A/N: Severus and Lily go out on a date and have a little dance. Pure, unadulterated fluff; nothing more, nothing less.

Chapter 29 Summer Nights & Dancing in the Moonlight

In the weeks that followed the end of term feast and the subsequent night of drinking and celebration, Severus and Lily spent much of their time at home with one another. They bade farewell to Cornell and seen him off via Portkey, and they had taken Patrick out and about on occasion but for the most part, the first few weeks of their summer break had been spent either brewing, gardening, or making love like a couple of rabbits. As the fourth week of summer rolled around, Severus hatched a plan that would hopefully do away with the mundanity that had plagued their summer so far. After a quick floo call, he had reserved a table for two at a brand new Wizarding restaurant that had opened up in the Wizarding Enclave in Appleby. The town was just south of Scotland and was home to one of the oldest Wizarding Enclaves in Europe, it was co-inhabited by muggles but for obvious reasons, the wizarding part of the town remained hidden from plain sight.

Severus booked a reservation for two at The Wandering Wizard at six-thirty on the fourteenth of July, but on the day itself, he had a few errands to take care of before their evening outing. He woke early that morning well before the slumbering Lily—she'd been up very late the prior night doing some reading; and he flooed away to Cornell's—actually…they were his quarters now weren't they, now that term was over. He stuffed all the tomes that Cornell had decided to leave behind for him into his expansion charm infused bag and then headed over to Marjorie's old quarters to retrieve her books for Lily. He'd meant to have taken care of this weeks prior but had never gotten around to it, today at last, he'd finally retrieved the books and tomes they'd been given. From the looks of things it was quite a comprehensive collection the two old professors had gifted them.

With all his and Lily's book accounted for in his duffel bag, he flooed home from Lily's new office. The first thing he saw as he stepped out of the floo was Lily, still in her nightgown, but with her arms folded across her bust and a scowl on her face. After a very thorough chastising that involved the furious redhead laying into her fiancee for not casting a silencing charm before using the ever-noisy floo; the couple had angry make-up sex right there on the couch which seemed to ease the tension between them immensely. With their spat gone after ten minutes of passion, they cooked breakfast alongside one another as if nothing had happened and Severus decided to break the news that he'd booked dinner for them that night at a new restaurant in Appleby. Lily was elated at the news and eagerly bounded across the room to press a hungry kiss to his lips in appreciation (burning their bacon as a result of neglect in the process).

Despite their looming specter of their date that evening, they spent much of the late morning and afternoon as they usually did. Gardening in the morning right after breakfast, today Severus showed Lily how he incorporated potions into his gardening and how different potions could increase the yield, or the vibrancy or the overall health of the plants and flowers they were administered to. In the afternoon, they started reading the first tomes from Cornell's and Marjorie's personal libraries, deciding to remain indoors from noon 'til evening owing to the sudden thunderstorm that had rolled in sometime during lunch. By the time evening rolled around, the storm had thankfully abated and the dying sun came out once more. After putting away their respective tomes, Severus and Lily headed upstairs to get dressed for their date in Appleby.

"Lily are you ready yet?" Severus hollered up the stairs—his tone conveying his annoyance with her constant habit of being late or almost-late.

"In a minute Sev, just give me a moment and I'll be right down! Just finishing a few things in here!" Lily shouted back, her voice amplified by a sonorous charm.

"I'll hold you to that! Our reservation is in five minutes so please hurry!"

With a resigned sigh, Severus toppled over onto the couch, and quite nearly crushed the sleeping Plato in the process. The cat hissed, and whacked at Severus' robe-clad forearm with a clawed paw in annoyance at his clumsy owner.

"Sorry Plato, didn't see you there," Severus muttered, reaching for the tortoiseshell to stoke him between the ears where he liked it best…but the little gremlin had already taken off running into the next room and out of sight.

Not a moment later, did Lily round the corner all dressed and ready to go in sparkling blue robes with gold accents. Her dark auburn hair was done up in a high-chignon to draw emphasis to a pair of onyx embedded, dark silver ear-rings as well as the Prince family Amulet that rested on her chest. In simple terms, she looked stunning. Ever since their first date many months ago shortly after their return to the living world, Lily had forgone makeup and today was no different. Severus in his words told her that 'Makeup is useless to someone like you since it only serves to mask your beauty from the world's eye. Never wear that useless powder ever again.' Lily had only been too happy to oblige, vanishing the foundation and blush with the wave of her wand and baring the faint smattering of freckles that crossed her nose and dotted her cheeks once more. Lily too was pleased hearing Severus' vehement condemnation of anything make-up related since she wasn't a big fan of it either in all honesty. She'd only worn it on very special occasions in her past life and knowing that to Severus it only obscured her 'beauty and radiance' she'd been happy to do away with her entire collection—minus the lipstick—that very night.

