I'm sorry this took so long! EEK! But THANK YOU for all the reviews and love and whatnot! I LOVE IT! keep 'em coming!

Alright, so before we begin, you must repeat after me:

"Bela is a kind and good writer, and I must refrain from killing her. If I kill her, there will be no end to the story." --see? If you kill me, there wont' be an end - so you can't kill me. you just hafta wait : )

Chapter Six, Back Here

"Well I'd hope that since we're here anyway,
That we could end up saying
Things we've always needed to say,
So we could end up staying.
Now the story's played out like this,
Just like a paperback novel,
Let's rewrite an ending that fits,
Instead of a Hollywood horror.

Nothing's wrong, just as long as you know that someday I will

Someday, somehow I'm gonna make it all right,
but not right now I know you're wondering when..." -'Someday', Nickelback

Ginny had expected that from her brother. Not from any of her other brothers, or her mother, or her father, or her friends, but Ron was different from all of them.

She smiled and stood up, moving next to Draco and looking at Ron. Harry had stepped in right behind him.

"DON'T TOUCH MY SISTER!" He said, wand drawn as Ginny grabbed Draco's hand. She didn't retract, though. She knew how to deal with Ron. She looked up at Draco and was amazed at how calm and collected he was. It was like they'd never left - he was back to his old Malfoy Cool. And then he smirked. She was convinced he couldn't help it. If he could help it, he would. Especially now.

Ron made a beeline for him, but Ginny stepped in between them, placing her hand on his chest.

"Ron, stop it." Was all she said. She stared him in the eye, but he was literally looking over her head at Draco. She really wasn't that short by any standards, they were just tall. Completely unfair, in her opinion.

After a few moments of huffng and puffing, Ron looked down at her, examining her.

"What are you doing back here, Ginny?" He asked coldly.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron just stared at her. She should've expected that.

"Damon and Emma are starting Hogwarts in the fall," Ginny explained calmly. "We came back for them." Ron glared at her.

"But not because you were worried about any of us, right?" He sneered.

"Ron," Harry urged quietly, putting a hand on his arm to try and make the redhead back off. But Ron wouldn't have any of it.

"What do you want here?" He shot, still glaring down at her.

"Calm down," Draco growled. Ron just raised his wand again,

"I am not talking to you. I am talking to my sister. So if you don't mind --" Draco advanced behind Ginny,

"In fact, I do." He said viciously, but quietly.

"Stop it, both of you." Ginny said quickly. "We're here because I wanted to see you all." Ron's gaze moved back to her and she took a deep breath, trying to stay courageous.

"You should leave." He said seriously.

"Ronald!" Her mum exclaimed, "I will not have you speaking to your sister like that! She is always welcome in this home! Always!"

"But Mum!"

"Ron, I agree with your mother." Hermione said seriously. Ron took that opportunity to glare at them both. Ginny noticed that a little audience had gathered at the door - all her children, the little boy she'd met - Gideon, and who she assumed to be his twin, Fabian. They were all staring wide-eyed and scared at Ron.

"Listen here," Ginny said, catching Ron's attention. "I can understand you're upset, but I'm here, alright? And I'm not leaving anytime soon. So you're just going to have to suck it up, Ron." They stared each other down, and Ginny couldn't help but think that it was just like old times.

"I don't want him in my house." Ron said seriously, glaring at Ginny.

"That's too bad." She replied. "He's not leaving." Ron's eyes flashed furiously and he stormed out. Ginny heaved a sigh of relief, and was left staring at Harry Potter.

"Hello, Ginny." He said timidly.

"Hello, Harry," she said with a smile. No one moved, no one shifted, it almost felt like no one even breathed for a few moments.

"Lemme oouut," Came Izzy's voice from the doorway. She was apparently trying to get back into the living room, but four older kids were in her way. As soon as they realized the adults' attention was fixed on them, they let her through, not wanting to get in trouble, but Ginny just smiled. Those kids were quite a handful.

Harry looked at the kids, then back at Ginny, alarmed.

"They're..." he began, but he didn't seem to be able to finish that sentence.

"Mine," she supplied.

"Merlin, Ginny, where have you been?" He asked, smiling and moving forward to give her a hug. They hugged and she smiled back at him.

"America, we lived in America." She admitted.

