If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Pansy glided out of the elevator and stopped short.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, the sound carrying through the large empty room of the atrium.

Barefoot on the cold marble floor of the atrium was a rather flushed looking Neville. She wondered how he had beat her to the exit level, especially because she suspected he would be much more short of breath if he had taken the stairs.

"I'm sorry," he said after a long moment of silence where she contemplated how cold his feet probably were. Her eyes snapped upward to meet his.

"I should have said this ten years ago, but I'm sorry. I knew you, I know you. You are not the type of witch to do what you did without reason. Even if you hadn't been pregnant. You saw the avenue of least suffering and wanted that not just for yourself but for everyone there. I know your offer to turn over Harry wasn't malicious, or evil. But… I let myself be angry at you for it. I let pride and anger cloud my judgement when I should have been looking at things with love. I used it to drive a wedge between us, when I should have opened my arms to you and comforted you in a time you desperately needed me. And I will regret that forever. But I won't regret letting you walk away from me a second time."

"Okay then, let me pass."

"No, because I'm not letting you walk away from me again," insisted Nev, pulling her into his arms. "I love you, and I have regretted the way I pushed you out of my life when we were teenagers every day since."

She had found herself on the doorstep of the Longbottom townhouse a week later, wearing a black dress and fidgeting with the sleeves. The elf that had admitted her couldn't have known how upset Neville would be to see her.

"What the hell are you doing here Parkinson?" he demanded, his eyes red rimmed and haunted with the horrors of the war.

"We need to talk," she'd begged. "I want to explain."

"We're through. Something you made clear on the night of the battle."

"You aren't even going to hear me out are you?"

"No, there's nothing more to be said between us. We're over, and I don't need you slithering back here begging for forgiveness. I can't forgive you. You know how important that was. You don't care about anyone but yourself, and I can't love you. I don't love you anymore. You're a selfish witch Pansy Parkinson." She flinched at his proclamation he didn't love her anymore. A tiny part of her had hoped he might still hold the slightest spark of affection. His eyes were cold and dead. "I hope you rot in Azkaban. I deserve better than a bitch like you."

"Oh! Now you deserve better! Well maybe I deserve better as well. Better than some arsehole who is going to selfishly get himself killed and leave me alone! How about that!? I heard Kingsley offered you a position as an Auror with Pothead, Weaselby and Granger. Just what you always bloody wanted! Well don't let me stand in the way of your suicide mission, Auror Longbottom! You think I'm selfish? I'll show you selfish! You're free to do as you please! I'll never darken your doorway again, you gormless tosser!"

He'd waved his wand about after that and informed her that he never wanted to see her face again, so they were finally in agreement. His declaration that they were over rang with truth as he grasped her by the shoulders and forcibly set her the doorstep before she could as much as beg forgiveness for her outburst… not that she would have anyways. She didn't regret not fighting the battle. There was a life inside her she was completely unwilling to endanger. A life more important than Neville, any of the D.A., or even herself. And selfishly she had it all to herself now.

She managed to apparate home before she collapsed in hysterical sobs. The following Monday, the report on those being called to trial at least proved Longbottom wrong on one account. She wasn't going to rot in Azkaban. She was in France three weeks later. A rented cottage by the sea until the healer training started.

"You deserve better than me, a somewhat bumbling herbology professor, and what I have to offer, but selfishly, I desperately want you. All to myself. Now, I didn't mean to… as you implied earlier, 'trap', you, and I am happy about that, if I correctly understood the meaning, but… Regardless of anything else, I love you completely and desperately. The years without you was like a decade without sunshine and color, a desolate greenhouse of wilted life. Please, love, let me show the world what my heart has known for years, I'm completely yours. With you the greenhouse of my life is in eternal springtime, promise me forever."

"Merlin, when you gryffindors get sappy, it's completely ridiculous," she muttered around her throat clogged with emotion, wiping away yet more tears. "You've turned me into a complete watering pot."

