Chapter 16
Draco woke up the next morning feeling as if someone punched him endlessly at the side of his head. This was the worst headache he had in his entire life. He usually took a bath to start the day, but instead he wandered down into the kitchen in his pajamas wearing a disgruntled look on his face. He vaguely heard his mother chirp a good morning to him when he sat down to eat. He didn't know how he got to sleep after the dream he had.
Callysta Veridienne Hope. He knew that Lucius Malfoy was dead when the war ended. He also believed that Callysta was dead because no news came to him about her. Of course, he waited for months to see if it was really true, but there was none. So he assumed that she was dead.
He looked up to footsteps on the stairs and saw Ginny Weasley descending with the usual smile about her face. She greeted his mother a fond good morning and shyly looked at him and greeted him. Draco muttered a greeting and resumed his meal. He knew that his manners were not the best but who could blame him when memories where disturbing him?
"Oh don't mind him, I told you that he's usually not in tip-top shape in the morning or when he hasn't had his bath yet." Narcissa served Ginny her breakfast. "He'll be his usual self later on.
Ginny just nodded. She didn't know why Draco was acting so strange, though she knew about his morning state, she knew there was something else bothering him. Well, she didn't have time to think much about it now; she had to get back to work. She sneaked a look at Draco staring at his bowl of cereal. His cereal was getting soggy from floating in the milk.
She remembered what happened last night and felt herself blush as she hurriedly gulped down some orange juice. Last night was unbelievable. They talked and she had felt that jolt run through her when he kissed her. All she could remember was darkness and a blue light and a voice. When she came to, she was back in her room and Draco was nowhere to be seen.
After Draco had taken his shower, he still didn't quite feel like himself. He just wanted to lie down and stare at the ceiling and think about nothing. Not even the thought of Ginny motivated him. It was like she was just nothing. When he went downstairs again, Ginny was already packed and set to leave. Narcissa had wanted to stay longer in the house and suggested that Draco take Ginny back to work. Draco didn't feel like it but couldn't refuse.
Ginny felt that Draco wasn't feeling right. She expected him to be back to his normal self after the shower but he was till disgruntled as he was this morning. Sure he looked like his normal self but his manners left much to be desired. Draco nevertheless led her to the car and together they drove off in silence. She was beginning to think that she caused his sudden change in attitude; during the time they spent together last night. She thought she was finally getting through him, but now she found herself back at square one. At the moment she didn't know what to think anymore.
Draco felt limp. He didn't even make and effort to talk to his passenger. He didn't know why he was acting this way. Was it because of the sudden reappearance of Callysta in his memories? If so, what was the connection? There must be a connection to his sudden change. He knew that he's have to explain to Ginny later on, but right now he just didn't think he could handle it. If she asked him right now about his lousiness, then…
"We're here," Ginny nearly shouted into his ear as he almost passed the ministry.
Draco stopped the car abruptly.
"Thanks for dropping me off, I guess I'll see you around," she said uncertainly as she fixed her hair. The sudden stop made her hair go askew.
Draco just watched her from the mirror. She opened the door and hopped out.
"Did you send in the money yet?" she asked him before he left.
Wordlessly, he handed her an envelope and drove off.
* * *
Ginny gasped for air and at the same time struggles to get free as Ron pounced on her. She had just opened the door to her office and didn't suspect that Ron and Harry would be there waiting for her. Harry just watched the siblings tousle around in quiet amusement.
Ron was bombarding her with questions to what she was doing, where she was, what the business was all about. She thought that her ear would fall off from all his questions. She told him to take a deep breath. She couldn't answer all his questions all at once. Once she had settled herself she proceeded to answer his questions, though she didn't tell them who her clients were.
Harry wanted to know whom she helped get the estate. Good thing she already thought of an answer to this one just in case any of them would ask. She said that her clients chose to keep their identities secret. She was sworn to secrecy. Ron rolled his eyes and ruffled his sister's hair as he got her a cup of coffee.
She smiled at him appreciatively as he gave her the cup. "So, what have you been up to?" she took a sip and looked at them.
"Oh you know we were bored without you." Harry made himself some coffee as he answered her. "There was not much we could do. Ron and I constantly had to search your office if there was something we could find interesting."
She glared at both of them. "Are you telling me that you were snooping into my stuff without permission?"
