A/N: I'm not going to say anything at all because the football is on and if I start talking about it, we'll be here for hours. So enjoy - I'm a little ways ahead of this part at the moment so it's lovely to come back to it :)

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They lay quietly, lost in their own thoughts while they watched the storm. Their hands tangled together beside them and Minerva's fingers played with Hermione nails while she was lost in the maelstrom of her mind. Though neither of them could protect those thoughts from the other, they did not comment on them. Hermione's were lighter, to be sure, but Minerva's gradually calmed as she accepted the comfort she was given.

"You are not being honest with me," Minerva muttered as she pressed back, impossibly close. "You want to -"

"I always want to kiss you," Hermione shrugged. "Can't help that you're the sexiest person I know, can I."

Minerva clearly didn't believe her and so Hermione made her watch all the moments of their lives together where Hermione had fallen more in love with her. The moments when she was angry, the moments when she was sad, upset, or happier than a clam. All the different moments that made up their lives together, culminating in the moments they had spent together here, in this bed.

"I -"

"I." Hermione whispered. She punctuated each word with a kiss to her throat. "Love. You."

Touch me?

Hermione didn't wait for her to second guess herself. She shimmied them onto their side and cupped Minerva's breast over her t-shirt. The same shirt she'd borrowed from Hermione; the one that did nothing to cover her beautiful legs.

"Leannan," Minerva gasped at the thought.

"Let's try something," Hermione whispered. "Let me hold you like this and see what we can get up to, alright? There's nothing to be afraid of. Just you and me and our love between us."

Minerva reached over her shoulder and held Hermione's head against her own. Hermione trailed her fingers over Minerva skin with their breath and the thunder outside the only accompaniment. Minerva arched against her and grabbed a handful of her hair as Hermione's hand trailed up her bare thigh and over her stomach.

"I'm not going anywhere, mo gaol. I'm right here, with you."

Hermione's hands tingled when she smoothed them over such soft skin that she hummed in delight. She kept it slow and gentle; when she felt Minerva begin to get bored, she'd move. On and on they played, finding Minerva's most sensitive places until Minerva was rubbing her thighs together and her hand left Hermione's hair to grip the pillow instead. All the while, Minerva lay there trying not to ask.

"You said you would," Hermione whispered. "You said, when you were ready, you would ask."

"Maybe," Minerva whimpered. "I'm trying to hold out."

"Are you?"

Minerva whimpered and the barest memory of their first night, when Hermione had pressed her up against the bookshelves flitted across Minerva's mind.

"Tell me what you want, mo gaol," Hermione whispered while she still held Minerva's breast in her hand. Her thumb rubbed gently against it but she didn't squeeze, or pinch or even play with it. She simply wrapped her arms around Minerva's slight frame and held her while she considered.

"I don't know," Minerva whispered.

"What don't you want," Hermione offered.

"Don't let go," she muttered.

"I won't, I promise you, I won't."

Hermione slid her hand beneath the shirt again and pressed it against Minerva's stomach.

"Shall I wait right here or do you want more?"

"More," Minerva said without hesitation.

Hermione didn't make her wait. She tightened her grip around Minerva's chest and shifted a little so her weight returned to Minerva's back.

"Okay?"

A thought to the affirmative was all Minerva could muster but Hermione didn't mind. She could feel the anticipation from her lover and it was delicious.

She trailed her fingers down Minerva's stomach, taking great pains to soothe and not tickle. Minerva muttered something and a wash of magic fell over them. Hermione didn't comment, and found the reason for it not seconds later. She kissed Minerva's neck softly as her fingers drifted lower and lower.

"Oh," Hermione breathed. "I see."

Minerva had vanished her underwear but Hermione made no mention of it otherwise. She lay, practically on top of Minerva while she explored.

"Oh you are so beautiful," Hermione whispered.

Minerva didn't speak but one of her hands gripped Hermione's over her breast and she arched as Hermione brushed against her clit. The other returned over her shoulder and she pressed Hermione's face into her neck.

"Nice and slow," Hermione whispered. "Just let me love you. Don't think, my love, just feel."

Minerva cried out again as Hermione rolled her fingers over her clit with just a little more purpose and her legs twitched like she wanted to move. Hermione encouraged her softly to move if she needed to but instead she pressed back into Hermione's hips and gave her more room.

