Chapter 68

It was Friday morning when he laid eyes on her again. Scorpius was packing his truck full of decorations, chairs and other things for the wedding when he saw her walking towards him. She was wearing dark blue denims, a plain white top with a red leather jacket and brown knee high boots, as she carried her small over night duffle over her shoulder.

"Hey," Rose said.

"Hey," he replied with a forced smile. "I have most of the stuff for tomorrow packed and ready to go," he quickly continued when he saw her about to speak. "I'm going to head over and start setting it all up now."

"Oh…Okay," Rose replied, more concerned and nervous now that he was clearly trying not to talk to her like she was more then a friend. It was like a business transaction conversation. She could see he held his guard up again and she didn't know why. "I've finished up at work, would you like some help?"

"Nah, I should be fine. Max said he might come early to give me a hand," Scorpius said still lifting things into the truck, not looking her in the eye. Rose's anger flared and she didn't want to back down.

"Well, too bad I'm coming anyway," Rose said stubbornly as she walked over to the passenger side of the truck.

"What?" Scorpius said in disbelief. Rose didn't respond, she just continued to glare at him as she wrenched open the door, threw her overnight bag into the truck and climbed in. "You can't come!"

"Why not?" Rose challenged.

"Because…Well, because…" Scorpius tried to think of a valid reason as Rose just raised her brow in challenge, waiting for him to give a good response.

"Argh! Fine!," Scorpius yelled frustratedly, as he threw his bag in the back. He slammed the back shut and then got into the drivers seat. He didn't miss the small smile in the corner of Rose's mouth as he said, "Hold on."

He took out his wand and casted a nonverbal spell. Then suddenly, they were sitting on in the truck on top of a large grassy cliff, with the ocean in the distance.

"How did you do that?" Rose asked, unable to hide her shock. "It wasn't normal Apparation."

"Oh, so there is something that, Rosie Posie doesn't know?" Scorpius spit back as he got out of the vehicle.

"Seriously? You are actually doing that?" Rose responded as she got out and met him at the back of the truck. He quickly tried to ignore her and start unpacking. "Scorpius!" She grabbed a hold of his forearm to try and get his attention. "What in the name of Merlin, did I do?"

"Nothing!" Scorpius shouted back at her. However, he did turn to face her, so Rose took that as an improvement.

"Then why are you being like this?" Scorpius could see the hurt in her eyes, but there was something stopping him from opening up.

"Being like what?" He mumbled, now looking down at his hands that fiddled with some rope.

"This is so ridiculous," Rose said, almost to her self rather then the blonde man in front of her. "Listen, if you want this thing between us to go any further, then you need to be honest with me now and tell me what it is that has got your pants in a twist." Scorpius looked back up at her. She had a stern expression on her face and she had her hands on her hips. Full on Rose Power Stance. This was a big moment for them. If he didn't open up, it would be over. Rose meant what she said, he could tell. Even though a part of Scorpius didn't want to be the one to cave in the fight, he also knew that he'd never forgive himself if he let her slip through his fingers again.

"Look, it's stupid okay," Scorpius said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, let's just forget it."

"No!"

"What do you mean, no?"

"You need to talk to me about it," Rose explained, now using her more sympathetic voice. "Otherwise, this could happen again. And we can't be in a relationship that is so fragile like that. It won't work. The only way for us to become stronger is to talk through things that upset us, scare us or whatever feeling it was that made you behave like this." Scorpius looked deep into her eyes and lifted a hand to her face and caressed her cheek.

"I'm sorry, you're right," he said with somber smile, before he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Rose wrapped her arms around his midsection and pressed herself against him, hugging him tight.

"I know," she said, her voice confident but slightly muffled against his flannel shirt. Scorpius could not stop himself from letting out a chuckle at her response. Rose leaned back, just enough so that she could look up at him, smiling brightly.

Together they pulled out two chairs out of the truck and sat down facing each other.

"It was just something Dom said the other night," Scorpius started. "When she talked about Ben leaving behind the Beer. It just got me thinking about how it hasn't been so long since you were in a serious relationship with him."

"Oh," Rose muttered, thinking she understood what he was getting at.

"It just made me think is all," Scorpius continued. "I mean we got into this so fast and I am just worried that maybe you're not fully over him." Rose reached out and took his hand in her own before answering.

"Scorpius, I can assure you that I am so, so completely over him," Rose assured him, smiling as she gave his hand a squeeze.

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"And I'm not just a rebound then?"

