Chapter 22

It took Severus a moment to realise where he was when he woke up. The soft glow of low sunshine streamed in through the windows and the room was pleasantly hazy with warmth. He was in his bedroom, his and Harry's room, in their bed, and Harry was dozing next to him in the armchair.

He took a few deep breaths as he looked up at the ceiling before a smile slowly crept its way onto his face. He remembered. He remembered everything and the suddenness of it overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes as he was assaulted with a myriad of emotions as the last 17 years of his life were restored to him.

He remembered falling in love with Harry, remembered the first time they kissed, the first time they made love. He remembered what it felt like to have his son placed in his arms when he was born, remembered his first steps and the first time the little boy had called him 'Pa'. He had every memory of past Christmases and birthdays, of scraped knees and hospital visits, of hugs and cuddles after a nightmare and afternoons spent playing.

He remembered his friendship with Ron and Draco, how proud he had been at their wedding, how much he had grown to love them both over the years. He remembered the countless evenings he had spent with Ginny, locked in fierce debates over mind magic or getting steadily pissed over a bottle of fine whisky.

He had a life, a damn good one, and he tried to remain as passive as possible as it all sunk in. When he had viewed Harry's memories they gave him a glimpse of things but it was still like being told the plot of the book without actually reading it. Now he knew everything and he felt giddy from the tremendous onslaught of memory and emotion.

He opened his eyes again and looked at Harry, the man more beautiful than he'd ever been. He'd nearly lost him, nearly been in danger of throwing their marriage away, undoing the life that they had worked so hard to create. He hadn't though; even with everything that happened he had fallen in love with Harry all over again. If he were a man given to romantic fancies he might have been tempted to venture that he and Harry were destined to be together, no matter the circumstances.

He pushed the bedcovers back and did a quick check to make sure everything was in working order. He didn't seem to be any worse for wear and he resolved to get Ginny the finest thank you that money could buy.

He shuffled over to the armchair and took in the sight of his husband for a moment before he reached out and shook him gently. Harry stirred and stretched himself then sleepily blinked his eyes open and Severus had to stop himself from kissing the life out of the man there and then.

"Sev?" he murmured. "What are you doing up? You should be in bed." He scrambled to his feet and said, "Come on, lie back down. You don't – "

"Harry," Severus said softly, reaching out to cup the man's cheek. "I remember."

Harry's eyes widened before he lurched forward and flung his arms around Severus' neck, holding on for dear life. Severus wrapped him up tightly in his embrace, burying his nose in Harry's hair and breathing in the man's wonderfully familiar scent. He wanted to keep the man in his arms forever, to hold on and never let go again.

"Sev," Harry cried into his chest. "Oh my God, I missed you. I've been so frightened. I couldn't stand the thought of losing our whole life together."

Harry sobbed into his shirt as Severus held him tightly, letting out all the hurt and frustration he'd felt over the last few months. Severus let him, stroking his hair and soothing him as he rode out the mix of pain and relief.

"It's alright, love. I'm here," he soothed, remembering all the times he had held Harry when he'd been upset, how he'd comforted him during moments of pain.

He remembered holding Harry as the man had cried all night the first time Gabe had been admitted to hospital because of his heart condition. He remembered how they sat together on the anniversary of the final battle while Harry sobbed over Hermione and Charlie and Severus had held him close and chased the demons away.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," Harry said as he pulled back, his face stained with tears.

"I promise I'll try very hard not to let myself be cursed by a mad woman hell bent on revenge. And if I do," he added softly, wiping Harry's tears away with his thumbs, "I'll fall in love with you all over again because there is no world that exists that would see me parted from you."

Harry slid his hands up to Severus' shoulders and said, "You truly remember everything?"

Severus smiled and held him close, saying, "Yes, my love. I remember the months I spent falling in love with you. I remember holding our son for the first time, hearing his first words, watching his first steps. I remember making love to you for the first time," he said, his voice low as Harry pressed against him.

"I know how you feel in my arms, how you feel beneath me. I know what your face looks like when you're overwhelmed with pleasure and I know how it feels to hear you screaming my name."

Harry's lips were on his faster than he could blink and he tightened his hold on his husband as their kiss intensified quickly. There was an urgency in it, a desperate hunger that Severus had never felt, even in their early days. Their clothes were torn from their bodies in a frenzy and Severus let out a groan of relief as his skin pressed against Harry's.

"You're my whole life, Harry," he whispered as he kissed the elegant column of Harry's throat. "I'll be yours until the day I die, I swear it."

Harry pulled him down onto the bed and Severus settled between his legs as Harry kissed him hard, their breathing harsh and ragged. Harry was touching him as though he might slip away at any moment, mapping out his skin as though he would never get to touch it again.

