A/N: Hello! Its been a long time but here I am with a (woefully short) update. Truth be told, given the mixed reviews and messages I had about this one, I was toying with the idea of letting it die a quiet and lonesome death. But then I had a review just the other day from Paz23 saying they liked it and they wanted an update which encouraged me to return to it.

Chapter 9.

The next morning, Fleur got up and left a very hungover Gabrielle to sleep in while she went to meet Bill for a coffee. She had almost forgotten that they were due for a catch up, thankfully she had remembered. She wasn't sure she could deal with hurting Bill any more by forgetting to show up.

Bill was sitting in the café waiting for her when she showed up. His hair had grown even longer, and he had it pulled back off his face in a bun. She saw he was no longer wearing the little fang earring he used to wear. His beard was even longer than when she had seen it last, but she was relieved that he was at least maintaining it now, and it was no longer full of old crumbs and pieces of food.

"Your divorce beard is coming along nicely," Fleur commented, as Bill rose to give her a hug.

"Yeah, Muggle girls keep calling me a hipster," Bill said with a lopsided grin.

"Girls, huh?" Fleur asked. The conversation paused momentarily while they both put in their coffee orders with a hovering waiter.

"Yeah," Bill smiled, as the waiter left, "I've actually been on a few dates lately if you'd believe it,"

"Bill, I'm happy for you," Fleur said genuinely, beaming. Bill had been having a rough time with the divorce, as much as he supported Fleur, and it had been showing with his spiralling depression. It seemed he was finally over the worst of it and on the mend.

"How about you, Fleur? Have you put yourself out there yet?" Bill asked, pulling at his denim shirt. Fleur noticed that it was new, and smiled again at the revelation that Bill was looking after himself again.

"Ah, I went on one date, and there has been some other stuff… But its all so complicated," Fleur sighed, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Welcome to dating women," Bill laughed, "But seriously, you've always had anyone you wanted at your feet. If you really wanted someone all you would have to do is say the word and they would be yours."

"Ah, but maybe I don't want that, Bill," Fleur said with a gentle smile. Bill raised his eyebrows.

"Could it be? The infamous ice queen Fleur Delacour has caught feelings?" Bill said with mock-seriousness.

"Don't tease, Weasley," Fleur pouted as their coffees arrived at the small table.

"I'm sorry," Bill laughed, raising his palms in a peace offering, "I just don't think I have ever seen you not being the one in control. Not in the entire time I've known you." Bill smiled slyly before slipping in one last tease, "I wasn't sure your ego could take it!"

Fleur swatted Bill before turning her attentions to her coffee.

"Well… Maybe I like not being the one in control for once?" Fleur said, eying her coffee.

"Yeah, you've caught feelings bad," Bill surmised. Fleur was relieved that he was okay with it. Finally, for the first time since the separation, it seemed like Bill and her could regain their friendship without Fleur hurting him.

"Enough about me," Fleur said, "Tell me about these dates you have been on,"

It was two hours later when Fleur finally left the café, hugging Bill tightly before he disapparated with a smile. Fleur decided to walk home in the sunshine. She was feeling so calm and content. With Gabrielle back, Bill moving on from her, and now Hermione willing to make a proper go with her, it seemed like everything was working out in her life for once.

She smiled at the sun warming her skin, briefly entertaining the idea of picking up some fresh flowers for the apartment. The idea quickly disappeared from her mind as she was shoved roughly into a wall.

"What-?!" Fleur yelped, surprised. She looked into the familiar face of the youngest Weasley boy, Ron.

"I saw you," Ron hissed. His breath smelt like beer, despite the fact it was still only eleven in the morning.

"Saw what?" Fleur replied, in her best bored tone. Ron had long bothered her, and iciness usually shook him off. She had been enduring his hungry gazes, drooling and rude comments for years now.

"Last night, trying to get your hands on Hermione," Ron said, furrowing his brow, "And now this morning, toying with Bill again."

"I was not toying with Bill," Fleur scoffed, "We are still friends."

"Friends?" Ron growled, raising his eyebrows, "You lured him in like you lure everyone else in. You took what you wanted and threw him away. You're not gonna do that to Hermione."

"Hermione's a big girl," Fleur replied, maintaining her icy demeanour, "She can do whatever she wants."

"I know what your type are like," Ron said, his eyes hard, "You just use your looks to control people and use them. Hermione's always been the type to roll over and do what people want, no matter how bossy she seems. You're not gonna use her."

"Like I said," Fleur said dismissively, brushing Ron off, "Hermione's a big girl. I can't make her do anything she doesn't want to do."

She pushed past Ron and continued down the street, keeping her back incredibly straight and maintaining her aloofness. But she could feel his angry glare drilling into her back as she walked away.

Fleur's eyes widened as she walked in the door to her apartment. On the table was a fresh vase of flowers, a plunger of coffee, a carafe of fresh orange juice and a basket of fresh pastries.

"Don't tell me you ate while you were out," Hermione said, stepping into view.

"Non, just coffee with Bill," Fleur replied, dragging her eyes from the table to Hermione.

"Gabrielle is still sleeping off her hangover," Hermione answered, seeming to anticipate Fleur's next question. She drew a chair out for Fleur to sit in. Fleur sighed and sat down.

"So you are still wanting to be the one that makes me happy?" Fleur asked, as Hermione took a seat across from her. Hermione looked up at her and sighed.

"Look, Fleur, I've said it before, I'm sorry for dicking you around," Hermione said, before inspecting a pastry with a little too much attention, "It was just… It was just really, really hot having you submit to me like that. I kind of gave in to that before thinking through my feelings and it made it all a big mess."

"Okay," Fleur said, taking a pastry before blushing lightly, "It was pretty hot having you take charge like that."

Hermione laughed and Fleur looked up at her, losing herself in the deep brown eyes that were full of joy instead of their usual pain.

"Well, I promised I wanted to take it slow," Hermione said, "But I think it goes without saying that I can't wait for us to get to the point where I can have my way with you in bed again."

Fleur blushed deeper and lowered her eyes to her pastry. A pang of arousal had shot through her. But also she couldn't help the smile that made its way to her lips. Bill was right, she had feelings, bad.