Wow! I posted again! It might be a little while for another post... Things are becoming insane at school. It was my first day back after Spring Break, and all my professors promised me pain and havoc... maybe not in those words, but still... And I have a class I have to get my grade up in (shuffles foot ashamed)... But be happy with the two posts I give you

None of the characters are mine. I just love messing with their imaginary lives :)

Although they may have shared a bed many times, Severus woke up to something completely new the next morning. He still lay on his back, but Hermione wasn't on her side of the bed anymore. His left arm curled around her, holding her secure to his side. Her head rested on his chest and he strained his neck to see her face which was slightly upturned. Wisps of hair escaped her braid creating a frizzy frame around her face. Her lips were barely parted and her breath tickled the hair on his chest. Her arm was strewn across his chest and his right hand covered it. Their legs were a tangled mess.

Severus pushed away the panic that his instinct pulled forth and instead marveled the feel her curled around him.

Times like this make me realize why I need her. She had no reason to care for me, yet she does.

Unconsciously his right hand began stroking hers. It wasn't long before she woke as well and Severus froze. Severus was comfortable with her closeness when she was still asleep, but now that she was waking up, he wasn't sure how she'd react.

He needn't be worried.

When Hermione woke and realized what position she was in, she made sure not to let Severus know she was awake. All she could think about for a while is how wonderful it felt to be in his arms. For so long she had dreamed he would suddenly change and want her.

Unless he's still asleep and doesn't know what kind of position I'm in! she panicked barely a second until she felt his hand move. His fingertips made small circles on her hand, giving her goose-bumps. So he is awake. I'm going to enjoy him like this while I can!

Throwing all conscience behind, she made a pleased humming sound as she snuggled closer and murmured, "Good morning."

"That it is," he said slowly and started stroking her hand again.

"Thank you for letting me stay here last night. I don't think I woke up once."

"Nor I." How had I not realized how soft her skin is? he thought as his fingers slowly moved up her arm.

Hermione finally moved her head so she was looking up at him. Her eyebrows lowered into a scowl as she studied him.

"What?"

She slipped her hand away from his fingers and trailed her own fingers over his jaw where thick stubble had grown overnight. "I never knew..." she trailed off as she blushed slightly.

"What, that I can grow a beard?"

"Well, some men can't," she defended. "I've just realized for six years I never saw you before you were ready for the day."

He grunted, not making any comment as he looked away from her.

"I like it," she commented softly as she continued to run her fingers over it.

His onyx eyes dropped to her chocolate brown ones. "Maybe I shouldn't shave it this morning." If I can get her to smile like she is now, I'll do anything she asked of me.

"Maybe I should go to your classes today and see your students' reactions."

Severus' eyes blazed. "You have no place in a potions classroom! The fumes are not good for you or the baby."

Hermione sighed at the broken moment. "I was just kidding, Severus. I know not to go into the lab; yours or the class'." Trying to regain some of the previous mood she smirked mischievously. "Now when are you going to give me a 'good-morning' kiss?"

"My apologies," he said silkily as he pulled her closer and kissed her. It didn't last long as Hermione broke out into a fit of giggles against his lips. "What?"

"As much as I love this morning look, your beard tickles," she giggled again.

Thoughts of how much fun this could be were swept out of Severus' head as his bedroom door swung open quickly and Essie Ann's tear streaked face came bouncing into the room; Little Draco faithfully prancing behind her.

"Daddy! Mummy's gone!" She balled.

"Essie, sweetheart, I'm right here," Hermione said as she sat up.

Severus scowled at his daughter, missing the feel of his wife's body against his and ending what could have been a pleasurable morning. He bit his tongue from reprimanding the girl and finally noticed the kitten. "It's uncanny how much that cat resembles a Malfoy."

Hermione giggled and slipped out of bed. "I thought the same thing when Dr—Draco gave us the thing."

Severus noticed the sadness sweep across Hermione's face and made a mental note to talk to his godson soon. He was about to say, "Maybe we should get rid of the cat," but something stopped him from saying it. "Esther, go to your room to get ready for the day." Although his voice was soft, the command was clear.

"'Kay, Daddy," Essie scooped up her kitten and sulked out of the room.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her husband. "You couldn't have been a little nicer to her?"

"What do you mean? I asked her to go to her room."

"No, you ordered her to her room. Asking her would have been saying, 'Would you please go to your room?'"

He scowled at her. I'm not cut out for fatherhood, he thought bitterly and began to think of how to appease his wife. "I'll make it up to her." Still hoping to make the morning better, he grasped Hermione's hand and pulled it, causing her to crash down onto him.

"Severus," she hissed. "What are you doing?"

"Mrs. Snape, I thought you were the know-it-all?" he asked in a deep voice and ran his moved his hands down her sides slowly.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Severus! It's time to get up; it's almost nine."

"I have no classes this morning," his fingers played with the end of her night-shirt.

