything.
This is an act, said Greg in her head. Don't fall for it. Don't get comfortable.
Fuck off stupid voice.
When she ran out of songs to sing, her humming died down and then only the steady beat of the rain against the earth was present, steadily thrumming down upon them.
Maybe they would just stay out here forever and die in these positions. In this moment, Rose wouldn't mind that.
Finally Scorpius inhaled deeply. "The last time I spent the afternoon laying in the rain, I was seven years old," Scorpius began. He made no movements and neither did she. But she was listening.
"We had just returned from a visit to my grandparents and I was stuffed full of chocolate biscuits and milk. My parents were sitting in the sunroom of our house, surrounded by plants and books. They were talking and talking and talking, and we had just finished talking at my grandparents and I didn't want to listen to anymore of it. I just got up and walked took one of the back entrances outside. I wandered around the yard, and it was pouring outside by this point, but it was peaceful and quiet. I'd never really been by myself, or felt like I was alone before in my life. For some reason I decided to lay down in the wet grass and eventually I just fell asleep. I was out there for hours and when I woke up, it was dark out."
Scorpius stopped talking, but there was the hint of a smile on his face.
"Your parents didn't notice you were gone?"
"No, they thought I'd gone to my room. I was soaked to the bone and I spent most of the night outside. It was probably one of the best sleeps I'd ever had in my life. I never again did it again or even considered it, until now. It's nice to just get a break from life sometimes."
It was nice, indeed.
"Should you even be out here?" Rose eventually asked.
Scorpius exhaled. "Probably not, you'll have to help me get up off the ground."
Oh no. Rose sat up finally. Her head felt very heavy, her thick hair was absolutely soaked and weighing it down. She rubbed at her eyes. It was hard to tell the time of the day when it was overcast, but she was sure it was evening. The sky was darker as the rain continued to fall.
"Scorpius we need to talk."
"The answer to what you're going to ask is no."
Rose frowned at his colourful face; his eyes were still closed and he seemed utterly serene at the moment with water was dripping off his face.
"Scorpius, I don't want to be responsible for – "
"Rose, stop. Things like this happen, injuries occur all the time. You're not going off by yourself if you continue with this notion that you need to find Canwood. It's too dangerous."
"It's dangerous for you! I'm not the one who almost died."
His eyes opened and he looked at her. "Who's forcing you to find Canwood?"
Rose opened her mouth and closed it, no words coming out. This was what she didn't want. No interrogations. She couldn't tell him. "Nobody is." Rose crossed her legs under her and stared Scorpius down. He didn't force the issue, even though disappointment was radiating from every part of his body.
Idiot, this is the perfect chance to tell him! He'll understand! Just tell him, Marta said angrily. Rose remained silent.
"A busted arm and some bruises are not the worst injury I have ever received while doing this; it's part of my profession at the moment. . . but it's not part of yours."
Rose had no answer to that, no real response where she could justify anything.
Scorpius continued. "This is the reality of the work. Bad things happen, decisions taken hastily sometimes have consequences you've never imaged. But you continue. You move on and try to ensure it doesn't happen again."
Since when did he become so smart, Greg said insolently. Why can't he remain annoying and an arsehole forever?
He sounds like you, Rose, Marta said, you with your mantra of keep going, never give up.
Rose felt a frog in her throat and struggled to keep her voice even. "I'm so sorry Scorpius," she whispered, "about everything."
Scorpius gave a smile. "How now. This is neither the worst injury I have received nor the worst I will get in times to come," he repeated with conviction. "You're safe, I'm safe. We're fine."
We're fine.
Rose felt tears come to her eyes, but with all the rainwater and the falling darkness it would be almost impossible for him to tell. Rose was thankful for that, she didn't want to be perceived as weak. She pulled her wet hair off her face and laid back down in the grass that was flattened so nicely under her. She didn't lay on her back this time, but curled up on her side and faced Scorpius. Her fingers were reaching out, just inches from his shoulders.
"How's Dom?" Scorpius said softly. "Are you okay?"
Rose gave a half sob that she tried to mask as a cough. She wouldn't cry in front of him; she could hold it in. "I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. I don't know about Dom though, she's in a coma right now. She's not well at all. Lucy seems certain that she'll be awake soon."
"Did I imagine – I don't remember you being hurt from the warehouses, so did I imagine all the blood on you?"
"That was from Dom. I tried to wake her up and she was mad, hopped up on her drugs or whatever, and threw an oil lamp at me when I wasn't expecting it. It smashed on my head." Rose ran her hands on the spot where it hit. There was still remnants of soreness in the spot and perhaps a minor concussion. "Mad is rather an understatement though, she went psycho. . . it was very surreal being there. I didn't think she could ever act like that."
Scorpius turned his head the barest bit to better look at her. She focused her attention on the blades of grass under her fingertips.
"An oil lamp?"
Rose nodded.
"Drugs?"
Rose nodded again.
"Bloody hell, that's insane. What happened, exactly?"
Fuck, what happened was insane. . . Rose started telling Scorpius about everything – the potions lab, Piper, and the triplet who knew where Dom was. He listened patiently, only quietly interrupting a few times with questions. His brow was furrowed when Rose finished speaking.
"I think we need to question Dom. It sounds like she'll have some answers we need. I think everything you've just said fits together somehow. . . I wish I could have helped, maybe things would have been a bit different."
"It's not like you had a bad reason for not helping," Rose said plainly.
