Well, Here it is! It's considerably longer than most of the other chapters which is probably why it took me so long to get it done!Thank you to everyone who has continued to read and enjoy this story!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
OHSHCOHSHCOHSHC
Maria pulled away from the dark haired boy. "Should we go spread the good news?" She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Kyoya nodded, smiling brightly. Maria turned to wave to the couple seated at the back, before calling slightly, "It could have been a dandelion ring, eh?"
The man grinned widely, "It could have been anything! Good luck too you!" Kyoya and the woman shared a confused look, until the woman smiled and waved.
Maria and Kyoya left, and Maria held her hand in front of her, admiring the ring on her finger. "Who do we tell first?" Kyoya asked her.
"Well, I suggest we start with the least likely to tell anyone else, that way we can let it be a surprise for certain people a little longer."
"In other words Tamaki will come near last." Both grinned at the thought of the blonde's reaction.
"Well, We can start with Harry and Mason tonight, and then go from there?"
Kyoya nodded, "Sounds good." He said, The car pulled up and he opened the door for Maria, smiling as she climbed in.
Though both were sure that Harry and most everyone else would have nothing but congratulations and blessings for them, Kyoya's stomach turned knots at the thought of telling them, Harry especially.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Maria snapped her fingers. "I know you're nervous, but you're gonna be fine." She said, getting out of the car and waiting for Kyoya before walking up to the door.
"Come one." She said, grabbing Kyoya's hand and leading him to Harry's room. She knocked once on the door, earning a muffled, "Come in!"
She opened the door, pulling Kyoya in and closed it before casting a wandless privacy charm. Harry was sitting at the desk in the room, looking at a copy of the Prophet, and Mason was lounging on the bed a book laying forgotten next to him.
"What do you need Mi-" Harry turned on stopped mid sentence, eyes traveling down to the glinting diamond ring.
Kyoya's stomach flipped for a sickening moment, and then a wide grin appeared on Harry's face.
"Brilliant! About time too!" Mason, face scrunched in confusion, followed his lover's eyes down to Maria's hand.
He jumped up from his place on the bed, enveloping both into a crushing hug. "Wonderful! Amazing! Oh, I'll have to start planning! But you haven't told anyone else have you? I suppose I'll wait until that is done with."
Maria grinned, "Most people are gonna know by tomorrow, so you won't be agonizing over it for too long."
"I'm going to have to get a tux," Mason muttered, then turned to Harry, "I'm going to have to get you a tux!"
Mason turned to Kyoya then, "I don't think I have to tell you to never let her go. You've already proven you can't do that." Kyoya felt himself being engulfed in another hug, "Good luck."
After a few more moments they left, Maria leading Kyoya to a another room. "Come in!" Luna's soft voice called before Maria knocked, she grinned. Kyoya realized it was the drawing room.
Sirius and Remus sat across from Luna, Each now looking at Maria and Kyoya with curiosity.
"You're home earlier then expected." Sirius said, and Maria grinned.
"Well, old man," Sirius feigned shock, " There's something that should be said, but It's not gonna leave this room unless I say so."
"Oh my god are you pregnant?"
Maria spluttered, "No! Sirius, honestly! We're engaged you idiot!"
Sirius was laughing though, and Luna was grinning and Remus was chuckling.
"You did that on purpose." She said, and she could see that even Kyoya was smiling widely. "You asshole." She laughed.
Remus stood up smiled brightly. "I'm very happy for you both!" He said warmly.
Luna hugged Maria tightly, whispering something in her ear that caused her to blush.
"Good luck, Mate, You're gonna need it with her." Sirius said jokingly, "Give me lot's of little kids running around-"
"Sirius Orion Black I suggest you end that sentence right now."
Sirius, wisely, chose to end the thought. He grinned though, standing and engulfing Maria in a tight hug. When he let go Maria look at both Remus and Sirius.
"I want both of you to walk me down the isle, if that's okay?" She asked, and she seen Sirius's eyes widen.
"Of course, pup! Wouldn't have it any other way!"
Remus nodded, grinning. "And you," Maria pointed to Luna, who smiled and nodded before the sentence was finished. "Are going to be my maid of Honor."
There was a bit more banter between Sirius and Maria, ("Lots and lots of little tykes and-" "Sirius I'm going to convince Molly you need another flea bath if you don't shut up!")
Before Maria went back to her room and flopped down on the bed. "Who next? Hunni and Mori? I know Luna can keep a secret but Mori's bound to notice something."
Kyoya nodded, "Perhaps we could meet them for Lunch tomorrow and give them the news? Then if you'd like we can tell Haruhi and Tamaki over dinner."
Maria stretched until she heard a satisfying crack. "Sounds like a plan. Are we going to formally announce to your family first, or are we going to take a trip to the burrow before that?"
