A/N: Well everyone this is the final chapter of The Parent Trap. Thank you so much for sticking with the story and we are so glad that you have enjoyed reading it
Chapter 28: Starting OverAberforth Dumbledore had been only to eager to have both of his nieces stay over at the estate for the weekend. He had jumped at the chance to get to know Abigail more and to spend one last weekend with Evie before she began to prepare for school. And the way things were looking with his goats, the girls would be there when the new kids were born and could pick one for themselves as a pet. Of course he knew Minerva would never allow them to have goats as pets but no matter. The lovely animals could stay with him and they could visit as often as their schedules permitted.
Minerva had gone into Hogsmeade to pick up a few things she felt she might need for teaching. She would never admit it to another person, aside from Albus, but the idea of imparting knowledge to children not her own was quite a daunting task. Still, it was one she accepted with her entire heart and mind, for herself, for Albus, for her children, and for the school, which had given her so much in her lifetime. While Minerva was away, Albus contacted Aberforth and the girls squealed when they learned of their weekend visit to the estate.
"Thanks, Abe. We'll come by on Sunday afternoon and pick up our little girls. It means a great deal to me that you're taking care of both of them this weekend. Plus it will give you a chance to interact more with Abigail and for the two of them to bond more before school starts."
"I don't mind at all, Albus. The girls are going to be a breath of fresh air at the house and I have lots of fun things planned for us to do. Don't you give either of them a second thought. I'll take really good care of them…just like I do my very own goats!"
Albus hugged and kissed each of his girl's goodbye and shook Aberforth's hand. "If, for some reason you should need us, send an owl, please. I don't want your head popping through the fire this weekend," he told his brother with a wink.
"Say no more. We'll be just fine. Enjoy your weekend alone with Minerva." Aberforth nudged his brother in the side and left with a smirk on his face.
Albus and Minerva had been truly reunited two days ago but aside from the occasional deep kisses and the cuddles at night, they had not truly professed their love for one another in a more intimate way. With the girls always under foot and Minerva beginning to work on the lesson plans for her new profession, they had very little time to really spend as a couple. But that was all about to change.
For the next two hours, Albus worked diligently to transform their living quarters into a masterpiece from his memory. After saying their vows and enjoying the party thrown by their family and friends on their wedding day, Albus had produced a portkey to whisk them away to a romantic cottage on Loch Lomond. It had always been a favorite spot for Minerva and he wanted to make their first few days of married life the happiest either of them could ever remember.
Today was no different. He felt as if he had married Minerva all over again, only this time he had the wonderful knowledge of what he stood to lose and he had no intentions of ever giving her up again. Spell after spell. Charm after charm. Transfiguration after transfiguration and Albus was finally satisfied with his work. He had done his best to remember every single detail from the inside of the cabin. From the sheets on the bed, to the bathroom tile, even down to the plush rug in front of the fireplace, their rooms resembled the romantic cabin by the lake.
Taking care to dim the lights and finding a soothing program of music on the Wizarding Wireless, Albus slipped into a more comfortable set of robes and waited for his beloved Minerva to return from her excursion.
Minerva made her way up the stairs of the Entrance Hall. She was in her own little world as she climbed higher and higher to the level that led to the rooms she was sharing with her husband again. She was setting out lesson plans in her head, thinking what she was going to teach on her first day of the new school term. She was also thinking about her name. Would she be known as Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore? When she and Albus had married, she had taken his name secretly because they had decided that it would be best for her safety. She had wanted to be known publicly as a Dumbledore but it hadn't been possible at that time. She wondered if things were different now. She would have to speak to Albus about it and they also needed to discuss the surnames of their children. They were both different despite how obviously like sisters they were.
Her thoughts drifted back to what Albus had said this morning. He told her that he was planning a surprise for her and that she would be delighted. She wasn't sure what he had planned but she didn't miss the mischievous glint in his eyes as well as the knowing looks their daughters had shared before she had left for Hogsmeade.
She reached the large portrait of Godric Gryffindor that covered the door that led to the rooms that the head of Gryffindor lived in and gave the password, 'Together, forever'. She smiled as she said the password. It had been Albus' idea last night to change the password and she had to admit that it very romantic of him to change it to the inscription that was on their wedding rings. For the past ten years she had missed the familiar feel of the ring on her finger. When she left it behind, she thought it would only be for a few hours. Never did she realize it would take ten years to get it back. But with a smile and a new commitment to their marriage and love, Albus had placed it back on her wedding finger before kissing her deeply.
The portrait swung open and Minerva stepped through the walkway before opening the door. When she did open the door, she was taken back by what she saw. It was as though she was walking into the cottage at Loch Lomond where she and Albus had spent their honeymoon.