"Yes, my love," Hermione whispered.

The storm overhead was at a crescendo and the lightning was beautiful as it flashed off her skin. While Hermione was hampered with how much she could do from this angle, Minerva didn't seem to mind. In fact, as Hermione thought it, Minerva tightened her grip. Minerva's hips started shifting as Hermione continued in a gentle roll and before long she was gasping for more.

"Stay with me, mo gaol," Hermione whispered. "Stay with me. I love you."

"Hermione!" It was the first word she'd managed and her hips jerked a final time before she arched. "OH!"

Hermione bit down softly on her shoulder and kept up the gentle caresses.

"Tell me if we need to stop, love," Hermione said softly.

"I can't -"

"You could," Hermione whispered. "But it's okay if you don't want to."

Her fingers were covered in cum and all she wanted to do was sink between Minerva's knees and worship her.

"Oh, seadh, do thoil mo ghaol. Feuch, tha mi ag iarraidh sin." [Oh please, please my love. I want that.]

While she didn't understand the words, she felt the intention and kissed the new mark she'd made on Minerva's shoulder.

"I'll need to let go," she said softly, giving Minerva the option.

"Oh," Minerva shook her head. "Then no, stay."

"Alright, love," she soothed. "I'm right here. Want to go again?"

She ummed and ahhed so Hermione held still. She could feel that Minerva really wasn't bothered so she shifted, and wrapped her arms tightly around her love.

"I'm -"

"Going to be rich if you keep apologising for things that don't make sense."

Minerva snorted quietly and yawned.

"Sleep, love," Hermione whispered. "I'll be right here. And if I'm asleep, I expect you to wake me, if you need me okay?"

"I won't -"

"I want you to wake me."

"Hermione," Minerva said quietly.

"Yes?"

"I love you," she said quietly. "Thank you."

Hermione smiled and kissed over and over again over her shoulders and all the places she could reach.

"Sleep, mo gaol. You'll see me in your dreams."

"Oh," Minerva sighed and pressed back. "I will see you there."

-0-

She didn't wake Hermione when she came to. She lay beside her, felt her hot breath on her neck and let it comfort her until she needed to rise. She managed to shimmy out from under her young love and pulled at her shirt while she turned and watched over Hermione while she slept.

She had been unfair, in the highest order, to her lover and she needed to figure out what was going on in her head so she could stop it. She pulled the covers a little further up Hermione's back and kissed the soft, pristine skin of her spine. Hermione murmured, but did not wake.

She detoured to the bathroom and pulled on a pair of Hermione's pyjama bottoms. They were a little short and a little loose but nothing a quick flick of her wand couldn't fix. She shuffled into the kitchen to make herself a cuppa.

"And some toast, I think," she muttered to herself.

As soon as she was ready, she took it into the library and sat facing the big windows. The storm had left everything shimmering in the moonlight and she just watched as she ate.

"You future folk have strange habits," Amalle said quietly. "If we are up in the middle of the night, we do things much differently."

Minerva chuckled and set down her empty plate on the side table and turned to consider the person that was so like Hermione in moments and so like a stranger in others.

"Lucia had enough of me, then?"

"Coming here exerts energy and she spent a lot of time with you today," Amalle said quietly. "Though she does it freely, it does cost us something."

"Then I apologise and hope you will tell her so."

"I will," Amalle said quietly. They sat in silence until Minerva could not take it any longer.

"Go on then," she muttered. "Hit me with it."

"I am not going to hit you with anything," they soothed. "I am here to answer questions, if you have them. Or, provide insight if you wish me to. I am not your lover but my mind is similar, our bodies are similar."

"The same," Minerva chuckled. "Perhaps you can help me make sense of the things I want from her."

"Sex is delicious," Amalle said easily. "Lucia would not tell you this outright, because she knows you as she does but I do not mind challenging you. Sex is delicious. More so with someone who loves you with everything. Moreso again when that person can see inside your mind and follow your emotions. Someone who is so focused on making you feel good that there is nothing else in the world that is not important. Enjoy it. Do things you could never imagine yourself doing. Create things, use things that you have never considered before." Minerva gaped at them. "Minerva," Amalle chastised. "Your imagination is vast, and free, and she is willing. You have surely thought some about this?"

