A/N: OK first off, no Poppy is not gonna be Draco's kid, think about it… if she was that means Draco would have come back three years ago (remember Gin was married then too), which he didn't.

As for the bit in chapter 1 about Colin and the camera, I actually realised the other day that I'd written that, I am now totally embarrassed… I think it was a case of not thinking properly while writing… something I do on occasion and it always leads to embarrassment. Oh well, I'll change it soon… update chapter 1. All right now that's sorted, don't really have anything else to say, on with the story…

Oh yes, wait! I realised that I never mentioned, the R rating is going to be for later chapters I mean it's really just all PG13 at the moment… Unless I change that this chapter… hmmm, we'll see… hehe! OK do I hear any votes for leather-clad Draco this chapter…? I'm tempted!

Right, done rambling, I promise…

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Chapter 5

Getting Out

It's your touch it's your kiss

Every night that I miss

When the stars shine above

That's when I miss your love

Staring at the moonlight just another lonely night

Wishing you were back in my arms

Underneath the starlight dreaming of another time

Back when your sweet love was mine

~ allSTARS*, Back When

It was October; the year was passing by quickly. Outside the ground was littered with orange, gold, and rusty coloured leaves that scuttled around it the light breeze. The sky was a bright azure blue with white fluffy clouds just visible on the horizon, though it looked hot the air was bitter cold, and you needed to wrap up warm when outside. Winter would always be better, it was because of the snow, and there was just something about relaxing watching snowflakes fall down past the window while you're inside warm by the fire.

Draco sunk down into his chair that sat near the window, and crossed his arms over his chest in a protective manner; his eyes were fixed onto a spot that was only just visible from his window. The old chestnut tree. At least once a day he'd sit and stare at it, try and remember all of his feelings, the euphoria, the exhilaration, and the excitement of the kiss. The one kiss he'd been craving for eight years. It wasn't good enough, he needed more, and he knew he'd get it. Time was what was needed and eventually Ginny would realise what she'd given up… at least he hoped she would. If not he'd have to figure out some other way to get hold of her, because he would… eventually.

He had his weaknesses, his temptations, so did she… he just had to find them, pinpoint them and draw her in. OK yes, married woman with… child. Shuddering at the thought he slumped further into his chair. How could she have children? He planned to wait at least another three years before he started with the little rascals, if he even did. Ginny would be the one he did that with, there was no one else he'd ever wanted. There was that temptation again… She's married, get over it! No, it wouldn't happen…

Closing his eyes he breathed in slowly inhaling the musty scent of his hotel room. He'd been staying there around two months now, and been back in England three, he'd kept that fact a secret of course. A few people had a grudge against him, held things from his past against him, never wanted to listen, didn't care what he had to say. Wasn't worth telling anyone he was there really. Ginny was the only one who knew and she hadn't told anyone else about him, because she was scared of the fact that he was back again. It made him laugh.

The one girl Draco could bring to her knees with one touch was a Weasley, a poor, rundown Weasley. Laughable? Yes. Frustrating? Just a little. Bliss? Hell, yeah. One thing about their relationship when they'd been back at Hogwarts, it really got to Harry Potter. Now that was something Draco got a right kick out of. What better way to bring your enemy down a few notches than to steal the girl they have a secret crush on? It was more than that now though… It hadn't really been that eight years ago, that fact was just an added bonus.

He'd missed 'his girl', as he liked to call her when he'd been on the run, and he made sure to tell every pub, restaurant, and diner owner that fact. The old conversations at the bar talking about how he had a girl at home waiting for him… well he wished. Supposedly he was meant to have had but it hadn't turned out right. He had had his doubts about it though, eight years was a hell of a long time for anyone, that was why there had been Lucy.

Lucy Parks, a Muggle, six-foot tall, wild curly hair that fell to the small of her back, glistening green eyes… very perfect. That was the only way he could describe her. She had a habit of wearing short denim skirts and tiny black shirts, knee-high leather boots and more jewellery than was imaginable. Always had her face plastered with more make-up than she needed, Draco had seen her loads of time without it though, and he knew that she didn't need it. To Lucy though, the make-up was a self-esteem booster.

