A/N To my guest reviewer, Thank you so much! I am truly glad you are enjoying this. I am so excited at how well it is going. Thank you for reading.

So, here is the awaited lunch date. This chapter is pretty fluffy, but I thought the story could use some fluff at this point.

Chapter 7: Always Mine

Theo waited, leaning against a tree at 11:55. Daphne should be here at 12:00, if she showed. He had been able to deal with the reporters Wednesday fairly well he thought. Blaise was right the daily Prophet, wanted to try to turn the missing shipment into some sort of plot, either by Theo himself or by others who were believed to still be loyal to the Dark Lord. He had taken Draco's advice, only repeating back to them information they already had. Somehow those people thought he was giving them amazing new information, writing everything down while bouncing up and down like little kids. The only one who didn't seem impressed with what he had to say, was Parkinson. No, the entire time, she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, tapping her foot, looking around. Theo was sure she had been looking for Draco, but he and Blaise where safely hidden away in his library, with silencing charms in place so no one could even hear the two men breathing. Theo's butler had done a quick cleaning charm on the first floor after they had gone up stairs, so no trace of even their cologne was left behind. He may not be able to get people to believe he had never truly been a follower of Voldemort, but he didn't need to add anything to it. It was one thing for people to see the three men at a pub or social gathering together, but to have them hanging around his Manor at a press conference, according to the press, meant something else.

At exactly 12:00, there was a soft pop indicating Daphne's appearance. Theo continued to lean on the tree, but let a smile spread across his face. Damn, she looked good. Her hair was down, lightly curled, blowing in the wind. She was wearing a light weight, white blouse that was see through, with a pink tank top under. When she turned around looking for him, he smirked when he noticed the strand of pearls. The braided silver chain was still there, tucked into the tank top. Theo let his gaze go down her body, she noticed doing a little turn to let him check her out. The jeans she had on fit snuggly across her butt, Theo bit his bottom lip liking what he saw. She was wearing silver heels, but that could be easily delt with, when the time came.

Daphne walked closer to him, and she couldn't help smiling at his reaction. Theo was wearing his normal black boots and jeans, instead of a t-shirt, he had on a dark blue button-down shirt, which was of course, untucked. Last time she saw him, he was clean shaven. Today he had a three or so days' growth, which Daphne thought made him even more handsome. When he noticed Daphne's smile, he only uncrossed his arms and started walking toward her, he wasn't about to turn around. If she wanted to check out his ass, she could ask.

"You're gorgeous, as always." Theo told her as he leaned down giving her a quick kiss.

Daphne found she was actually sad; it didn't last longer. "You look pretty good yourself." She ran her fingers down the front of his shirt, "This is actually a good look on you."

"I know." Theo took her hand in his, kissed the back of it and lead her over to a blanket, where their picnic was set up. "So, I have lunch ready for us, we can eat or go for a ride first. Your choice."

Daphne looked down to see a basket, with a small silver bucket setting next to it, but both things looked empty. "Theo, I think you forgot the food part of the lunch." She turned looking up at him.

"It's magic, love. When we are ready, everything we need will appear. I didn't want the wine to get warm, or the food to get cold." He pulled her hand which he was holding up to his chest, wrapping his other arm around Daphne's waist, pulling her a little closer to him. "I can't tell you, how much I have been looking forward to today. I was honestly afraid you wouldn't show up."

Daphne's heart started to quicken slightly looking into his eyes. "So was I. I really shouldn't have."

"Why?" Theo leaned slightly closer to her.

"I am with someone else, now." Daphne almost whispered.

Theo pulled her closer still, "Are you engaged to him?"

"No."

"I see, then you must see a bright future with him, is that it?" Theo let go of her hand, brushing his fingers on her cheek, lacing them into her hair with his thumb resting on her cheek.

Daphne's breath caught, "Not really, he's always gone."

Theo nodded his head up and down, "Oh, so you must be desperately in love with him than."

Daphne answered without thinking, "No, but..."

Theo kissed her, cutting her off. He pulled her bottom lip into his mouth. Daphne let out a little gasp, slightly opening hers. Theo took advantage, gently pushing his tongue in, deepening their kiss. Daphne had told herself if he did this today, she would step back, pushing him away. Yes, that is what she would do. So here they were, he was kissing her, the fleeting thought to step away left as quickly as it came to her. Instead of pushing him away, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Theo reacted by pulling her closer, slightly lifting her off the ground. At just over six foot, four inches, he wasn't quite as tall as his father had been, however still plenty tall to her five foot five inches.

