Author's Notes: First of all, I'd like to say sorry if this chapter isn't as good as y'all expected. I did write the final chapter, and was very pleased with how it turned out. However, when I went to double check it before posting, I realized it hadn't saved and I had to start all over again. I remembered most of the important details, but to me, it just doesn't feel as good as I originally intended. Sorry.

I'd like to thank xLittlexItalyx, Indeffinate, xo.A.m.o.r.e.t.t.e.xo, Hannah Loves Lupin and Disco Inferno1 for your review for chapter twenty-two. I'm thrilled you're all enjoying the story, and I always appreciate your support and comments.

Finally, thanks to my wonderful beta, Karen (IMissPadfoot, UserID:133633) for all your awesome help throughout this story! I love you, babe!

Chapter Twenty-three: Eternal Gratitude.

Draco smiled back at Morrigan, but said nothing, and instead crossed the living room in one long stride so that he was standing before her. Then, he looked deeply into her green eyes and kissed her full and passionately on the mouth.

Morrigan was surprised as she felt Draco's lips pressed against hers, but as the kiss deepened, and became more heated, she felt herself swoon and lost all sense of reality. Everything else ceased to exist, apart from Draco and the ardent fervency of their embrace.

However, all too soon and almost bitter-sweetly, the kiss slowed. Morrigan never wanted this moment to end, yet she was excited and slightly nervous about what would happen next.

Finally, Draco broke the embrace by trailing hot kisses across Morrigan's lips, and then sank to his knees on the floor in front of her.

A few moments passed as the couple sat in contented silence, happy simply to contemplate each other.

Eventually, Morrigan broke the void by asking, "So, now what?"

Draco turned to face her and replied, "How do you mean?"

"Us, where do we go from here?" inquired Morrigan.

"Well, I guess we go on as we were; living and working along side each other. However, now it won't just be two people living parallel to each other, but us facing everything together."

"I like the sound of that," agreed Morrigan with a contented sigh, before she leant down and pressed her lips against Draco's.

In the months that followed, Draco's words proved to be true, as he and Morrigan continued to live and work alongside each other, growing closer with every passing day.

The couple fell into a comfortable routine, where they'd go about their duties for the day and run errands, always meeting up with each other for lunch and dinner.

As his and Morrigan's relationship continued to blossom, Draco began thinking about his future again. He knew eventually, he wanted to marry Morrigan and start a family with her. However, to do that, he needed more money, and his job as a potions supplier for St. Mungo's just wasn't enough.

Fortunately, he still had some savings, and so it was with slight regret that Draco left his position at the hospital and decided to branch out on his own.

In the months that had passed since Draco had met with his mother, his confidence had been growing, and now he felt happier and more confident than he had in a long time. So much so, in fact, that now Draco went out on his own almost every day, not caring who saw him and who he spoke to.

Actually, he'd even started chatting happily with acquaintances he'd made at St. Mungo's and people he knew from school.

With the encouragement of Morrigan, Draco decided to open his own potions store in Diagon Alley. The shop supplied not only ingredients and equipment, but also potions for anything and everything, from simple remedies like Calming Draught and Hiccuping Solution, to more complex concoctions like Wolfsbane Potion.

Additionally, Morrigan's career was going from strength to strength too, and she was the most successful and acclaimed head of the 'Accidental Potions Ingestion' department, with two junior potioneers working under her command.

When Morrigan wasn't working at the Ministry of Magic, she spent what free time she had helping Draco at his potions store, which was gaining popularity by the day.

Since his encounter with Narcissa, Draco hadn't heard from his mother, and could only assume she'd agreed to do as he asked, and was taking a step back, so that he could get on with his life, without his parents watching over his shoulder.

This theory proved to be true, because when Narcissa had informed Lucius about her meeting with Draco, the couple had agreed it would be best if they gave their son some freedom and independence, in the hope he realized how sorry they both were for their involvement with Voldemort and that they really did love him.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon in mid-August, and Morrigan and Draco had just finished eating a delicious lunch of roast chicken. Draco had now headed to Hogsmeade to buy some dessert for them, and Morrigan was sitting on a swinging chair in the garden, enjoying the warm sunshine and a glass of chilled wine.

