Disclaimer: JKR owns everything and I don't.

Author's Note: Thank you for the lovely review...I appreciated it.

Chapter 4

She wants someone to call her angel
Someone to put the light back in her eyes
She's looking through the faces
The unfamiliar places
She needs someone to hear her when she cries

She just needs a little help
To wash away the pain she's felt
She wants to feel the healing hands
Of someone who understands

--Holy Water, Big & Rich

"Is she going to be all right?"

Alina Montague glanced up wearily from her patient and nodded at her older brother. "I've healed most her injuries and given her something to help her sleep. You'll need to administer the list of potions I left on the table twice a day and she should be on bed rest a minimum of two weeks." Alina brushed a few stray tendrils back and added, "Her body has suffered severe trauma, Alexander. She needs time to recover. You must not push yourself on her."

"There is no question of that," he replied sharply. "I trust you know to keep this to yourself, Alina."

Rising from her perch, Alina regarded her brother with a mix of confusion and satisfaction. From the moment he had anxiously flooed her earlier in the evening, she knew something was up. Her calm and cool brother had seemed utterly distressed and after a few minutes of cajoling he had brought Alina to Ismene. This girl was obviously special to Alexander and Alina had a hunch that she was the same girl that her brother had been moping over for quite sometime.

"It's her, isn't it? The one you've been searching for?" she asked quietly.

Slight taken aback, Alexander replied, "What are you prattling about?"

"Alex, I may be young in the ways of the world, but I recognize the signs of a broken heart."

"Don't talk about things you can't possibly understand, Alina," he warned.

"Me, not understand," she hissed. "I may have never been in love, Alex, but it was me…me…who spent the past three years watching mother die of a broken heart, not you! You were off at school and keeping busy, while I was shut away in that dreary house, forced to endure the slow demise of my own mother." Tears glistened in Alina's sapphire eye as she thrust her chin out definitely. "I do not think you are weak for loving, Alexander. I know that is what you fear, but I am not Father." Alina glanced back at the sleeping body of Ismene and smiled. "You and I have not had the best life. We were born to privilege, raised to be dutiful even if the cause goes against our personal beliefs." A single tear slid down Alina's creamy skin as she whispered, "We are on this planet for such a short time, my brother, and if anything, I am glad that you have found someone that makes that existence bearable."

Alexander gathered his sister into his arms and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "How did you get to be so wise?"

Alina shrugged and hastily wiped her face with her sleeve. "You'll need to give her the first round of potions in three hours." Giving her brother a brief hug, she headed toward the door.

"Alina?"

"Yes, Alex?"

"Thank you."

Alina nodded and left the room quietly. Alexander rubbed his eyes wearily and then took a seat next to the bed. Reaching out his hand he gently brushed Ismene's face. She was here now. He couldn't believe it. It seemed too good to be true. She would be safe here, with him. He would hide her away and protect her.

"Alex?" Ismene asked groggily.

"Yes, it's me luv."

Ismene blinked her eyes several times and amber met blue. "Where are we?"

"At my home. Your safe here now, Ismene."

Panic surged through Ismene's bruised body as she attempted to sit up. "What? Why? Alex if they find me here they'll kill you!"

Strong hands pushed her back against the soft mattress and righted the covers over her. "They're never going to find you Ismene. I put you under a Fidelius Charm. No one but me can see you unless I tell them you're here. I promise you're safe."

Tears leaked out of her beautiful eyes and Alex brushed them away. "Why are you risking everything for me?"

Alexander looked deeply into her eyes. "Because I love you. I've loved you from the first moment I saw you and I can't live without you. I tried, Ismene, but it just didn't work. You're my everything. I don't care if you hate me for bringing you here, but I had to. My life means nothing without you. Knowing your safe now, I can breathe again."

Ismene sniffed and reached up to touch his hand. "I don't hate you. I couldn't. Everything I said to you in the dungeons was a lie."

"Why?"

"To protect you."

"Why would you want to protect me?"

Ismene squeezed her eyes shut hoping to drown out the world. Tears flowed freely down her porcelain skin. "Because I love you."

"Open your eyes, luv, please," Alex asked tenderly as he caressed her hand in his. He smiled gently as she peered back up him. "Everything is going to be all right now."

"I pray your right."

"Now get some rest. I'll stay right here."

"How is she?" Adrian asked, lazily swirling the wine in his goblet.

"Getting better everyday," Alexander replied before taking a sip from his own glass. "She gets up for a little while in the morning, but it tires her out quickly. Alina said it would be a couple more months before she is completely recovered." Alex glanced up at the clock and then asked, "How's Flint?"

"Dead."

"Really?"

"What did you think? Rabastan would welcome the fact that his bride had disappeared?"

"No."

"Bellatrix was livid. She kept telling Rodolphus they should have killed Ismene when they had the chance."

"Bet he didn't take that well."

"No. She was sporting a nice black eye the next day," Adrian chuckled. "So what are you going to do with this witch? Keep her locked up here forever and ravish her body on a daily basis?"