"Not into stuff that we knew that you'd get mad at us for. We didn't even touch your files!" Ron defended them as Ginny began rummaging though her desk if anything was ruined.
Ginny sighed, grateful that Ron was true with his word. "So, are there any happenings with the Aurors?"
"None" both boys replied as they slumped into the sofa.
Ginny frowned. "Come now, there must be something. Are you saying that since there's no war, there are no cases any more? Surely there must be something that you can do…"
They both wracked their brains for something to say.
"Well, there is that suspicion we have that the remaining Deatheaters are gathering again and that they might be planning something." Harry finally said. "Thing is, it's hard to pinpoint where they exactly are because they're always on the move. We don't even know who their leader is."
Ron snorted. "Deatheaters gathering for what? We all know that Voldemort is dead, thanks to you." He clapped Harry on the back. "What's the Deatheaters to live for?"
"I don't know Ron, those Deatheaters are loyal to their cult and will do anything to make it live." Ginny said in a warning tone. "Their loss was painful to them and they feel they must do something besides live in misery." She took another sip from her cup and stared into it. What must it be like being a Deatheater with no future now that their leader was dead? They couldn't reform; the Dark Mark forever branded them. She knew that the Dark Mark always called them to Voldemort, but now that he was dead, there would be no more pain shooting through their arm. What would be the use of that mark anyway?
"As much as I hate to admit it, she's right you know." Harry grudgingly admitted to Ron. "By the way, how would you like to go out tonight?"
Ginny eyed him suspiciously. "Like what? A date?" She still knew of Harry's feelings for her. She remembered the time before Draco took on her on the business trip. Harry had been so open to her, but she told him that she needed time to think.
"No, no, nothing like that." Harry assured her. "I want you to meet someone. I'm sure that you'd like her, even Ron does!"
"Hey!" Ron protested as he pretended to hit his best friend.
Ginny raised an eyebrow as she took another sip. "Her?" She knew that she was acting just a wee bit suspicious about this whole "her" thing. "How long have you known her?"
"Ever since you left the office." Ron filled her in. "She's a new Auror in training and Harry's been assigned to help her out, you know, teach her all the things that need be taught."
"I see," Ginny nodded slowly.
"Please Gin? I'm sure you'll like her. Say that you'll go out with us? Your idiot of a brother is coming along because I know he likes her a lot," Harry pleaded with her.
She couldn't help noticed the way he said 'a lot'. She wanted to see the girl anyway and she would have fun watching her brother make a fool of himself in front of the newcomer. "Alright, I'll do it."
Ron was trying to hit Harry for calling him an idiot. "Never mind Ginny, don't do with this one." He grunted as Harry tackled him to the floor. "It's a thing when your best friend starts calling you an idiot, but another when says you're an idiot brother!"
Ginny started laughing as Harry tried to tell Ron that it as just a joke. She drained her cup and smiled to herself as she continued to watch the two boys horse around. She wondered what kind of girl she was going to meet.
* * *
Later that night in the Malfoy Manor,
Draco roamed the halls endlessly, his thoughts agitated by last night's dream. This place held so much memories of her; it was hard not to recall what had happened all those years ago. Each room had its specific memory that rang in his head. When he entered the library, he could see himself and Cally spending quiet solitude by reading books and keeping each other company.
Draco sighed as he ran a hand lovingly over his books. Books were a common thing between Cally and him. The often debated about this and that, never wanting to back down from their own ideals, each wanting to emerge as the winner.
He moved on, his legs seeming to have a mind of their own as his eyes took in his surroundings. He could hear her voice everywhere, see her past doings and almost feel her presence in the house. But she was dead, and he knew that. He knew that nothing could bring her back, did he want her back? What would happen if she were to come back?
He shook his head angrily and continued to walk on. How could he ever think of wanting her back? After all the things she did to him. It had never occurred to him that she might have brought the sudden change in his life, that she as the cause of his change of attitude. He only knew that she had caused the void within him and some how he must fill it by continuously torturing women.
When he entered the room that was just beside the garden, he could recall as far back to the time they were first introduced to each other. He had been such a wary little boy then and as normal boys felt, he wasn't too comfortable at the thought of making friends with girls. But she was different; she was kind of like a boy herself. She didn't exactly like playing with dolls, she preferred to romp around in the garden and didn't mind getting dirty.
