CHAPTER ONE

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1976 – Cork, England. Spinners End.

A panting of breaths filled the otherwise quiet room. The sounds of a raging party more than two streets over could clearly be heard through the open window, as could the sounds of the at least three police cars steadily approaching the unwieldy group. Any thoughts of warning the partygoers, or at least one in particular, of their impending guests were cut short as two pairs of lips met, hot and hungry with desire.

She tasted like Peach Schnapps and licorice. He tasted like tea and whisky, his hair still smelling faintly of sweet smoke from their earlier activities. She could smell it on her shirt as well as he pulled it off, endearingly carefully not to snag it on her chin or nose, and threw it across the room to join his own shirt in the growing pile of discarded clothing on the bedroom floor.

His tongue and lips and teeth were hot and pressing against her neck as he kissed his way down to her chest. Oh god, the things he could do with that tongue….

1993 – Sunnydale, California

"My God Sev, it's damn good to see you!" Jessica huffed out throwing an arm around the tall, dark haired man's shoulders. She didn't seem to mind when he only vaguely returned the gesture, obviously still shell shocked. But he regained at least most of his wits quickly enough.

"Jessica Lavelle…" he said breathlessly, as if he were still unsure that she was actually standing in front of him. "Gods, how long has it been? Over fifteen years now isn't it?"

"Almost seventeen," Jessica corrected with a small wry smile. Severus became instantly wary when he saw that familiar expression cross her face. He had seen that expression before. It usually meant that she knew something that he didn't. Something important. Something that she knew that she could play him with later. Of all the people he'd ever known, muggle and magic alike, she was definitely the most Slytherin of them all. "And it's Harris now."

It took Severus a moment to register that name before another sardonic smirk grew on his own face to make the woman across from him. "Ah- so Tony finally proposed then? Funny, I never pictured you for the suburban type."

"Very funny Sev," Jess huffed, swatting him in the arm. "He cornered me at the terminal in New York. Whisked me away for a four day weekend in the Big City and Vancouver before I could make my escape. Proposed right there in front of Niagra Falls."

The story sounded sweet enough to anyone passing by, but Severus Snape knew Jess, whatever her last name may be now. Jess didn't do sweet. And he scowled disparagingly at her charming little story. Jessica's own sardonic tone and rolling eyes told him she didn't necessarily disagree with his assessment.

"Oh for the love of- and you said yes, of course?" Sev cut off scathingly.

"Well what was I supposed to do? Turn him down in front of a hundred witnesses on that damn little tour boat?" Jessica huffed, but he could tell that she was more annoyed at her own past self than she was at him. "Even I'm not that much of a bitch – don't."

Jess snapped when Severus opened his mouth, looking as though he were about to disagree. She held up a warning finger at the dark haired man as she set her bag of groceries down on the back fender of a tatty old estate car. Severus honestly hadn't noticed the two of them slowly making their way towards the back bumper of what he presumed to be her car. She sighed, looking tired and worn and nothing like the Jessica that he knew and remembered from their brief days (and nights) spent together in England. She set the bag in the back of the car, closing the back hood, and shrugged aimlessly.

"Besides, I was young and stupid and in love."

"Jessica Lavelle, and no I will not call you Harris, regardless of whatever unmanageable lump you have matrimoniously bound yourself too. I have never ever known you to be 'stupid'. A bit foolish perhaps, and obstinately strong willed-"

"Look who's talking," she smirked. Severus raised an eyebrow, quickly silencing her.

"But not stupid. Never stupid."

Jessica shrugged lightly at the closest thing to a compliment that she knew Severus was even capable of making. It was so long ago now. What was even the point of bringing it all back up? She had made her bed, and now she had to lie in it.

"There were… other considerations."

"What-"

"Hey Ma!" Jessica didn't know whether to curse or laugh as said 'considerations' came rolling down the sidewalk on his skateboard. She knew that Severus had seen him as she felt the taller man stiffen where he stood beside her as she sat against the bumper of the Oldsmobile.

"Hi honey," she smiled endearingly up at the boy as he stumbled awkwardly off his board, scooping the damn thing that had resulted in so many near collisions off the sidewalk and tucking it safely under his arm. The sixteen year old ducked sideways to give her a kiss on the cheek before popping open the back window and digging around in the bag of groceries. He cried out in victory and pulled out a can of ravioli and a bag of cheezy doodles as Jessica just shook her head sadly. She really had to get that boy to start eating better. But then again, it wasn't exactly like she cooked. "Are you going to be home for dinner?"

Her son just shook his head absently as he tried to finangle a can of pasta and tomato sauce into one of the cargo pockets on his. "Late study session at the library. I think we're going to relocate to Willow's at some point for snackage. Probably just eat there."

Jessica nodded sadly. She knew her son wouldn't go hungry as long as Willow was around. The girls' parents may have been neglectful to the point of criminal abuse, but Willow was a level headed girl. Quiet, but fiercely protective of her Xander shaped friend. Especially after what had happened with Jesse last year…. And at least Willow always had a large supply of fresh and microwave ready food available. It wasn't like her boy was going to find anything better at home. And it was probably best he wasn't around after Tony got out of work anyway.

"Call if you're going to stay over," she acquiesced with a sigh.

"Sure thing," Xander agree absently. He had finally managed to get the can of ravioli securely fitted into his pants pocket and looked up with a grin. He pressed another quick peck against her cheek before tucking the bag of cheese doodles securely under on arm and dropping his board to the sidewalk as he pushed off towards the direction of the school library. "Bye mom! And don't leave the house after dark!"

1976 – Cork, England. Spinners End.

She could scarcely breath, scarcely think. Dear GOD the things this boy could do with his tongue! She had to bite her bottom lip as he kissed a trail down her collar bone, over her chest, across her flat stomach, down towards her belly button. It was only when he was fiddling with the button on her jeans that she regained enough clarity to halt the proceedings.

"What about Lilly?" she panted out, still not totally coherent as her pulse thrummed in her ears and the blood rushed to her head. She felt him still, no- not still. Freeze. She felt him freeze, his fingers still on her waistline before he growled back a reply, resuming his attempts to release her of her wretchedly tight jeans.

"Fuck Lilly," he spat viciously. But by now Jessica had regained her bearings. She shocked him by flipping him over onto his back, straddling him like he was a wild horse as she pinned his hands loosely above his head and pressed her chest into his. She had always been much stronger than people had given her credit for.

"Uh-uh. It's myturn now." Jess grinned wickedly and she was certain she saw more than a little awe mixed up in Severus's dark, obsidian eyes as she met his mouth with hers. Claiming him as hers.

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