(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora straightens from where she's been tending the fire. It's the last cold night they'll have for a long while, she reckons, so they may as well make good use of it. A few flicks of her wand and the candles on the mantle flare to life.

She looks at the clock. And fidgets.

What could possibly be taking him so long?*

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He does so.*

[clumsy_auror]

*Nymphadora takes his hand, lacing their fingers together; her eyes are trained on his.*

You may have had that head start, but we're absolutely in the same place now.

And I'm going to spend the rest of my life not leaving you.

The wedding'll be nice. And important.

But it's already done.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*If his eyes were wide before, it's nothing compared to how they are now.

He pulls his hand from hers and cups her apple-cheek.*



Nymphadora, let me see your face.

[clumsy_auror]

*A breath escapes her, nearly silent, and then she closes her eyes.

It takes longer than it usually does, nearly slow-motion, and for a moment everything is a swirl of colour and flesh beneath his fingertips.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*It's not often that he sees it so close, or in its entirety. Many times, he turns around and it's done; her hair's pink and bobbed one minute, and after she pulls her shirt over her head it comes out long and black.

And he's never felt the change with his fingertips before.

He doesn't look away.*

[clumsy_auror]

*And then, everything slots into place, and it's finished.

She bites her lip at the closeness of his gaze, knowing full well that this is different, somehow, than the other times he's seen this.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*Bernard's thumb strokes back and forth over the sharp curve of her cheekbone as he looks steadily into the eyes he loves best, out of all the pairs of eyes that ever existed, or will exist, or exist concurrently with them here, not quite outside of time.

He smiles.*

[clumsy_auror]

*At his smile, she can't help but feel the corners of her own mouth lift; a smile from this man is enough, for her.

She lifts a hand to mirror his movements, the pad of her index finger trailing across his scarred and freckled (perfect) cheek.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*His eyes slide closed for an instant as his body calls up the sense-memory he'd thought long buried and gone, the feeling of a touch on his cheek that turns to

(words cuts slicing stinging salted wounds bleeding into the dirt onions)

something else, but of course it's just a memory, forever wedded to the sound of her voice, soothing, speaking, cajoling, choked with sobs, trying to wake him or just get through somehow.

He can never really make her see how much she really did come through.

Even then.*

[clumsy_auror]

*And then where her fingertip was, her lips are, brushing lightly over the skin, trailing up to flicker over red-lashed eyelids.

Light as a moth, her mouth plays across his features, and her fingers drift down to follow the pulse in his throat.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*And how he wished, dreamed, hoped for such a touch that whole month, and for weeks before and weeks after, even though he knew it would hurt him inside and out and it seems fitting now that he no longer feels the pain of contact, that the pain of contact is long gone as well.*

[clumsy_auror]

*She smiles again, watching him, knowing she holds him in the palm of her hand.

But there's no danger in that. She's just as much in his.*

Bernard?

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*His voice is rusty and his cheeks slightly flushed as his eyes slit open.*

Yeah?

[clumsy_auror]

*She kisses the corner of his mouth.*

Tell me. Please.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*He turns his head so that their lips brush, looking into her eyes.*




I love you.

[clumsy_auror]

*Her breath hitches slightly, and her eyes flicker down to his lips for a brief moment before locking with his once more.*

I know.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*His fingers slide into her hair.*

I am, and maybe have been since you kissed me -- or maybe even before; all I know is that what I felt for you was so strong I couldn't hide it worth a damn --

I am your husband.

*He half-smiles.*

Till death do us part.

[clumsy_auror]

*A soft laugh escapes her, slightly breathless.*

Or maybe not even then, if we can arrange it.

*Her smile matches his.*

And I'm your wife.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

You are.

*He smiles again and

(wife wife of course wife)

leans forward slowly.

Her lips are a little fuller in this face, just a little, but he can feel the difference because these lips are her lips.*

[clumsy_auror]

*She breathes a quiet sigh as he kisses her, sinking into it, into him, and flattens her palm on his back.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*His arms are around her tight, hands tangled in her hair, and he tilts his head, deepening the kiss. Except for the leg around his hip, their bodies are flush together, head to toe.*

[clumsy_auror]

*After a long while of simply kissing, Nymphadora rolls Bernard onto his back and pulls slightly away, propping herself up on one elbow.*

Know what I think?

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*One fingertip trails up and down her arm.*

What?

[clumsy_auror]

Think I'm gonna take my sweet time making love to you, tonight.

*Her smile widens, and she ducks her head to kiss him lightly, just once.*

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

*When she lifts her head, he's grinning.*

Good thing you're in no rush.



It'll take at least an hour to get out of this kilt.