The voices were getting louder in his head as he stared unseeingly into the garden, the garden that held so many memories, both wonderful and traumatizing. They always spent their time in the swing, talking about so many things or they just remained quiet, keeping each other company. No words were needed for them to express how they were feeling.
Then, there was the fight that ended everything. It was a rather simple fight, really. She didn't might've had a chance when she temporarily pained him in the eyes, but she had underestimated him once again. He smiled forlornly as he recalled the scene when she grew hysterical at the boils that popped up all over her skin. He sighed again and sat in the swing and let his foot push the ground. The swing began to move slightly as he continued to recall all those memories.
Why was he even doing this to himself? Recalling her back for no reason at all. Did he still love her? Did he want her to come back? Would it even work out between them again? And then, there was Ginny. She was almost like Cally, except warmer and more headstrong. She was at the same level as he was and she compelled him.
He slumped against the seat and groaned as he covered his eyes with his arm. When will it ever stop?
* * *
In the same night in a different place,
Ginny sighed at her brother's impatience. Ron was being an idiot, she knew it and he knew it but he didn't care. She had to admit that Harry was kind of late. She began to think that the girl was keeping him waiting by putting on her make-up and such. She leaned back into her chair and pinched Ron on the arm.
"Hey! That hurt! Why did you do that?" Ron demanded as he rubbed the sore spot in his arm.
"You're embarrassing yourself." She replied as she rearranged the silverware in front of her. "Tell me, is she pretty? Is she smart? Do you think she likes Harry?"
"Yeah, she's really pretty alright, not to mention smart. Actually, I think it's the other way around. I think Harry likes her!" Ron grinned as he called the waiter over for another drink.
Ginny smiled. If Harry likes her, then I wont have to answer him anymore. He'll probably hit it off with her and we'll just have to be close friends…but do I really want to let Harry go? Okay, I'll admit I'm selfish…I can't help it. And there was the issue with Draco; she didn't really know what she felt towards him…
"Oh Gin, they're here already!" Ron stood up to greet them.
Ginny stood up to and saw the two. She was pretty, not just pretty but beautiful.
"Hey Gin, sorry we're late," Harry hugged her and clapped Ron on the back. "Ginny, this is Valerie Dainne Cloephyst, Valerie, meet Virginia Weasley."
Valerie smiled at Ginny and shook her hand warmly. "Hello, Virginia, pleased to meet you."
Ginny smiled back. "Pleasure, please call me Ginny" She liked her. The two sat down opposite each other and the two boys started talking. "So, why were you late, if you don't mind my asking,"
"Oh, I had
to finish up some papers back at the office." Valerie replied as she scanned
the menu. "What are you having?"
"Pasta," Ginny answered.
Harry looked up fro his own menu. "Good idea, I'll have that too."
Ron made a face. "That's what you usually have ever since you met Valerie. Maybe she's rubbing off on you"
Ginny laughed. She had noticed that Harry spent a good deal staring at Valerie and doing everything to make her feel great. Maybe it was good that Harry spent so much attention on her. Not only was Valerie gorgeous, she was smart and witty. She had long wavy black hair that hung until her waist. She had the same eyes as Harry but a shade darker. Whenever the light hit her eyes, she could see glimmers in them. She wore glasses that didn't have rims on them, it made her look much smarter that she was. Ginny approved of her already.
By the end of the dinner,
Ginny and Valerie were laughing their heads off. Ginny was telling Valerie all sorts of things that Harry and Ron did back when they were in Hogwarts. Valerie couldn't stop herself from laughing that Harry had to help her walk.
Ron was trying to defend them at the same time blushing like hell at what Ginny was telling the girl. Ron gasped as he heard Ginny asked Valerie if she wanted to hear some of Ron's childhood stories. Harry and Valerie left on brooms while Ron brought Ginny back to her own house.
Ginny kissed her brother good night and wished him a safe trip going back home or wherever he was going. She leaned against the door and flipped on the lights. She liked Valerie enough. She wondered if Harry had a thing for Valerie…not that she was jealous or anything. She was just scared that Valerie might get in the way of their friendship.
After a soothing bath, she looked out her window and sighed. It was good to be home. Though, she kind of missed the luxury of the Malfoy Manor, but it didn't really matter now. She wouldn't have to see him anymore. The business was all over and no more connections were set up. He was long gone from her life.
