A/N: This chapter is shorter than usual. It's SORT OF a filler chapter. There are important parts but there is some fluff, too. Most characters in this chapter admit to something that scares them and/or something that has scarred them. I hope you all enjoy it! Coming up in the next chapter: Albus and Norah, wedding dress shopping, and Leila at work.

Also, apparently I can't resist having a James/Leila scene that ends with sexy times for them. That's just how I see them as a couple; always wanting each other.

….

"I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed," sighed Rose as she slipped off her heels and rubbed her sore ankles. "I didn't even have one glass of champagne. I can't blame my racy dance moves on intoxication."

Scorpius gave her a devilish grin, "You can always blame it on me. Tell everyone that I seduced you and you just couldn't help yourself."

They were now at Rose's flat, in her sitting room, both of them lounging on her couch. "I'm never wearing heels again," she moaned.

"Sling them up here," he patted his lap and Rose didn't hesitate to drop her feet onto his thighs and he began massaging her from the tips of her toes all the way up to her knees.

"Can we just skip Molly's wedding?" she grumbled as she let her head drop back onto the arm of the sofa. "My feet hurt, my head is killing me from having all of this hair piled on top of it all evening, and I really don't fancy embarrassing myself on the dance floor again."

"Trust me, you did not embarrass yourself at all. Every girl was envious and every guy was drooling."

"That's the problem. It was James and Leila's wedding. I shouldn't have drawn attention like that."

"I hardly think they minded. As a matter of fact, I didn't even see them after we came back from inside the house. They were probably shagging under one of the tables."

A loud laugh escaped Rose at the mental image of Leila tossing her bouquet aside to scramble under a table with that long train trailing out. "I wouldn't put it past them," she agreed.

"Do you think that you and…." He trailed off, not wanting to finish his question in fear of her answer or her reaction to him asking.

"What is it?" her wide blue eyes were so innocent that it made him feel ashamed for just a moment about what he was about to ask.

"Just forget it; never mind." He was suddenly exceptionally interested in paying adequate attention to his ministrations on her feet.

"Were you about to ask if you and I would ever do such a thing?" There was a slightly teasing tone in her voice and Scorpius shrugged. "I honestly don't know the answer to that question." She was staring right at him while he was avoiding her gaze. "I would like to hope so."

His head snapped up at that. "But…I…what?"

"Scorpius, I might be a bit naïve but I'm not a complete idiot. I want this marriage to work and I know that physical intimacy is a really important aspect of a relationship."

"But you're afraid of sex," he said unnecessarily.

"I'll get over it," he might have believed her if she hadn't squeaked on the last word and gained a terrified expression at the prospect.

"I'm not going to pressure you into anything. Come on, let's get your exhausted arse to bed." He gripped her behind the knees and tugged her body down until he could wrap one arm around her waist while keeping the other under her knees.

He carried her to the bedroom while she pulled pins out of her hair, letting the straight strands fall down past her shoulders. She rubbed her scalp with a sigh. "Would you like a potion to take care of the headache?" he offered as he set her on the bed.

"No, it's not that bad. I'll live," she raked her hands through her hair a few times to make sure she hadn't missed any pins.

"Would you like me to…um…stay tonight?"

"I don't see any reason why not. Will you throw me that Quidditch jersey on the back of my desk chair? I don't want to move from this bed," she fell back onto her pillows.

"Of course," he tossed her the Quidditch jersey she asked for and the pink shorts she'd worn the night before. "I won't look," he promised and dutifully turned away from her.

He heard the rustling of fabric, the creak of bedsprings, and finally her soft voice, "Alright, I'm decent."

Scorpius robotically removed his clothing and climbed into bed with her once he was wearing nothing but his boxers. "Do you want to…" he brushed her hair back and kissed her neck.

"Not tonight," she sighed. Before he could even reply she had fallen asleep.

…

"I said nooooo," Rose groaned as she woke up to Scorpius kissing a line from her ear to her throat and back again.

He gave a low throaty chuckle. "I'm not trying to seduce you at the moment, just wake you up. Molly's wedding is today."

"I know what you're doing. And I said no. I don't want to go to another wedding…"

"But it's your cousin's. We have to go," not being able to argue with that logic, she dragged herself up into a sitting position and ruffled her hair.