As she came around the corner and caught Severus' eye, the light flittering in through the window seemed to catch her hair at just the right angle and light it up like a warm fire in a hearth. Even her skin, which glowed in an ethereal-like manner by moonlight seemed positively alive in the sun, Lily could help but smile at seeing Severus' slack jawed expression at her appearance. She straightened out a wrinkle in her robe with a wave of her wand and crossed the room towards him with a smile, Severus' eyes on her all the while.

"Gee Severus, you really know how to make just about any girl feel special don't you?" Lily remarked, leaning up on her toes to press a cherry-lipped kiss to his cheek in greeting. Her smile broadened by degrees in response to his gobsmacked reaction, and in that moment she felt as if all her hard work had paid off; all of it was worth it to see the smile on his face. To Lily, seeing her love smile—being the reason for him to smile brighter than any star was a feeling unlike any other. Seeing Severus like this warmed her so much that it was a feeling she never wanted to go away.

"Lily you…you look, just…wow, I can't even describe it…" Severus replied, his voice coming out as a breathy whisper. His coal-black eyes had widened significantly and his breath had been forced from his lungs. He stood stock still by the sofa as Lily pulled back from her kiss and took a few steps backward, still bearing her radiant, heart-warming smile.

"So you like my robes then?" Lily asked, twirling around on the spot, pale blue and bright gold patterned robes whirling around like an inverted spinning top as she spun.

"Like?" Severus echoed, his voice strained sounding—almost as if he were choking, even. "Lily…like is such a—a plebeian word! It wouldn't do justice to something, or someone as beautiful as you. In simple terms, yes I do like what I see…but it runs far deeper than that. Divine and angelic wouldn't even scratch the surface of your beauty, my love."

Lily's smile returned as did her dimples in her cheeks. "Way to wax poetic Sev," Lily whispered in his ear, her smile infecting her words. "What do you say we get going on our date hm? I must say you've cleaned up rather nicely yourself," she commended, taking a couple steps back from her fiancee and glancing up and down at his smart, navy blue robes.

"Well I do try," Severus replied, bringing a hand to his mop of hair that remained greaseless owing to an hour long stint in the shower. That coupled with the fact that he'd refrained from brewing or even going into his lab today meant his hair for tonight at least remained grease free to his satisfaction.

"Anyways I think we had better get going, our reservation is in less than five minutes, so hold on tightly please," Severus added, holding his arm out for Lily to grab.

"You've been to this place before?" She asked, grasping his offered arm.

"Yes. Once before with the Malfoys, quite some time ago," Severus replied in a measured tone.

Lily's nose wrinkled in distaste but she didn't voice any grievances as she gave a slight nod for him to apparate them away to the restaurant. Severus withdrew his wand with his free hand, and apparated the two of them away with a soft pop to Appleby.

They popped into existence just outside a fancy-looking bistro place with a large signboard emblazoned with:

The Wandering Wizard

"We're here," Severus remarked, glancing up at the bronze and gold sign. Even the damn signboard is the same as the as it was in the 80's.

"Looks pretty nice Sev," Lily replied, peering in through the glass into the fancy restaurant.

"That's…why I recommended it," Severus deadpanned, shooting Lily a dry look.

They entered the restaurant at Six-Thirty on the dot, and were greeted with a man whom Severus presumed to be the manager at the front desk. Upon spying his two newest customers opening the door, the man flashed them a warm smile and gave a deep bow.

"Good evening sir, madam. How may I help you today?" The manager offered.

"There should be reservation for two at Six Thirty under the name Severus Snape, I floo called last night."

"One moment please." The manager lifted a piece of parchment off his desk and began perusing it, his eyes widened in acknowledgement as he spotted the reservation. "Ah! Mister Snape and Miss Evans, right this way please. We have a seat for you by the window if that is to your liking."

"I think that would be excellent," Lily beamed, nodding at the manager.

"Very well. Allow me to show you to your seat then," the manager offered.

