-=Thank Merlin JKR condones my deviant behaviour.=-

Abandon

The Ways of Love

"Don't be a chicken. Hold still." She tapped his outer thighs, shins, knees, pectorals, and his back along the spine. Severus gave her a questioning look. "Armour. My leathers already have the armour built in so I don't have to add any. Here, put your helmet on. Don't be a baby I'm a very good driver, I'd rather be safer than sorry."

Trying to pull the helmet on. "It's too small." Severus insisted.

"No it's not. It is supposed to be tight, keep you from knockin' your noggin. Hold still." Echo fixed Severus' hair into a loose ponytail and jammed the helmet on his head. "There that's better, I suggest you keep the visor down so your eyes don't get all dried out. And don't forget keep your feet on the pegs." She tapped the foot holds in demonstration. "All of this," she pointed to the exhaust, "gets very hot and will burn you if you're not careful. Ready?"

"What do you call this thing?" Severus looked dubious.

"Nineteen eighty-five Honda Interceptor. It's a good solid bike. After you," waving him on. Making sure he was on the bike okay, Echo pulled her hair back and pulled her helmet on. Straddling the bike in front of Severus, Echo pulled Severus forward to wrap his arms around her stomach, Echo put her gloves on and put up the stand. Giving Severus the thumbs up, she revved the bike. Severus clutched at her convulsively, she rode slowly for the first five miles by her tachometer, with her hazards on. It was a lonely road, they were on. The weather was crisp and not too cool. Severus relaxed little by little but once she went the speed limit he held on like he meant to cut her in half. When they came on a closed petrol station Severus signalled to pull over. Echo came to a smooth stop. Climbing off the bike Echo inspected Severus carefully. He's white as Mamaw's bloomers on the line. "You alright?"

Severus staggered off the bike, Echo gripped him to steady the gangly man. Pulling the helmet off, "and I thought brooms were bad."

"You shouldn't feel bad, it's not for everyone. My first dozen times on a bike and my knees quaked and quavered so much you might have thought someone was about to kill me, but it was such a thrill I kept riding. Do you want to wait here for me to come back I'd like to tear-up this stretch?" He nodded once, "back up Sugarpie." Echo jammed her helmet back on, jumped on her bike. As soon as Severus was safely out-of-the-way she tore out of there in a spray of gravel.

Echo pressed herself almost completely against the thundering machine. Severus was appreciative of Echo's restraint when he saw her fly down the road, like a bat out of hell.

~*~

Severus was a tad warm in the black kevlar. It wasn't long before she returned. Climbing off the bike Echo removed her helmet. "That was fun. Did I ever tell you, you look sexy as all-get-out?"

Severus' mouth quirked, "yes repeatedly, though I'm not sure I know what that's supposed to mean." Attempting to keep from laughing, "your Sugarpie is tired and hungry. Mind if we apparate back?"

"You're makin' fun of me. Good thing I love you, else you might have trouble on your hands." Tapping the helmets and bike they were transferred neatly to Hogwarts' gates. "Fine, but you're cookin'."

Looking over his nose at her, "I always cook unless the elves cook. And speaking of which I couldn't understand your Mother's recipes. For one, what is knee-tall-taters?"

"That's a measure of potatoes. If you have a bag of potatoes next to you, it's from the floor to the top of your knee. That's for a large group." Echo remarked off-handedly.

"And most of the recipes don't have measurements at all, only a list of ingredients. And there's one page that's just food splotches."

Echo interrupted Severus, "that one is Mama's secret recipe for Sugarpie. If you can figure it out, you win the prize. You're making me hungry for Sugarpie." Echo grabbed his butt.

"That is not dignified." Severus protested, removing her hand.

Grabbing both cheeks in her hands, "Sugarpie is my all-time favourite. I could eat it all day long."

Removing her hands Severus distracted her with a kiss. "Food, woman." Echo took hold of his arm and they disapparated.

~*~

Echo ate the last slice of butter bread, "I had a good time today, could be better though." Echo looked at Severus pointedly.

"How?" Severus was sure he knew what was coming.

"Well, we could get down to some baby-making. It'd be like the coconut on the icing." Echo cleared up the table and tugged Severus into their bedroom.

"Once you're carrying my child, you won't be riding that contraption." Severus took her mouth to prohibit protest.

AN/ Special thanks for your input and encouragement. Cheers!