The following weeks passed without much change, Ginny's stomach was still growing but now at an alarming rate, and her dinners with Dane at the pub were still at eight.

She felt differently though, with each day that passed without Harry she quit longing for the past, and more and more looked to her future. She was questioning the path she had chosen, though she felt it pointless to do so.

Miss Trickle said the baby was developing beautifully but that she should begin to take preparations for the arrival (which was still almost four months from now). Ginny knew what she meant though; she needed to start getting ahead on her studies which meant studying more than she did now. The library became her new bedroom, she would drink tea with Dane at eight and he would walk her to the library where they would study until almost midnight.

The holidays were coming up, Christmas would be hard. Her belly was becoming more obvious and though her classmates would assume what they wanted she didn't want her family knowing anything just yet. She planned on staying at the castle, studying, catching up on work, about anything to keep her occupied.

Dane would be going home to visit his family, his sister was very excited, apparently she hadn't seen him in ages.

Ginny and Dane were sitting at the pub playing a game of 'rock, paper, scissor' to decide who would tell a brutally honest truth of themselves next.

"Alright I win, go," Ginny said smirking in Dane's direction

"I have never had a serious girlfriend"

"Really?" Ginny asked her voice squeaking

"I had a few girlfriends, but none of them ever stuck,"

"Hm interesting, now again" Ginny shot out rock while Dane covered with paper,

"Alright now you go,"

"I used to leave school late at night, sneak into Hogsmeade to meet Harry who would then apparate us into his apartment where I would stay the night, and sneak back into school before anyone knew I was gone," Dane looked at her impressed, "Harry has a very nifty map of Hogwarts," and on the game went, Dane with scissor and Ginny with rock.

"I've never done… it" Ginny looked at him now very surprised,

"What?" he nodded,

"In school girls would give me sideways offers but again, no serious girlfriend, no serious play time,"

"Wow, all this time I thought you, gagh you must think I'm a whore,"

"No, no, no, you were in love, besides I don't think anyone can deny you and Harry are 'soul mates', your bound to end up together"

"Sometimes I think things would have been better if we had waited, neither of us was really ready to deal with our emotions,"

"I just need to find a good girl with no soul mate to speak of,"

"You will Dane, you are an incredibly good guy, any girl would be dumb not to want you,"

"I wouldn't call you dumb," he laughed,

"Nobody ever said I never had feelings like that towards you," she smirked,

"Yes but we are both aware that your feelings for Harry clearly outweigh anything you could feel for anyone else" his tone was serious and the both sat quietly for a few minutes,

"I think about you sometimes, I've even dreamed about it, a life more commonly followed, security, no sense of urgency, sitting on the porch watching my little girl play, don't think I haven't thought of it, its just…"

"My timing couldn't be worse," he paused smiling faintly then looked at her, "in a different place if there was no Harry do you, I mean would you and I,"

"I'd like to think so," and there it was again, that look Dane got in his eye, it was hopeful and for a moment it seemed that they might take it further, yet as quickly as the moment came it passed,

"It's getting late," Ginny nodded as Dane followed her up to her room, as he turned to leave,

"Dane, I'm sorry," he shook his head

"You're in love with 'the boy who lived', and me? I'm just a boy, who happens to be in love with you,"

"What?" Ginny asked, Dane's face almost went white, he'd let it slip,

"I need to go,"

"Dane,"

Without another word he left, walking as quickly as he could in the other direction convinced that next time he saw her he would act as though nothing was different, nothing had changed.

Harry had played three games as the Puddlemore Seeker, catching the snitch all three times and losing the game only once because they were losing so miserably Wood told him to just end it.

He was beginning to know what it felt like to be a star in your own right, not have people to dictate it for you.

While he found girls throwing themselves at him, he learned long ago to shy away from that kind of unwanted attention. He had gone to Diagon Alley with Ron this afternoon to begin their Christmas shopping. The wedding was less than a week away and Ron knew when he returned shopping would be the last thing on his mind, so Harry suggested that the two of them go shopping early.

Harry had been looking for something to buy for Ron and Hermione, the Weasley's still refused Harry's gifts, right now he was just going to help Ron. Ever since he got Hermione that strange smelling perfume, Harry had made a point to help Ron.

He wasn't worried about Ginny's present. He already had it worked out; it wasn't something to remind her of his "love" for her because he was sure she already knew it. It was something to make her smile.

"I figure I'll get my mum a scarf and Hermione is going to get me some batteries to get for my dad," he said looking at the jewelry in the window, "Which only leaves Hermione's present; we are getting married, should I really be required to get her anything?"

