Chapter 4

Jaci held onto him as he began to kiss her neck gently at first. She cried out as he bit into her neck.

Jaci sat up. She shook her head. She got up and wrapped her blanket around her. It was getting so cold now. Christmas was a week from today, and she was closing up the shop to take the whole week off, but—well Severus hadn't come by yet.

Well that's just too bad for him, I'm closing up tomorrow whether he's here or not.

She quickly showered and dressed, but instead of her usual shorts and tank, she put on red jeans, black shoes, and a green sweater, since it was the holidays. She sighed and walked over to the door and put the open sign on it, and unlocked the door. Then she went to do her daily routine of checking and watering the herbs and spices. She heard the door open and close.

"Ahy voy," she called over her shoulder.

"Now Jaci, you know I don't understand Spanish," Severus voice flew out to meet her. Jaci froze. She turned to look at him, eyes wide with shock. He smiled and Jaci's heart fluttered. He walked over to her and Jaci could smell cologne, she breathed it in deeply. "You're not wearing shorts and a tank anymore," Severus noted.

"No, it's too cold for that," Jaci said. She sidestepped him quickly and went to go behind the counter. "I've got your things, here." She handed him it, but he didn't take it. Instead he walked over to her and ran a hand through her hair.

"Your hair's still wet."

"Yes, because I just showered." Severus smirked. She was being cold, and he understood. He had left rather coldly the last time they had met.

"It feels nice, and it smells good." He looked down at her and noticed that her breath was just as shallow as his. He slowly lowered his head and brushed his lips with hers. Jaci stiffened.

"No, I—"

"Shh, don't think," he muttered. He pulled Jaci closer to him and lowered his lips onto hers once more. Jaci leaned into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He growled and brought her closer to him.

Someone cleared their throat and Jaci and Severus pulled back. Jaci looked at the door and groaned. She shook her head and ran a hand through the hair Severus had tousled.

"Now Jaci, that's no way to greet your niece," the woman standing at the door said.

"What niece?" Jaci muttered under her breath, and Severus heard her. He looked at her curiously.

"And who's this?" the woman asked, walking over to Severus. She was a blonde, with green eyes. She was dressed very business like, and she stood out in a crowd here. She held out her hand. "Andrea Smith," she purred.

"Severus Snape," he said, shaking her hand briefly. Jaci shook her head.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were out in New York making your riches or something," Jaci said coldly.

"Oh I am, but I thought I'd come down and visit you all, I can see you're," she looked around wrinkling her nose, "getting along," she managed to say.

"And we're getting along together, the family is closer than ever, so I suggest you go back to New York and leave us be," Jaci said sternly.

Now Severus understood. Jaci wasn't jealous of the money, she was upset that this—woman had left the family behind, and by the way she talked, acted, stood, and dressed, she was snobby.

"Now, now Jaci, come on be polite, invite me for a drink, for lunch, I'm sure Severus wouldn't mind," Andrea said, looking him up and down, she winked at him. He looked at her half shocked and half disgusted. He moved closer to Jaci and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Andrea, I invite family for lunch or a drink, I invite friends for lunch or a drink, but not you," Jaci said.

"And you invite your boyfriend as well, huh?" Andrea said, raising an eyebrow. Jaci glanced at Severus.

"Actually, I do the inviting, and we were just going to go lunch, so if you don't mind miss," Severus said. Andrea glared at him. She walked out of the shop. Jaci walked out with Severus and locked up. They walked to the family restaurant, with Andrea right behind them. Severus took Jaci by the hand as they walked into the restaurant.

"Hola Jaci," Johnny said. Then he noticed that she and Severus were holding hands. He glared at Severus as he lead them to a table.

"Kristie will be serving you soon," Johnny said. He glared again as Severus held the chair open for Jaci and pushed it in as she sat. Then he walked back to the front of the restaurant and yelled. "NO NOT YOU!" with that he ran into the kitchen.

Jaci and Severus tried not to laugh as they saw Andrea stalking into the kitchen were more yells could be heard, mainly curses and screams of "GET AWAY!" Jaci looked over at Severus.

"Thank you, you didn't have to put up a show for her," Jaci muttered, looking down at her plate. Severus smiled. He leaned over and grasped her hand in his.

"Who said I was putting up a show?" he whispered. Jaci's eyes went wide and she licked her lips.

"What did you say?"

"Who said I was putting up a show?" he said loudly this time. His grip on her hand tightened a bit.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yes, I do." He leaned over and kissed her gently. Then they heard someone clear their throats. Jaci growled as she saw it was Kristie, grinning.

