A/N: And I return from the dead, bet you thought I was taking another 6 months out didn't you? Well, I'm not. Okay so I admit things have been going slow, and believe me I am trying… So the final chapters are going to be short, but I will get there eventually, bear with me. Sorry no D/G in this one.

Acknowledgements: To all of you who have stuck with me, it means the world to me that you still care about this story.

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Chapter 11

Say Goodbye

Sometimes goodbye

Though it hurts in your heart

Is the only way for destiny

Sometimes goodbye

Though it hurts is the only way now

For you and me

Though it's the hardest thing to say

I'll miss your love in every way

So say goodbye

Oh don't you cry

'Cause a true love never dies

~ S Club, Say Goodbye

'I just can't believe that you're really doing this and when the boys aren't here. You're just a coward Gin, simple as that,' said Eleanor angrily. 'If Colin knew you were here now… It's outrageous, that's what it is. The only thing I can think to say. Shocking.'

Ginny sighed lightly and shook her head, slamming her case shut and jumping onto it to get it shut. 'I told you, El. I'm going to come and see Colin tomorrow I'm trying to do this slowly, let him adjust to--'

'Adjust? ADJUST? You expect him to adjust to his wife up and leaving him!'

Shaking her head once more Ginny hopped back down and grasped the handle, marching out of the bedroom, making sure not to make eye contact with Eleanor. 'No, but he'll have to get used to it, he knows that,' she answered softly, trying her hardest not to loose her rag. 'People change El, and I've realised it was a mistake to even get involved with Colin, I've only ruined his life and I never ever planned to do that.'

The heavy footfalls behind her told her Eleanor wasn't going to let up and was stomping along behind her, most probably with her head held high and chest puffed out like peacock. Sure enough a moment later she was rounded on, and the short blonde Hufflepuff stared up at her, face contorted determinedly. 'And what am I meant to tell him when he gets back from the Prophet?' she cried, eyebrows raised.

'Whatever you want to tell him… he never believes anything you say anyway, so on your own head be it.' Seeing that she wouldn't give up at that, Ginny growled under her breath and mumbled, 'Tell him Pop's still with me but I'll drop her off tomorrow morning before he goes to work… also, tell him I'm not looking to argue. I've done enough of that lately.' She chewed on her lower lip and glanced haphazardly at Eleanor. 'When are they getting back?'

'Oh, so you're going to stay now are you?'

Loosing her grip on the case Ginny glared over at her at that comment and placed her hands challengingly on her hips. 'Yes, have a problem with that? This is still my house after all and – if I wanted – I could send you packing right now. So I advise you keep shut,' she snapped irritably.

Eleanor looked stumped and her defensive stance fell away, her shoulders dropping in defeat. She sighed lightly and walked away retreating to the kitchen where she sat down and grasped the mug of tea she'd left there. 'Fine,' she said, a note of annoyance in her tone, 'I was only  stating the obvious, and to continue that, you've really hurt him. Gin, you haven't seen him on days you've visited.' She shook her head, lowering her eyes. 'I've seen him cry and--'

'Don't…' Feeling her breath catch a little in her throat Ginny stepped into the kitchen, resting her hands on the back of the chair she usually sat in. 'Don't make this any worse than it already is. You don't think this hurts me?'

'Well, I was beginning to wonder,' said Eleanor.

Moving around the chair Ginny sat down slowly, pulling nervously at a piece of cotton on the sleeve of her robes. 'I cry myself to sleep sometimes…' she whispered quietly. 'So if you think that this isn't hurting me, that I don't care… you're very much mistaken.'

'Why then…?'

Ginny stayed silent for a few minutes, just thinking over the answer to that. She knew why… it just sounded pathetic. Biting down on her lower lip she looked over at the blonde, softly saying three words, 'Because I promised.'

The two were shaken from their thoughts as Colin appeared in the middle of the kitchen with Dennis at his side. It was actually quite comical. Dennis's jaw dropped open and he slapped Colin's arm, Colin on the other hand looked even more heartbroken than usual.

Eleanor took it upon her self to jump up from the table and drag Dennis away, the questions began as soon as they reached the living room. Ginny kept her head down and listened to their voices drift into the kitchen. She studied the grain of the wood carefully with her eyes the sound of her uneven breathing becoming more apparent. Snapping back to reality as the kitchen door slammed shut she looked up suddenly to lock eyes with her husband.