"Well, apparently the straightening charms I put on it wore off. Look at this mess, I won't be able to do a thing with it."

"I like it this way," Scorpius complimented.

"Thank Merlin I'm not a bridesmaid in Molly's wedding! We might be cousins but we've never been very close. She's four years older than me and she was in Ravenclaw so we didn't see a lot of each other."

"There was a Weasley in a house other than Gryffindor?" Scorpius mocked playfully.

"Oh yes," Rose said very seriously. "Victoire and Hugo are Ravenclaws, too. Lucy was a Hufflepuff, and Louis was a Slytherin."

"And which of your cousins were brave enough to be placed in the noble house of lions, hmm?"

"James, Al, Lily, Dom, Roxy, Fred, and myself," she rattled off quickly.

"Sometimes, you go into this 'fact repeating' mode and it's rather adorable," he murmured to her as he nuzzled his face into her hair.

"Go back to your bloody castle and get ready for the wedding."

Scorpius laughed. "Malfoy manor isn't really a castle."

Rose scoffed at him as she threw the blanket off of herself and sauntered out of the room. Scorpius followed, wondering if she was mad at him for baiting her that way. When they reached the kitchen, however, they were both distracted by The Daily Prophet which the owl had delivered that morning and was lying open on the table.

Weasley/Malfoy Wedding on the Horizon?

For the past few weeks the public has been anxious to know who all of the children of our favorite war heroes are marrying. Last night at the Potter/Scamander wedding several of these couples were revealed. However, none were as shocking as that of Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy.

Harry Potter himself was quoted saying that Malfoy was marrying one of his nieces. Although at the time he did not specify which niece, it became obvious when Scorpius took Rose for a turn on the dance floor (pictures on page 5). Some of those in the wizard community are shocked and appalled by this union. However there are those among us who have hope that with this marriage any old animosity between both sides of the war can be forgotten.

Both families have refused to discuss this any further with the press and the Ministry will not reveal why they chose these two to be together. From what reporters saw at the wedding it can only be determined that both Rose and Scorpius are happy with their impending union. However there are still those among the wizarding community who have doubts and concerns. Did the Malfoy family pay the Ministry for their son to marry Rose? How do the Weasley's feel about this? Will something as trivial as a marriage be enough to restore the Malfoy family to their former prestige in the wizarding community? Only time will tell.

Joy Miggins

"That cow!" Rose screeched as she started unintentionally shredding the paper in her hands in an attempt to reach page 5. "Oh Godric."

The paper dropped from her hands and Scorpius snatched it up. There were several pictures of him and Rose. The first three were of the two of them dancing. In each of these they were grinding against each other in a way that had Rose currently burying her face into her hands while a blush crept up her neck. The next few were random shots of the two of them. In one they were standing beside a table talking to the Longbottom brothers. In another he was whispering something in her ear and she would turn toward him and smile.

The rest of the newspaper was filled mostly with the Potter/Scamander wedding. There was an article that was three pages long that talked about everything from who the guest list included to what designer Leila bought her dress from. There were pages of pictures of the wedding, too. Scorpius smiled fondly at a picture of Al and Norah as they danced in a manner that was much more appropriate than the lustful grinding he and Rose had done.

"We knew they would find out eventually," Scorpius said consolingly.

"Yes, but blimey are those pictures embarrassing. I'm surprised my father isn't pounding on the door right now in an attempt to get in here and strangle me."

"You could always hide out at the manor for a few days if you want."

"No thanks. I've been in the spotlight before. The easiest thing to do is ignore all of the attention and act like it doesn't faze you."

He scowled as if he disliked her answer. "But it does faze you. You hate the press and you hate them being in your business. If you'd like I could easily pay them off, that's what my father does and most of the time it works."

She gave him a look that was torn between amusement and disbelief. "You would pay them to leave me alone just because they annoy me? Merlin are you that rich or do you just fancy me that much?"

"Both."

Feeling awkward by his blunt response, Rose got up to make coffee. "Would you like some? I have cream and sugar if you'd like."

"Sure, a cup of coffee sounds pretty good this morning, but I like mine black."

"Would you happen to remember what time Molly's wedding is?"

"The invitation says 5 o'clock this evening."

"You received an invitation?" Rose paused what she was doing to look at him curiously.

