-=JKR owns all in the Harry Potter universe not me.=-

Abandon

More Manoeuvring

Without mentioning the night before, they set about reading the book in shifts. This proved to be relaxing and enjoyable, Echo loved the sound of his silky cadence. At one point while Severus read Echo, sighed and remarked. “You are turning me on Severus, behave.” Echo walked over to where Severus sat, pulled his hair aside kissing and dotting little nips along his neck. Echo ran the flat of her palm down his chest as she sucked on his earlobe. She informed Severus, “I can't focus now, it's all your fault. I 'spect you'll need to rectify it,” pulling his belt loose. “Oops, did I do that?” Reaching between skin and cotton, Severus claimed her mouth as Echo graced her fingertips against his warm skin.

“Severus?” His hair spilled out over the back of the divan. Echo wanted to tell Severus what was going on in her heart but she couldn't make the words come. She playfully confronted his molten lust. “I want you.” Echo brushed the pad of her thumb against his chiselled jaw.

Without preamble. “Echo, lets go get something to eat. Do you like Italian?” Echo frowned at Severus' abrupt transition. Her look wasn't lost on him. “Men make foolish decisions when they're in bed with beautiful women.” He offered by way of explanation.

The mood was sober as they left the castle and grounds. The little restaurant DiMaggio was empty when they entered, true to Echo's experience the little eatery was positively swarming by the time their order was placed. Hooking her foot around Severus' calve and tugging, “have you thought anymore about my request?”

Deeply uncomfortable, he responded in hushed tones, “Echo you are beautiful, intelligent and admittedly I'm tempted to say yes, but I'm not a good choice.” Sincere in his argument, “you deserve someone of quality.”

Echo waved away his flimsy argument, “in Potions quality is important. I know it, when I see it. You're just scared.” Eyeing him speculatively, Echo waved her wand under the table putting Severus in a body bind. Echo could see the panic in his eyes. Leaning forward over the tiny table smiling sweetly, she kissed him gently and smoothed his hair back. “I'm going to unfreeze you, don't be mad at me.” Thickening up her accent, “sweet tea and sunsets, that's us.” Returning to her seat, Echo released Severus. “Don't you think?” Smiling broadly. Severus caught an increasing number of glances from the other patrons.

The Potions Master glowed red briefly, “I'm going to get you back for that.” Their food came. Echo gave Severus what she thought were covert glances, she failed to realize that Severus had been a spy most of his adult life. Severus noted with amusement Echo's feeble attempts to watch him. Something stirred in his gut during his observations. There didn't seem to be any deception in Echo's words or body language. Severus wanted to believe her. The possibility of having such a brilliant, beautiful and energetic...energetic what? Lover? Amoratta? Plaything? No, that would never work, he was much too old-fashioned for such liaisons. A mutual commitment though. Feeling the endomosis of his arousal, he scolded himself. Focus on the ziti, Ziti Severus. This unfortunately coincided with the realization that had he been this easy to distract when he had been the Dark Lord's right hand, he'd be dead by now. You're going soft...perhaps soft isn't the right word. “Echo, how is your food?”

Her mouth was full, so she nodded and made yummy noises.

Echo had a healthy appetite and didn't refuse dessert. “Open wide,” Echo forked off a bit of the flourless dark chocolate cake holding it up for his consumption. “It's a clean fork, don't worry I won't give you my cooties.” Severus took the morsel gingerly, trying not expose his teeth. He'd have to do it, he'd put off seeing Poppy about his teeth for ages. Severus didn't even want the healer to see them, but maybe it was about time. Severus thanked Echo for the cake from behind his napkin.

~*~

The summer night was pleasant on their return. Looking at herself, “Madam Malkin makes lovely robes, they feel very nice. I'll have to get her to make my maternity clothes. Will I see you when you come back from sabbatical?”

That's a good question to be sure. Though it's looking more and more like there isn't going to be a sabbatical. “My plan was to come back in May to oversee testing for fifth and seventh years. There will be more seventh years than usual owing to the war.”

“So May then. If I can get pregnant before the start of term, the baby will be a year old by the time you get back. I'll have to get crackin'.” Tracing a finger down Severus' back, “if you aren't going to assist me then I'll stop...what had Sirius said? Oh yeah, I'll stop trying to chat you up.” Severus stiffened.

“Black trying to chat you up?” Severus words fell like marble chips.

“I think you know the answer to your own question. I want you Severus. I think it's important for you to know that I wanted you from the first day I met you.” Echo snaked her arm into the crook of his.

Giving her a stern look, “was that before or after you called me a crabby old man?”

Hugging his arm she chuckled, “during actually. I was within inches of you, and I got a good look at you and smell't you. I was like, 'O billy, he's a tall drink of water.' I told the little fellow you were scarrin' the crap out of, that you'd turn a lady's head if you weren't so grouchy. You can ask him yourself if you don't believe me.” Echo grinned at Severus. “You know if it was an issue, about it interfering with your time off, I'd be glad to wait for you. On the other hand, if you have no intention on making babies with me, then please let me know.”

Travelling at night guided by Lumos, Severus jabbed his wand tip, Nox. Sucked into the summer night's embrace. “I will only say this once, so please pay attention.” The crickets and tree frogs objected loudly. Severus' deep breath was lost in the rustling of the trees. “You were right, when you said I'm scarred. More accurately, I'm terrified. What if you've chosen wrong? It's not just your life but also the child's that will be affected.”

“Severus, I've chosen. It's you that has to decide what you want. You might not be right for everyone, but you and I would be a good fit. When you come back from your time off, I plan on continuing my research. I can do my research here or back home, it's all the same to me.” Gripping him in a crushing embrace, she used the rest of her focus hoping he'd choose her.

Severus thought she could not doubt feel his heart ready to thump out of his chest. The surrounding darkness was good, he couldn't see his fear reflected in her eyes. Cupping her head against his chest, Snape fought viciously with himself. “Echo, I think it's only fair that I warn you that it's a package deal...”

“So you want what as part of the package?” Echo held his hands willing him to say the word she longed to hear.

Surprise evident in his tone, “you. I want you always, because I can't give you part of me. I give everything, I don't know how not to.”

They pledged their troths in the seclusion of the night.

AN/ Thank you for the reviews, your questions, comments and speculations are always welcome and appreciated.