Disclaimer: See previous chapters, I'm fed up with them not being mine.
A/N: Thanks to Sunglow for beta reading and encouraging me. This is the second to last chapter - I know I've said it before, but this time I mean it! I don't think I could do justice to the story in the 13 chapters I thought it would take. But you're not complaining, are you? Just to warn everyone, the following chapter contains scenes of implied male/male interaction (I'm not going into graphic details though); so if you don't like it, please don't read it, just skip over that part. This is just a short chapter before the Epilogue.
Sev and the Family Snape
Chapter 16 - Families
When Charlie could think clearly again, he lifted his head and stared down at his lover where they were now lying under the willow tree.
"I resent that remark." he frowned.
"What remark?"
"You casting aspersions on my intelligence."
"Well you were a bit slow on the uptake."
"So everyone's supposed to know about bonds, are they?"
"Weren't they covered in History of Magic when you were here?"
"I don't know, we all slept through Binn's classes." Charlie grinned, "Didn't you?"
"No. I used to do my other homework." Saxen reached up and brushed a lock of red hair out of Charlie's eyes. "You do realise that my younger brother taught you."
"What's that got to do with us?"
"I'm a lot older than you."
"There can't be more than thirteen, fourteen years between us. That's nothing, seeing as there's twenty between Hermione and Severus." Charlie caught his hand and twined their fingers together.
"So I'm not robbing the cradle."
"Hardly! I'm not a virgin, either."
"So I should hope at your age." Saxen's white teeth flashed in a smile, and used his free hand to tug Charlie down to him, "Talking of sex..."
"Who wants to talk?" Charlie startled him by pulling away and springing to his feet, pulling Saxen up with him. "I'm not doing it out here where I can get bitten on the arse."
Saxen raised an eyebrow at him, "Who said you were going to be the one on top?"
"I'm still not doing it out here." Charlie picked a stray leaf out of Saxen's hair, "We can take it in turns if you want; we are equal in this, aren't we?"
"Yes, but I think your idea of finding an indoor location is an excellent one."
"Do you realise how much you sound like Severus?"
"You didn't fancy him when you were at school, did you?"
"No! It's just the way you talk, that's all." Charlie turned and started to walk back to the castle, tugging on Saxen's hand. Saxen's long legs caught up with him and guided them towards a side entrance where his rooms were nearby.
"Don't you have to say goodbye to your sister?" he looked over his shoulder at Charlie.
"They won't notice I'm missing. What's one less redhead in the room?"
"Do you really think so little of yourself?"
"Of course not. I don't need constant reassurance to know how my family feel about me. I left home a long time ago." Charlie squeezed his hand as Saxen unlocked his door and gestured him inside. He looked around appreciatively at the comfortable rooms, trying discreetly to find the bedroom door.
"Through here," Saxen smiled and led the way to a door to the right, shedding his robe as he went. Charlie followed suit and debated whether to kick off his boots now or later. That thought went completely out of his head when Saxen pushed him against the wall and attacked his neck, finding the one spot guaranteed to turn his knees to jelly. He fumbled with the buttons of Saxen's shirt, pulling it out of his trousers to get to the smooth skin of his back, and felt the other man shudder as his slightly callused fingers traced his long spine.
"Bed. Now." he groaned, and pushed away from the wall, walking Saxen backwards towards the huge bed. As he felt the bed against the back of his knees, Saxen fell back and then leaned up on his elbows to watch Charlie swiftly shedding his shirt and toeing off his boots. Saxen kicked his own shoes off and scooted higher on the bed, making room for the other man. Charlie swiftly followed him, the bed bouncing slightly as he landed.
"Has anyone ever told you how gorgeous you really are?" Charlie ran a hand over Saxen's shoulder and down his arm to thread his fingers through the other man's.
