With all their essential belongs Amanda, Theo, Marcus and Severus arrived at the house of Marcus' family, his parents had died years back and he had inherited it just around his 20th birthday. Now it was turned into quite a bachelor's pad, something he knew he had to change and something in him wished he had had time to fix the place up and make it more of a home but that would have to wait, it was a roof over their heads and with beds to sleep in. Severus still had Amanda under his spell but he didn't know for how long, she was fighting it so after making her settle in Theo, he brought her to the kitchen while Marcus spend a bit of time explaining things to the boy, amongst other things: that he was his father.

Sitting her down by the kitchen table he tied her up before releasing her. Hearing her groan he smiled

"Welcome home!"

If looks could kill

"Illegal curse, remember?"

Amanda tried to shake the left overs of the spell out of her system, it was truly an uncomfortable feeling, having your will taken away from you, the droning voice in your head, the dulled vision. She had felt like a puppet and he had been the puppet-master.

Muttering a few protective and binding spells Severus looked her over several times, motherhood became her, she looked better than he could remember her ever doing so. Maybe if Marcus had problems handling her he could offer his 'services' to make her obey him… and well, him too. Marcus had talked about more children but somehow Severus thought that would involve 9 months of Imperius before that happened, too bad a love potion would make her infertile otherwise that would be the way to go. And another Ambrosia was just playing with fire, they needed her to function outside the house as well.

Amanda was looking at the surface of the wooden table in front of her, she felt dull, her mind fogged from the spell, she figured things looked pretty hopeless by now. They had made her write a note to her mother before leaving, telling her that she had gone to visit the Bones' with Theo for a few weeks. Stephen had been writing almost every week since Theo was born to have them come visit, him and his father had been horribly lonely after first the loss of the mother and then shortly after: Susan. Amanda felt a pang in her heart. Oh how she missed her best friend. If she had been lonely before it was nothing compared to after Susan was killed.

"A knut for your thoughts"

Amanda's voice was a mere whisper

"Susan…"

Severus looked at her, a small frown between his brows. Oh yes, Susan Bones, a small grain in the hourglass of life but a foundation to Amanda's world.

"The letter I figure"

She nodded as the tears started to fall and Severus actually felt a bit guilty for tearing up such a painful wound. He knew there was a reason for her not visiting the Bones' and implying that she had suddenly felt the urge to do so had maybe not been smart, her mother would know her well enough to know it was a lie. The pain of seeing the brother and father of her former best friend would be too much, even so long after.

"It beats her thinking you've run of…"

"Or been kidnapped…"

She added dryly to what Severus merely nodded

"I'm going to bind you to this house, you cannot leave it, I will leave your wand with Marcus so there will be no funny business"

Amanda scoffed

"No risk of that…"

"I suggest you take one for the team, try and make the best of it and when things have calmed down a bit we can try and work something out with your family so Theo can see his grandparents"

Giving him a dull look Amanda sighed.

"I don't see that happening"

Severus groaned

"Come on woman – it's not that bad!"

Amanda shot him a cold glare, one of such a level of hate which he could never have imagine she could muster

"I dare you to walk a mile in my shoes – you wouldn't like it"

Flinching as he slammed his fist into the table right in front of her she looked him straight in the eyes.

"Your life is pretty good considering what it could be, remember the proposal I made you years back?"

Amanda nodded slowly as she felt her blood run cold. What now?

"You would have belonged to me, fully, and would have none of the luxuries I am sure Marcus will grant you when you earn his trust, my trust on the other hand, is something you would and never will earn so with Marcus, these shackles might disappear one day, they would not with me, I trust no one!"

He had grabbed her hand as he spoke, holding the iron-clad brace that had magically appeared when he bound her, gesturing to it. Leaning in closer, he gave her a greedy look.

"So if you do not belong to Marcus Flint, you belong to me, I promise you that!"

He saw her body starting to shake and her eyes grow wide with fear. Keeping someone in check with fear was the most effective method; it would make her grateful for the littlest things.

Feeling rooted to the spot Amanda simply looked at him, was he kidding her? Had she been reduced to an item, something to be traded and to be owned? And why were those two her option? She could not remember signing any piece of paper to seal her fate like this.

"Do I make myself clear?"

Amanda nodded vigorously, her eyes wide and measuring his face. He was not kidding this time.

