A/N: To start off, Happy Halloween! And this is important, those who will leave anonymous reviews for this chapter can look for a response on my profile page as I won't be able to respond in the next chapter, obviously. And the rest of you are definitely getting responses because I don't know how to say goodbye.

Do you ever long for,

true love from me?

Everyday- Rogue Wave

Chapter 23:

Epilogue

Rose's lips twitched in amusement as she raised her eyes to find Scorpius slumped on the sofa, fast asleep. His eyelashes were fluttering slightly, head resting on the armrest.

She rubbed her eyes, exhaustion seeping in quickly. Her eyes ached from the hours she'd spent poring over ads for apartments and one to two bedroom flats. She did a double take as she checked the time; it was three in the morning already. No wonder he'd fallen asleep while she continued to be fueled by her determination to get her work over and done with.

Folding the paper slowly and carefully, so as not to make any sound, she set it aside along with her quill and phone. There was no way she'd be able to call anyone at this time anyway.

Tiptoeing past the sleeping figure, she resisted the urge to brush her fingers over his face- which was creepy enough even when not done in the wee hours of the morning- and let out a loud yelp as arms wound around her, pulling her backwards.

She landed with a comfortable thump on Scorpius' lap, his head propped up sleepily against her back.

"Let me go!" She protested. The effect was ruined somewhat by the fact that she was giggling as she said it.

"Mmmf." He mumbled into her back.

"What was that?"

"You're squashing me."

"Prat!" She smacked him lightly on the head, wriggling to get away. "You shouldn't have pulled me back then."

He grinned at her as she twisted around to face him, leaning in to capture her lips in a slow and languorous kiss. "Still looking for a place to stay?" He mumbled softly against her lips.

"You know I am. And a fat lot of help you've been, hogging my couch and distracting me in general."

He smirked but it was closer to a smile. "I am rather good at distracting you, aren't I?"

Rose pursed her lips at him, trying to hide her smile. "Not as good as you seem to think you are."

His eyes opened at this. "Really?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge I hear?"

Rose's grin was wiped off completely as he closed the distance between them again. She practically melted as he deepened the kiss, parting her lips and winding his fingers gently in her hair. She let out a grunt of protest as he pulled away.

"What was that you were saying?"

"What?" Rose said dazedly, trying to collect her thoughts.

"Precisely." He said triumphantly, winding his arms back around her waist.

Rose snapped out of it and smacked him again, lunging forward as he leaned away, laughing at her expression.

"Whatever." She huffed. "The point is, there are absolutely no good apartments on the market right now. I'll just have to put up with this one, I guess."

She sighed and slid off his lap, looking around at the place that had been her home for over three years. Whereas earlier, it had been a place of comfort for her, now it just depressed her. She could picture too clearly for her comfort, the killer- Edgar Bones, lurking in this apartment, breaking in, scrawling that message on her mirror and ripping the place apart.

And as soon as her thoughts turned to him, she was seized with an overwhelming pang of remorse and guilt mixed with a sort of desperation she couldn't explain. She didn't know what it was she wanted- to get away, to turn back time so she'd never stumbled across him in that alley all those months ago?

But no, it couldn't be the last one because as cheesy as it sounded, if she hadn't been threatened by Bones, she never would have met Scorpius again. She wouldn't be with him now. And the killer would most likely still have been on the loose and people would still be dying.

Whatever it was, all she knew was that it was agony to continue living here- especially alone. She'd grown oddly accustomed to having Scorpius around and even though he still spent a major portion of most days with her- and nights too, she reflected with a blush- it was just worse that ever when he wasn't there.

She was distracted from her thoughts, when she turned to Scorpius and found him scrutinizing her intently.

"It still bothers you." he said quietly.

Her shoulders slumped as her exhaustion struck again. "It does." She admitted.

As vile as Bones had been, he'd still been human. And it haunted her that she'd killed him, that she literally had someone's blood on her hands.

