Chapter 46

Rose had spent the larger portion of her day thinking about the best way to break up with Ben, in a way that would make it smoother and spare his feelings. Only now as she sat in the restaurant listening to him ramble on about his work, she actually felt like she couldn't give two farts about his feelings. Taking another sip of wine, she tried to focus again on what he was actually saying.

"-you'd love living there, even if it is only for 3 or 4 months." Rose nearly spat out her wine as she finally tuned in and caught the end of Ben's sentence. "But don't worry, I can make sure we can make a little bit of a holiday out of it," Ben assured her after misreading her shaken expression. Managing to swallow her wine and regain her composure quickly, she tried to interrupt Ben to no avail.

"Ben, I-"

"I mean, yes I will still have work commitments but I am sure I could plan a few days here or there-"

"Ben," she tried again, trying to keep her calm.

"-that we could explore a bit or just spend some alone time together."

"Ben!" she raised her voice more then she had intended, letting go of her cool, attracting a little attention from some of the other people in the restaurant. "Just please stop talking," she added in a much quieter, defeated voice, closing her eyes and massaging her temples.

"Rose, I-"

"Why won't you listen to me?" Rose cried out, breathing deeply. "I said stop talking." Shocked, Ben decided to take her advice. "I can't do this anymore," Rose whispered to herself but Ben could hear her. Rose pushed her chair back and stood up, as a waiter approached their table.

"Is everything alright, madam?" Rose didn't answer straight away. Ben watched in shocked horror as she downed the rest of her wine.

"Yes, just fine thank you," she replied, not even sparing Ben a second glance, placing her now empty glass back down on the table. Ben stood up, as she manoeuvred around the waiter heading for the exit.

"Rose," he called out to her, drawing more attention from the others in the restaurant. "Oh…okay, honey…I'll...ah…you get the taxi, I'll get the bill," Ben stuttered, forcing a smile on to his face, looking around at the eyes on him.

Rose walked until she found a place to safely Apparate, and she did so straight into her bedroom. She collapsed onto her side of the bed, frustrated and emotional, as she slipped her heels off. She couldn't get over how he could ever think that she would be happy to just pick up and leave for four months to follow him around on some sort of campaign, leaving behind her new business and her family and friends. 'Does he have rocks in his head?' Rose thought with a huff. She released her hair from the clip that held half of it up out of her face, and began running her fingers through it. Taking some deep breaths, she tried to focus on calming down for when Ben arrived. They had no choice but to talk about it and Rose found herself thankful for it. The pop sound in the living room indicated that Ben had arrived. Rose stood up, preparing herself, as she heard his footsteps coming towards the bedroom.

"Would care to explain why you embarrassed me in front all those people?" he roared, as he entered the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Rose had to hold back her eye roll at that comment. 'Of course he was more concerned with his embarrassment.'

"A scene like that is the last thing I need in the press at the moment," he added, taking off his jacket.

"We were in a Muggle restaurant, you twat!" Rose countered, losing her temper slightly. "No one even knew who you were!" To say Ben was shocked was an understatement. He just stood there somewhat resembling a goldfish. He wasn't used to this. Throughout their relationship he didn't really need to be accustomed to this sort of outburst, but for Rose this had been building inside of her for the last three months at least. His shock gave Rose time to settle herself down a bit and try again. "Look Ben," she sighed. "I don't want to live in another country…with you." Ben didn't say anything; instead he just sat down on the end of the bed, tugging at his tie and top button on his shirt. "All my friends and family are here, I want to be here with them and for them. Especially, now that Teddy and Victoire have their little girl," she explained, as she watched him take off his tie, fold it up properly and place it on the bed neatly beside him; even in distress he was neat and proper. "Plus my business is just starting up and Le Coin Rose is important to me; it's my dream becoming a reality. I am not going to give that up or leave it for 4 months. And quite frankly, I can't believe you'd expect me too," Rose expressed.

"Okay, okay," Ben said, standing up, moving to stand in front of her, and finally looking at her. "That's fine. We don't have to do that. I can separate it into several week long trips over time, that way I will only be gone for a week at a time. It will be hard but I can organise it. We'll make it work," Ben reasoned.

