Tomorrow is another day

Epilogue

Three years later

He could feel her presence moving closer, long before she came into view. He wondered if that would ever stop; being hyper aware of her, where she was, how she was feeling. After all those years he still felt every little bit of it. The slightest movement in her face and body told him all he needed to know. There had never been any one else that he understood as easily as he did her. And he had screwed it all up so royally. He had often wished to turn back time. However, he also knew that too many wonderful things had happened, things he would never want to do without. He had missed so many years of Cassy's life, years he would never get back, but he could make the time he now had with her count. If he had been with her, Scorpius had not been born and that young man was too precious, too important to even consider the idea of him not existing. And he'd had some amazing years with Astoria. She was a good woman, a great mother. She was kind and generous, loyal and strong. He would not be where he was today, without her. He knew that much.

Draco was pulled from his train of thoughts when she walked into his sight. She was still a vision to behold. His mouth ran dry and he began to fidget as she moved closer to him, stopping a short distance away from him. He smiled and nodded curtly in her direction, acknowledging he saw her. A simple greeting. She smiled back at him, at ease. So confident that it took his breath away. He's seen that same confidence in her before; when they had first met.

Back then, she had been comfortable with herself, confident. She had known exactly who she was, what she wanted in life and more importantly, she knew what she would not compromise on. She had not been bold, wild or brazen. She was quiet and collected, determined and resilient. It wasn't her personality to be big, but she was strong.

It had been what had drawn him to her in the first place, one of her most attractive characteristics. Her quiet strength that seemed to radiate from her skin. It shone through her eyes as she had looked at him, wrapping him in it. She had met him when he had felt weak and defeated. He had no longer known who he was. And she had helped him find his way back. He had so missed that part of her.

When they had run into one another, four years ago now, she had been a mere shell of her former self. She had been anxious, uncomfortable, unhappy. She had been missing her spark. He was glad that it had returned.

Angela stood still, drinking in his scent now that they stood so close. As intoxication as it had always been. He had grown older, gotten softer over the years. He no longer saw the world in black and white. Instead he now saw shades of grey and he was finally comfortable with that. She knew that none of his dreams had panned out. He'd had to rearrange his entire life-expectations. Find new dreams, adjust his world views and fight for forgiveness from the people he had wronged in the past. And he had done so rather gracefully, she thought. He was a pillar of strength and grace.

In all the stories she had heard about Draco, she found that he had not always been quite as gracious, kind or strong. However, she had met him in a different time and place, she had always seen it inside of him. When they met, it had been so clear to her. Leaving everything behind after might have been the best thing he could have done. Shake himself loose of his upbringing and the set ideas that had installed in him.

When he smiled at her, she still felt that flutter in the pit of her stomach and it took all her power to contain herself. She wished that she could just walk up to him. Instead, she smiled back. Simple, uncomplicated. So much time had passed, and so much had happened. Everything had changed for both of them. And yet, once the dust had settled on their situation, he feelings for him had remained. Angela had tried dating, she tried to forget about him. To move on. It had not worked too well. Eventually she had decided to give herself time, not to force herself. Perhaps her feelings would fade and she would find happiness with someone else. If not, she would be fine still. She had finally learned to love herself again.

Turning her head in the opposite direction, she watched her daughter speaking to her friends. Cassy was happy to go back to school. After years of unease, bullying, Cassy was finally happy. There really was nothing more important to Angela. Which was why she stood in silence, waiting patiently for her daughter to realise that time was slipping fast and she would have to board the train soon. She stood still, though inwardly she was screaming for her daughter to notice her.

When Cassy finally did, she quickly ran to her mother for a hug. She had not seen the exchange of glances, though it had happened right in front of her. Instead, not bothered by any of it, she kissed Angela's cheek and promised to write her every other week, before she rant off to hug her father and promise him the same.

Over the last few years she had grown ever closer to her father. Happy to finally have him in her life, she had made a great effort for the contact to be good. It had not been easy, for anyone involved. There was some adjusting to be done by all parties. She and her father had to get to know one another. They needed to allow the past to truly heal and be part of their story as they moved forward to a shared future. And their loved ones needed to fit into the narrative as well. Her mother, her brother, his mother. It was a complicated situation, but everyone understood the importance.

Cassy wouldn't change it for the world. She was happy, having finally found where she belonged in the world. She had found herself a good group of friends and she had realised her talents. She found out she was actually quite good a potions, so much so, that she had actually asked Hermione which future jobs could possibly incorporate that talent.

When all goodbye's were said, Cassy linked her arm with Rose's as they boarded the train, followed closely by Scorpius, James and Tom. It had taken some time and a lot of effort, but they had all become friends eventually. They laughed loudly at something Rose said and moved into the nearest empty cart. From there they happily waved to their parents as the train began to move again. Another year beginning.

Angela wasn't sure if she would ever get used to the whole boarding school idea. She hated being so far away from her daughter. And she loved those weeks of summer, where she finally had her close again. Of course, she knew that her daughter was making a life for herself and soon she would not even want to be around her mother as much. She was growing up. Angela sniffled as the thought dawned on her, but told herself to hold it together as long as her daughter could still see her.