"Hey you two, what do you want to eat this time?" Kristie asked, smirking.

"Two Rice with Chickens and a coke and water," Jaci growled. Kristie grinned.

"Actually, change the water to a coke," Severus said.

"Sure thing, your food and drinks will be up in a sec," Kristie said and she turned and walked to another table.

"Coke?" Jaci teased. Severus smiled.

"Well it's better than pumpkin juice," he said, before he could think to stop himself.

"Pumpkin juice?" Jaci asked curiously. "That sounds really nasty." He smiled.

"It is," he admitted.

"Thank you for lunch," Jaci said, as she and Severus walked back into her shop. Severus smiled.

"You're welcome."

"Hey, what are you doing for Christmas?" Jaci asked before she could stop herself. Severus raised his eyebrow. Jaci blushed. "Sorry, forget I asked."

"No, I'm not doing anything."

"Really? Well do you want to come over to my house, we're having Christmas at my cousin's though." Severus smiled.

"I would love that." Jaci smiled. "And a question."

"Yes?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Jaci grinned.

"I thought I already was." Severus laughed. He brought her close.

"Yes, you are," he muttered close to her lips.

"So sure are you?"

"Yes." He kissed her.

Jaci sighed as she got ready for the Christmas dinner. She was really picky, she had already discarded three outfits. She shook her head. She finally decided on a red silk shirt that was cut a bit low and showed some of her stomach and black slacks with black dressy shoes. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She decided to leave her hair loose and flowing down her back. There was a knock at her door and she ran to it.

"Hel—" Jaci stopped short as she saw who it was. She shook her head.

"What, not happy to see me?" Freddie, her cousin asked. Jaci growled.

"Freddie! You have to leave, my date's coming." Freddie raised his eyebrow.

"Date? You're going out on Christmas?"

"NO! I'm taking him to dinner at your house."

"Oh, well your mom sent me to come and pick you up."

"That's really sweet cousin, but leave!" Freddie laughed. He turned around and walked straight into someone.

"Sorry," Severus mumbled.

"No, my fault," Freddie said. He turned to look at Jaci.   "Is this your date Jax?" Freddie teased.

"Freddie!" Jaci yelled Freddie laughed. He turned back to Severus and held out his hand.

"Hello, my name's Freddie, as you could tell and I'm Jaci's cousin," Freddie said as he shook Severus' hand.

"Severus Snape, pleased to meet you."

"Wow, Severus Snape, sounds like a serial killer's name," Freddie remarked. Jaci groaned.

"Federico Madrigal IV!" Jaci yelled. Freddie winced at the sound of his full name.

"All right, I'll see you guys there." With that Freddie ran down the five blocks to his house. Jaci shook her head as she watched him disappear.

"I'm sorry about that Severus," she said, greeting him with a hug. Severus smiled.

"Don't be, I like your family, with the exception of An—" Jaci put a finger to his lips.

"Don't even speak her name, please." He nodded. Jaci smiled. She stepped back to inspect him. "Wow, I've never seen you in any shirt but black." Severus blushed. He was wearing a tight dark green shirt with black slacks and black shoes, but he didn't have a coat on. "Where's your coat? It's very cold." Severus smiled.

"Not as cold as it is in London." Jaci laughed. "Come, let's go, and you look beautiful, have I told you that?" Jaci blushed and shook her head. "More of a fool I am," Severus said. Jaci laughed. She locked up her house and took his arm. They walked down to Freddie's house. Jaci walked in and was greet with shouts of Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc. Jaci smiled.

"Hey look, it's Severus!" Freddie walked over to them, he took Severus by the shoulder. "I'll go just and introduce him to your dad, shall I?"

"NO!" Jaci took hold of Severus' arm. "Freddie if you don't leave him alone right now I swear I'll-"

"You shouldn't be swearing," a deep voice said behind Jaci. She froze.

"I'm sorry daddy, I wont do it ever again, I promise, as long as Freddie leaves me alone," Jaci muttered. She turned to face her father, letting go of Severus' arm.

"That's a good girl, now—" the man looked over at Severus. 'Who is this?"

Severus looked up at the man and could easily see that he was Jaci's father. Jaci looked so much like him, the jet black hair, the intense gaze, the only thing that differed was that Jaci was a female and that her eyes were green not brown. But come to think of it, Johnny, the host at the restaurant looked exactly like this man.

"This is my boyfriend, Severus Snape," Jaci said. Severus extended his hand. The man looked down at him. Jaci rolled her eyes. "Severus, this is my father, Juan Bernardo Leza." Now Juan shook Severus' hand.

