Can we say mixed response? Wow, I didn't expect people to have such strong opinions about this. Oh well, I love that ya'll tell me what you like about it, and even the things you don't like, because they make me think about where I want to take the story. Thanks! And to sapphireknight- I reread it and couldn't find where I repeated myself. If it's not too much trouble, could you maybe point it out? I'll go back and fix it if you could do that. And again, to Stella Blu, your review made me think 'I hate the stories where women go back to their dumb, cheating boyfriend/husband'. So, I'm going to try not to make it like that, I promise. Now, onto chapter 2...

-

He stood there, an arm on either side of me, his mouth open in shock. I thought he knew, because of the questions and everything, but he obviously didn't. He was opening and closing his mouth like a dumb fish, and I couldn't help but feel proud. Nice to know I still have that effect on him. Not that it matters now or anything.

"I really have to go," I told him, trying to push past him.

He didn't budge. "When were you going to tell me?" he ordered, grabbing my shoulders. "Were you even going to tell me it was you?"

I didn't answer. I just avoided his gaze before something hit me, hard. He walked out on me. Right now, he's making me feel like I'm the one who left his heart in pieces. No, after everything he's done to me and my daughter, I'm not about to let him make me feel guilty for doing the right thing. Well, at least what I firmly believe was the right thing. "I have to go," I repeated, pushing his hands off me and walking towards the door as fast as I could.

I heard his heavy footsteps behind me as he followed me out the door and into the busy alley. "You've changed," he called after me, desperation beginning to creep into the edges of his voice. "Ginny, what happened to you?"

I stopped short, whirling around to look him in the eye. "I changed?" I replied, my voice low. "If anything, you changed." I watched as his eyes clouded over dangerously, but I continued my little rant. "The Harry Potter I knew and fell in love with was loyal. He stood by people when they needed him. The Harry Potter I knew and was in love with didn't cut out when things got hard. The Harry Potter I knew," it was then I realized I was only centimetres from his face. I don't remember how I got this close, but I really didn't care. "Wouldn't have left an innocent baby without a father. Who ever you are, you aren't him. And as far as what happened to me, I had a baby. I grew up. I fell out of love."

He swallowed hard, and I swore I saw tears in his eyes. "Gin, I'm sor-"

"I don't want to hear it!" I screamed. When he had first left me, I wanted him to come back and beg for my forgiveness. Then, after a month, I wanted him to come back so I could beat the shit out of him and then, maybeask why. After six months I wanted him to come back so I could tell him to go to hell. Now, I didn't even want him to come back, I just wanted him to go to hell. "Save your sorries for someone who actually gives a damn." I turned around and called over my shoulder, "And don't call me Gin."

I began to walk away, but his voice interrupted my thoughts again. "I want to see the baby."

I let out a dry laugh, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. "You don't even know her name. Some father you are." I continued walking, imagining the look on his face.

I didn't need him anymore, I realized. And it was the most terrifying thing I'd ever come to terms with.

-

"Thanks Luna," I said, picking up Lizzy. I had told her everything, and much to my relief, she didn't tell me I was wrong, she just listened to me cry and scream about the whole Harry ordeal. Currently, she was watching Frankie, her and Neville's seven month old crawl across the floor towards us. "It's just been a bad day."

"I'm sorry," Luna replied, watching her little blonde son crawl towards her. He grabbed onto her pant leg and began trying to climb up her leg. "I can't imagine." Neville walked through the doorway and kissed her cheek. I was happy for them, I really was, but it was hard to watch their perfect life when mine was such a mess.

I smiled at my best friend and her husband. "I hope you never have to."

After hugging Neville and Luna and kissing the top of Frankie's head, I flooed to my own flat, sighing as I walked into the messy living room. Working two jobs left my flat in a state of constant disarray. Personally, I don't mind, but every time Mum comes over, she insists on helping me clean, the Muggle way being as I had a couple of Anti-Magic wards set up, excluding the Floo network, of course. I don't really remember why I did that, but I do recall thinking it was for the best.

I set Lizzy in the crib set up in the kitchen and began to make dinner. Well, dinner for me, warming the bottle for Lizzie. She was at the point where she could smile and coo at the ceiling, which I had painted with little birds and stars. It may not have been magical, but she loves looking at it.