"No," Scorpius chuckled, "but you and Albus did. It's stuck right there on your weird metal muggle contraption…"

"That's called a refrigerator, Scorpius, and Merlin am I an idiot," she slapped a hand over her forehead as she realized that Albus had in fact put the invitation to Molly's wedding on the refrigerator, held there by a non-permanent sticking charm as Albus claimed to not understand how magnets worked.

"It's alright, you've had a lot on your mind lately."

Before Rose could reply, they both heard the front door creak open and Albus, Hugo, and Louis came striding in. Rose, still in the oversized Quidditch shirt and short pink shorts, blushed furiously. Scorpius was similarly disheveled, clad only in a pair of sweatpants which he barely had time to Transfigure as they were previously a pair of boxers.

All three boys stopped in the doorway of the kitchen with raised eyebrows and it was Louis who said, "We were just coming by to see if you'd read the article in the newspaper yet, but from the claw marks on the front page I'd say you have," he motioned to where The Daily Prophet lay on the kitchen table.

"Yes, she saw it first thing, unfortunately. Now she's in quite a foul mood. I wouldn't antagonize her today if I were you," Scorpius was clearly warning them not to comment on the fact that he'd spent the night with her; again.

"So…what? Are you two actually a couple now or are you just shagging for the fun of it?" Scoffed Hugo, lacking tact just the way his father had at his age.

"Hugo!" Rose screeched. "For the last bloody time, Scorpius and I are not shagging!"

"Tough luck, mate," said Albus as he clapped Scorpius on the shoulder and then reached around him for a coffee mug.

"Don't be a hypocrite, Al. We all know the only one in this room who is getting laid is Lou," Rose said with as much dignity as she could muster as the boys discussed her sex life.

"I can't argue with that," said Louis with a smirk.

In a hurry to change the subject, Hugo said, "You're lucky Dad isn't over here yet. It was a good thing Mum broke up his argument with Mr. Malfoy yesterday. Granted, I don't think it would have gotten out of hand but they were starting to raise their voices."

"Oh Godric, were they still going on about Scorpius and I having sex?"

"It started that way but then quickly went to how the hell the Ministry paired the two of you up. Dad accused Mr. Malfoy of paying the Ministry and Mr. Malfoy said that Dad was just jealous because he was too poor to the pay the Ministry enough gold to get you a different bloke…"

"My dad said that?" asked Scorpius angrily.

"They were just baiting each other," said Al with a shrug. "Trust me, I've seen the two of them argue a lot and I think they just enjoy getting a rise out of each other. Neither of them meant it and by the end of the night they were drunkenly singing Odo the Hero at a table with their arms around each other's shoulders."

"No!" Rose giggled. "Blimey, I wish I would've stayed longer at the reception just to witness that!"

"The best part was when Mr. Malfoy got ahold of a megaphone and told the whole crowd that he was proud to have his son marry a Weasley," Louis reminisced.

Scorpius groaned but it was more with amusement than embarrassment. "That sounds like my dad."

After everyone had a cup of coffee, Scorpius, Louis, and Hugo went home, leaving Albus and Rose to get ready for the wedding in their flat. "You are Scorpius seem like you're doing a lot better. I'm really proud of you, Rose."

She blushed furiously and muttered a quiet 'thanks.' "What is it?" Al asked as he searched his dresser for his blue tie. "You look guilty about something."

"The reason that we seem to be doing so well is that I'm…I'm not thinking about it." Rose said in a rush.

"What?" Albus looked up at her with a frown.

"Scorpius and I are friends now. I really feel like we are. I can talk with him about things and we make jokes. I think that I might fancy him a bit, but whenever I start thinking about the wedding, or the wedding night, or being married to him forever I get really scared and start panicking."

"Merlin's bouncing balls," Al growled as he slammed the dresser drawer closed. "You need to stop being such a baby about this. We are all facing up to our responsibilities here except you! Do you think I'm just jumping for joy at the prospect of being bonded to Norah for life? I'm fucking terrified! But you don't see me crying to everyone about it, pretending it's not happening, and sticking my head in the sand." By the end of his speech he was pointing an accusing finger at her.

