It's about time I posted a new chapter! Sorry for the wait; I've been on vacation for the past week and things have just been a little crazy. Thanks for sticking with me, and chapter fourteen is coming soon!

Chapter Thirteen

Actually, the situation wasn't nearly as full of temptation as I'd thought it would be. Well, I mean, sure, we shared some less-than-chaste kisses, and there were occasions when I had to stop for fear that I would lose my self control, but Antonin himself seemed just fine to take things at whatever pace I wanted them.

In some ways, that frustrated me. Sure, I would rather have a loving, considerate boyfriend than one who was constantly trying to pressure me, but at the same time, I was getting tired of everything being about what I wanted, as strange as that sensation was. My love for him made it impossible for me to fully appreciate the fact that he took it upon himself to cater to my every whim. I felt guilty every time he would do anything for me, especially when I hadn't specifically asked for it.

That contributed a great deal of difficulty in trying not to take things too far. In many ways, I felt as if I owed him, or as if it was expected of me. He, certainly, would never say anything flat out, but by the fact that I was certain he had never been with a girl this long without sleeping with her, I was almost positive that he would expect something of me soon. It was a bit perplexing to me, actually, that after months of our being "official" he still hadn't even mentioned that.

Though I knew he'd probably never dare mention it, I also knew he probably wanted it. For that reason, I approached him late one night after we'd separated to our own rooms, crawling up next to him in his bed and kissing him without saying a word. In my mind, it was the only way I would be able to repay him for everything he did for me.

Antonin, surprised but apparently pleased, kissed back, his strong arms wrapping around me. After a few minutes of feverish kissing, he pulled away for air, and I could feel his eyes on me in the semi-darkness.

"What was that for?"

I smiled in the most seductive way I knew how and ran one hand over his bare chest. It was convenient, I thought, that he slept only in his boxers. It gave me less time to back down.

"For being the most wonderful wizard in all of Europe."

He leaned closer, his lips ghosting against my jaw. "Not the whole world?"

"You could be," I murmured, running my other hand over him as well at that point. "You'll have to prove it, though."

A slight growl came from his throat as he pinned me down on the bed, his lips re-capturing mine in the same fluid motion. It was a perfect reaction, as always; the one I'd been expecting, even. Still, I couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable with what I was doing. Most expect me to have little-to-no moral standards, but that's completely untrue. Sure, some of the people I associate with don't, but you get that anywhere. The codes of chivalry are actually upheld pretty highly in elitist Pureblood society, particularly where women are involved.

Sensing my slight hesitation, Antonin pulled away, looking down at me with concern. "What, Ally?"

Shaking my head, I whispered, "Nothing at all."

Seeming satisfied, he began kissing me again. I knew he wouldn't do anything without permission, which in some ways made the situation all the more difficult- it was entirely up to me. I couldn't bring myself to do much more than run my hands over his back, through his hair, wherever they wanted to go- touching was innocent enough that I didn't get much backlash from my conscience for it.

Apparently, though, Antonin was ultra perceptive of my thoughts that evening, because he pulled away again. "Talk to me," he instructed, touching the side of my face in a loving caress. "There's something wrong. What is it?"

"Nothing," I repeated insistently, though I was sure the way in which I spoke it would betray me.

His eyebrows quirked downward thoughtfully, and he rolled onto his back with a sigh. "You make everything so difficult sometimes."

My teeth clenched together, more out of surprise than anger. That was the meanest thing he'd said to me in many months, and though he didn't say it in a malicious way, it still stung a bit. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You can't help it, I don't think... you just don't seem to want to accept the fact that I care about you."

"I want to. It's just that there are a lot of things I feel bad for allowing. Sometimes, I think you care a bit too much."

With a soft chuckle, he turned onto his side, wrapping one arm around me and drawing me closer to himself. "You're my world, Ally. I have to care."

"I don't deserve it," I sighed, snuggling against him anyway.

He didn't say anything for a moment. Finally, he queried, "Why did you come here tonight, Alecto? Did you need anything?"

"Just you."

Seeming satisfied, he kissed my hair. "I love hearing that." After a second, he added, "Somehow, though, I don't entirely believe it. You're a Slytherin- you always want something." I could hear the teasing smile in his voice.

With a sigh, I mumbled, "It was nothing, I've changed my mind."

"Tell me," he pressed, sounding for all the world as if it would kill him not to know. I could never resist him when he was being convincing, and I wasn't in the mood to put up much of a fight, anyway.

"Antonin, do you want us to take our relationship... further?"

There was no answer for a long, awkward time. "I want what you want, Ally."

"I want you to honestly tell me, then."

"Alright. You are the single most amazing person I've ever met, and by far the most remarkable girl I've been in a relationship with."

"That doesn't answer-"

"Let me finish, love. Before you, I was never serious about anyone. I took girls to my bed and never really gave it a second thought. And because of that, I was extremely hesitant to let myself love you- I was afraid I might end up using you, and afraid that you might not want me after all of my stupid mistakes."

