AN: Okay, so for all the reviewers who said they were unhappy with Rose and Nick... Sorry, and sorry for this chapter. But I wanted this story to develop slowly, and I don't think Scorpius and Rose would get together without some outside help. So sorry for all that and I do promise that this is still a Rose and Scorpius romance fanfic... it'll just take some time :P

Scorpius glared after Rose and Nick. Of course he was simply feeling protective of Rose. Like an older brother would. He didn't want her getting hurt, especially not by someone like Nick. Scorpius had heard the locker room talk. Nick was not the kind of person he would want Rose with.

Scorpius was about to stomp after them to tell Rose exactly who she should be with, which was anyone but Nick, when Albus tapped his shoulder.

"Hey mate, good game. Come on get showered and changed for dinner."

"Is everyone coming to dinner? Even Rose and Nick?" Scorpius gestured behind himself so that Al could see Rose and Nick disappearing from sight.

"Well fancy those two getting together. As long as they don't snog each others faces off while I'm around then that's great for them."

"Right, yeah. That's true, that would be disgusting." Of course, that was all Scorpius was worried about. Seeing someone he considered his sister getting her face snogged off. That was it. Of course.

Rose was quiet as they walked off the pitch. Nick smiled at her.

"Good game, Princess."

"Thanks Nick, you too." Rose felt suddenly shy, although not in the way she felt with Scorpius. This was different. Neither of them spoke.

Nick was leading her behind the house through the back garden. Some small trees in the back cast long shadows on the ground. Groups of flowers brought colour to the darkening back garden. The silence persisted, until Rose finally decided to speak.

"So… Nick?"

"Yeah, princess? You look confused. Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine Nick, thanks. What are your plans for the holiday?"

"Spending time with you of course, princess." Nick had a southern drawl and a cocky grin that always distracted Rose from what he was actually saying. But this time his message came straight through, making Rose blush uncomfortably.

"Dinner in five minutes! Everyone get showered and changed!" Molly Weasley's magically enhanced voice spread across the estate, so that everyone heard. Rose jumped at the sound, gripping Nick's hand tightly.

He grinned down at her, laughing slightly at the shock on her face. Rose pouted up at him, only making him laugh more. He slid his hand out from hers to place it instead on her lower back and guide her back towards the house.

Rose shivered slightly at the placement of his hand but smiled none-the-less. They made there way back inside slowly, enjoying these few moments of silence before noise and people surrounded them.

Rose smiled quietly to herself as she got ready for dinner. She really did like Nick, even if things were sort of awkward. Besides, it wasn't like Scorpius ever paid her any attention.

"Rose, dinner!" Fred Weasley's voice called from below, pulling Rose from her thoughts. She quickly looked at herself in the mirror before moving. Her red hair was lying in soft curls around her shoulders. Somehow, even her jeans and old sweater looked good today.

Everyone was downstairs at the table by the time Rose got there, so she was left with the only open seat. Scorpius sat across the table, smirking at Rose as she pulled out the chair.

"That's okay Rosie, take your time, it's not like we're all hungry. What took you so long anyway? Trying to impress little Nicky?"

"Shut it, Malfoy, Rose looks beautiful." Nick spoke from the seat beside her, causing Rose to blush. She glanced sideways at him, blushing and even deeper red when she saw him looking back at her.

"Albus, save me!" Scorpius' dramatic tone was directed at the person on Rose's other side. He turned to look at Scorpius, somewhat confused, before Scorpius spoke again, "These two love birds are going to make me puke!"

Albus looked over at Rose and Nick, "Oh let them be happy, Scorpius. At least they get to see each other all summer." He grumbled something that sounded vaguely like 'lucky bastards' under his breath as he looked away.

Rose sunk into her seat, this was turning into an extremely embarrassing dinner, and there wasn't even any food on the table. She couldn't wait to leave the Potter's house so that she could go owl Carmen.

Molly Weasley began levitating food over to the table, and everyone settled in for the long meal. Rose was surprised Nick had stayed; usually he went home to have dinner with his parents. Just as she was about to ask him about it, he answered her question.

"My parents just had a baby girl, they don't really have a lot of time on their hands. I figured it would be easier if I stayed here for dinner to be out of their way."

"Oh… parents prefer the new baby to you?" Scorpius' slow drawl made the words even more insulting. Rose was shocked, Scorpius wasn't one to jump into a fight.

"Better than you're parents, Malfoy." The words came to Rose's mouth before she could stop them, "They'd rather be with an old lady than see your disgusting face."

