Chapter Two

I held my breath just long enough to hear the door close, then I exhaled and let the torrential downpour of tears fall from my eyes. I didn't exactly know why I was crying to be honest. I was just completely furious for no apparent reason. I was stressed, and frustrated. I was just flat out depressed.

I slumped to the floor and sobbed until I couldn't any longer, and I just sat there, dry-sobbing for another 10 minutes.

I was being foolish. Why was I upset by the fact he was once married? The marriage had ended long before Severus and my own relationship had began, I was the center of his attention...I was jealous of a dead woman, and it was pathetic.

I wiped my eyes with my palms, and sighed raggedly. I shouldn't treat him like this, he doesn't deserve it...I thought. He's been nothing but kind to me...I need to grow up..

I ran a hand back through my hair absently, looking around the room. I'd never got much of a chance to examine anything besides the white down comforter and the silk bed sheets of his four poster bed.

I chuckled to myself, getting to my feet and walking over to his dresser, running a hand over the top. There were two pictures atop it, one of what was Severus with two darling little girls in Hyde Park, the other was turned face down, obviously he preferred not to look at it. I glanced over my shoulder, as if to check to see if anyone was watching me. Severus always had a way of sneaking up on me...

Slowly, I turned the picture up and took it in my hands, to let a slight gasp escape me. It was a candid photograph. Taken somewhere beautiful on a beach. When did Severus and I go to the beach? Severus stood behind a woman, his arms wrapped around her waist, and his lips buried in her neck. She was laughing, a genuine laugh. Nothing a photographer could create with a demand of 'Smile'. She had gorgeous flowy dirty blonde hair. She was a few inches smaller than myself from what I could guess compared to Severus's height. Her eyes were bright blue, and sparkling with adoration and happiness. She was tiny, very young looking, and from what she could gather, was probably a very pleasant person.

From what I put together, I figured the woman Severus was wrapped around was in fact Riley. A smile crossed my lips as I put it back down and I dropped to my knees to inspect the drawers.

Just as I'd expected, not a thing was out of place in the first drawer. Boxers took up half the space, socks the other. I took the liberty of scattering them around a bit, as not to be sickened by his obsessive compulsive nature. I shoved the drawer shut and opened the next. I nearly blanched. Solid color tee shirts, folded and separated. Maroons, Blacks, Whites, and Greens to name a few. I sighed and shook my head, pushing the drawer closed. He had serious issues with tidy-ness. I'd never expected any one man to be so...neat.

I swallowed before pulling open the 3rd and final drawer, afraid of how well kept it would prove to be, but let a sigh of relief upon seeing random articles of clothing laying askew in the drawer. Ties, boxers, socks without pairs..As I pushed them apart, I caught a glimpse of a hardcover book.

Curious, I began to take out all of the odds and ends to reveal several books and folders. A few official looking documents resided there as well. What caught my eye was a stack of envelopes, tied together with red ribbon.

I glanced over my shoulder again, almost becoming a victim to my own paranoia, then took the letters up and put them in my lap. Carefully, I untied them, to see they all read only one thing on the front in loopy, but neat handwriting. Severus Anthony Snape. I couldn't help but giggle for a moment after realizing I hadn't know his middle name before today. It just struck me funny. Anthony...I thought. How adorable..

I decided that it wouldn't hurt to open one, but as I held open the flap of the envelope, yellowed with age, I felt guilty for invading his personal property. It was his after all, and none of my business. If he wanted me to know of his letters...love letters...probably from Riley...probably full of juicy details..

Ah, What he won't know won't hurt him.

I pulled the piece of folded line paper out, and fanned out the letter and began to scan over it. I noted the date, September 25th 1990. My birthday. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. I would have only been, what, three?

Dear Sevvy,

Not even -I- call him -that-...

I wanted to thank you for the roses you left at the door this morning. It was a lovely back to school gift. I think I'm getting a little spoiled with all you've done for me over the summer, with what, the walks at the beach, the sleepovers, the breakfast in bed? You're going to turn me posh.

Hey, hey, wait up. I never got roses...or breakfast in bed..or walks on the beach..