Lily and Severus both nodded at the man and he led them over to the far corner of the restaurant overlooking the street outside, their seat right by the window was directly beneath a small chandelier that cast their table in a warm glow. As they neared, the manager flicked his wand and the two chairs slid out from the table simultaneously. Severus and Lily took their seats as the man flicked his wand again, conjuring two menus and a wine-list seemingly out of thin air. When Severus and Lily had situated themselves, the manager cleared his throat.

"To order your meal, all that you have to do is say your chosen dish and drink aloud and it shall appear in less than a minute. Your table also comes with a permanent privacy charm to prevent eavesdropping and other intrusive things of that nature. On behalf of the Wandering Wizard, we hope you have a pleasant evening and enjoy your meal with us. Thank you." The man gave a deep bow, a gesture Lily and Severus returned with polite nods and a murmured 'thank you' from Lily.

When the man returned to the front desk, Severus pulled out his wand and cast his own privacy charm, Muffliato, on top of the existing one.

"You don't trust the restaurant's charm work?" Lily teased, throwing him a playful glance.

"Years as a spy have told me to never trust a random person's spell work. I believed it prudent to bolster the existing silencing charm with one of my own—that I know won't fail me," Severus returned, smiling.

"Do you trust me?" Lily asked, her tone measured.

"Of course, you are better than charms than I am after all…and on a personal level, there is no one I trust more."

"And I feel the same," Lily replied, smiling.

Now that was news to him, Severus arched a brow in curiosity as he ventured; "More than Potter even?"

Lily's lilting laugh eased his nerves, and from that action alone he already knew her answer. "Yes. Granted, it is close, but there is a reason I trust you more than I do James, despite valuing the both of you immensely."

"And what is that reason?" Severus asked, his tone curious.

Lily's eyes hardened and focused in on his own. The mirth shining in her eyes mere seconds prior was all but gone, in it's place was a sense of seriousness he hadn't expected. "You spent decades of your life trying to atone for a crime you never meant to commit. Albus vouched for you and put his name and reputation on the line when he said you were no more of a death eater than he was, he granted you a golden ticket to do as you wished thanks to your contributions in the final year of the first war…ever since you delivered the prophecy—" Severus winced involuntarily at the damning reminder of how he'd sentenced Lily and her family to death through an act of foolishness, but Lily ignored it and soldiered on "—you could've gone away, done your own thing and Albus wouldn't have been able to stop you. Yet you stayed, you stayed and prepared for the return of Tom and your dedication to your mission…to me, never wavered. You, Severus, have loyalty that a Hufflepuff would kill for. That is why I trust you most."

When she had finished her near minute long speech, her eyes still shone with pride, pride that she felt for him, and that gave him reason to smile. She'd said so much he had no idea what to respond with, but what he did feel was gratitude. Gratitude that at least someone could see it all, could see everything and make their own judgement and still feel this way for him. Better yet, the one person that had seen his life from top to bottom, had seen every action and heard every word was Lily, and in spite of the terrible things he had done, the lives that had died under his watch, his angel still loved him. No one ever had a chance to see the real Severus Snape, but Lily…from her bird's eye view in the afterlife she had seen everything and she was still here. He bowed his head low, and opted opt for a simple response to the expectant-looking Lily, who looked up at him with her searching, prying, green-eyed gaze.

"Good to know."

His monotone delivery had Lily bursting into laughter almost the instant the syllables left his lips and in that moment Severus was more thankful than ever that they were protected by a silencing charm. When she'd sobered, the two of them perused their menus to decide what to order. For beverages, they opted to share a bottle of Pinot Grigio, deeming that it would complement both of their dishes quite nicely. Severus chose to order a French Onion soup to start, and a Sirloin steak with potatoes and garden vegetables for his main. Lily meanwhile, chose to order the lobster bisque(recommended by Severus who said it was the highlight of his meal the last time he'd eaten there), and a Spaghetti Alle Vongole for her main course, a personal favorite of her's. With their orders finalized, they spoke the names of the dishes aloud. Sure enough, no more than half a minute later they had materialized on their table. The soups sat directly in front of them and the main courses off to the side in waiting.

Lily leaned forward, and took a whiff of the wafting scent of the Lobster Bisque, she sighed languidly and leaned back in her chair. "It smells really good Sev, I think I'll have to take your culinary advice more often in the future."

"As with most things," Severus replied, a small smile curling his mouth. "After all…what was the thing you said about me? Severus knows best or something along those lines, was it?"