* * *
He was having doubts about her. Wondering if it was right to fall in again after such a short time…was ten years really such a short time? For some people it might be long. Did he really want to take the chance again? He hasn't even gotten her in bed yet! But did her really want to do that even now? He felt as if he wanted to do something much more meaningful than that. Sex wasn't enough; in fact he didn't even think sex made the cut. He knew that she would just push him away if he got to aggressive with her. Maybe it would just be right to hold her in his arms and whisper sweet nothings to her. In fact, he actually liked doing that. Maybe he was growing tired of it already, but he just didn't want to give it up.
Maybe his priorities have changed ever since he met her. Maybe he should just get the plan over with, ask for forgiveness and start over again with her.
He didn't want to give her up and look for another one. He'll keep her. But first, he had to sort out his thoughts first.
Thunder rumbled off somewhere in the distance.
Perfect…
* * *
Ginny woke up to the sound of rain in the morning.
She had always liked rain, it made everything clean again. She liked the sound it made as it fell from the heavens; she liked the smell and the way it dripped off of things. When it rained, it made everything look so pure again. The only bad thing about the rain was the way it made her feel lazy. She just wanted to stay in bed and sleep the day away, but she knew she couldn't because she had to go to work. That was the only thing she did nowadays. Work.
She forced herself out of bed and into the shower to get ready.
After breakfast and a quick check-up on her house if everything was okay, she departed for the Ministry of Magic.
Moments later,
Ginny found herself facing Valerie in her office. "Good Morning Valerie. What's up?"
Valerie smiled. "Harry sent me over. He said at the moment he didn't have anything for me to do because I'm such a quick learner."
"Oh," Ginny said as she gestured for her to take a seat. "I'm sorry about the mess, while I was gone the boys made a mess of everything." She apologized for the inconvenience.
"Oh, don't worry," Valerie shook her head. "I'd be happy to help you clean up. I usually have to clean up after Harry when he's done working" Valerie made a face as she began straightening the sofa while pulling out papers and such from under the cushions. "You have a jungle under her!" she announced as she pulled out the cushions and presented squashed papers from under.
Ginny laughed. "I swear I didn't put that there." She got the wastebasket and motioned for Valerie to shoot them in. "Come on, let's see how good your aim is!"
Valerie began crumpling the papers up into balls and shooting them one after the other into the can. "Perfect score" she announced as she began putting back the cushions to where they originally were.
Ginny settled the can in the far corner of her office and began searching through her desk to see if Harry and Ron left a mess in there too. "So, how do you like Harry? Are you having fun with him? I hope he isn't working you too hard."
"I like Harry just fine. He's fun to be with. In fact, he thinks of me as a fragile thing that he hardly gives me work." Valerie exclaimed as she opened a closet to get a broom for cleaning the floor. "He usually lectures me about being an Auror and that I should be patient and all that stuff."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Patient? Hah! He and Ron were never patient when they were just starting. They constantly got into trouble for being and doing what they weren't supposed to be doing!" She was done with her desk and thankfully nothing was touched. She went over to her files and did a quick run though if anything was tampered with. "Phew! At least they had the sense to stay out of my files."
Valerie looked over her shoulder.
"You have a lot. What do you do again?"
"Stuff concerning muggles, it's sort of connected to my Dad's job."
Valerie whistled. "What are they
like? Most wizards think that their slimy right?"
Ginny began laughing hysterically. "Slimy? I've heard other things but this is
the strangest
One I've come across!" she slapped her knee and double over on the floor where she lay laughing. "Slimy!"
"What? Isn't that what you call them?" Valerie scratched her head as she leaned in closer to Ginny. "Will you stop laughing for a minute!" despite her tone of voice, she couldn't help smiling.
"Sure, other wizards think they're inferior and all that but slimy?" Ginny couldn't stop from laughing. It was the funniest thing she ever heard. "Muggles are just like us, except they don't have magic and they don't exactly live the way we do because our gadgets are different from theirs…you can call it a different civilization or something…"
Valerie nodded her head. "Alright, I understand. Now can you please stand up? What if someone sees us?" she grabbed Ginny's hand and hauled her up.
Ginny took deep breaths and wiped the tears from her eyes as she calmed herself down. "Slimy," she gasped as she let out one last final laugh and shook her head. "So when is your break going to be over?"
"Not until Harry calls for me." Valerie sat down in the now clean sofa. "Your brother and him usually keep talking about things I never understand."
