A/N: This chapter is a bridge between the school years and the adult years. It's short on purpose, the next chapter will be better.

"Some years take a decade to pass while others seem to pass only in the blink of an eye." –Danielle Juarez

Chapter Thirty Three

Four Years in a Chapter

Rose Weasley blew the hair out of her face and bounced slightly as Stephen moved back to his side of the bed. It had taken three days and one extended row but eventually Ron Weasley conceded that his daughter was an adult and as an adult was entitled to make her own decisions or (as he liked to refer to her living with her boyfriend) mistakes. Little had changed in Ron's opinion of Rose's boyfriend over the past four years but Hermione assured her daughter that that stemmed from resentment at being left in the dark and guilt over driving his daughter to that point. Hermione promised that it would fade eventually. Suffice to say Ron's resentment towards Stephen had yet to fade even slightly as far as Rose could tell. It had been four years almost to the day since Rose's graduation and in that time she'd moved into Stephen's flat, moved out (with Stephen) into a bigger flat, gotten assigned to follow Puddlemere United as their official Quidditch reporter and got the joy of cuddling into bed with her Quidditch hunk every night for a few hours of orgasmic bliss.

Life for Rose was perfect.

She curled on Stephen's broad, well bone and gloriously bare chest ready to drift off into an exhausted sleep but sleep seemed out of reach, thoughts of her family clogging up her mind. First and foremost was her brother and Ruby. Or the latest Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Like all Weasley/Potter marriages this one began at the Burrow. Ruby's family was thrilled with the marriage, of course, and Ruby's little brother had entertained the wedding party by making a table crash into the chimney. Rose was as shocked as everyone else at the eight year olds power and control over that power, but the little guy seemed to think it was all just a game. Mum and Dad had purchased them a house in Kensington and gave them a forward on Hugo's inheritance so that they might survive in that pricey part of London.

Rose wasn't too upset about Hugo getting some of his money early. He was an entry level Auror when they got married and Ruby was on the long, hard road towards getting her medical doctorate in psychiatric medicine (whatever that meant) truly they needed every cent. Plus Rose was living with an internationally famous Quidditch player who made it his goal in life that Rose should want for nothing. Anyway that was two years ago. Rose had received her inheritance of sixty million galleons on her twenty first birthday (unlike her Potter cousins she and Hugo received it all at once) and was at long last far more wealthy than her boyfriend. For the time being anyway. Stephen was very popular with the fans and was projected to make many millions by the time his career ended.

Considering her Potter cousins, not much had changed with them. Kira and James still lived in their tiny flat, though James could certainly afford a better place, they were still engaged and enjoying the hell out of refusing to set a date for their nuptials. They invented vastly popular and wickedly naughty products for Uncle George and for their sixth dating year anniversary (James insisted on a party) Uncle George had informed them that the shop's ownership would be split even between the two of them and his daughter. As James liked to put it they had it "made in the shade with pink lemonade."

Albus lived in Grimmauld Place with Scorpius and Lily and worked as an Auror slowly but surely moving his way up the ranks. He was single with seemingly no intention of changing that. Every few months he took off for a weekend to visit Anora where ever she was playing but everyone knew it was far from serious between the pair. They just didn't see each other often enough. Albus had thrown himself into his career. Rose heard whispers from family members (cough-James-cough) of him having multiple flings with witches and Muggles alike but nothing ever seemed to stick. But then he was only twenty-one. No reason to settle down.

But then again Lily and Scorpius were getting closer and closer to a permanent situation, so maybe it would rub off on Albus.

They weren't yet engaged but everyone agreed that it was only a matter of time or that the pair would just skip the engagement all together and walk straight down the aisle. That seemed far more likely to Rose. Lily wore her promise ring like an engagement ring and was constantly flipping through Muggle wedding magazines. But that was only her off time which she didn't have much of these days. She was working in the Magic Law Department at the Ministry with Rose's mother because she wanted to be close to Scorpius and as it turned out she had a knack for representing people.

