yay! right on time! here be your update and notes readers!
sevyhero: "This was her love...she was sure of it." You consider that...fling words? Sorry webby, I don't understand you sometimes. lol. You'll enjoy this chapter. I was extremely happy about the ending, so you had better be too! =)
Morgana-Alex: Lol, first aid class =) That's hilarious. Glad you liked the chapter. I hope you think this one is better though...I actually spent about ten hours all in all just thinking this chapter over, deleting, copying, and pasting a bunch of junk just so I was happy with it. Talk about obsessed! :) Thanks for the review!
adnarel: I understand you thinking snape being er...ooc, but the thing is, people act differently around different people, yah know? haha, and as far as kissing in public, well er...he was caught up in the moment? : okay, well yeah. er...I'll get back to you on the sequel bit. I've been thinking about it for the past like...3 chapters, and I'll have come to a decision by the end. Promise.
Hogwarts Duo: [grins] haha! Here is your ad/mm fluff, and tons of it!...plus our little meeting between ss/pp/ad/mm...funness. Though...sadly...I shall soon be crying for this story is slowly coming to an end. 2 more chapters after this, I think. Oh well, it must end sooner or later. Hope you enjoy the chappie.
Emutet: holey shhhmokes! three graduation parties? I couldn't live like that, I simply couldn't. lol. What's wrong with putting in a few modern phrases? "get it on" i believe would be one of them, lol. but it still makes for a good laugh. =) enjoy.
Angeldust aka Evilwoman: Well now...Minerva I think...just might be a wee bit more understanding than you think. After all...she has a few things coming to her.
Liz O'Brien: oh no no no no! I can't end this story yet! You'll know when it's the end, I promise. I'll have one big "The end" when it is...the end? so yeah, you'll know. So glad you are enjoying this story. R&R if you would be so kind.
Jestana: Of course you can use the line! lol. It seemed people enjoyed it! =) you all have brightened up my two weeks with these fun little comments. And we have...I think two surprises in this chapter, and another in the next chapter, then we are totally and completely on...dare I say it, epilogue. :'( oh well.
Morpheus: it seems no one was expecting sir potions master and poppy to get together "permanently"...and therefore I am happy for making it such a surprise! And everyones long awaited proposal is sooner than you think. Good luck w/ ur new situation.
Chapter Fifteen: Stars in Your Eyes
Minerva and Albus found a cozy little spot to the north of the hotel where just about the only full grown shade tree stood with a nice patch of grass beneath it. They both were on their backs, Minerva had her head propped up on Albus's outstretched arm. Together they stared at the reasonably cloudy sky, and let the world pass before them.
"Albie," Minerva whispered softly, "do you remember when we first came here, and you had asked me whether I was afraid of public affection?"
"Yes," he ran a finger down the side of her arm. "Why?"
"I was just thinking how ironic it is that you had accused me of being afraid of it. Considering how you and I act around each other."
"We have come quite a way, haven't we?" He smiled at the thought. "Remember when you wouldn't let me hold your hand?"
"Ahm." He stared at her, a carefree smile crossed her face. "I was so afraid of you getting to me. I didn't want you to find out anything." She opened her eyes, and faced him with a grin. "Sooner or later I suppose I had to let you do it though."
"I know. Those were good days Min."
"These past nine days have been better than I ever could have hoped." She leaned up, and pecked him softly on the lips with a stream of love coursing through her face. "Do I still perplex you m' dear? Or have you figured me out?" She ran a finger along the side of his face.
"Let's just say," he grinned, "I know how you move and think and that's plenty good enough for me. No," he shook his head, "you make perfect sense to me now."
"Good." She put her head back on his arm gently. Albus made a point to turn his arm, and pull her closer to him. Minerva draped an arm across his chest and a peaceful look crossed her face. "You know Albus," she whispered with her eyes closed lazily, "I liked you from the first second I saw you in my seventh year. You weren't even teaching then."
"I was interning." He closed his own eyes lazily. "You were the one who showed me around the castle, weren't you?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Headmaster Dippit had quite a few good words to say about you then. He said you were going to be the most renowned witch of the age."
He opened his eyes, and looked at Minerva's wide opened ones when he didn't get an immediate reply. "My how things change," she said sleepily, "I was going to be an auror...until I left. Thank Merlin I had Poppy, if she hadn't been my friend, I would really have turned into a blob of nothing. She threatened me until I finally started going to job interviews."
