Disclaimer: The gang ain't mine! No sue! I'm out of lawyers…………

Later that night, Hermione and Severus were talking in bed.

"What do you think, Sevv?"

"Whatever you do, please don't make it pink. That color is unbearable…especially for an old dog like me."

"Severus, you are not old. 40's is not old! God, do you always have to say that?"

"Well, you're what, 27?"

"24, thank you."

"Whuteva."

"Such a smartass, you know that?"

"Damn proud of it, too!"

"You should be."

"Well duh 'cause it gives me character."

"Baby, you don't need any more 'character' than you already have. You're weird enough as it is!"

"I SO resent that."

"Well resent all you want but I really don't care."

"Well that's nice to know. Wife doesn't care when husband's insulted."

"Wife was joking. Anyhoo, I'm tired."

"It's like 9."

"I have snot-nosed first-years to teach, remember?"

"And I have to teach the Hufflepuffs and the Slytherins."

"You don't still favor those Slytherin slimeballs, do you?"

"I loathe them. They're dumber than a box of rocks."

"So now you say that. I have waited years. Literally years to hear that one."

"Oh really?" She nodded and then kissing her gently, he said, "Then I'll just have to say it more often then."

"Too right you will. Goodnight, Severus. Check on the kids, will you?"

"Alright."

He got up and out of bed and went to the kids' rooms to find them both asleep with their Green Day playing (A/N: gotta have the good shit in here sometime, right?).

"Young kids and their music."

When he went back to his and Hermione's bedroom, she was already asleep. He laid down next to her and pulled her close and she nuzzled into him.

"I love you Hermione."

Then Hermione muttered something like, "Oh shush and go to sleep already. I love you too."

Then, he fell asleep too.

"Ah, Severus, my most trusted Death Eater."

"I do not believe that you should be thinking so highly of me." Severus knew the consequences for those words. A rush of pain flung him on the ground, his entire body searing with pain from the Crutacius curse.

"Would you care to explain yourself, Severus?"

When Severus failed to answer right away, Voldemort cursed him with Sectumsempra. Gashes appeared on Severus' body and he did not heal them for he knew what the Dark Lord would do if he did.

"I quit the Death Eaters. For my wife. For my coming child."

"The child you promised me you would raise to be a Death Eater!"

"Not my baby." He braced himself as he was thrown into unconsciousness by a second bout of the Crutacius curse. When he woke up, he saw Voldemort standing over him, obviously waiting.

"You have disappointed me, Severus. But nevertheless, I am feeling incredibly gracious, as you were my trustiest Death Eater. I will allow you three minutes to attempt to heal yourself."

"Thank you, my Lord." The last two words were half-hearted but he did not let it show as he quickly healed the wounds. When he was allowed to leave, he knew where he would go. Straight back to Hermione, the one he loved. The one that was carrying his child.

"Sevv, what happened…"

Severus woke with a start, in a cold sweat, breathing quite fast.

"Sevv…what happened, baby?"

"Nightmare…the night…. the night I quit…the pain." he winced as he remembered the torture of the Crutacius.

"Baby it's alright. Go back to sleep." She kissed his forehead and then they lay back down, falling deeply into a peaceful slumber.

Hermione dreamt about the same night, after he came home…. the hours she spent healing the rest of his wounds…. the tears she cried into his chest…those scars that would be there forever no matter how close they came to being invisible. She felt his pain so much more than he knew. She was just glad the Dark Lord was gone.

Ooh this was gloomy…but I like it… it was fun. well, off to write another story (hehe I'm just a little worker bee) hope you like this chappie. No flamies, remember that! Thankies! Byez.

johnnydepp'snumbaonefan