I'm getting better. When a strong arm wrapped around me and pulled me close I only jumped a little in surprise. I opened my eyes and smiled at the sleeping Severus. He sighed and mumbled something sleepily. I nuzzled into his chest, grinning. We'd been away from Hogwarts for a week, staying in his small house in the country. Surprisingly enough, I think that we're both happy for the moment. It's been nice, kind of like our own little world. He's not as guarded out here, with me. The morning after our first night together Severus had wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer and since I wasn't at all used to waking up in bed with someone else I shrieked and jumped about two feet and off the bed, falling right on my butt. That had woken Severus up and after he had found out that I was alright, you know what he did? The bastard laughed harder than I'd ever seen him laugh! A full blown, unguarded, belly laugh! If it had been any other person, I would have been upset. But seeing Severus laughing like that had made me laugh too and once we got our bearings again Severus helped me up and back into bed.

"I know you're awake." Severus mumbled.

I looked up at him and smiled, "Oh, really? And I thought I was being so subtle."

He smirked, "Well, at least you didn't jump out of bed again."

I rolled my eyes.

He held me closer and rubbed my back.

I smiled and sighed contentedly.

"Are you happy?" He asked me, I could tell he was trying to sound casual.

I kissed his shoulder, "Of course."

"You don't mind that I'm not young?"

I probably shouldn't mention that my basic rules towards dating older men was that they'd better be either really nice, romantic, good-looking, and rich... or well, him. "It doesn't matter to me."

He looked down at me as if wondering whether or not he could believe me.

I smiled at him and brushed the hair out of his face, "You really shouldn't worry about it."

He frowned at me.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the blanket off the bed to wrap around me. I wasn't going to play this game with him. Partly because I didn't want to. But mostly because I'm not sure what the rules are and you should never play a game that you don't know the rules of. I went into the bathroom and started a bath. What? He asked if I was happy, I said yes. He asked if I minded that he was not young, I said that no, I didn't. I don't know what he wants me to say. I answered his questions, and I was the one that said that I love and adore him in the first place. If that's not good enough then maybe nothing is. I was about to get into the tub when I was picked up and then sat in the tub in front of Severus. Ok, I don't remember giving him permission for this sort of thing... oh well.

I looked up at him and he smiled slightly at me. I rolled my eyes but laid my head on his chest. Meh, I wasn't in the mood to be angry at him anyway.

--------------------------------

I was eating breakfast and reading in the kitchen while Severus read in the living room. After our mutual bath we had just made breakfast and gone our separate ways. I like having a little space and so does Severus, so this was a good thing. "You aren't honestly reading that book are you?" Severus sneered.

I looked over at Severus, who was looming over me, "It's a philosophy book."

"It's trash."

"I know that, but it's still a philosophy book."

He raised his eyebrows, "Was that supposed to make sense?"

I rolled my eyes, "My class is about the exchange of ideas. It's about learning how to think. If I only expose the students to things that I believe are valid and nothing that I disagree with then what I'm basically telling them is that they should think for themselves as long as they think exactly as I do. I'm going to tell them this guy's philosophy and then discuss it to see what they think about what he says."

"So you're basically allowing them to be idiots?"

I sighed, "It doesn't matter what I do, an idiot will still be an idiot."

"True enough..." He said, getting a cup of tea and kissing me on the forehead as he went back into the living room.

I smiled and chuckled, going back to my book.

----------------------------

I walked down a small dirt pathway that ran through the woods near Severus' house. It was lovely country and the air smelled chilly and crisp. When I told Severus I was going for a walk he just sort of waved me off so I've decided to not think about him.

"Wha!" I screamed as I was pulled into a warm chest from behind.

Severus kissed the top of my head, "Hello."

I looked up and glared at him, "Anyone ever tell you that sneaking up on people is very rude."

"You can add it onto my list of faults." He chuckled.

I leaned up and kissed his chin, "I don't have a list of your faults."

"You don't?" He seemed surprised.

"Of course not. If I did, I imagine that it would be very depressing." I smiled.

He glared at me.

I laughed and turned around to pull him down for a kiss. At first he didn't return the kiss but when I was about to pull away he pulled me closer and kissed my lips off. He nuzzled my neck and whispered, "I love you Katherine."

I smiled, "I love you too Severus." I looked at him, "So what are we supposed to do when the holiday is over?"

