AN: Thank you for all the support and for not killing me! I deeply appreciate it!

Hermione didn't want to make breakfast. She knew what she wanted, and it involved cooking. The last thing she wanted to do was cook.

A week ago, Severus had shown her how to make blueberry waffles. He had joked with her about putting too many blueberries in the mix, warning her she could become as blue as he was when he was forlorn. She had replied that he was a stick in the mud. He had taken her in his arms, almost distracting her from creating the batter.

The waffles themselves were better than anything she'd ever eaten out of the box. It still amazed her that she-no they-could create anything so delicious. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of eating them again.

There was no way she could bake them. Making the waffles meant going near the stove, the place where they made countless other happy memories. She couldn't be near it, not when he was whisked away with so little warning.

Where in the house was she to go though? They had gone through her entire house and eliminated the piles, including the ones in her room. Clothes were no longer wadded into her drawers, and books were no longer strewn across the floor. The house was organized. It was clean.

It was home.

Now even Severus' warmth had vanished with him. Hermione clutched her blanket closer to her chest as a chill wafted through the air. She'd forgotten how much she'd saved on fire wood since he'd barged into her life. How could she get out of bed when her house was so empty and cold?

Crookshanks' meows interrupted her thoughts.

"Not now." She muttered. "Just let me stay in bed the rest of the day."

Crookshanks refused to be denied. He leapt onto the bed, put his face next to hers, and meowed louder.

"Go away. You have food," she grumbled.

Her familiar kept his gaze upon her.

"Fine," she stretched before rising. "But if I want to spend the rest of the day in bed you need to let me do it."

Crookshanks bounced off the bed and stuck up his tail. Exhaling, Hermione opened her drawer to find something to wear. She'd get up, but she wouldn't eat breakfast. Food was too unappealing.

"Hermione?"

She stared at the fireplace. All she wanted to do was remain on the sofa with her black quilt wrapped around her. Guests were the last thing she needed. The Trinity knew she wasn't presentable. She hadn't taken a shower or put on anything more than sweat pants and a gray, ratty t-shirt Severus had once teased her about needing to throw out. She had claimed it was comforting to keep it, and he'd teased her about being a sentimental Gryffindor.

Could she not even get dressed without being reminded of her soulmate?

"Hermione?"

She glanced down at the take out menus strewn around the coffee table. Despite her depression, her stomach had been gnawing at her. If cooking wasn't an option, delivery was. Still, that meant a delivery driver would come to her door, meaning someone would see her in this state.

"Are you there?" The concern from the other side was seeping through.

Best get this out of the way, lest the visitor decide to apparate inside.

"I'm coming." Hermione trudged towards the fireplace. She took a deep breath before glancing down into the flames. "Sorry, I was a little distracted."

"You seem very distracted."

"Look Luna, this is a bad time for you to come."

"I think it's the perfect time for me to come." The look in Luna's eyes made it clear there would be no negotiation as to whether or not she would come.

"Fine." Hermione sighed before stepping back.

Within moments, the blond witch appeared before her, her frown offsetting the dreamy expression in her eyes.

"So, what brings you here?" Hermione asked.

"I thought I was going to see how you were doing after speaking with Harry, but it appears there's a bigger problem." Luna brushed herself off.

Hermione twisted her lips together.

"The Trinity recalled Severus, didn't they?" Luna's voice was gentle.

Hermione's throat was too tight to speak.

"I should've warned you about that possibly happening once he reconciled with Harry," she mused.

"Did you know the Trinity's plan the entire time?" Hermione snapped as her body temperature rose.

"No," Luna admitted. "But I feared Severus may be close to achieving his mission. When I saw how at peace Harry was after your discussion with him, I feared Severus had been found ready for heaven."

"Why didn't you tell me he might go back?" Her voice was growing louder.

"Because I don't know the mind of the Trinity. They may have wanted him for something else I couldn't imagine. If that was the case, there was no point in upsetting you."

"Guess what? I'm upset."

"I can see that." Luna took a deep breath. "I just wish his mission had lasted longer than a few months."

"Apparently there's nothing else to be done! The Trinity all loving has decreed it him gone, so we just have to deal with it!"

Luna wiped the lone speck of dust from her sleeve.

"The Trinity is so full of love and goodness! Who cares if anyone else is miserable, as long as they win their cosmic game!" Hermione threw up her arms.

"I don't think they were playing a game with you."

"Of course they were! This was all one big joke to them! Let's bring Hermione's soulmate into her life, let them fall in love, and the minute she's happy, yank him away like he's some kind of dog they can just pull around on a leash! Really it's hilarious." She let out a humorless laugh. "It's so hilarious that everyone in heaven is laughing at me while I'm standing here falling apart!"

"Nobody is laughing."

"Then why does it feel like they are?"

Luna remained silent.