"Why yes I believe I did," Lily answered, smiling back at him. "Now," she lifted her soup spoon out of the broth and towards her lips, "it's time to see if your praise was well-bestowed."

Opening her cherry lips, she quietly slurped from the soup-laden spoon. As she gulped down the Bisque, Severus was pleased to see an expression of satisfaction and contentment cross her face. His grin broadened as he saw Lily dip her spoon into the bisque again…and again…and again, not stopping for several minutes as she scarfed down the delicious bisque. She didn't need to speak, her actions spoke far louder than words ever could. Severus, who had grown hungry from just watching her, then decided it was time to turn his attention towards his own soup, he didn't want it getting cold after all.

"I must say Severus, this is perhaps one of the best soups I've ever had the pleasure of drinking," Lily commended, smacking her lips loudly as she swallowed the last remnants of the once plentiful broth.

"My knowledge of the cuisine here is rather substantial. Narcissa spent hours lecturing me on the best dishes to order here and the Lobster Bisque was at the top of her list. I am not surprised to see it at the top of yours as well," Severus replied, smiling.

"Speaking of knowledge, have you had a chance to read the books Cornell passed to you yet?" Lily asked as she took a stab of her pasta.

"I have. What did you think I was reading earlier? A children's book?"

"No," Lily said pointedly, her lips pursed together in a thin line of disapproval. "I didn't get a good glimpse of what it was you were reading. You were facing away from me and on the other side of the room."

"For good reason," Severus said evenly as he cut away into his steak.

"And what reason may that be?" Lily queried, her brow arched in curiosity.

"You're distracting. Always moving this way and that when you read, I find it hard to focus when I'm near you with you always twisting and moving about," Severus explained simply.

"I distract you, you say?" Lily asked, her brow rising higher and higher up her forehead. There was no mistaking the teasing smirk that curled her lip, nor the amused glint that sparkled in her eyes.

"Only when you're reading," Severus muttered, raising his fork to his lips, chewing, then swallowing the cut of steak that sat upon it. "And that," he said pointedly, gesturing with his empty fork at her once he'd swallowed, "is a bad habit to have."

"And why is that? Is it bad for you or bad for me?" Lily asked, her smirk widening as she ribbed him.

Severus expelled a loud sigh, not at all caring of what the other tables might think given their privacy. Lily always had a habit of doing things like this, finding chinks in someone's armor and turning them into gaping holes that she could exploit to rib and tease someone. There was only one person in the world that he would willingly let under his skin, and she was sitting across from him.

"It doesn't matter," Severus said with a dismissive wave of his hand. His tone earned him a curious stare and pursed lips from Lily. "And besides…weren't you asking me about whether the books I'd read this morning were from Cornell?"

"Ah, right. Yes I was actually, you see…I was reading one of Marjorie's tomes earlier. It was in German so I had to use a translation charm but it turned out to be really, really useful for this new spell I'm working on."

"You're working on a new spell? How come you never told me?"

Lily, like Severus, had always been talented in the field of spellcrafting—the best in their year as a matter of fact. The pair had only been in their fourth year when they created their first spells, Severus' being Langlock, his silencing jinx that glued the victim's tongue to the roof of their mouth; and Lily's being Nature Floresco, her 'flower charm' as she liked to call it. In fact, Lily had been using her earliest creation quite liberally in the past few days in an effort to please her gardening instructor. Naturally, Severus was quite unamused at her antics and the use of magic to boost the yield of his herbs. Like cooking, gardening was one of the few things he preferred to do the muggle way.

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Lily teased, "still is, a surprise. I just won't tell you what the spell is for. Let's just say that I think both of us will benefit from it and that I am aiming to finish it before our wedding day."

"Ah…so it's something to do with our wedding then is it?"

"Something like that," Lily said with nonchalance as she twiddled her fork in her hand. "I will say that I have no doubt in my mind that you, Sev, will love my new spell, but beyond that I cannot say. You'll just have to wait and see."

"I may be able to help you if you tell me though. You're not the only gifted spell crafter in the room after all," Severus replied, trying to coax a few more details out of her.

"Nope!" Lily laughed, miming her lips shut with a 'zip'. "I know you're also really good at spell creation too Severus, but that's precisely why I want to make this charm by myself," she explained calmly.

Her eyes shone like stars and a small, yet heart-stopping smile formed on her lips as she said; "You should know this better than anyone Sev, but just when you get it right. When you finally finish a spell, isn't that feeling wonderful knowing that you created that? That you're the mastermind behind this work of art you've just created."

