Chapter 38

"My apologies, Montague waylaid me" Warrington said after he pulled Alicia through the fireplace of their house after leaving their reception. He wrapped his arms around Alicia drawing her close, enjoying the renewed pleasure of knowing she was firmly and completely his.

"Oh? Is everything ok" Alicia asked in good humour, she rested her head on his chest and gave a sigh of relaxation as they were finally alone.

"Yes, he felt compelled to give me the talk" Warrington said in a grim and serious manner. Alicia frowned and lifted her head and looked at him.

"What talk?" she asked, Warrington took a fortifying breath as he needed it to just get over Drunken Montague's speech to him.

"The talk about what happens between a man and woman on their wedding night" Warrington said, Alicia's eyes went wide for a moment before she laughed and pressed her forehead against his chest as he tightened his arms around her. He lowered his lips to her ear. "He was very deep in his cups but very serious about telling me all the ins and outs of sexual intercourse" he added smiling as Alicia's shoulder continued to shake with mirth.

"Shall I go into detail?" he asked her. Alicia laughed and shook her head as she tried to calm down. She could only imagine Montague's words but they would have been funny.

"No, I'd rather we talk less about Montague and focussed more about us" Alicia said as she looked up and saw the heat in his eyes.

"Thank Merlin" Warrington said as he released only to pick her up in his arms bridal style.

"You know I can walk"

"But this is more charming" He said as he climbed the stairs to their room. He carried her over the threshold and placed her onto her feet before he closed the door and locked it.

"Expecting someone or afraid I'll bolt?" Alicia asked wryly.

"Making sure we do not get interrupted" he told her as he moved towards her with purpose. "You know I've been waiting for this moment all day" Warrington told her as he reached out and slowly unhooked the eyelets holding the front of her robe closed.

"I don't know how you can be excited about something you get see all the time" Alicia said as she felt a shiver of anticipation ran through her as she reached up and started undoing his robes. But Warrington was defter with his fingers than her and finished unhooking enough eyelets that he caught her hands and stopped her for a moment. Just to let it sink in for a moment.

"Ah but tonight it's new because you're my wife" Warrington said a possessive smile played on his lips. Alicia rolled her eyes and his expression darkened. "You dare to roll your eyes at me?" he asked teasingly as slowly pushed the robe off her shoulders. He gave a groan as it fell to the floor, revealing she was completely naked underneath.

"Yeah I do, a last name change and few vows doesn't change anything" she assured him as she relished the power she held over him as his eyes roved her body. It was definitely a good ego boost as she saw that he definitely liked what he saw.

"Trust me it changes a lot" he told her before Alicia could be irreverent he pulled her close and claimed her lips, sweeping his tongue deeply inside of her sweet mouth, his heart pounding crazily.

"Bloody hell, I'm coming. Stop your knocking" Cillian said, the party had broken up a few hours ago and Cillian had put Katie in Alicia's old bedroom to sleep off. The twins were passed out at the bar and the other three had managed to occupy three of the four spare rooms upstairs. Maura had retired for the night and he had been ready to go to sleep himself when the hammering at the door started. He swung the door open and frowned as O'Callaghan stood at the door dressed in an old muggle suit with a cotton Henley shirt underneath and carrying an old suit case.

"I'm packed and ready to go" O'Callaghan said with a smile as he held up a suit case, Cillian frowned at him.

"Go where?" Cillian asked, O'Callaghan gave him a look of annoyance as if they had discussed something and made a plan that Cillian should remember but obviously it all had occurred in the old man's head.

"My little Phoenix has been reborn." O'Callaghan said in annoyed manner as if Cillian was being flippant with him.

"Your little Phoenix?" Cillian asked.

"Aye, she's a cottage by the sea with the men who are related to those Weasel boys who were here tonight" O'Callaghan said pointing to the twins. Cillian had no idea of whom O'Callaghan was talking about or what it had to do with the Weasleys.

"You mean the Weasley boys?" Cillian asked O'Callaghan.

"I heard our name" Fred slurred as he lifted his head up from the bar. He nudged George who fell off his seat onto the floor.