------------------------------------

"Professor Tingstrom, why were you sitting between Professor Lupin and Professor Snape? Did they have a fight or something?" Luna asked me, seeming anxious for juicy gossip.

No, it's just that Severus is a very jealous man and he doesn't like not being able to see exactly what Remus is doing when he's sitting next to me. "No dear, it's just a new seating arrangement."

"But why is there a new seating arrangement?"

"Because there just is."

"But why?"

"Because."

"But why?"

"I can keep giving you the same answer all day."

"And I can keep asking all day."

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. So this was what going insane feels like. "Luna, nothing's wrong. Just let it go."

"No." She said, crossing her arms.

I stared at her.

"What?"

"I'm just wondering when exactly I gave you the impression that I was Hagrid."

"Oh come on!" She whined.

"No!"

"You're no fun!"

"That's been brought to my attention."

"What if I asked Professor Lupin?"

"Go ahead."

She frowned at me.

"Pouting is very unattractive hon."

Luna huffed and stomped out.

I chuckled as I watched Luna go out and Remus come in. "What's wrong with her?" Remus asked.

I shook my head, "I wouldn't explain the reasoning for the new seating arrangement."

"Ahh." He said, sitting down in front of my desk. "Why is there a new seating arrangement?"

I sighed. Severus had gone right up to Remus the day that we got back and declared in a way that was rather medieval of him, "Katherine is mine now, I suggest you watch your behavior towards her more closely from now on."

Remus had looked at me for confirmation and had guessed by the way I was glaring at Severus that it was true.

"Well, remember how Severus was acting before we got onto the train?" I asked.

"How could I forget?"

"Well, it seems that Severus got the impression that you and I were lovers. The reason he was freaking the days before our holiday and at the train station was because he thought that you and I were going off to... uhm... you know."

"Oh... ohhhh... so he was jealous? How interesting..." Remus said thoughtfully.

"Seriously."

"Not just because he's jealous... Severus usually isn't one to..."

"Care that much about someone else? Yes, I know."

"Are you in love with him?"

I looked up at Remus, more than a little confused. If I didn't know any better I would swear that that was a loaded question. "I'm afraid so."

"Is he in love with you?"

"Apparently."

He looked at me for a long time. I saw different feelings pass across his eyes until they were just a blank and he said, "Then I'm happy for you."

In the past, I've been a very stupid woman. I would have asked him what was wrong, for an explanation. But my deepest instincts told me not to ask, I didn't want to know and he didn't want to say. "Thank you." I said softly.

He nodded and said, "I've got to go..."

"Wait."

He looked at me.

"Remus, you're my best friend. It was you that helped me through my time here, nobody else. If something happened to us, if I lost your friendship, I would never forgive myself. I'm here for you, and I want you to be happy. Whether Severus likes it or not, that's not going to change. My feelings towards you aren't going to change."

He was silent for a moment, and then he smiled. He leaned forward, cupped my cheek, and kissed me on the forehead. "The same goes for me." He said, looking into my eyes with truth shining clear. He squeezed my shoulder and then said, "But I really have to go. Harry wanted me to help him with something."

I smiled, "Alright."

He winked and left.

I sighed and leaned back into my chair, rubbing my temples.

"Is there something I should know?" Severus asked after a moment.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. He didn't look happy. He was scowling, arms crossed, stiff, glaring at me as if he could melt me with his eyes.

I smiled, I do love this man. The asshole. "Yes, I love you."

He just looked at me.

I crossed my arms, "You've obviously forgotten that. You've obviously also forgotten that I gave up going back to America for the holiday just so that I could have some time alone with you. You've forgotten that I've given you everything that you've asked of me. I'll happily give you more. But I've just had a very awkward talk with both Luna Lovegood and Remus who does happen to be my friend. Now I'm tired, I'm frustrated, and I'm more than a little cranky. So if all you can do is stand there with your short term memory loss and a scowl then I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to leave me alone for the moment."

"Fine." He hissed.

"Fine!" I hissed right back. I stood up, walked into my bedroom, and slammed the door. I heard the door to my office slam. I laid down on my bed and thought, "Well, it was nice while it lasted right?" I turned over to my side and tried not to cry.

A few minutes later somebody knocked on my door. I got up, wiping my tears away, and opened the door. Severus looked down at me from the doorway. We jumped at each other mutually and held each other close. "I'm sorry, I love you."

I kissed him.

He pushed me forward into the bedroom.