"What? No," Rose replied, a little shocked that he would think that of her but also wanting to put him at ease. "If anything, he was a rebound from you." When she saw Scorpius' confused expression she went on and explained further. "Scorpius, when we were younger I pushed you away, and I was unsure what I felt for you. I know now that I had real feelings for you and I don't think those feelings have ever truely gone away." She was encouraged by the sweet smile that found its way onto his face as she continued to open up to him. "So, depending on how you look at it, he can be considered as just a rebound from you," Rose blushed and looked down at their clasped hands. She watched as he entwined their fingers with comfortable ease and then lifted them up to place a kiss on her hand.

"I guess I can look at it that way," Scorpius said smiling genuinely.

"What about you and Sherrie?" Rose suddenly asked, now deciding to clarify some of her fears after their discussion the other day. "Do I need to be worried that she will turn up here and take you away from me?"

"Not in the slightest," Scorpius replied straight away, still smiling. "I'm all yours."

"Good," Rose nodded.

"Come here you," Scorpius said as he pulled lightly on her hand. She took the hint and sat across his lap, wrapping an arm around his neck and shoulders. "I'm sorry, next time I'll just talk with you about it. No more shutting off and being a prick," he whispered into the small distance between them.

"Good, I think that will save us time and energy," Rose replied.

"Time and energy that can be much better spent, right?" Scorpius said, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Exactly," Rose smirked, before closing the small gap and kissing him softly on the lips.

Malfoy Manor

"So, Scorpius is away for the weekend," Draco stated over the breakfast table.

"Yes," Astoria replied. Things were better between them, they now shared Breakfast and Dinner with each other. Draco also occasionally would stop by her work and drop off her lunch or use whatever excuse he could find to see her. He still struggled outside of the house, in front of the Magical Population. He felt the stares and judgement, so Astoria taught him how to get to her work with Muggle Transport. Both were making more effort, but they were still sleeping in seperate bedrooms. Although, Astoria had moved to a spare bedroom much closer to Draco's.

"I…I was wondering if you would like to, that is only if you'd like to, accompany me out to dinner tonight?" Draco asked nervously.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Astoria asked with a teasing tone.

"Um…yeah I am," Draco replied. "Is that okay?"

"Yes," Astoria replied with a smile. "In fact, I think I would love that."

Lily & Ella's Apartment

Max knocked at the door and waited for someone to answer. Lily pulled open the door quickly a moment later.

"Hi," she said with a bright smile.

"Hi," he smiled in return. "Scorp said you'd have the info for the flowers?"

"Yes, so you are the muscle that Rose promised me?" She said with a cheeky suggestive smile.

"Ah, I guess."

"Great, let me just grab my bag and we will go pick them up," she said leaving the door open and walking back inside. Max leaned in a little, unsure if she wanted him to come in or not.

"You can come in," a different voice called. Ella was sitting at a small table, reading a novel and enjoying a coffee before work.

"Thanks," Max replied, as he came inside and closed the door. "I'm Max, I think we met at that club the other day."

"Yeah, I remember," Ella replied, barely lifting her eyes from her book. He didn't know her very well but he could see she didn't look very happy. She looked like she hadn't slept much in the last few days.

"Hey El, I'm off now," Lily said as she came back. "I'll see you there tomorrow?" Ella just nodded but didn't really respond. "Okay."

Lily and Max stepped into the fireplace and floo'd out.

When they arrived at the Lily's friend's Flower Shop, Max asked, "Is she okay?"

"Not really," Lily replied with a sigh. "And I don't know how to make her feel better right now. Does that make me a horrible friend?" Lily asked genuinely concerned.

"No! Look sometimes there is nothing you can do," Max replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders reassuringly. "In time, she will figure things out. Whatever it is that is upsetting her."

"Thanks, I hope so," Lily replied, sincerely.

Chudley Cannons Professionals Gym

"Hey Weasley?"

"Weasley!"

"Hugo!"

"What?" Hugo finally acknowledge the voice.

"That's enough mate," John Owens said, who was in charge of the physical performance and training for the Team. "You are not going to get anything out of pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion."

"I'm fine," Hugo responded, brushing off his concern and laying back down on the bench ready to do another set.

"No, you are not," John insisted. "You need to go home now or I will talk to the 'Boss' and get you benched for the opening game."

"Fine!" Hugo exclaimed angrily, dropping the weights and walking away. Hugo didn't even bother showering. He collected his bag before apparating straight into his apartment and walking into one of his spare rooms. He hooked up his Boxing Bag to the ceiling and put on his gloves. Next, was the music. He turned it on and then volume right up to the max before he started circling the bag. Hugo threw punch after punch, combo after combo, ignoring his bodies signs of total exhaustion.