"And she's the one that convinced me to hire you." Albus took his finger, and twisted her delicate hair into a knot around his finger. "To tell you the truth Min, you were qualified to the minimal, there were others that could have gotten the position. But she had a lot to say of you, and I listened to her."
"I'm glad. I probably would never have met you again."
"Well...we would have come across each other sooner or later. After all, Poppy does work at the castle. There would have been some Christmas party or other that we could have met at. And I would have fallen in love with you from the first look. By the end of the night we would have been laughing, flirting, dancing; all of the above."
Albus's hand slipped down into his pocket, and he clutched the tiny box tightly. He was ready to ask her, it was the perfect time. The sun, ever so bright, was slowly setting and a million colors flew across the sky. The few trees that were there swayed calmly in the breeze.
"But Min, I--"
"What was that?" Minerva sat up quickly, right out of Albus's grasp.
"What was what?" He looked around their seemingly empty surroundings. He scratched his ear, slightly confused.
"I thought," she stared towards an old tree several yards away from them. "I saw a...flash."
"I didn't," he frowned. "Maybe we'd better go inside, away from the heat. It's a bad sign when you start seeing things m' dear."
She didn't take her eyes off of the old tree for several minutes. But eventually turned around and faced him with a frown. "I'm sorry." She blinked her eyes sadly. "Maybe we should go inside."
Albus nodded, and sat up, while helping Minerva to get to her feet as well. He dropped the box back into his sagging pocket. He would have to wait for another time to ask her, he still had fourteen hours before they had to leave.
"Now remember Severus," Poppy spoke gently from their bed, "I'll tell Minerva, and you tell Albus. I'll makesure she doesn't blow her top over it, and you be sure that we can't get sacked for this."
"I know." He opened a drawer to the far end of the room with clothes in it. He pulled out a white muggle shirt, and jeans again. Carefully, knowing quite well that Poppy was watching him, he slipped the shirt on and then the jeans; he didn't bother to zip them up. With a grin, he walked towards his wife who was still tangled under the sheets. "I do have a question however." Severus sat back on his elbows beside Poppy.
"Alright, what is it?"
"Well," he took hold of her left hand and drew a slow circle along the simple gold ring that was entwined around her finger. "This will sort of give it away, will it not?"
"I suppose it would. But I wore it earlier and Minerva didn't notice."
"She was too busy scowling at me Poppy. Not that I really care, because I'll be married to you if I want. I just figured that you wanted to wait when she, and I quote, is sane enough to understand this madness. Not that she's ever sane," he rolled his eyes.
"Come here," she whispered with a grin. "I'll tell you a secret." She raised an eyebrow.
With a grin, he leaned down to her lips. "What is the secret?"
She raised herself up to him, and whispered into his ear. "I love you to bits, dear. But I can't have you making fun of her all the time."
"You think I can help it Poppy? She's like a damn mother in-law. When I screw up, she'll be right there just waiting to blow me into oblivion."
Poppy smiled at this, and wrapped her arms around him. "Kiss me before I decide that isn't funny." She grinned.
With a grin of his own, he leaned down and kissed her gently. Slowly his lips drifted away from her face, and down her neck. His arms wrapped around her waist. "I thought we had finished," Poppy said slowly, while trying to stifle a moan.
"And I thought we were on our honeymoon." He didn't lift his head as peeled a little more of the sheet away from her body. "It's only been four days, and you're already denying me the right to my wife?" He didn't wait for a response however, but went back up to her lips, and slipped his snakelike tongue inside.
Albus and Minerva chose to spend their last dinner in Egypt together, away from prying eyes. They shared a rather small meal together, and sat in the light of vaguely glowing embers from the fireplace while they awaited the time to go downstairs for their meeting. Albus held Minerva close to himself, whispering small innocent words of love and conviction. Minerva whispered softly back to him, relieving his every nerve of tension.
He was beginning to have visions of the two of them, ten, maybe twenty years down the sweet road of time. They would have children together, make a life, love each other until their very last moments of breath. They would share millions of sweet moments together where she would look at him in such a way, and he would react in such a manner, that they had no choice but to give in to each other's needs.
He needed this woman now. He was as much a part of her as she was a part of him. Albus looked at her moonlit eyes, and dragged a finger along her soft skin. Her red lips parted, and met his gently. He felt the heat flow through his body and down to his most obvious point of desire. She teased him with her lips by backing away from his mouth, a playful grin on her face.
"Do you really want to play this game?" He raised an eyebrow while wrapping his arms tightly around her waist so as that she couldn't get out, even if she had wanted.
