Severus gazed as cold winter sunshine bathed the face of his lover, warm under thick blankets. He had been with women during his time with the Death Eaters, but it had been cold and loveless, just another tactic to control a vulnerable young man.
Lying here, he was frightened by the intensity of his own feelings, but bravery took many forms. He would be everything he could for her.
She stretched and rolled over to meet his gaze with a smile. He smiled back as she reached up, pushing a lock of his long dark hair behind his ear. He turned his head to kiss her hand. They slid closer together, entering a new phase of their relationship.
Ultimately, their time together was short, but they passionately embraced every moment. They weathered his difficult path through the war together.
When his time came and Snape moved to the afterlife, he was greeted, among others, by James and the two shook hands with mutual respect.
Evelyn held a small private ceremony for him. Narcissa wanted to honor the man who saved her son. Draco wished to pay respect to the surrogate father who saved his soul. Harry just felt that he needed to be there. Numerous others would never know the sacrifices made for them.
He was greatly missed, but Dumbledore had taught those that survived him that the dead we have loved never truly leave us.