He felt a tingle of magic and he knew that Harry had prepared himself with a wandless and wordless spell, as he had done many times over the years. "Need you inside me," he whispered urgently. "Need to feel you."

Severus cast a lubrication charm over his hand and slicked up his cock a couple of times before he positioned himself at Harry's entrance and entered him in one smooth thrust. Harry's back arched as he moaned in pleasure and Severus gripped the man's hips as he moved in and out of him in earnest.

Harry's legs tightened around his waist as his muscles clenched around Severus' prick and Severus groaned appreciatively as he pounded his husband. There would be time enough later for slow and gentle love-making but for now they needed to be with one another as fast and hard as possible, to affirm that they were both still there, that they were truly together again.

"Oh Sev, fuck me, please fuck me," Harry murmured, his head thrown back against the pillows, his cheeks beautifully flushed.

"I love you, Harry. I love you so much," Severus whispered as he leant down and captured the man's lips. He could barely breathe but he didn't care as he was swept up in the sheer passion that was poured into the kiss.

He fucked Harry into the mattress as the last few months bled away, as all the hurt and worry was replaced by the all-encompassing love he felt for the man beneath him. He was so overwhelmed by the force of it, by having his life returned to him that he felt light-headed from it.

"Yes, yes," Harry breathed, then came hard, untouched, his eyes squeezed shut from the pleasure of it.

Severus braced himself and pounded into Harry a few more times until his orgasm rushed through him and he emptied himself into Harry's sated body. They lay together for a few moments until their breathing slowly evened out and, reluctantly, Severus pulled out of Harry and rolled to the side. He cast a cleaning charm and Harry cuddled into his side, resting his head on his chest.

"I can't believe you're back," Harry whispered as he held on tightly.

"I feel…Merlin I can't explain it," Severus said with a sigh. "It's like waking from a dream, escaping from an alternate reality. I can't believe how close I came to losing you."

They lay holding one another for a long time, their naked skin pressed together, needing the contact. They spoke in soft tones as Severus confirmed all the things he remembered, as they recounted all the steps they had taken to build their life together.

They spoke of their son, their friends, Harry's career and all the milestones they had marked as a couple. They remembered the highs and lows they had been through and Severus felt like he was living each moment afresh as they spoke of them. He had always felt privileged to be Harry's husband and Gabe's father but never more so than he did at that moment.

"Remember that summer we stayed at the cottage and you and Gabe came down with stomach flu?" Severus asked as he raked his fingers through Harry's hair.

"Oh what a lovely memory!" Harry said with a snigger. "You couldn't reminisce about something more pleasant?"

Severus smiled and said, "What about our wedding? Or our wedding night?"

Harry nestled closer and murmured, "Now that is a good memory. Best day of my life apart from Gabe being born."

"Our son," Severus said softly, his head spinning as all the memories of his boy raced through his mind. "Our soulmate baby."

"You've never been this mushy before," Harry teased. "Perhaps we should have Gin check you for brain damage after all."

Severus swatted his husband's head and said, "Is she ok? What happened after I lost consciousness?"

"The aurors came, we lied through our teeth, they took Pansy into protective custody. I doubt she'll ever be deemed fit enough to stand trial but at least she won't be a threat anymore."

"And no one knows what Ginny did?"

"Kingsley had that knowing glint in his eye that he so often has but he didn't say anything. If we don't get in touch with Gin soon and let her know you're back to normal she'll be over here breaking the door down."

"Indeed. I take it Gabe is with Ron and Draco?"

Harry nodded and said, "I should get them over here. Gabe's desperate to see you."

"And I him."

They showered together, taking the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the more sensual and affectionate aspects of their relationship. They kissed languidly under the hot spray of the shower, Severus relishing the feel of Harry's body beneath his hands. It was so familiar, so achingly sweet, that Severus felt himself come undone under the force of love he felt for his husband.

He remembered how often they had done this, how he had fucked Harry against the glass of the shower, how they had spent far too many moments getting lost in one another. While he had been prepared to forge new memories with Harry the thought now of losing all the years they'd had together was terrifying.

They dried off and dressed, staying almost in constant contact, as if afraid the other would slip away if they weren't touching. They went down to the living room and Severus waited nervously while Harry fire-called Ron and Draco. Moments later Gabe tumbled through the fireplace and barrelled into his father, hugging him tightly.

"Pa! Dad said you have your memory back," Gabe said, looking up at his father. "Is it true?"

Severus smoothed his hand through Gabe's messy hair and said, "It is, my love."

