Chapter 14

Azalea watched her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a navy blue stretch taffeta halter dress with a square neck, wide straps and bodice bands. It had a cut away back, empire waist, ruched front, and a short slim skirt. The dress accented her slim waist, punctuating her otherwise small breasts and making them seem a bit larger. Subtle enough to still be proper but sensual enough to be erotic.

"Thank you, young girlish figure," she chuckled to herself as she fixed up her hair.

The door opened and Azalea watched Draco walk through his bedroom door. He took one look at her and put on a puzzled smile. "Are we going somewhere, Lea?"

"We're not-ˮ Azalea began to say and then stopped to watch him quizzically as he walked to her with a grin. "Did you just call me Lea?"

"Yes," Draco said, wrapping his arms around his "wife's" waist.

"Since when?"

"Since we were engaged," Draco chuckled. "Are you going to tell me that I can't do that either?"

"Well, no," Azalea smiled at him through the mirror, actually fancying the nickname. "I was just surprised."

"Had I known you were this receptive to nicknames, I would have invented plenty more," he said, enjoying the way Azalea giggled.

"Funny, Draco," Azalea said, brushing him off and picking up a pair of earrings, "now kindly bugger off so I can finish getting ready."

"Any special occasion?"

Azalea turned around and stared at him. It was near sunset and as usual, he was going to curl up with a book and one of his father's bloodhounds in front of the fire. He did it every night before dinner. She hadn't told him about her date with Alex and she had been debating about whether she should actually tell him the truth. It would devastate him. The delusional Draco that thought he was in love with his "Lea" would be mortified and angry. Azalea would rather not deal with that if she could help it. But she was about to meet Alex at a quaint little café in Diagon Alley. She had to tell Draco something.

"Lea?"

"I'm going out," she said simply, hoping he would just leave it at that. Of course, he didn't.

"You're going to miss dinner?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Well, yes," Azalea said, fastening her earrings securely.

"Must be something special," Draco commented thoughtfully.

"Yes, quite special, actually," Azalea laughed.

"Where are you going?"

Azalea was quiet for a while. It was an outright question that needed an outright answer. "I am going to meet friends for dinner," she said carefully. She technically wasn't lying. Alex was her friend and there was always the possibility that they could run into other people.

"Will Dahlia be there?" Draco asked innocently.

Azalea paused, brain working mechanically. "She could be there," she said evasively. "I'm not really too sure, though."

"Oh," Draco said, picking up a book from his desk side drawer. "You look ravishing. Have fun."

He kissed her on the cheek and smiled charmingly at her. She watched him walk out the door. A knot of guilt twisted in her stomach. Draco has been good to her. He's helped her along even before he was delusional. He was very annoying, of course, and he tended to get himself into fist fights exceedingly often. He was a masochistic idiot who thinks he's better than anybody. But Draco also thought that he was in love with Azalea. And ever since, he's been what Azalea considered the ideal husband. He was sincere and honest, calm and passionate, trusting and loyal. She could feel that he enjoyed just simply being with her and holding her. It had been what Azalea wanted all along in a relationship but she wasn't too sure she wanted it from Draco. After the shock and initial revulsion wore off, she began to welcome his touch, his attention, his affection. It made Azalea feel loved and appreciated. She was in the middle of losing her parents and getting rejected by the man she thought she loved. She felt like she had no one and Draco's touch seemed a better alternative to the lost and lonely nights she's been having. But she couldn't be too sure that a relationship with him would work out. She couldn't be too sure that he would still have feelings for her once he comes out of his delusion. She almost wished that he would…

What was she thinking? Of course, she didn't want Draco to have feelings for her! He was in love with Astoria! Why on earth would she wish affection for herself? Azalea fancied Alex. Alex was brilliant. He made her feel butterflies every time he smiled at her. Every time he looked at her, she felt as if he was soaking her entire image up, relishing every single thing about her as if in a moment she would be gone. It made her feel like the most valuable thing on earth and Azalea absolutely loved getting the tingling sensation.

Draco was different. He irritated the hell out of her. He made her so boiling mad that she sometimes could not see straight. He was just so difficult and stubborn and far too proud. He thought he was right all the time and it irritated Azalea that sometimes, he actually proved to be right. However, Draco was also fun and hilarious. He got her to laugh and loosen up. He challenged her and got her to act like her old self again. He made her feel like there was more to this life than pain, loss, and suffering. He taught her to act and fend for herself, to put her own happiness before anybody else's. When Draco smiled at her, she couldn't do anything but smile back. Every time he would hold her, she felt safe and secure.

It confused her and irritated her at the same time. She knows in her head that she should be with Alex. He could give her everything she wanted. But it was her heart that was being a nitwit and was trying to tell her that there could be something with Draco. Draco was delusional. Once he gets out of it, he would forget all his feelings for her and go back to his precious Astoria. There would be no hope in a relationship for them. Is there? Azalea sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. What now? She might or might not be interested in Draco and she might or might not get into a relationship with Alex. What was she to do?

Azalea grabbed her coat and Disapparated.

"This is really nice, Alex," Azalea said, looking around appreciatively. "Are you sure this is alright?"

"Don't even worry about it, okay?" he asked her dashingly.

"Okay."

They were at a waterfront garden restaurant. Countless floating orbs of light surrounded them, lighting the entire area but with enough darkness to provide a romantic atmosphere. A small dance floor was set up near the water and love struck couples were dancing atop it, looking wistfully into each others' eyes.

"Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, coming near them with a blissful smile.

