*Thank you to everyone who's supported this story. You guys are the absolute best. Now I present for your viewing pleasure, the final chapter. Enjoy.*

Chapter 19

Night had fallen outside when Azalea woke up. She felt so tired. Her throat was sore. Rain was softly falling outside. The door opened slowly and a blonde head poked in.

"Draco?"

"You're awake," he said and gently kicked the door open. Draco carried in two cups of tea and handed one to Azalea. "Here. Compliments of great chef Draco Malfoy."

"Thanks," she said, bringing it to her lips.

Draco sat at the edge of her bed and watched her solemnly. "Do you feel better?"

"Better isn't the right word," she sighed. "I feel incredibly tired."

"You don't have to worry about Garrison," Draco said, sipping his own tea.

"Draco, what did you do?" she asked exasperatedly.

"I beat his face in."

"You did what?!"

"Don't go telling me I shouldn't have done it or that I should feel bad," Draco rolled his eyes. "That bastard deserved that and a lot more. Don't know what you saw in him, that arse."

"He made me feel loved," Azalea said absently. "He made me feel like I wasn't alone."

"You're not alone, Azalea."

Azalea looked up at him. He was looking at her with a deep intensity that she wasn't quite sure she was comfortable with. His eyes had a different brightness to it, a different glow. He almost seemed… Was he trying to tell her something?

"I'm not?"

"No," he said, looking deeply at her. It was as if he loomed closer to her. His eyes got even brighter. She could feel her heart beating faster and faster. She could feel her face turning red. The sound of the rain seemed to be all she could hear. "You've got Dahlia."

Draco suddenly stood up and walked to the window. Azalea could feel herself blush. She stared down at her tea. What did she expect? A heartfelt confession of his love? What a joke. This was Draco Malfoy. He was madly and totally in love with Astoria Greengrass. Wasn't he?

Azalea then took notice of where she was. The last thing she remembered was giving way to fatigue at the foot of the stairs in Draco's arms. So did he bring her to her room? It seemed a likely scenario. But why? Why would he carry her to her room? Why would he tuck her in? Why would he beat the shit out of Alex? Why did he come by and bring her tea?

"Have you asked Draco how he feels about you since he came out of his coma?"

No, it can't be…

"You'd have to be absolutely mentally retarded to not realize that Draco has some sort of feelings for you."

Was Dahlia right after all? Did Draco… this Draco… not the deluded husband type Draco… does he have feelings for her? Azalea stared at his frame. Could that even be possible? Could that even be feasible? From the very beginning, they did nothing but argue with each other.

From the time at the Smoky Lounge:

"You know the least you can do is thank me," he said condescendingly.

"Oh, gee, thank you ever so much, Draco," Azalea said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Draco rolled her eyes at her. "Why do you insist on sitting here at the bar like an idiot?" he asked.

Ignore him, ignore him, ignore him, Azalea chanted to herself.

"Is it because no guy would ever want to come near you?" he taunted as Azalea scowled. "Or is it because you're too afraid to talk to one yourself?"

"What I do is none of your business," Azalea snapped.

"Rude," Draco commented with a nasty smirk. "Maybe I should have let that bloke molest you."

"I didn't need your help," Azalea insisted. "I could have handled it just fine!"

To the morning after the Smoky Lounge:

"You're a pig," Azalea said, looking at him with an utterly disgusted expression.

"You're such a righteous bugger, you know that, Azalea?" Draco said to her, making her roll her eyes. "You act as men don't talk like this all the time."

"Not all men are as perverse as you are," Azalea snapped.

"Oh, sure, whatever," Draco said sarcastically.

To the night where Draco slipped into a coma:

"Get your tight little arse over there and work it," Draco commanded.

"What?!" Azalea exclaimed.

"Look, we got you the dress, you fixed up your hair, you put on the make up and jewelry," Draco told her. "But it all means shit if you don't go over there and talk to the man."

"What if he doesn't like me?" Azalea worried.

"Bloody hell, Azalea," Draco rolled his eyes. "If you're not going to do this then we might as well go home to those books that you wet yourself reading."