After a moment, Theo gently pulled away, setting Daphne back down, "Sorry, I know I shouldn't have done that, but I have been wanting to since the moment I saw you sitting at that café. It's all I have thought about since our last kiss, five years ago." Theo took a step back, "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Um, yeah, I mean, yes please." Daphne was still lost in the feeling of being in Theo's arms. She hadn't felt that content, since the last time Theo had held her the end of their fifth year at King Cross Station.

Theo walked over to his bike, pulling his wand out of his leather jacket. Returning to the blanket, he sat down, then tapped the silver bucket with his wand. A bottle of wine surrounded by ice appeared. Theo tapped the bottle, causing the cork to pop out. As he poured their glasses, Daphne got down on the blanket on her knees beside him. "Theo, I have been wanting to ask you something, for a long time."

"Ask away." He sat closer to her, wanting her as close as possible.

"What did my father tell you to convince you to stop writing to me?" After Daphne and her family had left England, Theo had promised to continue writing. But one day, his letters just stopped. It was a few weeks later, her mother confessed to her, after seeing how depressed her daughter had become, that it was her father to blame for Theo's letters stopping.

"Damn, straight for the jugular, huh. Ok." Theo stared at his glass of wine, after finally taking a sip, he looked up at her, "he told me I was no good for you. That if I truly loved you, I would let you go."

"That's all it took. You promised me forever, and that's all it took?" Daphne sounded hurt.

"Not exactly. I wrote back to him. Pleaded my case. I swore I wasn't a death eater and would never become one. He wrote back, saying he didn't believe me. After that, all my letters just came back to me." Theo ran his fingers through her hair. Contact, any contact with her always made him feel better.

Daphne knew she should tell him to stop playing with her hair but didn't. Deep down, she had missed it. "Your letters came back to you; you mean you kept writing? I only got three."

"That's all I got from you. About a month after your third letter, I got the first one from your father. He said he had been confiscating our letters. Once he rejected my plea, he sent the next two I wrote to him back. Unopened." Theo set his wine down, took Daphne's glass from her, setting it down also, taking her hands in his. Theo looked at their hands while continuing, "I tried just writing to you, disobeying him. They always came back, unopened. I wrote to your sister, asking for help. That letter got opened, but returned, no reply." Theo looked back up at Daphne, "After that, I continued to write. Every day. I just didn't send them. I kept them all in a box, waiting for the right time to give them to you." Theo looked down at their hands, as he laced their fingers together, "I didn't mean to break my promise." Theo moved closer so Daphne was sitting between his legs. "I promised you forever, to replace a certain ring, with a diamond. I still plan on doing that. I still want forever." Theo leaned forward brushing his cheek against hers, then placed several small kisses on her neck.

Daphne leaned into him, "I missed you so much, Theo. But a picnic and a few kisses can't replace five years." She put her hands on his chest pushing him away.

Theo let her push him back, he would never force. He had no problem leading, making the first moves, but ultimately Daphne was in charge. He always let her be in charge, would always let her be in charge. "I'm not the only one who broke a promise Daph." Theo picked up her left hand kissing the ring finger, the finger he had placed a ring on seven years ago. A ring that was now missing.

Daphne pulled her hand away, "I didn't stop wearing it right away, you know."

"When?" Theo's heart was racing. He wanted her in his arms, but wouldn't move, not just yet.

"About two years ago. The war was over. I never heard from you. No one knew for sure where you were. I had to move on." Daphne moved back, suddenly feeling they were getting far too cozy.

"Ernie knew. Ernie always knew." His voice cracked. Theo thought for the first time, maybe it was too late. It made his chest hurt. "I did try to find you, remember I told you, at the café."

"I know now, you tried. I never thought about the letter with our address being one Daddy stole." Daphne leaned slightly forward, putting her hand on his cheek, she could tell he was hurting. Theo closed his eyes at her touch. "All anyone I asked knew, was you were in the states. It wasn't until a year ago, when we came back to England, that I saw Ernie again. But at that point, I was already with Marcus."

Theo opened his eyes quickly at the name Marcus. He would not lose her to him. "You may be spending time with him, but you're mine Daphne. You always have been mine."

"Accept I'm not yours, Theo." She had let her hand fall from his cheek, but now reached up running her hand through his hair, "Not anymore." Daphne knew her hands in his hair always calmed him down, that was her goal. Keep him calm, while she let him down.