Kyoya sat down in the desk chair, mulling over the thought. His father had told him two years ago that he had by the time he was eighteen to find a wife suitable to the Ohtori name before he did it himself. He believed Maria was more than suitable for the Ohtori family, his father be damned. Going to his father sooner would be better than later he supposed.
"We'll tell my family first, If possible. I'll have to request their presence at a dinner sometime this week, if that works."
"Yeah. That sounds good." Maria rolled over so that she was laying on her stomach, facing Kyoya. "I was thinking, Do you think we could wait for a date- maybe after all this second war business is done with? Not that I don't want to make it as early as possible, but I don't want anything happening or something getting crashed."
"Completely understandable. I do believe that would be the wisest course of action at this point." He said, glancing at his watch. "As much as I would love to stay and celebrate our new arrangements, I must be heading home and ask about the schedule for the next week or so."
Maria stood and gave him a quick kiss.
"I'm looking forward to the our celebration." She said, tugging on his tie slightly and smirking.
"As am I." He said, leaning in slightly and nearly pressing his lips to hers.
"I don't think so. Like you said, as much as I would love to celebrate now, schedules must be checked, lunches and dinners must be arranged Thing must be done. So, the celebration will have to be postponed."
"Oh really?" He raised his hand to her waist, an almost invisible smile on his face.
"Well...Maybe A small celebr-"
That's when the door was swung open. "Maria, Sirius said you were home and I Was wonder-" There was a moment of silence as Kyoya's hand dropped from Maria's waist, and Draco's face began to turn a bright red as Maria's eyes were wide and she let the tie slip through her fingers and a slight blush dusted her cheeks. "...Am...Am I interrupting something here?"
"Well..Ahem...As I was saying, You should go home and get everything set up. I'll uhhh, see you tomorrow. Get home safe."
Kyoya cleared his throat and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow." He moved past Draco, who's face was still bright red.
Kyoya found himself blushing as Draco muttered "Sorry mate. Didn't realize you were so busy.." and Maria's face completely flushed.
"Draco! Shut up!" Maria half shouted, as Kyoya left.
When he was all the way down the hall Maria spoke again, "What do you need, Draco?"
"I was wondering if you had read the letter from Tia?"
"Tia? Yeah. I read it the night I came home from the hospital."
"That was a week ago, Maria, She was concerned because she never received a reply."
"So? I didn't reply, that's why she never got one." Maria said pointedly, her lips pressed into a thin line as she fell quiet.
"You could have at least sent her something, you know. Even an I don't care would have been more acceptable than no reply at all." He said, and Maria balled her hands into fists.
"That's the problem. I do care. I care but I can't even bring myself to write to either of them. I don't even know why she expected a damn reply from me she should know better by now. She waltzes along and had not a single problem about taking everything I loved then, maybe she should realize that I don't really want to reply to her."
"If you have Kyoya now, why can't you put that whole thing behind you? If it weren't for that you wouldn't have found your mate. You wouldn't even know Kyoya."
"That doesn't mean It still doesn't hurt!" She said angrily, "Sure I "forgave" her, I let her take fucking everything. And yeah, I'm so grateful for Kyoya- and I love him more than I loved Jonah, but that doesn't mean I didn't love Jonah for all that time! And he was able to just drop me after a fucking day of knowing Tia? Someone I trusted let someone I loved toss me aside. Do you understand how much that fucks with someones head? If Ginny were to write you right now, and apologize for everything, would you forgive her? Would you let it go? Would all that fucking hurt disappear?"
"That's Different!" Draco shouted, pain evident in his eyes. "What she did is different! You are holding a stupid grudge and you know it!"
"You love Hermione, I can tell, But how then shouldn't you be grateful that Ginny fucking left you in the dust like a piece of trash for everything you hate? If she hadn't you wouldn't have been able to realize how you felt for Hermione! Maybe One day she'll do the same thing..That's what your scared of!" Maria shouted right back, anger evident.
"Shut up!" Draco yelled, hurt in his eyes and in his voice. "If you're going to do this don't fucking bother talking to me, you already closed two people out I'm sure you can do it again!" He said, turning swiftly and walking out the door.
"Fine! If you're going to channel your roots and act like your rotten prick of a father don't speak to me!" Maria slammed the door, seething with anger, and sat down on her bed.
**T**
Maria did not remember falling asleep, still fully clothed and on the edge of her bed, the night before, but she did remember the shouting match with Draco and felt slight anger pushing at her, but also a strong guilt.
She gathered her clothes and headed for a long shower, trying to push away the feelings of guilt. She glanced at the ring on her finger and felt a small smile tug at her lips before Draco's words echoed in her head.
"You would have never met Kyoya."