"I cannot see how this is supposed to be of help. My problem is that I should not want -""

"I am not here to help you with that, I'm here to wake you up," Amalle corrected. "You are bound to this woman. Your bodies are healing quicker than normal. Go wild. Be wild. There is time for slow and gentle later, you are failing to -"

"Stop." Hermione's voice was cold as she stood naked in the doorway. "You do not get to speak to her like that. She may have whatever she wishes, for whatever reason she wishes it. You will not tell her she is wrong for wanting what she wants and not wanting what she doesn't."

"I am right here," Minerva bristled.

Amalle looked between them and threw their hands up. They stood and stared at their counterpart with an unreadable look.

"You could be -"

"I don't care," Hermione interrupted. "You would take Lucia against her will?"

"It would not be -"

"How the fuck would you know, if you do not ask her and receive the answer," she hissed. Minerva's eyes were wide as she stared. "How dare you. Perhaps you should make sure your own house is in order before you come here to upset mine."

"Hermione," Amalle bit their lip and considered them both. "You are right. And." They turned back to Minerva and bowed their head. "I am sorry. I was only trying to help."

Hermione didn't say anything and Amalle bowed their head once more and turned back to Minerva.

"I really was trying to make you see that you can have everything you have ever wanted if only you'll try to be brave."

Minerva acknowledged it but also did not reply.

"Goodbye," Hermione hissed.

They shimmered out of view, leaving the two women in the living room trying not to look at each other.

"Hermione, what was -"

"Midnight snack?" Hermione snapped. Minerva hesitated but the prickling anger coming from Hermione was enough to make her concede.

"Toast." Minerva shrugged as she glanced at her mug. "Cold tea."

"I can rectify one of those things," Hermione whispered. "Be right back."

The separation was exactly what Minerva needed at that moment. While Amalle's delivery had been awkward and more than a bit forward, Minerva had taken the meaning well. It was the same thing that Lucia had said, the same thing that Hermione had offered her. She bit her thumbnail as she sat with her knees up to her chest. A rather juvenile pose, perhaps, but she found comfort in it just the same.

"Here we go," Hermione said quietly, disturbing Minerva's ponderance.

She accepted the hot tea with a soft smile but did not unfurl herself from the corner of the sofa. Hermione hesitated and it was that that made Minerva look up in question.

"Do you want me to go?"

"Oh," Minerva shook her head. "No, darling, please stay."

"I don't mind -" A flash of annoyance in her own head made Minerva frown and Hermione sat down without another word. "Sorry," she said.

"Please don't apologise," Minerva huffed. "That was not for you. That was for me. Amalle was right -"

"No, they -"

"Just -" She stopped Hermione from speaking. She knew she meant well but she needed to speak. "Please listen, Leannan," Minerva sighed. "They are right, though their delivery was somewhat petulant. I have the opportunity here to do anything I like. You are," she looked at Hermione and felt her stomach squeeze. "So beautiful and so willing and kind and gentle and ultimately, in my bed! I have given myself time to consider this. My imagination is lovely but my convictions just will not allow me to do so."

"Do you know what, though?" Hermione said softly. She put down her tea and turned to face her. "That is just as valid as your imagination," Hermione said kindly. She offered her hands and Minerva put down her mug as well and took them. They both sighed. "I showed you all the things I have ever imagined us doing and told you, outright, that some of those things I don't ever want to experience in real life. Separately or together. They aren't for me, they are for us. That doesn't make it wrong to think about them, to imagine them, just like you are not wrong for struggling with this. Or with something else. I am not upset that we aren't swinging from chandeliers, Min, I'm not even upset at all. I'm sad that you are struggling. That is really all it is."

Minerva considered this and took a deep breath.

"I really am trying. In part that was why I got up earlier. I wanted some time to think. To consider my behaviour and feeling, separate from -" She winced. "Us, I suppose."

"I know you are," Hermione promised. "I can feel how much you are fighting but I want you to do something." Minerva nodded. "I want you to stop fighting." Minerva frowned at her. "This thing we have, that we are? Let it take the weight of it. You said yourself, after -" She blushed and Minerva felt her own cheeks heat up when she realised what Hermione meant. "That it feels as if you know what to do at every moment. Let that help you. Let it take this burden from you. Let it clear your head so you can think, knowing that I, Hermione, will think no less of you, no matter the outcome."