"If you don't it will be one hell of a way to spend your first Christmas as a married couple" Harry said now walking into the store, "How much do you have left to spend?"

"Fifteen Galleons," Harry nodded, and then he saw them, a pair of small pearl earrings, delicate and sophisticated, very Hermione-like

"Look at those," Harry said pointing, Ron's eyes widened,

"They're perfect,"

"I'll go ask the shopkeeper how much they are,"

Ron nodded as he began to thumb through the necklaces. Ron would get them for Hermione no matter what the price, Harry would see to it.

"Sir," Harry motioned to the shopkeeper, "How much for those pearl earrings in the case?"

"Twenty Galleons," Harry nodded,

"What if I give you seven," the shopkeeper lifted an eye, "And you sell it to the guy out there for thirteen galleons" the shopkeeper was still eyeing him, "He's my friend but he only has fifteen galleons to spend, it's the perfect gift, I'm just trying to help," he nodded and put his hand out, Harry dropped the seven galleons into his hand.

He walked out to the front of the store to Ron, "Thirteen Galleons sir," Ron smiled and happily handed over the money,

Harry smiled, Hermione would be very pleased at Ron's gift, and he figured a little surprised.

He had never bought Ginny jewelry, after he turned seventeen he was allowed into his family vaults which contained enough jewelry to shower Ginny for lifetimes, he had been very selective.

A single diamond necklace for their first anniversary, a string of pearls the following Christmas, and the last piece he never got around to giving. It was the ring in the wedding photos of his parents, the ring his father had given to his mother. A princess cut diamond surrounded by tiny rubies, on a gold ring. It had been perfect, a little extravagant for Ginny maybe but beautiful nonetheless.

The walk home was quiet, until Ron somewhat unwillingly chimed in.

"So Ginny is going to be staying at school for the Holidays…" he offered trying to sound nonchalant

"Yeah, I figured she said she would probably be busy,"

"Mum still wants you there,"

"Like I would ever miss a Weasley Christmas,"

"So I assume your coach is pleased with your performances?"

"They want to sign me to a two year contract, twelve hundred Galleons a year,"

"I must be in the bloody wrong profession" Ron squeaked,

"I might have been able to get more if I had an agent, but I don't know, I have plenty of money, this was just supposed to be a fun thing to help me get over Ginny,"

"And that worked out just SO well," Ron laughed,

"Well, it helped somewhat, I quit moping"

"Very true, but don't kid yourself into thinking your not even a little upset you wont be seeing her for months,"

"I'll write her, is fine, Ginny and I are on hold, she still loves me, I still love her its going to be okay"

"Alright Harry, whatever you say"

They walked back to their flat, and Harry went back to looking in the prophet for a new flat.

"Harry I told you, Hermione is moving in with us, not replacing you,"

"Ron when you come back from your honey moon this will be your 'nest', not a bachelor pad, I don't want to get in the way of your new life,"

"Harry you've been getting in the way of our lives since we were eleven, we don't want that to change just because we are stuck with each other for life"

"You lot have the right to live alone, besides according to Gringotts I have three different lots to choose from"

"Why would you want to leave the city?" Harry shrugged,

"Bit of a change couldn't hurt, besides I'm not working at the Ministry anymore, I could use some fresh air on my weekends off,"

"Right like all of a sudden you are going to go all out-doorsy on us"

They laughed as Ron began to wrap his presents, though he was successful they were no doubt horrendous looking.

He was in love with her? She knew he had some sort of a crush but love? Every time she thought about it her heart hurt. She said it herself; he's a nice guy who deserves a girl who can give him everything he ever wanted.

There was a part of her that would love to give into all the wonderful things he told her. A part of her that wanted the life he might be able to provide, but the prospect of Harry, made it all seem superfluous.

Ginny drank some warm milk and fell asleep. It was a restless sleep, several times being awoken by her baby and other times to be woken from dreams of flying picket fences and Harry's face coming at her from all sides.

When she would calm her thoughts to her baby none of it seemed to matter. Her mind would immediately be put at ease only to be awoken again by her sub-conscious thoughts about Dane and Harry.

Her baby would be happy, healthy, and above all safe. Those were the only things she wanted for her daughter. Isn't that what every parent wants for their child?

Okay so I was very proud of this chapter, more so the first part than anything else. Dane is a really good guy, the good guy who deserves everything a girl knows she cant give him...sad times lol :-D hope you all have holidays! R&R, eaglesnest you make me laugh with all your reviews i love your input! and to the rest of you regular reviewers I NOTICE AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!