Chapter 24 ➛Love's Language

I slowly felt my consciousness returning, and I looked up at a white sky. I felt movement, but my legs weren't walking. My arms hung by my sides but never touched the ground. I felt someone carrying me, but I couldn't see a face. I only heard a voice, ''Everything's going to be alright, darling.''

I blinked, and the next thing I heard was two voices talking.

''With a wound like that, there isn't much chance at survival. The spell was aimed at her heart. There's but a slight chance that she'll wake up.''

I wanted to scream, to yell that I was not dead. But my body didn't do as I told it to. I felt terribly sore and stiff.

''Isn't there anything we can do to make sure she'll survive?'' It was the same voice as before. The warm, soft but also familiar voice. ''Anything at all?''

''I'm sorry, sir. But all we can do is await what faith will bring her.''

Then the voices turned into mumbles, and I heard doors open, then close again. Then, there were footsteps, the scraping sound of a chair and I sensed someone being close to me.

My hand was taken from the bed and was held by another.

''Why does this happen to you? Why does he have to do this to you?''

There it was again. That voice. It made me want to jump up and scream I wasn't dead. I wanted to run. Show them I couldn't be killed by a single spell. But my body wouldn't move, and my mouth refused to form any words.

I felt a hand on my brow, slowly caressing me and tucking my hair behind my ear. Then, I felt his lips on mine.

I slowly lifted my eyelids, but almost immediately dropped them again. They felt so heavy, that I wondered if I would be able to hold them open for longer than five seconds. I opened my mouth to talk, but all I made was a small squeaky noise. I very slowly felt the control over my body return to me and I slowly turned my head towards him, resting it on the soft pillow.

I lifted my eyelids halfway, not feeling strong enough to fully open them, but it was enough to see the person in front of me.

It was him.

Gellert Grindelwald.

His eyes were watering and his cheeks were moist.

He was crying.

''I love you, Emily. Please, don't die.''

He softly pecked my lips again and sighed heavily as he slowly retreated.

I barely opened my mouth and tiredly mumbled, ''Ge-Gellert.''

His face cleared immediately and he raised his eyebrows, watching me with surprise and wonder, but the main emotion showing on his face was hope. ''I'm not dead, yet,'' I mumbled weakly as a small smile came to my lips and my eyes closed again.

A small smile played on his face. ''I love you, too,'' I muttered with closed eyes.

''Thank god.'' He closed his own eyes, and raised my hand to his lips and gently planted a small kiss on my knuckles.

''My beautiful woman.''

But then, suddenly I gasped as a wave of sharp pain came from my shoulder.

He opened his eyes and watched me concerned. I looked down at my chest and saw the origin of the pain was bandaged.

I tried to push myself upright, but I couldn't. My entire body was aching and stiff.

''Please, darling. You need to rest. It's a miracle you survived what has happened,'' he whispered softly.

Then everything returned to me. The chase. The spell. Jonathan. The Time-Turner.

''Gellert. I've got the Time-Turner,'' I managed to say. This was too important to conceal. He had to get it before something happened to it.

Only now I realized I was at the infirmary. It was still as dark like last time, but I could see the outline of Queenie's dark figure sitting on a bed against the opposite wall.

''I know.'' He held up the golden necklace, and I relaxed a little. For a moment I was afraid I had dropped it in the forest and it was still lying there.

''Was that why you chased him? You shouldn't have. Look at what he has done to you.''

I looked at him tiredly. ''But we needed it. This was the only chance. And I don't regret anything. I'm still alive, and we have what we need. Now we can get Tom. Just promise me to keep it safe. I would rather not almost die again,'' I said softly, chuckling weakly.

''I'm already glad you're still alive, but promise me you'll never do that again.''

I smiled and closed my eyes. ''I promise.''

The next week was extremely boring. The only thing that kept my spirits high were the visits from Grindelwald.

He promised to visit me every time he got the chance and he didn't break that promise. He came at least five times a day in which he told me to rest and just relax as he made sure I wasn't trying to sneak away.

Despite his visits, the nights were still extremely boring and I felt alone without him by my side, and I just hoped I could return to everyday life quickly because I was never really someone to sit and do nothing all day.

I had to stay at the infirmary for at least nine days, and the only company I had next to Grindelwald was Queenie. She had often glanced at me with some light in her eyes, which I thought was just my mind playing tricks on me.

She was a vampire now. She wasn't even supposed to know who I was, no matter how painful that might be.

I tried speaking to her a few times, but she never replied. Not that I expected her to.

I felt frustrated for just sitting here, doing nothing about her situation while I actually should be out, finding that Muggle, Jacob Kowalski so we would be able to return her personality to her. And right now, I was only able to watch her sit here with a stoic face. It was driving me crazy.

The nurse only showed up when it was time for me to eat. She usually just ignored Queenie which irritated me. I often asked her questions, but most of the time she would answer curtly and just look at me like I'm a freak.

I didn't tell Grindelwald about it. I didn't want him to know people treated me differently. I didn't want him to hurt people because they hurt me, that's not how it works. And if I want to see them hurt, I'll make sure they are myself. I don't need anyone for that.

I was having a conversation with Owyn and was talking out loud because no one else but Queenie was there, and she didn't seem to care, or even notice at all.

So, you've risked your life for that trinket? This is ridiculous. If I could fly, I would've eaten that man in one bite!

I chuckled. ''I would prefer you not to. I don't want you to die from food poisoning.''

I was startled by a knock on the door and shifted my gaze. ''Got to go. Someone's here.''

Probably /Boyfriend.

''You're terrible,'' I whispered, sniggering softly.

I know.