They had declared that they hated each other right from the beginning. No other Neanderthal vexed her more than he did. Sometimes, he made her so mad; she could just wring his neck! But there were other times when he was the paragon of charm and sweetness.

Like the time when he got smashed:

"He didn't deserve you, you know," Draco continued to say. "That Bulgarian bloke you went after. He didn't deserve you and you don't deserve someone that vile. You should look for someone better, someone who'll treat you like you're one of a kind. Because you are. Because you're pretty terrific, Azalea, you know? You shouldn't settle for some loser like that Bulgarian fellow. You're beautiful and witty and lovely and classy… You deserve more… You…"

Draco's grip on her wrist slipped as he faded from the waking world. His hand landed on the floor with a loud thump. Azalea watched his breathing even out as he slept.

Like the time after their shopping trip:

She turned her head and looked him in the eyes. It was a slate gray color, usually cold and unfeeling. But now, Azalea could have sworn it was glittering with… what? Her eyes moved to his lips. His lips had a slight aristocratic quality to it that Azalea hadn't noticed before. She could feel her heart beat faster. They were so close together. One nudge and their lips would touch. Her own lips had begun to tingle with the prospect of it. His eyes were burning into hers. She felt her face start to redden. What was this? What was she feeling? Why was she feeling it for Draco?

Two loud knocks on the door broke the spell. Draco immediately released Azalea, scratching a spot at the back of his head awkwardly.

Like the time he woke up from his coma:

"Yeah…" Azalea muttered, timidly placing her hands on his chest. "I suppose I'm just still a little shaken up."

Azalea watched his lips turn up into a grin. Her heart was pounding so fast. She felt a subtle electric charge as she noticed him lean closer to her. Bloody hell, she thought to herself. What is this? Why is my heart beating so fast? Her mind wandered to last week, the day where the both of them stood in her room as Azalea tried on the new black dress Draco had made her get. They were one breath away then. She had felt the same exact way she was feeling now. It was just as crazy and delusional then as it was now. Draco only leaned closer and closer to her. Azalea's eyes drifted shut as she waited for the inevitable.

Their lips touched lightly and Azalea felt her heart skip a beat.

And when he came out of his delusion:

He moved slightly toward her, his eyes drifting shut. Azalea felt her heart skip a beat. She could either kiss Draco and sink plunge her love life into utter confusion and chaos or she could stop him and walk away.

But she couldn't find her voice and she found her eyes closing and her lips parting slightly. The first touch of their lips was light. Excitement and warmth detonated at the center of Draco's chest and resonated through his entire body. Azalea felt himself melt against him. Azalea felt Draco's lips move over hers and logic and thought shut down as she draped her arms around his shoulders as Draco slid his arms around her hips.

All of the signs were there and she never even noticed. She must have hurt him. She was so wrapped up in Alex that she didn't pay attention to Draco. He made her feel things that scared her and she preferred not to think about it: the way her heart started pounding, the way her stomach tightened, the way her face reddened. It was all because of him.

"Azalea, there's something I have to tell you," Draco suddenly said, making her flinch.

"Y-Yeah, what is it?"

He put his tea cup down and sat down on the bed next to her. "I'm not good at this," he sighed. "At feelings… and stuff."

Oh, Merlin, Azalea thought, thankful that it was dark and he couldn't see her blushing.

"But I've got to say it," Draco then gave her a meaningful look. "Promise you won't laugh."

"I promise," she nodded.
"I've been… feeling…things… about you," Draco began, looking at his hands. "I really hate feelings and stuff because it… it makes things weird and complicated but I… I can't help it this time. Do you know what I mean?"

"No…"

"Geez," Draco sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "This is harder than I thought. When you… I…

"Draco, if you can't tell me," Azalea said quietly. "Why don't you show me?"

Draco looked over at her. She was staring at him earnestly. He stared into her eyes for quite a while. It was bright, he observed. He never saw her eyes quite that lovely before. Draco began to feel his own heart pound faster and faster. Before he knew it, he raised his hand and caressed her cheek. She was looking directly at him. He could feel her eyes adoring him and his breath caught in his throat. Before he knew what he was doing, he felt himself lean closer to her.