"No." Saxen had never been looked at before with such adoration; Charlie's eyes were almost glowing. He lifted his free hand and touched Charlie's shoulder, feeling the muscles bunch under his fingers as he arched into his touch. "So are you."
"We make a good pair, then, don't we?"
"Our own mutual admiration society." Saxen reached up and brushed a kiss across Charlie's jaw.
"I like the sound of that." Charlie almost purred as Saxen slid his hand around his back and kneaded the muscles there, drawing him down to him for a kiss. All of Charlie's experience hadn't prepared him for the sheer pleasure he felt with just kissing the man underneath him. His fingers tingled wherever he touched and he decided to experiment to see if full body contact would have the same effect.
Pulling away, he fumbled with the zip of his trousers, careful not to catch his arousal in the metal teeth. Saxen smiled, having had a similar idea and soon two pairs of trousers were thrown across the room along with their underwear. Charlie stretched out once again beside Saxen and turned to face him, Saxen mirroring his actions. He reached out a hand and slowly stroked from shoulder to hip and back again, then used his knee to slide his leg in between Saxen's, pulling him closer so they lay flush against each other. Saxen sighed contentedly as warmth spread along his whole length. There was nothing hurried about their actions; each content to take their union slowly until Saxen's hand brushed against Charlie's erection and he thrust into Saxen's hand with a moan.
Saxen could feel the pull of the bond demanding the ultimate completion and wondered if Charlie felt the same. He allowed himself to be tipped onto his back and sighed as Charlie bent to kiss him again. He had always been the aggressor in any relationship, so this was new for him. He was also surprised that it didn't bother him in the least to let the younger man take the lead. He stroked Charlie's back with one hand, tracing the vertebrae down to his firm backside while lightly squeezing his hard length with the other. Charlie groaned again and rolled on top of him, leaning back to gaze into his eyes.
"Are you okay with this?"
"With you being on top?"
"Yes."
"Are we going to have this conversation every time?"
"Do you want us to?"
"Not really."
"Well?"
"Shall we wrestle for it?"
"If you want to." Charlie grinned, teasing his lover, "But as I've already got you pinned, I'd say I win." and he bent to kiss him again. He rocked against Saxen, encouraging him to continue his stroking, and Saxen complied. He really didn't care who went on top, just as long as Charlie didn't stop what he was doing with his tongue...
~~@~~
"I noticed Saxen didn't come back to the party." Hermione had her head pillowed on Severus's chest much later that night. They were waiting for the twins to wake for their final feed of the night; they'd found that the periods between nightly feeds were getting longer.
"Neither did Charlie Weasley."
"Do you think.."
"Probably. Just don't expect to see them for a few days."
"Hmm. From what I read about it, it can take up to a week for the bond to complete."
"They're going to be sore at the end of it then."
"Saxen's fairly fit; he should be able to keep up with Charlie," she smiled, "If he's anything like you."
"Pardon?"
"Well, you manage to keep up with me, and there's a bigger age gap between us than them."
"True." he preened a little.
"Although they do say a woman comes into her own in her thirties..." she peeked up at him, "And you'll be in your fifties by then.."
"But I'm not a muggle, so that argument won't stand up."
"Unlike other things.." she disappeared under the covers suddenly. Severus moaned as her mouth was used to reduce his normally razor sharp brain to the equivalent of a blunt knife, and he prayed that the twins wouldn't wake up too soon...
~~@~~
"Do you want to come back to Romania with me?" Charlie toyed with a lock of Saxen's long hair, twisting it around his finger.
"What would I do there?"
"I don't know," Charlie shrugged, "Stay with me?"
"And be a good little housewife? I don't think so." Saxen narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't mean permanently! I know you have to be back here in September." Charlie rolled his eyes at his lover's misunderstanding.
"Oh."
"I thought you might like to see what I do for a living."
"What, endanger yourself with man-eating creatures?"
"They don't eat men," Charlie grinned, "Well, not very often."
"Good, I'd prefer you to stay intact."