She went to stand up, but Theo caught her hand pulling her to him kissing her. The desire to have her in his arms was too much. He pushed his lips to hers, slowly nipping at her lips, until she sighed into his arms, opening her mouth, giving in to her own desire to kiss him like this again. Daphne kept trying to tell herself, 'I am not his, I am not his', but her heart knew better. Theo ran his fingers lightly down her neck, along the opening of her blouse, until his fingers came into contact with the silver chain she wore. While continuing to kiss her, he hooked the chain with his finger, pulled it out, holding the ring in his hand. Theo let the kisses move from her mouth, to along her jaw line. When she didn't pull away, he slowly kissed down her neck. Stopping every so often to suck lightly, just to hear her moan. After a few minutes he, pulled away enough to look her in eyes.

"If you're not mine, why do you still wear this?" Theo indicated to the ring.

Daphne's heart was racing, she knew better, but hadn't wanted him to stop. "I was just keeping it safe. I planned to give it back."

"Liar." Theo tugged lightly on the chain, pulling her lips back to his.

After a few minutes, Theo knew he needed to stop, or he wouldn't. Just like when they were younger, Theo heard in the back of his mind, her father's words 'My Daphne will be respected.' He pulled away, smiling at the little moan she let out, indicating she didn't want it to end. He remembered that moan, it always made it harder to stop when he was sixteen, it made it just as hard today. He kissed the tip of her nose, "We have plenty of time for more of that, love." Theo handed her back her wine, "How about we finish our wine, then go for that ride, yeah?"

Daphne nodded. She was impressed how Theo always had amazing self-control. She sipped her wine, wondering what he would be like if he didn't. Would he live up to the fantasies she had of him? With Marcus, she was always wondering when he would finally be done. As she sipped her wine, she couldn't help wondering why part of her felt the need to fight this, to protect what she had with Marcus. The only thing she could come with was Daddy. Daddy approved of Marcus, not Theo. As she watched Theo down his wine, then get up to get the bike ready, she wondered if Daddy would still disapprove of Theo after all this time. Maybe she should ask. Maybe she should tell Daddy about the differences in the way the 2 men treat her. Which one would he approve of then?

Theo turned to Daphne, "You ready?"

She finished her wine, "As I will ever be." Daphne got up, went over to where Theo was standing, "What do I do?"

Theo reached down, picked up the ring, tucking it back in her shirt. "First, put that away. Want to keep safe."

"I could just give it back." Daphne started to take the chain off.

Theo stopped her, by taking her hands in his. "No, you're going to want to put that ring back where it belongs." He lifted her left hand with his, indicating the empty ring finger, "You'll see, and you can't do that if you give it back." Theo kissed her hand again. Then stepped back, "Right, so, this isn't a broom, but that doesn't mean it's not dangerous. First thing, you can't wear those shoes."

"What will I wear than, I only brought these?" Daphne looked down at her feet.

Theo went to the blanket, picked up his wand, "Do you trust me?" She nodded, then he turned her heels into a pair of black leather boots with a small heal. "You can certainly change them back and get yourself something you like better for our next date." Theo winked. "Ok, next." He went to the bike, picking up a black box that had been sitting on the ground. "You need this."

"What is it?" Daphne looked skeptical.

"Open it woman, find out." Theo teased.

Daphne opened the box, while he continued to hold it. Inside was a black leather jacket similar to the one he wore, but softer somehow. It was probably made from a different animal hide than his. It had small silver detailing on the left breast, in the shape of little hearts. Daphne ran her hands over it. "This is beautiful, Theo. But why?"

"Safety. I am a damn good rider, but accidents do happen. If I lay this bike down, I want to know you're going to be ok." He pulled it out of the box, holding it up so she could put it on. While she fidgeted with the zipper, finally getting it zipped up. Theo grabbed his off the seat of the bike. When he turned back to her, seeing her in the jacket Theo growled, "Damn, you're sexy." Theo picked Daphne up, putting her on the bike. He had seen this moment in his mind for three days, but his imagination was nothing compared to having her right here. Theo pulled the key out his pocket, started to put it in the ignition, but stopped. He turned back to look at her, she licked her bottom lip. That was all it took, he had his lips back on hers, with his arms around her. He didn't pull her off the bike but pushed himself as close to her as he could get. Daphne grasped at the lapel of his jacket, pulling him to her. Theodore Nott had been the boy she wanted to marry, now she needed to know if he was the man she wanted to marry. Right now, at this moment her heart said yes.

Theo broke the kiss with a smirk, "Guess, I better fire this thing up, unless the bike is not what you wanted a ride on."

Daphne hit his arm, "The bike, Theo. Take me for a ride on the bike." She swung her right leg onto the other side. "Now what."

"Ok, ok." Theo laughed, "You follow my, lead. If I lean left, so do you. If I lean right, you follow. Always keep your feet up on the pegs, never take them off. You'll put me off balance if you do. Got it."