"Aye," she nodded, "I would love to play this game with you."
"You understand that the second you go over the line," he breathed slowly on her neck, "I'll make you scream out my name until you go hoarse and can't say a word on your own accord."
"Then what'll you do?" She smiled innocently up at him. "Do we start uh...what's it called," she grinned, "mime sex?"
That was it, she was going down. Albus rolled over her, and he couldn't help but smile as he saw the surprise on her face from the abrupt movement. "You went too far," he grinned. And the man covered her mouth with his, allowing his tongue to intertwine with hers as she moaned in his mouth. Unwillingly, he departed with her lips, and took a quick glance at her lustful eyes. "Do you want me?" He licked the lobe of her ear, then her neck, then the tip of her chest.
"Albus," she moaned as she slid her hands underneath his clothing and felt his back and chest.
"Say it," he said ever so slowly. He moved up on her neck, and back to her lips to suck them with enough passion to match her own, maybe to even pass it. He only moved away for a second, only long enough for her to reply.
"Yes, damn it, yes!"
"Where in the bloody hell are they!? They're thirty minutes late! If they don't show up soon, I'm going to start blowing things up!" Severus paced up and down the floor of the morning shop with a grimace on his face. "Why do we even bother to put them in charge of a school when they can't even come to a bloody meeting on time?"
"This isn't like either of them. They're always the early ones! They couldn't have forgotten. Maybe they thought we were meeting someplace else?" Poppy stared at him, a rather pleading look upon her face. This was odd, neither Minerva or Albus had ever made a habit of being late for anything. Their untimely arrival was making her husband lose his head, and that simply wasn't a good thing.
"Then they'll find some way to blame it on us. Poppy if they don't show up within the next twenty minutes I'm leaving!"
"They'll be here." She tapped her foot on the floor irritably. She was doubting her words herself.
"I'll bet my whole bloody salary they're late just to get me angry."
"Probably." Poppy nodded, knowing quite well he probably was right for a change despite his lack of thoughts. "But can you try not to stay calm, that may help when they do come."
"You mean if they come." He rolled his eyes.
Poppy stared towards the entrance to the eatery. There wasn't so much as a soul outside; not a shadow, no movement, not a bird or any animal of the like in sight. She let out a sigh, "Do you want to go on a walk? They're not going to show up anytime soon."
"Finally." He half smiled. "It's not right for you to take me away from my honeymoon just to talk to the only two gits in the world that I have to suck up to."
"Awww, poor baby," she smirked. "You didn't come so you could suck up." She wrapped her arms around his neck, and smiled up at him. "You came here so you could suck up to me."
"So let's go."
"Okay," she nodded.
Together they walked out of the café and around the grounds. Before they even had come past the threshold Severus had taken Poppy's hand in his own, and squeezed it gently. She closed her eyes for a quick second, wallowing in the simple message he had just given her.
They came across the dark waters of the swimming pool, then nearly the only grove of trees in the proximity, and finally up to the very entrance to the hotel. They stood, hand in hand, and stared up at the starry sky that was completely devoid of its' main source of light. Poppy stared up in awe at the sight, she'd seen a sky like this millions of times, but it was a different sky that she seemed to be staring at in this very moment. Never had this beautiful thing meant so much to her; she wasn't staring at those millions of stars alone anymore.
She'd searched years and years for her compatible mate, but this was her first time to ever really feel the magic of what she was seeing because she was simply no longer alone. Before, this was just a dreamers' fantasy, simply to stare up at the universe with a lover that was more than just a lover; he was a best friend.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" He whispered, as if reading her mind. She wouldn't put it past him to do so anyway.
"It's wonderful, to be looking up at all of this. It's such a big world out there."
"Big, dangerous, harsh world, Poppy."
She looked up at him; he looked empty. Poppy put a hand on his shoulder, knowing quite well what he was thinking of. He'd been through more in his life than she could ever go through. "There are good things too," she sent him a weak smile. "We wouldn't be together if there wasn't anything good in the world."
"True," he nodded, "As long as I have you, Poppy Seed, I'm happy." He wrapped a hand around her waist, and he looked at her in that very special way that told her he loved her. She didn't wait for his words however, but pulled him closer and kissed him softly in a kiss that was no less passionate than the first one they had shared as husband and wife.
"Let's go back," he whispered softly, his face only inches away from her flushed face.
