A/N: Remember the poll, people. I'm giving you a chance to choose our next time warp, lol, and I hope you make good use of it. I was asked if I would pick up this chapter the moment that last chapter ended and the answer is no. Peepers, give them some privacy! LOL. (Later on, I might write a supplemental chapter to bridge last chapter and this one, but for now it remains as it is). Anyways, thanks for the reviews. You know I love reading them.

Disc.: Standard "I don't own anything" disclaimer.

Fireworks

Tears pricked her eyes, though Lily wasn't entirely sure why she was crying. She didn't know how long it had been, how many hours. She had skipped out on the end of the ball and the celebration, missed the fireworks extravaganza. She snickered slightly. That wasn't entirely true. There had been fireworks, at least for her. She sighed softly, as a hand brushed her hair from her face.

"Are you crying?" Scorpius asked in horror as he pulled back his hand. His fingertips glistened in the fireplace light. "Are you ok? Do you hurt?"

"I'm ok," Lily said quietly as she tilted her head up to look at him. He looked bewildered, a little frightened.

"Are you sure? I tried to be… careful, gentle," he said as his eyes searched her face. Her body twisted inside in pleasure at the memory.

"I'm sure, Scorpius," Lily said as smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. His eyes continued to search her face for any signs of deception, but he seemed to relax and he smiled.

"Good," Scorpius said. His fingers touched her cheek. Lily closed her eyes and listened to the quiet, steady sound of his heart beat, absorbing the warmth she felt radiating off his bare chest.

"I should go," Lily murmured, finally breaking the silence. Lily began to pull free of him.

"Please don't," Scorpius said. He wasn't eager to let her go.

"It's late, Scorpius," Lily said quietly as she smiled. She headed to his dresser and pulled out a tee shirt, pulling it on over her body. "I need to take a shower and get some sleep."

"You could sleep here," Scorpius said. Lily laughed.

"I doubt either of us is going to get much sleep tonight," Lily breathed as she picked up her clothes and belongings.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your room?" he asked as he went to get up. Lily shook her head.

"No need," Lily said. "But do me a favor, Scorpius."

"Sure, anything," Scorpius said as he watched her gather her things.

"Don't just up and disappear on me in the morning," Lily said. "I don't think I could bear it if I found out that all of this was just a dream."

"It's already morning, Lils," Scorpius said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," Lily said. She turned to leave and she laughed. There was a little decorated spruce in the corner of the room.

"Yeah, I know. Silly tree," Scorpius said rolling his eyes. "I told her I didn't want one."

"It makes so much sense now," Lily commented. She grinned at him. "Your grandmother said that she was glad someone was enthusiastic about her thoughtfulness."

"I never needed my own tree," Scorpius said quietly. "I always had you with yours."

"Yeah, that's creepy," Lily teased. "I'll take that cloak back from you."

"Oh, I gave it to Albus last night," Scorpius said. "I figured I didn't need it. I would live with whatever decision you made. Even if it meant you kicked me out of your life forever."

"You thought that I would?" Lily asked as she walked closer to Scorpius. He shrugged, watching her carefully.

"Honestly, I didn't know how much a year and a half had changed for us," Scorpius said. Lily and he kissed, heat rising between them. She pulled away and he chuckled. "I'd dare say a year and a half changed a lot between us, but for the good. I love you."

"I love you too," Lily said as she took one last look at him, memorizing him in case it was all a dream, and headed back to her own bedroom as fast as her chilly feet would allow her. Lily was barely in her night clothes and tucked under her blankets before sleep consumed her completely.

Narcissa seemed very surprised when she brought breakfast up to Lily that morning, her eyes falling on the sleeping teen. Honestly, she hadn't expected to actually find Lily in her own bed alone. She had witness Scorpius and Lily talking, and she saw where Scorpius led the teenager off in a hurry. Narcissa hadn't seen hide or hair of the two the rest of the night. She smiled. Even a blind man could see how much each one cared for the other. Narcissa had the house elf place the tray on the table and she shook the girl's shoulder. Lily slowly pulled her eyes open, looking a little unhappy about being woken. She was having the most delightful dream about her and Scorpius doing things adults did alone on some warm, sandy beach in the islands.

