A/N: Hello, guys! Longtime, right? This chapter has been cut. I struggled a lot with pacing and transitioning and so I decided to split them up. This part is considerably shorter than its counterpart which I'm still working on as we speak. It's been a pretty hectic year so far and my mind hasn't left these fics. I see you guys' comments and messages about updates. I'll try to put myself on a somewhat schedule soon.
"So, what you're saying is that after she stormed your suite and told you that you essentially tore her heart out on the night she was gonna propose; you then proceeded to practically beg for a second chance and now would like our help to get her back?"
Nodding her head, Hermione continued to look at the mug of tea in front of her. It'd been two days since her talk with Bellatrix and she was over crying constantly and feeling sorry for herself. She also knows that she still has to apologize, completely. They may have discussed the surface feelings on this issue but she had yet to explain to Bellatrix why it is, that she's felt so insecure about their relationship. However, the boys' wedding is also in two days and she has to focus on that for the time being.
Being herself, Hermione still wanted a plan before they started heading to California for the ceremony. She knew that immediately after the wedding, Bellatrix was heading to New York and she, herself, would be returning to London for work. She was running on limited time and needed to make sure she had all her wits together before Bellatrix left and she never saw her again. So, here she was at three in the morning with Draco and Ginny, trying to figure out what to do. She'd been drinking and crying when they had found her.
"From what I've heard from Dora, Hermione, you really did a number on her when you left that first time. I'm not trying to make you feel terrible or anything but are you sure you want to fight for her now? Sometimes it can be too late. Do you even know if she would like you back?"
"That's a stupid question, Gin. If she didn't want her back then all this mess wouldn't have been a thing. My aunt would've just slept with her that one night and left it as that. The fact that she's even reacting this way when it comes to you Hermione, says a lot about how she values you as someone worth all that energy. Trust me, compared to her separation from her husband and when you ended things, you're the one."
Groaning, Hermione slumped further onto the table where they were seated and massaged her temple. There was a mild headache building as she listened to her friends. "I called her after she had left. Before you guys found me. I was drinking and wanted to talk to her and just tell her how I felt, but I don't know. She didn't answer but I also screwed up. She's not gonna take me seriously once she hears that voice message I left." she mumbled.
Draco and Ginny stared at her confused for a second before Ginny grabbed the girl's phone and searched her recent calls list. To their surprise, their friend only managed to call the other woman a total of three times before seeming to stop calling altogether once each declined. Chuckling nervously, they looked at each other before Draco said "Look, I'm sure you didn't say something ridiculous. Maybe she's just sleeping or her battery died. I'm positive she'll contact you after listening to it." Hermione groaned even more as she buried her head under her arms. She just wanted this all to be right, already.
Bellatrix was lying awake in her newly made bed when the first call by Hermione came through. The woman just laid there and watched as it rang and rang, refusing to answer. She'd been calling her sporadically since that evening she went to her suite and confronted her and told her about what happened the day Hermione broke up with her. Of course, Bella neglected to mention how she went into a depressive state. When Andromeda had shown up, she was more or less catatonic. She wouldn't eat, drink, shower, and she only ever slept due to exhaustion from going days without it.
A tear made its way down her face as she turned away from her ringing phone altogether and attempted to sleep. She had promised herself after the first time that she wouldn't allow herself to get so enamored with another person like she did with Tom. It wasn't healthy for her and she can't place all the blame on Hermione. How she dealt with the break up ultimately was her issue. No matter how much it physically hurt to watch her entire world walk away from her, she should've fought instead of resorting to hurting herself even more.
Sighing, Bellatrix squeezed her eyes shut as her phone notified her of a voicemail being left. She wasn't going to listen to it. Not immediately, anyways. They had two days left to work things out. One if you don't count the day of the actual wedding since her flight was already scheduled for that night. As exciting as the past week or so had been, she was a busy woman after all and life had to go on. Whether Hermione was with her or not would have to be left up to fate. Her anger was still simmering deep within and she had no immediate way of dealing with it. Her relocation to New York City would have to include a new therapist as well. Even if things worked out right now for her and Hermione, Bella also knew mentally she was still a bit far gone to not get help when it's all done.