"Yes, we probably should." She nodded, took his hand in hers again, and led the way back towards the back of the hotel. They walked in comfortable silence, revelling in every moment they spent together away from the world. Before long, they were back by the cool deck of the pool, and weren't far from the café where they were supposed to meet their unbelievably late friends. They were probably in there, at that moment Poppy knew. They were just waiting for Poppy and Severus. "We should go inside, come clean and tell them."
"If you insist on getting us sacked, that's fine with me." He rolled his eyes, and they entered the café where Albus and Minerva indeed were. And for the first time, Poppy felt a smile for her best friend cross her face. For infront of her, in their own little world, moved her best friend and her lover in one another's arms. There wasn't any music playing in the room, there wasn't an instrument in sight, yet they stood hand in hand, arm around waist and shoulder staring at each other closely.
There was never a doubt in her mind that it would work out for them, they'd been in love for years. The impact however, just now had seemed to hit her of what she, Severus, and the entire staff had done. They'd made magic without use of a wand or some enchanted spell, they'd made it happen by their own means of friendship. She swallowed with a smile, "A-hem, Min, Albus?"
Minerva looked at them first, and then Albus turned as well to face the two of them. "Apparently we weren't the only ones late." He smiled.
"We were here earlier," she looked at Severus, willing him not to say something stupid, "you were late, so we went on a...walk."
"A little night stroll never hurt anyone."
"See Severus," Poppy turned up towards her husband, "they aren't going to sack us."
"Not yet," he whispered sarcastically. "We both have things to tell them, don't we Poppy?"
"Oh," she nodded, "we do. A-Albus, could I maybe borrow Min for a...while."
Both Albus and Minerva looked at each other with confused expressions, but nodded. "I'll meet you later," Minerva smiled up at him. Even from that little distance, Poppy could detect the fire burning between the two of them. Minerva pecked Albus on the lips, and walked over towards Poppy; seemingly switching places with Severus who walked over towards the table.
"Bye you two," Severus said slightly irritably. "Come back when you're finished."
"We will," Poppy smiled. "Come on Min, we've got to talk about a few things."
Minerva looked at her uncertainly, but followed out to the pool. With a sigh, Poppy slipped her feet into the cold water, and waited for her best friend to follow suit. Minerva stayed silent, like a good friend, she was waiting for the news rather than prodding it out of her.
"Well," she took in a deep breath, "here we are, again. I really hate to give you another shock, after this morning...but I have something to tell you, Min."
"Oh God, you're not pregnant, are you?" Minerva looked at her seriously. Poppy almost wished that was what she had to tell her. Minerva wouldn't take too kindly to this news, she didn't accept things like that too easily.
"No," she shook her head with a hint of a smile, "Merlin knows it shouldn't be long though. Severus isn't exactly patient enough to take care of contraception. He likes doing things the right way." Poppy closed her eyes and smiled. He was a rather odd man at times. Slowly she opened them again, and looked at Minerva's serious eyes. "I'm married."
Her best friend's eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped slightly before she shut it quickly. She could see Minerva thinking it over, perhaps trying to react accordingly. "Married?" She uttered in disbelief, "To Severus?"
"Yes," she nodded slowly, not trusting herself to say anything else.
"But..." she shook her head, "when?"
"Four days ago. Remember when we saw each other and you were distraught over Albus going goldfish on you when you told him that you were a virgin? We talked, Min. You asked me about Severus, well my lover I suppose. You asked if I loved him. He heard me say that I did. Before I knew it we were saying our vows back in London."
Minerva stared at her blindly. All the color in her face was now completely gone, and her eyes seemed completely devoid of anything but blue. Oh but Poppy knew better than that. Any minute now, Minerva McGonagall would explode and tell her that she was the biggest idiot in the history of the world. Minerva took in breath, and blinked her eyes after several minutes of uncomfortable silence.
"So you married Severus Snape four days ago," she spoke clearly and softly.
Poppy nodded her head slowly.
"And you did not have the nerve to tell me then, so you are telling me now?"
She swallowed. "I suppose, if you want to think of it like that."
Silence followed. The two women stared at each other, until Minerva turned her gaze onto the water. "Poppy," she shook her head, "what...do you see in him? I- I'm not saying that he's," she paused, Poppy waited for the sting, "wrong for you, I just...what were you thinking?"
Poppy blinked. No explosion, no anger, just...soft spoken agitation. She could read beneath the words, Minerva was angry at her, but she wouldn't have changed her choice, even if Minerva did show her anger. Though, she decided, she would rather have Minerva angry and showing it; not like she was. "You don't know Severus like I do. He's brilliant, and helpful, and he loves me."