One year after graduating Scorpius had earned a very nice promotion with both Hugo and Albus working under him along with three other young Aurors. The move, according to Uncle Harry, was to give the incoming Aurors someone their own age that they could aspire to be like given enough hard work. Merlin knew that Scorpius worked his ass off in the Auror office and while he didn't chase down dark wizards as much anymore he still put in more hours than most of the veterans. Rose was sure that very soon Albus would be in the same position and then her brother. The three of them were the best of the bunch, according to her Dad and Uncle Harry.

Teddy and Victoire had long since settled into work at Gringotts and were happily procreating like mad. Rose had been hearing rumors that Victoire was blissfully pregnant once more and looking forward to giving the little trouble maker Nymphadora a brother or sister.

The rest of the family was moving at a similar pace. Careers, marriage, babies…

Rose rubbed her cheek against Stephen's chest. The soft hairs on his pecks tickled her lips and she smiled, with her eyes still squeezed shut. Her smiled faded after a moment. She had the career and the man but she was no closer to marriage or kids. Not that she was at all ready for children but it did make her think. Her younger brother was married and rumored to be breeding, her younger cousin was a stone's throw from the altar. Was she… lagging behind again? Lily got to make love before she did and Hugo got married first. It kind of felt like she was being out paced again. Rose's face scrunched up and she felt an uncomfortable emptiness in her stomach. She shifted and Stephen's arm tightened around her waist. Rose's eyes opened, she looked up at him and he looked blurrily down at her.

"I have practice in the morning, love," he grumbled, sleepily. "I'll never get any rest with you wiggling around."

"Sorry, Stephen." She tried to move off his chest so as not to bother him but he held on to her all the tighter.

"Now, now, I'll be having none of that." He pulled her more fully on top of him and she felt how much her wiggling had affected him. She blushed.

"I thought you wanted sleep, Mr. Wood."

"Well, I do believe that my wood is the crux of the problem," he grinned cheekily and her blush darkened. "You're usually not awake enough for me to have another go. It's rather flattering actually. Knowing I've shagged my girlfriend into unconsciousness. Takes the edge off wanting her again."

"Perv," Rose smiled.

"I am what you've made me."

"Oh very nice!"

She pushed his arm from around her waist and rolled off of him. Stephen cuddled up behind her. "I could get into this, you know? Having you from behind. Just move your thigh over mine and we'll be in business."

Rose yawned widely. "I haven't a clue what you're on about," she insisted.

His hand crept up along her rib cage. "Really, Rosie? Allow me to illuminate you."

She squealed as his fingers found their prize. "Stephen!"

"You're supposed to moan," he growled, kissing his way over her throat.

"Oh my Merlin!" she moaned as he continued to toy with her with his hands and lips. "This is not going… to-to-to h-help you g-g-g-get to SLEEP!" His left hand dived between her legs and she nearly screamed.

"But-it-will-help-you-get-to-sleep," he said between kisses. He pulled his head from her throat to note, "Which will help me get to sleep." Rose took advantage of his momentary pause in movement.

"I wasn't wiggling because you somehow failed to fully satisfy me. Honestly had I been more satisfied I might be in a coma right now."

"Oh, that's nice, Rosie. My loving might cause brain damage."

"Well, it's a hell of a lot nicer than you teasing me when I've done nothing to deserve it other hand fail to fall asleep fast enough for your liking."

"Do you want me to stop?"

Rose looked over her shoulder at him. Something in her expression answered him and he swooped down for a kiss.

A/N: Don't worry! The next chapter is coming soon. In fact I've already written it, so if you want to read it press that button at the bottom of the screen and review damn it. I'll threaten you people for it, don't think I won't. FINE! I won't update until I've gotten at least three reviews. I think even you stingy son's-a-monkeys can manage that… probably not a good idea to insult the readers now that I think on it.