The relationship had been simple, the two of them walked around together, Lucy got someone to call her own, and Draco got someone to let all of his hormones loose on. Unfortunately that's all it had been, for show and for sex.

Lucy lived in Australia where Draco had spent around two years, he'd visited the wizarding school there, taken time to explore every practical inch of the continent, and actually do a bit of self-discovery. Shortly after that there was New Zealand, and it was even more beautiful. Just something about the rolling hills, snowy mountains, deserted planes, which made people relax and want to be themselves. He wanted to go back, he wanted to take Ginny with him, he wanted to share his most amazing discovery with the one he loved. But it would have to wait.

Sighing heavily Draco lifted his legs up and dropped them onto the table in front of him, one crossed over the other. He glanced up at the ceiling of his hotel room, following the lines of the beams with his eyes; it was all too familiar now. Seriously he needed his own place, maybe just a little flat or an apartment would do, somewhere nearby. Having a place to call your own was so much better than trying to make a home in a place that definitely couldn't be yours.

Depressing stuff. He moved his feet again and kicked the table before getting up and pacing the room, sometimes he felt like a caged tiger, now was one of those moments. He hadn't had contact with anyone in a while really except for the owner, receptionist, and waitresses that worked in the hotel. Hoping at least for an owl from Ginny Draco had spent the days sitting in his room writing a journal. It consisted of the last four years mainly, but there were a few entries from the final two years at Hogwarts, and then the four following that… his escape.

Stopping dead in front of the four poster bed in the room, he placed his hands on two of the wooden posts and leant his head forward, his blonde hair falling forward across his eyes. He'd grown it out slightly during his travels and it now hung tidily to just below his eyes, enhancing the silvery twinkling of his grey eyes. During his year long run from his father he'd lost a lot of weight and at one point he'd actually collapsed in the middle of a village in North Wales, Llanbedrog, a Muggle woman had taken him in and nursed him back to health. Draco's spite with Muggles ended as of that day. After that he gained his weight back and truthfully he looked better than he'd done even at school, not so stick thin, and just about the right build.

He'd taken to wearing Muggle clothing underneath wizarding cloaks, that way if needed he could just take the cloak off and blend into the background. It was a very handy thing. He always wore black though, it was his colour, along with the occasional bit of smoky grey, midnight blue, or silver. They always had to be dark colours. Lucy had enticed him into a love of leather, but he didn't wear it so much anymore, except for his leather duster. A long black pure leather coat that fell down to his ankles, and fanned out behind him as he walked, all part of the look when he'd been with Lucy. Now though, he was just attached to it.

Swallowing hard Draco stepped away from the bed and worked on unbuttoning his shirt, he slid the charcoal grey fabric down over his shoulders, and then tossed it over onto the chair by the window. He gazed down at his arm and at the fading tattoo on his arm, the skull and the snake, the dark mark. Every time he saw it he felt the bile rise in his throat, he couldn't stand to look at it, but there was no way to remove it. When in New Zealand he'd attempted to get it removed in a tattoo parlour, it hadn't happened, it had just burnt his skin until it was red raw. Didn't help that Voldemort had had a 'I'm going gather all my Death Eaters together' moment during the process, Draco had almost broken down in tears from the intense pain.

Convincing Lucy that it was just something cool he'd seen in England and wanted done was difficult, she'd told him that it was disgusting, and that it looked like he belonged to some sort of gang or a cult. In a way he did, but not by choice. Oh yes, he could just imagine Voldemort sitting in the middle of a biker café in the USA with his leather jacket, pants, chains, and his Harley outside in the parking lot. Wouldn't happen, well it could, but only in a parallel universe… or in someone's very strange and disturbing dream.