"What? the party still going?" George asked he pushed to his feet, he had a glazed look as he was still drunk. "Let's go another round for the bride groom" he said in an exhausted yet excited tone, he even managed a weird dance to go with it before his eyes rolled up into his head and fell to the floor, promptly passing out.

"Oi Fred, you have a brother who lives by the sea?" Cillian asked, Fred closed his eyes dozing for a moment before he opened them again.

"Sorry what?" Fred asked.

"Brother, cottage by the sea" Cillian prompted.

"Oh you're talking about my brother" Fred said surprised before he frowned "Which one though, I have 5 and a sister. She's a real spitfire" Fred said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"The brother who has the markings of a wolf" O'Callaghan said, he made a gesture to the left side of his face and dragged his hand down in the imitation of it being clawed at. Fred's eyes lit up as he understood.

"Oh Bill! You're talking bout Bill. You know, it's really rude to comment on the" Fred hiccupped and pointed his face "Scars; Mum gets tetchy about it" he said as if he were dispensing invaluable advice.

"Where does he live?" Cillian asked.

"Shell cottage" Fred said before his eyes lit up. "Hey you wanna go there?" he asked in an excited manner.

"Aye, come on" Cillian said as he helped Fred off the stool and kept him upright. They needed Fred to pass through the wards and keep them open for himself and O'Callaghan.

Alicia lifted her arms to encircle his neck. Her bare belly touched the belt at his waist, but he didn't seem to notice. His grass green eyes were riveted on her face. A hint of dull color highlighted his cheekbones. She stroked one hand into the dark brown waves of his hair and pulled his head down to kiss him.

She moaned in pleasure as their mouths merged and their tongues twined, she felt the tremor in his hands as he lifted them to caress the length of her spine told her plainly that he wanted all of her but surprised her as he usually touched her firmly and with confidence.

Apparently getting married did make things different for him... Alicia mused to herself silently, the thought soon fled as the kiss deepened and gained momentum, he gently cupped her full breasts, bent his head, and reverently kissed them. Alicia reached for the buttons of his dress robes, undoing them with less and less efficiency as he continued to explore her body, stroking her hips, her thighs, with hands that were amazingly gentle.

She craved his touch, wanting more, but his clothes remained between them and she was struggling to keep her own hands steady but then Warrington always had that effect on her.

After a few moments of drowning in the pleasure of his mouth, Warrington stepped back to unbutton the rest of his wizarding robes, shaking it off impatiently. The crisp white T-shirt he wore underneath was quick to follow, disappearing in one fluid movement.

Alicia tackled his belt, loving the way his flat abdomen clenched as she brushed his hot skin. He wriggled out of his dress pants and kicked off his shoes and socks and then finally, he was as naked as she was.

He nuzzled her neck and stroked a hand over their unborn baby, a tenderness that brought moisture to her eyes.

"You're so damn beautiful, Alicia," he rasped in her ear.

"As much as I appreciate the compliments I'd prefer more action" Alicia told him before she bit his ear lobe.

Meanwhile over at Shell Cottage,

"So, not that I don't mind you here Brother but how long are you going to stay here?" Bill asked as he topped up their glasses with fire whisky. It was half empty and Bill was feeling incredibly good about it as he was just in the nice tipsy stage. Charlie however looked like he was half pissed, the downside of having been infected by Fenrir. His body ran a few degrees hotter than normal and he metabolized food and booze at a faster rate than a normal wizard.

"Just a couple more days, Clara's all tied up in finding Alicia Spinnet but she promised me a dinner out and drinks if I stayed on a little longer" Charlie said.

"I hope they find Alicia and soon" Bill said as he was worried about Alicia and her unborn child. It was a horrible situation and it seemed so unfair for it to happen to Alicia after everything she had been through.

"They will, Clara's the best. So speaking of the best. Where's Fleur?" Charlie asked.

"In France" Bill said, his stock standard answer for the last year.

"She's been there for a while now" Charlie commented as he couldn't help but notice that Fleur had been absent from the house not only in physical presence but also in home. The wedding photos were no longer up, there were no photos of Bill and Fleur as a couple around the house, the furniture had changed over the last few months from a French nouveu style to plush overstuffed furniture. But then he had equated the furniture change due to his 4 year old niece Victoire or Tori as they called her for short and her habit of climbing everything and anything.