I frowned, not seeing where he was going. "And?"

"Ally, I want our first time to be special. Most of all, I don't want you to feel obligated to it. I want you to want it. And... if you'll have it... I'd sort of like to be married."

For a second, I thought I'd misheard him. Had he honestly just mentioned marriage? If there was one thing I could never picture Antonin doing, it was permanent commitment. Then again, he'd been known to surprise me before.

I pulled away from him, getting up off the bed and staring at him, slightly shocked. "I'd better go get some sleep."

"Alright, love." Antonin seemed disappointed in my reaction. "Sleep well. I love you."

"I love you too." I paused at the door and added without looking back, "I just need time to think things over, you know?"

"I know. Go sleep, love."

I obliged, though I was almost afraid to wake up in the morning.

---

Actually, he didn't bring it up over breakfast, or at all for the next few weeks we spent together prior to our return to England, and I was just fine with that- even if there were a lot of unanswered questions in my mind. At sixteen, I didn't feel ready to be married, and yet... it was Antonin. My other half, my soulmate- couldn't I put aside my desires to cling to the remainder of my childhood, if only for his sake?

So long as I didn't have to answer that question, I was determined not to. The night before I returned to school, Antonin turned up at my house and half frightened me into thinking that I was going to face it sooner rather than later.

"Alecto."

I hadn't even heard him apparate into my room, and Antonin never called me Alecto. I whirled around, unsure if I'd heard him correctly. "... Antonin?"

He didn't even respond to the question in my voice as his arms encircled me and his lips pressed against mine. I suppose, in a sense, it was all the answer I needed; regardless, I wasn't protesting.

"Ally, I can't believe this summer has gone by so quickly," he murmured, sounding extremely discontent with the notion. "Do you have to go back to school? I've got enough money that you don't even need an education..."

"My parents wouldn't be too happy about that," I answered; we'd had this conversation before.

"But I would. And who's more important to you?"

"Hm," I grinned, "I don't know, I think they are. I have to live in their house, you know."

"You don't have to," Antonin whispered, and my heart skipped a beat. He seemed content enough to leave the subject at that though, at least for the moment.

"You want your girlfriend to live on the streets? Oh, I see how it is."

He kissed me briefly, laughing. "Ally, I love you, I really do."

"Sure," I responded, trying to glare at him, which just made him continue to laugh. "Antonin, if you don't stop laughing, my parents are going to find out you're here!"

"Let them," he grinned, though he complied. "I know a couple of good memory modifying jinxes-"

I rolled my eyes, though I was smiling.

"Ah, Ally," he sighed gently, "How am I supposed to live without you?"

"How do you think I feel?" I returned, my mood changing completely now that I had been reminded of the fact that I was leaving. "I'm going to die without you."

"You'd better not."

"That depends how often you write me."

"I would say I would write you every time I missed you, but then I would never stop," he answered before kissing me yet again.

"Antonin..." I started as his lips moved to my neck.

"Mm?"

"You are going to write, aren't you?"

"Every day," he promised against my collar bone. "I may even sneak in to see you."

"But if you got caught-"

"Love," he informed me, whispering right into my ear so that chills went down my spine, "I never get caught."

With a sigh, I decided not to protest. It was best just to let him do as he pleased, I knew, and if it was clear that it really bothered me, I was certain that he wasn't going to follow through with it.

After another couple of minutes, in which he made it increasingly difficult not to just drag him onto the bed and rip his clothes off, Antonin pulled back, a slight grin on his face as if he was up to no good- which, considering him, I knew he probably wasn't.

"Sit down," he commanded in a smooth, gentle way that gave me no choice but to do so. I watched him warily from the edge of my bed as he sat down beside me. "Good girl," he purred, and I could feel every hair on the back of my neck standing on end.

"Now... I've got something for you." He drew a narrow black box from his pocket, one which I recognized immediately. The contents of said box still stunned me every time I gave it a thought, and yet as he drew the lid off the box the necklace that met my eyes wasn't in any way done justice by my memory.

"I sort of want to have my mark on you when you go back to school." He half-smiled and added, "I thought you might actually accept it now that we're... us."

I tried to decide what to stay- I still wasn't completely keen on accepting something of such high quality.

"Here, let me help you," he offered gently, though the way in which he proposed it indicated that he'd read my mind, and wasn't going to let me get away with refusing him again. He delicately lifted the necklace from its case and unclasped it; I lifted my hair so that he could fasten it for me.

There was a moment of silence in which he watched me, as if observing the effect.

"Beautiful," he finally uttered, and I got the feeling that he wasn't describing any jewelry as he said it. I blushed.

Isn't that precious? Yeah. Thought so. I know I promised there wouldn't be too much more fluff, and there won't. Well, there will be some, but I promise, trials and tribulations are coming too! Just wait for it! Thanks so much for reading, and please review! -Caroline