Disclaimer: Created the plot and the unique characters. That is all.

Chapter Two

Theron frowned as his mother neatly folded his clothes and sent them packing into the suitcase open on the bed. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to stare her down. If Lily noticed, she didn't indicate it.

"Mum, why didn't you use magic more when I was younger?" Theron asked. Lily hesitated, holding her wand at the levitating pair of jeans.

"Well, for one, we lived in a fairly muggle dense area," Lily responded. "I mean, I used it from time to time, but when you were littler, it was just easier to pretend that I was just a muggle like everyone else."

"It's because of dad, huh?" Theron asked cautiously. "Because of what happened to dad."

"Theron, I don't really want to talk about this right now," Lily continued packing his suitcase. "Grandpa Draco will be here soon to pick you up, and you've not even picked out any toys that you want to bring."

"What's this, Mum?" Theron asked as he reached behind the tall cabinet. Lily looked up to see a well worn bear dangling by a paw.

"Oh, wow," Lily gasped as she stepped forward, taking the dust covered bear. "It's Mr. Bear."

"Mr. Bear?" Theron cocked his eyebrow up.

"It was your father's when he was a child, and when he was setting this room up for you, he brought it here," Lily fluffed the dust off the bear and sneezed. Theron and she laughed.

"For me?"

"For you, TC," Lily grinned. "You had the worst habit of hiding things, which is probably why I didn't find it when I was packing up."

"Can I keep it?" Theron hesitated. She nodded at her son and held out the bear as the bell rang.

"We really need to think about getting a fireplace and hooking to the Floo Network," Lily mumbled to herself as she headed to the door. She peeped out the hole and her heart stuttered for a second. It was eerie how much Draco looked like an older version of Scorpius.

"Draco," Lily threw the door open and grinned.

"Lily," he kissed her cheek lightly. "Glad to have you back. Is he ready?"

"Nearly so," Lily closed the door and offered the man a cup of tea. The two sat at the table, and Lily couldn't help but be reminiscent of days gone by a lifetime ago. He stirred the tea and looked over the cup at her.

"You look good," he told her. Lily felt the flush of her cheeks but offered him a smile.

"Thank you, so do you," she replied. He laughed.

"You flatter an old man," he teased. "Are you seeing anyone?"

"Draco, how improper! I'm young enough to be your daughter," Lily grinned and the man chuckled. She shook her head. "I'm not. Theron keeps me very busy, and he's a bit territorial."

"Still, he'll be heading off to Hogwarts and you'll be heading off to your new job," Draco suggested. "Scorpius would want you happy."

"Scorpius would want to be the only one who could make me happy," Lily pointed out. Draco nodded.

"Still," Draco shrugged slightly.

"I'll tell you what," Lily promised. "At some point, I'll date. When I'm ready. I know Scorpius is gone forever. I don't mourn him like I used to. I don't hold on to false hope anymore. I'm just not in a rush to fill my life with more people at the moment."

"All right, I know when I'm pushing you too hard," Draco said with a sigh as Theron carried the suitcase into the room.

"Grandpa," Theron grinned. "Do you think Gram will let me fish in the pond? I brought my pole."

"I'm sure she won't mind," Draco replied as he checked a regal looking pocket watch."As long as you catch and release. I don't think Gram is going to want a fish and frogs in the manor."

"Are you sure you're okay with me going, Mum?" Theron wrapped his arms around his mother.

"Theron, I'll be fine. Plus this will be good practice for when you go off to Hogwarts in the fall," Lily squeezed her son.

"Will you write me? What if you need something?" Theron asked tilting his head up to look at the mother he was only a head shorter than.

"Of course I'll write you, and I'm going to be very busy at work," Lily explained. "I'll be there for Sunday supper and if I need anything-"

"I'll make sure your mother has it," Draco cut in on the conversation. "She's the closest thing to a daughter that I have."

"I love you, mum," Theron whispered as he gave her one last tight squeeze and released her. Theron gripped the suitcase in one hand and Draco's arm with the other. Lily waited until they were gone before heading to the master suite. Tub running, she stripped down naked and slipped into wade pool sized tub. She made herself a goatee out of the scented bubbles and relaxed back against the side after dunking her head completely under the water.

With a child and full time job, she barely had time for a shower. She would do well to remember that Theron was only going for a short visit, and not to grow used to the long baths. She sighed and closed her eyes for a few more minutes, enjoying the momentary peace.

Startling her, the door bell chimed through the house. Lily jumped out of the tub, and jerked the closest robe on before heading to the door. She cinched the belt as she opened the door to Damon standing there. She grinned at him, not even surprised to see him.

"What can I do for you, Damon?" She asked him. Damon swallowed, letting his eyes slide down her form and back to her face. His face brightened slightly.