"They're boys, we're not meant to understand them" Ginny made a goony face which made Valerie laugh. "Are you always this funny?"
"No, not really. Maybe its because the boys have injected their virus into me." Ginny replied. "I never really understood them myself. I guess the only way to really understand them is to be like them."
"You mean be idiotic?" Valerie giggled.
"No, you don't have to be idiotic. Just know their games and what makes them tick." Ginny grinned at what the other girl said. "Though boys can be really idiotic…"
Valerie nodded her agreement. Her hair was up in a high ponytail. When she nodded her head her ponytail bounced. "Yeah, I've had experience how boys can be so idiotic."
"Hey! I resent that!" Ron opened the door.
"Me too!" Harry agreed as he pushed Ron inside Ginny's office. "We're not idiotic." Then he looked at his protégé. "I guess I have to keep you away from Ms. Weasley here, she might be a bad influence."
"Yeah Gin! You're giving us and the rest of the male population a bad name!" Ron protested as Harry pretended to take Valerie away from Ginny. "You're polluting her brain! If you make her like you then that would be awful!"
"What?
You're saying I have a rotten personality?" Ginny demanded as she grabbed her
stapler and strode over to Ron to hit him on the head. "Take it back before I
staple your head!"
Ron shielded his head as Ginny
made him cower into the floor. "Don't hurt me Gin! I was just kidding!"
"Please tell me that you haven't been brainwashed!" Harry looked into Valerie's eyes. His eyes had a twinkle in them as he shook her playfully.
"Too late Harry, I'm afraid Ginny can be very convincing" she winked at Ginny's direction. Ginny smiled at her and proceeded to make her brother cower in fear.
"Oh no! We lost her to the evil clutches of your sister!" Harry wailed as he laid Valerie to rest on the floor as if she were dead.
Everyone laughed as Valerie pretended to die.
Ginny ginned broadly. Her day was getting better and better already. She was having fun, she met a new friend and her brother and Harry were being hilarious as ever.
The rain continued to pour down and thunder rumbled comfortingly in the distance.
* * *
It wasn't the same in the Malfoy Manor,
Back in the manor it was gray and gloomy. Draco also liked the rain, but today was different. Usually the rain made him happy, but today it just reminded him more of the past. After the battle with Cally, it had rained furiously for a week. It was like a symbol of some sort. He already had two pots of tea and still his nerves weren't calm. He didn't know what was wrong with him. It wasn't like him to act this way.
"Draco?" his mother called from the stairs. "Are you in here moping around?" she appeared by the entrance to the living room. "What has gotten into you? You have been acting like this since yesterday. I demand to know what is going on" Narcissa was worried for her son. What if something wrong happened between Ginny and him? If something did happen then her plan was useless.
Draco remained silent. He didn't feel like confiding to his mother yet. He needed time to think about it first.
Narcissa sat down beside her son and put an arm around his shoulders. "You can tell me when you're ready, but I'm not going to stop asking you until you tell me." Narcissa planted a kiss on his forehead and left him in the living room.
He heard her retreating footsteps go up to her room. He heard the door shut. Draco felt weird inside. It was like a troubling feeling that he couldn't get rid off. Something like a nag that you couldn't get rid off until you figure out what you're supposed to do.
The wind howled angrily outside as if telling him to do something about it. The thunder agreed with the wind and roared in the distance. Draco stared outside the window and saw lightning flash over and over again. He knew that he needed to do something, but what? What he needed more than ever was comfort. He knew that his mother was there to provide it for him, but he needed a different kind of comfort.
* * *
Ginny sighed languorously in her bed as she read her book. It had been a promising day. She didn't have that much work to do and she spent most of her time talking with Valerie. She had to admit that the girl had a mean streak in her as well. Ginny liked it when Valerie suggested to play a prank on them during lunch. They had stolen their lunches and put worms in them. When the boys opened their paper bags and reached in for their lunch, they started yelling bloody murder when worms started crawling on their hands and up their arms. They knew that it was them who planned it because they had been laughing loudly near them when it happened. We assured them that their lunch wasn't ruined. They had taken the lunches out before stuffing it with worms. Ron was not pleased. Harry didn't really care just as long as he didn't have to starve.
Ginny frowned as she felt as if something was wrong. She tried to shake the feeling away but it still continued to cling to her. Frustrated, she set her book away and kicked off the covers. She pulled on her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself to keep from freezing. She looked outside her window and strained to see through the rain and dark. Nothing there. She was about to turn away when she caught a flash of blue from below. She turned back to look and saw Draco standing outside her house. He was drenched and shivering.
