Chapter 5
Ginny awoke to the smell of fresh coffee, warm pastries, and something scratchy running along her face and neck. She felt warm and comfortable on her side and could feel Draco cuddling up to her form from behind. There was something scratchy rubbing along her neck and chest, and she tried to bat it away. She turned over into the comfort of Draco's embrace and sighed contentedly.
"Morning, you," she muttered sleepily.
"And to you," he shot back. "Wake up, love. I have fresh pastries, coffee, and - other surprises." He pulled her hair up off of her neck and nuzzled the warm, still-passion-fruit-scented skin.
"Surprises wait. Sleep now. Cuddle me." She nestled further into his chest while batting the scratchy thing that was now accosting the back of her neck. "What is that scratchy thing?" she demanded testily.
Draco smiled down at her and ran the `scratchy thing' around the front of her neck and presented her with a small, green velvet box. "Can you wait for your surprises or would you rather go back to sleep?"
Her hooded eyes stayed at half-mast. She was accustomed to Draco bringing her little trinkets in dainty little boxes. "Sleep now. Surprises later."
"I think you want this surprise now."
"Draco - please - I'm sleepy."
"Come on, love. Open up your eyes long enough to look at the trinket I brought you and then, if you want to go back to sleep, you can. For me, please?"
To this, she opened one eye and sighed. "Fine. Just this one though." She took the box from him while she pushed herself away creating space between their bodies where she could open her present. She propped her head up on one elbow and looked at Draco questioningly when he took the box from her and slid off the edge of the bed. "Draco, what are you-"
He shushed her and took a hold of her free hand. "Ginny, I love you. You're gorgeous and smart and so, so perfect for me. You put up with my bullshit and give me a swift kick in the arse when I need it. I love you and I'm fairly certain you love me back. All the things that matter to the materialistic women I've seen in my life, matter in no way to you. I love the fact that none of it matters to you because ever since the day you decided I was what you wanted, your background didn't matter to me either. I know you feel like you're secondhand and I'm an insufferable git, most of the time, but I want nothing more in this world than to make you feel anything but secondhand for the rest of your life." With that last word, he popped open the green, velvet box with one hand and presented Ginny with the ring he'd been carrying around with him, for what must have been months.
Ginny gasped. Sleep was no longer an option.
Draco was propelled to the floor in the midst of heavy blankets by a slight, redheaded witch - one that he loved with all his heart. Draco felt moisture between his neck and Ginny's cheek, and pushed Ginny off of him slightly. "Ginny, please tell me those are happy tears."
"Yes, they are."
"So, what do you say? Marry me?"
"OF COURSE!"
He smiled, the largest smile Ginny had ever seen him plaster on his face and she hugged him with all her might. Draco sat them up and made it to his feet with her in his arms. She was frantically kissing his face while laughing and crying simultaneously. Draco sat on the edge of the mattress and began wiping away her tears.
"You said yes. I can't believe you said yes." A tear slipped out of his eye. It drifted down his cheekbone and Ginny kissed it. He now understood what happy tears were.
Ginny rested her head on Draco's shoulder while he rubbed her lower back and kissed her neck. Suddenly, Ginny's head shot up.
"Draco?"
"Yes, love."
"Did you say you brought me pastries?"
"Yes, love."
"They're fresh?"
"Yes, love."
"I thought I told you I didn't want you to leave me this morning."
"Did you notice I was gone?"
"No, but what if I had?"
"I would have made it all better, even if the ring didn't make you forget that I wasn't here when you woke up."
She grinned as her stomach let out a loud growl
Draco laughed. "Want to eat?"
"Yes, I'm starving! What did you bring me?"
"Go look."
He heard her squeal in delight as she discovered most of the bakery in their kitchen.
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