"Pleased to meet you sir," Severus said. Juan nodded.

"Ok, daddy, if you don't mind, I'll just take Severus to the living room," Jaci said. Juan raised his left eyebrow, and Jaci did the same thing. Juan laughed and kissed his daughter's forehead.

"All right then," he said. Jaci smiled. She took Severus' hand and led him away.

"Sorry about that," Jaci said. Severus smiled.

"Intimidating, isn't he?" a voice behind them asked. They turned spotting Johnny grinning.   "Severus, isn't it?" Johnny asked, shaking Severus' hand.

"Johnny, right?" Severus said. Johnny nodded. "So," he looked at Jaci,  "You look like your father," Severus said, turning to looked at Johnny.

"Thank you," with that Johnny walked off.

"So, is Johnny the only sibling you have?"

"No, I have a younger sister as well, Rebecca, but we call her Becca," Jaci said.

"Oh," Severus said. He tried not to gasp as they walked in the living room. It was huge! Not to mention it was full of people, men, woman, children, babies crying. "Is—is this your whole family?"

"Yes, we're probably missing two or three people," Jaci said. Severus looked at her shocked. "Well, we're a big family."

"No kidding." Jaci laughed. Just then Johnny began to play music. Jaci swayed to the songs, until she heard one that she loved.

"Here I am, broken wings, quiet thoughts, unspoken dreams, here I am alone again, I need her now to hold my hand," Jaci said softly, swaying to the music. She smiled as she saw her father and mother begin to dance to the slow song, then more and more family members joined in. Severus looked down at Jaci and saw how she was gazing at the dance floor.

"Do you want to dance?" he muttered into her ear. Jaci smiled up at him and nodded. He took her hand and lead her into the middle of the dance floor, then he wrapped his hands around her waist and she around his neck. They were soon dancing together. Jaci put her head on his shoulder, so he could hear her gently sing.

"It's the way she makes me feel. It's the only thing that's real. It's the way she understands. She's my lover, she's my friend. And when I look into her eyes it's the way I feel inside. Like the man I want to be. She's all I ever need." Soon the song ended and Severus was about to pull away when he heard the next song start, and he didn't want to let go of Jaci, just yet.

Soon the song ended and Johnny passed a microphone over to Juan. He smiled as everyone began to clap.

"Ok, dinner will be served shortly, we'll have Juan play another song," he looked over at his son, who grinned, "and then we'll have our feast." Everyone clapped again. They laughed as Johnny put on a Christmas carol and they began to sing along. Jaci felt a tug on her shirt and she turned around and squealed. She hugged Kristie tightly.

"Come on, let's go get our seats," Kristie said, not even noticing Severus, Jaci nodded. Kristie turned and ran over to a room, Severus and Jaci followed.

"Where are we going?" Severus asked Jaci.

"To the kid's table, where else?" Jaci laughed at the weird look Severus gave her. "We're the kids, we're not the adults here Severus, don't worry, the babies stay with their mothers and the children eat somewhere else, but we're the kids." Severus continued to look at her weird, but just continued to follow her. Soon they were seated and more and more people joined the table.

After praying they began to serve themselves. The night ended with unraveling gifts. Jaci walked up to Severus nervously. He smiled at her.

"I've—I've gotten something for you," Jaci muttered.

"Really?" he asked.  She nodded. "Great, because I've gotten something for you." Severus grinned and Jaci laughed. They swapped gifts. Jaci opened hers and gasped.  It was a beautiful silver necklace, with a little snake and a plant on it. She grinned. Severus opened his gift and stared at it.

"Don't you like it?" Jaci asked worriedly. Severus smiled quickly.

"I love it, I've just never had one before," he admitted.

"Really?" Severus nodded. He looked down at the silver necklace that had a little four-leaf clover on it. "I saw it and imagined how it would look on you, here." Jaci took it and turned him around. Soon he felt the smoothness of the chain around his neck, and Jaci talking into his ear. "It looks wonderful from back here," she muttered. She kissed his neck gently, then moved to kiss his jaw, then she stepped back and grinned. "And it looks perfect from here." Severus laughed.

"Well, now it's my turn," he took the necklace from Jaci. He placed it around her neck and fastened it. He kissed her below her ear. "I'll bet it looks gorgeous on you," he muttered. Jaci shuddered, she loved his voice, and it sounded so deep, so familiar. She turned around in his arms. "Yes," he said firmly, "it does." Jaci grinned. She kissed him.