In this chapter you get the beginning of H/Hr's second honeymoon, which will stretch over a few chapters. And can you believe only 10 chapters left until we hit ONE HUNDRED? Yikes this is no longer a story but a soap opera! LOL
As always, please leave a review so we know what you're all thinking!
"Remember that you need to have that report to the Spanish Minister by the 13th," Hermione said looking across her desk at Samuel who was furiously scribbling notes. "And there are the weekly departmental meetings. I've managed to reschedule most of them, but you will probably need to meet with Cross in the Floo Regulation Department. Apparently, there have been some unauthorised connections and we'll need to investigate that thoroughly."
Samuel nodded. "I've already scheduled him for a meeting on Thursday."
"Good," Hermione said nodding. "And I've ...."
Her office doors swung open and Harry purposefully walked inside. Without a word, he walked around Hermione's desk and picked her up.
"Harry?" she asked. "What are you doing?"
"It's time to go," he said as if the answer was obvious.
"But we're not leaving until tomorrow morning," Hermione said.
"Change of plans," he said with a grin at Samuel, who obviously had been in on this.
"But I still have--" Hermione protested.
"Taken care of," Samuel interjected.
"Yes, but--" Hermione sputtered.
"That's taken care of too," Harry said. "Come on Hermione. Second honeymoon awaits us..."
"I haven't finished packing," Hermione said as Harry carried her out of the office.
"I finished for you," Harry said.
"You?" Hermione asked in disbelief. "Harry, no offence, but you aren't the greatest at packing."
"Like it matters," Harry finally set her down. "We'll be there twenty minutes from now."
Hermione smiled. "Okay. Since you have everything under control..."
"That I do," Harry said in satisfaction
"I read the weather report for the Swan Islands this morning," Hermione said. "Warm and sunny."
"Perfect," Harry gave her a kiss. "I can't wait to be alone with you."
"Me too," Hermione said. "You know you haven't told me where we're staying..."
"Where do you think?" Harry said.
"The same place as before?" Hermione asked hopefully. "I thought it had..."
"Still open for business," Harry replied. "Same room too."
Hermione threw her arms around him. "Harry!"
He laughed. "Excited now?"
"Are you kidding?" Hermione asked. "Let's go!"
"As you wish," Harry kissed her again. "I sent our luggage ahead."
"I probably won't need these robes," Hermione said shrugging out of them.
"Nah," Harry said. "We have to go back to my office to get the portkey so we can leave our robes there."
"Okay," Hermione said taking his hand. "You know this is just what we needed. Time away. Just the two of us."
"I couldn't agree more," Harry nodded. "I love being with family but sometimes I need to escape with you."
"I couldn't agree more," she said. "No bloody reporters...."
Harry kissed his wife again. "Just you, me, a bedroom, and the beach."
"Paradise," Hermione said dreamily.
"My paradise is wherever you are," Harry commented lustily.
"Come on...." she said. "The sooner we get to your office, the sooner we can go."
"Right," Harry said eagerly. "By the way, I packed your red bikini."
"Harry," Hermione said putting her hands on her hips. "I haven't worn that in years and I hardly have the same body I had back then."
"Then you'll show more skin," Harry grinned wickedly.
"And probably scare half the island with how pale I am," Hermione said.
"Which will be taken care of in a matter of a few days in the sun," Harry waved off the objection. "The red bikini is for my eyes only anyhow."
"That's probably a good thing," Hermione said. They quickly rode the lift down to the Auror division and made their way to Harry's office.
They tossed their cloaks on the sofa as Harry rummaged through his drawers for the portkey he'd set up. "Here it is," he said, pulling out an old Quidditch magazine.
"Oooh," Hermione teased. "Romantic..."
"Takes us both ways," Harry said.
Hermione put a hand on the magazine. "Ready?"
"I've been ready all day," he teased, tapping it with his wand.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Harry and Hermione arrived in their hotel room. There had been some changes over the years, but the view still took Hermione's breath away.
"I can't believe we're actually here," she said looking out the window at the beach.
Harry came up behind her and wound his arms around her waist. "And how much has changed since we were last here..."
