Severus was proud of the fact that he could fall asleep with a warm body next to him. It had been so long, he was aggravated when Hermione rolling over and snuggling into him had woken him up, and even more irritated with himself when he could feel certain body parts grow hard. It was so aggravating, these feelings as if his body knew every nook and cranny of her form, and yet he didn't remember anything about their relationship. Then the inevitable happened and she woke up.

He froze like a deer in headlights, and felt his body grow immobile. She giggled & her mind pressed against his. Eventually his barriers crumbled. She gasped, and crawled away from the man. Then she landed with a thump on the floor. A sharp gasp of pain was all that was needed instinct took over and Severus shot up, then went to help her. It was a simple reaction he didn't understand how he could still have concern for her well being, but he extended his hand out anyway, and helped her up. She started going through drawers and cabinets until she found what she wanted. She handed it to him and then gave him a quill. He read it, it was their marriage contract, at the bottom was the divorce degree. A tear, then two escaped her eyes, he handed it back. At her puzzled expression he replied, "I'm going to try." She nodded her head, and had a sad smile on her face. He was about to address her, when he realized, he didn't know what to call her. Miss Granger obviously wouldn't do. Mrs. Snape, I doubt I called her that. Maybe just her name.

"Hermione, may I see your memories." She nodded, and sat on the couch. He entered her mind with ease, and saw the memories. The ones he had not seen in Ginny's head were much more intimate, much more loving. He saw the whole scenario after their wedding, and her particular emotions throughout. He saw her reasoning for knocking him out before she went for Voldemort. He saw her watching him work on her mother. Before she could hide it, he also saw how upset she actually was, on impulse he embraced her, and she melted into him. It was a few moments later that his actions caught up with his brain, and he let her go gently. Memories flashed behind his eyes, and she realized she had let all of her guards down. She put them back up, and gingerly pushed him from her mind.

"So I try to hurt you, and almost kill you half the time, then you forgive me. Is that how this works?" Before his harsh tone affected her, she saw the panic behind his eyes, and she rubbed his back. He tensed, but made no other movement. That did surprise her.

"I told you I was going to try." He said almost snickering, at the surprise clearly evident on her face.

Hermione jumped up when she remembered the date. "Molly's coming over today!" She squealed before undressing then redressing. She got ready quickly, then hurried him along. He was scared to find that he liked being given direction. He got dressed, and as soon as they reached the living room Molly apparated in, three car-seats in hand. Severus saw the two which were obviously his and Hermiones, then Ginny's and Harry's. Ginny's child had bright red hair.

Molly handed the two car-seats to Severus. He took them, but didn't know what to do, so he followed Ginny's example and got one of his children out of the car seat. It was the girl, she had the bright blue baby doll eyes, and a pasty complexion despite the pink tinge newborns seem to always have. She also had black hair. She was dressed in a black velvet dress with leggings and tiny material shoes. The boy, was being picked up by Hermione, tears were streaming down her face as she clutched him to herself. He had to keep reminding himself these were his also.

He was wearing a black velvet outfit also, except he was wearing a white long-sleeved onsie, under a black velvet jumper, and he was wearing material shoes, and a black jacket. They were both bundled in an onyx and crimson blanket. The black was a rough material, and the red was silk. But the sweet noises that they were making were precious. He fed his daughter, burped her, and everything just came naturally even the changing of the diapers. Too soon his children were taken away, Hermione and Snape finally had to leave on their honeymoon. The fact that they were supposed to be on their honeymoon, and Severus did not remember any of their time together kind of hit a sore spot for him more than once.

HPOV

Hermione had figured out something that could possibly help. She was going to take him to the Snape Manor, and Dance. Hopefully it wouldn't be too bad. She had shrunk the dress she had worn to the reception, and it was now in her pocket, along with Severus' shrunken dress robes. When they entered the ballroom, Hermione handed him the package and told him to change. After they were both dressed they met back in the ballroom. Severus was apparently awestruck, his mouth gaped, as Hermione came forward, clad in black silk dress robes. Her hair looked dark, and this time it flowed in waves, and bouncy curls. She was gorgeous.

