Hey everyone!

I am so sorry for the unannounced and extended hiatus. I guess I really needed a break. Things have been rather up and down and I must have needed the break more than I thought I did. The plan had been to come back last month but, yet again, I just couldn't write. I have three fics ready to update so thought I'd get them up today... oddly it's the first anniversary of my Grandad's death today as well so it feels fitting to update today. For those wondering I've also been suffering a writers' block on Hidden Child which has affected me with writing my other fics. I will be continuing with Lyra's adventures once I get things figured out.

For those of you who have been waiting forever for these updates I am sorry about the delay and thank you for waiting for me.

Lots of love,

lostshirehobbit xxx

Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 100:

Draco and Astoria headed back off on another ride of the land. There were some spots that Astoria had decided not to show to Aurora and Draco as she wanted to show Draco on her own.

"Where are we going?" he asked as she led the horses down a familiar track, "Ria…?"

"There are some things that I wanted to show you first on your own before we bring Aurora here," Astoria said as she looked at Draco, "we're to be married and she will be my sister-in-law and nothing will change that no matter if we wished it but this is where I was thinking we could have our cottage when the time comes," she said blushing as she looked at Draco.

"You're thinking this far ahead? Why? You're just 13 Astoria…" Draco said as he looked at her confused, "it's far too early to be thinking about these kind of things."

"Not when our cottage here will be a wedding present from my grandparents," Astoria said as she stopped Artemis, watching as Draco stopped next to her on Apollo, "and we have someone else to factor into our decisions…"

"You are not Rora's mother though Ria…" Draco said as he looked at his betrothed with a look of love but also curiosity.

"One day, when your mother is no longer here, she will need me as a mother and I cannot let her not have one. She's special… unique and we have to protect that… protect her," Astoria said, "your parents aren't always going to be around and I don't think she'll cope on her own Draco, not if she has this autism," she said before looking out over the lake where they'd stopped.

"It's here isn't it?" Draco asked as he looked at her, "where you want to build our home…"

"Yes it is. A lakeside house would be lovely to have and it's only a short walk from the stables and the big house," Astoria said, "there'd be plenty of room for Aurora as well. She could even have an attic room full of pink, fairies and unicorns," she said as she hopped down off Artemis and watched Draco as he did the same and she smiled once he joined her.

She watched him before pulling down a picnic basket and blanket and set it down by the lakeside. Draco watched her and seemed to be surprised that she'd got a picnic for them.

"Well it is lunchtime," Astoria said with a chuckle as she sat on the blanket, "come on Dray. Sit down so we can eat," she said and Draco sat down next to her and she laughed softly, "yes I was prepared Draco. I'm good at that."

"Astoria Greengrass you will never stop amazing me so please don't ever change," Draco said as he grabbed a sandwich and began to eat it as he relaxed on the blanket by the lake. He took a glance across at Astoria and wondered just how much she had managed to plan out about their future. He couldn't deny it but the fact she was factoring Aurora into everything that she was planning made him love her more. He couldn't deny that her hair reminded him of the sun's rays. She had it down and the natural waves in her hair made Draco's heart thud against his ribcage and he couldn't stop looking at her. She looked so carefree rather than worrying about his sister and he couldn't help but look at her and then it happened. He wanted to kiss her… properly kiss her.

Astoria sensed she was being watched and she looked at him and she smiled softly before Draco's lips were on hers and she couldn't help but kiss him back. She felt something in that moment and she began to kiss him back. She felt something awake inside her and she cupped his jaw gently and pulled back.

"I think I'm falling in love with you Draco…" she whispered and he looked into her emerald green eyes and could see something in them.

"I think I'm falling in love with you as well Ria," he whispered back before pulling her onto his lap and kissed her once more.

Neither dare pull away from the other as they kissed, wanting to savour the moment before Astoria had to finally pull away for air and she looked at him.

"Why me? And do not say it's because we are betrothed Draco," she said as she looked at him and sighed softly.

"It's not that. It's the way you care for my sister. You don't have to do what you do but you do. It's the way your eyes shine like emeralds and then the way you hair shine like the sun's rays… Ria there's so many things that I love about you and I know already that I want to be with you and stay with you forever," he said as he looked into her eyes and he kissed her again, "you've thought of so much and even taking responsibility for Aurora and that is something that I love as well. She's nothing to do with you and yet everything you have thought of has her in mind…"

"She's precious and pure and we will have to look after her one day. I hope that things will improve once my aunt Jen can help her but, for now, we have to protect her from the evils in the world and only we can do that when she's at Hogwarts. I haven't just gained a husband in you… I've gained a little sister in Aurora and I wouldn't change that for anything."

Draco looked at her and he pulled her so she was straddling his lap and kissed her with everything he had and he tangled his hands in her hair. He was utterly addicted to her and that was all that mattered really.

The two were as intimate as they could be for a while before realising they'd better head back to the big house before Aurora returned to the big house with Jen and wondered where they were. That day… however… something changed in Draco and Astoria's relationship and a bond and connection had awoken.