Morrigan sighed contently to herself, and closed her eyes, the overwhelming scent of roses and lilies engulfing her. She'd never felt so happy and relaxed in her whole life.

"Morrigan," Draco whispered softly by her ear, bringing her out of the peaceful trance she'd been in. "Would you like some dessert? I brought strawberries and ice cream."

"Oh, yes please," Morrigan replied, her eyelids fluttering open.

"Ok," said Draco sitting next to her on the swinging chair and then using his wand to summon a tray of strawberries, ice cream and a new bottle of wine.

As it landed on the table in front of them, Morrigan also noticed a small, rectangular jewelery box nested besides the wine glasses.

"What's this?" she inquired expectantly.

"That's for after dessert," Draco replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips, as he handed her a bowl of strawberries and ice cream.

The couple fell into a comfortable silence, as they ate the sweet, succulent, juicy strawberries and the cold, creamy ice cream, and sipped on the sparkling chilled wine.

Finally, the bowls were empty, and Draco magically sent them back to the kitchen, before placing his arms around Morrigan and looking directly at her.

"Erm, listen there's something I wanted to say to you," he began sheepishly, and she nodded her head for him to continue. "The things is Morrigan, well, I wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me over this past few months."

"It was nothing," she insisted, blushing deep red and turning her head away momentarily.

"No it wasn't," protested Draco. "When I met you, I was a wreck. I had no money, and I hadn't eaten or washed properly for weeks. But none of that bothered you, you offered me friendship and advice when I needed it most."

"I told you, it's no big deal," Morrigan said again, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on his. "Besides, I wasn't much better when we met. I was drinking myself senseless every day, because I was too scared to let anyone get close to me or accept the past."

"Alright, I guess we're even on that score," agreed Draco with a smile. "However, you've stood by me no matter what. I told you everything, about me being a former Death Eater and the horrible things I've done to people, to the problems with my parents and how I had to escape them. Most people would run in the opposite direct from things like that, but you didn't."

"I care about you, and couldn't stand to see you suffering," stated Morrigan simply. "But you stood by me too, when I was having problems with my family. You're the one who helped me to see that I couldn't go on blaming myself for Lilith's death, and that I needed to think of my future instead of wallowing in the past."

"That's because I care about you too," insisted Draco, taking her hands in his. "And I didn't want to see you waste your life on bitter memories."

"Well, I really appreciate everything you've done for me," murmured Morrigan in reply.

"As do I," agreed Draco. "Seriously, if you hadn't been there for me, I'd probably be dead in a ditch right now."

"Shush, don't say horrible things like that," chided Morrigan.

"I didn't mean to be pessimistic, I'm just stating fact," insisted Draco. "I had nothing and no one before you came along, and now I have a home, a good job and I've began rebuilding my relationship with my parents. I'll always be eternally grateful for what you did for me, which is why I want you to have this."

Morrigan watched in stunned silence, as Draco took the small, black velvet box from the table, and turned to face her. He opened it slowly, to reveal a large emerald pendant, suspended on a white gold chain, in the exact same shade of green as her eyes.

With trembling hands, Morrigan took the necklace from the box, and caressed the precious gem with her fingers, before slowly turning it over to reveal the inscription engraved on the back.

To Morrigan,

As a token of my eternal love and gratitude.

Always, Draco X

"Oh, Draco, this is beautiful," Morrigan sighed, tears slipping down her cheek.

"I thought it only fitting for someone as wonderful as you," he returned softly, as he brushed her hair from her eyes and caressed her cheek with his hand.

"Thank you," she whispered, as their lips met in an passionate kiss.

The End.

�A/N2: I've made the decision to end Morrigan and Draco's story here, as I didn't really feel the need to continue narrating their relationship now that they're together, as I feel it would become dull and boring.

However, rest assured, I do have an epilogue planned, which will be set ten years in the future, and detail their lives together and what happened to them after the end of this chapter.

Thank you to each and every person who offered comments and support throughout this story, it really does mean the word to me, and I hope y'all join me for the epilogue.

Clare