Chapter 8: Summertime

"Why didn't you tell me, Rose?" Scorpius asked the moment they were out of earshot of the other dinner guests.

"Tell you what?" Rose asked back, playing dumb.

"You're not an idiot, don't pretend to be one." Scorpius said with an annoyed sigh, "Why didn't you tell me, I would have been there for you, helped you."

"I was scare, Scor, I was afraid you'd be mad, and that my father would never speak to me again, and I'd be all alone." Rose gave him a hard look, "You know I hate being alone. Feeling alone."

"Rose Bella Weasley, I'd never leave you alone, and you should know that!" he practically yelled at her,

"I was scared, hormonal, and expecting the worst. I fled, instead of sticking it out, it was a bad decision, I don't deny it, but Lyra is happy, and I'm doing alright, so it all worked out, and you shouldn't be so mad at me!" Rose yelled back, letting the submissive shy demeanor forced onto her by her bosses fall away to bring back the woman she used to be.

Scorpius stared at her for a minute, surprised by her outburst, "I would've married you." he whispered.

"I would've said no." Rose told him softly, putting her hand on his arm, "You're my best friend, and I had a phase of having feelings for you, but I got over it in fifth year." she told him, smiling sadly.

"Oh, well damn, I should've said something then, huh? Y'know, since I was an oblivious teenager and all." Scorpius ranted,

"Scorpius Malfoy, you're being an arse." Rose said firmly, locking their eyes, "We were both stupid teenagers. I wasn't in love with you, I had a crush on you at fifteen. We would've just lost our friendship when we finally split up."

"Well I was in love. I am in love with you, Rose." Scorpius said, being as honest as he could, "I want to marry you, I want to be with you forever, but if you don't love me yet, fine, but give me a chance to try, to court you, to make you fall in love with me." he begged.

"Scor... I... Fine." Rose relented, his puppy-dog eyes almost as good as Lyra's. "You have until Lyra gets home from Hogwarts to make me feel anything romantic for you. Is that enough of a chance?" she asked.

"Can I tell Lyra? That you're her mother?" Scor asked, not answering her.

"Will I get to be a part of her life, even if we don't get married?" she asked, getting sheepish again,

"Of course." he laughed, relaxing,

"Then yes, you can tell her."

"I have a MAMA!" Lyra squealed, leaping out from behind a bush in the garden to latch onto Rose.

"Lyra, what were you doing?" Scorpius asked his daughter,

"I wanted to find out what you and Rose- I mean Mama were talking about." Lyra answered, her smile getting bigger when she called Rose her mom.

Rose smiled, bending down so that she was eye level with her daughter, the very thought of getting to call the vibrant little girl such making her extremely happy, "You shouldn't eavesdrop, Lyra." she scolded gently,

"Sorry..." Lyra tried to look repentant, but failed because she was too happy to have Rose as her mom, "Are you gonna live with us now, Mama?" she asked, eyes wide and innocent, pulling the same trick her father had only minutes before.

"I... Uh... Well..." Rose stuttered, looking to Scorpius for help, but he only smiled and waited for her to answer their daughter.

"Rose, I need to speak to you for a moment." Valeria said tightly from the entrance to the house, clearly having overheard their conversation as well.

Rose nodded, "I'll be right back, then I'll answer, okay?" she sighed, pressing a kiss to Lyra's head before following Valeria into the house.

"You're fired you little slut." Valeria hissed, "Trying to steal my future husband." she ranted to herself for a moment before slapping Rose hard across the cheek and storming away.

Rose returned to Scorpius and Lyra, stunned nearly speechless, but a small smile on her face, "I'm free" she thought, making her smile more.

"If it's alright with you're father-"

"It is." Scorpius said, as if it was painfully obvious.

"Then yes, I'll be living with you." Rose finished, earning her a huge hug from Lyra,

"Thank you, Mama." she whispered, looking up at her mother with sparkling eyes, full of happy tears.

"I think it's time to get to bed now, sweetheart." Scorpius told her, using his 'I'm-the-dad-do-as-I-say' voice.

"Okay..." Lyra sighed sadly, trying to will her father into letting her stay up with her pleading eyes.

"Rose will still be here when you get up, I promise." Scorpius told her, stroking the young girl's hair.

"I promise too, I'll be here." Rose told her, "Are you too old to be tucked in?" she asked, thinking of a way to spend time with her daughter.

"Kinda..." Lyra sighed, "I'd get teased for it now..." she mumbled,

"Well, I won't tell. And neither will your dad, so how about I tuck you in tonight?" she suggested, offering her hand to the girl,

"Okay!" Lyra cheered up suddenly, taking the offered hand and pulling Rose along to her bedroom.

"I love you, Lyra." Rose whispered to the almost asleep girl, who had been fully tucked in, and chatted lightly with.

"Love you too, Mama..." Lyra yawned, falling into a deep sleep.

Scorpius watched his two favorite girls from the doorway, a content smile on his face.

"I'll take you to your room." he whispered to the red-haired woman, who was standing from beside their daughter's bed,

"Alright." Rose whispered back, "Thank you. For letting me be a part of her life..." she told him, "Thank you so much..."

A/N: Wow, I am so, so, so sorry for the crazy long wait on this chapter. I recently got my first job ever, and it's... Hell. xD I work 30 hours a week normally, but because my boss is nuts, everybody keeps quitting or getting fired, so I'm working 40 until she gets more people hired and trained.

Anyway, enough whining about my life and excuses.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! I felt so bad every time I read a review and didn't have the time to write, but as soon as I did have time, I whipped this up, which is why it's not great, but we're getting onto the romance finally.

The song for this chapter is "Summertime" by My Chemical Romance.

I'll try to get the next chapter up in a more timely manner.

~Syl~