"I, uh... did I interrupt you?" Damon asked as he forced his hand through his short brown hair. Lily frowned.

"No?" she looked at her robe and didn't think too much of her attire. With Lily still wet, it hugged tight against her like a second skin. She briefly wondered if it bothered him. "You want to come in?"

"Yeah, sure," he said and he wouldn't meet her eyes. Lily held the door open as he swept in to the living room. "Hey, where's the piano?"

"I had it removed," Lily replied simply as she took a seat on the couch. Damon took a seat a little further away in one of the chairs.

"Oh."

"Did you need something, or is this a social call?"

"I wanted to invite you and Theron over for dinner tonight," Damon said as he fought to keep his eyes on her face. She smiled regretfully.

"Draco was here a little while ago to take Theron back to Malfoy Manor for a few days while I get settled into my new job," she explained.

"Oh."

"I can still come, though, if you don't mind it just being me," Lily taunted. Damon's eyes had wandered to the plunging collar of the robe and he'd lost his train of thought. Lily snapped her fingers and his eyes met hers, cheeks flaming in embarrassment.

"I wasn't looking," he promised weakly. Lily laughed.

"So, want to reschedule it for another night, or am I enough dinner company?" Lily asked.

"Oh, you're enough," Damon breathed. He jerked upright as if snapping out of some trance and frowned slightly. He forced his hand through his hair again. "Though, you might want to put something else on. I mean, dining at Casa de West is casual dining, but solo robe is just a little too undressed." She laughed.

"I'll need a few minutes," Lily stood and headed toward the bedroom. She pushed it closed behind her, but it didn't engage. She could hear Damon out in the living room as she pulled off the robe and hung it back where she'd found it. She opted for a pair of jeans and a soft tee shirt. She used her wand to dry her hair, pulling it up into a simple pony tail before rejoining Damon in the living room.

"Hope you like chicken," Damon said as they entered the apartment that once upon a time had been his and Scorpius' apartment. She hesitated just inside the door before following all the way into the apartment.

"Chicken's good," Lily promised as she followed him into the kitchen, a mirror image of her own. "Need any help? Oh my gosh, that smells amazing."

"I'm glad you approve, and just relax and enjoy yourself," Damon chuckled as he stirred the potatoes. He watched Lily lean against the counter. He crossed close to her, leaning in, and reached above her head to the spice rack. "Just need this to finish it up."

"Ah," Lily murmured.

The two of them sat down at the table, across from one another. Damon had confessed that he didn't have any candles, but that maybe next time they dined together he would get some candles. The conversation flowed easily between them over dinner. It had been a long time since Lily just sat and talked over a good meal.

"This is the best meal I've eaten in a long time," Lily admitted as she and Damon headed to the living room for tea and desert. She sipped her too hot tea, burning the tip of her tongue.

"Oh, sorry I should have warned you," Damon apologized as he ran back to the kitchen to get her something cool to drink.

"Hot tea, who would have thought?" Lily laughed as she welcomed the cool water. "Does it look burned?" With her tongue out, it came out a bit muddled. Damon leaned forward from his place next to her on the couch.

"I looks fine," he said and he leaned back a bit to get out of her personal space. She smiled and reached for her tea again.

"I'll let it cool before I drink it again," she promised and instead dipped a piece of biscotti into the warm brew. The two of them let the lull in conversation ease over them. They sat shoulder to shoulder on the couch, lost in their own thoughts.

"This is nice," Damon said after a while.

"I could get used to this," Lily said quietly. She laughed. "You're spoiling me, Damon."

"You deserve some spoiling," Damon nudged her shoulder with his.

"I can't believe you've not been scooped up," Lily stretched. "It's getting late. Walk me home?"

"My pleasure," he murmured as he stood and offered her his arm. Lily rose from the couch.

"Do you want me to help clean up?" she asked but he took her hand and tucked it in his arm.

"The dishes can wait tonight," his voice was quiet, deep. It curled around her warm like another body in the room. Side by side, they walked out of the apartment and down the hall to Lily's apartment, pausing for her to fish the key out of her pocket and unlocking it.

"Damon, I had a wonderful time," Lily declared honestly. "I hope we can do this again."

"I had a good time, too," Damon agreed. They stood face to face, with less than a foot of space between them. Neither made a move.

"Well, um, thanks," Lily said and she leaned forward and hugged him lightly, kissing him on the cheek. It was a light, chaste kiss but for some reason Lily felt her heart start racing.

"Sleep well," Damon told her as Lily slipped in the open door.

"You too, Damon," Lily challenged playfully. "Or else."

"I think I might like to find out what 'else' entails, Miss Potter," Damon teased and he kissed her firmly on the mouth before turning and walking away.