Alexander threw a dark look at Adrian. "You needn't worry yourself about her future. I will take good care of Ismene." Alexander took a long sip and then inquired, "By the way, when were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Adrian asked innocently. Alexander narrowed his eyes and took another sip of wine. Adrian placed his glass down on the table and threw his hands up in mock defeat. "All right, you caught me. I've been seeing your sister for last six months. I wanted to tell you Alex, mate, I really did. Just with everything going on with Ismene, I didn't think it was the right time."

"And what do you plan on doing now with her?"

"My intentions toward your sister are honorable."

"Good."

"How in Hades did you figure it out?"

Alex chuckled, "When I flooed her after I brought Ismene here, I could see your cloak lying on the couch."

"Fuck! Nothing escapes your notice, does it Alex?"

"It most certainly does not."

Alexander felt the bed shift and he opened his eyes in surprise. "Who's there?"

"It's me. I couldn't sleep," Ismene replied softly.

"Why not? I gave you that vial of dreamless sleep," Alex said as he relaxed against the pillows and tossed the sheets aside so Ismene could slip in.

"I didn't want to take it. I can't just keep taking potions all the time. I have to face the world with a clear head at some point." Ismene laid down and rolled onto her side to face Alex. He tucked the silk sheets around her gently and smiled lazily at her.

"You're my world," he whispered.

Ismene's lips curved into a small smile at his comment. He really was so sweet to her. Since he had rescued her, Alexander had looked after her with incredible care. Her old injuries were healing up nicely and he made sure she got plenty of rest. During the day, when he was at home, he would sit and read with her and sometimes take her on short walks around the estate. The fresh air was doing her good, and she felt stronger every day. Ismene sighed contentedly.

Content…yes, that's what I am.

Alexander went out of his way to make her feel safe and secure. He didn't want her to worry or dwell on the horrors of her captivity. He attempted to make her life at the manor one of peace and happiness. He indulged her every wish, whether it was food or clothing. He really was absolutely wonderful.

"Alex?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you ever kiss me?"

A look of surprise stole across Alexander's face. "I kiss you, luv."

"Yes, you give me pecks on the cheek and chaste kisses on my forehead."

Alexander's brow furrowed. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. I just wish you would kiss me the way you used to…like when we were at school," she said wistfully. Seeing the glimmer of lust in his eyes, she scooted closer so their faces were within inches of one another. "Do you remember, Alexander?"

"Remember?" Alex mumbled as his eyes watched her tongue dart out and lick her pink, pouty lips.

"The way we used to kiss. You would crash your lips against mine and plunder my mouth with that delicious tongue of yours. You would kiss me with such passion that it would make my toes curl. Then you would start to kiss my jaw and then nip at my neck. Remember the way that made me moan, Alex?" Ismene brought her free hand up and grazed her finger tips against the hard ridges of Alexander's stomach. His breath caught as she stroked him gently, igniting a fire in his blood. "And then I would feel the cold air against my chest. It always amazed me how nimble those long fingers of yours are," she giggled as she continued to ghost her hand over his chest and abdomen. "Then your mouth would make love to my breasts. I would wind my hands in your dark curly hair and then cry out your name and ask you for more. Do you remember?"

Alexander tried to swallow but his throat was dry. Merlin, was she trying to kill him?

"Then I would get agitated and try and take all your clothes off. You would bat me off, telling me to be patient, but I would pout and you would get naked."

"Ismene," Alexander managed to choke out.

"Do you remember what would happen next, Alexander? I do. You would take the rest of my clothes off and then you would cover my body with yours. I always loved when you would first thrust into me…I felt so full and loved. Don't you want me to feel that way again, Alex? Don't you want to love me?" she whispered.

Alexander couldn't take her soft words anymore and he captured her lips with his. Tongues met as they each tasted one another and Alexander felt a surge of passion like he had never before. She tasted divine and he wanted to take all of her in. He pulled her closer so that her little body was flush against his. Panting, he broke the kiss and asked huskily, "Do you see what you do to me, Ismene? Do you feel what you do to me?" Alexander ground his hips against hers, his erection already straining against his silk pajama pants. Ismene hissed and ground back against him.

"Make love to me, Alexander. Please…I want to feel you inside of me," Ismene begged.

He should tell her no, that it was too soon for her body, but he couldn't' resist her. He never could. After tugging his pants off, he straddled her and pulled the lilac silk nightgown over her head. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight, like a goddess. Covering her body with his, Alexander stared into her amber eyes as he eased himself slowly into her. Ismene held her breath as he pushed into her, her hands intertwined with his. When he had filled her, he felt her body relax and her mouth sought his. Alexander kissed her tenderly and then began to move in and out of her slow thrusts. Ismene groaned and thrust her hips up in an attempt to make him go faster, but Alexander was resolute and continued his languid pace. A fire built slowly through Ismene and suddenly crashed over her with such ferocity that she dug her nails into Alexander's back. Crying his name, she shuddered uncontrollably underneath him, causing his climax. Grunting, Alexander emptied his seed into her.

They stayed intertwined for sometime, relishing the close contact of their bodies and sharing soft kisses. Finally Alex rolled off of Ismene and then pulled her onto his chest. Happiness had often eluded him over the years, but for once he knew what it meant to be blissfully satisfied.