"We both know that feeling well," Severus said smoothly, his tone understanding.

"I appreciate the help Severus," Lily replied, smiling fondly at him, her fingers stretching across the table to grasp his, "but this I want to do on my own. I'm sure you understand why."

Severus snorted in false annoyance but didn't voice any further protest. He was curious, that he couldn't deny; but at the same time he knew Lily valued her privacy just like he did. If she wanted to keep her project a secret, then he'd indulge her and not press her to reveal it to him if she wasn't ready. Besides…it's not like Lily needed his help that much, she was just as talented at spell-crafting as he was, quite possibly more. Her 'Amor Sentio Meus' and her Gravitus charms were both creations beyond most of the spells he'd managed, save for Vulnera Sanentur perhaps. With Lily choosing to remain mum on her secret Charm project, only divulging that it had something to do with their wedding six months away; Severus opted to do the same, for he was working on a new potion of his own that he hoped Lily in particular would appreciate. Lily was one of the most talented potioneers he'd ever met, not quite on his level, but Lily's talent was a full head and shoulders above anyone he knew that wasn't a potions master. He hoped she'd appreciate his secret project just as much as he'd appreciate hers.

Before long, they had finished off their main course; but in a change of plans, Severus decided to order desert for takeaway and bring it back home with them instead of eating in the restaurant. Lily, confused by his decision just went along with it and once their dessert was there, they paid their tab and left the place with their desert in hand. As they left the restaurant, Severus made to draw his wand from his robe pocket, but Lily's hand on his wrist stayed his motion.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it Severus?" Lily whispered quietly. Like a moth drawn to a light, her eyes tracked upwards to the starry sky above them, the far away twinkles of the balls of gas reflected clearly in her emerald eyes.

Severus swallowed thickly, entranced by the serene look on Lily's face as she tilted her head upwards towards the night-sky. He followed her gaze, staring up at the great beyond and caught her meaning. He'd seen many nights like this—alone—atop the astronomy tower as headmaster with not an ally in the world. It was just him, the portrait, and his wits. Once again, he stared into the pitch black canvas and felt it envelop him. He lost himself in the stars, searching for their guidance once more—but with a very different mission in mind. He felt two arms wrap around his waist, Lily, she was holding him again, reminding him that he wasn't alone in this. He still had her—would always have her. It made him smile.

"Sev?"

Her calm, serene voice snapped him out of his musings, his gaze fell earthwards from the star-crossed sky and found her. She was staring up at him with her large doe-like eyes, peering into him. "You've seen many skies like this haven't you?" She asked, her tone curious but with a hint of concern and yearning embedded within.

"I have," Severus gulped, choking down the lump in his throat. "Many, many times."

Lily's arms removed themselves from his waist, and he almost mourned the withdrawal of her warmth—her touch. Her hands only left him for a second, because they now grasped his hands firmly. "Well this time you're not alone," she reassured, smiling up at him. "A—and if I have anything to say about it, you never will be. You'll always have me. You'll always have me," she repeated it like a mantra, as if saying it again would will it into existence.

He glanced up once more at the great balls of fire that dotted the pitch-black canvas, taking in the view, then shutting his eyes. When he reopened them, his head was level, staring at two very different stars across from him, two of a kind in their nature—he was staring into Lily's eyes. "I know."

He pulled her tightly against him, barely hearing the squawk of surprise from the startled redhead before crushing his lips against hers, consuming her shout barely a moment after it began. She responded quickly, her shock giving way to the passion and fire within that never ceased to burn—the fire he loved so much. With equal fervor, she returned his kiss, tongues pressing against each other in a battle of supremacy—a battle neither wanted to lose. His hands rose to caress her auburn locks, tugging and pulling at the strands to hold her close, her own hands reached for the nape of his neck, preventing him from pulling away in their desperate quest for more. Unbeknownst to Lily, who had throughly wrapped herself up in their kiss, Severus had withdrawn his wand, and with a simple flick and twirl, they apparated halfway across the country to their back yard.