"Hopefully she'll stay there for the rest of her natural life" Bill said bitterly. Charlie's brows rose in surprise.

"Did I miss something?" Charlie asked him.

"Fleur and I are divorced" Bill said. It was the first time he had said it out loud, acknowledged the truth. It was apparently a lot easier to admit he was a failure than he thought but then this was Charlie. His brother might be a member of the family but with him living in Romania gave him a sense of distance from their family.

"What? When?" Charlie spluttered shocked by the news.

"The divorce was finalised 8 months ago, we'd been separated for over a year before then. I'd appreciate it if you don't tell the family" Bill said before he took a sip of his drink, it stung that he out of the many generations of Weasley's; he was the first to get a divorce.

"How? What happened? You two were as solid as they co-" Charlie stopped midsentence when the fireplace glowed green. Charlie pulled his wand out just in case they were not expecting visitors; preparing himself for trouble when Fred stumbled through the fire place. He straightened up and then to the fireplace gave a sweeping gesture.

"Entrer voo mon amis and don't let the banshee of a wife scare you away" Fred said as he welcomed two older gentleman. Charlie lowered his wand as he recognised the two immediately. Bill closed his eyes for a moment quelling the amusement over Fred's comment about Fleur and moved onto annoyance as Fred had brought two complete strangers into his home. He however did note how Charlie had put his wand away and figured the two older men were friends. How they knew to come here was one of the many questions in his mind.

"Fred" Bill said slightly annoyed at Fred for being drunk and just allowing himself and two men he didn't know into his home. He was grateful that Tori was at the Burrow having time with her grandparents.

"Bill!" Fred slurred in a merry manner.

"That was fun" elder of the two said, he moved to kitchen not even paying the slightest attention to anyone and licked one of the kitchen walls. He smacked his lips and smiled. "This is the place" he announced happily, he turned around taking in the room and frowned "too early" he said.

"Too early?" the other one asked.

"Excuse me, but who are you? and what are you doing in my home?" Bill asked as he made a mental note to clean the 'licked' section of the kitchen wall.

"This is Alicia Spinnet's Grandfather Cillian and-" Fred started making the introductions when the elderly man who licked his wall interrupted him.

"I am O'Callaghan" O'Callaghan said, still frowning. He then licked his finger and held it in the air as if trying to figure out which way the wind was blowing.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but the old man had a vision and I thought there was an emergency situation" Cillian said as he offered his hand to Bill. Bill accepted the gesture and gave Cillian's hand a firm shake.

"He's a seer" Charlie explained to Bill as Fred promptly fell onto Bill's lounge in the living area and passed out.

"Right" Bill said dryly, as he didn't believe in the powers of premonition or the reliability of their visions.

"Though his timing is a bit off" Cillian commented looking half annoyed and amused himself.

"It's not the only think that's off" Bill murmured as O'Callaghan opened the door and went outside.

"What was the vision?" Charlie asked Cillian.

"Something about a Phoenix rising from the ashes" Cillian said.

"I don't own a Phoenix and I don't plan on owning one either" Bill said.

"It's a metaphor" Charlie told Bill.

"I hope so" Bill muttered as O'Callaghan came back into the house and threw his hands up in the air.

"She's not here, too early but it doesn't make sense. I had the vision, I felt the burn which meant it is now. Where is she?" O'Callaghan asked he pointed at Bill. "You, are you hiding her wolf man?" O'Callaghan shook his head and bit the tip of his thumb in thought. "No, no... this doesn't make any sense" he said.

"You don't make sense, why don't you share the vision?" Cillian asked O'Callaghan as he appreciated the patience Bill was giving them as he wouldn't be taking the invasion of two strangers into his home so well.

"Because it's not for anyone to see. I need to see Alicia" O'Callaghan said as he started to ring his hands and pace.

"Isn't Alicia still missing? Clara's working the case" Charlie said confused.

"Long story, she has been found and is safe." Cillian told him. The news was met with a smile from Charlie as it was good news.

"I told you Clara would find her" Charlie said to Bill smugly.

