Happy second half of June everyone! Can't believe we're nearly halfway through the year already. It's been a better year than last so that's someting. I'm also managing to get double updates out again as well. I am loving seeing people reading my stories and I hope that you are still enjoying them.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

Sisters Divided – Part 23:

A few days had passed and Grindelwald had been unable to get the image of Flora in her swimsuit out of his head. He knew that he shouldn't have the image in his head but the connection between them was getting stronger and stronger as the days went by and he was often caught out by Vinda.

"Take her out, just the two of you. The town has your loyalty so you would be safe there with her," Vinda had said to him. "You need to be with her alone and get to know her better,"

Grindelwald had thought about it and agreed that Vinda had been right and he had been wanting to spend some time with Flora alone and away from the Castle and noise. He also knew that Flora had brought the perfect dress back from New York with her and it would be perfect for their date.

Flora had instantly said yes to getting away from the Castle. Grindelwald had told her to dress up but decided not to tell her that it was a date as he knew she was still unsure of everything between them and he could understand her as he was unsure too. He could lose her at any moment and that was something that pained his heart when he thought about it so he tried not to think about it too much. The thought of losing her… on top of the growing connection… was something he fought with every day.

He'd spent hours in the library and had found that the connection wouldn't be so overpowering once Flora accepted what was happening. He was hoping that the night away from the Castle would help them both admit and accept what was happening. He knew Flora had been close to giving into him in the pool but now he was certain she would give in to her feelings very soon.

Flora was in her room getting ready and she used her wand to curl her hair. Was she nervous? Of course she was but she knew that the night could end up differently. She did some light make up and wondered what dress to wear but she did settle on the one that she'd brought back from New York. She put the dress on and then some shoes and looked at herself in the mirror and hoped, for the first time, that she was hoping she looked good, at least good enough for Grindelwald.

Eventually she headed out of her room and down to meet Grindelwald and she stopped in her tracks and looked as Grindelwald was stood there and her breath caught in her throat as she looked at him.

He closed the gap between them, wrapped an arm around her and kissed her softly. Flora's hand found its way to stroking Grindelwald's cheek and she kissed him back, pressing against him gently.

"Vinda's in charge whilst we're gone," he said softly against her lips. "Are you ready to go?" he asked and Flora nodded. She could feel some eyes on her and that made her feel more nervous. She moved even closer to Grindelwald before Vinda placed one of her shawls over Flora and nudged the two out of the doors.

Grindelwald held her close as they Apparated and, as soon as they landed, people rushed to greet them. Flora was a little overwhelmed at that and he could sense that and held her close as they walked through the streets of the town to the restaurant.

Flora looked around and saw that everyone seemed to be almost saluting Grindelwald and she had wanted to ask but found that she couldn't ask anything.

"We're safe here. This town is loyal to me flower," came the reply as he could read her mind. "Nobody will betray us here at all," he said and Flora nodded softly before being pulled into a side street.

"Gellert…" she whispered before he kissed her softly and she instantly responded, needing to kiss him back. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.

"Flora…" he whispered before deepening the kiss and the two spent a few moments tangled in each other. His hand slipped into places that she'd never allowed him to touch but, this time, she wasn't stopping him. It was like they were one in that moment and that was something Grindelwald wanted more than anything. Flora was his world and he kissed her with everything he had as he felt her responding to him. Grindelwald hoped the night would change everything between them.

The interruption came by the sounds of Flora's stomach and she blushed before Grindelwald led her to the restaurant and they were soon sat at the table with a bottle of wine.

"What is this place?" Flora asked as she was finally able to find some words.

"The village where I was born. This place has always been loyal to me and my family. It's why I brought you here," Grindelwald said as he looked at her. "It's why I live where I do. This part of the world is safe enough for me so it's where I would allow you to come on your own."

"That's only if I wanted to, of course, Gellert," Flora said as she sipped on her wine. "Going alone to a village I don't know is kind of terrifying."

"Everyone here would help you now they have seen you with me," Grindelwald said as he looked at her and smiled. "They wouldn't dream of defying my orders should I give any."

Flora but her lip and nodded before hiding behind her menu as she decided to focus on that and see what she was going to eat as her stomach was almost crying for food now.

