Rolf is pacing in front of the door, trying to prepare himself for the afternoon. His grandfather, the famous Newt Scamander, has come over for brunch rather unexpectedly. In tandem with that, Luna owl'd that she would be coming around for tea to discuss plans to travel to Romania together and study dragon breeding. The timing, albeit unintentionally impeccable, isn't precisely was Rolf has been hoping.

Luna Lovegood is an amazing woman, and a young one. Being twenty-four years her senior, Rolf has realized that finding a way to introduce her to the family as, not only his co-worker, but his girlfriend too, is proving slightly more difficult than he imagined. The age gap cannot be seen now, but in a few more years, should they stay together, and he does truly hope they do, will become wildly apparent.

All of that in mind, the plan was for Luna to meet his parents first, and then his Grandma Tina by herself quite some time before ever meeting Grandpa Newt. It's less to do with Luna's fascination with his work, her quirky personality that makes her harder to read than Latin, or the disparity in their ages, and everything to do with his granddad. In reality, Grandpa Newt is far more likely to say something to her that might go awry.

"When is that Lovegood girl going to pop in?" Grandpa Newt calls out, almost as if he's been keeping time and waiting for her rather than the food. Kicking at invisible dust on the ground, Rolf stuffs his hands into his pocket. A gut feeling rumbles beneath the surface, warning him that he might become the third wheel once Luna meets his grandfather. "Rolf?"

Clearing his throat, "Uhm, she'll be here any minute now, gramps."

Even Rolf wasn't dating her, it is very likely that Grandpa Newt would've learned about her work regardless. Luna is becoming a very well known naturalist, publishing her theories in her father's magazine, and then later garnering funding from private investors who want to see if her theories are true. She's discovered three new families of pixies in locations like Australia and South America, where the magic populations are not quite as large.

That's not the sort of news that a renowned Magizoologist misses. "You say you're going to Romania to study dragons?"

Rolf nods, even though he can't be seen. He nervously moves towards the window to peek through the curtains. He wants to stop Luna before she comes inside to let her know that they'll have extra company. "Interspecies breeding, actually."

"Gran would be upset if I tried to go along, I think," he moans from the kitchen, though loudly enough to make it seem like he's standing right next to Rolf. The anticipation forces the man into a hunch. It is true, he thinks, because Granny Tina has kept his granddad out of the field for a few years now. Obviously it is due to his age, though it isn't uncommon for the famous Newt Scamander to pop around the world to visit magizoologists during their studies. Rolf sucks his lips in and bites down, drops his gaze to the ground, and just listens for the telltale crack of someone apparating.

When he blows his lips back out of his mouth, Rolf confirms what his grandpa is thinking. "Granny would probably chain you to the willow tree."

"Tie who to a willow tree?" a voice says, only seconds after dust kicks out of the fireplace. Rolf gawks at a soot covered Luna Lovegood, blonde hair grayed atop her head in a messy bun, and her bright yellow leggings practically black from her landing. She looks down, almost as if she might be worried about the mess, but then she pulls her gaze back up to Rolf. Her expression suggests that she is still more interested in the answer to her question.

Rolf steps into her, his chest pressed almost to her, and his eyes looking down her upturned nose. The dreamy smile over her lips is tempting, but he has to tell her. "My grandpa is here."

"That's lovely that he came from the states to visit," Luna lulls, scooting away from Rolf effortlessly. Stunned at her lack of awareness, her lack of attention to the seriousness in his features, Rolf follows behind her in slow motion.

"Not quite," Rolf explains in a hushed voice. "I meant my Grandpa Scamander is here."

It doesn't matter that he's said it, though, because Luna already has her eyes trained on her career idol. She always looks to be in awe of the world in front of her, eyes glossy and wide, but there's no way of knowing whether or not she's actually stricken by the people or places she's around. Rolf holds his breath and waits for the exchange between them.

"I do quite love you, Mister Scamander," Luna coos in a confusing sort of way. It sounds equally as kind as it does dismissive. She isn't even looking directly at him when she says it. In fact, she's surveying the food after she's had a good look over him. "Your work is phenomenal, if you didn't know."

This makes Rolf's granddad laugh very heartily. "You must be Miss Lovegood. Pleasure to meet you." Luna accepts his outstretched hand, though her focus doesn't change. She's still checking out the different food items laid out on the counter.

"Yes, uhm, this is my – er – my, uhm, Luna Lovegood," Rolf confirms in stammered grumble. This doesn't really even register in the minds of his grandfather and his girlfriend, but the worry that they won't easily skip over it lingers in his mind. Grandpa Newt tells Luna to make a plate, and she insists that he goes first, and so he does. Rolf goes last, joining them at the table, waiting for whatever gets said next.