To her relief, Scorpius didn't push the subject. Instead, he drew her closer and she leant her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

"About your living arrangements," he said in a would-be casual voice, his chest moving beneath her head as he spoke. He cleared his throat, fiddling with a lock of her hair. "I was thinking-I mean, what I'm saying is- As in what I was about to say was-"

Rose sat up, pinning him with a suspicious look. "Go on."

He looked away, studying the unicorn-patterned lampshade Nigbit had gifted her for Christmas. With an encouraging prod from her, he turned back to her, face calm again but eyes still displaying his nervousness.

She found it oddly endearing.

"What I was saying," he exhaled slowly. "Was that maybe if you couldn't find a place, or maybe if you just wanted to, you could stay with me?"

Rose just stared at him as he looked back at her, shoulders tense with anticipation.

At length she said, "Scorpius. Are you asking me in a rather roundabout way if I want to move in with you?"

His shoulders slumped with relief. "Yes. That's exactly what I'm asking."

"Hmm," she said slowly, tapping her chin. "I'll have to think about that."

"Really?"

"No!"

"No?" His eyes widened with hurt. "Oh, well, that's alright of course." He babbled. "I was afraid you'd think it was too fast, I mean I can wait, I totally don't mind, I-"

Rose laughed and put a finger over his lips, effectively shutting him up.

"Scorp, you dope, I meant No, I don't need to think about that."

"….Oh." He sat up straight again, grinning weakly. "So then, your answer is…?"

Rose looked at him, his expression one of wistful hope and suppressed excitement. It was amazing how for once, his face was no longer a blank slate- he was as easy to read right now as she usually was.

"Yes."

He broke into a disarming grin.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

He pulled her flush against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She laughed against his chest, his heart beating rhythmically underneath her hand. He pressed his face into her hair, and murmured something so softly she almost didn't catch it.

Almost being the key word.

She responded by kissing him and smirking up at him, trying to imitate his trademark expression. "I love you too, doofus."

"Hey! I'm not a doofus- Wait, really?"

She hid her face by pressing it back against his chest, his whispered words replaying in her mind.

Rose Weasley, I think I'm in love with you.

"So," he said casually. "Does this mean I can punch that Will fellow if he tries to stalk you again?"

"Malfoy!"

"Ow, woman! That hurts!"

Aaaaaaand it's over.

And my heart just broke.

Oh, God, this is horrible! I did try to finish it on an upbeat note so none of us would dissolve into tears. (Okay, it's probably just me who's going to cry but still.)

I want to take this final moment to say thank you to all those who've been there from the start or have consistently showed their support, whether through reviews or PM's or however.

Cass, lilbuddie715, SaruDM, Missdagane, XXXmeggie-loves-to-readXXX, euphoenix, tikincloks, TheInnerMusingsOfMe, Pinakamataas, Roseweasley85, Silvermist76, lunapeacock, x-rayLady, Love without expectation, Rachel, Amy, ainat92, Sundance1989, ohmygolly, xiLynnx, arrrgghimapiratenow, ClimbingMonkey13, Mrs. Theodore Nott, CrimsonBludger83, raspberrysorbet.

This story is more yours than mine, because if it weren't for all of you, following each and every single update and calming me down when I got anxiety attacks over whether or not I'd done well, I doubt we would even have reached this stage. This fic would probably be incomplete, lying around gathering dust for all eternity.

But of course, this is also for every single person who has ever read, reviewed, alerted, criticized or favourited this story, those who've PM'ed me and even those who've read this story entirely without my knowledge of theirs having ever been here.

And then there's Pal The Bad Ass and Palak who are going to be my crying-buddies. They literally sat with me for hours trying to figure out how to continue with the story and how to end it and called me at all hours of the night with feedback on the latest chapter. I love you guys :)

And now, my long oscar-worthy speech is over, so as tikincloks put it so eloquently...

À la prochaine.

PS- EAT DONUTS! Unless you are allergic to them, in which case you have my condolences. Peace.