"Yes- wait, is this about Clara?" Cillian said looking at O'Callaghan. The old man stopped pacing and gave an exaggerated sigh like he'd been waiting half a century for them to catch up.

"Of course it is. She's my little phoenix. Now can we go? I need to speak with Alicia immediately" O'Callaghan said.

"Oh no, Alicia's on her honeymoon. We are not interrupting that" Cillian told him as they moved to the fireplace.

"Honeymoon" Charlie said confused.

"Alicia and Cassius Warrington were engaged before she was taken" Bill said to Charlie as he knew Charlie didn't make a habit of reading the Daily Prophet.

"Ah. Well, send my congratulations to the couple Cillian" Charlie said to Cillian.

"Thank you and now we will get out of your hair. Sorry for the interruption and don't be too hard on Fred" Cillian said to them.

"I make no promises" Bill said, Cillian laughed and gestured for O'Callaghan to go first except the old man abruptly turned away from the fireplace and walked over to Bill. He pulled out a business care and held it out to Bill.

"This is my calling card. Toss it in the fire when my Phoenix arrives and I will come" O'Callaghan said to him. Bill took the card erring on the side of caution as he wanted the odd man to leave his home.

"It's most important that you call me. You will me need me" he told Bill.

"I don't see why Clara would come here" Bill said, O'Callaghan smiled knowingly.

"I think you do" he said.

"I don't think I can move" Alicia mumbled drowsily as she laid on top of Warrington completely sated and slick with sweat. Warrington chuckled as he moved his hands slowly up and down her back in lazy pattern. It was supposed to be relaxing but all it did was heat Alicia up but she was not going to tell him that as she was too tired for another round of sex.

"I told you it would be different" Warrington told her.

"Every time is different" Alicia stated.

"You saying you don't enjoy my repertoire?" Warrington asked teasingly as he felt sated to his bones.

"No, I'm definitely enjoying the variety but I'm beginning to think you're holding the good stuff back" Alicia said.

"Well, I do remember saying that I was saving myself for marriage before you corrupted me" Warrington said innocently, Alicia gave an unladylike snort and gave a small shake of her head at the comment.

"Well your reputation is salvaged as I have made an honest man out of you" Alicia said dryly.

"You make it sound like I'm the ball and chain in this relationship" Warrington said amused. Alicia lifted her head up to look him in the eyes, she wore a mischievious smile.

"Well you did seek me out and I couldn't shake you. Then you just nagged me and nagged me into doing things...So yeah you kind of are the ball and chain in our relationship" Alicia said before giving a chuckle.

A week later,

Alicia woke with a start and sat up in bed, her body drenched in sweat. She tried to steady her breathing as her heart pounded. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back but immediately relaxed as she remembered they were in Ireland, safe and sound on their honeymoon.

"Alicia, are you ok?" Warrington asked in a sleepy tone.

"Yeah just- I don't know" She said, she had the weirdest dream that she was falling backwards through fire but it didn't burn her, there was no pain but complete confusion and fear that she was disappearing. Breaking into a million pieces to be lost to wherever she was but all the while struggling to keep herself together as there was something important she had to do. What that was she didn't know. None of ir made any sense and she woke with the lingering fear and confusion.

"A bad dream?" he asked, she felt the bed shift as he sat up beside her.

"Yeah" she murmured as she ran a hand through her hair and exhaled slowly.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked, he pressed a kiss to her on her shoulder.

"No, I want to forget it" She said as she turned and pushed him onto his back and threw a leg over him, so she was straddling him.

"You know I'm a person not some sex toy" he said with a smile, inwardly he would prefer she tell him what was wrong instead of distracting with sex but he was having a hard time of saying 'no' to her.

"It's our honeymoon, it's your duty to over-sex me to make up for when we're old and grey and you can't get it up" she told him d as she ran her hands up his torso enjoying the heat radiating off his skin and the feel of his body.

"Ha, that will never happen" he assured her. Alicia chuckled.

"We'll see" Alicia said with a wicked smile. Warrington moved his hands onto her hips and slowly up her back drawing her down to him.

"You definitely will but for now let's focus on the here and now" he told her.