Author's Notice:  Pansy and her Mother talk of Draco Malfoy, love, and among other things...caramel.  Wow.  I'm actually near tears. Whooaaa holding it in, here.  Something different altogether.

'Closer than this life

Closer finally

Living for the only thing

You ever made complete

Oh, for the one thing

That you both did perfectly'

~ 'Closer' by Better than Ezra

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"Are you in love with him, do you think, maybe, Pansy...just maybe?"

"No, Mother. I don't think so."

"Because...you'll be able to feel it, way down deep in your soul when it's there."

"He is a good man, Mother."

"Do you think you know about it_love_?"

"I think I know about a lot of things people think I don't know about. But love, Mother. It's always seemed so fake to me.  Being in love makes people hurt the few people they truly care about."

"It's not fake."

"How so?"

"I would die for your Father. He would die for me. I would kill for him...he would kill for me, how is that fake?"

"Because it's to save your own pride!"

"That's the thing. It's not about pride at all..."

"When has anything in your life not been about pride?"

"We've loved you!  Your Father and I! We've loved you too!  And I expected you to know."

"When you never told me, Mother?  How does that make sense?"

"Do you want to hear me say it? Fine!  I love you!  I will always love you."

"I suspect that's about pride, too. You have to act like you love me, don't you? I mean, you do have a reputation to uphold, don't you? Or was I just imaging that too?"

"You have nothing to do with my reputation!  It can stand on its own, Pansy."

"I have to go. Draco's meeting me at six."

"Pansy."

"Yes...Mummy?"

"I'm sorry...for everything."

"It's okay, Mother.  Things aren't so easy for you either, are they?"

"No. I haven't had...you know..."

"... had it so easy?"

"Right.  And I know I don't tell you so much. Because you're so brave, you know.  You're not so much my little girl anymore. But...there's nothing better in the world than you."

"Even caramel?"

"Even caramel."

"Do you think I'm in love with him...?"

"Oh, God..."

"Do you, Mother? Do you really?"

"I don't think you've ever not been in love with him, Pansy."

"Mother."

"Yes?"

"Thanks...thanks for being that light, sometimes."

"Thanks for being my daughter."

"Well, you know, where else would I get the beauty from?"

"I'm really not so beautiful, inside."

"I love you...Mummy."

"Then I am complete again."

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