Azalea closed her eyes. There was no confusion, tension, or awkwardness. She was thrilled at how her heart pounded longingly. She was ecstatic about the blush beneath her cheeks. She could feel his breath on his face and when their lips touched, she felt that she would no longer be truly alone.

3 Years Later…

"THOSE ARE RHODODENDRONS!! THEY DON'T BELONG IN THE BALLROOM; THEY BELONG IN THE GARDEN, YOU WITLESS MORON! YOU! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU THAT THE COLOR SCHEME IS CHARTREUSE AND SILVER! THIS IS LIME!! DO NOT PLACE THE CAKE THERE, IT'LL BE KNOCKED OVER!! AFTER ALL THE MONEY WE SPENT ON IT, WE WILL NOT HAVE A FLATTENED WEDDING CAKE! HONESTLY!!"

Dahlia closed the door behind her and blew out a sigh. Azalea turned to her. Dahlia gave her best friend a smile and walked over to her.

"Your soon to be mother in law has gone off the deep end," Dahlia informed, helping Azalea arrange her wedding veil. "She's yelled at everyone and everything in sight. Your groom and his father are hiding."

"She only wants things to be perfect," Azalea chuckled. "She planned almost everything about the wedding, you know."

"Yes, I know," Dahlia sighed, arranging Azalea's hair beneath the veil. "Everyone's fit to be in a loony bin after this wedding. I hope you're happy."

"I am happy," Azalea grinned. "I couldn't be happier."

"Good," Dahlia nodded. "I didn't want to be wearing this snot colored Maid of Honor dress for nothing."

"It is chartreuse," Azalea laughingly corrected her.

"DAHLIA!! DAHLIA, DEAR, WHERE ARE YOU?! I NEED YOU!! THE CHAMPAGNE!! I CAN'T FIND THE CHAMPAGNE!!"

"I must go be willingly tortured," Dahlia rolled her eyes and headed for the door.

"Thanks, Dahlia."

"Yeah, yeah," Dahlia waved. "COMING, MRS. MALFOY!!"

Dahlia stepped out the room. Azalea sighed nervously and stared at herself in the mirror. It was a simple wedding dress. Azalea hadn't wanted anything fancy. She and Draco had been dating for three years. She was beginning to wonder when the little prick would get off his fanny and propose. He had even joked one night, much to her indignation, that he had no intention of proposing. Then he finally did it. He proposed. It was during a moonlit night at the playground he brought her to all those years ago. Draco was still an idiot when it came to feelings. Azalea still didn't know how he managed to get the question out properly. She supposed he had rehearsed. Thinking of it made her laugh. They would be getting married soon and the entire Malfoy Manor was in an uproar. Mostly because Narcissa had been yelling at all the servants since the crack of dawn.

Downstairs, away from Narcissa's path of fury, Lucius sat comfortably in his chair, sipping tea, watching his son from the corner of his eyes fiddling with his bow. Draco had been tugging at his tie every ten seconds since they sat in the room to escape Narcissa.

"Draco, you'll rip that bow right off your neck if you keep tugging on it like that," Lucius pointed out.

"I can't help it, Father," Draco muttered. "Is it hot in here?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow at him. Draco got up and started pacing again. He had gone into a cycle. He would pace for fifteen to twenty minutes, sit down, tug at his bow, irritating his father until Lucius complained and then resumed pacing again. It was quite comical in Lucius's opinion. It was also quite irritating.

"LUCIUS!! LUCIUS, WHERE ARE YOU!"

Lucius tried with all his might to ignore his wife's yelling. She's been on a tirade ever since she woke up and his patience was starting to wear thin. The ceremony hasn't even started yet. He watched his son pace and thought of the woman he would be marrying who was undoubtedly upstairs in her wedding dress. He believed from the beginning that she and Draco would end up here. He had watched them, entertained by the complications they brought upon themselves. Lucius remembered the heated arguments, the glaring, the awkward tension, and the eventual flirtation. Now his only son was to marry his goddaughter. Lucius sipped his tea again. Things had gone according to plan.

"LUCIUS!!"

Though he might need to do something about his wife.