Pairing(s)/Character(s): Pansy/Blaise, Pansy/Draco, Draco/Astoria
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Note: Only the epilogue left.

Chapter 4

Pansy has to admit that she enjoys Draco's attention. It's nice to be chased after for once, especially since she has always done the chasing when it came to their relationship.

She notices Astoria's continued bad temperament and wants to gloat. After all, Astoria had stolen who she considered hers. She can't help but feel sorry for the younger girl though, especially when she notices Astoria looking much like Pansy did when Draco began his courtship of the younger Greengrass daughter.

Similarly, Draco seems to be split between his desire to continue courting Astoria and his desire to be with Pansy.

She twirls her hair as she lays in bed at night, trying to figure out what to do about her predicament. If Draco truly wanted to be with her, it really shouldn't take much thinking when it comes to choosing her. The fact that he's wavering so much between his two options makes Pansy see that his feelings for her aren't as strong as she thought they were.

On the other hand, Blaise has been steadfast in his support of her. He has put his own feelings on hold to help her in a way she doesn't think anyone else would even consider. He doesn't seem to care that it's unfair to him, and it's something she doesn't understand. Slytherins aren't supposed to be so selfless, but Blaise is defining what selfless really means. Is this what true love is like? Pansy isn't sure she could ever be as noble as Blaise.

The next couple of days, she watches the two boys in her life. One is her best friend and someone she has always known she could count on the. The other is boy she thought herself to be in love with, but he has always trampled on her heart and put her needs behind his own. Two very different boys but special to her in their own ways.

She watches as Draco goes out of his way to talk to her, always coming up to her when she's with Blaise, pulling her away from the Italian Slytherin. She furrows her brow. 'Is this a competition for Draco? Was his pride hurt that I moved on instead of pining for him?' It's not a thought that seems completely impossible. Draco is ruled by his pride a lot of the time.

Blaise accepts it silently, doesn't even try to fight for her. He seems ready to admit defeat to Draco, something Pansy finds she doesn't like.

Then she remembers her previous though. 'Have I moved on? I wanted Draco to think I did, but I'm not so sure it just an act now. If it was simply an act, why does it bother me so much that Blaise isn't fighting for me?'

It's a couple of weeks of watching Draco battle Blaise for her attention and subsequently seeing Astoria's forlorn expression that Pansy decides enough is enough. She's sitting on the emerald couch, her head pillowed on Blaise's shoulder.

Blaise is slumped, looking nothing like a typical Slytherin, his body fluid and relaxed. He's rubbing her arm, bringing Pansy to state of rest with the gentle motion. "Blaise?"

"Yeah," he asks, head resting on top of hers.

"I've been thinking...'"

"Are you finally going to give into Draco so he stops groveling? It's kind of pathetic to watch, and I feel bad for Greengrass. He's just stringing her along until you give into him, and it's not fair to her."

Pansy moves away. "Do you really think that's all he's doing with Astoria? Because I think he actually likes Astoria but also liked having me around whenever he wanted me. And that's why he's so split between the two of us."

Blaise's eyebrows rise. "So, what are you going to do? I mean, if Draco is that divided, can you trust him to be faithful to you?"

She shakes her head, her eyes sad. "No, I can't. And that's why I'm going to tell him he should focus on Astoria. He cares enough about her to want to court her, something he never did with me. He should be with her."

Blaise takes her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. "What about you? This whole thing was so you could get the one you deserved."

She smirks. "You think I deserve Draco. And here I thought you liked me."

He smiles, and it sends Pansy's heart racing, letting her know she's making the right decision. "Of course I like you, but you love Draco. And you deserve to get the one you love, no matter how much of a prat I think he is."

She licks her bottom lip and clears her suddenly dry throat. Suddenly, she wishes she had a glass of pumpkin juice. "Good. What I think I deserve though is someone who truly loves me, someone who is resolute in that love and will put me and my needs first. Do you know anyone like that?"

Blaise's hand cups Pansy's cheek, and she leans into the gentle touch, eyes closed and savoring the feel. "Yes, I do."

Eyes still closed, Pansy moves forward, ready to claim Blaise's lips but is surprised when she feels nothing but air as the hand moves away from her cheek. She opens her eyes reluctantly and hates the fact that he has moved all of the way to the other end of the couch. "Blaise?" she questions, not sure what's wrong. She really hates being confused.

"I really hate doing this when everything I want is within hand's reach, but I can't be with someone who only wants to be with me because my love is safe. I do love you, and I'll probably love you forever, but I want to be with someone who loves me as much as I love them. And you don't. I know you don't."

Pansy shifts down the couch so she can close to him again. "You're right. I don't love you, and I won't insult your intelligence by lying about my feelings. I do feel something for you though, something I have always ignored. My heart speeds up when I'm near you, and I look forward to spending time with you. I'm also extremely attracted to you. I might not love you yet, but if I let my fantasy of being Mrs. Malfoy go, I think I could learn to love you, if you give me a chance."

There's a beat of silence, and then Blaise asks, "Can you let that fantasy go?"

"I did as soon as I decided to pursue you. I can't say those three words to you yet, but I know I will be able to in time. I can't imagine falling in love with anyone better than you."

Blaise smiles and this time, he's the one to initiate the kiss. Pansy's eyes flutter shut as his mouth envelops her.

She tilts her head, whimpering into the kiss as his hand rests on her hips. His lips are strong and his tongue slick as it invades her mouth and it feels just perfect. 'Why have I spent so much time avoiding this?' she internally questions before her minds shuts down as Blaise takes hold of all of her attention.

A strangled sound erases the lusty haze that Pansy has fallen into, and she drags her protesting lips away for Blaise's. She's pleased that he seems as reluctant as her to part and turns to a furiously glaring Draco.

Pansy and Blaise have a silent conversation with just their eyes.

I need to talk to Draco alone.

No.

Trust me.

No.

I need to get him to understand.

...Fine.

Blaise silently excuses himself, and she watches him head to the bedrooms. She turns her attention back to Draco.

He's spitting mad when he snarls, "That was disgusting."

She raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "Not really. There's nothing disgusting about kissing my boyfriend." It feels good to call Blaise her boyfriend and for it to actually be true.

"What about me?"

"What about you? You're with Astoria, and you should focus on her."

"I want you."

At one time, her heart would have fluttered at that bold statement but not anymore. "No, you don't. I'm safe, like a security blanket, just like Blaise was for me. You liked the fact that I was still available if it didn't work out with Astoria, but that isn't fair to me. I need someone who actually wants me for me, someone who doesn't expect me to wait around for him."

"And Blaise is that?" he obnoxiously asks, like it's the most ridiculous thing he can think of.

She nods her head as a smile touches her lips. "Yeah, he is. He loves me, truly and madly, and I know I can love him, too. He's no longer my security blanket but now my choice. I wanted you for so long, but I'm ready to let you go because I know Blaise is better for me. Now, you need to let me go and focus on Astoria. She deserves your full attention. If you want to court her and make her your wife, then do so, but don't expect me to wait on the sidelines. I'm moving on, and I hope you can one day be happy for me."

Pansy stands up and makes her way to the bedrooms, hoping to see her no longer pretend boyfriend. Her smile is bright at the thought.

Blaise is actually waiting for her outside of her bedroom, and as he pulls her into his strong embrace, she thinks, 'Yes, I did make the right choice.'