He shook his head and ran a cautious finger over the reddish-brown marking; it made him shiver to even know it was a part of him. Forget it, he told himself, unbuckling his belt and tossing it onto the wooden floor boards.

Walking around the edge of the bed Draco dropped to sitting and dragged his hands through his hair, and then lay back slowly. He kicked his shoes off and closed his eyes, wanting to slip into a comfortable state of sleep. It was something he hadn't been getting a lot of lately, she was always on his mind, 24/7. Moving a little he pulled himself onto the bed properly and tugged his trousers of, flinging them across the room idly. They landed in a crumpled heap at the base of the wardrobe; he shrugged and laughed lightly before crawling under the sheets.

The fabric was cold on his skin, cooling down every inch of him, and he sighed happily as he settled his head into the puffed up feathery pillows. His head was spinning, earlier in the day he'd been walking in town and he'd seen Ginny walking down one of the streets with little Poppy, her lustrous straightened out red hair shinning in the bright afternoon sunlight. She been smiling and laughing with Poppy and occasionally picking the little girl up and spinning her around, in all honestly Draco was jealous. That should have been his child in her arms, he should have been the one Poppy called daddy, he should have come back sooner…

It didn't matter now though, it was too late, way too late.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

'Pop, mummy and daddy need to talk to you about something… and it's very important, so you have to really listen sweetheart.'

The little strawberry blonde shuffled on the couch and started twirling her hair around her fingers as she looked up inquisitively to her mother. She was smiling coyly which only made her freckles stand out more, along with her button nose.

Ginny bit her lip to hold back her burning tears, she had never planned on crying, but she'd admit it… things such as her daughter made her emotional. She crouched down in front of Poppy and took hold of her tiny hands. The little girl raised her blonde eyebrows curiously and stared into Ginny's eyes. 'Sweetie, mummy and daddy are having a little break from each other, and mummy's going to stay with Auntie Hermione for a week or two.'

Looking over towards Colin, who was stood beside the fireplace, Ginny took a deep breath before continuing after Poppy didn't say anything else. 'It doesn't mean that mummy and daddy don't love each other anymore, because we do… a lot.' She glanced at Colin again, and he nodded briskly in their direction. 'See,' continued Ginny, smiling, 'daddy loves mummy, and mummy loves daddy too.'

'But why then?' Poppy asked, leaning forward a little and frowning.

Ginny hesitated slightly, trying to think what to say, to give a reasonable explanation. 'Because…' she paused again and let go of Poppy's hands, suddenly becoming very nervous. 'Because mummy has a few things she needs to do away from daddy for a while, other grown up stuff.'

With raised eyebrows once more the little girl let out a breath and slumped down on the couch. 'What grown up stuff?' questioned Poppy.

Now it was time for Colin to intervene, he walked across the living room and lifted Poppy up into his arms. 'Don't worry Pop, mummy's just going to spend some time with a friend.' There was a slight growl in Colin's voice Ginny had never heard before and she felt herself flinch at his tone. 'We'll just leave mummy to pack, OK Pop.'

Ginny felt her knees buckle beneath her and she dropped down to sit on the floor, resting her head against the velvet cushions as she watched her daughter and husband walk away from her. She watched as Colin hesitated at the door and put Poppy down, whisper something to her, and see her into the hallway before coming back to the living room and shutting the door behind him. A nervous breath caught in Ginny's throat as he stood over her, crossing his arms defensively; she could sense an argument coming.

'I can't believe you're running off to be with him,' Colin began, every word laced with venom. 'You know… I often had this nightmare when we first got married, and what happened was that you realised that you'd made this huge mistake in marrying me, and then one night you just ran away and I never saw you again.' With a sigh he dropped his arms and sat down next to her, leaning forward with his head between his legs, shoulders slumped. 'I thought everything was OK, and that's why I sat around and I pretended that you really loved me… Ginny we have a child, are you even thinking about—'

'Poppy's all I ever think about, Colin,' Ginny said softly, closing her eyes tightly, the last thing she wanted to take part in was an argument.