"I'm…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lessen what you or everyone else is going through…"

"I know," Al sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like that. It's just that I'm scared, too, Rose. I think we all are except James. You're just extra scared because you're a virgin who's petrified of physical intimacy. Or intimacy in general for that matter. The Ministry didn't just force you into an arranged marriage; it forced you into your worst nightmare."

"Exactly! I think I know what my dad feels like now when he encounters a spider." Rose looked down at her feet in shame. "I don't like this, Al," she whispered. "I've never felt fear like this before. What if things don't work out with Scorpius? What if he falls in love with someone else? What if he cheats on me or abuses me or ends up hating me but we can't separate because divorce isn't an option…"

"Rose," Al wrapped his arms around his best friend and she tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. "That's the chance that everyone takes when entering into a marriage. Whether you and Scorpius date for a month, six months, or six years, those things could happen."

"I guess," her reply was muffled, "but it's a lot more likely when you don't know the person that well."

"I highly doubt that Malfoy would do anything bad to you. If you are both trying to make this work then you'll be committed to each other and the success of your relationship. He's not going to throw that down the drain. Plus, when he says that he loves you, I really think he means it, Rose."

…

The wedding of Molly Weasley to William Corner wasn't as grandiose an affair as James's marriage to Leila had been. Percy and Audrey Weasley, who were hosting the wedding, were much pickier about the guests invited, the decorations, the food and drinks served, etc.

Molly didn't mind that her parents kind of took over the plans for her wedding. She was just happy to be getting married. Her dress was modest, simple, and her only bridesmaid was her sister, Lucy.

Rose wore a peach colored dress that reached below her knees and had wide straps that covered her shoulders. This time her hair was curly, down, and pinned back with delicate clips that had Scorpius itching to reach over and take them out. It was the second night in a row that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Hell, if he was being honest, he couldn't take his eyes off of her any time they were in the same room together.

Whenever she left his side to greet family members or other guests he felt uneasy. He sincerely enjoyed being around her. Just her presence close to him put him at ease. When Rose mercifully returned to his side after escorting her great-aunt-Muriel to the Floo, Austin Longbottom approached her.

Scorpius gritted his teeth when Austin had the balls to give Rose a slight bow and ask politely, "May I have this dance?"

Rose was obviously surprised but after a quick glance at Scorpius she nodded in acceptance, took his outstretched hand, and let him lead her out on the dance floor. Scorpius sighed in irritation but he trusted Rose.

Austin kept his hands respectfully where they belonged; one on her waist and the other clasping her hand. "I wanted to apologize for the other night. I had no right to ask you to come home with me. I was just upset about the whole marriage law thing and I was looking for a way to control my own life and who I spend it with."

Rose raised her eyebrows at him and he hurried to add, "I really would have wanted you, though. Marrying you would be a thousand times better than marrying Melanie."

Rose stopped dancing. "Melanie? You're marrying that whore?" her hand tingled with the urge to slap him even though she knew this wasn't his fault. Despite their strange past, Rose and Austin were close friends and it pained Rose to know that the girl she hated most in the world would be marrying such a (usually) good bloke.

"I wish I wasn't," he told her honestly as he pulled her back to him and began dancing again. "In case you haven't noticed, she's not here with me tonight and she wasn't with me last night at James's wedding, either."

"Why not?" Rose asked scathingly.

"She's angry at me, I don't like her, and it's just a mess," he sighed and looked so sad that Rose wanted to comfort him. She moved close to him and leaned her head on his chest.

"It will be okay, Austin," she remembered Al's words to her earlier. "We are all going through the same thing. I mean, at least you've dated Melanie before," this was said with more malice than she intended, "I'm marrying Scorpius and I've never had a proper conversation with him before the Ministry told us we were getting married."

"Rose," he took a serious tone that made her glance up at his face. "I never meant to make you feel like a slag. I didn't mean anything derogatory when I told you that I wanted to be with you. Even though I meant it, I shouldn't have said it and I am sorry. Friends?"

She beamed at him. "Friends!"

….

Scorpius saw the way Rose clung to Austin, looked up at him as he spoke, smiled broadly at him, and his heart burned with jealousy. But he'd already had his revenge. And it must have worked because Melanie wasn't here with him. Austin came to the wedding stag.

No matter how much Scorpius disliked the prick, he was one of Rose's friends and he would have to get used to that. The Longbottoms and the Weasleys and the Potters were inseparable. No matter what bitch Austin married, he would always be in Rose's life.

