I took my time walking back to Shell Cottage. After all, Teddy wasn't supposed to show up for at least another hour.

Arriving back at my house, I opened the door and took a step inside. Almost immediately, my mum appeared.

"Where 'ave you been?" she asked me. "Teddy 'as been 'ere waiting for you for 'alf and 'our."

"Half an hour?" I repeated. "He wasn't supposed to be here until six."

"Change of plans," said Teddy, walking out of the kitchen and into the hallway. "I got off work a little early and thought I'd come surprise you. The only problem was… you weren't here to be surprised."

Mum looked back and forth between the two of us. "Well," she said, "I'll just leave you two to sort zings out for yourselves." She quickly hurried upstairs.

"Where were you?" Teddy asked.

"Nowhere of consequence," I said, trying to get past him. "Could you move? I'm hungry and you're blocking the whole hallway."

"You were obviously somewhere," he said, not budging. "So where was it?"

"None of your business," I shot back. "Move!"

"What exactly are you trying to hide from me?" he asked, crossing his arms and staring me down.

I sighed. "You want the truth? Fine. IwenttoseeColin," I blurted out quickly.

He raised his eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I went to see Colin."

He frowned. "You went to see Colin," he repeated slowly.

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" I snapped.

"You promised you wouldn't, Victoire," he said. "You fucking promised."

I cringed at his language. He hardly ever cursed. And never at me.

"You don't get to control my life, Teddy!" I shouted. "You're my boyfriend, not my father!"

"I'm not mad that you did something I don't like," he replied. "I'm mad that you broke a promise and went behind my back and then tried to lie to me about it. You could have just told me that you were going to Colin no matter what I said and I wouldn't have stopped you. I would have voiced my disapproval, but I would have let you go."

I pursed my lips together, not sure how to respond.

"How am I supposed to trust you if I know you can't even keep your promises?" he asked.

I stayed quiet.

He glared at me. "What is this? The silent treatment? Really mature, Vic. At least tell me what he said to you."

"He said he wants to be part of the baby's life," I replied stiffly. "And I told him that he could be there when she's born."

"Oh," said Teddy, "so he's finally decided to face his responsibilities. How noble of him."

"It is," I responded angrily. "He doesn't have to, you know."

"Oh yes, he's a real saint," snapped Teddy. "A father bothering to help raise his own kid. Someone give him a medal."

"I don't have to stand here and listen to this," I replied. "Maybe you should leave. We can both cool off a little, and then try discussing this later."

Teddy ignored me. "How could you just forgive him like that?" he asked. "Don't you remember the things he said to you?"

"I remember perfectly well. But he provided a very reasonable explanation and I—"

"A reasonable explanation?" he interrupted. "A reasonable explanation for calling you a slut? A reasonable explanation for calling your baby stupid? A reasonable explanation for putting his band before you and his child."

"Yes."

He laughed darkly. "Really? And what was this explanation?"

"I don't really think I should tell you," I replied. "It involved some very personal information that I think he would want kept confidential."

"You're a real piece of work, Victoire. Did you know that?"

"Excuse me?"

"Personal information that he would want kept confidential? That's such bullshit. He didn't even have an explanation, did he? You're just too ashamed to admit that you forgave him so easily. That you let him back in to your life after all the pain he caused you."

"He did have an explanation, Teddy!" I snarled.

He shook his head. "Do you like being his doormat? Do you like letting him walk all over you?"

"I'm not! I know what I'm doing. He's going to be different this time."

He sighed. "Maybe I should go home and cool down," he said. "Then we can try to discuss this later like adults."

"This isn't working," I said.

"I know it isn't. That's why we're going to try talking later."

"No, I mean this relationship isn't working," I clarified.

"What?"

"All we ever do is argue. We argued about telling my parents about me being pregnant. We argued in Hogsmeade about your ex-girlfriend. We argued about whether we should have sex or not. We argued about Colin on Christmas. And now there's this. We never argued when we were just friends."

"Victoire," he said, "couples argue. It's okay. We always forgive each other."

I shook my head. "But I'm sick of it," I said. "I just wish we were back to how we were before. It was so much easier."

"Relationships aren't supposed to be easy, Vic," he replied.

"But I have enough problems right now. I'm pregnant and I don't want to deal with this anymore."

"So you want us to just be friends again?" he asked coolly.

"Yes," I replied.

He nodded. "Alright then," he said, his face blank. "I'll be going then."

"You're not going to stay for supper?"

"Victoire, we just broke up. Of course I'm not going to stay for supper."

"But we're friends," I murmured.

"That might take a little getting used to," he said. "Goodbye, Victoire." Then with a loud crack he was gone.

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I leaned back against the wall and slowly slid into a sitting position. What the hell had I just done? I hadn't even considered breaking up with him until that moment, but suddenly it had seemed so right. But now it seemed so wrong… and so completely stupid. I let out a loud sob.

"Victoire, sweetie," I heard my mum say from above me.

I looked up at her through the tears in my eyes. "What?"

"You need to go lie down on your bed," said calmly. "And I'll make you some tea."

"I'm fine here," I replied, wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

"No you're not." she said, holding out her hand. "Come on."

I reached out and took it, allowing her to pull me up.

"Come on," she said again, handing me her hankie and putting her arm around my shoulder.

When we got to my room, I flopped down on my bed. Mum pulled off my shoes and pulled the covers over me, like I was a little kid again.

"I can make you some tea and we can talk or you can just sleep," she told me.

I closed my eyes. "I think I'll just sleep," I said, yawning.

"Okay," she said, leaning down and kissing my forehead. "It's going to be fine, darling."

"I love you, Mummy."

"I love you too, Victoire," she replied, turning off the light and closing the door behind her.

Please don't kill me for having them break up. Stories need conflict.

Anyway, don't forget to review!