This is sad… The last chapter… I might write a wedding story, I'll post it if I do… It will have a different title though, but you'll be able to tell. I want to thank everyone for reading my sometimes confusing story; it's been a lot of fun!

            To clear something up, Ginny isn't exactly sure that she saw Lily and James, she may have, but then again no?! So… here goes the chapter I have wanted to write. It will explain the title to the story.

            Rollingstone

            Disclaimer: Don't own HP, but I do own this storyline…

                                                                                    The Third Option

                                                                        Chapter 24: The Third Option

            Harry glanced at his watch; her flight was scheduled to be leaving right now. Harry began bargaining with God, Something that everyone does in their most desperate hour. If you just let me talk to her, I'll never drink again. Or, well, I'll only drink once a week. I'll volunteer to help people, maybe…Just let me see her again! Harry was running up an escalator. It was funny how time sped up when you were dreading something, yet slowed when you were anticipating something. He knew not what he would say when he saw her. What could he say? Hi Ginny, hate to be a bother, but it turns out you the woman of my dreams. And I've known it since the first day I saw you, but it took me this long to realize what true love is, and that I only feel it for you? No, that definitely wouldn't work. It wouldn't convince her to stay. Yeah, just convince her to stay, and then tell her you love her. Harry was running to her terminal, and he heard it: The boarding call for her flight. Please, he prayed silently as he sprinted past the rows of empty seats, and towards the line of people waiting to give the flight attendants their boarding passes. Then he saw her.

            She was easily recognizable with her flaming red hair. Her black leather jacket and that hand-bag she always insisted on. He swore she kept every possession she ever could want or need in her bag. The world stopped moving for him, chatter of people bidding farewell to relatives and friends. All noise faded as he walked toward her. She was the last person in line. He reached forward and grabbed the back of her arm, "Excuse me, but aren't you a Weasley?" Stupid thing to say, Harry thought to himself, as he composed his face in a charming smile.

            Ginny made up her mind. She was going. She was going to be last in line, like she was last for everything. She took a deep breath and she smelled something, something vaguely familiar. Then she heard a voice she would recognize anywhere, "Excuse me, but aren't you a Weasley?"

            Ginny whipped around. Just what did he think he was doing? Especially what was he wearing that loathsome green leather jacket for. Well, at least he looked good in it, it suited him. Though, it was extremely out of place in a muggle airport. "Potter, what are you doing here?"

            "The name is Harry, and I'll be your rescuer today." Harry smiled. Damn, why did he have to be charming right now? Of all times!

            "Well, Harry, sorry, but I don't really need a rescuer today. Thanks though." It was almost her turn to go through the line. Damn these muggle security systematic checks.

            "Oh, well Ginevra, if history repeats itself, you need rescuing on this very day." Was he drunk? Why was Harry sweating so much?

            "Oh, I need rescuing do I? And why exactly would that be?" She was going to make him explain himself. It was going to have to do as a parting memory, though she had hoped last night would be it. That was a perfect memory of Harry. Now she had to leave on a sour note.

            "You see here," Harry rolled up his sleeve, showing a rather painful scar. "This is where I was bit by this snake you set loose. Remember that?"

            With a twinge of guilt Ginny replied, "I remember, but come on, I was possessed!"

            "Yeah, but I still rescued you!"

            Was Harry driving at a point here, because she would be reaching the gate pretty soon, and she wouldn't be able to hear whatever his point was? "Harry, yes you saved me then."

            "You know what? I saved the world a lot while I was at Hogwarts." Harry knew he was making a fool of himself. But everything was bubbling out in his mouth. "And after Sirius died, I stopped caring. I really did. I was sure there was nothing left to live for. Nothing that could make all the pain I was feeling stop stabbing me. Then, the first night I stayed at Sirius's house, after he died. I saw you. I saw you alone, in the drawing room, you were reading. And you looked," Harry stopped he was at a loss for words.

