Disclaimers: I do NOT own most of these characters. I DO, however, own Rebecca Robinson and any other character you DO NOT recognize. I would also like to thank you in advance to reading and reviewing. Please let me know how this story is working out.

This story is almost done. Only a few more chapters to go. Hope you liked it. It was a fun ride and thank you all that reviewed. And even those that didn't. I'm just grateful that you took the time to read.

Much Love to you all.

RWH

Eleven

~~~

It was well past ten in the evening and Rebecca was sitting around a large round table. Sitting in front of her sat an overtly over decorated cake dripping in pink frosting and on top, twenty-one candles flickered in a mocking tone. All around her, her friends were singing the Birthday song making her blush from head to foot.

Another year had passed and she found herself with her friends celebrating in a muggle pub, somewhere in lower London. The building was nice and dark and the music, loud and upbeat. Just the thing they all thought she needed to bring her out of her funk.

She had been feeling down since she had not spoken with Severus in weeks. She had kept her promise after her confession last year and not uttered another word of her feelings toward him No matter how much she wanted to shout it at him or how much she wanted to beat it into his heart she kept her promise. As hard as it was to be with him and not fling herself into his arms she knew that he would just turn away and ignore it all.

She also couldnt get herself to call him Severus anymore, least not to his face. It just didnt feel right. She could tell the lack of the more intimate address hurt him, but she was hurting too and to call him by his name felt like they were moving on in this non-existent relationship that she kept firmly in her mind but he denied completely.

He was an impossible man and she was a frustrated woman.

Their last conversation consisted of just talking about his work and her studies, nothing close to how they used to communicate. Gone were the teasing and the subtle innuendoes that they always threw at each other. Too afraid that things would get out of hand if they continued in that format. So now, it was a simple

'How is work?'

'Its fine, how are studies?'

'Its fine…how are everyone in Hogwarts?'

'Fine.'

'Good.'

And so forth.

What had her the most upset, now more than anything was that she had heard through the grapevine that he now was seen quite often with a woman on his arm. From the rumors circling amidst his ex-students, she was the mother of one of his consultations.

Inward she suspected that was the reason she hadnt seen him. He was to busy loving someone else to bother to come to see her. This new woman was taking up his extra time now and that was causing her heart to nearly stop beating from lack of oxygen due to her overzealous sobbing over the last few nights.

She felt her tears well up again at the thought of her Severus and this new woman. It wasnt fair.

He was HER Severus.

A hand covered hers and she jerked her head up to look up at the owner of said hand.

"You are doing it again, stop thinking of him."

She looked up into the dark eyes of Stacia's new husband. 'I am Sorry, Greg. It's hard not to, especially today. I, I at least thought that Severus would remember my birthday. He has never forgotten before." She sighed as she stared at the cake before her not noticing the other sitting around watching her and Greg.

"He is an idiot." Greg held up a hand to stop her protest. "He is! He is an idiot for ignoring you. You deserve much more than what he is giving you. You deserve to have a man that would devote his whole world to you, to love you unconditionally."

"He does." She whispered staring down at the drink in her hand, silently feeling that maybe they have been right all along.

"Becks…" He leaned forward to whisper more but her look stopped his words from forming.

She sighed and looked around her group of friends. "Look, I know, I know it's just a farce, a fantasy that I've concocted over the years. I am very much aware that it cant be, but it doesnt stop me from loving him." She looked down and fingered the lip of her glass. "Even if he has found someone else to share his life with."

Stacia leaned over and took her hand from Greg's. "You need to start seeing others, Becks, I mean more than just us. Listen, Bobby has this friend…"

Becca shook her head at that notion. "No, Stace. I appreciate your trying to help, I really do, but I cant start dating now. Finals are kicking my ass right now and I dont have the time for dating. Plus, I have to get my papers in order to send off. I don't want to have to continue to live off of Severus after I graduate. So I need to find a good job."

"Have you sent out most of your papers yet?" Greg asked sitting back and taking a drink of his ale.

"Most, not all, I still have a few more to go."

"Any to Hogwart's?"

She shook her head. "No, I dont think I could do that."

"I am sure you will get a lot of replies, with your experiences and grades, they will be fighting over you."

"I hope so. I would hate to disappoint…"

"I dont think there is anything you can do that would disappoint him." Stacia spoke firmly and passed her a knife to cut the cake with.

Becca sighed and took the knife. "You have no idea…" She cut the cake in equal pieces and handed slices out to everyone, wishing one other person was here to celebrate this last milestone in her life. Wishing she could see his dark eyes smiling as she passed him a slice of cake.

Gods, she missed his presence. The music overhead did nothing to lighten her spirit, she sat her fork down, and looked off into the distance watching the dancers out on the floor. She smiled, remembering the last time she had danced with Him.

"You are doing it again."

"Sorry."

She looked up as another shot was passed to her hands to see Bobby grinning from ear to ear. "Here, drink, have some fun, its your birthday. Time to forget."

She smiled and downed the shot

"Right! It is my birthday. I have to remember that."