"Oh, I wouldn't want you off balance." Daphne said, while running her fingers down his shirt, stopping just above his belt buckle, making small circles on his stomach.

Theo took a deep breath, "You're going to be the death of me woman." He walked to the other side of the bike, picked up a helmet, handing it to her. "You have to wear this. Muggle law."

Daphne took it turning it, over in her hands looking at it. "How will we talk?"

Theo zipped up his jacket, "There is a device inside called an intercom. It allows us to talk to each other. Muggles really are ingenious, I must say. Put it on."

Daphne did as instructed. "Yours has a shield in front of the eyes."

Theo laughed at her, he reached over, flipping hers down. "So does this one, love."

Daphne was caught off guard and looked around, intrigued how well she could see through it. Theo got on the bike, put his helmet on. "Hold on to me." He told her.

Daphne jumped when she heard his voice inside her helmet, "Oh wow, I heard you."

"Then put your arms around me, woman." Theo laughed. Daphne slipped her arms around his waist. Theo reached down, pulling them tighter, "You have to hold tighter than that, Baby." He turned the key, pushed the ignition button making the bike came to life.

The feeling of the bike made Daphne squeal. "If you like that feeling love, you going to love this." Theo said as he took his feet off the ground letting them take off.

Theo took them down a mostly deserted road, passing only one or two cars along the way. Daphne loved how the wind blew passed them and the feeling in the pit of her stomach, when they would go downhill. Theo kept the speed slower than he would normally, not wanting to take any unnecessary chances with Daphne. The road eventually wound down a long hill, until they had farmland on either side of them with a long stretch of road ahead.

"Do you want to go faster?" Theo asked, placing one hand on hers, sitting up slightly, leaning into her.

Daphne held tighter to him, "Yes, I think so."

"Hold on tight as you can and lean forward with me." Theo slowly, opened it up, letting the engine run. They went faster and faster, until they were as fast as he felt comfortable going with her on the bike. Normally, he would go as fast as the bike could go. It was how he liked to unwind. It made him feel unrestrained and reckless. Two things he never allowed himself to be. When they started to run out of road, Theo slowed down, sitting back up. Once they came to a stop, he asked, "You ready to go back, or do you want more?"

Daphne, wanted to ride some more, but was also hungry. "Let's go back, we can always ride again."

"Whatever you want, my love." Theo turned the bike around, going back slowly to the park where he had their picnic set up.

Once they were back, he turned off the bike, removing his helmet while he got off the bike. Theo then helped Daphne with her helmet, "What did you think? Do you like my toy?"

Daphne swung her leg back over but stayed on the bike. Theo was standing too close for her to get off, "I loved it. Brooms are fun, but this was a different feeling altogether. I can't describe it. Flying feels free, this felt powerful."

Theo put the helmets on the ground, "I understand exactly what you mean." Theo stepped closer to her. He loved the way she looked, hair messy from the helmet, leather jacket, sitting on his bike, hands between her legs. The look in her eyes was almost lustful, or maybe that's just how he felt. "Daph, do we have a chance?"

"What do you mean." She sat up, putting her hands on her thighs.

"My feelings for you have never changed, not at all." Theo stepped closer to her, forcing her legs apart a little. He wasn't trying to be rude, he just wanted to be closer to her.

Daphne instinctually put her hands on his chest, allowing him to get closer to her, "Theo, it's been so long."

"I know that. Please, give me, give us a chance." Theo placed his hands on either side of her face, leaning closer to her. "Please." He brushed his lips against hers hoping for her to kiss him back.

"What about Marcus?" Daphne whispered.

Theo let go of her, backing away. His heart started racing, but not from the contact with Daphne. "I refuse to believe you honestly want to be with Marcus Flint!" Theo started running his hands through his hair pacing back and forth quickly. He looked back at Daphne, "How can you even stand to be near him, after what he did to you? After what he did to us?" Theo was yelling now. He hated that he allowed himself to become this upset, it could easily lead to the recklessness he always tried to avoid.

"People change Theo. Marcus has changed." Daphne couldn't look Theo in the eyes.

Theo stopped pacing, "Oh please. People like Flint don't change!" When he was upset, he would normally ride his bike. That was his release, his way to keep the demon that was his father at bay. Right now, though, he couldn't exactly leave Daphne here alone.

"Draco has. People do change, Theo." Daphne had seen Theo upset before. It didn't scare her, she knew how to calm him down, though it did mean allowing herself to be closer to him.

After taking several deep breaths, Theo went back to her, placing his hands on hers. "Yes, Draco has changed. But according to Blaise, it nearly killed him, Daphne."

