A/N - Updates are finally finished. Not much needed to be done, but I promise to stop playing with it now. Life in the Shadows is next.
Dani
Prologue
The peaks of the Italian Alps could be seen in the distance, and the rolling hills leading to the small, fieldstone cottage invited an early spring. Lilac trees had begun to bud, and the grape vines climbing the trellis of the front gate were beginning to fill out. A low, stone wall surrounded the cottage and the neatly kept yard. The cobblestone path to the front door was even and straight, and the door, made of dark, heavy oak, had a small window just big enough to look out. Two smaller windows, on either side of the door, sported window boxes, but the flowers had not yet begun to grow. On the whole, the cottage appeared to be the perfect picture of a comfortable home.
Inside, the bright sun shone through the large picture window that ran across the back wall of the sitting room warming the crisp morning air. A large, cream coloured sofa stood against the outer wall, a matching armchair to its left. The room was in shades of cream, moss green, and dark rose. Colourful throw pillows adorned the sofa, and a large, patchwork quilt was tossed over the back of the chair. A neatly filled ceiling-to-floor bookcase stood on the opposite wall beside an open-hearth fireplace. The fireplace was built in such a way that it opened into two rooms through the wall: the sitting room and the kitchen.
Severus, in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, lay sprawled on his stomach, elbows propped under him for support, on the soft area rug in the middle of the room. His jet-black hair curled slightly at the ends and tickled his angular cheeks. Saxon lay opposite him in exactly the same position. Two sets of ebony eyes stared at each other. Neither moved, neither blinked. I watched, silently amused, from the kitchen doorway. As quick as a flash, Saxon's hand reached out and yanked Severus' hair, making the formidable wizard wince.
"That's cheating!" he cried as he reached out to scoop the smiling, one year old into his arms, rolling onto his back as he did so and extending Saxon at arms length above him.
The child laughed at the sudden movement of his father.
"Think that's funny, do you?" Severus asked dryly as he tossed the giggling boy into the air. He was rewarded with a squeal of delight.
After a few more light tosses, Severus lowered his son to his chest to rest. They lay there for a few moments, Severus flat on his back, arms outstretched to the sides while Saxon lay sprawled across his chest like a rag doll. It was a vision of pure contentment.
"Do you want to stay here today, or shall we take a walk into the village?" I asked from the doorway, regrettably disturbing their peace.
Severus twisted his head to look in my direction, then, steadied the, now wiggling, Saxon with his hands.
"It looks pleasant enough outside. A walk would be nice. Doesn't Signora Campta bake cinnamon buns on Wednesdays?" he asked mischievously.
I smiled. I could tell where this was going.
The Campta's were an elderly couple that ran the village bakery. Severus had developed a passion for Signora Campta's cinnamon buns and like clockwork every Wednesday and Saturday morning, Severus would trek down to get his supply.
"Shall I make breakfast here, or shall we tend to your cinnamon obsession first?" I teased.
Saxon rolled off of his father's chest and unsteadily toddled in my direction. Severus gracefully rose to his feet to follow.
"It may be wise to feed this little monster first," he replied as he scooped the giggling boy up from behind, carrying him into the kitchen. "Remember the last time we made him wait for a meal?"
I remembered all too well and had vowed never to do it again. The screaming tantrum and tears in the market square drew looks of disdain that had me cringe and had Severus' temper flair, vowing never to bring Saxon in public again until he was twenty!
Severus gently placed Saxon in a wooden high chair at the end of the small kitchen table and sat to his left. I placed a small plate of cut up strawberries, bananas and toast in front of the child and a cup of steaming coffee in front of Severus, then sat opposite my two men, watching them intently. Who would have believed that our lives would have taken such a turn?