Chapter 36: Settling In

{A/N: Here's Another update...I've been challenged apparently...so I'll be a bit nice this go around...Lol}

My Thanks To All My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

Master Bedroom, Northside Cottage, Greenvile, England, Muggle World...

Something of a cool breeze greeted the slumbering expecting young witch and her less than enthusiastic husband when morning arrived with swirling gray clouds filled almost to bursting. A contented sigh escaped the lips of the amber eyed Hermione Granger-Snape as she settled into bed more than pleased with the way everything had turned out for her and her former Potions Professor, husband. As Hermione looked over the tall, pale, and usually brooding wizard, she couldn't help but smile.

Snape seemed to be well aware of her watching him and grunted before rolling onto his side like an enormous sleeping cat. Unable to resist, she let one of her warm and relatively smaller hands move along his exposed chest feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm as he continued to sleep. The plush sheets and soft mattress had been a welcome change compared to the old bed back at Spinner's End and it seemed to be doing the older wizard a world of good.

Hermione knew all too well that Snape had suffered tremendously as a result of the wizarding wars and his own tumultuous childhood back at Spinner's end. She had been of the mind to ensure that he'd been quite comfortable.

Snape shifted a bit as if he'd been trying to get even more comfort for his efforts. Hermione smiled once more before gently leaning down to kiss the apparently contented wizard. Snape at first attempted to bat away her peppering kisses before her giggling slightly awakened him and he pulled her into his arms and returned the favor.

They had been in the grips of a light bit of tussling when there had been a knock on their front door. Hermione had been curious as to whom would be visiting them, as she had not informed her friends of the new move in a bid to give Snape time to settle before bombarding him with faces from the past he'd been trying to forget.

The persistent knocking had gotten Snape's attention as well and he managed to scramble out of bed as fast as Hermione had, spelling on at least an old black muggle t-shirt and gray sweatpants before venturing toward the front door. Hermione had been dressed as well curious as to whom had been so bold or so outgoing to intrude upon their property so soon.

The amber eyes of the curious witch widened when she found herself coming face to face with a red head woman and a thin quiet boy whom appeared to have been her teenage son.

"Hello." said the apparently cheerful red head. "I'm Claudia and this is my son Royce, we saw the moving van yesterday and figured we'd come by and welcome you to the neighborhood..we even brought cake..."

The thin teen known as "Roy" had been lacking a good deal of social skill as he awkwardly shuffled a bit in his stance.

"That's quite thoughtful of you." said Hermione taking a look at what appeared to have been a red velvet cake. "I'm Hermione and that seemingly unmovable grouch over there is my husband Severus."

Snape leaned against a nearby wall with his arms folded across his t-shirt clad chest. He hated red velvet cake, but said nothing as the strange woman's curious eyes focused on him. There was a hint of something akin to odd flirtation in her gaze as she turned her attention back to the pleasant younger woman before her.

"Severus and Hermione...what interesting names." said the rather cheerful red head. "We'll let you two get further settled in, I just wanted to come by and bid you both welcome."

Snape said nothing as he read the apparent intention of the red head's thoughts almost instantly. He had not been too keen on her but her long suffering son was suppressing something that could prove to be quite dangerous if left unchecked for too long.

"Well it was a pleasure meeting you." said Hermione with a smile.

"Likewise." replied Claudia turning her gaze once more to Snape before collecting her rather shy son and taking her leave.

Hermione looked over the cake she held in her hands and smiled as she closed the front door.

"What nice neighbors." she said blissfully unaware of the apparent attraction the strange woman had to her husband.

Snape rolled his eyes and followed her into the kitchen seeking out a cup of coffee given his unwanted start to his morning.

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The Kitchen, Northside Cottage, Greenvile, England, Muggle World...

Outside of the distraction due to their new neighbors, it had been a pleasant morning all things considered. Hermione sat the cake on a nearby counter-top and made her way toward the bowl of fruit a few meters away. Snape ventured over toward her taking a sip from the newly filled mug he clutched so tightly before taking notice of his expecting wife's interest in the fruit bowl on the counter.

"All things considered, I believe we are having quite the morning." she said happily looking about her new kitchen.

"If you say so witch." replied Snape sipping his coffee a bit more before setting the mug down beside the fruit bowl and wrapping his arms around Hermione's waistline.

Hermione let out something of a contented sigh resting in the warm embrace of her ever moody husband enjoying the bliss of what their lives have become in the wake of such tragic circumstances before hand.

"Thinking about last night witch?" Snape taunted with a half smile filed across his sallow pale face just as he leaned down to kiss her on top of the head.

Hermione closed her eyes as a smiled filed across her own youthful face.

"Last night was..." she began before biting her bottom lip in reflection of their collective efforts the previous night.

"Exquisite." Snape finished for her as he kissed her shoulder. "One might even say it deserves and encore."

Hermione seemed to be in agreement as she continued to lean back against him. Snape's hands went from her waist to her belly as he continued to hold her for several minutes in the massively well maintained kitchen.

"What are your plans for today?" she asked curious despite the apparent mood.

Snape smirked.

"I suppose I should began my search for employment." he replied taking one more moment to relish their union before turning his attention back to his coffee and the news paper on the table.

"Sounds like a good start." replied Hermione giving him her approval in terms of his seriously considering her words regarding his brewing of illegal potions for coin.

"I suppose." replied Snape turning his attention back to the classifieds. "Muggle work is as good as any work...if it means I have something to keep myself occupied other than bedding you...not that I don't enjoy listening to your screams of uncontested pleasure."

"Not everything is about you git." said Hermione folding her arms across her chest as she set about getting breakfast together for the two of them.

She had dared not say it aloud, but she was quite proud of him and how far he'd come from those months of solitude and self destruction following their near divorce and the loss of their first born son.

It was a very nice change of pace, enjoying a simple average morning with the wizard she loved and only with the addition of their unborn child did she see it getting any better.

Snape looked up from the paper noting the witch had been staring at him.

"Something the matter?" he asked with an arched brow.

"Huh...oh...no...everything is...just perfect." replied Hermione shaking herself from her daydream.

Snape shook his head before turning his attention back to the classifieds. She had been as enthralled by her romanticized view of him as always it seemed.