He didn't say anything for quite a while and Ginny became aware of how uneven his breathing had become, raspy and short. He couldn't be crying could he? Colin never cried, at least she'd never seen him cry before. Usually he kept a hold and charge of his emotions.

Colin coughed lightly and looked up at her, she returned his gaze cautiously. 'I know,' he said, 'I suppose I knew this was coming all along. But Gin, there's just something that I need to know, that I need to ask you…' The pause that followed was enough for Ginny to break, and she turned away suppressing a quiet sob. He continued, 'Were you always just waiting for him to come back? Did you ever really move on…? Truly?'

A solitary tear slipped down Ginny's cheek, and she sucked in a shaky breath. 'I don't know…' she whispered.

'That's all I wanted to know.' Getting to his feet Colin walked towards the kitchen, not before glancing over his shoulder a moment. 'Just leave… as soon as you can.'

Ginny closed her eyes once more and then covered her mouth with her hand to soften her cries; she didn't want Poppy to hear her. If there was one thing she could give her daughter, that was to not hear her own mother cry, especially not seeing it. Gradually Ginny moved to her feet and hurried into the bedroom.

Immediately she pulled her wand from within her robes and floated the case from underneath the bed to on top of it. Piles of clothes followed, neatly folding themselves as they went and ending up tidily in the case. Ginny reached out and grabbed a picture of herself, Colin, and Poppy off the dresser and placed it on top of her clothes, followed by two old spell books.

It took about five minutes to gather everything else together and then Ginny headed out towards the garden, for a moment or so she watched the figure of Colin pace up and down the length of the stream. He was looking down at the grass, occasionally running a hand through his hair in the nervous style he'd adopted over six years back. She stepped closer and paused as he turned back to look, his expression told her everything. He felt betrayed. He was hurt. And finally he didn't understand why.

'I'm packed,' muttered Ginny, edging a little closer again. Her heart was screaming at her to talk to him, try to explain, or to take him in her arms and comfort him… although that wouldn't really help anyone.

Colin's icy stare dropped back to the grass and he rubbed his arms as if he were cold, then gradually he walked over to her, his bottom lip trembling. 'Good,' he replied, his voice cracking as he spoke. 'Are you going to Hermione's, or are you going to him?'

Shrugging she came to a direct stop in front of him, looking deep into his eyes and trying to find something there, she wasn't sure what, but she was looking for something. 'I'm going to Hermione's, I told you that… Didn't I say that I wasn't running away to be with him?' She sighed and chewed on her lip. 'I know he's back, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be with him, I love you, I love Pop.'

'Yes, but you love him as well, Ginny. No matter how much you try and deny it, I know you do… a part of you always will.'

His eyes clouded over then and Ginny spotted the beginnings of tears, and as his face fell she felt her heart shatter. She leapt forward and flung her arms around his neck, burying her head into the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply and the scent of musk and cinnamon filled her head, something she was so, so used to. The problem was that she could tell he didn't want her to touch him right now. But she couldn't stop.

'I do love you,' she whispered against his skin.

Colin breathed in deeply and let it out slowly; she felt his warm breath against her cheek. 'Don't do this to me… please,' he said, 'this hurts.'

'I'm sorry.' Stepping back Ginny let her hands linger at his neck, and then leant in kissing him softly on the lips. He kissed back for a moment but she felt him push her away. She walked away reluctantly, there was no turning back now, it was time to go.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Draco opened his eyes sharply and stared up at the ceiling, he'd been lying in bed around three hours and sleep wasn't happening. What was the point? Why did he bother? It was simple, he had to bother or he'd collapse from exhaustion… fairly obvious.