"And you've been there this whole time?" He asked with a sad expression. Ginny took a deep breath and nodded.

A few more cracks were heard and feet ran into the kitchen. Ginny looked over just in time to see Fred and George run in.

"Merlin!"

"We heard Draco Malfoy was in Diagon Alley yesterday,"

"But we didn't actually believe..."

"Now I owe Lee fifty galleons!" Fred said frustratedly.

"Hello, Fred, George," Ginny said with a grin. They ran over and embraced her, nearly crushing her ribcage. She giggled. "Let me go!"

"Never again."

"If we do,"

"we don't know where you'll go!" That pained her a bit. She knew it was just a joke, but it did hurt a little.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise." She said seriously.

"How do we know?"

"The kids...have school this fall, they're going to Hogwarts." This prompted them to jump back.

"WHAT?"

"KIDS?" Their gaze shifted to Draco and became hard and angry.

"You did WHAT -"

"To OUR SISTER?" Ginny looked back in time to see Draco cough. He didn't say anything, though. That was probably a good idea.

"Stop it, stop it. They're right in there, if you want to meet them." She said, pointing to the living room.

"I can't believe it,"

"Our own sister,"

"We're uncles!"

"And she didn't even tell us!"

"If I'm not mistaken," Ginny interjected, "you two were already uncles."

"Well, yes,"

"But not to your children!" Ginny ushered them into the living room, where Damon and Emma were sitting on the couch, silently talking, Izzy was running around, Alex was sulking on the couch, and Julia was hiding under the coffee table.

"Ah!"

"They look like him!"

"What kind of practical joke is this!"

"A bad one."

"Stop it, you two. Kids," she called. Damon, Emma and Alex looked up, Izzy froze, and Julia just giggled. "These are your Uncles Fred and George." She turned to her brothers, "these are my kids. Damon and Emma, Alex, Izzy and Julia." Ginny had never known Fred and George to feel awkward, but they looked like that's exactly how they were feeling at this moment. They exchanged a look, then turned around and stormed back into the kitchen. Ginny smiled at the kids and quickly followed them.

"Alright,"

"That's it." They said angrily.

"We want to know -"

"Where in the bloody world you two were,"

"And why you never called." Ginny gulped and moved next to Draco.

"We were --" Draco began politely.

"No." They interrupted simultaneously.

"We want to hear it from Ginny." She gripped his hand tighter and looked up at him.

"We were in America..." Their expressions stayed hard, but showed more pain.

"Why?" Fred demanded. Ginny shifted uncomfortably and looked up at Draco. He was like her rock - strong, determined, and still so collected. She wished she could feel as calm as he did at that moment, or at least as calm as he looked.

Her mum walked back into the room at that moment - Ginny hadn't even realized she was gone.

"Your father will be --" was all she could get out before another crack was heard. Arthur Weasley walked timidly into the kitchen a few moments later. All eyes were on him, examining him, watching for his reaction. His eyes moved from his wife, to Ginny, to Draco, to Fred and George, then back to Ginny before he walked decidedly forward and embraced her. She hugged him back as hard as she could and tried not to cry. Although she heard a sniff come from her shoulder, and that's all it took for her to crack. She started crying, and refused to let him go. Eventually she stopped crying, and just held her arms around him.

"I missed you, Dad," she said quietly. He kissed her head,

"We missed you, too, Ginny." She moved away from him, back next to Draco, and looked up at him. He looked completely neutral.

"You remember," she cleared her throat, unable to believe she was about to say this, "Draco Malfoy." Her dad's eyes almost popped out of his head.

"Well, you certainly haven't changed much, but...well, I didn't expect to see you of all people here." He stuck out his hand, which Draco shook. Ginny smiled sadly,

"Come in here, there are a few people I'd like you to meet," she said excitedly, grabbing her father's hand and leading him into the living room. "Kids," she called out again. They all just looked up at her. "Well, come here!" They scrambled up, except for Alex, and stood in front of their mother. "Alex, you too." He grumbled something under his breath and walked up next to Damon. She introduced the kids to their grandfather and vice versa. There were a few mumbled hello's and a few smiles, but not everyone was too excited. When she looked at her dad, though, he looked as though he were about to cry. He looked at each one of them, then back to Ginny, who couldn't help but smile.

"Mommy, when's lunch?" Izzy asked, coming up beside her. Ginny knelt down.