~~~

A little past one she stumbled into her room and fell onto the mattress, flinging her arms over her head in a desperate bid to force the nausea that crept up her esophagus back down her body. The alcohol in her blood system protested the movement and was threatening to re-educate her as to why she didnt drink much.

"Enjoy yourself?"

She jumped and turned towards the voice.

"Where have you been?" She slurred softy not wanting to move too much. "You mished it…"

"I know…I am sorry…"

She turned her head away and sighed. "I guesh I will have to get used to it now, wont I?"

"Meaning?"

"Your new girlfriend…" Spitting that word and immediately wished she didnt as the nausea threatened to return in force. She mewed slightly before closing her eyes against the feeling. "I will have to share you with her now, right? So I should get used to not having you around anymore."

"My new…" She heard him chuckle at that. "Ah, so you have heard about her."

She bit her lip and nodded, her stomach tumbled…not a good sign.

"Yes…"

"Well, do not worry about her. She understands."

"I wish I did…" She muttered sitting up slowly, the room swaying around her in her drunkenness. "Does she love you?"

"Who?"

"Your new girlfriend! Who else? Jeez…" standing awkwardly to her feet very unsteady.

"Need any help there?"

"No! Just, just answer the question."

"Claire has told me so. Yes."

"Claire…"

"Yes, Claire…Claire Ellis…Darryn Ellis's mother."

"The boy you helped? Isnt she a Muggle?"

"She is. After Darryn's father died last September we became quite good friends."

"I see, you cured her of her terror of magic."

"It would seem so, yes."

"Do you love her?" She stumbled and reached out for the head post of her bed and his hand reached out to catch her.

"Here, let me assist you.

"NO!" She cried out in pain. "JUST ANSWER ME!"

He sighed and sat back down.

"Its not a matter of love…"

"What is it then?"

"It is merely a matter of, let say, convenience."

She turned to shoot him an angry look before stumbling into the bathroom.

Convenience. Another word for fucking her brains out, nightly. Gods, if she wasnt so sick right now, she would give him a piece of her mind.

~~~

Severus left her dorm and apparated back to Hogwarts. He walked into his dungeon and nodded to the sleek dark haired woman sitting in his chair, waiting patiently.

"How was your visit?"

"Horrible, She was as drunk as a Malfoy and she knows about you."

Claire raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Everything?"

He smiled and sat next to her placing his feet on the coffee table.

"Not everything, but I think she hates me."

"Is that not what you wanted?"

"No, I wanted it the way it was BEFORE she decided that she loved me."

"Are you quite sure that is what you want?"

He turned to look at her and sighed. "I dont know what I want.'

She sat her book down and patted his leg.

"I am going to bed, you decide and let me know."

He watched her get up and leave the room.

She was something else, and someone he could get used to being around.

He rubbed at his head and leaned back against the deep rich leather and closed his eyes, seeing in his minds eye the pain and hurt that reflected in Rebecca's.

"Decide! What is there to decide about? Right is Right." He muttered more to himself than to anyone else that may be listening.

~~~

He stood in front of a counter in Morgan Lane's jewelers looking down at the array of rings under the glass. So were so many sizes and designs he thought he would go mad before making a decision.

He frowned and pointed at one.

"What about that one?" He asked the woman standing next to him and she wrinkled her nose in response.

"God no, Severus, that size diamond would weigh too heavy." The woman shook her head and moved down the counter. Suddenly she stopped and grabbed onto his sleeve. "Oh! Severus, look! That one… that one right there."

Claire's voice dropped as she gazed at a gorgeous single solitaire set in white gold. "That one. Please, Severus, its perfect."

He smiled over at her and nodded to the clerk.

"We will take that one…"

The clerk smiled widely and pulled it out. "Excellent choice, and may I wish the both of you many happy years together."

Severus and Claire smiled at each other.

"Thank you…" They said in unison as Severus exited slipping the boxed ring into his pocket.

A/Ns and Acknowledgements:

The-Potions-Mistress, Thanks hon…the story is almost done, hope you like the ending.

Cathryne, I can always count on you. And that is a BIG fabrication. You are a GREAT writer.

Magdellin, Ah, well, since the story is almost done I hope you stay tuned for a few more of my other stories. He He. I know about the freaking character problems but I have already emailed you about that. LOL. See you later, alligator.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! I AM BEGGIN YOU

RWH