            Ginny just stared at him, what on earth was he talking about?

            Harry took a breath and continued, "You looked like an angel. You looked at peace. And I knew I could go on. I knew what I had to do. Then, when you got kidnapped, everything skidded, and I had to save you again."

            "Please Harry," Ginny had tears in her eyes, "Stop, just stop. There is no need to go on about what happened ages ago."

            "Yeah, there is. I went into that cave, not to defeat Voldemort, but I went into that cave to save you. I knew that if you died, a part of me would die. So now, here we are, at an airport of all places. I'm here to rescue you Ginny. To rescue you like you have rescued me, my whole life."

            "Harry," Tears were now flowing freely down Ginny's cheeks. "Harry I don't need a rescuer. I am just fine. There is no danger here."

            "Yes there is. If you go on that plane you'll never come back. I know you. You are trying to run away. There is danger in the fact that Mick doesn't understand what you have gone through. He has heard the stories, met the people, but he didn't live it like we did. He doesn't know what you see in your nightmares at night. I do. He doesn't know the stories behind the scar you carry on your back. I do. I was their."

            Ginny turned her back on Harry. "He may not understand all of that. But he loves me. That makes up for a lot."

            Harry grabbed she arms and turned her to face him. "He may love you, but not like I do! Listen, at the end of fairy tales, the night and shining armor is supposed to have the first rites on the woman he rescues. I rescued you all those times for a reason. So you could continue to rescue me from myself Gin! I love you. I should have told you from the moment I met you. I'm sorry my timing is horrible! I'm sorry it took me so long to come to my senses. But I am not sorry I went through all of that madness. I won't be sorry as long as I get my reward, to spend the rest of my life with you. YOU GINNY! NOT YOUR BROTHERS! I LOVE YOU! I love the way you laugh; the way you won't eat tomatoes in a salad but love ketchup. I love the way you giggle when you're drunk. The way you smile when you dance with me. The way your tears are the saddest thing on earth, I love that Ginny; I love you!" Harry was out of breath, he had been so busy talking that breathing had completely slipped his mind.

            "Are you sorry that you wore that jacket in an airport?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.

            "That is one thing I will never apologize for." Harry laughed as he kissed her.

            Fireworks were going off in her head. Harry Potter was kissing her. But she couldn't be with him. He deserved way better. She could just leave Mick. "Harry I'm sorry, I love you but, I can't just walk out on Mick like this."

            "What? YOU BELONG HERE IN BRITAIN!" Harry's outbursts were drawing quite a crowd. "WITH ME, HERE!"

            "Harry, I already promised Mick! I can stay here, with you, and not be a woman of my word. Or I can go to America, keep my word to Mick-"

            "What, and be miserable?" Harry burst in.

            "WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE HARRY?" Ginny screamed in frustration. Life was not easy, not in the slightest.

            Harry took a breath, calmed down, "You have a third option."

            "Oh, I do? Would you mind filling me in on what it would be?" Ginny was angry. Why would he tell her he loved her now, NOW OF ALL TIMES?

            "Yes, your third option is to write to Mick, tell him to take care, find a nice American girl, settle down and live the American Dream."

            "And what do you think I am going to do? Sit here in the airport for the rest of my life?"

            "No, your going to calm down, your going to step a little closer to me, so I can put my arms around you.. You're going to let me kiss you. You're going to tell me that you love me too …And then your going to marry me."

            Ginny stepped forward, "Okay, so what makes you so sure that I'm going to not turn around and step on that plane?"

            Harry put his arms around her and kissed her.

            "I love you Harry." Everything made sense. She belonged here. She was going to take her third option and run with it. With time, he would stop wearing that jacket...hopefully….She was in love with a man who loved her back…life was good.

                        Like it? REVIEW PLEASE??!! Thanks for reading. I will write and epilogue and maybe I'll write a separate wedding story… we'll see…

                                    Rollingstone