"Does Rafael still run this place?" Hermione asked relaxing against her husband.
"No it's some bloke named Michael now," Harry replied. "Nice guy too."
"Muggle?" Hermione asked. "This is a Muggle hotel..."
"Yeah he's a Muggle," Harry replied, kissing the side of her neck.
"Don't you start," Hermione teased. "I want to go down to the beach..."
"The beach will still be there later," Harry said. "Besides, it's only eight in the morning here. Plenty of sun..."
She turned around to look at him properly. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have a one track mind?"
"You do all the time," Harry grinned. "But you never seem to mind it."
Hermione looped her arms around his neck. "Well then....how about you show me the bedroom again? I might need my memory refreshed."
"I can do that," Harry said huskily, scooping her up.
"I love it when you do that," Hermione said laughing.
"Your feet shouldn't be touching the ground you know," Harry teased, carrying her into the bedroom of their suite.
"They shouldn't?" Hermione asked as he set her gently down on the bed.
"Not while we're in this room," Harry said, lying next to her. "You still take my breath away Hermione..." he said, brushing her hair from her face.
"I feel the same way," she said softly.
He leaned in and kissed her, pushing her back onto the pillows.
"You know," Hermione said undoing his shirt buttons. "As I recall, our first time here...we didn't leave the room for three days."
"Just got room service," Harry chuckled.
Hermione smiled wickedly up at him. "And do they still have that big bathtub, too?"
"I'll find out once we're done here," Harry said, his face buried in her neck.
"Come up here," she murmured wanting to kiss him.
Harry did as his wife said, pressing his lips back to hers urgently.
Hermione's arms wrapped around him and she pressed him even closer.
He pulled off her shirt and edged her skirt down her legs. "I can't wait to see you in that bikini," he commented lustily.
"I bet you can't wait to get me in the water so you can take off that bikini," she said with a grin.
"That too," Harry agreed, laughing. "But first things first."
"Like getting you out of these," Hermione said tugging at his trousers.
"That might speed things along a little," he grinned.
Hermione giggled as Harry reluctantly stood up so he could get out of his trousers and his boxers. "Amazing," she said admiringly.
"Still impressive aye?" he asked proudly.
"Very," she purred.
Harry got back down on the bed and kissed her again, sliding her knickers off and dropping them on top of their pile of clothes.
With one deft movement, he was inside her and Hermione gasped.
"That hasn't changed either," Harry kissed her neck again, moving his lips over her shoulders. "Still my Rabbit Queen."
Hermione giggled. "And you are still the king..."
"No matter who tries to top us," Harry said as he began to move with her.
"As if they could," Hermione said kissing him.
He grunted, unable to talk as he pulled her closer.
"Yes," she whispered.
"This always..." he breathed. "Feels amazing..."
Hermione could only nod in agreement, words escaping her at the moment.
He kissed her again as he moaned his release, her body shuddering underneath his.
"Wow," she muttered. "Just wow...
"Yeah," he said, rolling off to her side. "That just knackered me out." he laughed.
"I should tell the bad guys what your Achilles' heel is," Hermione teased cuddling up to him.
Harry snorted in reply.
"I feel completely relaxed," Hermione said softly. "I'm not even going to think about wor---"
"You're not allowed to say that word at all this week." Harry told her.
"Not thinking about the 'w' word for an entire week?" Hermione asked, biting her bottom lip. "I don't know...."
"I'll be here to keep your mind off it," Harry said, kissing her.
"So," she said softly. "When do we go down to the beach?"
"How about we kip for just a little while..." Harry suggested sleepily. "And we'll go down there later this afternoon?"
"Okay," Hermione said suppressing a laugh. "The old man is tired..."
Harry poked her side. "You're older than me."
"Yes, but I'm not the one completely knackered," she pointed out.
"Sod off," Harry replied.
"I'm only joking," she said closing her eyes. "I'm sleepy, too."
"You just don't want me to feel bad," Harry said with a grin, his eyes closed as well.
"Get some sleep," Hermione said already drifting off. "We'll both need our strength..."