Resigned to make nice, he downed another glass of firewhiskey and turned his attention on the other couples. Norah and Al were dancing sweetly, Lily and Vincent were not-so-subtly snogging off to the side, and Dominique Weasley was sitting at a table by herself looking about as happy as Scorpius felt watching Rose dance with Longbottom.

Curious, he made his way over to her. "Want to dance, Weasley?"

With a snort, Dominique took his hand. "Is this a pity dance, Malfoy?"

"Kind of," he admitted. "I'm sorry your fiancé couldn't be here with you tonight."

"I'm not," she dipped gracefully and Scorpius pulled her back up effortlessly. "Azkaban is a much more fitting place for that git than a wedding."

"That's one thing we can agree on. Also, you're more than just a pity dance. I wanted something to keep my mind off of the fact that Longbottom is over there putting the moves on my fiancé."

"Possessive, aren't you?"

"I never have been before. This is a new one to me."

"You two are going to be just fine," said Dominique with surety. "Rose needs someone like you, Scorpius, and you obviously need someone like her as well. Rose and I haven't always been very good friends, but I know her well enough to know that Rose needs to be needed in a relationship. When she realizes that she's a vital part of your life, she'll be the happiest girl on the planet."

"I'm trying to show her that but she's not seeing it," he grunted.

"She will. Give her time. You'll be married in a week and you can spend every day of the rest of your life showing her just how much she means to you."

"Don't worry, I plan to."

…

Albus and Norah were both tipsy when they left the wedding reception. "You're so wonderful," sighed Norah as Albus carried her into the flat and set her on the couch.

"No, love, you're the one who's wonderful," he argued vehemently.

Shaking her head forcefully enough to loosen her pinned-up hair, she replied, "No, I'm not. I'm worthless."

"Why would you think such a thing?" asked Al as he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the tips of each of her fingers.

"I've been reminded of it every day of my life," she hadn't meant to let it slip out, but there it was.

"What?" asked Al.

"Never mind," she giggled and tried to distract him with a kiss but he pulled back with a serious expression.

"What is it, Norah? Who told you were worthless?"

"Nobody, I'm just a bit drunk. Will you help me into my pajamas?"

"Nor…"

"Albus, please. I'm a grown witch. I'm not going to sit here and cry to you about my issues." She held up a hand at him in warning.

"Was it your brother? Norah, we both know that there's a reason he's in jail right now. If he ever told you that you were anything but amazing, he was lying."

"Let it go, Al, I'm warning you," she stood, stumbled, and wobbled her way toward the bedroom.

Albus followed close behind her. "Just tell me. Do you think I haven't noticed the way you flinch when I sometimes lift my hand to brush your hair out of your face? Or how when I compliment you, you frown at me like you don't believe me? Just tell me why."

"Fine!" She spun to face him with pain and anger etched across her beautiful features. "Ever since the day I was born my father and brother have abused me mentally and physically! My mother was always drunk because that was the only way she could deal with them and the only time I ever had a normal childhood was when I would spend time at Scorpius's house with his family!"

Al looked at her as if he'd been slapped. "I…I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to know! Everyone has issues, Al, and they are my burdens to bear. The last thing I wanted to do was make you feel bad for me or make you take on my problems. I'm sorry that I sometimes flinch away from you and I'm sorry that I'm not ready to have sex with you, but that's just the way it is!"

"Why?" Al asked in a raised voice. "Scorpius told me that slept with Lorcan and Austin, what makes me so damn different? Why are you scared of me when you were perfectly willing to give yourself to them?" The question had been burning inside of him for so long that it burst forth fraught with emotions.

"You want to know why I won't sleep with you when I slept with them, you great prat? It's because I didn't care about them as much as I care about you! I didn't care what they thought of me or my body! But I care what you think, Albus. I…" she gulped. "I'm falling in love with you and it makes me nervous as fuck to think about having sex with you because I'm worried it won't be everything you want it to be. I'm worried that I'll be inadequate or maybe you'll have had better. I care about you and I want to wait and make it special because you're special."

He had her in his arms before she finished speaking. He was kissing her heatedly and was gently pushing her backward, toward the bedroom. "You are special to me, Norah Alecto Carina Fiona Zabini, and I'm falling in love with you, too."