"Don't cry, love," he croaked, using the pads of his thumbs to wipe away her tears. "Just say you'll marry me."

"Nev, you're the love of my life, how I am supposed to say no?" she asked before he pressed his lips to hers in a hard claiming kiss.

"Say yes, I need to hear it," he murmured against her lips, his fingers pulling her to him in that desperate manner she loved so much.

"Yes," she whispered before his lips claimed hers again. She felt a cool metal slip over her finger and she looked down, breaking the kiss to find he had slipped a large oval amethyst ring on her finger, the band a delicate ivy wrapping around her finger. He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed first her ring and then turned to kiss her palm.

"I've had it for years. I've been carrying it around for months. I was going to give it to you at graduation," he confessed as she slipped her hand over his slightly rough cheek, her touch tracing the familiar planes of his face.

"It's my favorite color," she mused lifting her hand to watch it reflect the light.

"It matches your eyes," he corrected lifting her chin to meet his intense gaze.

"You realize I would have said yes without a ring?" she asked.

"You might have said yes, but how would I have held you to it? There's a permanent sticking charm on that thing," he joked, his blue eyes twinkling.

"You're horrible at charms," she accused with a smirk.

"Yes, darling," he agreed, taking her by the arm and leading her back into the elevator. He pressed kisses to her neck as the doors closed and the lift took off. She was dazed by his kisses by the time the lift doors pinged open and he abruptly stood, straightening his robes and stepping off the elevator, reentering the crowded ballroom which had transformed into a full party, couples crowding the dance floor and groups gathered together laughing and drinking the finest spirits and eating succulent desserts.

Their reentry didn't go unnoticed, as they were shortly mobbed by several friends who Neville was quick to point out he needed his shoes so he could dance with his fiancé. As they returned to their table to retrieve his shoes she glared at him through narrowed violet eyes.

"If I didn't know better, I would say that was almost slytherin of you," she accused. "Bringing me back up here and announcing our engagement, parading me around with a ring on my finger."

"I learned from the best luv," he shot her a crooked grin and a wink as he tied his shoes.

"Everyone here is going to know within minutes!" she crossed her arms, and his eyes flew to her cleavage as it strained against the confines of the dress she was wearing.

"That was kind of the point," he smirked, that stupid Black family grin.

"If I wasn't so irritated with you, I might actually be impressed," she confessed as he pulled her into his arms and swept her into a waltz, his robes and her dress rippling together in perfect harmony with the music. "You're much better at underhanded tactics than you are at charms."

"I'll have to impress you later with my amazing bedroom skills," he whispered scandalously in her ear, causing her to blush and laugh.

"You might have to work hard on that front," she ribbed, wearing a smirk of her own.

"Don't worry. I'm sure if it was a NEWT subject, I would have earned an O," he joked, causing her to toss back her head with laughter as the dance finished and they ended the dance suddenly surrounded by his family.

"What's so funny?" asked Augusta, holding out a glass of champagne for Pansy who took it to be polite.

"Just discussing NEWTs," said Neville, taking the glass from Pansy's ring laden hand and draining it.

"It would seem congratulations are in order," Augusta motioned to the large purple stone adorning Pansy's hand.

"Ah, yes, she's finally agreed to be my bride, and I'll be holding her to it," smirked Nev, pulling her to his side as she blushed.

"And a certain someone needs to pay up! I told everyone she was your mistress!" exclaimed Aunt Enid appearing out of nowhere.

"Dear Merlin," muttered Pansy blushing and resisting the urge to slap Neville.

"Welcome to the family, dear," laughed Alice, pulling her in for a hug as she and Frank introduced themselves into the conversation, Frank reaching out to shake his son's hand with a grin. "You get used to it," she whispered in Pansy's ear.

"When will you be bringing my great grandchild over for an introduction," demanded Augusta, getting back to the most important matter at hand.

"Well, the twins are at Parkview for the evening," answered Pansy with a flush under Augusta's stern glare. "I'm sure tomorrow wouldn't be too soon."