Sighing he pushed the covers off himself and clambered out of bed, striding over towards the window. He grabbed hold of the bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky from the table and unscrewed the top, placing it down beside the bottle. Draco reached for one of the glasses piled up at the edge of the table, and then poured a little of the amber coloured liquid into it. He slammed the bottle back down and picked up the glass, looking at the contents carefully. Swilling it around he watched the faint glow of moonlight from the window reflect and bounce of the glassy surface of the whisky.

Draco slumped down into his usual chair again and gazed out at the night sky, it was all too familiar. It never changed. The stars remained the same. Constantly shining and reminding him of things he didn't want to be reminded of. He took a sip out of his glass, and then with a shrug he threw the entire glass back. For a moment it shocked him, but then his body warmed to the liquid and he poured himself another. He'd taken to drowning his sorrows.

Shaking his head he threw back another glassful and resisted the urge to throw the actual glass at the wall, it would have been a good stress reliever. That was probably his problem, stress was keeping him awake, he needed to blow some steam.

With another sigh he got to his feet, picking up the actual bottle of whisky and putting it to his lips. He took a long swing and then slammed it down before stepping up to the window and opening it wide. The air flowed through quickly; a gust of wind making its way into the room… it was refreshing.

Draco smiled and leant into the wind as it rustled his hair, he closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't get chance to stay there long though as there was a knock at the door. Glancing down at his watch, he raised a brow curiously. Who's visiting at one o' clock? he thought and moved to the door. As Draco placed his hand on the door handle, he paused and took a breath. 'I didn't order any room service,' he said snippily.

Silence followed, and then a meek female voice. 'It's not room service,' she said, and immediately he knew who it was.

Ginny.

Now it was time to face the one thing that was causing his stress. He pulled the door open and came face-to-face with her, but it only lasted a moment as the little redhead shoved him backwards. He stumbled slightly then managed to regain his footing in the centre of the room. Ginny kicked the door shut with her foot.

'It's you,' he stated obviously, and crossed his arms in front of him. The fact that he was half-naked didn't seem to phase her, well, why would it? After all she had seen it all before. He blinked a few times, waiting for her to reply.

'Yes,' answered Ginny eventually. 'It took a while, but I'm here… and it – it hurts Draco, I broke his heart, I've never done that to anyone before.'

Draco shrugged and walked towards her for a few steps, then he stopped dead and watched her face. 'You didn't have to, it was your choice remember, you can't just—'

'I don't want to talk about it!' she interrupted.

Idly Ginny sauntered forward tracing her finger down the side of his neck. He tried hard to fight the shiver and clenched his fists by his sides. She stayed silent leaning in closer to him, and then he felt the tickle of her light breathing warming his skin, making his craving grow. You have to fight it, he told himself defiantly, don't let her get to… His thought train faded away as the small redhead brushed her lips against his cheek. Fighting was forgotten.

Draco felt a smile creep across his mouth as she began a trail of tender kisses down his neck and across his shoulder. He dropped his hands from in front of him and placed them onto her hips gently, and then pulled her against him.

Ginny moved away and looked up at him, her brown eyes burning with desire. 'You have so much to tell me,' she whispered, 'I want to know everything.'

'It can wait,' he retorted gently, before kissing her lips. She returned it and it only made him pull back playfully. 'Don't you agree?' questioned Draco.

Nodding Ginny pushed him back towards the bed. But he spun them around and picked her up swiftly, laying her down carefully. He moved to lie beside her, lifting one of her hands and kissing the back of it.

Silence reined, it always did, and it was one thing they could share. They could sit there and not say anything for hours, it didn't matter, words weren't needed. Eventually though, Ginny broke it, her voice in a growl.

'You're right, there are much more interesting things to do.'

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More A/N: Well I'm very sorry about the wait on this one… and it ended up being shorter than my average chapters. I'm ashamed, totally ashamed. Everything should get back to normal update speed again now that I'm back from holiday though, so yay for that small mercy. As for the next chapter, it will be picking up exactly where we left off… and that's all I'm saying, except that… this is me remember, so not everything's all flowers and sunshine yet! Toodlepip for now and go REVIEW!