"You disappeared last night," Narcissa said as Lily sat up. Lily's cheeks blazed with embarrassment. Narcissa raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.

"I… uh…" Lily stuttered. Narcissa shook her head.

"None of my business," Narcissa said with a smile. "I was wondering if you'd be up to playing today? I have a few ladies from the Witches' Auxiliary coming over and I got to thinking last night that your performance would be wonderful."

"Play in front of a lot of people?" Lily asked warily.

"Just a few witches," Narcissa said calmly.

"You've not even heard me play. It might come out off ill sounding," Lily said as she quickly psyched herself out.

"I'm sure you play wonderfully," Narcissa said. "In fact, I remember Scorpius mentioning that you had real talent to the point where he wondered why you were even going into healing when you could be a famous musician."

"I was never one who wanted to be famous," Lily said. "My dad was forced into the limelight before he knew his own name; my mom thrived in it as a Quidditch player. Even my brothers are well suited for that kind of life. Me, I just want to help people."

"And help them you will, spectacularly," Narcissa said. She smiled at Lily. "Please could you do this for me?"

"Um…" Lily thought hesitantly. She opened her mouth to talk and she was interrupted by a knock on the door. She breathed a sigh of relief as Scorpius poked his head in the door, a grin on his face.

"Gran! Good morning," Scorpius said as he entered. "How come you bring Lily breakfast but never me?"

"She's less annoying in the morning," Narcissa said playfully as she stood.

"Just the morning?" Scorpius taunted. Lily stuck her tongue out at him.

"All the time, Scorpius," Narcissa laughed. "Actually, maybe you can do me a favor and convince Lily to play for the Witches' Auxiliary meeting today."

"Lily," Scorpius said with a half smile as he headed towards her. "Will you please do this for my Gran? It'd make her day, and I know I'd love to hear it."

"Ugh, fine," Lily said in a dazed sort of way. Scorpius laughed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Thank you, Lily," Narcissa said as she reached the door. "I'll send a dress up."

"Super, more dresses to wear!" Lily grumbled as Scorpius summoned the tray.

"Man, you get the best breakfast foods," Scorpius said as he uncovered the plates.

"I think your Gran expected you to come," Lily said. "Or you to be here."

"What makes you think that?" Scorpius said as he swiped a piece of bacon off the plate.

"Do you really honestly think I could eat all this food?" Lily asked grinning as she snatched the bacon from him. "My bacon."

"Hey," he laughed as she took a bite. "I might have to get that back from you."

"Ooh, is that a threat?" She laughed as she climbed free of the bed covers.

"Still wearing my shirt?" he teased. Lily rolled her eyes.

"You'd better leave me something to eat, otherwise when I get back from my shower I'm going to kick your shins or something," Lily taunted as she gathered some things and headed into the bathroom.

"No promises!" Scorpius called. Scorpius waited, lounging in her bed while he listened to the shower run. He closed his eyes, breathing slowly and letting the memories from last night drift into his mind. It was perfect, she was perfect. He couldn't imagine loving another person as much as he loved Lily Potter. He smiled as he heard the shower silenced and he could imagine her every step, from drying off to dressing, and he felt that familiar pull deep within him, a dangerous emotion and desire that threatened to consume him in a gulf of flame.

"Did you nod off?" she teased lightly as she touched his cheek with her hand. She was warm, her skin slightly pink from her shower. He smiled as he drew her face to his, kissing her. She laughed lightly when he released her. "Don't you know, in Sleeping Beauty, the one who comes across the other sleeping is supposed to initiate the kiss?"

"I'm not the princess," Scorpius said as he sat up grinning. "I saved you first pick of everything."

"Awe you are the sweetest boy… uh… guy in the world," Lily said stumbling over her words. Scorpius looked at her slightly confused.

"You were about to call me your boyfriend, weren't you?" Scorpius asked. Lily looked away, blushing as she struggled to contain her smile.

"It's ok," Lily said after a moment. "I mean, I know just because… well… you know… I know it doesn't change anything."