Teddy & Victorie's House

"Have we got everything?"

"Teddy, for the fifth time, I am sure we have," Victorie replied to her frantic husband with a frustrated sigh as she cradled their little girl in her arms. "Baby, everything is going to be fine," she added, more soothingly as she got a hold of his arm to stop him as he rushed past her.

He took a deep breathe and said, "Okay, you're right." She pulled him down for a kiss.

"Alright, let's go," she said as they stepped in to the fireplace to floo to the bride and groom's cottage.

When they arrived, surprisingly the first thing they saw was Lucy yelling at some unknown man. Not only was this odd because it was Dominique's house but also because Lucy hardly argues with anyone. Victorie hadn't seen her cousin angry like this since she was very little and arguing with her older sister, Molly over a lollipop.

"Hey! What's going on?"

"Nothing, everything is fine," Lucy replied with a huff, glaring at the man, who stayed silent and unaffected by the whole ordeal.

"Righttt…" Teddy said, disbelievingly.

"Where is Dom?" Victorie asked.

"Upstairs," Lucy answered, still glaring at the man. Victorie and Teddy shared a look, both concerned with Lucy's behaviour. Without words, Teddy let his wife know that it was okay for her to go in search for her sister as he took care of these two. When Victorie left with Sammi in search of her sister. Teddy broke the silence and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Teddy," he said, outstretching his hand to the man. The man looked at it for a moment before he responded and shook Teddy's hand.

"Good Morning, I'm Carlton, Carlton FitzRoy."

"Right," Teddy said, a little shocked with how formal he was. "Nice to meet you then." Lucy scoffed at that, which shocked Teddy as well. Lucy was always so nice to everyone. It made him even more curious about what had transpired between them for her to be like that to someone she had just met.

Upstairs Victorie found her sister packing hers and Jacob's stuff in their overnight bags with French Jazz playing.

"Hey, do you know what's going on downstairs?"

"No, but probably just Carlton being his normal self," Dom replied, scrunching up her face unenthusiastically. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to go back down and deal with him. How is she going?"

"Lucy was yelling," Victorie informed her.

"What? No way," Dom reacted how her sister thought.

"I know!"

"Wow, I thought if anyone could tolerate him it would be Lucy," Dom commented.

"So that's him, Carlton then?"

"Urgh…the one and only," Dom replied. Not shying away from her dislike of the man.

"He's taller and more handsome then I imagined," Victorie comments, readjusting Sammi to her other arm.

"You just wait, as soon as you actually converse with him all that disappears," Dom said as she finished packing the first bag and zipped it up. "That's Jacob's done. We overslept this morning and he had to check on one last thing for work. That's why Carlton is here, to pick up his stuff for him and take it to his place. Jacob is staying there tonight." Dominique explained. "Anyway, let me have a cuddle from the cutest little girl in the world," she added reaching for Samantha. Victorie passed her daughter to her sister and smiled as she watched them interact. Dominique giving Sammi a quick raspberry kiss on the cheek.

Rose and Scorpius went about setting things up for the wedding harmoniously and together. They had also organised the protective enchantments to stop them from being seen or heard by muggles. Soon Lily and Max arrived with the flowers and all four continued to prepare everything. The last thing to be dressed with the white rose's was the arch that Scorpius made. He and Rose were trading smiles as they used their wands to guide and wrap the rose's vines around the arch. Max couldn't help but notice. Sometime later, he managed to get some alone time with Scorpius as they got some of the tents out of Scorpius truck.

"So, what's going on with you and Rose?"

"What do you you mean?"

"Just saying there is a lot of smiles and loaded gazes being shared," Max replied as the began to set up the magically tents they borrowed from Rose's and Albus's parents.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Scorpius faked innocence.

"Right, so keeping things on the down low then," Max assumed with a teasing smile at his mate. Scorpius just ignored him and walked back towards the truck. Max laughed and shook his head at his friend. He was excited to see how this played out over the weekend.

"Hey, who's guitar is this?" Lily asked as she was looking the back of the truck.

"It's Scorp's," Rose replied without thinking about it much.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, take it with me everywhere," Scorpius answered, as he hammered tent pegs.

"I never knew you played guitar," Lily said as though she was thinking out loud. "How did you know that, Rose?" She asked her cousin with a teasing smirk on her face. Max almost laughed when he saw Rose freeze and try and think of how to respond.

"I didn't," she finally said. "I just guessed it was, since its his truck."