Sitting up in her bed, the older woman turned on the bedside table lamp and decided to send a few emails off to her assistant. Checking the time briefly, she noted that it was just after midnight and suspected that if Fleur was sleeping, that she would just see the email first thing in the morning. Sending a couple emails off to the sponsors confirming their various meetings in the upcoming weeks, she sent another brief email asking that Fleur vet a small number of renowned therapists in the NYC area and have a list available for her no later than the day after the wedding.
Although she would be relocating to New York, Fleur was not. This however did not stop their working relationship. Over the years, Bellatrix had grown somewhat close to the french woman during work and also with her dating Narcissa. She'd offer to relieve her over her duties but the woman insisted on staying with her virtually until she was able to fully acclimate herself to the States.
Heading to her kitchen for a cup of coffee, Bellatrix decided it was now she would listen to the young woman's voicemail. Her curiosity had peaked and she also just wanted to hear her voice again. Sitting down at the dining table, she grabbed her phone. She sat patiently and listened as the phone remained silent seconds after tapping on the voicemail. Brows furrowing, Bellatrix's fingers twitched as she resisted switching it off prematurely. 'Surely there was more to happen.' She thought since the message length was well over two minutes long. With a gasp, the woman clutched her coffee mug tighter as she heard the husky voice of her love.
"This whiskey got me feelin' pretty. So, pardon if I'm impolite" Bella choked out a chuckle at the thought of Hermione drinking whiskey while thinking about her.
"I just really need your ass with me. I'm sorry 'bout the other night. And I know I could be more creative and come up with poetic lines. But I'm turnt up off sizz' and I love you" The sound of her coffee mug shattering brought Bellatrix out of her stupor. She'd gone in on herself at the completely raw and emotional husk of Hermione's voice as she seemed to almost sing those words to her over the phone. Bella hadn't known she was grasping the mug so tightly. She never once remembered a time the young woman was ever this wasted or emotional. She sounded as if she'd spent her days crying and drinking and nothing else to Bella. Suddenly there was a crash on the other side of the phone and for a brief second, worry flitted through the older woman's mind.
Bellatrix listened as Hermione seemed to have survived whatever happened and continued, now in a whisper. "-Is the only thing that's in my mind. You take me high- (hiccup)-higher than I've ever been, babe. Just come over, let's pour a drink, babe. I hope I ain't calling you too late"
Bellatrix sighed deeply as she got up to clean up the mess she had made. Her mind was reeling trying to process all that was coming out of the younger woman's mouth. There was still a minute to the voice message. Normally, Bella didn't think she'd let such simple words get to her but it was incredibly late, her mind was worn down from the events and her heart yearned to hear Hermione say those three words to her again.
With a fresh bottle of water in her hand and her mess cleaned up, Bella sat on her bed and continued the paused voice message.
"You light my fire. I wanna go back to the old way but I'm drunk instead, with a little bit too much to say." Bellatrix laid down as she allowed the sounds of Hermione's voice lull her into sleep. They were going to be seeing the last of each other in two days. Deep down the older woman knew she didn't want this to be their last goodbye, but she also didn't want to be the one running to Hermione either. She just couldn't trust Hermione to actually do what she said. 'Will she really fight for this? For me?' She thought.
"I'm not really sure why I called. I've just been rambling off like a mad woman this entire time. *hiccup* If I'm lucky, you've probably deleted this voicemail already. I just don't know what to do. I don't wanna lose you, Bella. I don't!" Bellatrix groaned as she listened to Hermione resolve into tears again.
Sitting up abruptly, Bellatrix ended the voicemail deciding to not finish it. If she still remembered, Hermione can tell her all of this again while sober. Dialing the other woman's number Bellatrix waited, hoping she was still awake. When there was no answer the woman sighed but sent a text message instead.
B: Cancel your flight tomorrow. Take the drive with me. Just us two. I know I should be letting you figure how to fix things but I heard your voicemail. I think the drive to California should be helpful for us both. I also have things I would like to tell you. I'll be there to pick you up around 8 am.
A/N:I hope you guys enjoyed that. Again, I am sorry for this ridiculously long wait. Life sort of threw me a wild one and before I realised it, months had passed since I last posted an update.
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umm, so yeah. See you guys next update!