When they got to the shoreline they were both quiet for a long time a strong tension between them. The sun was starting to go down. They walked along the shore until Severus suddenly stopped.

"Rose. I'm sorry." Severus began. Rose didn't respond. "Please be patient with me while I explain. It's difficult for me."

"Okay..." Rose trailed off.

"You see. I...I got a letter from Lucius." Severus had begun to get nervous. Rose turned bright red and felt her heart sink all the way to her stomach. She was frightened that Lucius told him of her feelings and that Severus had brought her here to let her down. She bit her lip and just watched Severus. "He said that, well, implied in so many words, that you had eyes for him and Sirius."

The statement hung in the air.

"That's not why I met Lucius," Rose responded. "You see, he told me he could give me answers to...something."

Rose was suddenly stricken with anxiety. She didn't want Severus to know. She couldn't read what how he was responding to her words and it made it worse.

"Rose I don't care why you met him," Severus spoke, struggling with his words. Rose had never seen him so nervous that he couldn't speak. "Just. It made me realize some things that I need to tell you. I can't explain everything but I want to tell you."

Severus trailed off and looked into her eyes. She looked so beautiful with the light of the sunset across her face. He took a step closer to her and she allowed him to. Looking up at him. Severus placed his hands on her shoulders, struggling to speak. He knew it would change everything the second he did. Rose felt like she was in a dream, she gently placed her hand on his chest.

"Severus you don't have to explain everything. Just tell me." Rose spoke in almost a whisper. Severus blushed and took her face like he did earlier that semester. He ran his thumb along her cheek.

"Rose. I've fallen so deeply and madly in love with you. So much that it frightens me." He managed to say. Rose's eyes grew wide. She immediately began to cry. Severus was confused at this. He suddenly began to panic. "I'm so sorry, Rose...I..."

"No." She stopped him. "Severus. I've been so deeply and madly in love with you my whole life." He turned bright red.

"What?" He asked, shocked.

"Since we were children. All these years." She explained between sniffles. "I never thought that I would hear this. I'm overwhelmed."

Severus embraced her tightly, she returned it.

"Rose, I realized the night Sirius was here that it's always been you. I should have always chosen you. The guilt I felt for Lily made me see nothing else until Lucius and Sirius began to try and get you back. I never realized what I had always had." Severus explained, feeling tears in his own eyes. He pulled away and took her face into his hands. "But Rose, there are forces that have forbidden me from pursuing you."

"We can go on in secret for the rest of our lives for all I care, Severus," Rose responded. "All I care about is you."

Severus smiled and nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck and as the sun set, he kissed her deeply. For both of them, it was perfect. There was a spark that they felt that made them forget the world around them.

Our lovebirds are finally together puddin's! But what lies in store next? xoxo