clumsy_auror | (no subject)

(no subject)

Sunday lunch had been spent with the Tonkses, which was a nice change; it felt good to visit with her parents more often, and Nymphadora hoped that they could do so regularly now that Bernard was unbound.

Following the meal, Ted had gently shunted them out the door, saying that he and Sunny had plans for a cushion fort, and Andromeda and Anthony were hoping for a bit of a lie-down, and that 'Dora and Bernard would be in the way, anyhow, so why don't they go for a bit of a cuppa or an ice cream, or something.

It's one of those long August days, hot but with the promise of a chill towards evening, the death knell of a summer that's been one thing after another. She's quiet as they walk along, aimlessly passing through the streets of her parents' neighborhood.

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"Yeah. It's weird." He shivers a little in the warm air. "Guess the battle made me jumpy, is all."

"Yeah."

With one hand, Nymphadora tucks a heavy lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, they'll do that."

She's lost count, now, how many there have been.

He looks over at her, then smiles a little.

"Time was, you'd never go out like this, though."

"No, I s'pose I wouldn't have."

She looks back, and gently bumps her knee against his.

"Feels pretty okay."

His arm slips around her again, and he leans his forehead against hers.

"Feels pretty good from over here, too."

Her hand goes to rest on his thigh, and 'Dora's small smile widens a bit. "So I guess not everything's gone to shit, then."

"No. Not everything." He kisses the tip of her nose.

"Plus there's the kids..."

Nymphadora settles her head against his shoulder, and pulls him closer into a half-hug.

"So maybe it's more like half shite, and half good stuff."

"So we break even, like most times," he grins. "Because there's always something."

A long sigh. "Yeah. There is. Guess it's good it's not boring, in any event."

For a moment she's quiet again, just listening to him breathe.

"D'you think Aziraphael will come home?"

His first instinct is to answer in the affirmative; because he needs to.

But Bernard stops. And thinks.

Answers honestly.

"No. Not for a while, at least."

"I don't think so, either. But I have to hope he'll come back someday."

"Maybe you could write him a letter? See if he'll at least tell us where he is?"

A shake of her head. "He won't. But I'll write him. Just to remind him we're here."

Because mostly, Nymphadora's afraid he'll choose to just stay away. Or worse, forget.

"All right."

They're quiet together for a moment. Bernard's head slips down to rest on her shoulder.

Their fingers thread loosely together, and Nymphadora tilts her head to kiss Bernard's forehead.

"Wanna go get some ice cream?"

He kisses her neck once, twice.

"Sure. But I reserve the right to kiss the hell out of you when we get back to the flat."

"Deal." A kiss to his cheek and then she stands and holds out her hand. "C'mon, then, they've got really good pistachio ice cream at the cafe just 'round the corner."

He smiles and lets himself be pulled along the sidewalk.

"...Hey, when we get home, remind me. I wanna try making dark chocolate pistachio ice cream."

"Oooh, that sounds so good. But bugger, now I'll have to have something different, 'cause regular pistachio just won't cut the mustard now."

A snicker.

"Someday I'll have ruined you for all flavors. You just wait."

"Just like you've already ruined me for a few other things, I suppose?" A pinch to his bum, and Nymphadora snickers when Bernard squawks. She giggles and runs ahead with her husband in hot pursuit.

Maybe things still aren't okay.

But sometimes all you can do is act like they are.

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