Epilogue.

The warm sunlight danced off the cobbles of Spindleshaft lane, glinting of windowpanes and dapping though wisteria flowers just beginning to grow over the corners of the shops and between houses. It was an ordinary Saturday, no more distinct for the pleasant sunny weather, and the Lane hummed with bustling life.

Harry grinned up at his boyfriend of a year as they brushed comfortable shoulders as they wandered companionably down the lane.

"Not that I ever have problem with going to 'spindle," Harry asked, only a little distracted by the sunlight caught in Charlie's eyelashes, "but is there a reason we're here, particularly?"

"Well," Charlie mused, "The café's do good lunch; I've been craving crepes for about a week. And," he added nonchalantly, "I've been thinking of getting a new tatt."

Harry's breath caught a little. "Yeah?"

"Yeah.' Charlie nodded. "A stag. Right on my collarbone." His warm fingers found the approximate spot on Harry and the calloused fingertips snagged warm heat down Harry's skin, and he shivered licking his lips dryly.

"I think that would look good. Wouldn't you?" Charlie said, a wicked grin curling just around his eyes and at the corners of his Cheshire smile.

He winked once, a flutter of an eyelid in dirty promise, and strode onwards to Spell's Tattoo.

It was a while later when they retuned from the warm company of Evan and Etienne, and new ink glistened hotly on both Harry and Charlie.

A stag bust tattoo lifted a proud head on Charlie's collar bone, and it's mirror on Harry's collar bone flicked inky dark ears and shook it's long wild yak horns in gentle movements. ("A Yak." Harry had said earlier with stifled laughter. "Your patronus is a wild cow. From Tibet. Oh Charlie. Only you.")

Now Harry smiled down at it. It made sense in a strange way: untamed and protective, more at home in the mountains than the city, but still solid and unwavering. A wild yak patronus was strangely, weirdly, perfectly Charlie.

"Happy anniversary Harry," Charlie said, leaning down to kiss Harry deeply. "Let's go home."

Harry grinned into Charlie's lips, already thinking of their cosy cottage in the countryside and the cool bottle of liquid season that awaited them there.

"Happy anniversary Charlie." Harry said. "I love you."

"I love you too."

They kissed again, toes bumping against toes, and everything was strangely, beautifully, perfect.

Fins.


(Extra Scenes:

When they told the Weasleys that Charlie and Him were dating, Molly and Arthur had only looked a little taken aback. George had tossed Ginny ten gallons and everyone else said that it was about bloody time they admitted it. When Molly asked how long they'd been together, both of them replied 'We've been friends since the summer after Sirius died. But Our relationship - Ginny's birthday party at the burrow.' There was a succinct agreement to never let Molly or Arthur find out that they'd been having an actual pysical relationship long before Ginny's birthday.

Charlie Proposed to Harry in spring, spur of the moment only by dint that he had the ring (in his pocket, had been for weeks) but hadn't planned propsing right that very moment. They'd been holding hands, an open bottle on their picnic blanket, their brooms tossed carelessly to the side. Charlie had been picking bits of grass and flower petals out of Harry's hair. Harry had smiled, the light catching in his eyes. I want to spend forever with him, Charlie thought to himself. Then the words had spilled out his mouth, 'I love you. Will you marry me?' Serious and honest, and Harry had said yes. The word curling at the corners of his mouth and catching in his hands. Yes, Charlie, Yes. It was after they'd finished the celebratory snogs and dirty handjob-grinding, as they shared the last of the liquid season that Harry admitted he'd actually looked at rings himself the other day. They broke the news to their family two days a later. Molly had cried a little.)

Harry leaned into Charlie as they watched the dragon's soar effortlessly in the crisp blue Romanian sky. He twined Charlie's hands with his, rubbing a thumb over the silver engagement band as now was his habit.

"So." Harry started, "I've been thinking about that wedding of ours."

"Mmmm." Charlie hummed, pressing a kiss to the bared curve of his partner's neck, even as he watched the soaring Longhorn with a professional eye.

"That we should have it at the burrow. A summer wedding."

"That sounds beautiful. Mum is going to cry, probably." Charlie agrees, and then hesitates. "What about Hermione and Ron? They're getting married this summer too. We'll have to make sure the dates don't clash."

"Yeah. Or we could just-"

Charlie frowned down at Harry and interrupted him quickly. "No. We will not be sharing a wedding with my brother and my sister-to-be. Just- noo."

"Okay." Harry laughed, "But I think it would be less of a hassle you know?"

"Harry. I think you underestimate Hermione's bride-zilla potential. Let alone mums. For the sake of our families, no. Just no."

"Okay. Okay." Harry conceded with a smile. "Besides, there'd probably a fight over the cake decorations or something."

"Oh Yes. Can't have disagreements about the cake.'

Charlie bent down to press another kiss the side of Harry's neck, even as the younger man turned in Charlie's arms to say, kissing a teasing smile into Charlie's lips.

"I know right? It's the only important part. I'm only marrying you for the cake."

"I knew it." Charlie said, a wry grin breaking over his face and melting into his bones. "I always knew it."


[If you're wondering why a yak, I actually gave it way more thought than I probably should've. I've always thought that Charlie would be strong, steadfast and a natural wanderer. That he would be fiercely protective of the people he considers family and friends, and unafraid to stand his ground. Tamed bulls aren't wild and unfettered enough (he's too fond of highlands and wild things), and stags just don't fit. So, a wild yak, cousin to the domestic, but distant enough to not be the same. Follow this link here for what a picture of a Wild Yak looks like: gallery/photo/album/poster/slides/9%20wild% and stock-photography/image/848-02850050/Wild-Yak-%28Bos-grunniens-mutus%29-front-view-of-large-adult-Tibet ]

God lord, It's been a ride. This is, officially, the end of the road. It's been a long time (for me) coming. Thank you to everyone who has liked, commented, faved and read this story.

It started when I couldn't find Any Charlie/Harry long!fics I liked and it's ended up here. So thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for your comments. They mean more than you know.

Humbuggy.