You're incredibly charming, You've been incredibly charming since we've met. I don't believe I'm lucky enough to call you my lover. I know you'll argue, that you're the lucky one...But there's no man in the whole of Europe that's as caring or thoughtful as you, and I suppose I'm just writing this to tell you that I love you. Honest to god, straight from my heart, undying love. I've fallen for you, I have. Over the moon, through a loop. Its kind of scaring me to be honest...When I look at you, I don't see Severus the undergraduate...I see Severus, my partner. I see children and grandchildren and a life all our own. I'm sorry if I scare you off by telling you this, but I'd be even sorrier if I had to live with the fact I never said it. I love you, I love you, a thousand million times I love you and I want to be attached to your hip for life. I'll probably be doing the chicken shit thing, putting this in front of your dorm door, knocking, and running away before you can see me...But just..well, call me..Or come over. My door is always open for you. Don't forget that.

Xoxo Riley Lynn

I didn't know what to think. Whether to be jealous or not. They loved each other. Truly. I wouldn't have known how to put those words together, but that's exactly what I thought every day. Maybe I was hopeful since I felt the same way Riley did. Or maybe I was worrying. Worrying that I'd never live up to my predecessor, never be anything but a filler.

Sighing, I folded the letter back up and tucked it back into its envelope, chewing on my bottom lip. Would I ever be Severus's Riley?

After I put all of the clothing in its proper place, I had what I'd like to call an epiphany. I was being foolish to think that I was nothing but a substitute. Severus loved me. He was taking me to Paris to be alone with me for God sakes. Not Riley. I didn't need to think negatively...I was just being...ridiculous..

I, to take my mind off of my doubts, walked over to his walk-in closet, and pulled open the door.

Switching on the light, I almost fell. It wasn't color coded or flawlessly immaculate, there were several shirts lying around on the floor, but that was the only flaw I could see in the four sided closet. Pants hung on one rack across the wall to the immediate left. Slacks, dress pants, jeans...Oh I'd die for a chance to see him in a nice pair of denim jeans..The rack on the wall adjacent to the wall with the pants, were dress shirts, work shirts, a black bath robe..How sexy..Finally, on the last wall were 6 suits. Mostly black, one dark blue, all rather expensive by the look of them. Looking at the tags proved my deduction. Versace, John Phillips...

"Wow..." I murmered, bending down to examine the several boxes of sneakers and black dress shoes. I decided, after one last glance around the closet, it was in my best interest to stop poking around his things. It was unhealthy, picturing Severus all dressed up, suave, Juan Valdez. I giggled as I exited the room, and just in the nick of time. I heard the front door open and a clattering of paws up the stairs as Jake came to greet me.

I bent down to pet him, cooing to him as I would a baby. "Come on Jake, lets go see Daddy."

I bounded down the stairs leaving Jake behind, and upon seeing Severus, gave a grin and tackled him to the floor, smothering him in playful kisses.

"Nice to see you too." He said, a bit gruffly.

I concluded my sneak attack on his and just lay atop him, smiling. "How was your walk?"

"Refreshing." He replied, meeting my lips with a kiss of his own. "And your nap?"

"Lovely." I tilted my head. "Do you know my middle name?"

He shook his head, a bit curious to my spontaneious questioning. "No."

"Its Madeline." I informed him. "What's yours?"

"Did you get into any medicine, love?" He questioned me. "You're a bit hyperactive."

"No, no.." I prodded him in the chest. "Just tell me."

"Anthony." He almost murmered, a slight red tint to his cheeks.

"That's so cute." I found myself giggling again. I got to my feet, waiting for him to get up. "Come on, lets eat. I'm starving."

He smiled charmingly, sliding an arm around my waist, I returning the favor as we walked to the kitchen. "I was wondering when you'd come to your senses..But how about we just stay here?"

"Only if I can cook for you." I replied.

"You've got a deal." He paused. "I love you."

"I love you." I returned.

I smiled to myself as I raided the cupboards, glad things were back to their state of normalcy. Or whatever you called it in this relationship..