The sudden jolt of apparation forced their separation, but they soon recovered as their lips met again. Severus' lips insistently prodded against Lily's begging her to admit him, to let him taste her—she obliged and his tongue slipped in, drinking from the endless well of Lily's essence. Lily moaned under his expertly-honed touch, hands and tongue driving her desire to levels she thought unreachable. She was unable to respond, having been driven to heaven and back by Severus with just a kiss—just a ghost of a touch, she finally relinquished control to her love and followed his lead. In sharp contrast to before, their kiss continued at a far slower pace—there was no rush, and so they took their time, kissing slowly and lovingly as if they had all the time in the world. Which they had. The night was young, their lives…even younger, the euphoria they felt running through their veins, their nerves, through every level of their consciousness was not going away any time soon. Not if Severus and Lily had anything to say about it, at least.

When they finally separated, they were both breathing heavily. Severus' chest heaved up and down, his cheeks flushed pink and his pupils had dilated beyond belief. Lily sported much the same features as Severus, flushed cheeks, dilated pupils, a silently heaving chest—panting from pleasant exhaustion. Reluctantly, he pulled himself away from her, almost shivering at the withdrawal of her warmth, but he held a hand out for her to follow. She laid her hand in his, expecting him to pull her into the house, hoist her around his hips and make slow, sensual love to her. When she grasped his hand, it was with every intention that the man before her with his smoldering coal-black eyes would send her to heaven so many times she'd lose herself in bliss, never to return. But his touch was gentle, not insistent; and the desire and heat burning away in his eyes abated, replaced by yearning and a subtle flame that warmed her insides. Staring into his eyes, she felt her desire die, replaced by a wholesome, toasty warmth that was equally enticing as the inferno it replaced.

She smiled, letting him know that whatever he wished, she was game for, and that she'd follow his lead. Wherever he chose to take them. "May I have this dance?" Severus silkily asked, the yearning in his tone palpable and that toasty warmth he exuded flooding her in waves.

"You may, my love," Lily purred, as she placed her other hand on his waist. Severus' own hand went to her waist in response.

Her other hand in his, Severus pressed a kiss to the tops of her knuckles and led her in a slow waltz over the darkened grass of their yard. With only the light of the moon and distant stars to guide them, they moved across the grass with a delicate grace only accrued by years of dancing, years of moving in tune with one another. They may have only been reunited for half a year, but it was like they'd never left. Again, Severus initiated a new kiss, soft and gentle, lips caressing each other in time with their feet in a delicate balance. Her eyes served as his guide, windows to her soul and heart that remained open for him—just for him, they told him everything he needed to know. Alone, he felt lost and unsure, but with her…he felt so alive and free. Staring unashamedly into the green, he felt himself falling deeper and deeper, losing himself in the process; yet he continued to fall into her, searching for her. Lost in the depths of her soul, he sensed her rise to meet him; and as she found him, it was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He felt complete, like he was whole and he never wanted this feeling to go, to leave him cold and alone—he knew it would, but he couldn't help but bask in the warmth of her soul laid bare before him for just a little while longer.

"I love you, Severus. I love you so much it hurts to be apart from you," Lily whispered, her voice thick with emotion, her eyes shone with a glassy sheen.

"I love you too Lily. I love you so much," Severus replied, his words tumbling from his throat in an incoherent mess—such was his emotional state.

"We'll always have each other," Lily soothed, trying to assure herself as much as assuring him. "I don't think I could bear to live without you again, Severus."

"Neither could I," Severus whispered. And he knew it was true. He'd been living on auto-pilot in her absence, like a sailor lost at sea without his north star. Without Lily…who was he? What was he? He was no one, just a lost soul set adrift amidst a storm…but with her here, with her by his side…he had an anchor that told him all was right with the world.

He gently pulled her close to him, relishing in the warmth of her lithe frame pressed tightly to his. The feeling of Lily's body pressed against his was a mere substitute for truly feeling Lily, but it was a warmth he treasured all the same. Her head came to rest beneath his chin, and he felt a gentle pressure at the hollow of his neck. Unable to help himself—since when have I ever?—he moaned, the soft sounds he made giving Lily encouragement as her lips moved up his neck, leaving a trail of lovely kisses in their wake. He tilted his head back to grant her better access, and as he looked up, his eyes found the stars once more for the final time that night. In those great balls of gas, he didn't find despair, nor did he find misery or even pity; instead he found hope, hope for a brighter future shared with the love of his life.

The stars held a different meaning now, but if need be he could do away with them, there was only one star that mattered to him; and she was in his arms.

A/N2: Seb got a couple points in France which was nice, but the Scuderia suffered and my day was ruined. The SF-21's tyre management sucks. Seriously Binotto, get your shit together man. Hope this chapter cheered ya'll up as much as it did me after that disastrous race. 'Til next time.