Hermione gripped his hands before they could dive under her shirt. "Severus Snape, stop right now! Our daughter could walk in at any moment."

"That's what the lock on the door is for." Seeing his hands were being held by hers, he raised his head to plant kisses on her face.

Why are you saying no?! one voice screamed in Hermione's head, but another voice rang out. No, this must stop! Think of Essie Ann; she'll be terrified if she can't enter the room and she's out there alone.

"Severus," her voice was severely lower due to his administrations, "we need to stop; we can't leave Essie alone."

Knowing she was right, Severus dropped his head back to the pillow. "Very well," he said gloomily.

Hermione let go of his hands and trapped his face between them. "Don't look so down. There's always tonight."

His smirk was his only answer.

If only they knew...

The day was a disaster. Severus and Hermione tried to steal kisses throughout the entire morning before he had to leave for class, but it was hard to find time alone without Essie commenting to them about it.

When Severus left, he found it even harder with her not in his presence. He could barely lecture and decided to have all his classes read from their books for the entire period. It hadn't helped the students broke out into giggles when they saw Severus' usually clean-shaven face was a little scruffy that day. Students would be groaning when they saw house points in all four houses had lowered considerably.

As soon as the final bell rang, Severus was already going through the door leading towards his personal chambers. He barely had the door shut when he was wrapped in Hermione's arms. Her whisper floated up to him, "Essie's down for a nap."

That would have been the best news if not for one fact. "I'm required to attend dinner in the Great Hall."

Hermione's arms slumped around him. "Can you at least skip desert?"

Severus grunted—his form of laughter—before leaving for dinner.

Later, Essie proved to be merciless, or so Severus said. Hermione reminded him she was completely oblivious at what her parents were planning.

Finally, after hours of grading papers and entertaining Essie Ann, it was time for her bedtime. After they both put her to bed, they stumbled towards the closest bedroom: Hermione's. They fell ungracefully onto the bed, savoring every moment. Severus was determined to make this time different than any of their others. This time, he held feelings for his wife.

As he trailed kisses down her neck, she yelped and pushed him away. At his questioning voice she smiled apologetically. "Guess the beard isn't the best idea."

Realization hit him. "Did I scratch you?" He raised a hand and tilted her face to the side to examine her cheek.

"No, it tickles."

Severus smirked and dropped his face to her neck again to nuzzle his cheek against her neck, which causing her to shout out and laugh loudly. She tried, failingly, to push him away, but he gripped her hands and held them to the mattress. Soon, her laughs died and she relaxed in his grip. His nuzzling became kisses once more and he released her hands, which went to Severus' coat, slowly unbuttoning the many buttons.

"Are you purposely tormenting me?" he rasped as she slowly undid the fifth button.

"Don't dish out what you can't take," she replied just as breathless. She left one hand to continue the task of unbuttoning his coat while the other one pulled his lips down to hers. He hungrily replied in with a heated kiss.

Why was their night bad?

All undressing halted as Essie Ann's blood-chilling scream echoed through their chambers. They both sat up quickly as they heard Essie's feet patter down the hall and into the room.

"Esther Ann Snape! Why did you scream like that?" Hermione demanded.

"There's a ghost in my closet!" she cried.

"You see ghosts every day," her mother admonished.

Essie saw she wasn't getting any comfort from her mother. "Da-addy," she drew out his title, "Please come and scare him away!"

"Esther," Hermione began, but stopped when Severus slid off her and to the floor.

"I'll show her there's no ghost and get her settled," he said to Hermione quietly. He turned to his daughter and said, "Where's the ghost?"

Essie gripped his hand and pulled him out the room, "I'll show you."

"She's got him wrapped around her finger," Hermione sighed and relaxed back into the bed. She closed her eyes while she waited for Severus. Ten minutes went by and he hadn't returned, but Hermione didn't notice as she drifted off to sleep.

She woke later when and noticed she was still alone in bed. At first she thought the past couple days were a dream, and she was back in her own bedroom, but she noticed the disarray of her clothes and knew it wasn't. She grabbed a covering and wrapped it around her as she moved towards Essie's room. When she opened the door she stifled a laugh. Severus was sitting on one of Essie's play chairs, his legs cramped into a seated position, and he was slumped over Essie's bed asleep.

She moved towards him quietly and pushed his hair away from his face. "Severus," she whispered, "Severus, wake up." His eyes flickered open and he straightened with a groan. "What happened?"

Severus stood on numb legs and walked out of the room with Hermione. "Our daughter is very intelligent. She coerced me into staying in there until she fell asleep..."

"But you fell asleep instead?" He looked away embarrassed. "Don't be embarrassed for loving your family," she whispered.

Severus looked back at her and pulled her to his side as they made their way back to her room. They were both too tired to continue their original plans. Hermione fell asleep in his arms within minutes, but Severus remained awake, thinking how he could have his wife alone for a few days, without any Esther interruptions.

Hope All is Well! :)