"The hell it doesn't," Scorpius said as he pulled her against him. He was still reclining on her bed, and the position was pretty suggestive as Lily was drawn against his body, him tucked underneath part of her. "You can't honestly believe that I'd be ok with last night without at least the knowledge that in the morning, we'd be together."

"We are," Lily reminded him as her face flushed.

"I meant, I want you as my girlfriend. For real this time," Scorpius said quietly as he pressed his lips to hers. "I want no secrets, no hiding. Just you and me."

"Out in the open?" Lily confirmed. He nodded.

"I never wanted to hide our relationship, and when we were both at school, I could sort of understand with my being your Quidditch captain, but there is no reason to hide, unless you're ashamed of being associated with a Malfoy," Scorpius said. Lily's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"No, I love it," she promised.

"So, will you be my girlfriend, Lily? Just me? No Hill, no other random guys?" Scorpius asked quietly, almost as if he was afraid she'd decline. He held his breath. He really was afraid that she would not want to be his girlfriend. He looked at her, pleadingly. "Say something Lily."

"Ok," Lily said. She grinned as she kissed the only part she could reach from her position, the base of his throat. "Yeah, I want to be your girlfriend. Yours and only yours."

"Oh, good," he said rolled her to her back and kissed her quite properly.

"Lily… oh…" Narcissa said reentering the room after one quick tap of her knuckles to the door. She looked at the two of them. Scorpius grinned at her, pulling his mouth away from Lily.

"Hello, Gran," Scorpius said. "It's ok. Lily and I are dating exclusively now."

"Hi," Lily said weakly.

"I swear, you two are worse than Draco and Infamy," Narcissa said rolling her eyes. She was carrying a dress. "I'll just leave this here for you, Lily. Shoes are already in the closet and the ladies will be here in about an hour."

"Thank you," Lily said. Scorpius laughed and turned away from his grandmother, who was already retreating quickly from the room.

"We're you embarrassed?" Scorpius teased lightly. He loved that way she squirmed under him, uncomfortable with his grandmother seeing them together like that, even though they were both fully dressed.

"A little," Lily said.

"Why?" Scorpius asked. Lily laughed.

"You're hand is up my shirt, for one," Lily said. Scorpius chuckled and pulled his hand away.

"Oops," Scorpius laughed as he kissed her. He could feel the way she responded to his kiss and his touch, and it excited him. He loved the way her body seemed to need him. He pulled away, laughing when he saw her pout.

"Why'd you stop?" She asked. He grinned.

"We went about this all wrong. I should have worked up to last night, not started there," he said lightly as he traced her face with his fingers. "So, tonight, I want to take you on our first official date."

"We've been on dates before," she said.

"Not really, nothing like this," Scorpius said smiling at her. "You'll love it."

"I believe you," Lily said.

"You should eat before you get dressed," Scorpius said as he pulled away from her. "How about I feed you a bit of bacon?"

"Please," Lily said rolling her eyes and taking the piece of bacon he was holding. "I can feed myself."

"Hey, that's mine," Scorpius teased as he playfully swiped to take the bacon. He laughed grabbing a piece of toast. "This is better for me anyways. Can't afford to eat like I used to now that I'm getting so old. I don't have Quidditch to keep me trim."

"Will you come and listen to me play in a bit?" Lily asked after a few minutes of silently chewing on the bacon.

"Try to keep me away," Scorpius said. "I don't plan on being away from you longer than I have to be."

"That's going to be kind of hard when Christmas Holiday is over with," Lily commented quietly. Scorpius made a face.

"I'm trying not to think about that right now," Scorpius said. He wasn't telling the complete truth. It hung over their heads. It was impossible, even in the short moments that he didn't think of it. In a few weeks that they would have to be separated, that was an undeniable fact that Lily would go back to Hogwarts and Scorpius would start his training under his father in the Aurors' office. Still, he forced a smile.

"What?" Lily asked.

"You'd better get the dress on and ready to wow the heck out of those witches," Scorpius said as he kissed her cheek and headed to the door.

"I thought you'd stay a bit longer," Lily said. Scorpius shook his head.