A waiter came to take their order and Flora had to think fast as Grindelwald ordered a three course meal and that was something she hadn't expected. Eventually she ordered and drank some more of her wine as Grindelwald encouraged her to talk a little bit about herself. He encouraged her to talk about things, including the death of her parents. He knew that it had had an impact on her but he couldn't have been certain for sure until he'd asked her himself.

Her parents' deaths were something that Flora could barely remember. It was what happened afterwards and how she was treated by her sisters that she remembered more than losing her parents. She didn't say anything about how her sisters had treated her. Despite everything that had happened, Flora loved her sisters and wouldn't wish any harm to them. After all they'd only ever had each other and that was something that was still there today… even if things were a little different.

The meal passed slowly but with pleasant conversation and Grindelwald would later admit to Vinda that Flora was far more relaxed away from the Castle and the prying eyes. Grindelwald was having a battle with himself as to when to reveal why Flora was with them instead of being with her family. It seemed hard to think that they wouldn't be happy to have the witch on their side but, at the same time, it could make her more of a target and that was something that he didn't want to happen.

"Gellert… why are you allowing me to leave the Castle and come back again?" Flora asked.

"Because I trust you and if you fight whatever is going on between us, it will harm us both," Grindelwald replied. "I know you know that deep down as well because you can feel it."

Flora sighed as she knew Grindelwald was right and she couldn't fight it as it caused her pain. She quietly sat and ate her pasta. Of course, she'd got pasta. It was her favourite food as Grindelwald had discovered that night and made a mental note to make sure there was more pasta in the Castle so Flora could eat it whenever she wanted. He was going to make sure she felt at home in the Castle as well as that was important to him.

The Dark Wizard looked at Flora as he felt her eyes on him. He reached across the table and took her hand in his and kissed it softly, sending her heart aflutter all over again. She could feel that night was different but she had no idea how it was different.

The night wore on and soon Grindelwald had his arm around Flora as they walked through the streets. It was a clear night and the stars were shining. Flora stayed close to the Wizard as they walked. Grindelwald looked at her and smiled as he saw her taking in everything.

"Stay with me tonight…" he said and Flora's eyes fell on him and she bit her lip. It was one thing for him to stay in her room but her to be with him in his? She bit her lip as she tried to think of an answer to either agree or not. It was tough for her but the decision was taken out of her hand as Grindelwald captured her lips in a kiss.

She kissed him back before finding herself being wrapped around his body as he kissed her, deepening it slowly. He Apparated them back to the Castle and Vinda just smirked as she lowered her wand before watching as Grindelwald walked up the stairs with Flora.

Grindelwald walked towards his room and took the lack of protest from Flora to mean she would stay with him. Flora kissed him and she broke away to whisper in his ear.

"I will stay with you tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Grindelwald did nothing but kiss her deeply and walked into his room before closing the door behind them. Flora found herself against the door and something felt different that night and she'd soon exposed his upper body. Looking up into his eyes, she waited to see what his first move would be and it didn't take long for Flora's shawl and dress to be on the floor as well.

He moved backwards to look at her, taking her in before he moved and pressed against her, rubbing against her. Flora's head rolled backwards as the pleasure and connection began to merge into one and she buried her head in his neck and moaned out softly. He picked her up, wrapping her around him and walked over to the bed.

"I want to be yours… I can't fight this anymore. I don't want to fight this, Gellert…"

Those were the words Grindelwald had longed to hear and he laid her down on the bed and hovered over her, looking into her eyes.

"I will make you mine…" he whispered and rubbed against her, bent down and kissed her deeply. His hands began to roam her body, removing the last few items of clothing. He went slowly, allowing her to change her mind if she wanted but she didn't. All she wanted was him and it was driving her so hard she wouldn't have been able to stop.

His last items had soon joined Flora's on the floor and he kissed her deeply, allowing her to feel comfortable with where they were. He was slightly concerned she may back off but her hips pressing against his brought him back to her and he kissed her deeply, unable to resist her much longer. He moved his hips with hers and his hands roamed her body.

"Gellert, please!" Flora almost screamed as everything was becoming too much for her to handle and it was only a few moments before Grindelwald claimed Flora as his, finally joining them as one…