"I suppose that will have to do," muttered the older woman, the glint in her eye showing how much she was looking forward to the occasion.

"Lunch at Longheath then," said Neville, panic in his voice as he steered Pansy out of the ring his family had boxed them into. "Junie here is exhausted, so we're going to be heading home, see you all tomorrow then."

"We can start wedding planning!" called Alice as Nev pulled her away toward the lifts.

"I thought you wanted to dance and show me off?" asked a bemused Pansy.

"I was wrong. I want you completely to myself and I hate the idea of sharing you. Especially with my family."

"We have three children, you're going to have to get used to it," she deadpanned putting a hand on her stomach in a small unconscious gesture.

"They don't count," he protested. "Come on, we'll go home and I'll help you out of that dress… and…"

"Well, you do make a nice argument," she conceded. "I would be hard put to resist."

"Is it weird to be planning your wedding with your husband's ex wife?" asked Pansy, flipping through the bridal magazine, the witch on the front disgustingly thin with no breasts to speak of.

"It would be weirder if you were planning it with Aunt Enid and Augusta, which is what I had to do," put in Hannah.

"Merlin, you're always so right," laughed Pansy, shoving another pastry in her mouth. The food at the leaky was so much better since Hannah took over.

"You have to fit into the dress!" exclaimed Parvati slapping Pansy's hand as she reached for another.

"I'm hungry," protested Pansy.

"You can't be hungry all the time!" scolded Parvati. "Two months and then you can eat all the pastry's and bon bons you like."

"Madame Malkin will alter my dress."

"But your figure is so lovely, don't let the stress get to you!"

"I hate to break it to you, but I don't think one pastry is going to ruin my figure for the wedding," protested Pansy.

"But that's your fifth one!"

"My advancing pregnancy is going to ruin my figure for the wedding," confessed Pansy, looking over at Hannah, hoping the announcement wouldn't hurt her new friend.

"What?!" exclaimed the two girls together.

"I'll be nearly five months pregnant by the end of August," Pansy confided with a low whisper.

"Why aren't we moving the date up!? Surely we could arrange for just after Hogwarts Graduation!"

"We're leaving for Palau as soon as NEWTs finish up so that Neville can conduct some research there. It's time sensitive due to some rare bloom thats going to occur," answered Pansy. "Besides, we already have two children, it isn't as if we're trying to keep up appearances with a rushed wedding. The dragon's already flown off the reserve in this case."

"We're going to have to rethink everything!" protested Pavarti.

"Why? Because I'll be fat?" asked Pansy rubbing her stomach which was still flat, for now.

"No… just… I figured this was going to be a society wedding with everyone there."

"Oh, it will, Augusta and my mother are demanding it. We're just planning on scandalizing everyone. Besides, my breasts might actually stack up next to Hannah's if we wait."

"Well…. Actually…" Hannah blushed. "My dress might need adjusting leading up as well. Ernie and I are also expecting."

"That's wonderful!" exclaimed Pansy. "Neville will be thrilled for you!"

"We're keeping it quiet until I am a little farther along, but… in light of what you just… and… you know about…"

"Of course. Well, now that that's all out in the open, I want to use Dahlias, Pansies, Violets, Azaleas, Magnolias, Poppies, and Peonies. Absolutely no Roses."

When they returned, tanned and well rested from Palau, there were quite the exclamations over her pregnancy, which they hadn't announced to their families. The twins were rather put out not to be in on the secret but were easily appeased with the gifts from the Pacific from their parents. The twins had spent the Holiday with their Longbottom Grandparents, making up for lost time.

"I hope they were good for you," she said giving Alice a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, the best. We had a wonderful time. Made all of us feel young again, especially great gran over there," she gestured to Augusta who was tightly hugging Neville. She was especially attached to the grandson she had raised and had nearly attacked them coming out of the floo.

"I'm glad. By Christmas we'll have his one in the mix. Maybe she won't pinch Nev's cheeks then," Pansy winced watching his gran coddle him as she fondly rubbed her belly in an unconscious gesture.