"Is that a promise Potter?" Harry asked, pulling her closer.
"Mmmhmm," Hermione replied.
*** *** ***
Lavender Brown Finnigan was by no means a woman who sat back and watched another woman horn in on her man- at least not anymore. Seamus was hers and it was going to stay that way. Still annoyed at what had transpired at the Christmas party and Parvati's subsequent behaviour with Maddie at the Ministry, Lavender decided to step in and put her plan in action.
Before dropping by Parvati's office, she stopped by Maddie's to talk to the younger woman for a moment.
"Lavender?" Maddie asked looking up from her paperwork. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm going out to lunch with Parvati," Lavender said, laughing at the look on Maddie's face at her words.
"Voluntarily?" Maddie asked.
"I have my reasons," Lavender said slyly. "You'll know them soon enough." she smiled. "But I wanted to stop by again and congratulate you on your engagement and tell you that I'd be happy to design your dress. Ethan mentioned something to Hermione about it the other day."
Maddie squealed. "Oh, Lavender! Thank you so much!"
Lavender hugged her. "I already have some fantastic ideas, but if there's anything specific you want, let me know."
"Maybe we could meet sometime while you're still over here?" Maddie suggested.
"I'd love that," Lavender said warmly. "Let's meet for dinner some night when Ethan's working."
"That sounds lovely," Maddie said. She caught sight of Parvati walking their way and groaned.
"Lavender!" Parvati said brightly. "How lovely to see you again! And where is Seamus?"
"Working," Lavender said with a false smile. "But I was rather hoping you'd be free Parvati. I'd love to take you to lunch and... get to know you better."
"I'd love that," Parvati said smiling at her. "Madeline? Do you think you'll be okay without me?"
"I'm sure I can manage," Maddie said in a cooler tone.
"Fantastic," Parvati said. "Let me just grab my bag. I know the most amazing bistro that we can go to. Unless, you have your heart set on that awful cafeteria."
"Bistro sounds good to me," Lavender replied.
"What's wrong with the cafeteria?" Maddie asked, setting her quill down. "Lots of people like it."
"It's a little gauche, don't you think?" Parvati asked. "I mean what can you expect from Minister Potter? I imagine she never eats in it anyway."
"You mean my future mother in law?" Maddie's eyebrow arched dangerously.
"And my cousin?" Lavender asked folding her arms. "Who is also my best friend?"
"I didn't mean any offence," Parvati said quickly. "I'll just go and grab my bag and cloak and we can go, Lavender."
"Right," Lavender relaxed her face.
"Ugh I cannot bloody stand that woman," Maddie said once Parvati was out of earshot. "Why are you having lunch with her? How can you stand it?"
"Don't you worry, Maddie," Lavender said vaguely. "I don't this Miss Patil is going to be a problem for that much longer..."
Maddie shook her head but went back to her work.
"Ready to go?" Parvati asked.
"I sure am," Lavender said, acting as if she were excited.
"Ta, Madeline," Parvati called out over her shoulder leading the way out of the department. To Lavender's horror, the dark-haired woman linked arms with her. "That poor girl needs so much direction from me. She told me just yesterday that she considered me her mentor."
Lavender almost burst out laughing. "Did she now?" she asked, biting her lower lip.
"Yes," Parvati said nodding. "She's very much like her mother. I know you didn't know Ron Ron when you were at school, but if you had, you would have thought Luna Lovegood was the last person he would ever date, let alone marry."
"You call him Ron Ron?" Lavender asked in disbelief.
"That's my pet name for him," Parvati explained. "He used to love it when I called him that."
"I see," Lavender replied. "And Luna's a lovely woman."
"I'm sure she is," Parvati said. "I don't really know her all that well."
"Mmmhmm..." Lavender said thoughtfully.
"I will tell you this," Parvati said conspiratorially. "No one knows this actually. You have to promise not to tell anyone."
"Not a soul," Lavender crossed her fingers.
"Okay," Parvati said looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was around. "Well, you know how I went to school with the boys, right? And I'm sure you heard all about the Triwizard Tournament, right?"
"Of course," Lavender nodded.