She shook her head. She knew she crossed a line by bringing up Ginny, and then his fear of Hermione also leaving him, but he had no right to justify the actions of either of the people she once trusted with everything betraying her.
And even that probably made her feel better than her last blow. She and everyone else in the manor knew That Draco Malfoy would give up everything to wipe the dirt from the Malfoy name that his father and grandfather had left. That was a line that no one had ever even tried to cross, and in one simple sentence she had done what she promised she'd never do.
She took someone into account for something they themselves had not done. She'd hurt her friend because he had been trying to figure out just why she still wouldn't write to her once was best friend when she had such great things and an even larger family with her now.
She got out of the shower and glanced at the clock. It was only eight thirty, but she was sure someone was up. She glanced at her phone and read a text from Kyoya- Lunch with Luna, Hunni, and Mori at twelve thirty, My father has arranged for the family to be together at dinner tonight, so I asked if Tamaki and Haruhi would like to join us after that for a night in the park-let me know if I should alter any of these plans I'll pick you up at twelve fifteen.
Maria sighed. She sent him a quick, The plans are fine, see you at twelve fifteen.
She knew Harry was awake and she trudged down to the kitchen to see if Draco had made his usual early morning appearance. Harry was pouring himself a cup of coffee and didn't turn to look at her when she entered.
"He's not come down from his room yet. He may still be asleep."
Maria bit her lip, "So everyone heard that, huh?"
"Your privacy wards on your room do nothing when your door is open or when yelling down a hallway, remember? I don't know if he's going to come down from his room on his own or not." He said, and Maria sat down and put her head in her hands.
"What I said was uncalled for. I don't care how angry or hurt I was I should have never said those thing to him. I know how low those blows were and I got so caught up I didn't care." She said, "And I promised him I would never be someone who did that to him, to equate him to his father like that. I wouldn't be surprised if He never spoke to me again."
"I doubt he would go as far as to never speak to you again, He is going to be hurt and angry, but I'm sure that after thinking things through last night he realized that he crossed lines and overlooked boundaries and hurt you as well, and is also remorseful. That does not in any way make what either of you said okay in any way, and you both should talk about it privately. Draco is logical and reasonable when it comes to things that may not seem logical or reasonable. But he's still Draco-headstrong and prideful. He'll know he crossed a line and understands that you said what you did out of anger, and just like what he said out of anger, you do not mean it."
Maria still felt guilty but she gave a small smile. "Thanks Harry. I..I should go see if he's awake before I go to lunch."
"That is certainly a good idea."
It was that moment that Draco entered the kitchen and gave a quick "Hello Harry." As he poured himself a cup of coffee and turned and walked out again. Maria was slightly stung at the blunt move of ignoring her presence, but she stood all the same.
"I have to go talk to him." She said, standing up from the table and following Draco to the drawing room.
She sat down across from him and he said nothing, hardly glancing up from the paper he read. "Draco, talk to me."
There was nothing but the rustle of his paper. After some time he stood, ready to leave the room with his now empty coffee.
"Look, I know what I said was disgusting and I shouldn't have said it. I was angry and hurt and I wanted to justify childish actions and by doing so I hurt you. I should have never brought anyone else, especially Hermione, into something as childish as that...And..What I said about acting like your father...I understand if you won't forgive me for that. I said it out of anger I should have known to control and I broke a promise and compared you to something you could never be, I'm sorry."
Maria wiped away a stray tear and Draco sighed. "You should not have had to justify your actions in the first place. I was meddling in something that I should have dropped after I realized the topic was an uncomfortable one for you. We both crossed lines and we both spoke out of anger. At the end of the day you are still my friend and I will still forgive you." Maria smiled softly.
"Thank you." She hugged him tightly, still feeling extremely guilty. "I should have been more reasonable in controlling my anger, instead of lashing out at you that way."
Draco said, nothing, but smiled after a few moments. "I knew what I signed up for when I became your friend. You're only human. I'm only human." He gave a slight chuckle, "It's in our nature to become angry and lash out."
Maria let go and smiled. "Also, I know that Hermione loves you very much. She'd never, ever leave you." Draco blushed slightly "I have to go finish getting dressed now, I'll see you later." She said, and Draco nodded.
She could tell he was still slightly hurt, and possibly even angry, but he had accepted her apology and even gave his own. That was something, and it was enough for now.
When she finished getting ready it was eleven fifty, so she decided to do a bit of reading before Kyoya made his appearance and they made their way to lunch.
AN: Thank you to all who have been waiting patiently! I would like to take this moment to apologize for the wait for this chapter! I would also like to take the time to ask you if any of you would like me to edit/rewrite some of the early chapters as a sort of revision. This would have no affect on later chapters and it would most likely be done during my lunch hour.
Let me know what you think! I always love reviews! Again, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.