But nothing comes up right away, except for compliments on the food and requests for this or that from the kitchen counters. Eventually the need for drinks arises, and Rolf offers to grab them on his own. The quiet is unsettling, and so are his racing thoughts. It shouldn't be this uncomfortable, and he can't really explain to himself why it is such a big deal that this goes well.

As he walks back around the corner to set the glasses down, Luna is shaking her head. "Not exactly."

"I think she might be better at your job than you are, Rolf," Grandpa Newt remarks playfully. Luna grins sympathetically, the only emotions that is ever clear to him when she shows it, and then gestures towards his granddad.

"I've told him that we have the same job, but he's not hearing me," Luna shares. "He thinks you're a magizoologist. What a silly idea."

Rolf was slightly aware that he believed that, but he assumed that his granddad hadn't failed to notice that he wasn't exactly giving his work a name, his job a title. He's never once said that he's a magizoologist exactly. "She's right," he's finally admits aloud to his grandfather. "I'm actually a naturalist as well. We do the same work."

"What's the difference between a naturalist and a zoologist really, anyway?" he asks, a funny look on his face and a baritone curiosity in his voice. It is surprisingly easy, actually, and Rolf leaves his mouth open in surprise. If he'd known it would be as easy as answering what the difference was, Rolf might've stopped tip-toeing the matter years ago.

"There is none, not in the grand scheme of things," says Rolf in a cheerier tone than before, his elbows resting on the table as he contemplates the best way to describe his career. "Really, it's just the camping, isn't it, darling?"

Grandpa Newt's lips curl all the way over his teeth in a wide smile that usually only comes around when his gran talks about how they met, or when she asks to join him in the suitcase. She broke her hip pretty badly many years ago and it makes it difficult for her to get up and down the stairs anymore. Granny Tina only asks when she's absolutely positive that she can handle it.

But his smile right now is precisely the same. "He must love you very much, Miss Lovegood. I've never seen Rolf so nervous, not even when he was a toddler with a Cornish pixie nibbling on his ear."

"Grandpa!"

Luna gawks at him, expressionless. Her head tilts slowly as the comment processes in her fuzzy mind. She's brilliant with magical creatures and understands people very well. The interactions are what she hasn't quite mastered yet, though Rolf knows that he's not better in any significant way. Social expectations are less poignant when he's with family, which is why he limits his company to co-workers and relatives as much as possible.

She closes her eyes for a moment and breathes in. "I had wondered if he might."

Rolf hasn't told Luna how he felt, how tightly she held onto his heart. His thinking was that there would be a perfect moment, a day on the work site where things would fall into line, and he would hold her face in his hands and tell her: I love you. This is why he had reservations about her meeting his granddad first.

But, alas, everything is as easy as Grandpa Newt makes it seem. Luna's eyes are sparkling, and his grandfather is smiling, and Rolf's heart is not racing out of his chest. All things considered, this is actually a success.

As it turns out, Grandpa Newt doesn't think any less of naturalists when comparing them to magizoologists. Luna's significant youth in comparison to him is completely ignored. And his love for her is now public knowledge, more or less. Even though this day was not planned, it works out precisely as it must in order for Rolf's life to start moving forward again.

Eventually Grandpa Newt must leave, he has plans to visit a garden with gran, and wishes Luna farewell. He thanks her for her love, but kindly insists that she redirect her feelings to his "very available" grandson instead. Luna actually handles it very well, smiling and winking at him with flawless execution, and then promptly kisses his cheek. When he crackles away, it's just the two of them – staring at one another with pink cheeks and sideways smirks.

This dose of domestic life – it kind of suits him, Rolf thinks. Afternoons could be filled with cleaning and gardening, and their travels can have specific hours for working so that they can have nights in and read books on the couch together. Daydreaming the glimpses of a future he could have with Luna gets his heart fluttering, and his tongue dancing. What a beautiful life it would be…

It makes him wonder why he's not telling the world that she's his girlfriend.

"I do love you, Luna," Rolf declares. "In case that wasn't clear."

She laughs, and it makes him melt in front of her. "I love you more than your grandfather. In case that wasn't clear either."

It is clear, but it feels great to hear it. Rolf takes her into his arms and kisses her gently on the nose. The way the sunlight reflects off of her blonde eyelashes makes him feel at home. It makes him think that home is wherever Luna Lovegood goes, and something uncontrollable rises in his throat at the bliss he feels with her.

"Good, so you'd be alright marrying me, then?" he breathes out in relief. "I bloody love you and I'd marry you today, if you'd have me."

And, even though he's not expecting a reply,

she –

says –

yes.