"I don't know, Iz, we'll have to see where we're going to eat, we might have to drive back home first." She said seriously. Izzy nodded and went back to play with Julia, making less noise than she usually did, which Ginny was grateful for.

When she walked back into the kitchen, Fred and George were nowhere to be found, and Draco was standing silently in the corner. She walked up to him.

"Everything ok?" She asked - his emotional neutrality was beginning to disconcert her. Over the years she'd become accustomed to him laughing and smiling, smirking and glaring - seldom was he dispassionate or neutral on any subject. He just looked at her and nodded. "Where'd Fred, George and Harry go?"

"Fred and George said they had to go back to their store, and who knows where Potter went." He replied.

"Draco..." she sighed, "Izzy was wondering about lunch."

"You could all stay here," Her mum suggested hopefully.

"I wouldn't want to make you make lunch for all of us on such short notice..." Ginny said smiling, but shaking her head.

"Nonsense! I made lunch for nine for some years!" Without even waiting for a response, she began to make lunches for everyone.

Alex walked out of the living room quietly and over to Ginny's side.

"Mom, when's lunch?" He asked.

"It should be ready in about a half hour!" Mrs. Weasley said. Alex looked at her, then back to his mother.

"Can we have chicken noodle soup?" He asked hopefully. This made the older woman turn around, confused. Ginny stifled a laugh, and Draco smirked.

"In June?" Mrs. Weasley asked, confused. Alex just looked at her.

"Yes, in June." Draco replied, almost affronted. Ginny couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry, Mum, we'll eat whatever you provide. It's just...never question a Malfoy's chicken noodle soup." She burst into giggles and covered her mouth. From behind her, she could hear Draco clear his throat. "I'm sorry," she giggled, "but for someone who doesn't know the story...it just sounds so ridiculous..." She finally caught her breath and turned around to face him. He had an amused and challenging look on his face. "I'm sorry," she repeated, "But really. It's just so random."

"I'm sorry, are we missing something?" Mr. Weasley said with a smile.

"Always, Dad." Ginny smirked.

"I could make some chicken noodle soup, if that's what the kids will eat," Mrs. Weasley suggested.

"Oh, the kids'll eat it," Ginny assured her, "it's been a long few days." She sat back down at the table, across from her father.

"Even though it's the middle of the summer?" Mr. Weasley questioned. Ginny nodded,

"When Draco was a kid," she heard him audibly sigh, but decided to ignore it, "whenever things got bad, or he got sick, his mum made him chicken noodle soup. It was the only thing she ever made herself, instead of the house elves. So now, whenever things get bad, or someone gets sick, he makes chicken noodle soup. Throws a right fit if he doesn't get it." She finished.

"Now, that's not quite fair." Draco said, trying to interrupt her.

"I think that's exactly fair." She smiled, turning to face him for just a moment. She turned around to see her mum shrug and get out some carrots. "We probably shouldn't stay too long after, though, with the kids still getting used to the house and all."

Mrs. Weasley wandered off to find Hermione and see if Harry or Ron would be joining them for lunch. Ginny talked with her dad about the goings-on of the Ministry, his job and other miscellaneous things. The kids seemed to stay quiet in the other room, happy at the news that chicken noodle soup would be part of lunch.

Turns out that Harry did decide to join them for lunch, which made for an utterly awkward affair. Ginny couldn't understand why, but Draco still harbored resentment towards him - she'd have to have a word with him about that. The kids were content with soup and sandwiches, and the adults tried to focus on their food as opposed to the awkward silence in the room.

"So, Harry...what are you doing these days?" Ginny asked conversationally.

"Ron and I are Aurors." He answered shortly. "Working at the Ministry."

"Any wife, children?" Harry winced, visibly, and Ginny felt bad. Must be a touchy subject.

"No."

"Really?" She asked, surprised. He just went back to eating. After lunch ended, Harry was about to get up to leave when Ron stormed back in.

"Look!" He began angrily, wand drawn and pointing at Draco's chest, "I don't know who you think you are, but you'd do best to leave my family alone!"

"Ron! What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Ginny exclaimed, prying her way between the two angry boys.

"It's ok, Red." Draco said seriously, "I should --"

"What did you call her!" He demanded. Ginny ignored her brother and turned to Draco.