"Don't worry, Lils," he said. "I'm not going too far; just to change out of these jeans. I'll be there to listen to you play. If those old bats make you nervous, you can play like you're only playing for me."

Lily had done well, better than well. She had played spectacularly, gaining the approval and compliments of the women who had attended the meeting. None of that meant much to her, though, he knew. Scorpius had watched her look around casually until her eyes landed on him and her face broke into that smile that made it damn near impossible for him to not rush her. He looked over at her now that they were huddled in thick coats and walking down a snow covered street.

"Where are we going?" Lily asked.

"Apartment hunting," Scorpius said. Lily stopped in her tracks and he laughed as she tried to tug her hand away from his.

"We just started dating," Lily complained quiet fearfully. Scorpius laughed harder.

"Not for you or us, for me," Scorpius clarified.

"Why aren't you just staying at the manor?" Lily asked. Scorpius shrugged.

"It just makes more sense for me to try living on my own a bit," Scorpius said. "Plus, you can come see me this Easter."

"Hmm," Lily said quietly as she regained the use of her feet.

"Anyways, it'll give me a place to think without interruption while worrying about you out there in the big, wide world," Scorpius teased as he stopped at the steps of an older looking red brick building. He led her up the stairs and pressed the super's button.

"Yes?" a woman called through the static.

"Mr. Malfoy to look at the apartments," Scorpius said. The door buzzed and Scorpius swung the cast iron and glass door open, allowing Lily to walk in first. They were met in the front foyer near the rows of mailboxes by a short, fat little woman.

"Are you Mr. Malfoy?" the woman asked as she cast a critical eye over Lily and Scorpius. Lily tried to drop his hand, but Scorpius hung tightly to it.

"I am," he said.

"There are three vacant units on the same floor," she said. She led them up the stairs, huffing and puffing. "They are currently unoccupied. They are all on the market."

"Top floor?" Scorpius asked quietly. The woman nodded, her head bobbling on her shoulders.

"They are on the fourth floor," she said as she opened unit 4-A. Lily carefully followed Scorpius in, her hand tucked in his.

"Which way is west?" Scorpius asked. The woman checked and pointed to the large wall of windows and skylights.

"The whole outer wall of this unit is windows," the woman said as she looked at the file. Scorpius grinned and nodded once. "And there is half a section that points to the north. Lots of window in this and the east unit."

"Ok, the other units?" Scorpius said quickly as Lily headed to look out the windows. She followed them to the other two units. One small unit had very little in the way of windows, just one small bedroom and a small kitchen. The east unit, 4-C, was the mirror image of 4-A, with three large bedrooms, a large common area with kitchen, and three bathrooms.

"So, Mr. Malfoy?" the woman said. Scorpius nodded.

"Sounds great," he said. "I was certain before, but even more so now."

"Great," she said as she thrust the paperwork to him. Lily busied herself as she tried to imagine Scorpius in one of those units.

"The east unit is perfectly sized for James, Damon, and I," Scorpius told her as he and Lily left the apartment and headed toward the restaurant that they chose to eat dinner at.

"James? My James?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, didn't he tell you?" Scorpius asked.

"Well, no," Lily said as she let the Scorpius help her out of her coat before taking a seat. "That's going to nip in the bud me ever coming to visit. There is no way that my dad is going to let me if he knows I'm sleeping with you. And James'll tell him."

"You'd not be staying with me, silly," Scorpius said smirking as he held up a key. He pushed it toward her.

"What's that?" Lily asked as she stared at the key.

"It's a key," he smirked. "Don't look at it like I just proposed to you, Lils. I'm not that stupid."

"What's it a key to?" Lily asked tensely as she tried to pull her hand back. Scorpius was quicker and he held her hand. He pushed the key gently into her hand.

"It's the key to the small one bedroom unit," he said. Lily stared at the key and then looked at him.

"You bought me an apartment?" she asked. Scorpius laughed.

"I know better than that, Lils," he said. "It's the guest unit, but in case I'm not home, you won't be stranded outside of the building. I just want to make sure that you can have plenty of opportunities to see me."

"Um," Lily said.