"That's it," Scorpius smirked, "Rosie, let your little Nicky defend himself."

"Oh shut it Malfoy. Nick is nice. We actually want him here, unlike you. Now shove off." Most of the cousins had gone silent as Rose spoke. It wasn't like her and Scorpius to argue like that. Usually they teased each other, but it was all in good fun. This was different. They meant everything they said.

"Oh defending your little boy toy are you Rose? Watch it Nick, or she might shove her tongue down your throat." Rose gasped; she couldn't believe Scorpius was using that against her. They had both been drinking, it had been truth or dare, she hadn't had a choice, and he had been the one using his tongue. She was about to rise from her chair, ready to punch Scorpius, when Nick spoke.

"Rose," his soothing voice caught her attention, and she turned back to look at him, "It's okay, really." Rose sighed; she didn't know why she was so worked up about Scorpius. Everyone who had heard what he said knew what had happened with the kiss.

"Fine." Rose didn't take her eyes from Nick's as she spoke, determined not to look Scorpius in the eye, "Scorpius, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. Albus wants you here."

"Ow! Albus, what the hell was that for?" Scorpius groaned, clutching at his leg.

"Apologize." Albus' voice was took a commanding tone that none of them had heard before.

"Fine. I'm sorry, Rosie, for insulting you and your boy toy." His voice was laced with sarcasm, and Albus kicked him under the table again, "Ow! And Albus I'm not apologizing any more. I didn't say anything that wasn't true."

An uncomfortable silence prevailed. Everyone was waiting for someone else to speak. The adults at the table remained oblivious. It was only when dessert was served that conversation started again. Still, Rose and Scorpius remained stony towards each other for the rest of the evening.

Several hours later, full of food, and tired, people began to disperse. By the end of it, only Ginny, Albus, Lily, James, Scorpius, Rose, and Nick remained.

"Scorpius, there's a bed in Albus' room for you. Rose are you going to be okay getting home? It's quite dark. I can get the floo powder if you want?" Scorpius nodded a thanks to Ginny. His smile faded quickly when Nick spoke.

"I can walk Rose home, Mrs Potter." Rose smiled up at him before turning back to Ginny, seemingly okay with the idea.

"Very well then, Al do you want to come upstairs and clean your room a bit for Scorpius?" Albus groaned as he followed his mother out, waving goodbye to Rose and Nick as he went.

"Well then, goodnight Lily, James." Rose moved to hug Lily first. As soon as she was done James swept her off her feet in a crushing hug.

"Don't be a fool, Rose." Settled on her feet again, Rose tried to question what he had said but he was saying goodbye to Nick. Rose sighed inwardly; her cousins were way too cryptic. She missed Liam's bluntness already.

"And now we're going." She and Nick moved towards the door, unaware of Scorpius glaring at their backs.

"That was nice, Rose. I've never seen you around your family like that before." Nick spoke as they made their way down the road towards Rose's house. Their hands hung at their sides, bumping slightly every so often.

"What you mean the fight with Scorpius?" Rose winced internally, that wasn't exactly the image she wanted him to get of her.

"No, with your dad, and your brother." He smiled down at her. He had seen her and her family together, but something had changed in the last year. Rose was a lot more grown up now, not just with her family, but in her appearances as well.

"Oh. Well, you've seen me with them before." She couldn't help but wonder why they were talking about her family while they walked beneath the stars.

"This was different though. You were different. In a good way I mean. And Rose, you really did look beautiful tonight." Well there we go, that was what Rose had thought walking beneath the stars was supposed to be: compliments and smiles. Still something wasn't quite right. It was almost as though Nick was too nice. Maybe he was just nervous.

They were in front of her house and Rose was about to say goodnight when Nick spoke again, "I'm really looking forward to spending time with you this summer, princess."

Rose was facing him now, looking up at his grinning face, which was coming closer and closer. Nick had been so sweet and innocent all night. It would be odd if he tried to kiss her right now. It wouldn't fit. But as he got closer, Rose realized he wasn't going to kiss her, he was just hugging her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing for the tight hug, and just as she was about to move away he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, almost as though he was asking for permission to do so. Rose smiled politely before heading back into the house.

AN: So I really hope you liked the chapter. What do you think of Nick? And not just because he's with Rose? What do you think of him as a person? And what about Rose and Scorpius arguing? Any more thoughts? Things you want me to add? Please review, it encourages me to write more and faster :)

- FTLOS