"Doubtful… and my, you are certainly pregnant. When are you due again?"

"November, I think," she answered still rubbing her stomach with a small smile. She hadn't exactly had time to get to the healer between the craziness of the end of the year and then getting their children wrangled to his parent's and their trip. Luckily, Palau had mostly been relaxing on the beach for her. She had done nothing but tan, relax in the ocean, and eat delicious food. Which she supposed was why she was so large. Her wedding dress would need lots of alterations.

"Well, you're certainly a glowing picture of health," said Alice diplomatically avoiding calling a spade a spade, which in her case was calling her fat.

"Thank you," she sighed, rubbing her bump. "I honestly think I ate too much fruit in Palau, they would bring me platters of it every morning. And at night, the barbeque…"

"Who knows, maybe it's twins again!" laughed Alice.

"Don't even joke about that," frowned Pansy. "One set is plenty enough trouble. Isn't there some sort of saying about lightning only striking once?"

"I'm sure you're right, but they do run in your family. Weren't your mother and your grandmother twins?"

"Nev and I have our set. Besides, McGonagall is going to have us living in the Herbologist's cottage. I don't think there's enough room to expand our family that much."

"It's bigger than you think, luv," said Nev dropping in on their conversation. "I'm going to insist on at least three more."

"NEV!" she protested as he kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her. "I told you…"

"And I'm telling you, if you bothered to poke around, the cottage is practically a mansion. There are six bedrooms and an entire living space that you've barely explored. It only looks small because it's attached to the massive greenhouses and sitting next to one of the largest castles in the northern hemisphere."

"We have to clean out the cottage for our use. I want to make sure it's done before the wedding," Pansy sighed. "Right now only one of the bedrooms isn't being used for storage, so we've got a lot to go through."

"Well, if you two decided to just retire from Hogwarts there is plenty of room here at the manor! Plus, there's really no reason you need jobs. Money is not an issue, and Neville has perfectly suitable greenhouses here," suggested Augusta, once again pushing her live and work from home so she could spend every waking moment with them agenda. Pansy and Neville met gazes and he lightly shook is head in reassurance.

"Uggh, this is a complete disaster, we're never going to get through this mess. It's like every herbology professor for the last 100 years has used this as a dumping ground for their junk."

"We should toss it all in the room of requirement," suggested Neville. "The room of hidden things had a clean out during the final battle. There would be plenty of space."

"That's actually not a bad idea, Longbottom," she conceded. "I'll just leave you to it," she said, getting up and dusting the dirt off her robes.

"Woah, where are you off to?" he complained holding up a box of random junk.

"Dress fitting for the wedding, and then I'll meet you at the healer's at 4."

"Fine fine, I'll see you there," he said absently looking at the absolute mess that was just the first of the spare bedrooms. Luckily they hadn't found anything growing yet. But there was quite a bit of old junk, and some potentially dangerous old potions ingredients. Draco was due over in a few to help sort them out, and potentially snitch some of the rarer finds in Pansy's opinion.

The dress fitting was depressing as the old witch tutted and frowned at every seam that needed letting out. Pansy rolled her eyes and tried to hold still with all the poking and prodding. It didn't really help that the baby was finally strong enough that their kicks were felt from the outside and he or she was being very active.

"Ta!" she called as she flooed to the healer's office. Arriving she signed in and filled out the requisite paperwork while waiting impatiently for Nev.

"Sorry I'm late, but Draco and I managed to clear out three bedrooms," he said hurrying in, out of breath with dust giving his hair the appearance it was greying.

"Good work. Find anything interesting?" she asked.

"Some old jewlery in one room, and quite the little potions storage in another. A family of bowtruckles in a third. Mostly junk though. The house elves helped me haul it away. They wanted some of the furniture actually."

"Wonderful. At least it won't be gathering dust if they are using it," she said, flicking her wand at his hair to clean it. She brushed off his shoulders with the quill she had used on the paperwork, causing him to sneeze.