Scorpius shrugged and turned to look back up at the sky. He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. "So do you feel the need to go back to the hospital at this moment?"
Rose frowned. Scorpius was looking awful relaxed for wanting to return.
"No," Rose said quite honestly. "I'm not ready."
"Good. Neither am I. It's a good thing this is a warm rain." He didn't say anything else after that and his breathing slowed down. Rose stayed curled up on her side, content. She stared at his bruised face, the raindrops that ran off his cheeks and the raindrops that were stuck in his eyelashes. His blonde hair was darker, soaked, and hanging in loose threads around his face. She stared until her own eyes began to close, fluttering until she was fast asleep.
She felt a tickle on her fingers some time later and opened her eyes to darkness and warmth. The rain had stopped and she was curled into his side. She felt a tickle on her fingers again.
"Rose," Scorpius whispered. "We should probably get back."
Rose took a deep sigh, but didn't move. In a different state of mind, she would have shoved him away from her and created space.
She just felt dead inside. Scorpius's hand rubbed against her fingers again in a soothing manner.
"Rose … "
Rose pulled her hand away from his and curled her arms into her body. The grass was wet under her head and Scorpius was warm by her side.
"I think I see the sun rising," Scorpius continued. "Someone might be worried."
Dom was the one everyone was focused on right now, Rose really doubted that anyone noticed she was missing.
"And the birds are starting to sing … "
Rose stared blankly at him. He eventually turned his head to look at her. "Rose. Are you okay?"
She shrugged. "I might stay here for the day," she whispered. Or the next week.
You can't avoid all your problems, Marta said. You can't check out of society and run away.
Rose blinked away tears again and finally rolled away from him and sat up. She was soaked to the bone and rubbed her eyes to push the tears back in. Now was not the time to lost control of herself.
"Are you ready to talk?" Scorpius asked softly. He looked concerned and confused. Rose put her head on her knees and looked at him.
"No. Let's go." She ignored the look of hurt that briefly crossed his face and stood up, her legs numb. Of course he was disappointed. She wouldn't expect otherwise if their roles were reversed. He was probably incredibly frustrated as well.
Scorpius rolled over to his side, but then groaned and rolled back. He held out his hand to her. "I need some help."
Rose reached down and pulled his hands up, before slithering an arm under her shoulder and lifting him up. He stumbled into her side and she kept him steady.
"You probably shouldn't even be out, should you?" she asked him as she readied her wand.
"I won't tell Lucy if you won't."
"It's your funeral."
Lo and behold, Lucy was pacing in the apartment when they apparated in, sopping wet.
"Where were you?" she said angrily as she stormed up to Scorpius. "Do you have any idea of the condition you're in? And you're wet? What? Are you trying to die?"
"Sorry," mumbled out Rose as Lucy took Scorpius' other side so they could set him on the couch.
"No! Sorry is not acceptable. You can't just leave and not tell anyone. Stop Scorpius! Just don't even say a word." She shoved a spoonful of medicine in his mouth and pulled a blanket over him, even though he was resisting her efforts to lay down.
"Rose, you can't keep bloody running away and not telling anyone. Do you know how close I was to calling the Aurors? The flippin Aurors! Rose. I can't. This is crazy. Look what happened to Dom. I can't. I just."
There was no trace of humour in her face. The past few days at the hospital had turned good-natured Lucy into a nightmare: Her eyebrows were furrowed and stress lines were on her face. Bags were present under her eyes, her clothes were days old, and her hair was a greasy mess.
"Lucy – "
"No. Just shut up. I don't want to hear anything. I'm leaving and if you two leave my flat before I'm back I will never forgive you."
"Is Dom – "
"No. She's not awake yet." She turned on her heels and slammed the door on the departure.
Rose closed her eyes and pressed her fingers against them. Tears were leaking from her eyes that she couldn't stop. Not this time. Her legs felt like jelly.
Scorpius slowly sat up from the couch, pulling the blanket off. He stood up and went to her, wrapping his arms around her. She tensed, but didn't say anything. Then she was crying on his shoulder unreservedly, letting everything fall out, everything that had been bundled up for so long.
He squeezed tight and just held her, as no one had held her in so long.
"It's okay," he whispered. "We'll get through this."
Her body shook and sobs overcame her, and still Scorpius hugged her tight. His arms were her lifeline and were keeping her from completely falling apart, keeping her together, and providing a comfort that she sorely missed and desperately needed. Everything from the past week, from the past month came pouring out of her. It was finally too much. She was just one person. Never had she been as sad, stressed, and lonely since her return to London.
He led her to her room and pulled out some dry clothes when her shaking stopped and the tears weren't as prominent, just dry wracking sobs. She barely managed to get her clothes on and as it was, Scorpius had to help her. His hands pulled her shirt off, trying not to touch her skin, and he pulled her pyjama shirt over her head. He kissed her forehead and tucked her into bed, brushing back the unruly curls that were scattered around her face. A fresh bout of tears started again. Her face was tear streaked and red.
Rose sat up and grabbed his hand before he could leave the room.
"Can you stay with me? Please? Just for tonight?" she said hoarsely, her face extremely vulnerable. She needed someone to be close to her. She needed another presence who couldn't judge her anymore, not when he'd seen her at her worst.
He pulled off his own wet clothes and turned out the lights. He crawled under the blankets, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Her head was on his shoulder, cradled, and they were wrapped closely together on her small bed. Their feet were sticking out the end and there was almost no room to move from their spots.
"I'll always be here if you need me."