"You probably also heard about how Ron and Harry had a terrible row around that time right?" Parvati asked.
"I think they'd mentioned something about it, yes." Lavender wondered what this had to do with Parvati.
"I bet you don't know the real reason they had that fight," Parvati said. She leaned in closer. "Me."
"Is that so?" Lavender raised her eyebrows.
Parvati nodded. "Ron had this terrible crush on me, you know? And I always thought he was cute, but when I found out Harry Potter fancied me too...well; I wouldn't dare turn him down. I mean he is Harry Potter."
"Harry fancied you eh?" Lavender asked as they reached the bistro.
"I was his first love," Parvati said smugly. "He took me to the Yule Ball."
"He's always said it was because he waited too long to find a date and Cho was already going with someone else," Lavender said as innocently as possible.
The smile on Parvati's face faltered slightly. "Well, I'm sure that's what he wants everyone to think."
Lavender decided to play devil's advocate. "I'm sure you're right," she said. "He probably just wanted to save face you know?"
"Exactly," Parvati said nodding. "And so he and Ron fought about me. I finally had to sit them both down and tell them that they'd been through far too much together to let a girl come between them."
"And Ron went with your sister to the ball right?" Lavender continued.
"Because he couldn't go with me," Parvati said.
"But you two wound up dating later on," Lavender nodded.
"Yes," Parvati said. "Shall we get a table?"
"Lovely idea," the blonde said.
Parvati led the way to a corner table and they were immediately waited on by a handsome waiter who Parvati shamelessly flirted with.
"I'll have the chicken croissant," Lavender said when she finally got to order.
"How about you surprise me," Parvati said touching the waiter on the arm. "Whatever you think I'd like..."
"Sure," the waiter grinned at her.
"Great," Parvati said winking at him. Once she and Lavender were alone again, she leaned back in the chair. "He's fabulous, don't you think?"
"Not bad," Lavender said. "But I'm married to a very handsome man myself."
"The Big Shot Hollywood Director," Parvati said smiling at her.
"I'm very proud of him," Lavender took a sip of ice water.
"I always think of him as the one who got away," Parvati said, a far away expression on her face.
Lavender had to restrain herself from slapping the woman at that moment.
"He was the strong, silent type," Parvati said dreamily.
"He's not so silent," Lavender said before she could stop herself.
"I encouraged him to come out of his shell," Parvati said. "And boy did he ever...."
"So Maddie told me you were on a sabbatical for the past few years," Lavender said, abruptly changing the subject.
"Yes," Parvati said after taking a sip of water. "I needed a break and Minister Draven was kind enough to let me take an extended one."
"What did you do?" Lavender asked interestedly.
"Oh you know," Parvati said evasively. "A little of this, a little of that..."
"I've often thought of taking a sabbatical myself," Lavender said. "Of course, not so much anymore... but it must have been fascinating."
"It was," Parvati said. "I met so many fascinating people and saw some of the most interesting and exotic places."
"Like Egypt?" Lavender asked as if entranced. "Or maybe Polynesia... how about Malaysia?"
Parvati shook her head. "Nothing that exotic."
"Oh tell me where," Lavender cajoled.
"I spent a few months in Paris," Parvati finally relented. "And some time in Milan, too. And then I actually was over in the States for quite awhile before settling in Amsterdam."
"Amsterdam," Lavender nodded. "Get any diamonds?"
"Definitely," Parvati said nodding. "If you come by my flat, I'll show some of them to you."
"They are a girl's best friend," Lavender laughed. "And Milan is so good for leather goods. I shop there a lot- in fact there's a little shop on a corner right in the middle of the town that I go to quite often."
Parvati nodded as if she knew exactly what Lavender was talking about.
"I'm actually quite jealous," Lavender said. "Sounds as if you had a phenomenal time."
"I did," Parvati said. "Someday, I think I might write about my adventures."
"What a great idea," Lavender gushed. "Tell me some of the things you did!"
"I don't really know where to begin," Parvati said waving her hand.
"Oh come now," Lavender said, her eyes twinkling. Obviously this woman was uncomfortable talking about her so called adventures. "Just throw something out there. I'm so curious about this!"
