A/N Sorry once again that I didn't update last week. I was busy because my relatives were visiting. I should get the next chapter up next week because I'll have started vacation unless I become deathly ill. Hope you like this chapter. I'm thinking of ending the story in a chapter or two. I, of course, do not own anything related to Harry Potter. Please be generous and post a review in light of the holidays for me. Thanks. Enjoy.

"Okay, so I want you to put into bed by 8:30, no later and please no sweets after 7:45 'cause she gets fidgety. Now I should be home by 9:30, but no later than 10 definitely. I'll pay you when I get back. Thanks so much."

"You're welcome. Have a good time." replied Ginny's babysitter, Aminta.

"Thank you. Draco should be picking me up in five minutes, so I'll just hang around while Ailey gets used to you."

"Okay."

"Mommy, Where are you going?"

Ginny sighed, "Honey, I've told you five times already. I'm going to dinner with Mr. Malfoy. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Now go and talk to Aminta."

"Okay."

While Ginny was trying to organize herself and her belongings, she could hear Ailey jabbering away in the background. Poor, patient Aminta just listened.

'Ailey sure has mouth.' thought Ginny.

She had just tugged on her pair of jeweled flats when the doorbell rang. She picked up her purse and walked out of the door and rushed to open the door. She glanced through the peephole and gazed at Draco's physique for a second before opening the door.

"Hey."

"Hello, Gin. How are you doing? You look beautiful." said Draco while bending down to give her peck on the cheek.

"Fine. You look great too. Do you want to come in for a sec…"

Ginny wanted to finish her sentence but was interrupted by a squeal from Ailey and an object rushing past her legs.

"Draco, you didn't?" admonished Ginny.

Draco looked shyly down at her and muttered, "I figured they would like to see each other."

"That's nice but you didn't have to bring Scruffy over here when someone else is taking care of Ailey and the apartment."

"Sorry."

Ginny let out of breath of air and turned around to apologize to Aminta.

"Aminta, I'm really sorry Draco brought over his dog. I don't even know if you're allergic." she said shooting a glance to Draco who was leaning against the doorway, staring at her.

"No, it's fine. I love dogs. When I was Ailey's age I had 3 dogs all of my own and 5 total in the house. I'm perfectly fine with him if Ailey is."

"Please mommy, can Scruffy stay?" Ailey whimpered with her arms wrapped around the dog's neck.

"Oh, fine."

"Yay!"

"Okay, but make sure you still are in bed at the same time, okay."

"Okay. I love you, mommy. Bye" she said encircling her arms around Ginny's waist.

"Bye, Mr. Malfoy." moving and wrapping her arms around his thighs.

"Bye, sweetie." he replied rubbing her head. "Have fun with Scruffy."

"Okay, bye" said Ginny "we'd better get going."

"Alright, after you." he said gesturing to the door.

"Why thank you."

It had been warming up the past week, so they decided to walk to the restaurant where they had a reservation. The conservation was kept light as they walked with each other holding hands.

In the back of her mind, to Ginny, sometimes it seemed like they were moving to fast .However, whenever she though more about it, what they were doing seemed like the perfect thing at the moment.

They crossed the street and entered the restaurant, or really, café, where they were immediately seated.

"You know the last time we sat down at a dinner, I couldn't see what I was eating and you supposedly didn't look the same. Kinda strange how we got here isn't it?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." he said grinning at her through the candlelight then going back to study his menu.

After they had ordered, they gazed at each other and talked.

"So," taking a sip from her wine, "where exactly did you go when you left England?"

"Umm, let's see. Well, all over but more specifically Asia and Russia for awhile, a year in North America with stints in South America. Umm, Africa, India, then finally in Australia."

"Oh, I see. You did go all over, but no closer European countries?"

"Well, every summer we went to different European countries so I have already seen most of them. Plus, I really didn't want to go back to any of those places I have already seen."

"Gotcha."

"So what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, you can't expect me to believe that you have been doing nothing but raising Ailey for four years."

"Eh, well then you shouldn't expect anything. You'd be surprised how much time it takes to raise the crazy child that is our daughter."

"Point taken, but did you go on any trips or anything?"

"No really. There wasn't much extraneous stuff I could get on my salary, so most were just day trips."

"I'm sorry."

"It isn't you fault. Wait, " interrupted Ginny, "don't give me that line 'If I hadn't left'. I was as much at fault as you. I don't even think if you hadn't left to god knows where, but stayed in England, would I have told you. Remember, you were going to stay but I blew up at you. Raising Ailey on my own was both of our faults but the majority, mine."

"I just always feel when I'm with her that I should have been there and what I missed."

"That doesn't matter, you're here now."

"True. I am going to make it up to you though. Maybe a trip somewhere, for the trips you missed out on."

"I don't think so, I don't want to start grubbing off you."

"You won't be. It will be my gift to you and Ailey, okay." Draco said grasping her hand from across the table.

"Okay." Ginny replied smiling at him.

After a satisfying meal, they started their walk back to Ginny's apartment. Draco had his arm around her waist, while Ginny leaned into him. They pulled apart as she pulled her key out, and then opened the door.

Aminta was sitting on the couch and smiled at them as they came into the room.

"Did you guys have a good time?"

"Yes, thank you. Here's the money I own you. Was Ailey any trouble?"

"Nope," she said stuffing the bills into her pocket, "she was perfect and entertained all night by Scruffy."

"That's great. Thanks again."

"You're welcome" she said walking out the door.

Ginny turned back from the door and stared at Draco on the couch.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

"I would love to but I have to get a load of papers organized tomorrow for a meeting on Monday."

"Okay. Why don't we get Scruffy in, most likely, Ailey's room."

"Fine."

Draco grasped her hand as they opened Ailey's door and peeked in to see Ailey's little arms practically smothering the poor, but probably warm, dog.

"How are we going to get them apart without waking Ailey?"

"Why don't I just leave Scruffy here and meet you in the park tomorrow? I'm going to need a break sometime from the papers."

"Sounds great."

Ginny walked Draco to the front door.

"Bye, Draco. I had a great time."

"Yeah, me too."

Draco bent down and gently crashed his lips upon hers. Within moments, the intensity of the kiss increased. Ginny felt as if she was going to drown in the kiss, until both pulled away.

Ginny glanced up at him and smiled, who grinned back.

"See you tomorrow," he whispered.

Like it? Remember to give me a holiday review. Oh and to all my reviewers who I have been sadly not acknowledging, thank you. Hopefully I will see you next week, unless as previously stated, I become deathly ill. And once again for anyone who cares Aminta means protector.