As the train finally left the station, Draco cleared his throat. He knew it was time to move. Angela heard him and caught her heart skipping a beat at the sound. She knew she had to move, but felt rooted to the spot. All around them people began to leave, either by foot or apparation. Hermione and Ginny had said goodbye and left the platform a bit ago. The place was quickly emptying.

Just as Angela told herself to just move one foot in front of the other, she realised that he was still standing right there. Not even a full metre removed from her. Braving the storm that was now raging inside of her, she took a deep breath and made a choice. "How have you been?" She asked as she stepped closer to him, holding her breath as she waited for his reply. She had been wanting to speak to him for a long time, and now that it was happening it was a daunting concept. What if he had been fine with the limited contact?

"Yeah, okay. You?" he said, his voice not quite as light as his words. She smiled kindly at him. He had been through a lot this past year and he was not the kind of person to let go of feelings and a sense of failure. And she knew he would see some of it, at least, as a failure.

"I was sorry to hear about you and Astoria" she offered, realising this must have been the first time he was here alone.

He and Astoria had fought so hard to keep their marriage working. Yet in the end it had all seemed futile. They would fight over silly little things, unable to recover from the blows their marriage had taken over the years. Angela knew that there had been a lot of love and it scared her to think that love alone had not been enough. What would be enough if not that?

After Christmas last year the marriage had finally ended, the couple calling it quits. It had pained Angela to keep her distance, but she knew he did not need her in the mix of his emotions. He would know where to find her if he wanted to.

"Yeah, not what you plan for, but alas." Draco looked down at his feet, silence stretching between the two for a minute, "time for tea?" he finally asked in a rush and looked back up. His light coloured eyes piercing Angela's. She smiled a little brighter at this suggestion. Apparently he was ready to talk to her again. Beyond their parental necessity. She nodded and he offered her his arm as they began moving towards the exit. A smile played on their lips, as they walked through the streets of London. Their stride was easy, calm and their hearts were light.

"I wanted to reach out" Angela admitted once they sat in a small little café hidden in the busy streets of London. Their tea stood steaming before them and Angela placed her hands around her cup, keeping her gaze on the steam and avoiding his eyes.

"I know. I just couldn't" he hardly noticed that Angela wasn't reaching his eyes, for he had no intention to look up. The guilt was visible on his face as he thought of the past hew months. He had been avoiding Angela very successfully.

"I understand" she offered another smile, hoping that he could see her true meaning behind it. She truly did understand. He had needed peace, space. And time and his friends. And no matter how much they cared for one another, friends they had not been in a long time if that was ever a good term for them in the first place.

"It was rough. But it was the only choice we could make." Draco elaborated and Angela just nodded not wanting to interrupt him.

"it just wasn't enough" his voice barely above a whisper, but she still heard him. Angela tipped her head to the side a little in question. What had he meant by that.

"Love" he clarified as he saw the look on her face.

"I'm sorry" Angela quickly offered. She knew he had always dreamed of a marriage much like his parents. No matter what happened in life, no matter how much went wrong, they had loved one another, they had fought for each other and their marriage. And it had been enough for them.

"Me too." He sighed deeply.

"I think it's commendable that you both tried so hard" it was true. Neither one had been willing to give up. They tried so hard and had been very mature about it all. Or as much as one can be with so many emotions involved. She was sure there had been fights, but as far as she knew, none of them had been public or even in the vicinity of the children. They had been really good about that.

"Thank you" he huffed a little laugh. Commendable as it may have been, it hadn't helped him. Angela understood his difficulty accepting her compliment, no matter how true it rang.

The silence lingered between them as they sipped their drinks. Neither seemed able to break it. How did someone break such a heavy silence? She was sure he wasn't really looking to talk his failed marriage through with her.

"So anyone new in your life?" Angela smirked as she spoke the words that she hoped would lighten the mood, knowing very well it could easily offend him as well. She just hoped he'd see the joke in her words.

Draco barked out a laugh at the question, tension dropping from his shoulders and she smirked. Now that the tension had been broken, normal conversation flowed once more. They talked as if no time had passed. As if nothing had ever stood between them. Nothing seemed out of bounds. They laughed, cried and shared more with one another than they had before. And it never got awkward.

They didn't know where this would lead. It didn't really matter right now, because it felt good to be where they were. Back in each others lives. It had been something they both had wanted, though life had gotten too complicated before. So much time had passed and still there was this pull between them.

Only time would be able to tell them what that meant. For now they would be friends. No secrets, no more pain. Just love, friendship and time.

A/n: So...that's it. After years I finally wrote something new for this story and it was the end. I hope I'll never leave another story hanging like this one. The hardest part was that I had no idea what my original plan had been for the ending. Too much time had passed and I really needed to go back to earlier chapters and stuff to get certain details right.

Anyway, I hope you still enjoy it and again sorry for leaving you for so long.