It wasn't very surprising that I saw Grindelwald enter the infirmary since he came very often. ''Goodday, sweetheart.''

He seems suspiciously cheerful, I thought.

He bent to down to kiss me and playfully nibbled my lower lip.

''What's happened to get you so cheerful today?'' I asked raising my eyebrows as he smirked at me.

''I have great news that will surely brighten your mood,'' he announced smiling at me with a small twinkle in his eyes. ''You are allowed to leave.''

I watched him surprised. ''But the nurse said I needed at least nine days of rest,'' I said confused. He shook his head. ''You've been recovering really quickly, so she decided to let you go a few days early.''

I grinned at him and raised an eyebrow. ''And why does this make you so happy?''

His cheeks slightly reddened, but I wasn't sure how much because there was only one curtain opened to make sure I was getting enough light, but Queenie not too much.

''Well, life has been slightly boring without you being there to distract me,'' he whispered before he kissed me again.

''Hm. Well, you could've helped me sneak out of this place,'' I said grinning. ''Instead of keeping me here.''

''It would influence your health, you know that.'' It seemed he couldn't be joking about what happened. ''I was just joking,'' I said placing a quick peck on his lips.

''Well, let's get out of here then,'' I said excitedly. He held out his arm to me and I took it while I sat up straight, and slowly moved to the edge of the bed. I put my other arm around his neck and he placed his hand on my waist so he supported me while I was trying to stand.

I carefully got up and leaned on him as my whole body ached. I gritted my teeth and when I was finally standing, I tried to step but I fell forward against Grindelwald.

''Slowly,'' he said, as his grip around my waist tightened and he supported me while I tried to take another step.

This time I didn't fall and I managed to stand upright. I was limping, but I was able to move which made me feel better, but I hated that I couldn't just run out of this place and feel the wind on my face and hear the snow crunch under my feet. After laying for so long, I needed to move, I needed it. But I couldn't, and it might be best if I'd be distracted for a while.

''Thank you,'' I whispered placing a kiss on his cheek. ''Of course. It's my duty,'' he said solemnly. I chuckled softly.

''No doubt it will feel great to not be alone at night anymore. I've missed you,'' I said smiling at the floor. ''I have missed you too, darling. More than you can imagine.''

Once we were in the corridor, he asked me where I wanted to go, but I wasn't feeling well enough to actually go and do something, so I asked him if we could just go to his quarters.

''You know, it's alright to say our quarters,'' he said softly.

I nodded.

I was growing tired of walking and it cost an enormous amount of energy which I hadn't expected.

When we entered the room we were greeted by a surprised screech of Owyn.

You're back already? I thought you said you had to stay there for at least three more days.

Since Grindelwald was next to me I decided not to talk out loud so I just told him about my quick recovery through my thoughts.

''Let's get you comfortable,'' Grindelwald said guiding me towards the bed and carefully laying me down.

It took some time for me to adjust and actually lie comfortable, but when I was, I felt better than when I was still lying in the infirmary. His bed was softer and so were the pillows.

When I sighed contentedly he smiled at me and lay down horizontally on the bed and rested his head in my lap. I placed my hand on his platinum blonde hair and started caressing his head.

''I've missed you here,'' he said softly placing a soft kiss on my hand. ''I've also missed myself here,'' I whispered, chuckling softly. ''It feels good to be back here, I was starting to feel depressed back in the infirmary, it was always so dark. Also, it didn't help much that Queenie wouldn't stop staring.''

I frowned as she entered my mind. ''I want to help her, Gellert.''

It still felt a little weird to be using his first name or even calling him by his surname. Usually, I'd just say 'sir'.

''I know, darling. But now you first have to help yourself. You can't go running around now, chasing some Muggle. That'll not be good for you. You almost didn't make it here. Imagine you'd have to search entire London.''

He looked up at me with a small smile. ''For now, you just need rest. After you've recovered entirely, we can go and find him together. I also want to help Queenie, but I do know that if I do it by myself, you'll still feel guilty.''

I sighed. I knew he was right. I felt like it was my fault that Queenie was now a vampire. I couldn't help it, but I felt like I needed to be the one to save her. Like a repayment for what I had done to her in the first place.

''But let's not worry about that for now.'' He slowly got up until his head was on the same level as mine.

''Let's just enjoy each other's company, now we have the chance again,'' he whispered, slowly closing the distance between us.

I placed my arms around his neck the moment his lips touched mine. Soon he was gently kissing down my neck and jawline but stopped just before he reached my aching shoulder and wound. Then, he kissed his way back up to my mouth and placed his hand on my thigh.

I had missed his kisses. I had missed his traveling hands. I had missed his beautiful soft, platinum blonde hair. I had missed his smell and his mismatched eyes. I had missed him! And now I got him back and I couldn't get enough of him, and he seemed to feel the same about me.

As he kissed his way down the other side of my neck and jawline, I buried my face in the crook of his neck and couldn't help but tuck at his heavy trench coat.

He slowly broke the kiss and threw it off, along with his dark colored waistcoat. Now he was only wearing a shirt. And as he returned to kissing me, I started fumbling with the buttons.

I only managed to get loose two of them, when he gently pushed my hands away and unbuttoned them himself.

The aching in my shoulder increased, but I ignored the pain because I wanted to enjoy this moment. I tried not to twitch or gasp because that might betray I was in pain, which I didn't want him to know, because then he'd stop with what he was doing.

The tickling of his mustache all over my neck and face made me giggle and he smirked as he softly nibbled my skin.

My hands traveled up his bare chest until they found his face once more and I couldn't help but let them run through his hair.

Then, he returned his lips to mine and we started kissing again.

Maybe being sick wasn't that bad after all.