"Look, I know you're going off to find the world, and I'm thrilled you are, and then the next year, you're going to WHI," Scorpius said. "Don't think that this is a way to tether you to me, because it's not. I want you to be happy and for you to have a place to visit me when and if you ever get any breaks."

"Please," Lily said. Scorpius looked at her confused as she closed her hands on the key.

"Please what?" Scorpius asked.

"Please don't make it seem like we should break up just because our lives are heading in two different directions," Lily said and for a moment she looked like she might cry. Scorpius opened his mouth in shock and slid around to her side of the table. He wrapped his arms around her quickly.

"I am too selfish to do that, Lils," he said. "I didn't work so hard to get us back together just to let you go. I know that the next couple of years are going to be hard, but I love you. I'm not going to let you go."

"Good," Lily said sniffling.

"Don't get upset," Scorpius begged her.

"Sorry," she said.

"Don't be," Scorpius said grinning. "You don't need to apologize. I like that you are upset about the idea of not being with me. It means that you can't live without me any more than I can live without you."

"Oh, so you like when I am upset, do you?" Lily teased as Scorpius returned to his side of the table.

"No, of course not," he said as the waiter arrived to take their order. The two of them ordered and sat in silence looking at each other. Lily couldn't help but smile at him and he knew why. She really did love him. He laughed in the silence, and she joined him, as if the two of them were sharing in their own private joke.

It was late when they returned to the house, and yet Scorpius wasn't eager to let Lily go quite yet. He would have been content staying with her all night if he could, though he knew that it was in his best long term interest not to push it with her. He held on to her hand as they came to the foyer that would separate them, him down one wing of the house, her down another. He went to open his mouth to say something, and instead kissed her. He loved the way she tasted, his fingers slipped into her hair, mussing it as he held her tight. He could feel his heart racing, heat flooding his skin. An ache began to build up deep within him. He wanted to be with her, even if that meant being so right there on the floor. He pulled away.

"What?" Lily asked breathlessly as her fingers continued to grip his shirt. He smiled.

"Good girls don't sleep with guys on the first date," Scorpius said quietly. "I'm not going to ruin your morals." Lily laughed.

"Too late," she giggled. She stood on her tiptoes but he turned his head.

"I love you," he said. Lily pouted for a moment.

"I love you too," Lily grumbled. He laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

"Good night," Scorpius said breaking the contact between them. "See you in the morning."

"Technically it's already morning, Score," Lily called to him as she started down the hallway away from him.

"Good night," he called back laughing.

"This isn't over with, Malfoy," Lily said playfully.

"I hope not, Potter," he teased. Scorpius shook his head as he headed into his room, pulling his clothes off and climbing into bed. Despite his excited state, one that was almost painfully aware that he was alone, he drifted off to sleep almost immediately. He had one of the best dreams of his life, he and Lily together forever with a cute little sandy brown haired child and with Lily's intense blue eyes. He was in the middle of this dream, ready to pick up his and Lily's little offspring when the bed shifted slightly next to him waking him. He blinked sleepily for a second, regaining his bearings.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Lily whispered.

"Yeah," he yawned. "It's all right. Why aren't you asleep?"

"I had a nightmare," Lily murmured. "Do you mind much?"

"Not much, no," he yawned again. Scorpius wrapped his arms around her, drawing her up against him, her back to his chest, before he forgot he hadn't exactly dressed for bed in anticipation of company. He bit back a laugh. "Um, Lils?"

"Yeah?" she breathed quietly.

"Where are you clothes?" he asked. The room was silent while the pause stretched before them.

"Um," Lily said and Scorpius could practically feel the heat radiating off of her. No, actually he could feel the heat radiating off of her. He grinned.

"Lils?" He asked as he brushed Lily's hair off her neck. He pressed his mouth to her neck, kissing it lightly.

"They fell off?" Lily suggested quietly. Scorpius laughed as he turned her to face him.

"We're going to get into so much trouble, you know," Scorpius said. Lily nodded, only partially visible in the dark.

"I… I told you that this wasn't over," she breathed as she pulled his face to hers. He was powerless. He couldn't have been happier.