Epilogue

So this is the last chapter of this story. Thanks to everyone for reviewing.

Kayjay, my sweety, I hope you like the last part. Thanks for a wonderful weekend!

Minerva lay sprawled on the bed, wearing an emerald green nighty. Albus had given her the nighty for her last birthday, so it was a bit more revealing than her usual choice but she just loved it.

Albus had been away for a couple of days on Order's business but was due to return any moment. Since it was their first wedding anniversary today Minerva thought she would welcome him in a very special way.

So now here she was, on the bed, her black hair spread all over the pillows. In the living room where he would enter first she had lit several candles, a trail of rose petals showing him the way to her.

Only minutes later she heard the familiar sound of someone arriving via the floo network. She smiled to herself and settled back, waiting for her husband.

Albus looked around the room. When he saw the candles and the rose petals he smiled and took off his heavy travel cloak. He followed the path Minerva had laid.

"Hello, my love." He looked at her, sprawled out on the bed in all her glory. And glorious she was. Albus thought that he had never seen her more beautiful than in that moment. Well, except on their wedding day perhaps…

"Hello, darling." Minerva said in a husky voice.

"I've missed you." Albus sat on the bed, caressing her face and kissing her gently.

"And I missed you. I'm so glad you're back." Minerva sat up and hugged him tightly, enjoying the sensation of his hands on her bare skin.

"Happy anniversary, my dear." Albus fumbled in the pockets of his robes for a moment and presented her then with a small box. Minerva looked at him, quite surprised.

"But Albus… We said we wouldn't…" Minerva was left speechless. When she opened the box there was a golden necklace inside, matching her engagement ring perfectly.

"You didn't expect me to come back for our first wedding anniversary without a gift for my beautiful wife, did you?" Albus said smiling while he fastened the necklace around her slender neck.

"No, not really. But anyway… Wait a minute." Minerva jumped out of the bed and went over to the closet. When she turned around she presented Albus with a rather large parcel.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Well, your gift. You didn't expect me not to give you anything, right?" Smiling Minerva climbed back into bed, looking at him eagerly.

Albus smiled at her and opened the package. It was a really rare book he had been looking for for quite some time now, but so far without luck.

"Tabby, that's just wonderful!" he exclaimed before starting to kiss her soundly.

"I'm glad you like it." Minerva wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself to the pleasure.

Before long the book lay forgotten on the bedside cabinet. Minerva's nighty had joined Albus' clothes on the floor while Minerva and Albus exchanged loving caresses and kisses.

"I love you so much, Tabby." Albus whispered against her neck, placing a soft kiss on the sensitive spot just beneath her earlobe.

"And I love you, Albus." Minerva said smiling. That really was the 'happily ever after' all fairy tales were about.

Finally Albus and Minerva fell asleep, forever encircled in the love they shared.

The End