Disclaimer: see Chapter 1 please

Author note: The "R" rating is for some violence that will happen later in the story.

Many thanks for the feedback…

Mercury Gray… Yes, the hiatus produced much progress on my manuscript. Not finished but in much better shape. Hope you like Panther as much as you did Thunderstruck.

Evenstar Elanor… I've seen the Cliffs spelled a few different ways. I chose Mor because it is the easier spelling. Thanks – as always – for reviewing.

Wyall Jared… "Whee." I love it. I hope the rest of the story elicits the same response.

Chapter 2: Once in a Blue Moon

An hour after dinner and after their cup of tea, Serena walked out into garden. The night breeze brought the scent of jasmine to her. She inhaled deeply and looked up at the full moon. By rights it was called the Thunder moon, but it was the second full moon in the same month this year: a Blue Moon. It hung in the sky, a silver and golden disk, mysterious behind a few high thin clouds that veiled it for a moment as they skimmed across the night sky. She heard Severus come out of the patio door.

"Isn't the moon beautiful tonight?" she asked.

"Indeed."

They stood together quietly and Serena took a hold of Severus' hand.

"Serena," he said in a thoughtful voice. "What do you want… out of life?"

"Wee bit philosophical tonight, aren't you, boyo?" she said with a low chuckle. She felt him stiffen slightly, taking the jibe more personally than she'd intended. She tightened her grip on his hand.

"No, don't be put off, luv. I was only having a wee bit of fun with you. What do I want out of life? Not much, I suppose. To be happy. To have good friends. To be loved."

"It's hard to find someone to love," said Severus. "Too many games, too many betrayals. Without trust, there cannot be love." He tried unsuccessfully to hide the bitterness in his voice.

"I know," she answered. "It takes a leap of faith to trust after you've been hurt." She thought back to the horrible day when she'd discovered that Severus had once been part of the Death Eaters, the same group who had murdered her mother. They'd had a terrible fight after that, and she hadn't spoken to Severus for weeks. But finally, she let go of her anger long enough to think. It was Malificus Malfoy who had murdered her mother, not Severus Snape. Serena had realized she was in love with Severus and she was willing to trust him. It had been a terrifying leap of faith, but she was thankful she'd made it.

Severus, too, understood betrayal. It had happened before, thinking someone loved him only to find that they had deceived him. There had been a point that he'd vowed never to care about anyone again, and for a while he'd kept to his vow. At least, he kept his vow until Albus Dumbledore had brought Serena Castleton-Black to Hogwart's to teach Defense Against Dark Arts, but even now old memories would slither back and haunt him…

Severus Snape had to admit, his last year at Hogwart's was turning out to be his best. His exams had all come back with top grades so far. He'd put on a little weight to finally match his height; he wasn't skin and bones any more. The Marauders had only picked a few fights with him. And best of all, he'd had a steady girlfriend for most of the year.

Meredith Parson had short auburn hair and hazel eyes. She wasn't terribly tall and she was a year younger than Severus. Since she was only in her Sixth Year, Severus had begun to wonder how often he'd be able to see her once he graduated.

He met Meredith behind the Slytherin Quidditch stands with plans to sneak down to the lake for a tumble before anyone missed them at the dorms. They hurried down to the lake and waited for the moon to be obscured by clouds.

Severus kissed Meredith with the enthusiastic awkwardness of youth. At first, he didn't notice her disinterest, but when he slid his hand up under the white button-down school blouse, Meredith shifted and turned her face away.

"What's wrong?"

She shrugged a little and tucked her shirt back into her skirt. "Nothing."

"That's a lie."

She sighed, sounding bored. "You want to know? Fine. I don't want to see you anymore."

"What? Why?" Severus was stunned and utterly confused.

"I'm bored," she said.

Bored? She's bored with me? Severus could feel his humiliation and temper rising. "And just when did you figure this out?" he snapped.

"I don't know. Three months ago." She examined her nails.

"Three months ago? And you're just getting around to telling me this now?" Severus felt a crushing weight constricting his chest. He liked Meredith… no, he loved her. At least he thought he did; he'd never been in love before.

"No reason to before this."

"Before this?" Severus shouted as he stood up. "So now there's a bloody reason?"

"Grow up, Severus," she sighed. "This hasn't been real. This has just been, I don't know, a fling?"

"An eight month FLING?" He was furious.

"What," she laughed. "You didn't actually think this was a serious relationship, did you?"

He was silent and grateful that the night hid the humiliated red stains on his cheeks.

Meredith laughed harder. "You fell in love didn't you?" She laughed louder.

Severus turned without a word and walked away. Her laughter haunted him all the way down the path. I did fall in love with you, you bitch, he thought, but never again. I won't let anyone get close enough to hurt me like this again.

Severus slammed a mental door down on the memory. It was still painful, and he still held a grudge against Meredith for how she treated him. But he'd broken that promise to himself. He'd let Serena into his heart, going against all his instincts, taking a chance he'd sworn he'd never take again. In front of him, Serena leaned into the garden to smell some of the night-blooming flowers.

It's now or never, Severus. You've been avoiding this for weeks. For a moment he hesitated again, that same raw fear of rejection burning the back of his throat. Then he plunged his hand into his pocket.

"I need to plant some of these in my garden," said Serena as she turned back to him. She was instantly on guard; Severus was looking at her with one of the most earnest and open expressions she'd ever seen him wear. He almost didn't look like the same man.

"Serena, You make me see the world… differently…." He fumbled over the words, silently cursing himself for looking foolish. He awkwardly dropped down on one knee. "Would you be my wife, Serena? Would you marry me? I love you."

He held up the ring that he'd been holding since May, but Serena didn't see the ring at first. She was completely focused on his face. The pounding of her heart filled her ears as she realized what he'd just said.

"Oh my," she whispered. This was a question she had never expected.

Fear curled in Severus' throat when she didn't immediately say anything else. She's going to say no. I'm not worth marrying…

But then Serena dropped to her own knees and threw her arms around his neck. "Yes," she said kissing him. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Severus let his breath out sharply, relief washing over him. He felt as if he'd thrown himself off the cliffs and managed to land on his feet like a cat.

"I love you," Serena said.

He took a hold of her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. The enchanted band quivered and constricted creating a snug fit. At that point, Serena really took a good look at the ring. The center stone was a large blue topaz and there were two golden-hued stones on either side of it.

"This is just stunning," she said. "Are these topazes on the outside?"

"Blue and gold topaz."

Her smile widened. "Your birthstone," she said. "How perfect!" Serena kissed him again, this time a slow, soft kiss that made Severus catch his breath. He tangled up his fingers in her thick hair and she tilted her head back and sighed as he kissed her neck.

A moment later she said, "I suppose you're expecting a wee tumble in the garden now that you've given me this lovely bauble…"

"One would think," he said with a raised eyebrow, and then they both laughed. Severus shifted and started to stand, but she caught his arm and pulled him towards her. Off balance, he fell forward, landing practically on top of Serena.

She kissed him again and whispered in his ear, "The tumble in the garden wasn't a jest…"

Okay, I posted a little sooner than I thought I would, but those of you who know me aren't all that surprised, are you? For those of you who were waiting for "The Question," I hope it was worth the wait. I was aiming for relatively traditional, yet simple and sincere. Severus doesn't strike me as someone who would go too overboard.