Minerva stared at her and Hermione chuckled when she wondered how she was supposed to do that, but she didn't speak. Instead, she sat with one of her legs against the back of the sofa and pulled Minerva forward. Minerva couldn't help but make a little noise of surprise when Hermione did not need her help but followed those sure hands when they settled her between Hermione's open thighs. Minerva's legs went, naturally, around Hermione's hips and they sat with their chests pressed together. Minerva was charmed and eagerly wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders and leaned against her. Hermione traced her back and let her think and feel and be whatever she wanted to. And it helped. Just as the tension left her body, Minerva made a quiet noise of astonishment. It was as if a puzzle piece that she'd tried to fit over again over again, just tilted slightly and slid right in.

"There ya go," Hermione smiled.

Minerva blinked at her as the comprehension dawned.

"I'm so -"

"Galleon."

Minerva laughed. Hermione squeezed her middle and the mirth made her eyes shine. Minerva continued to laugh as she burrowed into Hermione's embrace.

"Thank you, mo Leannan. I could not ask for a better friend, lover," she sighed against Hermione's hair as the truth became clear. "Partner."

"That's all I want, Min," Hermione smiled at her as she leaned back. "I just want to be with you. In all things. I want to be with you in joy and I want to be with you in the moments you are struggling. I just want to be here," She kissed Minerva's chest where her heart beat. "With you."

Minerva kissed her softly and patted her arms to let her go. She shuffled to the end of the sofa and beckoned Hermione to her.

"Come here," Minerva asked. "Let me hold you, as you have held me, so beautifully, since this all began."

She felt Hermione's excitement and smiled while she tried to calm her own emotions. Hermione shifted and Minerva pulled her closer until their positions were reversed. Now Hermione wrapped up in her arms with her back pressed against Minerva's chest.

"I am only sorry that our first moments have been so emotional."

"Stop it," Hermione muttered. "I'm charging you two for that."

Minerva grinned against her bare shoulder and suddenly realised Hermione had not bothered to wear clothes.

"A fine lover I am, sitting here all maudlin while a beautiful woman is bare for me."

"Honestly I hadn't even realised," Hermione chuckled. "Apparently, I'm getting quite used to it."

"A habit I shall not bother to talk you out of," Minerva murmured against her neck.

With so much skin in offer, Minerva considered spending some time touching her lover but realised she just needed to sit and enjoy her for a moment. Hermione smiled against her forearm where it was wrapped around her and left a lingering kiss against the skin.

"Whenever you are ready, love. I'm yours. But until then, I'm yours in whatever way you need me."

"Tha mi leatsa, I am yours," Minerva said gently. Hermione copied, and Minerva could feel her adjusting to the different feel of the words. "Tha gaol agam ort mar teine."

Hermione grinned.

"I know that one, now," she chuckled. She craned her neck back and Minerva rewarded her with a long kiss when her mind echoed the translation.

"Do you mind if we stay here for a while?"

"Not at all," Hermione shrugged. "I'm awake now. You can keep teaching me Gaelic if you like. And when you are ready to sleep, I'll take us back in there?"

"Okay," Minerva nodded.

They settled further with Minerva wrapped around Hermione's body. As she got more comfortable, she trailed her fingers over all the pristine skin on show. They talked quietly, on and on until Minerva could hear herself flagging, even though her wish to stay awake with Hermione was greater.

"Cadal, mo ghaol." [Sleep, my love.]

Minerva smiled as her eyes closed. A great swell of pride filled Minerva's chest and Hermione chuckled from where she was firmly ensconced in Minerva's arms.

"Bidh mi còmhla riut nar aislingean," she replied sleepily. I will be with you in our dreams.

"I love you Min," Hermione whispered. "Tha gaol agam ort."

"Agus thusa, mo leannan àlainn." [And you, my beautiful lover.]

Sleep, tomorrow is a new day.

Minerva nuzzled Hermione's hair and pulled her closer, trying to impart the same comfort she got from this position onto her love. A firm hand clutched her thigh as Hermione pulled it round herself and she sighed as the last of her energy left her.