"But he did do it, he changed. So maybe Marcus did to." Daphne was really just trying to tell herself Marcus had changed.

"From what Blaise tells me, love changed Draco." Theo moved himself so he was standing between her legs, placing his hands on her hips. "I'm sorry I yelled, just now. But Baby, I don't believe Flint has changed. He isn't in love, like Draco is."

"How do you know Marcus doesn't love me." Daphne pushed Theo away, getting off the bike. 'Well so much for allowing herself to be close to him'.

Theo let her by, "Flint is not capable of love, Daph. I doubt he even respects you."

"Oh, and you do. You know I am with someone else, yet you keep confusing the situation with kisses, wine and nick names." Daphne walked toward the blanket to put distance between them.

Theo took a step to shorten the distance; took another deep breath, "I do respect you, Daphne. I always have. If I have done something today you didn't want, I apologize, but I don't think it's me you're mad at." Theo took another step. "You know I'm right about Flint. Ask yourself, when was the last time he did something just for you, not himself? Has he ever put you, before him, or even his team? Does he support your career?"

Daphne shook her head. "He's a celebrity, Theodore. It's hard for him to find time just for himself, let alone planning things for me."

"You're making excuses for him Daphne." Theo closed his eyes, 'deep breath Nott,' he continued quietly, "I do support your career, by the way. I know that blouse is one of your designs. It's the same one you were wearing in Witch Weekly, when they featured you." Theo closed the space between them, "I know the dress Tori was wearing last night at dinner after the press conference, was the same one you designed back in our fifth year."

"I can't believe you remember my designs from school." Embarrassed, Daphne looked at her feet.

Theo placed one finger under her chin lifting her head to look into her eyes, "I remember everything."

Daphne bit her bottom lip took a deep breath and finally asked the question she didn't want to ask but had too. "Theo, did you join your father? Did you become a Death Eater? I have to know."

Tears burned the back of Theo's eyes. He knew this would finally come up. It had to be addressed. "Does it really matter?"

"Yes, partly. I mean if you did, the reason why, matters." Daphne sounded scared to continue.

Theo took a shaky breath rolling his left sleeve up to the elbow. No dark mark, but a scar from a deep burn was in its place. Daphne knew that scar meant, the mark had been there, but he had defied the Dark Lord, causing the mark to burn hotter and hotter trying to get its servant to comply. Most finally couldn't take the pain and did so. The very few with this scar and been the ones able to withstand the pain. Theo finally spoke. "I had no choice Daph. He said he'd kill you if I didn't take it. But I never served him, I fought for Harry during the war." Theo quickly pulled his sleeve back down and started to pack up the picnic.

Daphne stood crying watching him till it finally hit her. He had done it to protect her. She wasn't even there, and he was still protecting her! " Theo stop."

He stood and looked at her. "You want me stay?"

"Of course. I can only imagine the pain you went through, thinking of him killing me then refusing to serve him." Daphne walked over and took his hands again.

"Please, I am only asking for a chance, to see if we are meant to be. I believe we are." Theo kissed her forehead pulling his hands from hers and placing them on her shoulders.

"Oh, Theo. I don't know." But she did, she wanted to say yes. That instinct, she always had to protect herself by taking the easy road, was yelling at her to run. Suddenly, Daphne heard her sister's words, 'Knowing you though, you will slink back to Marcus so as not to cause waves.' No, she would prove to Astoria, hell she would prove to herself, she could be strong, daring, bold, taking the hard path. Not the path laid out by Daddy. Daphne took a breath, opened her mouth, but the words didn't come out.

Theo moved his hands down her arms until he was holding her hands at her sides, "I will fight for us Daphne." Theo looked more determined than Daphne had ever seen him. "But, if you say no, then I will pack my things up, get on my bike and never bother you again." Theo got down on his knees, looking up at her. "Daph. I am begging you, just give us a chance, please."

Daphne ran one of her hands through Theo's hair. Theo closed his eyes, letting the wave of calm her hands in his hair always gave him, "Okay, Theo. Fight for me. You say I am still yours. Make me believe it."

Theo pulled Daphne down onto his lap, kissing her passionately. He wanted to be with her more than he had ever wanted anything, but there it was again, that voice in the back of his head, 'My Daphne will be respected.' Theo slowly broke the kiss, putting his forehead against hers, "How about we have lunch now? I don't know about you, but I am starving."

Yes, I know this chapter answered a couple questions, but then left you with questions. You will begin to understand, why Ernie, later. And what did Marcus do? Hang on, chapters 8 and 11 will be very telling.