Dinner was consumed in silence only interrupted by Theo asking about his grandmother and why Marcus was his father. The boy normally was a chatterbox but the questions tonight were limited, Amanda suspected it to because of the change of environment and the new people. She feared how the night would go, Marcus would not let her share a room with the boy, he had to learn that this was his new home. She feared the crying, Marcus didn't understand children and if Theo would cry, she knew Marcus would see it as a sign of weakness. As she tugged the boy into bed, reassuring him that she would be just down the hall and that he should just call if he needed anything, even if just a hug. Tearing herself away and out the door she held her breath as she walked down towards the room she had been allocated. Marcus was in the living room speaking with Severus, she knew what the topic was and feared the outcome. Walking around her room she strained her ears to hear if Theo should call for her but nothing… so far… Sitting down on her bed she looked out the window onto the street, it was a quiet one but the shopping street was only 10minutes walk away so even though seemingly quiet they were not isolated. As the door opened without warning Amanda jumped to her feet, almost falling over from the sudden change of altitude.

"Marcus?!"

"Come!"

She hesitated, eyeing him closely.

"Not a request, move your ass!"

Flinching she hurried out the room, turning and looking at him, something about him made her afraid to ask what was going on. In the hallway she still couldn't hear anything from Theo's room so she figured it wasn't something with him. As he grabbed her arm she gave him a scared look, this was too familiar and not in a good way. She was guided down the hallway and pushed into a room which she knew belonged to him, it was the master bedroom.

"Marcus please…"

"Shut it!"

Sighing she looked at the floor, so this was what it had come to. Marcus moved over to the dresser shrugging the robe of his shoulders and looking for a clean pair of PJ's. Frowning Amanda looked up at him, what was he doing? For the longest time he was rummaging through the drawers, finding his PJ's, clean underwear, picking a few scattered clothes off the floor and placing them in the hamper. Amanda watched him carefully. Finally he turned around, looking at her.

"We have to make this work"

She cocked an eyebrow at him, did she actually have some say in this?

"I require you to sleep here with me, to share a bed and for now; nothing else"

She felt herself go cold, there was the catch

"We have to appear happy and confident parents, not only for Theo but also for people around us and we both know of whom I am speak"

Amanda swallowed nervously before adding a small nod.

"Indeed, he's very keen on helping me keep you in place but with all we've been through and since none of us are stupid-"

Amanda strangled a chuckle which Marcus ignored as he continued

"-I am sure that we can make this work, I did make you happy at some point in life – right?"

Looking at him she held her breath, he had never made her happy, fulfilled and satisfied but never happy. Fearing that he could see right through her she panicked.

"I … I mean, well… I don't know, honestly Marcus, I have always hated you, for everything you did to me, thinking back I have often wished that you would just have gone through with your original plan to 'have' me, it would scar me but I would still have a life afterwards"

She rambled and as she finally managed to shut up she held her breath, where did all of this come from? She had thought it many times, promised herself to tell him that she would be better off without him, that she would have preferred being forced than bound by a potion but she never did, she held it silently in her mind, knowing that telling would be very unwise. Marcus gaped at her

"Are you serious?"

Amanda nodded, still holding her breath and preparing for the worst.

"No love at all?"

"Not even respect…"

Looking as if she had just served him a head on a plate Marcus sat down on the bed. Had he been kidding himself all these years? Nothing at all?

Amanda watched him nervously, maybe she shouldn't have told him all that especially not the last part about the respect but he asked and she thought it was about time he got the whole truth not to mention that if they were going to give this whole relationship a chance, the truth should be told.

"I can never forgive you for what you've done Marcus, it's not possible for me"

"Will you give the chance to try?"

She laughed lightly, holding the bracelet up in front of him

"I kind of have to don't I?"

Nodding he chewed his lip

"That one gets cancelled when we get married"

"What do you mean by 'when'?"

She eyed him carefully

"It's the logical thing to do!"

Starring at him she tried hard not to laugh out loud, biting her lip hard she felt her eyes tear up.

"Really… logical? For you or for me?"

Scowling Marcus threw the clean clothes on the bed before starting to take his clothes off, Amanda turned slightly away, averting her eyes. An action that made Marcus laugh

"Oh my, have you gone shy on me?"

Feeling her cheeks go red she glared at him

"No, but I am not, in any way, in a relationship with you and since there is no potion involved you are a stranger to me!"

Looking back out the window she heard him walk closer. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. A game – it was all a game to him.

Marcus walked up behind her, smiling as she refused to look at him. Running a fingertip up the back of her neck he saw goosebumps forming, she flinched at his touch but didn't move. Placing a small kiss at the nape of her neck he entangled his fingers in her hair, tilting her head back slightly, baring her neck to him.