Gabe beamed from ear to ear and said, "What was my first word?"

"It was 'Pa'," Severus said, smiling smugly at Harry.

"What's my favourite ice cream flavour?"

"Strawberry."

"How did I get the scar on my chin?"

"Falling off a swing when you were six."

"What's my – "

"Gabe, sweetheart, perhaps we can quiz your father later?" Harry said with a wry smile. "I assure you, all his memories are back."

"For which I have you to thank," Severus said to Ginny, who was standing beside her brother with a broad smile.

"My pleasure," she said, leaning over Gabe to plant a kiss on Severus' cheek. "But I do expect a disgracefully expensive Christmas present this year."

"Would you all get out of the way so the most important person can have his reunion?" Ron said loudly, pushing his sister aside and taking Severus' face in his hands before planting the biggest, sloppiest kiss on his lips. "The months have been torture without you, darling," he said melodramatically as Severus tried to get his breath back.

"Why couldn't I have forgotten you?" he groaned and Ron grinned at him.

"Not possible. Our love transcends all boundaries."

The rest of the afternoon was spent in mild hilarity as they all delved into Severus' memories and recounted things they'd been through over the years. Gabe settled himself between Harry and Severus and Severus wrapped an arm around his family, keeping them as close as he could.

Gabe insisted on continuing to test his memory and asked him a myriad of questions to prove he remembered everything. For his part, Severus enjoyed reliving all the moments of Gabe's life up to that point and it felt wonderful to be able to share it all with Harry once more.

There had been so much happiness over the years; he and Harry had built a life of love and laughter and, although there had been ups and downs, the good times far outweighed the bad. He was a luckier man than he perhaps deserved to be and he was in no doubt that his life would have been a sorry state of affairs were it not for the love of his husband.

The next couple of weeks were spent in much the same way. Severus was keen to have tangible proof of his recovery and so Ron and Draco, along with Ginny and Remus, were frequent visitors to the house. He needed to re-establish the friendships he had built and enjoyed doing so, reminding himself just how important these people had become to him.

Likewise he couldn't get enough of time spent with Gabe. The boy would squint at him across the dining table occasionally and rattle off a few quick-fire questions so Severus could prove that he did indeed have all his memories back. Harry watched these proceedings with an indulgent smile and privately confided that he wasn't sure he would have done half so well under interrogation.

The nights were reserved solely for him and Harry. After he spent longer than strictly necessary putting Gabe to bed, he and Harry retreated to the sanctuary of their room and took their time worshipping one another's bodies. He had never felt closer to his husband, not in the early days of their relationship nor even when Gabe was born.

When they had sated their desire they lay quietly entangled in the dark, speaking in hushed tones about things long past. Severus had never really sat down and considered the building blocks that had led him to being the happily married father of a soon-to-be 8 year old, but his mind was now obsessed with going over the minutiae of these things.

Every small moment in his and Harry's life together required reflection and he found himself going over the tiniest of details in his head. He had been in love with his husband for 16 years and yet that love have never felt stronger. He found himself saying it as often as he could, to the point where Harry laughingly told him to start writing it down or they'd never get anything else done.

They rolled into October and Gabe was very excited about turning eight. It wasn't the pinnacle of 10 that he was very keen on reaching, but it was a year closer and so worth celebrating. Severus and Harry threw him a pirate-themed party at their house, as Gabe was still infatuated with Treasure Island, and the whole family was in attendance.

"I'm starting to think we should have put a limit on the amount of sugar we let the kids have," Ron told Severus as he slumped down in one of the kitchen chairs with a sigh. He was looking very fetching with an eyepatch and blacked-out teeth, a hanky tied around his head.

"I take it you're still very firmly behind your decision not to have children?" Severus asked him wryly.

"Big time. I don't know how parents do it."

"There are upsides," Severus said with a smile as he looked out of the window and saw Harry playfighting with Gabe.

"So," Ron said, propping his feet up and chucking an olive in his mouth, "Gin's given you the all-clear? Your brain's normal again?"

"As normal as it gets. No lasting damage."

"That's good, although I'm not sure how we would have told the difference."

Severus smacked him upside the back of the head and said, "It's a damn good thing you aren't procreating. You should never curse another being with your genes."

"Rude. You know you love me."

"I think you'll find he loves me actually," Ginny said smoothly, gliding into the room and wrapping an arm around Severus' waist. "Don't you?" she queried.

"I confess, I do," Severus confirmed, placing a kiss to the woman's forehead.

"Traitor!" Ron said, holding a hand to his heart.

"She did save my life," Severus said with a shrug.

"You're so fickle."

