Shadow and Flame

Christmas Morn

He awoke. But it still felt like a dream. Because when he shifted, Charlie could feel his arms naturally wrapped around her.

They'd slept out in the stars with his nieces and nephews. A camping ground of their own design. They were closer than they'd ever been before, and all he could thing of was how she smelled of lavender and citrus.

And that kiss.

Eden shifted, cuddling further into him. The movement comforted him so much that he watched her as new sunlight caressed her face.

She stirred, wiping her eyes.

"Good morning." She whispered through a yawn.

"Morning."

It was a morning indeed.

After a breakfast filled with presents and prodding, they snuck out the back and took a turn around the property.

"We're putting on a friendly match later."

"Ginny told me as much. Rather sour she can't join in." Taking her hand felt as natural as waking up beside her.

"Will you join us then?"

"I'd rather watch you. I hear you were quite the seeker in your day."

"Simpler times." He paused, hoping he hadn't offended her. But she kept walking on with him.

"Simpler indeed." He fingered the ring. "What trouble you've caused. How shall you ever get out of it?"

"We'll think of something."

"Charlie, I..."

"Let's keep going."

Hidden from view in the tall grass, he stopped her. Pulling Eden into a hug, his lips touched her ear.

"I can't do this anymore." She pulled back. "I can't keep pretending that I love you." Pain buried deep in her expression. He hadn't anticipated that. Still, Charlie kept going. "You can choose to stay. We can come up with something else. Maybe even build your own cottage."

"But,"

"I get it. It's too much. Maybe too soon. But I can't keep pretending I'm in love with you because I do."

"What?" She slinked back, confusion spreading across her arched brows.

"I love you." Her lips parted. "But if you don't feel the same,"

She cut him off, kissing him long and hard. And then she swatted his arm. "You idiot. I thought you were kicking me out."

"No, I just. Well, I wanted to let you know you have a choice."

She covered his heart with her hand. "I suppose it depends what's your angle here. Are you in it for me or the other me?"

"Well, I did tell you once I had a thing for dragons."

"I'm serious." She dropped her hand. "You're not just saying this because having family involved complicates things?"

"If anything, it confirms how I feel. You'd know if they didn't like you."

"But why? Why me?"

"Why not you?" He braced her. "After all you've been through and everything you are. Your goodness, genius, beauty, I can't comprehend it. You stir something inside of me I've never felt before." He held her face in his hands. "I need you. So much. If you asked me to quit my job and be a herbologist, there'd be no hesitation."

She snorted and soon, through teary eyes they were laughing.

"You needn't worry." She grinned, and said with a wink, "I like you just the way you are." She leaned into him, hands on his chest. "And I couldn't help but fall in love with you, Weasley."

He held on to the sides of her soft cheeks, lips lightly grazing hers. The kiss was soft and slow. Gentle as a whisper. It came from Eden. Timid and sweet, with the promise of many more to come.

And then it deepened, morphing into something almost animal. She clawed at him as his hands buried into her back. Desire and passion poured between them. It left his lips tingling and the places she touched singed.

She sighed, and he drew her into an embrace. His feelings were all consuming, taking hold of him and soaring off.

"This must be what it feels to be a dragon."

"No." Eden took his hands. "This is what it feels to be human."