"Okay," Parvati said. "But I don't want to bore you..."
Nearly a half hour later, Parvati was still going on and on about some bloke named Roberto who had shown her around Milan and professed his undying love for her.
Lavender had to poke her fingernail into her wrist to stay awake as she finished her sandwich. "He sure sounds like a dream," she choked out, gulping down some water.
"He was," Parvati said. "But we really weren't meant to last."
"That's a shame," Lavender said in mock sympathy.
"I had a number of casual relationships over the next couple of years," Parvati said. "But the one that really threw me for a loop was Martin. I met him in the States and I actually followed him to Amsterdam."
"Did you now," Lavender asked, interested again.
"He had all these wonderful ideas," Parvati explained. "He wanted to open up clubs all over Europe."
"Oooh," Lavender said, her eyes gleaming with false interest.
"Yeah," Parvati said a wistful tone to her voice. "There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for him..."
"What happened between you two?" Lavender asked, leaning forward. She had a feeling this could be quite juicy.
For a moment, it looked as if Parvati was about to tell her exactly what had happened.
"I really don't wish to talk about it," she said instead. "It's quite painful."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lavender said with mock sympathy.
"Let's just say I did things for him that I didn't think I'd ever do for anyone," Parvati said sounding quite emotional.
Lavender nodded, wishing she could probe into Parvati's head at that moment.
"I just hope that I never see Martin Reid ever, ever again," Parvati said dramatically.
Lavender filed that name in her head to do research on as soon as she got home. "I'm sorry that he was so terrible," she patted the other woman's hand.
"Thank you, Lavender," Parvati said smiling at her. "You're a good friend."
"Oh I try," Lavender said, recoiling inwardly.
"And it's so nice to know you're not holding my previous relationship with Seamus against me," Parvati said. "Still, makes you wonder what would have happened, if I'd held on to him."
Lavender had to bite down hard on her lower lip and clench her hands together under the table to keep from hitting the other woman.
"I'd probably have given him children," Parvati said softly. "But I understand since you married him so late..."
"We can still have children," Lavender bristled a little. "We've just chosen not to. We're very busy."
"No offence," Parvati said leaning in. "But you are quite old now."
"You're the same age as we are," Lavender pointed out.
"Yes and you don't see me having any children," Parvati said. "Which reminds me, why did Harry and Hermione have such a gap in between their children? That's quite a few years, don't you think?"
"They have their reasons," Lavender said. She wasn't about to disclose Hermione's conception troubles to this gossip.
"And with a teenage daughter no less," Parvati said laughing. "But to each his own, I always say."
"Saffron is a bright and intelligent girl," Lavender said. "My infant line is named after her."
"You seem quite proud," Parvati observed.
"I am," Lavender nodded. "It's my most successful line."
"How nice," Parvati said seeming bored.
Lavender had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.
"I really should be getting back to work," Parvati said. "They can't really function without me."
Lavender nodded slowly, thinking that it was a perfect time to get on her research.
"We must do this again," Parvati said.
"Definitely," Lavender lied.
"Give Seamus my love," Parvati said standing up.
"Oh I sure will," Lavender's fingernails were digging into her palm. "I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that." she added through clenched teeth.
"Ta ta," Parvati said without even bothering to offer to pay for her half of the tab.
"Bitch," Lavender swore once she'd left. "You are so going down."
*** *** ***
Jon was beyond knackered. He'd had a flying lesson that lasted way too long and he'd found it extremely hard not to lose his patience. To top things off, he hadn't even seen Allie or the girls since the night before. This second job was bringing in more money, but at a great cost.
Thankfully, the pub was pretty much dead tonight save for a few people in the back and a couple of extremely obnoxious girls who kept singing songs at the top of their lungs.
"Blue Eyes," Victoria said coming out of the back with a tray of glasses. "You want to give me a hand with these?"
"Sure," Jon forced a smile onto his face. "No problem Victoria."
"Thank you," she said handing the tray over to him. She cringed as she heard the two women singing yet another song horribly off-key. "I feel a large headache coming on..."
