The break-up didn't last. Albus foolishly thought Scorpius would move on from Doctor Douchebag. He'd even fantasized the idea of them finally getting back together. Every single day, he woke up hoping Scorpius was ready for that. It was one of the only goals in life he truly had. It was all he wanted for his future. He didn't have big dreams of success like Scorpius did. All he had was a mindful of memories he'd loved to repeat someday.

But, a mere couple weeks after breaking things off, there Paul was – standing at their apartment door with a bouquet of the reddest roses ever grown. Once Albus let him in, Scorpius was absolutely mesmerized. He was gone. He swallowed the apologies like they were candy and kissed the Healer like he was starved of him. No questions asked or arguments thrown. It was just that easy for Paul, while Albus was still waiting around for his turn to even try again.

Paul was only a momentary notch in Albus' plans. He was temporary. Scorpius needed his time to get over the messy way they'd ended. Albus knew that. He was giving him that space in whatever way he needed it. Even if that meant providing support for his relationship with an older, probably much more experienced man. Even if he had to give up the comfort of his bed most nights. Even if his back was eternally fucked from sleeping on the sofa and his mind was eternally sullied by the dull thumping of the headboard against the wall in the early hours of the morning.

"You look exhausted, chicken."

Albus sighed heavily, shaking the image of the couple from his mind. The only good thing to come from not wanting to see them together was the excuse it gave him to be able to visit his parents more often. Slowly, things were starting to return to normal. The conversations seemed less forced and they weren't really dancing around one another any longer. He smiled earnestly up at his mother, drumming his fingers down the side of his water glass. "I don't sleep well when Paul is over," he supplied with a shrug. Like that would explain everything.

Ginny gave an understanding smile, squeezing his knee gently. "You know, your dad went through that phase, too."

From the corner armchair, Harry snorted and reclined back. Getting comfortable for a clearly entertaining story. "Yes, please do tell our son about how I slept around."

"I don't know that I want to hear-"

"Nonsense!" his mother laughed. "It's healthy to relate to your children with your own experiences. It's good parenting." She threw a balled-up napkin Harry's way, crumbs showering the distance between them his chair and the couch. "Anyway, he did. After the war, your dad and I were dating. We just sort of fell into it. We needed each other. But we also both had our own issues. Everyone did after…. So…for a bit, we broke up. And during that time your dad saw a few other girls. He worked through his problems and I worked through mine. Eventually we came to our senses and got back together. Got married. Had the three of you…." Her voice trailed off, but she recovered easier than she used to with a soft clear of the throat. "Happily ever after."

Albus frowned, silent for a moment as he gulped down the rest of the glass. He would be lying if he said that didn't comfort him just a bit. It gave him some sort of hope, even if it was small. "And what if Scorpius doesn't ever see me as his 'happily ever after' again?"

Like it was simple, Ginny shrugged and stated the most comforting words she'd ever given him: "Then someone else will. Let Scorpius figure out his problems in his own time. But don't stop living your life in the meantime. Your wellbeing matters, too, chicken."