"That's the problem Ben," Rose replied, with her best soft and comforting voice. She placed a hand one his chest over his heart. "I don't think we can make it work and truthfully…I…don't…I don't know if..."she could not get it out but she had to. So, Rose took a deep breath, summoned all of her Gryffindor courage, returned her gaze to his eyes and told him. "I don't know whether I want it to work."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I am saying that things between us haven't been the same for the last few months and I am tired of kidding myself," Rose replied. "I can't do this anymore and I don't think you can either." As Rose looked up at him, she tried to gage his reaction but she couldn't read him at all. Worried and panicked, she continued, "Ben, I know you see it; you must. We have grown apart so much since you got your promotion and even more since I opened Le Coin Rose."

"Oh, so it's my entire fault then?" Ben accused, stepping and turning away from Rose, with his hands on his hips.

"What? No. Didn't you hear what I just said?" Rose replied. "Our lives are just heading in different directions and we have grown apart. It's no one's fault." She let it sink in as he stood with his back to her and his head hung in defeat. Rose couldn't stop the tears that had risen in her eyes at the sight. He knew what this meant, he knew this was the end too.

"Is it because I brought up marriage?" he mumbled. At her pause, he turned around. Finding Rose looking down at the floor with her arms wrapped around herself. "Is it?" She shook her head. "Then why?" he pleaded. "I know that you're not doing this only because you think we have grown apart. We can always work on that, there is something else." Rose felt the salty tears silently gliding down her cheeks. She didn't want him to make her say it. Even though it was the truth, she knew it would hurt him. Ben moved to kneel in front of her, smoothly running his hands up and down her sides as he looked up at her. "Why?"

Rose sniffed, trying to settle herself. She knew what she felt and what she wanted to say, but she also knew it would be so hard on Ben to hear. Rose cared so much for Ben; he was very important to her and she knew a part of her loved him. She did love him.

She sighed and locked her eyes to his, before saying her piece.

"Because I am not in love with you."

She watched as his eyes grew wet, which made her spill more tears of her own. His grip on her tightened as his arms slid around her legs and he buried his head in her stomach. Rose held him close to her; her hands in his hair, listening to his quiet sobs as she felt his tears through the material of her dress.

After what seemed like hours but was probably no more than a few minutes, Ben's sobbing had ceased. He held on to her for a bit longer before standing up, stepping away from Rose and righting himself. Wiping his face and combing his fingers through his hair, in his best effort to neaten it up after Rose had run her fingers through it. Rose watched him as he walked over to the bed, picked up his jacket and tie, and put the jacket on and the tie in his pocket. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"I'll stay at my place tonight and I might see you tomorrow when I come by to get my things," he said not daring to look her in the eye. Then, just like that he was out the door and out of her apartment. Rose's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to hold back more tears. She collapsed back on the bed and cried.

The next day, Rose came home from work to find Ben packing the last of his things.

"Hi," she greeted timidly, closing the door behind her.

"Hi," he returned with a small sad smile, stuffing a couple of his favourite books into a bag. The silence that followed was painful and nerve-wracking for both Rose and Ben, but probably for different reasons. "I think I have everything, but if not just let me know and I'll get someone to pick it up."

"Okay," Rose replied. She could tell Ben was sad but she was glad to see he wasn't angry at her; or at least he didn't seem to be.

"So I guess this is it," Ben stated. Rose nodded and Ben took that as his queue to leave. Rose watched as Ben gathered his bag and a box, while levitating another over to the fireplace. She was bursting to say something, she had had all day to think about all the great times they had had and she just couldn't let him go without knowing what they meant to her; how much he meant to her.

"Wait, Ben?"

"Yes?" he said as he slowly turned around to face her. Rose stepped closer to him.

"I just want you to know that I do care for you…so much…you are such an amazing person. You taught me a lot about myself even though neither of us realised." Ben quirked a brow at that but decided to let it go. "I know you will find someone who can love you the way that I couldn't, and you will be happier and better for it," Rose finished with a smile.

"Thanks," he said as he returned her smile with a genuine Ben smile, letting Rose know that everything was alright. "You will too." Ben leaned in and kissed Rose's cheek, lingering a little. "Goodbye Rose." And with a mumbled goodbye from the redhead, Ben was on his way. Rose let out a sigh and sat down, alone in her apartment.

Teddy and Victoire's House

Victoire sat on the bed with her feet tucked up beside her, surrounded by photos that were scattered out on the bed. She had a soft smile on her face as she scanned all the different snapshots.

"Okay, I just got her to go down," Teddy said proudly as he entered their bedroom. "And it only took 2 stories this time," he added, stretching himself on his side of their bed, an arm resting across his forehead. Victoire smiled proudly as she looked down at her husband. After all Teddy's worrying about being a good father, it turned out he was a natural. She had known that would be the case for so long that she had never shared his concerns. "So what are you doing anyway?"