"I've already got one," he shook his head. "Think they know how bad they are?"
"I think they might be too pissed to care," Victoria mused. "I think I'm just going to sit here and go over the receipts since things are slow right now. I would have done it earlier but my little girl rang and wanted some help with her homework."
"I understand how that is," Jon said, smiling genuinely this time. "My two are the same way."
Victoria pointed to the picture behind the bar of an eight-year old blonde girl. "That's my Miranda. She's quite the handful, I can tell you that. "
"She looks just like you," Jon grinned. He pulled out his Muggle wallet. "This is Caroline, she's my oldest- she just turned six in November. And this is Emma, my baby- she's two."
"How cute are they?" Victoria asked peering at the pictures. "And I assume the woman holding the baby is your wife?"
"That's Allie," Jon replied.
"You should bring her by sometime," Victoria said. "I'd love to meet her."
"Yeah, maybe I will," Jon coughed. "I'd better go see if the singing duo wants another. Although it might be a better idea to cut them off."
"Good luck," Victoria said returning her attention to her paperwork.
"There's nothing wrong with me wanting yoooooooooooooo," one of the women sang as Jon approached them. "And giving yourself to me can never beeeeeeeee wrong......."
"Can I get you ladies another?" he asked, picking up their empty glasses.
The women shared an amused look and started giggling.
"Another you?" one of them asked flirtatiously.
"Another drink," Jon said with a tight smile.
"I don't want another drink," the dark-haired one said pouting at him. "I want to dance!"
"We don't have a dance floor," Jon said. "How about a glass of water?"
"You don't need a dance floor," the woman said throwing her arms around him. Jon nearly dropped the glasses as she did so. "Isn't this nice?" she purred.
"Uh..." Jon tried to hold onto the glasses and push her away at the same time.
"Esme," the woman's friend said pulling at her arm. "Come on. What if Douglas came in here and saw you dancing with this bloke?"
"He won't be here for another hour," Esme replied, stumbling.
"I think you should listen to your friend, Esme," Jon said trying to get away. "Besides, I'm married."
"So am I," she giggled drunkenly.
"Lucky bloke," Jon muttered sarcastically under his breath. "I'll just be at the bar, if you ladies need anything else."
"I'll tell you what I need," Esme leaned in and tried to kiss him, leaving lipstick marks all over his shirt collar.
"Okay," Esme's friend said pulling her away. "Come on. Let's get you to the loo and sober you up."
"I'm sober," Esme laughed riotously, following her friend away.
"Tried to lay one on you, did she?" Victoria asked as Jon stalked back behind the bar.
"What a letch," he nearly threw the glasses in the sink.
"Could have been worse," Victoria said. "I remember some pissed arse tried to grab my bum once."
"Man," Jon caught sight of himself in the mirror. "I've got lipstick all over me."
"There's some club soda down there," Victoria pointed. "Should take care of those stains."
"Thanks," Jon said, wishing he could use magic, which would take care of it in a jiffy.
Nearly an hour and a half later, Jon finished helping Victoria close up and made his way down the alley so he could Apparate home.
He had just opened the front door when his two girls barrelled towards him down the hallway. "Daddy!" Caroline said happily. "You're finally home!"
Jon smiled as he lifted her into his arms. "Hey Angel Girl! I missed you, too."
Emma held her arms up indicating that she too wanted to be picked up. "Dada!"
Allison laughed. "They wanted to wait up for you."
"I got home as soon as I could," Jon kissed both his daughters on the cheek. "I missed my girls today."
"Even me?" Allison asked coming over to give him a proper hello.
"Always you," Jon smiled tiredly at her.
"I saved you a plate," Allison said giving him a kiss. "All your favourites."
"Mummy put a warming charm on it," Caroline said.
"I'm starving," Jon said. "My little Emma didn't sneak any bites did she?"
Emma giggled and shook her head.
"I told her I'd make her drink some more of that stuff from Uncle Josh's party if she did," Caroline said.
"Caroline!" Allison said, laughing.
"It worked," Caroline said grinning at her mother.
