Chapter 7 - A Nights Chatter

Minerva crept into her rooms late that night and smiled at the sight before her. Albus lay stretched out on her couch with Michaela wrapped tightly in his arms, her head resting on his chest. She must be comforted by his heartbeat like I am, Minerva thought. She tiptoed over to the couch and squatted slightly. She pushed a few curls from her daughter's face and kissed her cheek. The girl shifted slightly but Minerva quickly patted her rump until she stilled. "Welcome home love," Albus whispered.

"I thought you were asleep," she offered then leaned down for a kiss.

"I'll put Kitten to bed while you change for bed," he offered.

She nodded and headed to her bedchamber. She chose to forego her tartan robe for a simple white cotton gown and allowed her hair to hang wildly. She settled into bed and waited for Albus to join her. He walked in carrying a small box in his hand. "What's in the box," asked a curious Minerva.

"A surprise," he laughed then handed it to her.

She looked at it skeptically for a few minutes until he urged her to open it. She did, of course, and was touched immensely by it. Inside laid a silver hairbrush set with her name beautifully engraved on it. She carefully eyed each piece before questioning, "Why did you give me a hairbrush set Albus?"

"I love your hair," he answered honestly. "Even more so when you wear it down."

"Oh" was her reply.

He placed the box and its contents on the nightstand and removed his outer robe which he tossed on a chair. He crawled in bed beside of Minerva and kissed her lovingly. He turned so his chest was to her back and draped his arm around her waist. She in returned snuggled back into his embrace and sighed contently. "Did you find everything you needed?" he asked supportively.

"Yes I did," she smiled triumphantly then added, "Your mother is amazing."

He chuckled then asked, "You think so?"

She nodded, "She fixed a room for Michaela with a closet full of new clothes. She asked me to visit to make sure she had everything right for her and then she actually accompanied me shopping. She has a way of making a person feel like part of the family."

"I'm glad she made you feel welcomed Tabby."

"I haven't heard that nickname in quite a while," she said amused.

"To be perfectly honest I have to refrain from calling you by it on a daily basis. It suits you, you know?"

"You best not call me Tabby in front of anyone else, Albus Dumbledore, or I shall be very upset with you," she said in mock seriousness.

He eased her head towards him and kissed her gently. "We can't have that, can we?" he asked but silenced her response with a very passionate kiss.

"Goodnight my love," she whispered on a ragged breathe after the heated kiss ended.

"Sleep well Tabby."