"So you only want me for my body?" Charlie pinned him suddenly with reflexes honed from years of dodging dragons, "I'll have you know I was Head Boy."
"Now that I can believe." Saxen teased and Charlie groaned, having heard that one before. He paused in his exploration of Saxen's neck and looked up.
"What will happen in September, Sax? You'll be here and I'll be in Romania."
"That's what owls and portkeys are for, and don't call me Sax."
"So it'll be letters and the odd weekend for us." Charlie was disappointed.
"Do you have a better solution?" Saxen sat up and punched the pillow into shape behind him. "We both have jobs we enjoy; I can't help it if they happen to be in different countries." He pulled Charlie up next to him.
"Not much call for a dragon keeper in Britain."
"Or tutors in a Romanian dragon colony."
"That's a depressing thought."
"We'll work it out, Charlie. We have..how long before you have to go back?"
"Two weeks. I had planned on going home for a while.."
"You can still do that if you want."
"Will you come with me?"
"If you're sure I'll be welcome." Saxen remembered Hermione telling him that Molly had tried to set Charlie up with Kailani.
"Of course you will." Charlie was sure he'd told his mother about his preference for men.
"All right. When?"
"Not this week, at least." Charlie's hand started wandering.
"Oh? You have other plans?" Saxen slid down in the bed.
"Mm hmm, and it involves you, me, and this bed."
"I think I like your plan."
"I'm so glad you approve, Mr Snape, now can we stop talking for a while?"
~~@~~
They finally emerged from Saxen's rooms four days later, looking thoroughly sated. They ignored the smirks from Hermione and Severus and the sly comments from Sirius and Remus, content to be able to display their relationship openly.
Sage cornered his twin while Charlie was visiting with Hagrid later that afternoon.
"So, are you coming home with Kailani and I?"
"We'd planned on visiting Charlie's parents first."
"Braving Molly, are you?"
"Braving Father, are you?" Saxen countered.
"Touché." Sage bowed slightly.
"I think he may be slightly more welcoming to Kailani than Charlie, though."
"You mean because she's a woman?"
"Yes."
"That's a load of dragon shite, and you know it."
"Do I?"
"Of course. The Snape line is assured with Severus's children, as well as any Kailani and I have. Just because you're the eldest doesn't mean you have to bear full responsibility anymore." Sage shrugged.
"So you'll tell him, will you?"
"Uh uh," Sage shook his head, "I'll do a lot for you, brother, but I'm not doing that."
"Won't do what?" Kailani slid her arm around Sage's waist.
"Tell Father about Saxen and Charlie."
"Ashamed of me, love?" Charlie appeared at Saxen's side.
"Of course not. I was just suggesting that Sage prepare my father for our visit."
"Send him an owl. That's what I'm doing with Mum." Charlie shrugged.
"Forewarned is forearmed?"
"Exactly."
"Providing she's not expecting you to bring that other man." Saxen frowned.
"Lucas? He was just a friend."
"One you brought to your sisters' wedding."
Kailani nudged Sage and jerked her head towards the door; she didn't want to get caught in an argument between these two. They moved away, unnoticed by the other couple.
"How long do you think it'll take Charlie to calm him down?" Kailani peered back over her shoulder. Sage looked as well.
"About two seconds. One…two..there you go." He turned away after seeing Charlie stop Saxen mid-sentence with a kiss.
"You're good." Kailani said admiringly.
"Want me to show you how good?"
Kailani thought about it for a nanosecond, "Race you to your rooms."
~~@~~
Severus sat on the sofa in their rooms, reading the latest Ars Alchemica periodical. It was the first time since the wedding that they'd had any quiet time together as a family. There had been visitor after visitor, eager to see how the babies had grown and the fuss had disrupted his normally peaceful dungeons.
"Happy now everyone's gone?" Hermione stood by the doorway with Sebastian propped up on her shoulder.