"Albus!" she gasped
"Welcome home," he answered softly as he held both arms open to her. He crossed the room quickly and took her packages, dropping them unceremoniously on the floor. His eyes had locked with hers and he still held her gaze. "A second chance deserves a second honeymoon, no?"
Minerva giggled. She had forgotten how playful Albus could be when he was in one of his romantic moods. Every nerve ending in her body seemed to quiver with delight at the memories that flooded her mind of night spent making passionate love. "It's just like I remembered. Our little cottage by the loch…this must have taken you hours."
Albus slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly, once again thanking the heavens above for giving him a second chance with Minerva. He pulled back just far enough to slip her outer robe from her slender frame. "Our daughters are with Aberforth for the weekend. The floo network has been disabled. The Ministry has been informed that I am not available until early next week. So, Mrs. Dumbledore, I am all yours."
"Indeed you are, my love. And I can think of so many things we can do together," she answered with raised eyebrows. "A good game of chess, redecorating our rooms, shopping for the girls, putting my things away," she said as she sauntered suggestively towards their bedroom. When she reached the door, she dropped her inner robes which she had been unbuttoning while gliding across the floor. "Or we could test a theory of mine. One that has plagued my thoughts for years."
Albus found it difficult to swallow and breathe but somehow he managed. "Oh, and what would that be?"
"I wondered how easily it would be to remember what turns the other on. I wondered if your touch would still cause me to tremble in anticipation and burn with desire." She turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder, her back still facing him. "And I wondered if I still had what it takes to make you melt in my arms and cry out my name."
"Ah, Professor, I think it's time we proved just how the mind works. I remember every single touch and caress from you, every curve of your body. And maybe I flatter myself, but I believe I still have what it takes to satisfy you as no other man could."
"Then why are you still standing there?" she asked as she disappeared into the bedroom, casting a lingering look over her shoulder.
Albus didn't need to be asked twice. He immediately followed her into the bedroom and locked the door with a powerful charm. There was no way that anybody was going to disturb his second honeymoon and he had ten years to make up to his beautiful wife.
The next two days passed in a whirlwind. Periods of gentle lovemaking were intertwined with lazy afternoons before a heatless fire as Albus read to Minerva. Even bath times were seductive and enjoyable adventures as they took turns bathing the other, which only lead to more expressions of love. Chess games weren't even safe pastimes for the two reunited lovers. It was all too simple to tease and taunt the other underneath the table. But all too soon, their quiet weekend came to a close and it was time to bring their girls home.
With one last passionate kiss and a vow to never lose sight of his priorities again, Albus opened the floo network and contacted Aberforth. Soon, the girls were back in their parent's arms with all sorts of wild stories about their weekend at the estate. While Minerva made certain her children were bathed and in clean pajamas, Albus contacted the house elves to bring up a dinner for four.
Laughter rang through the rooms as the family shared tales of when the girls were young, which led to both Albus and Minerva telling stories on the daughter they had raised for ten years. Hours passed as the family sat together on the large sofa, just enjoying the comforting feelings of being a family again. Staring into the fire, neither noticed that their girls had dozed off to sleep until Minerva began to yawn.
"You take Evie and I'll take Abbie. Then I'll personally tuck you into bed, Mrs. Dumbledore."
"Mmmm, I thought you'd never ask," she whispered as she levitated Evie towards the girls' bedroom. When both girls were tucked in safely and snuggled deep beneath their blanket and clutching their identical unicorns, Albus wrapped his arm around Minerva's waist as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Come, my dear. It's time we went to bed too. It's still early and now that the girls are asleep we can slip into our bed and enjoy the rest of our evening."
As the lights went out in the bedroom, Minerva moved into Albus' arms, feeling the safety and comfort offered by his strong arms around her. "What's next for us, Albus?"
"We'll get up tomorrow and raise our daughters together, just like we had always planned. Then, when the school term starts, we'll watch them grow into young women from a close distance. But the best part of it all is that we'll be doing it together, just as it was always meant to be."
"I love you, Albus."
"And I you, my dear. More than I can ever express."
"I can think of a few ways and I'm not as tired as I thought I was," she giggled before climbing on top of him and straddling his waist.
"Hmm, I think you have my undivided attention. Now, what exactly did you have in mind?"
It was well past midnight before they finally succumbed to sleep, sated, happy and home at last, in each other's arms.
The EndA/n2: For the racier version of events after the girls went to Aberforth's home, please go to the AD/MM board. The website information is on my profile page and the story is in the Romance section