"It's good to have you back," Ginny said as she cuddled into his side. "I've missed having someone who matches my intelligence."

"I resent that," Remus said as he came into the kitchen. "Am I nothing more than arm candy to you?"

"Face it, Lupin – your wife has needs only I can meet."

Remus' face split into a grin and Ginny giggled as she kissed Severus' cheek. Ron pouted and said, "I've been your faithful paramour for years and you're tossing me aside for that wench?"

"What a horrible way to talk about your sister," Severus chided.

The siblings continued to bicker until Draco came to find them to inform them that Gabe was more than ready to blow out his candles and feast on the excellent cake Molly had made him. Severus joined his husband and slung an arm around his shoulders as Gabe bounced on the balls of his feet while everyone sang happy birthday.

"We have an 8 year old," Severus whispered in Harry's ear as he held him close. "Before we know it he'll be a teenager."

"Running circles around us and giving us sleepless nights."

"I thought we were done with sleepless nights when it came to being parents," he replied and Harry gave him a funny little smile before saying to everyone,

"Right, who wants cake?"

The party wound down around late evening and Ron and Draco hung around for a spot of dinner. They discussed a new commission that Ron was about to embark upon, which was set to be the biggest undertaking his firm had ever seen.

Draco was poised to begin another tour of Europe with his latest compositions, saying, as he always did, that this would be the last one for a long time. He declared this at least once a year and no one believed him anymore. He thrived on performing and his music brought him more pride and joy than anything. Severus could honestly say that he had never heard anyone play as beautifully as Draco and his original music was stunning.

After Ron and Draco departed for home Harry and Severus lay sprawled on the sofa, Gabe curled up fast asleep in the armchair opposite. He was thoroughly worn out from the day's events and had crashed hours ago while Ron and Draco had still been there. Ordinarily Harry would have baulked at such a deviation from his routine but it was a special occasion after all.

"You look happy," Severus told Harry as he gently caressed the man's cheek.

"I am happy. I have my life back," Harry said with a lazy smile.

"You know I love you, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I've known it since I was 17. I've felt it every day of our life together, I see it every time I look at our son."

Severus laughed softly and said, "Our once in a lifetime miracle."

"Mm," Harry said with a pensive look towards Gabe. "It's funny that there isn't much documented about soulmate babies, truthful accounts that is. I mean…are there cases of a couple producing more than one…or are we the first?"

"Well, I'm sure if one wanted to fully delve into the history of it there would be sufficient resources to…" Severus trailed off as Harry's words sank in. He blinked a couple of times and looked at Harry questioningly. "What are you saying?" he asked, his mouth suddenly dry.

Harry gently took hold of his hand and placed it over his abdomen. "Looks like we've beaten the odds twice."

Severus looked down at his hand, feeling suddenly dizzy. "We're having another baby?" he asked softly, and Harry nodded. Severus remembered the first time he'd received such news. He'd been bewildered and scared, terrified at the thought of becoming a father. Now all he felt was overwhelming confirmation the man he had bound himself to was indeed the love of his life.

He leant across and cupped Harry's cheek before pressing their lips together. The kiss was soft and tender as Severus tried to fully convey how deeply he loved his husband, how truly humbled he was that the man was carrying his child again. Harry's arms slid around his neck and the kiss deepened, Severus overwhelmed with the rush of love and excitement he felt.

He had enjoyed and cherished every second of Gabe's infancy and was delighted at the thought of having a tiny baby in his arms again. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Harry's, unable to wipe the smile from his face. "Oh my love," he whispered reverently.

"You're happy?" Harry asked, and Severus pulled back to meet his husband's eyes.

"More than you can imagine," he assured him. "Being a father has been the most rewarding experience of my life and I'm honoured to be having another child with you."

"Say that again in a few months' time when I'm the size of a house with swollen ankles and terrible mood swings."

Severus laughed and said, "I enjoyed it the first time around. It was worth it." They both looked across at their sleeping son and Harry nestled in snuggly to Severus' side, Severus holding him tightly.

With all his memories now restored, the most precious moments of his life returned to him, he was more than ready to make new ones. With Harry, Gabe and a new baby on the way, Severus had never been more thankful for the life he had forged and the love he had finally been able to experience.

AN: Well, we did it, we got to the end. I really hope you enjoyed it and I'd love to hear what you thought about how I wrapped it all up. This fic has helped me keep my sanity during lockdown and I'm not sure what I would have done without it. I hope it managed to give you all a little distraction too.

I'm halfway through writing my Harry/George fic, then I'm doing a Draco/Neville (fell HARD down that rabbit hole) and of course I'll be back on the Snarry horse, cracking my whip :D

Love to you all xx