"Maybe you should take the kids back to the house, I'll deal with him." Draco eyed her cautiously,

"He's no problem." Draco scoffed.

"He is if he kills you." Ginny said dryly. "Just...I'll be back later, alright?"

"Do think about coming back for dinner!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed hopefully. Draco surveyed the situation, but moved into the other room. Although, on his way there, he did stop right in front of Ron just to glare at him. Once he was gone, though, Ron went off.

"What were you thinking? He could've killed you! Leaving for a decade? How could you? Why would you? He must have you under one powerful spell...else you're just really dense..."

"Do not talk to her like that." Draco hissed viciously from the doorway.

"What are you still doing here?" Ron spat. Draco walked quickly up to him and stared him down.

"Do not. Speak to her like that." He repeated.

"Oh, what? Now you're a hero?" Ron shot.

"Draco, just go. I'll deal with him, you just take the kids." Draco's glare stayed on Ron for a moment, then it moved to Ginny, until finally he stormed out. He picked up Julia and carried her out, Izzy, Alex and Damon in tow. Emma just stood there for a minute, looking at Ron with unmasked dislike.

"I don't like you." She said matter-of-factly. It was then that Damon realized she wasn't next to him, and he grabbed the sleeve of her robe and pulled her out.

Ron stared at the door for a few minutes, astonished and frozen.

"Who..." he began, but trailed off.

"Those were the children I tried to tell you about. That was Emma, she and Damon the oldest."

"Children?"

"My children." She clarified. "The ones you just scared half to death by trying to kill their father."

"He's..."

"Their father."

"But..."

"Ron, I can't finish your sentences for you forever, spit it out." His gaze turned back to her and hardened.

"Alright. He could've killed you." He said harshly, "What were you thinking?" Ginny scoffed,

"Draco would never hurt me."

"You don't know him!" Ron cried.

"You're joking, right?" She said confusedly, "I've spent half of my life living with him. He's the father of my children. I love him. I think I know him."

"You don't love him!" Ron cried, aghast.

"I hate to break it to you, Ron," she really didn't, but she figured she'd say that anyway. "Really, be reasonable." She heard Harry nearly snort in the background, but he turned it, quite convincingly, into a hacking cough.

"Why did you leave, Ginny?" He asked, showing the hurt on his face and in his posture. She deflated, too, crossing her arms over her chest, and sitting back down at the table.

"I just...I had to...I'm sorry..." she said quietly.

"I don't think this is a good topic to discuss right now," Mrs. Weasley sniffed, still clearing things away from lunch.

"Mum, I need to know why she didn't even say goodbye."

"I tried, it was just...so hard. And it all happened so quickly..." Ginny spent the entire afternoon talking to her family about the events leading up to her departure, everything that had happened and how chaotic things had been. She didn't cry at all, but she did feel incredibly bad. Her mother cried a lot. Her father even sniffed a bit. Ron masked his hurt with anger so well, Ginny was pretty sure he'd sooner implode than cry.

Sooner than she expected, it was dinnertime, and Mrs. Weasley flooed Ginny's new house to invite them back. After a little prodding from Ginny, Draco reluctantly relented. A little while later they were back, and Ginny could hear the trouble coming from a mile away.

All through dinner, Emma glared at Ron, who shifted uncomfortably every time he caught her gaze. Every time Damon realized what was going on he elbowed his sister, which made for a very interesting hour. Alex sat quietly, observing the whole situation, while Harry tried to make polite conversation. Every once in awhile Ron would interject.

"So, Draco...I hear you cook." Harry said conversationally. Draco, as per Ginny's request, was just as polite.

"Surprised he never blew the place up." Ron muttered.

"Aw, c'mon," Draco said mockingly, "I'm smarter than that and you know it." Ginny couldn't help but burst into giggles.

"Don't be a prat," she warned through her laughter.

"Ginevra!" Her mother exclaimed, appalled. "There are children in the room!"

"What?" Emma asked, completely alert, "What'd she do? What'd she say wrong?"

"Your mother knows what she said." Mrs. Weasley answered shortly.

"What? You mean 'prat'? Mom calls Dad a prat all the time! It's a bad word? Oooo, Moommm, Aunt Mia's gonna yell at you when she finds out..."

"Aunt Mia?" Mrs. Weasley asked, suddenly distracted from Ginny's language.