"Yes," Alex spoke. "We'd like fried calamari for an appetizer, baked salmon with cream and cucumber for the main course, and a Sachertorte for dessert. Two of each."

Azalea stared at her dinner partner. Did he just order for her? She folded up her menu and placed it down, attempting to rein in her annoyance. Alex looked over at her and said, "You like salmon, don't you, Zale?"

Zale? What? Why must people give her nicknames? It was a horrid nickname. Lea was better… She did not just think that. She must be going absolutely insane. She wasn't all that annoyed about the nickname. She even liked salmon. It was a good kind of fish to eat. It was just the fact that he ordered for her and didn't give her the slightest chance to think for herself that irritated her the most. But she put on a happy smile nonetheless.

"Yes, I like salmon."

"Great," he smiled and nodded to the waiter and zoomed away. Azalea was annoyed yet she smiled.

She watched the people dancing on the makeshift stage and thought pensively about the ball at the end of the week. The Malfoys were a family of tradition and that was fine. Azalea didn't mind it at all. She actually found it quite endearing. The Malfoys would throw a party for every season: the Summer Beach Gathering, the Fall Ball, the Winter Masquerade, and the Spring Garden Party. There were also socials and formals for each respective holiday. The annual Fall Ball was at the end of the week. Being Draco's "wife", she had to accompany him. Azalea didn't know whether to be excited for a formal party or terrified that Draco would be introducing her to all the important pure blood families as "his darling wife". She didn't want to think about it.

And how would this look? She's out on a date with Alex and would be introduced as someone's wife in a mere half a week. It would reflect very badly on her part and embarrass Draco. He would also be hurt and stunned should it be exposed that his presumed wife was with another man not too long ago. Of course, Draco was very, very confused about everything. This made Azalea very, very confused about what to do about the situation. She should stop thinking about it.

"Would you like to dance?" Alex suddenly asked.

Suddenly charmed, Azalea accepted. He led her to the makeshift dance floor and swayed her to the beat. Azalea stayed quiet, watching the sun twinkle and the ripples of the water reflect the moon. It was a very lovely evening. She should be enjoying herself instead of worrying.

"I know what it's like," Alex said gently as Azalea looked at him quizzically, "to lose someone you love."

"Alex, I-ˮ

"I lost my grandfather when I was thirteen," he offered. "He was a great man. He taught me a great many things. He was in every way my mentor. I loved him. I wanted to be just like him. I was distraught when he passed away. I know what it's like. It sucks."

Azalea watched his face. He was trying to connect to her, offering something of himself to get her to open up to him. People do it all the time. It was how people establish bonds and relationships. Azalea was touched. Alex was an amazing guy. She wanted so much to be happy again. Alex was offering her that.

"It does," Azalea sighed. "I miss my parents so much. Sometimes I just want to curl up in my mother's arms like I used to but now I can't anymore."

"I'm sorry this happened to you, Zale," Alex said. "I know things are hard for you right now but I'd like a chance to make your life just a little bit better."

Azalea didn't know what to say or what to tell him. She simply leaned over and kissed him.

She tiptoed into Draco's room late that night after getting home from her date with Alex. It was far past midnight and she would prefer not to deal with Draco's question. She tried vainly to sneak into the lavatory without garnering his attention but of course, she failed. A light went on and Draco sat up from bed and blinked at her.

"Azalea?" he asked groggily. "Is that you? Did you just get in?"

"Yeah," she said awkwardly. "Sorry. We had too good a time, I suppose."

"I tried waiting for you," Draco said, swinging himself off the bed and walking toward her.

"You didn't have to do that," Azalea said, look down, instantly guilty.

Draco lifted her chin up and looked her in the eyes. He moved a strand of her hair away from her face and caressed her cheek. Azalea felt eternally guilty. She had just been out with another man.

"I have something for you," Draco said, moving over to his dresser.

"You don't have to do that, really," Azalea said, watching him awkwardly.

"I know," he grinned at her, digging into his dresser. "I wanted to."

"Draco…"

"No complaints," Draco laughed as he walked over to her with a suspicious looking velvet box. "I wanted to get you something special for the ball at the end of the week."

"You don't-ˮ

"Lea, would you please let me do this?" he asked exasperatedly. She sighed and nodded numbly. "So, I was at Diagon Alley a couple of days, saw this and thought of you. So I bought it."

He turned the box toward her and opened it. Inside laid a beautiful diamond studded silver butterfly. Tiny amethysts lined the middle of the butterfly and on the antennas. Two fine silver chains were clasped to each of the wings and made a loop. It was a beautiful stunning thing. Azalea felt her heart twist as she looked at it. Merlin's beard, she thought, I am such a hateful prick.

"Oh, my goodness, Draco," she breathed, staring at it, guilt clawing at her wildly. "I can't accept it. It's beautiful but really, I couldn't."

"It suits you," he said, handing her the box. "You've been trapped for so long. Your parents' death was a terrifying ordeal to go through. But I know you are stronger than that and I know you are just like a butterfly. You are beautiful and absolutely free."

Azalea looked down at the pristine necklace. It was mesmerizing. It wasn't gaudy like most jewelry. It was plain simple and very beautiful. Azalea almost cried from the guilt she was feeling. She couldn't accept this. She was a horrid vile woman who was cheating on the man that adored her. She didn't deserve his gifts.

"I love you."

She looked up at him, shocked by the words. She didn't feel like she could take it anymore. She walked into his arms and held him tighter than she had ever held him before. For once, Azalea was actually afraid to let him go.