"But Poppy," she shook her head sadly, "he's always in danger, being a double agent. He'll put the both of you in danger."
"I would rather be married to him for a few days than not married at all, Min." She took Minerva's hands in her own, daring her to stare her in the eyes. "I love him, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him, even if that means a few months, or one hundred years. I can't live without him."
They stared at one another closely, waiting for the next move. Minerva looked down at Poppy's hand, where her wedding band stood. She held it up with some odd form of a smile, then back at Poppy. "How long were you engaged?"
"He asked me at the end of the school year. Neither of us thought it wise to tell anyone just then."
Minerva nodded slowly. "You could have told me, you know."
"Are you kidding?" Poppy jerked her head from side to side. "You would have gotten angry, you would have hated me forever."
"For what?" She threw her shoulders up. "I would have been mad, but that wouldn't have stopped me from being your friend. Severus isn't...that bad."
"If you hadn't spoken with him earlier this morning, Min, you would have blasted the door open and turned the place to ashes if I'd told you. Had he not gotten you and Albus together, you wouldn't be acting this way."
"Do be serious Poppy," Minerva frowned, "I wouldn't blow anything to ashes, even if it did include you marrying someone that I didn't like. If you're sure you feel the same way about each other, I can't stop anything, can I? So what's the point in going on a rampage?"
She felt a smile at the side of her lips. Maybe she had done the right thing by waiting; at least until Minerva was happy enough that nothing could spoil it. "There isn't one, I suppose." She blinked.
"Where did you do it?"
"We apparated back to London."
"And came back here for your...honeymoon I would guess?"
"Yes."
Silence passed yet again. Minerva looked up at the sky this time, then back at Poppy. "What are you going to do about children? And your staff positions? Surely you don't want the whole world to know that you and him are...married."
Poppy sighed. "Only people who are on a need-to-know basis need to know. No one but staff and select people will know. If we do end up having children then I'll just be careful in not saying who the father is around students."
"So you really are happy, Poppy?"
She didn't need to think about that. She'd known from the first time she'd gone out with him that she could forever be happy with him. "I don't think I could ever be happier."
"Well then," Minerva looked at Poppy with a smile, "I'm happy for you, and," she paused slowly, "I wish you the best of luck with him."
That was it, Merlin, what was just about the simplest thing that had ever happened. Minerva was so...accepting, that was the odd part. But Poppy wasn't about to question any of it. She reached out her arms, and hugged her best friend tightly. When they had departed, they stared at each other with smiled. "You know Min," Poppy raised an eyebrow, "it won't be long before you get married."
"I hope not," Minerva nodded. "I can't be mad at you for being happy when I'm just as happy as you are. Come," she smiled, "let's go and check up on the men."
Poppy nodded, and they walked back towards the café.
Minerva walked into the room, her head swimming with thoughts. She did not just have that conversation. Poppy...Snape? She took in a deep breath, she was happy for Poppy, she really was; because Poppy was happy with Severus. However, she didn't understand it, but then again, she'd never given Severus a chance. As Minerva entered, she promised herself to make an attempt to get to know her best friends husband.
She looked at the table, where the two men sat, talking with decent grins on their faces. Albus didn't seem as shocked as Minerva was initially, Severus seemed nothing short of high spirits. "Back already, ladies?" Albus eyed Minerva. She smiled, nodded, and walked towards the table where she sat next to Albus in a chair.
"How did it go, Poppy?" The Slytherin looked at Poppy, then Minerva with a bit of a worried look upon his face.
"She took it rather well, I think. Nothing's been blown up anyhow." Minerva smiled at the humor of the joke. She looked at Albus who raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, but I convinced Minerva not to bring her wand this time too."
"Well that would explain it," Severus grinned.
"Obviously you two males have bonded enough." Minerva looked at Albus with a teasing look. "I'll just leave you two to make fun of me while I go upstairs and take a...bath."
"That is unnecessary, Miss McGonagall." Albus waved a finger. "If you are to take a bath, not only will I accompany you to wash but you're not leaving just yet."
"And pray tell, why not?" She blinked innocently at him. On the inside, however, she was smiling for one of two things. One would be the more than obvious offer to join her in a bath. Two would be because his darling eyes were twinkling again, and he insisted on playing cat and mouse yet another time.
"We need to congratulate them as a couple."