"Mia's my best friend, she owns the diner we worked in. Actually the reason we stayed there."

"Reason we didn't starve." Draco muttered.

"That, too." Ginny said, nodding. Ginny told her family about Mia and Mike, and couldn't help but notice how hurt they all looked. So she cut the description and conversation short, changing the subject as quickly as she could.

The rest of the dinner went by more awkwardly than it had begun, making the kids even more fidgity than before. Somehow, the awkwardness affected Ron in the same way. He kept glaring at Draco, Emma kept glaring at him, Damon kept rolling his eyes at her, and Alex kept watching him. It was a crazy chain, quite amusing to watch. It heartened Ginny to know Alex looked up to his older brother like that, made her realize how lucky he was to have Damon there - he needed someone. He was just so different from Draco...

Ginny's thoughts were interrupted by Ron slamming down his fork and storming out.

"I don't like him." Emma announced. Damon elbowed her and Draco reprimanded her, but that rarely did anything to change Emma Malfoy's attitude.

Ginny and Draco decided it would be a good idea to leave as soon as possible, so after dinner and a long exchange of hugs and tears, they left.

The night went by quickly - unpacking, moving, adjusting and general mayhem in the house. By the time Ginny and Draco got to bed they practically collapsed.

"I can't believe it's been so long...they all look so different..." Ginny said, amazed.

"Look at us, Red. We're not exactly seventeen anymore either." Ginny looked at the two of them, and it was true. They had grown older. Draco was still lean and tall, but he was more muscular now. His hair was about the same, though, still cut like it had been so many years ago. Surprisingly enough, pregnancy had been kind to Ginny - not to mention how hard she'd worked to lose the extra weight afterwards.

"Well, yeah, but we don't look that different..." She found herself just snuggling into her pillow and leaning into him. "It's been a long time." He just smiled and nodded, and they both nodded off to sleep.

The next morning after breakfast, the kids were running around the house when Ginny heard a knock at the door. She opened it to see Ron and Harry standing there. Harry didn't look pleased, but Ron looked downright amused in a dark and twisted way.

"We need to talk to Draco." Harry said seriously. Ginny called him down, and ordered the kids back to their rooms, inviting Harry and Ron inside.

"Ginny, it's probably best if we stay out here." Harry said. Draco came up behind Ginny and asked about the fuss. "Draco Malfoy, if you could please step out onto the porch." Harry continued in an official tone. Ginny held one hand on the door and the other on the doorframe, making sure no one could get out or in without going through her. But after a few moments, during which she was staring at Harry completely confused, Draco put a hand on her arm.

"I want you to call Mike..." he said gently. Ginny let her arms fall as she turned to face him. He opened the door a little wider and stepped out between Harry and Ron. "Tell him to look in the junk drawer."

"No, wait," Ginny began, confused, "What's going on?"

"What's going on?" Came a curious voice from behind them.

"Emma, go upstairs, right now." Draco commanded. The little girl jumped at his forcefulness and ran back upstairs.

"Draco Malfoy," Harry began again, giving Ron a pleading glance. But Ron was stiff and determined, and cast a spell, binding Draco's hands behind his back. "You're under arrest for the murders of Eric Munch, Mafalda Hopkirk and Kenneth Towler. You will be tried before the Wizengamot for your crimes in five days' time. Until then, you will be held at Azkaban for the safety of the Wizarding World." Ginny's heart stopped beating for a moment while it fell to her feet.

"That's ridiculous," she laughed breathlessly. "Draco, tell them you didn't do it."

"Red, call Mike. Then I need you to find me a woman named Stefanie Rousseau, she'll probably be somewhere in France --"

"No. Not until you tell them you didn't do it." Ginny said forcefully, a tear threatening to slip down her cheek.

"Just call Mike...as soon as you can. Now, even..."

"Not until you tell them." She repeated, with less force than she wanted. "Draco," she said pleadingly, "Tell them!"

"Red...I can't." And with that, Ron and Harry dragged him off. Ginny watched them walk down the pathway and apparate away.

As soon as they were out of sight she collapsed on the porch. She stared into the empty space until she wrapped her mind around the fact that he wasn't there anymore...she began to sob uncontrollably into her knees as she pulled them up to her chest, like she used to do as a little girl...