Long Way Home - Draco

They had been married for a year when Draco decided to start handling more of the foreign business himself. At first it was just a weekend every other month or so. He was always so happy to be home, to be in her arms again. He always took an extra day off so he could spend it with her, making up for the time he was gone.

By the their second anniversery the weekends had become weeks, but the extra day had become two. He really did hate leaving her. He always brought her something back that he knew she would love.

During their third year the trips became more frequent, almost one a month, and the gifts he brought her back became more expensive. He never stopped spending a day or two with her when he returned, though.

It was May, the day before their anniversery, and she didn't know exactly when he was coming in. She called his secretary and asked when he was expected to return, when she didn't receive a straight answer she went down to the office to talk to someone in person. When she got there she ran into the man that had accompanied him.

"Oh!" she said, when saw him in the foyer, "you're back!"

He looked around nervously. "Yeah, just got in."

She thought his reaction was odd and her brow furrowed, "Do you know where Draco is?"

He scratched the back of his head. "No, I really don't."

"Well, didn't he come in with you?" she was thoroughly confused, but was trying to imagine he was simply planning something really special and didn't want her to know he was back.

"Ginny!" Sarah, one of Draco's female associates, entered the foyer and stopped dead when she saw the red-head.

"Sarah, have you seen Draco?" If anyone had it would be Sarah, she handled the accounts and he had to give her the receipts of all purchases made on the companies sickle.

Sarah looked over at the man and back at Ginny. She opened her mouth to say something, but from the look on her face Ginny knew she didn't want to hear it.

"He isn't here, is he?" Sarah shook her head sadly. "But the business is done, isn't it?" The man nodded guiltily. Ginny was struggling to hold back tears as she took a few steps back before turning and practically running for the apparation point. Once back in thier flat she broke down.

Draco didn't come home for their anniversary. He didn't come home until midnight the day after. When he got home he found Ginny sitting at the kitchen table in the dark.

"Ginny!" his voice was full of concern as he dropped his bags and ran to her side, "Is everything all right? Why are you sitting in the dark?" He stood, flicked his wand to turn on the lights, and then sat beside her.

She looked up at him through tear swollen eyes and pushed a small package toward him on the table. He looked down at it in confusion. "Happy anniversary," she said in a husky and strained voice.

He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Slowly, he unwrapped the gift before him. It was a signet ring. The seal was a dragon curled around a rose. He tried to swallow but it felt like someone had shoved a fistful of cotton down his throat. "Ginny..." he began in a whisper, but she interrupted him.

"How long?" there was so much pain in her eyes he couldn't look at her. "How long have you extended your trips?"

He put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. "I...this..."

"How long!" she demanded.

"It wasn't every trip. Five or six times." His voice didn't sound like it was his own.

She just nodded.

He turned to her in desperation. "Ginny, I..."

"Don't!" she almost screamed, "Don't you dare tell me you love me!" The tears were pouring out of her eyes again.

"I do, Gin," he whispered in dejection, "I really do. You are my world. I just...I feel so tied down when I'm here with the office and...I feel trapped. I just...I escape for a little while."

"I didn't propose to you. You asked me to marry you, remember!" Anger and bitterness were thick in her voice. "I'm sorry if I tie you down!"

"NO!" he looked up her immidiately. "No, Gin, please," tears were falling down his own face, "it isn't you. You're perfect. I...I always miss you, whether you believe me or not," from the look on her face she did not. "It's this place! The bills, the job, the town, the responsibility...I just have to get away from it all. I need to feel free."

"That is certainly an option." Her voice was so quiet he could barely hear it. She looked so defeated.

"No, Gin, no. Please don't... I don't want... please. Just...just come with me! From now on when I go on a business trip I'll take you. We can go on other trips, too, just us, wherever you want!" If she came with him there would be no reason to...he should have thought of this a long time ago. She could turn her articles in from wherever they were. She didn't have to be here to do that. "Just please, give it a chance, give me a chance." He was begging her. "You know I love you, Gin, more than the whole world."