Amanda breathed deeply, it had been a long time since a man had touched her and after so long with an active sexlife and then such a long time without she felt her body yearning for a man's touch. As his fingers slid her robe off she held her breath, this shouldn't be happening. With her eyes closed she swallowed deeply again, why was his touch still taking her breath away? Lack or was there a spark? His kisses turned into small nibbles as he turned her towards him, capturing her lips and pulling her close. Gasping to breath she had forgotten how his arms felt around her, his broad chest against her and as he lowered her onto the bed she silenced the remainder of her common sense that was screaming at her to make him stop. As he removed her top she felt his skin on hers and it only brought back good memories, there had been good times, he had never turned her away, he had always been there and if not waiting, then always taken his time when she needed him. As he entered her she threw her head back, gasping to breathe.

"Merlin! You're tight…!"

Through her fogged mind she gave half a laugh, remembering the doctor who had 'fixed' her after the birth of Theo and his words had been: As good as new. How true that was… Running her hands over his back, breathing into his ear she returned his kiss as he looked at her. Locking eyes with him she saw something new about him, something she hadn't noticed before.

Much regrettable she finished before him but to be honest, he probably had kept in shape where to she had neglected that side of her needs. Feeling her internal muscle spasm around him he let go, knowing that she was done and he had done good … for now.

Watching her as she lay with closed eyes and a small smile lingering in the corner of her mouth he leaned closer and kissed her again.

"So nothing between us?"

Snapping her eyes open she laughed and hid her face in her hands

"You can't base a relationship on sex!"

Marcus smirked

"I'm willing to"

Laughing she

threw a pillow at him.

"Ohh… the arms have been replaced with softer items, we're moving in the right direction!"

Pulling at mocking face she rolled onto her side, looking at him for a moment before sitting up, as he grabbed her wrist she turned and looked at him.

"What?"

"Let's just try ok?"

Gently padding his head she smiled mockingly

"Honey, I am bound here, I don't have much of a choice!"

Marcus groaned

"Yeah ok, I know – but let's just pretend that we're working on it and I'll ask Severus to release you in a few weeks, can't make it look too easy, he's very suspicious of you…"

"And you're not-"

Amanda grew pale

"Wait, you need to ask Severus to release me?"

Marcus nodded, completely unaware of the potential problem

"You nit! Then I'm not bound here, I'm bound to him!"

"What? Why?"

Getting up she grabbed her clothes, pulling them on as quickly as possible.

"Honestly, don't you know anything about binding spells? If he binds me to the house and its owner, you can release me but if only he can release me then I'm bound to him"

Throwing her hands up in frustration she cursed his stupidity under her breath.

"And it also means that he's still here!"

Marcus got up, slowly putting on a pair of pants

"What?"

Amanda groaned in frustration

"You stupid ass! If I am bound to him I can only be alone in his domain or accompanied by him!"

Flinging the door open she rushed down the hallways, only stopping to have a quick look at Theo who was sound a sleep before descending the stairs and entering the living room where she found the person she was looking for.

"You stupid moronic idiotic LUNATIC!"

Severus got up casually, a rare smile on his face.

"Nice to see you too m'dear!"

"What the hell are you playing at?"

Marcus entered the room only to see Amanda red faced and out of breath and Severus pointing his wand at her calmly.

"Took you long enough to figure it out…"

Marcus looked at them, confusion radiating from his face

"What?"

Both Amanda and Severus hissed at him

"Not you!"

Severus smirked at Amanda

"Oh yes, I knew as soon as you gave him what he wanted he would be pudding in your hands and you could get him to release you, long before it would be wise to do so"

Amanda scoffed

"You honestly think I wish to be alone? If Marcus was equal to every other man I would rather be with him because he is the father of Theo"

Severus chuckled, still pointing his wand at her

"How noble of you but I still don't trust you!"

Screaming in frustration she hissed at him

"Your trust is not important"

She waved her hand at Marcus

"His is!"

Severus growled darkly

"Have you any idea what I have done and how hard I have worked to get a hold of you, for Marcus of course"

She scoffed

"Come off it!"

Marcus frowned

"Severus, release her, I'll bind her myself then"

The professor laughed

"Don't be silly boy, that spell is far too complicated for you"

Huffing Marcus pulled out his wand

"I can give it a try!"

Amanda threw her hands up in desperation

"Merlin! I'm going to be a test-object… again!"

Severus shook his head

"No, I'm staying till we've got the situation sorted"

Sighing Amanda dropped herself into a chair

"Fantastic!"

"I'll marry her then!"

Amanda eyed him

"You know it takes two people saying 'I do' right?"

Marcus huffed again

"It sure beats you being bound to him"

Hesitating she eyed him. He did have a point.

((A/N I am aware that I have made a crucial error, Susan Bones is ofc supposed to be 4 years younger than Amanda and thereby obviously not in her dorm nor fitting the description for her best friend but I love that character and in order for me not to juggle too many made-up-characters, I added an aging-potion to her :D ))