When they were done with dessert Albus dismissed the students and sent them off to bed with the usual "Pip, pip!" Then as the staff slowly left, either in clusters of alone (mainly Severus), Albus asked a still shocked Minerva if he could accompany her back to her quarters. She merely nodded in response, obviously still embarrassed about the so-called "Late night encounter" they had just recently discussed. So they swept through the corridors and upon reaching the painting guarding her rooms she was about to give her password, but he beat her to it.

"Tartan handkerchief"

"How did you know the password to my chambers, Albus?" she asked with an apprehensive expression on her face.

"Don't you remember, my dearest? You gave it to me just yesterday as soon as you changed it," he said laughing lightly.

"I suppose I did," was her bleak response before they stepped over the threshold and into the sitting room. They settled down opposite each other in silence until Albus spoke breaking the awkward quiet.

"How about a game of chess before we turn in?"

"That would be lovely!" she said and stood to retrieve her chessboard and pieces from the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Albus busied himself by keeping his eyes on her "plump arse" as men would probably call it. A small voice in his head was telling him to stop and avert his gaze, but a more dominant part, which Albus was keener on listening to, was coaxing him onward to keep staring. No matter how rude it may be. Just then, she turned around and made her way back to her chair and set the board up.

While Albus was still staring at her in awe or was it amazement or something else…oh yes, LOVE! He finally admitted to himself that he was indeed in love with his deputy. He always knew he loved her ever since she was a student, but never quite wanted to admit that he had fallen for her thinking that it would be an inappropriate relationship to have and he respected her.

The fact that he had really fallen for her had became truly evident was over the course of her teaching here at Hogwarts which would be about 45 years of so. 'Big difference. Love and IN love. Truly makes a big difference especially now,' he thought.

He was brought out of his musings when an all-too-familiar voice with a slightly distinct Scottish lilt asked,

"You do know it's rude to stare right, Albus?"
It was clearly a rhetorical question that masked another since she shot him a what-are-you-thinking-about-Albus-Percival-Wulfric-Brian-Dumbledore look. He cleared his throat and said rather innocently,

"What were you saying, Minerva? I'm sorry I was light-years away. Do forgive me?"

"Alright I do. But what had you stare into space and well just stare?" she was curious, very curios.

"Ah, my dear Minerva. That is for me to know and for you to hopefully not find out," he said then smiled and stood up to leave when their very quiet game of chess ended with her winning once again. She stood up as well and walked him to the door.

"Good night, Minerva!"

"Good night, Albus!" And without even thinking he leaned down to kiss her lips chastely and blurted out,

"I love you!"

"What?" was her hysterical response.
Grasping what he had just done and what was happening he gaped at her for a good 3 seconds and burst out the door and hastened back to his chambers for his dear life. As soon as he got passed the gargoyle saying,

"Fairy floss"

He threw open his door and crossed over the threshold, locked it and lay down on the sofa, his heart beating or much rather banging in his chest and before he knew it he fell asleep with the thought of her soft, rosy lips that had just recently come in contact with his. He didn't even dare think what will become of tomorrow when he has to face her or deciding whether he were to still pick her up and accompany her to the Great Hall like he always did. No, he'll have to face her head on first thing in the morning since he did fall asleep before devising a plan.