"Was rather dusty," he agreed. "Luckily there weren't any boggarts."

"If you find one, I know they were looking for one to use with the third years for ages last year. Might as well save it," she suggested.

"Since I would rather not deal with one, that's for the best."

"Still Snape?" she asked with a wry grin.

"Not since seventh year," he laughed. "Merlin knows we grew up fast that year."

"I don't honestly want to know," she said with a shiver as the witch at the front desk called her name.

"No, that's impossible. I assure you," insisted Pansy in a rather high pitch.

"And I am assuring you, Healer Parkinson that you are indeed carrying twins. In fact the chances of having twins after having had twins before is actually higher."

"No, I'm having one baby this time," Pansy protested with a petulant whine.

"This is great!" exclaimed Neville grinning at the wand generated sonogram of the two tiny bodies.

"NO! IT IS NOT!" she insisted crossing her arms.

"I'll hire another elf," he said off hand as he reached a hand to touch the tiny face and his fingers slipped through the holographic image.

"We're going to need like five," she moaned. "Twins again. Is this my punishment for offering up Potter? Is this karma for something I said to Granger about her hair in third year? Carrying on with a married man! Oh my Merlin! It is! This is my punishment for carrying on with a married man!"

"Probably," laughed Nev. "Or, for

getting together with a herbologist. We are rather good at planting seeds love."

"I knew this was your fault Longbottom," she accused with narrowed eyes. "You are officially on diaper duty the first three months!"

"Whatever you say love," he laughed before looking to the healer again. "And they're both girls?"

"Perfectly healthy looking girls," agreed the healer.

"Thank Merlin for small favors, Nico was a nightmare as a toddler. Girls are definitely easier," sighed Pansy.

"Aren't you even the least bit excited, luv?" he asked.

"Yes," she sighed. "But one would have been so easy. You're never going to want to touch me again after seeing how big I get. And we're never going to sleep again."

"I figured you were never going to let me touch you again after this," laughed Nev.

"Digging your own grave here Nev," she raised her eyebrows at him. "Because now that you mention it…"

They waited after the wedding to tell everyone why the bride had blossomed quite so much. No sense in spoiling the surprise or overshadowing their big day. Besides, as Pansy walked toward him on the green lawn of Longheath Mannor, he couldn't help but enjoy the secret that hid behind her bouquet of Magnolias and Peonies. That's what they were planning to name the girls after all. What kind of herbologist would he be if his home wasn't full of flowers.

fin

Thanks so much for reading. Sorry this took so long. I love this couple and really had a hard time trying to figure where this ends. But with this chapter, the flashbacks are over and there's not anything left of their time at Hogwarts vs. now. I like to think that they continue on as the matron and herbology professor. Everyone looks at them as relationship goals, and their epic love story during the war and their reunion later sorta becomes the stuff of legend among the students. Nico goes to Gryffindor, and is of course bff's with Teddy Lupin (who is held back a year because Uncle Charlie accidentally give shim the dragon pox) and they get into all kinds of trouble because of course Nico knows the school super well by the time he's a first year and then when the do get caught the other professors all are kinda wrapped around his finger from knowing him since he was a kid. Except Pansy of course, who dishes out the punishment like a young McGonagall. Lia tolerates Teddy and his good friend Victoire as additions to their little group, Vic being much more tolerable as a Ravenclaw and less offensive than a Gryffindor. She of course ends up marrying a Gryffindor, her brother's other best friend Adrian Proudfoot. Pansy and Nev have an embarrassing amount of children, seven (she swears she isn't a Weasley, her husband is just terrible at charms but rather good at growing things). They end up with three more girls after Maggie (Magnolia) and Peony: Hyacinth, Calantha, and Alstra (Alstroemeria). They remain best friends with Draco and Astoria, become close with Hannah and Ernie (especially when they become in laws) and she tolerates the Weasley-Granger-Potter crew as well as she can. After all, there are standards.