'Well?'

'Well what?' breathed Ginny a distinctive sob faltering her words. 'I came to collect some of mine and Poppy's things.'

'You plan to go through with it then…?' asked Colin as he lowered himself down to sit opposite her at the table. He did look a mess, Eleanor had been right. His hair was all ruffled, his clothes wrinkled, his eyes tired as if he hadn't slept at all for a week.

She swallowed hard and crossed her arms over her chest, her hands clutching at the fabric of her robes. 'Yes…' She didn't know what else to say.

He nodded, his pale eyes glancing hesitantly around the kitchen. 'I miss you like crazy… All I need to do is look at a photo or see Pop and everything comes flooding back to me, the first time we kissed,' he whispered, 'I remember it because it was December and there was a thick layer of snow on the ground. You were wearing an emerald green cloak lined with snow-white fir and your hair fell across your flushed cheeks in spiralled curls. I'd never seen you look so beautiful.'

'Colin, don't, please…'

'Just a day out in Hogsmeade, a bit of friendly shopping, but then you reached out for my hand. One tiny touch that sparked off every emotion in my body,' said Colin, keeping his gaze low. 'I knew I loved you there and then…The kiss was just clarification, made me feel like I'd gone to heaven and back though. The gentleness of your touch, the way you shook… almost nervously.' He shook his head. 'And don't tell me that it doesn't stir something up inside you, don't tell me that that day meant nothing to you. Because I know different, Gin…'

'Colin…' she whispered again, a solitary crystal tear rolling down her cheek.

'You said that it was just the beginning of the best thing that would happen to you, that you could tell from the way the kiss had felt,' he continued and then looked up at her. Ginny only sobbed again nodding her head to show she knew. 'Are you telling me that was lie?'

'No… it wasn't a lie… it's how I felt… how I still feel.' It was time to be completely honest. She took a shaky breath and ran her fingers through her red hair. 'You'll always be the best thing that happened to me, you'll always be the safe, reliable, good husband who's there in times of need. But that's not what I want right now.'

He laughed lightly and shook his head again. 'Not what you want right now? I'm not just something you can drop and pick back up whenever you want to. It doesn't work like that.'

'I know, Colin, I know. Just wish that there was something I could do to show you how I feel.'

'There is, it's simple… don't leave,' he told her determinedly. He looked so lost and so hopeful at the same time. His eyes glittering in the evening sun.

It would have been so easy to just admit defeat, not go back to Draco, to come home again. Back to the people she loved and she knew loved her back unconditionally. No hesitation. No complications. No danger. She could run into his embrace and he'd never let her go. Never hurt her.

Holding back her tears she sat up straight and reached across the table, taking hold of his left hand and bringing it to her lips, kissing the back of it softly. She let her lips linger there a moment as she began to quietly sob again as her eyes fell onto the wedding band on his ring finger. 'I wish he'd stayed gone,' she mumbled incoherently, 'left me be.'

'You don't have to go back to him. Ginny I want you to stay here. And Pop doesn't want you to leave either.'

'Colin, no!' she cried and then jumped from the table sending her chair skating across the tiles. Dropping her head into her hands she spun away from him letting the tears fall freely, succumbing herself to the pain she'd tried to ignore.

A shiver ran down her spine as she felt him step up behind her and wrap his arms around her waist. On impulse she leant her head back, looking up at his face, and then gradually lifted her hand to carefully trace his cheek. When he didn't move or flinch she smiled softly up at him and closed her eyes, the scent of him making her sway slightly on the spot.

'Stay…?'

'I wish I could… I really wish…'whispered Ginny as she stepped away from his embrace, turning to him instead. She smiled slightly and then rose up on her tiptoes, her hands laid against his chest, kissing him tenderly. 'I'll always love you, Colin.' Stepping back she nodded her head, grabbed her case again and headed out of the house, not giving him chance to react.

Pulling the front door to behind her she sighed with relief and then let herself crumble onto the doorstep, sobbing uncontrollably into the sleeve of her robes. After several minutes she composed herself and pulled herself up to standing again, running her fingers in her hair and wiping her teary eyes. 'Okay,' she mumbled, 'that's done.'

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More A/N: And that's that done, so go and review!