"Em no like drink," Emma replied, her head on Jon's shoulder.
"You don't ever have to drink that awful stuff again," Jon said patting her back. "Do you want to sit with me while I eat?"
"Sit with Dada," Emma bubbled happily.
"I have something special planned for dessert," Allison whispered to Jon. "If you're not too knackered...."
"What might that involve?" Jon asked.
"You'll find out," Allison replied with a mischievous grin.
"You don't have any lessons tomorrow right, Daddy?" Caroline asked as they sat down at the table. "Since it's Saturday."
"I do baby, I'm sorry." Jon said setting Emma on the seat next to him.
"But Mummy was going to take me and Emma to the park and she said you would be going too," Caroline protested.
"If we go early enough I can go sweetheart," Jon replied.
"Here you go," Allison said bringing him the plate of food. "What do you want to drink, Jon? Juice? Soda?"
"Have we got any butterbeer?" Jon had been craving one all day.
Allison smiled. "We do. I took the girls with me to the shops this afternoon. Emma loves being pushed in the trolley."
"Did you now?" Jon grinned at his daughters. "Get anything fun?"
Caroline nodded. "We bought loads of stuff, Daddy. And Mummy bought something for you...."
"Dessert!" Emma laughed.
"You certainly have that word down," Jon said mussing her hair.
"It's a nightgown," Caroline whispered. "But I don't know how it's supposed to be for you though."
"I see," Jon snorted, trying to cover his laughter.
"You hear everything Angel," Allison said sitting down beside Caroline. "She overheard me tell Frankie that."
"Aunt Frankie made Mummy buy it," Caroline said. "She said that she had to buy it and that it would knock your socks off."
"I see," Jon said with a grin. "Was your uncle Will there too?"
"No," Caroline said frowning. "He had to work."
"I heard a little bird say that he might be coming to the park tomorrow though to play with a few certain princesses," Allison said with a smile. "And he might be bringing another princess with him named Mia..."
"Really?" Caroline asked beaming at her mother. "Really? Really? Really?"
"Really," Allison said with a laugh. "He's very excited about it according to your aunt. Will loves spending time with you Caroline."
"I love spending time with him too," Caroline said softly.
Emma tapped Jon on the arm. "Bite?"
"Didn't you already eat?" Jon teased her.
"Want more," Emma said smiling at him.
Jon laughed. "All right," he said. "Open up."
Emma opened her mouth wide.
"She certainly has your appetite," Allison laughed.
"She's a Weasley," Jon said proudly giving Emma a bite of his stew. "Good, Em?"
"Good," Emma nodded. "More?"
"More?" Jon asked laughing. He pulled Emma into his lap. "How about you dig in baby girl?"
"Thank Daddy!" Emma said happily, grasping his spoon.
Jon laughed and shared a look with Allison.
"What little I was able to eat was really great, Al," Jon said smiling at her. "You are a fantastic cook."
"Thank you," Allison wryly. "I have more if you want it after they go to bed."
"You really are the best," Jon said gazing at her.
"Only for you," she smiled back at him. "I really missed you today."
"I missed you too," Jon said softly. "I know I've been really busy lately, but it's going to be worth it, Al. You and the girls deserve the best."
"You're the best Daddy," Caroline nodded.
"Thank you Caroline," Jon said giving her a kiss. "I needed to hear that."
"Good, Mama." Emma said as she finished her father's dinner.
"Thank you, Em," Allison said grinning at her. "I'm glad you liked it the second time around."
"Come on you two," Jon said, scooping them up. "Time for bed."
Allison gave Emma and Caroline a kiss. "I'll clean up in here and then I'll meet you in the bedroom, Jon."
"Mummy's going to give Daddy dessert," Caroline said innocently to her sister.
Jon and Allison both laughed.
"Can Em sleep in my room tonight?" Caroline asked.
"Peas?" Emma asked. "Em sleep with Sissy."
Jon tickled her side. "Well since you asked so nicely, you can."
"Yay!" Caroline said. "We get to have a sleepover Em!"
"Yay!" Emma echoed.
"Daddy gets to have one too," Jon said winking at Allison.