She smiled sweetly at his words, impressed that he got her name right, "I don't want to wait any longer, Albus." The words were whispered into his ear as she slid her hands up and down his muscled back.

"Are you…are you sure? You've waited this long and I don't want to make you feel like I'm pressing you into anything, Nor. I'm really okay with waiting…" she put a finger over his lips.

"I'm not nervous anymore," she told him honestly. She took hold of his hand and brought it up to her face. "I trust you and I want you. Will you make love to me tonight, Albus?"

His Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he swallowed, her words making delicious shivers of pleasure crawl up his spine. Knowing words were inadequate at this point, all he could do was nod in assent and pull her toward the bed.

…..

"Ah, the joys of married life," said Leila wistfully as she arrived home from Molly's wedding to find a sink full of dishes waiting for her.

"You're a witch, sweetheart, put that wand to work!" James slapped her arse.

"You put your wand to work, James Potter!" said Leila with her hands on her hips.

He smirked at her, "Which one, love?"

With a giggle she rolled her eyes and flicked her wand at the dishes. "It's almost scary how I can never stay mad at you. Not even when you're a chauvinistic git."

"It's because I'm so sexy," he gave her a smoldering look, trailed his own hand up his chest, and began undoing the buttons on his dress shirt.

"Don't be a tease. We both need to go to bed because we both have work in the morning."

"Work? What work? Quidditch practice is fun and you work for your mum. I hardly think Aunt Luna would fire you."

"I wouldn't put it past her," Leila warned.

"Are you going to come watch me practice tomorrow?" he asked hopefully as he reached the final button of his shirt and shrugged it off.

Leila was momentarily distracted by her husband's now bare chest before she told him, "I wish I could, Godric knows it makes me hot to watch you work those gorgeous muscles, but I'm going dress shopping with Rose. She doesn't have her wedding dress yet."

"Oh that's right! I forgot you were in her wedding! That was really nice of her to ask you," said James as he moved toward her and teasingly flexed his muscles as he brushed past her to get a glass of water.

"As you know, she doesn't have many girlfriends so I was one of the first girls she asked to be in her wedding party."

"Could you do me a favor and try to get closer to Rose? She's one of my best friends and it sometimes upsets me that she doesn't have any close girlfriends."

"Of course. I've been trying, actually. I plan on taking her shopping for more than just a wedding dress tomorrow." When James raised an eyebrow in confusion, Leila sighed and explained bluntly, "I'm going to take her to get lingerie, James! Merlin, you can be thick. She needs something sexy to wear for her honeymoon!"

James groaned, "I really did not want to picture Rose in lingerie, let alone Rose doing things with Malfoy on her honeymoon. Thanks for that image, darling. You officially killed my sex drive for the night."

"I bet I could…get it back up for you," she trailed her nails up his chest and he growled low in his throat.

"I don't know if it would work…" he said thoughtfully but without conviction.

"I accept that challenge, Potter. Now go to the bedroom, take off all your clothes, and I'll be there in five minutes with the whipped cream and chocolate syrup."

….

"Thank you for being so understanding about Austin," said Rose as she casually kicked off her flats and made her way toward her bedroom.

Scorpius smiled at the fact that she stuck true to her word and hadn't worn heels to Molly's wedding. "He's your friend, Rose, even if I'm not happy about that, I understand."

He followed her down the short hall into her room which now felt as comfortable to him as his own. "I wouldn't blame you if you hated him."

"Let's just say…he didn't make a friend."

"Turn around," she picked up her usual pajamas and waited for him to obediently face the wall while she changed.

"I love it when you take that commanding tone with me," he mumbled as he obliged.

"Let's see if you love it when I demand you get out of my room while I change clothes," she shot back while hurrying to make herself decent.

"You do realize that I find that Quidditch jersey on you much sexier than the dress. Although you look fetching in anything."

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me."

"It was worth a try."

Even though neither of them said it, both realized that they were getting used to this nighttime routine. It was only the third night they'd spent together and yet it was so familiar and comforting to both of them. When Scorpius slid under the covers Rose made an effort to cuddle up to him and rest her head on his arm.

"I could get used to this," he told her quietly as his lips brushed her forehead.

Her next words simultaneously startled and excited him. "I already am."