I had just set my food on the table when the doorbell rang. I was upset, one because I was starving and two because I had to leave Lizzy alone in the crib. I pulled the apron off and draped it carelessly over the settee while grumbling some choice words before unlocking the door and opening it.

I resisted the urge to slam it again.

He was leaning in my doorway like it was the most natural thing in the world, and he even smiled at me when I opened the door.

Who the hell does he think he is anyway?

"What?" I snapped, blocking the doorway from him coming in.

"I came to see her," he replied casually. "I want to make things right."

I was shell-shocked. "Make what right?" I asked stupidly, immediately slapping my brain. I sounded ridiculous.

"I want to be a father."

My eyes began to water. Not from his touching statement, but from the fact he thought that this would be that easy. He wasn't coming back into my life without a damn good explanation. "No," I told him. "You will never go near her."

He stepped closer to me, and I moved back to keep my distance. If I didn't, I knew I wouldn't survive this conversation. "Why not?"

"I'm not going to let you hurt her like you hurt me," I replied coldly. "You ripped my heart out, stomped on it and put it back in backwards. You left me alone, to raise a baby by myself, and now, after the hard part's done, you want back in. This isn't a day job Harry, this is for life, and you just gave up! No fight, no reason, you just gave up. You are such a self-centred bastard, I hate you!"

He dropped his smile, and his eyes went wide. I knew I had hurt him. "Ginny, I was afraid-"

"You were afraid? I'm the one who had to go through pregnancy alone! I was the one who had to face single parenthood! I was the one," I dropped my voice to a whisper, "who had to face the rest of my life without the love of my life. Just because you're back doesn't mean I'm happy about it." I pushed his shoulders and he backed out of the doorway. "Get out."

His face became alight with anger. "Ginny, I never had parents! How the hell was I supposed to raise a baby the right way when my childhood was a living hell? My aunt and uncle used to beat me and lock me in closets for Merlin's sake! I didn't want to treat my child like that! She deserves better than that, you deserve better than that. You deserve better than me." His shoulders slumped and he began to cry.

I'd never seen Harry Potter cry. Even after he defeated Voldemort, he remained calm, cool and collected, especially when I was a nervous wreck. How Voldemort could not scare him, but a little baby could was beyond me. I'd rather face Lizzy's stinky diapers than Voldemort's breath any day. "Didn't you see?" I asked gently, surprising myself by cupping his cheek with my hand softly. "That was why you had me."

I knew he was sorry. It was written all over his face, the pain in his eyes ripped my heart apart again. I ran my thumb along his trembling lower lip and a tear fell down his cheek. My resolve began to crumble. "I will never forgive you," I told him sadly. "You should have realized I would've always been there to help you." His face fell even more. "But," I added, wanting that look on his face gone. That wasn't the Harry Potter I knew. "I might let you see your daughter if you do three things for me."

"What?" he asked hopefully.

"You swear on all you hold holy you will never, ever abandon Lizzy," I responded. "Because I will hurt you if you do. Secondly, you go sort through your problems before you even think about being near her. I don't want you to suddenly have second thoughts about this, because I don't think I could survive you leaving again, and I know Lizzy couldn't. And dump that blonde. She gives me the creeps."

He nodded solemnly before placing his hand over his heart. "I promise. Cass and I weren't really dating anyway. Everything was made up by the press, I'm just supposed to keep the appearance up."

The first real smile in a year graced my features, and I couldn't help but revel in it. "I'm not letting you see her until you sort through your parenting issues," I reminded him, reaching for the doorknob.

He seemed hurt by it, but I think he understood what I was trying to say. "I'm going to schedule an appointment with a shrink this week," he promised. "In fact, I'll let you get back to your dinner and go do it now."

I moved to close the door, tears in my eyes. Before it shut, he stopped it. "Thanks Gin."

I simply smiled sadly and let the door shut. When closed, I leaned against it and let the effects of what I had just done wash over me.

I really hope I did the right thing.

-

I hope Ginny doesn't sound like some woman running back to her stupid ass, dirt bag boyfriend/husband, but I really believe that every child needs a father, and I hope that point came across. If it didn't, I'm a crappy writer, eh? Hee.