What was he thinking? Standing outside her house in the rain? He could get sick or killed!
She saw Draco look up at her. Her heart froze. He looked like a ghost. Something was plaguing him she could see that from his face. She hurried downstairs and flung the door open. She raced outside, ignoring the rain as she brought Draco inside her house. He was dripping on the mat while she fetched a towel from one of the bathrooms downstairs. She proceeded to dry his hair.
"Draco, what on earth are you doing outside in this storm? Don't you have any idea what you're putting your body through?" she demanded as she finished with his hair. "Take off your shirt and we'll get that cleaned." She began unbuttoning Draco's shirt for him. Somehow she knew that he wasn't in the proper state to move. Something was definitely wrong with him. She then began drying his upper body. She hesitated whether as to remove his pants for him. She didn't have time to think about it because she knew that his health was more important than worrying about him being naked. She made quick work with his pants and shed them off for him. She left him there for a while to discard of his clothes into the washing machine. When she came back for him, he was still standing there like a statue.
"Draco, listen to me. I'm bringing you upstairs so that you could have a nice hot bath. In the meantime, I'll look around for something that you could wear," she tugged on his arm gently. He didn't move. She tugged again a little bit more urgently until he finally moved. She helped him up the stair. She prepared the bath for him. She guessed that it was alright to pamper him now. She proceeded to pour some scented oils into the bath like lavender, rose, mint and jasmine. She gestured for Draco to discard the rest of his clothing and get in the tub. She didn't look at him as he followed her instructions. Luckily, he was wearing a pair of boxers and she felt that the rest if his underwear was included in it. She went downstairs and added the boxers to the washing machine.
The whirring of the machine set her mind thinking. What could have happened to Draco? Why was he acting so strangely? She knew that he was already acting strange yesterday, but it was obvious that it had gotten worse today. She didn't know if she was in line to ask what could've caused this to him. She would wait for him to say so, if he didn't then she's have to ask him about it.
She went into one of the guest rooms and opened the closet. This was were her brothers, Bill and Charlie, usually stayed when she invited them to her house to sleep over. Luckily, they have left some clothes behind. She pulled out a cotton white top with matching pants and brought them upstairs into her room. "Draco, if you're done you can change into these clothes I have on the bed. Just be sure that you're dry when you come out"
She went back downstairs and saw that the machine was done with his clothes. She then threw the clothes into the dryer and went back upstairs. She's just have to come back for the clothes tomorrow.
When she got back into her room, Draco's back was to her as he finished buttoning the remaining buttons. "Does it fit alright?"
Draco turned back to look at her. His face was devoid of emotion.
Somehow she guessed that whatever was going inside of him hurt him too much to talk. But why did he come here to her? Why her?
She sat down on her bed and gestured for him to take a seat beside her. "Do you feel better?"
Draco nodded his head slowly. He was just like a lost little boy.
"If you want to, you can tell me about it when you feel like it" she said gently as she patted his arm consolingly. Her eyes widened as she felt Draco's arms around her. His head was on her shoulder and his breathing reminded her of a child about to cry. She couldn't protest. She didn't have the heart to. She lifted a hand to stroke his hair comfortingly. "It's alright, I'm here for you. I'll protect you" Protect you from what exactly? Whatever it was, it was tearing Draco from the inside out.
Draco slept peacefully, his head on her chest, his breathing back to normal. Ginny continued to stoke his head as she read her book at the same time. It took some time before Draco finally let down and chose to go to sleep. When he had pulled away from her his eyes looked puffy but his face showed no sign of tears. When she propped herself against the headboard of the bed with pillows behind her, Draco watched her silently. She told him that he could go to sleep already if he wanted. She was surprised when he got in the covers beside her and hesitantly wrapped and arm across her belly. She didn't refuse when he laid his head against her chest. It was just this once and she couldn't break his heart or pain him more.
Her eyes started to droop as she finished the page she was reading. She yawned and paced the bookmark in the next page. She switched the light off and snuggled in her bed. She smiled to herself as she patted his head gently one last time before she slept.
Together they slept through the night, their breath a slow and peaceful rhythm to each other.
The rain for once was a comfort to the boy's ears as he slept on.