"Much, thank you." He looked up and smiled at her.
"You do realise that your life won't be peaceful ever again with these two, don't you?" she ventured further into the room.
"Didn't you say you wanted more than two?" he stood gracefully and took his son off of her. Sebastian gazed up at his father with sleepy, dark eyes.
"Maybe in a year or two we can try for that little girl." She tickled Sebastian under his chin and smiled delightedly when he gave a toothless smile.
"What if it's another boy?"
"We keep trying." She shrugged.
"And if it's twins again?"
"People will wonder if you've got any Weasley genes in your ancestry." She teased and he gave her one of his best glares. She ignored it.
"You really know how to ruin a man's day, don't you?" he grumbled, "Salvador still asleep?"
"For the time being. He's due to wake up any time.." she paused as she heard the wail of her other baby, "now." She reached up and kissed Severus's cheek, "I'll just go and sort him out and come back with him." She disappeared into the other room and reappeared five minutes later to settle herself on the chair to feed him. There was silence except for the quiet snuffling as Salvador fed and the rustle of clothing when she swapped sides in between.
Hermione watched as Severus held Sebastian balanced on his arms with his large hands cradling his son's head so Sebastian faced him. They stared solemnly at each other until Sebastian obviously saw something that amused him and smiled again. Severus looked up at Hermione.
"How am I going to instil a sense of respect into these two when they start school?"
"You've known Draco since he was a baby, how did you manage with him?"
"I don't know. I think I scared the shit out of him one day when he was six."
"While I don't recommend that with our babies, Severus, if you treat them fairly and don't spoil them, they should turn out all right." She placed Salvador on her shoulder to burp him. "Although a good scare now and again shouldn't hurt when they're a lot older." She looked at him from under her lashes, "You can do your Silent Sneak on them."
"Pardon?"
"The one you used to catch us all out."
"What did you call it?"
"The Silent Sneak. We never could figure out how you did it."
"So there is something that you don't know." He smirked at her, and laughed when she stuck her tongue out at him, "That was mature of you, Hermione. Care to put that tongue of yours to better use?"
"Shame on you, Severus Snape! In front of innocent ears, too!" she sent him a sultry smile though, "Later."
Severus laughed again, and sat back with Sebastian cradled securely in his arms. He thought back to two years ago; he'd been a lonely, embittered man, post-Voldemort. He would never have imagined that two years hence he would reconcile with his parents and brothers and that he'd end up with a beautiful wife and children. He felt he could now call more people friends, rather than acquaintances, and the emptiness he'd felt for so many years was no longer there, deep inside him.
Hermione had questioned the permanence of it all earlier in her pregnancy, and he'd reassured her, not really analysing it himself, but now he thought about it in more depth. Life was a gamble, and you took whatever it threw at you. Your choices defined who you were, and the mistakes of his youth had moulded him into the man he was now. Hopefully, that insight would enable him to guide their children along a straighter path than his, and if they deviated, well, he'd be there to offer support, not condemnation.
He watched Hermione playing with Salvador and smiled. She had surprised him by being a natural mother; her drive for knowledge had blinded them all so they had assumed, incorrectly, that motherhood was not for her. He knew she would work her studies around the children, and that whatever she chose to do in the future she would have his full support. He wondered if she could be persuaded into a teaching career; obviously not Potions, but possibly Charms or Transfiguration. There was always Arithmancy, but Vector still had a long way to go before retiring.
"What are you thinking about over there?" a soft voice intruded on his thoughts.
"You."
"Oh? Good thoughts, I hope."
"Have I ever had any others about you?"
"Of course." She stood up with a now sleeping Salvador in her arms and made her way over to their room, casting a flirtatious look over her shoulder at him, "What about those one's when I'm a bad girl?"
"They're still good," he stood up to follow her, "Especially when you're bad."
~~@~~
A/N: Just the Epilogue to go now, and then it's all finished.