"Oh sure, that makes sense," Lily said as though she didn't believe her. However, she didn't say anything further on the topic. So Rose thought she was at least safe for now.

Hill Cottage

"So…what line of work are you in Carlton?" Teddy asked, trying to break the silence.

"I don't see how that is relevant to you." Carlton responded bluntly.

"Well…ah," Teddy looked at Lucy for some help, only to see her glare at Carlton sharpen as she crossed her arms.

"Oh Carlton!" Dominique's voice called from the stairs as she and Victorie made their way down. Dom with Jacob's bag and Victorie with little Sammi.

"Oh good, you're here," Teddy muttered, though they all heard him.

"This is Jacob's stuff, and could you please tell him that he better be at the end of that aisle tomorrow or there will be trouble," Dom said sternly. Carlton looked very uncomfortable but nodded his head. "Thank you."

"If that is all?" Carlton checked.

"Yep, that's it," Dom confirmed, no wanting him to leave as soon as possible.

"Pleasure to meet you all," Carlton glanced his eyes over all in the room as he spoke. The way he said it was like an automatic response and not what he actually thought. Although, Dominique did notice that his eyes lingered on Lucy at the end a little longer then necessary. 'Interesting,' she thought.

"Lily, I was wondering if you have seen Hugo since Dragon's Den?" Rose asked her cousin. When they found a moment away from the men. She hadn't heard from her brother since painting day and wanted to see if he had patched things up with Ella.

"You mean, you'd like to know whether he has spoken to Ella after what he did?" Lily replied, letting Rose that she knows what has happened between the two.

"Yeah," She responded with a sigh, almost as though she was guilty.

"He came by yesterday looking for her," Lily replied. "He must have found her at work later."

"I take it from your tone it didn't go well," Rose surmised.

"You could say that," Lily confirmed. "You could also say it went terribly wrong."

"What did he say?"

"Ella wouldn't tell me specifics, but it was really bad," Lily explained sadly. "I have never seen her like this, she cried all last night and she has barely spoken since then. It's like she's truly broken."

"I don't understand him sometimes," Rose let out a frustrated sigh. "I think I'm going to go check on him though, he probably isn't good either."

"When you see him, could you give him a piece of your mind for me?" Lily replied. Rose just smiled and reached out for Lily, pulling her into a hug.

"Don't worry they will work things out," She said as she pulled back. Rose walked back over to where the guys were still setting up the many tents. "Hey, I'm just going to check on in on Hugo, I'll be back later."

"Okay. Do you want some backup?" Scorpius replied, clearly concerned and wanting to be there for her and Hugo. He stood up from where he was kneeling and hammering in tent pegs and moved towards her.

"I think we'll be fine, plus there is still heaps that needs to be done here," Rose replied.

"That's alright, Max can finish this off," Scorpius offered.

"Gee thanks," Max grumbled though Scorpius just ignored him and continued. When he got a little closer, Rose looked around and both Max and Lily seemed to busy and not paying them any mind. So she stepped in closer to him a bright smile glossing over her expression and said, "I will send a patronus if I need you. I'm sure he'll be okay."

"What if I just want to come to be with you?" Scorpius whispered with a teasing smile and grabbing a hold of her hand.

"Scorpius," Rose whispered. She tried to scold him but her smile and blush gave her away. He just smirked back at her. Rose rolled her eyes and shook her head, but her smile never faltered. Rose finally pulled her hand free and walked away to leave the enchantments so that she could disapparate, giving him one last smile over her shoulder. Scorpius couldn't get the blissfully happy expression off his face as he watched her walk away. Max and Lily shared a knowing look, as they saw Scorpius' face.

When Rose apparated in the alley behind Hugo's apartment building, she was still smiling. Things between her and Scorpius were going so well. 'It feels so right,' she thought as she made her way into the lobby. She has never felt this way before, it was consuming in a good way. Rose pressed the buzzer to be allowed access up to his floor. There was no answer. The door didn't automatically open like it often did for her either. She tried to ignore the worry in the pit of her stomach, he could just be out. But something was telling her otherwise, something wasn't right. She buzzed again, still no answer.

Okay, yay! Another Chapter! Hope there are still readers interested and I hope you are all well. Please let me know your thoughts in a review, I love to read them.

Who has idea what has happened to Hugo? And do you know anyone who does and says some stupid things or can't express their feelings like him? What do you guys think of Carlton? Who is more interested in Draco and Astoria's Date?

Can't promise anything but I have some time off so you might get a few chapters in the next couple of weeks. Let me know if you are excited for that :)