Chapter 18

The following week, as she was leaving work, Ginny was stopped on the street by Lucius. "Ginevra, we should talk. If you don't have plans, we could go for dinner right now."

She stared at him for a second. "In a public place where I will not do anything you don't want."

"I guess I could do that," she replied.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Lucius placed a charm on the table so that others couldn't hear what they were talking about. "Draco arranged for himself and I to get Gavin caught up on flying. Gavin and I have made some headway, I think."

"That's great! He never mentioned it in his owls to me."

"It was only the day before yesterday. But the reason I wanted to meet with you is that my PR team was contacted about the twins."

"The press knows?" she exclaimed, suddenly looking worried.

"Yes, and they will write a story of truth or make believe in order to sell papers."

"So what do we want to say?" she asked. "I know the more boring it sounds, the less likely they are to run it with facts."

"Because of everything, it's not going to be boring," he responded.

"Dammit! Gavin doesn't need this right now! Did Draco tell you Gavin is having some issues fitting in?"

Lucius laughed. "My dear, I figured that out when he landed in the hospital. Perhaps we should talk to the twins first. Maybe the best course is to say nothing and simply change their name, formally."

"But we need to control this!" Ginny stressed.

"It's never going to simply go away. We had a love affair while I was married and you took off when you found out you were expecting. My divorce filled up the papers for weeks. Then you return 12 years later with the twins and neither of us ever married anyone else." He paused, "I'll call Draco and have him set up a time for us to talk to the twins. We'll ask how they feel about allowing the press to print what they will."

"Draco pointed out that they might be better off not taking the Malfoy name," Ginny carefully said.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "I understand why Draco would say that, but Ginevra, I can't begin to explain to you how important it is to me that they have the Malfoy name."

"I wish I could understand."

"Well, because of how I treated you, I feel that I missed out on so much. The least I can do is give them my name. You were there for every step, every 'first' thing they did."

"I'm so-"

He reached across the table and placed his finger on her lips. "I'm done being mad at you. I understand why you did what you did. My actions left you feeling like you had no choice, and nothing I do could possibly change that. The twins are what matters now. And Ginevra, they are amazing! I don't think I've told you that yet."

"Even Gavin, who-"

"Yes, Gavin, who was raised to be strong enough to voice his opinion, even if it's not the popular opinion," he interrupted.

She broke into a big smile. "I never thought of it that way."

"You did an amazing job with them. I have missed your smile!" She blushed. "And that, too!" He pointed at her cheeks. "I know you believe it was just sex for me, but Ginevra, it wasn't. It was your sense of humor, your sensitivity, the sound of your voice, how I felt without you."

"Lucius, this is getting too personal." She pleaded for him to stop.

"Ok, I will stop, but I need you to know how I felt."

"Well, know this Lucius: I fell in love with you, even when I knew I shouldn't have. Part of me left because I was mad at myself. Falling for a married man goes against every rule there is. Do you know how I longed for this, what we are doing right now? Simply having dinner in public."

"I recall you wanting more. I was lazy, and you were willing to settle so I did feel the need to change things."

"Pansy told me how you arranged for Narcissa to be photographed. How you made sure I would know you set her up. Had I seen it, it would have changed things," she admitted.

"I have to ask, is there any hope for us?" he pushed her.

"I wish I knew. But Lucius, what about the kids? If we were to try and it didn't work out, it would be hard on them and both of our relationships with them! I have caused more than enough issues for you and them that I can't risk another! For you and I to have even a hope, I would have to be so totally sure of us, but I'm not. Twelve years is a long time, and I know right now you want to marry me for them, and I appreciate the idea, but I need to be wanted just for me."

"Twelve years ago, I didn't end things with that bitch for the twins! I did that for you," he pointed out. "I'm also not going to tell you that while you were gone, I was a saint. I respect you too much to expect you would believe that. Yes, I have had other bedmates, but no one could ever make me forget you for a second."

"I don't know what to say," she admitted. She knew he was right about his marriage.

"This evening we should be talking about the twins, but it has turned to us. It will always turn to us. You say you need to know that I want to marry you because I can't imagine a life without you. Sadly, I have spent too long having to live without you and I know what a life without you is; it has been hell. I continue finding myself searching for you in every crowd, I do a triple check of each redheaded woman I see. I compare everyone to you and no one has ever measured up to you." He looked down for a second. Ginny was speechless. She sat motionless. "Things were messed up before and I never had to court you. What if you allowed that now?"

This was more than she ever expected from him. Yet there was still Draco to consider. She hadn't heard from him since he stormed out of her place over a week back. "Well Lucius, there's still the twins to think of. I can't risk causing damage to your bonding with them."

"Every parent takes that risk every day and the world is filled with examples, both good and bad, of that risk being lost."

"I need to be truthful with you; there is something, someone else, or was. It may have been nothing, I don't even know."

"Who is it, or was it?" Lucius pressed.

Ginny was still confused. Draco had become her rock and she thought he felt something for her, but she hadn't heard a word from him. However, as messed up as everything was right now, she wasn't going to add another layer of it. "Who does not matter, more so if it was nothing. I told you so you would understand that even if I'm still single, that I have, that I-" she verbally stumbled.