Hermione blushed at Severus' reaction, and then she clapped twice. The lights dimmed, and music starting flowing. It was sway by Michael Buble. They had discussed the many types of music, and decided on this before. This was their song. She stepped up to him, and they began dancing. He apparently was surprised she could dance. They moved as they had learned to do, and everything seemed better, tension went out of Severus, and Hermione was relaxed. As the song ended they kissed. It was unlike anything before it, it was gentle, but demanding on Hermione's part, and it was unsure on Severus' part. They did that for a while. He almost stopped her because he was raised a 'proper gentleman', but he realized they really didn't have to stop they weren't courting, they were married. Slowly he removed his outer layer, and peeled down her dress. He appreciated every dimple, every curve. Claire De Lune came on in the background, and he thought it appropriate. She had been wearing a black bra, and matching panties. Her belly looked very round, and was beautiful, and strangely erotic to him. He felt himself grow hard, and she looked at him with uncertainty.

He looked up and kissed her lips surely enough she was eager. She pressed herself upon him hastily, but he drew back. His breath in a hiss, and scrambled back from her. Hermione instantly fought tears. What if the spell was the only thing that made him love me. Like me even. What if he finds me repulsive? Soon enough, she allowed her tears to spill onto her face, and she pulled her dress back into it's original position, and bit her bottom lip so contain the noise from the sobs that shook her frame violently. She rapidly got up, and walked stiffly to the corner of the room. She stared at him, her eyes guarded, but the most evident emotion was pain. Pain he had put there, and he knew it. Was it guilt that made her being in pain cause him physical pain. It felt as though someone had plunged a knife into his stomach and the sharp blade was carelessly circling his heart.

Seeing I hurt her, it twists a knife into my gut, but I don't know how to prevent it. What if I cannot be the one she expects? Once again his mind prattled away nervously, and began examining the reason he pulled back. Well all the sexual encounters I had were by force. Whether it was Voldemort, or Father. Voldemort forcing me to do it... Or my father forcing it on me... Every single one save my wife, how can I make her see that? Everything she does seems to remind me of something. I cant remember what, but with more than one memory she trudged up being my father. I can't live through it twice. He looked into her eyes, and only saw her silent suffering as she held onto her Gryffindor courage, and stood still. He knew he had to break those barriers before he told her anything. He slowly walked over to her, and tentatively pushed a stray lock of hair between her ear, he saw her walls beginning to waiver, then crumble as he moved his hand. He saw the longing in her eyes. She was longing for something that put horror in his eyes moments before. Closeness, love, sex. All things that struck emotional chords with both of them, each in a different way. One face noticeably stuck with horror, and one obviously struck with need.

Severus prayed to have the strength to tell her, and sat down. Hoping as he did that she would follow his lead, was in vain, because she just stared at him. Finally something must have clicked because she settled herself into a chair.

"I am going to do something I have done only a few times in my life. I am going to apologize. I didn't mean to hurt you. In fact for one time in my life I was trying to be sincere. I will allow you to see my memories, only for the purpose that I am unwilling to let the vile words spill from my mouth again." He said with a bitter tone. But Hermione knew he rang true to his words. Always before when he dropped some of his shields there was always an impenetrable wall, but now everything was open with endless possibilities. She was guided through his mind to that area she had never touched before. Some of Severus' most horrifying memories flashed before Hermione.

Everything she had come to know about this cold despondent man wavered when confronted with this knowledge. Before, every sexual encounter he had had since he was born, with the only exceptions being his two wives, one of those he had no memories of, were by force. Then she saw something that horrified her more. There was a new addition to Severus' list of horrors. The scene that had been moments ago, was dredged up, and she felt how uncomfortable, how horrified she had made him feel. There was another wall she found it when she was fleeing his mind, and she smashed it. Then she tucked tail and ran. The look on her face was one of pity and horror, but when she came to Severus was in the grips of a painful reality. His two subconscious's knitted together. The gap in his memory was being filled with the past he had not remembered, the part of his life where he had so easily loved Hermione. Except this time one did not leave him, they both mingled there under the surface. It was the light merging with the darkness.