"I'm just looking at all of the pictures you took in St Mungo's."

"Oh?"

"Yeah and this one in particular caught my eye," she replied as she picked up a photo and leaned back, resting on her elbow. Teddy removed his arm that was blocking his vision and looked up at the snapshot his wife was holding. His expression held some shock, but he still smiled at the sight in front of him.

"Wow, don't they look like a cute family?" Teddy said with a chuckle. "Well, apart from the fact that it's actually our baby," he added as an afterthought.

"Yeah, apart from that," Victoire giggled. "They look so natural and happy together," she said seriously. "I wonder if they know what they look like together."

Malfoy Manor

Astoria Malfoy sat up against the luxurious head board, reading one of her many novels. Her expression stern with anger bubbling below the surface. Every so often, she'd glance up quickly glaring at her husband as he readied himself for bed. Draco sighed, as he felt yet another glare hit his back.

"Is there a reason you have been giving me the silent treatment all day?" Astoria just continued to ignore him. "Honey?" She let out a frustrated sigh as she lowered the book down on to her lap, finally looking him in the eye.

"You knew he was back in the country, didn't you?" Draco froze as he paled his hands now still where they were buttoning up his satin pyjama shirt. Astoria just waited patiently, watching her husband squirm a little under her gaze. After a moment, Draco cleared his throat nervously, but then straightened up.

"Yes, I did."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

"What could you possibly gain from that information?" Draco replied, lifting up the covers on his side of the bed. "He won't talk to us, what does it matter?" Draco added, with spite. Astoria knew Draco better than anyone and she could hear the guilt and sadness underneath. However, she was still so mad that at that moment, she couldn't let it go. She missed her baby boy so much and she was through trying to help Draco; she had been for a long time.

"Whose fault is that?" she commented with attitude. "And for your information, it matters because I would like to know that my son is safe!" She added, raising her voice. "I haven't seen him since his graduation, which was from a distance anyway, and I only did because I snuck in at the back. Do you have any idea what this has done to me? I can't see or speak to my own son because of YOU!" She barked as she dashed out of bed and over to their walk-in wardrobe. "Because you couldn't let go of the past and because of your own fears," Astoria continued as she returned with an overnight bag, placing it on the bed. Draco quickly got out of bed, as she went back inside the wardrobe. "When I married you, I thought that you were well on your way to solving your issues and moving on, but clearly you weren't," she returned again with some clothes. Draco knew what she was going to do. He couldn't let her, he needed her and he loved her. She went over to her dresser and gathered the important things she needed in her arms and brought them back to put in the bag also. "I thought that when Scorpius left, maybe it would be good for both of you," she continued, now not holding back her emotion. "It would give him time to be his own person and I could help you get over all of your problems, or at least get you to a point where you could accept and respect Scorpius for what he wants to do and what he has overcome." Tears slide down her cheeks. Draco didn't know what to say. Instead he stood behind her and carefully placed his hands on her shoulders. Content with the fact that she didn't flinch away, he lightly massaged her skin before sliding his hands down her arms, to her waist and wrapping his arms around her.

"Astoria… please don't go," he pleaded, giving her a kiss on the side of her head and slightly tightening his hold on her. More tears ran down her cheeks as she shook her head.

"I can't support you or help you anymore," she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. "Not when you aren't trying to fix this family." She zipped up her bag, unlatched his arms from around her and turned around to face him. Astoria gazed into his slivery grey eyes as they begged her not to go, her left hand reaching up, caressing his clean jaw. Her hand slid to the back of his neck as she pulled him down slightly as she leant in for a kiss. Their lips met, and Draco's hand found his way into her hair as he held her close. She pulled back, but he wouldn't let her go. They stood there, both glassy eyed, resting against each other's forehead.

"Stay," Draco whispered into the small space between them. Astoria slid her hand down to his chest and lightly pushed him away.

"I need to see my son," she replied as she grasped the handle of her bag. Astoria stepped around him quickly and walked out the door before she changed her mind.

Hi all, again I must apologise for the late update but what can you do. Life is just in the way sometimes. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I think many will be happy that Rose and Ben are over but I am not sure whether some of you wanted the big yelling, screaming and throwing things sort of break up, but I felt this suited them better. I will tell you though as a bit of a spoiler, we haven't seen the last of Ben yet.

Really keen to know your thoughts on everything so please review and let me know :)