"Entertained the idea, the possibility, maybe even had feelings for someone? I'm not surprised. Allow me to show you that we are meant to be. I'm saying give us a chance. Give me the chance to prove what we had was more than amazing sex. During this courting time, I won't even try to have sex with you. This could be everything last time wasn't, but should have been."

"What about the twins?"

"They are at school. Lucy won't see anything to get excited about and Gavin won't see anything to get upset about. With them gone, this is the perfect time."

"I don't know. I will need time to think about it," she stated.

"Fair enough," he replied, "I won't force you. Will you allow me to see you to your door tonight?"

"I guess."

Lucius was a gentleman over the rest of dinner. As they returned to Ginny's flat, he spoke at her door, "I can't even put into words how I wish you would allow me to kiss you."

Ginny hated to admit it, but she wanted the kiss as well. She wanted to know the effect it would have on her now when she was expecting it. She looked up at him from under her eyelashes. "You could," she whispered.

Lucius wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. His lips lowered onto hers.

She had forgotten how good he was at this. She had forgotten how quickly she melted at this man's touch.

For Lucius, it was like the last twelve years vanished! She was his and his alone and she would never belong to anyone but him! Lucius knew he could very easily bed her tonight if he chose to, but he also knew that passing up this chance would help to ensure there were a thousand nights ahead, so he broke the kiss. "I will await your owl, my love." He released her, turned, and headed for the lift.

Ginny just watched him go, afraid to move, as she was sure her knees were made of jelly. As the lift doors shut behind Lucius, she muttered, "Dammit." She knew he still had power over her, and she knew the only reason it stopped was because he stopped it. If he hadn't, she would have been the best type of tired the next day.

When she finally felt her legs would function, she entered her flat and placed a Floo call to Pansy.

Ron answered this time. "Hey Gin! What's up?"

"Is Pansy around?"

"Why? Don't you want to talk to me? I'm only your brother," Ron whined.

"Sorry Ron. For this discussion, you have to have two x chromosomes."

"Fine, but if she falls asleep again, can you at least let me know so I can go to sleep?"

Ten minutes later, Pansy and Ginny were comfortably sitting in Ginny's living room. "So what happened?" Pansy asked.

"Lucius. He-" Ginny hesitated.

"What?"

"We had dinner, so we could talk about the twins."

"You had sex?" Pansy guessed.

"No! If we had, it would still be happening, for many more hours," Ginny confessed.

"Wow! Then you fought?"

"No. He wants to court me."

"Old school; I like that." Pansy said, impressed, " So what's the issue?"

"Issue one: he kissed me at my door, and if he hadn't stopped, I know there's no way I could have put a stop to it."

Pansy clearly didn't see a problem. "So?" Ginny shot her a look. "Okay, you said issues. What else?"

"What else? Issue two: how about the fact I nearly shagged Draco over a week ago! On this sofa!"

Pansy looked intrigued. "That was right here?" she asked.

Ginny nodded. "Pansy, they're father and son."

"Gin, don't get hung up on that. You clearly have a thing for tall, strong, good looking blondes. Yes, I know they are father and son, but I don't think you like Draco because he's Lucius' son. Because of the time that you two spent together, you got to know each other. Based on what I know, I think your attraction to Draco is more about the natural interest he took in the twins. He wasn't doing things because he wanted to get with you, like the men you knew before.

As for Lucius, I get the attraction to him that started things. Ginny, have you talked to Draco?"

"No. Not a word since he left here that night."

"So maybe he was looking for a shag. I don't know. Lucius wants to court you. How do you feel about that?"

"I'm not sure. I told him I'm worried about risking his relationships with the twins. He pointed out that couples who aren't together can still parent their kids."

"So what does he mean by court?"

"He wants to show me what it should have been between us. He wants to prove to me it was about more than sex."

"Go for it, girl! This is what every witch wishes her guy would do! And you have to ask your best friend for advice? Well, if this doesn't prove the Muggle world messes one up, nothing will!"

"Pansy!"

"What? Are you going to sit back and wait to see if Draco is a dumbass who was just looking to get his rocks off with his brother and sister's mum? Draco hasn't talked to me about you. If you mean something to him, why hasn't he spoken to you?"

Ginny was quiet. She was still hurt by Draco.

"Take the chance on Lucius. Give him the opportunity to win you over. Maybe over the years he built you up so much that the real thing will never do. If that's the case, that man needs to see it. Maybe you and he will work, maybe you won't. Find out so you both know; otherwise neither of you can move on! Merlin knows neither of you have moved on up to now!"

The next morning, an owl arrived from Lucius;

Ginevra,

I spoke to Draco, and he will let Gavin and Lucy know we wish to see them tonight after supper is done at Hogwarts. Meet me at the Hogwarts front gate at 7 please.

Lucius

A/N I had to share this. I got a flame for the last chapter, they called me a Nazi lover. What I find funny is Yes I have a huge thing for Jason Isaac, did you know his parents are Jewish? I totally get that Death Eaters were based on Nazis. But my enjoyment of writing for these characters has nothing to do with what one part of their character was or is based on. Wait till you see what the next story I'm working on has in store for Lucius Malfoy. I am so excited to play with him. Evil laugh!