Caroline giggled as she followed her father and sister out of the kitchen.
Allison made quick work of cleaning up the kitchen with just a few flicks of her wand. She was positively giddy as she sprinted toward the bedroom to change into the negligee she'd bought at Frankie's urging this afternoon.
It didn't take Jon long to get the girls tucked into Caroline's bed. After a few giggles, they promised to go to sleep so they'd be rested enough for the park that next day.
Allison leaned back on the pillows as she heard Jon's footsteps in the hall. When he opened the door, she smiled seductively at him. "Hello, Mr. Weasley."
"Mrs. Weasley," he grinned back. "You look quite fetching..."
She crooked her little finger at him beckoning him to come closer. "I have it on good authority that you like the colour red."
"Especially on you," his blue eyes darkened lustily.
"Come here," she whispered.
Jon did as he was told, locking the bedroom door behind him.
As Jon sat down on the edge of the bed, Allison wrapped her arms around his neck. "I've been wanting to do this all...Jon?"
"Hmm?" he asked.
"What's this on your collar?" she asked.
"Shit," he swore under his breath. "Uh... my client's wife was there tonight, and she got... lipstick on my collar."
Allison stared at the back of his head. "How did your client's wife get lipstick on your collar?"
"She sort of um... kissed my cheek when we were finished with the lesson." Jon said, hastily pulling his shirt off. "And I was still on my broom, and I moved at the last minute..." he realised how lame that sounded but he hoped his wife would believe him.
"Jon," Allison said not sure what to believe. "You're not..."
Her voice trailed off, unable to even voice her question.
He turned to face her. "Not what?" Jon asked his eyes directly on hers.
"Having..." Allison started to say. "...an affair?"
Jon stared at her. "Allie..." he began. "How could you even think that?"
"You've been away so much lately," Allison said looking away from him. "And now this. I don't want to believe it, Jon. If you tell me that you're not, I'll believe you. You've never lied to me before."
"I would never, ever have an affair," Jon replied. "Allison, I love you. You're the only girl I've ever loved."
She knew him better than anyone else in this world. And as she looked at him now, she could see that same teenaged boy who told her once that he wanted her to be the only girl he ever kissed.
"I love you too, Jon."
He hugged her tightly. "You're my Allie," he said, pressing his lips to her shoulder.
"Always," Allison said softly. "Always..."
"Always my Allie," he answered for her, kissing her.
Any doubts she may have had melted away as he kissed her tenderly.
He wanted to ravish her- to show her just how much he loved her. "Your dessert is better than your dinner," Jon said, his lips brushing over her neck.
Allison giggled as she ran her hands through his hair. "You always did have a sweet tooth."
"Especially for brunettes wearing red." he commented.
"So have I knocked your socks off?" Allison asked.
"You always have," Jon brushed her long hair back.
"Show me," she said looking into his eyes.
Jon kissed her again, crushing her body to his; letting his hands roam under the lingerie.
Allison moaned in pleasure as his hand cupped her breast.
"Al," he breathed, moving his lips over her hot skin.
"Now Jon," Allison said breathlessly. "Please?"
He pushed himself inside her, trapping her hands above her head. "Al..." he groaned.
Allison looked up at him as he moved above her. The man she was looking at now couldn't possibly have an affair. He was hers and she was his and the way he was making her feel seemed to cement that fact.
They kept somewhat quiet, kissing each other in a frenzy to muffle their cries.
He collapsed against her, his cheek against her shoulder. Allison stroked his hair.
"There is no one else for me, ever." he said as she curled herself into him.
"I know," she said kissing his chest. "I feel the same way."
"I'll see if my client won't mind me coming by a little later tomorrow," Jon said, knowing he needed to spend time with his family. "I want to be at the park with you three."
"I'd love that," Allison said softly. "And I know the girls would love it. We've missed you so much, Jon."
"I've missed you lot too." Jon gave her another kiss. "And now I'm just completely knackered."
"Me too," Allison said sleepily.
Jon pulled the sheets up over them. "Love you Al," he kissed the side of her forehead.
"Love you too," she whispered.