She half grinned. "And how is it that you would like to do this?"
"Say congratulations, Min."
She smiled. She would have done that anyhow. "Congratulations, Poppy, Severus." She nodded to the both of them. "I'm really happy for you, you'll be one damn happy couple. Good luck." She looked at Albus, who was grinning.
"Good luck, and congrats." Albus nodded, and leaned across the table to shake Severus and Poppy's hands. Minerva, however, managed to give the both of them a hug. When she had finished hugging Severus, she looked up at him. She needed to offer him more than just that, she'd been down right horrid to him for a time. "Good luck, Severus. You'll make her happy."
He nodded. Minerva turned back towards Albus, who had his hand out. "I expect we'll be seeing you two sometime in the summer?"
"Aha." Poppy nodded. And out went Albus and Minerva.
Albus held her hand tightly. This was their last evening together in Egypt. Their very last looking out upon those same stars. They didn't say much as they went up to their room. The weariness of the day, and the reality of it being their last day set in.
Minerva went, and fell flat on the settee with her eyes closed. Albus, however, went to the bathroom, where she heard hot water begin to run. She smiled; he was up to his tricks yet again. He'd managed to win her over just minutes before they were supposed to go down and meet Severus and Poppy which would explain their late arrival. She couldn't stop herself anymore. There was just something about Albus that made her forget everything else in the world, and then there was nothing but the two of them.
Perhaps that was how Severus made Poppy feel. Minerva wouldn't put it past her. If that were the case, then she understood perfectly. If she was in love, then she could never stop anything.
"Are you going to join me, Kitten?"
Minerva opened her eyes lazily, and a warm smile crossed her face. "Help me up first." His strong, masculine hands took her delicate ones, and pulled her to stand straight up. They both walked towards the bathtub that was large enough for the two of them to fit easily. Inside the bathroom, there were several lit candles, which stood as the only source of light. It was a true lover's paradise.
Minerva was the first one to get in. Albus waited a few minutes, and stared at her with a man's eye. He walked over and behind the tub where she noticed he had tossed his dressings. She could hear him fumbling around with his clothes, but thought nothing of it. She stared towards the wall, letting the anticipation well up inside of her. "Min?" He pushed himself into the water, and directly infront of her.
She looked at him with love and adoration. "Hmmm?"
"I love you." He pushed closer to her, and kissed her softly on the lips. She closed her eyes, letting the ecstasy of this moment float through her entire system. He departed with her lips, and placed a hand on her hip. His other hand, she now noticed was fisted, came above the water. He didn't take his eyes away from her, however, he stared deep into her, deep down into her soul as if there would never be another someone for him to see or love. He moved a stray strand away from her face, and pecked her again.
She stared at him closely, learning every line in his skin and every little inlet that was on him, setting her heart aflame for the millionth time. "I love how your eyes shine like the moon," he spoke softly, "I love how you smile," he came closer towards her neck, "I love how you whisper my name in the dark," he was only a little way away from just below her ear, "I love that you told all of your secrets to me." He paused, she could hear him take in a slow breath. "I love that you chose me as your first," he confessed slowly, "and I love you more than I know how to express. So I have something to ask you that might save me the trouble."
Her heart stopped, and she stopped breathing. She waited for what seemed like an eternity, not letting herself to move in the least. She heard a very faint, meaningful sentence whispered in her ear, and she felt a tear well up in her eye. "Will you marry me?"
As the tear found its' way down her face, and onto the tip of her lips, she found those brilliant blue eyes that she had fallen in love with. "Yes," she whispered softly, "Yes Albus." He kissed what was left of the tear away, and lifted up her left hand.
Smiling soothingly, he drew a gold band with a small stone from his fisted hand along her finger and onto where it would forever stay. He set her hand back down in the water gently, and peered at her with a smile. "I love you," he drew his hands in behind her ears, and she stared at him, love filled and all.
"I love you too Albus," she whispered with affection. Slowly, almost cautiously, Albus came forward, and buried her lips beneath his leaving her to be lost in the world that she had never thought possible.
The love in his simple kiss was enough reassurance for her. They would grow old together, have children together, and never would she have to wake up without seeing his twinkling eyes again; his brilliant, blue, star-like, engaging eyes.
before you all ask, no, this is NOT the end...I just needed an ending that made me want to cry because its so happy. :'( yah know? I really hope you all enjoyed it. Love yah all!
minni
ps. any questions that still need to be answered can and will be posted in the next chapter...I just need some reminding of them. =)