"Severus said he was there to make sure I achieved eudaimonia, and I did, but it was because of him," a boiling tear trickled down her cheek. "I was happy because of him."

"I know." Luna outstretched her arms.

"Why couldn't they let me be happy?" Hermione fell into her embrace. "Why couldn't they just leave things alone?"

Luna hushed her and massaged her back as she wept in her arms.

"I just wanted Severus with me forever. Wasn't I a good enough person for that to happen. I thanked the Trinity every day for him, but they didn't care. They took him like he was nothing, like I was nothing. Why weren't may prayers enough? Why wasn't I good enough?"

Luna squeezed Hermione tighter.

"I never asked God for anything. I didn't even ask them for him when he first came to me. Now, I just want him here again, and they won't listen to me."

"I'm sure Severus wants to be with you again too."

"He's going to spend so much time waiting for me." She sobbed. "I know Dismas said he'd take care of him, but can he do that for the next century?"

"If he's a friend, he'll try."

"Surely he has other friends though, people he'd want to see too."

"You have other friends too. Perhaps," Luna paused. "Perhaps that is why heave recalled him."

Hermione pulled away and sniffed.

"Maybe the Trinity thought you were spending too much time at home, and wanted to set you free to live your life."

"Then they should make it so that Severus can go with me everywhere!"

"That isn't how death works though."

"None of this is how death works!"

"I know," Luna said. "But you were meant to learn lessons from Severus."

"All I learned was how to lose someone I loved, as if I hadn't already learned that from a war. What the hell kind of lesson is that?" More tears streamed down her face.

"I think he taught you more than that."

"Like what?"

"Like how to cook, organize, make potions, and live life to the fullest."

"I don't feel like I'm living life at all." She wiped her face.

"I know, and Severus must feel like he isn't living the best afterlife possible."

"But the almighty Trinity has some kind of grand cosmic plan they must fulfill at all costs, damn who they hurt in the process!"

"Nobody ever said their plans were painless."

"If they're love though, why couldn't they respect my love?"

"Perhaps they are."

"How?"

"Your life has improved since meeting Severus, correct?" Luna folded her hands.

"Infinitely so."

"Then the goal may be to take the lessons he taught you and live your life to the fullest."

"I can't do it, not without him," Hermione squeaked.

"Yes, you can, and you must."

Hermione glared at Luna.

"When my mother died, I was devastated," Luna's eyes lost their dreamy quality and became more focused. "I used to dream about her death, and wake up screaming. For the longest time, I was afraid of magic. I didn't want one of my spells to go wrong like hers did."

Hermione took a shaky breath.

"There were so many times when I was in school that I wanted her advice on matters. I would see mothers and daughters together, and be angry that wasn't me and her. When I got married, I looked for her in the crowd, knowing I wouldn't see her. At times, when James would cry at night, I didn't think I could be a good mother. I was so scared I'd fail him, or meet the same fate she did and die before him, leaving him with my pain. I wanted her to tell me how to raise a child in those moments when I felt too weak to do it myself."

"You're a good mother though."

"I try to be, but at some point I'll have to tell James what happened to his grandma." She shuddered. "I dread that day, but he deserves to know. It might be good for him to see my grieve too, if only so he understands it."

"How do you get through your grief?" Hermione's voice was barely a whisper.

"I remind myself that death was a part of life. People around me are going to die, but as long as I am alive, I need to make the most of life," Luna said. "It's what my mother wants."

"Severus said he wanted as much for me."

"Then listen to him and live your life."

"I don't know how," Hermione choked.

"Well," Luna turned to the coffee table. "Let's start by putting these away."

"What?"

Luna rushed past Hermione before she could react. The blond woman began to pick up the takeout menus. "It's time to make a meal."

"I don't want to cook." Hermione reached over.

"Then we'll do it together." Luna batted her hand away and collected the last of the menus.

"Look, there are days I just need takeout."

"But that is not today."

Hermione glared at her.

"If you don't start cooking today, when will you do it?" Luna asked.

"When I feel like it."

"When will that be?"

"Sometime other than today."

"But Severus wants you to cook today."

"How do you know what he wants?"

"Because he wants you to live your life with the lessons he taught you." Luna put a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

She bowed her head.

"I'll help you," Luna replied. "What would you like?"

"I was in the mood for teriyaki chicken with rice," she muttered.

"Did Severus give you a recipe for it?"

Hermione nodded.

"Then let's make his recipe."

Hermione looked into Luna's eyes. They had regained their dreamy quality, but there was something deeper in them, something which told Hermione the other woman understood her. More importantly, it told her she wasn't alone. Regardless of Severus' location, she still had friends who wanted to be there for her, who needed her in their lives.

She had friends who loved her.

A smile crept across Hermione's face. "Yes, let's make lunch."

Together, they walked into the kitchen, ready to seize the day the best they could.