*Discontinued* No Longer

Fess Up, Era

A/N: OMGosh OMGosh OMGosh! We're at part 90! Hurrah! Guess what? The first time I posted any part of this was on May 5, 2022. I posted like, the first 40 parts all in one day. Then, 'cause I was super impatient, the next bunch on May 8. Then everything was supa' spotty, and sometime over the summer I began to update frequently. You probably didn't want to read all that, so now back to your regularly scheduled entertainment.

Era Damon White**

Tom looked better after going through the memory, though tears were running lines down his pale cheeks.

"Era," he said, a little thickly, "You know how much I love you, right? Cause I don't think I have any words great enough to express it."

"I do, sweetheart. And imagine your love, then triple it, and you know how I feel for you."

They embraced, Tom's chin nestling just over Era's shoulder as if he were made to fit there. Era gently rubbed circles on his back, and just held him for a while. He could barely think of anything past Tom, but he knew the others were probably worried.

"Tom?"

"Era?"

"Do you think you'd be ready to go back to the infirmary now? The others are probably worried."

Tom sighed, a long, drawn out breath, and said, "I guess. But Era, I really need to thank you. You do so much for me, and I don't feel like I give anything back."

"Sweetheart, you give me so much happiness. Being with you, every moment is like its own little miracle, every word a treasure, every kiss a gift. You are my heart, and my soul, and always on my mind. What more could you possibly give me? And how foolish would I be to ask anything more of you?"

Tom pulled back to look into his eyes, and in them Era saw more unshed tears, "How did I end up with a mate as perfect as you?"

"Tom, I'm not perfect. You have to understand that. When I'm mad, I can do very bad things. When I'm crossed, I can become cutthroat. When I see something I want, I obsessively work to get it. When I have secrets, I'll usually keep, them, sometimes at the expense of others. What I want is for you to accept me for who I am, my flaws, faults, and quirks. I'll understand if you can't promise, but will you please try?"

"Of course I accept you for who you are!" Tom exclaimed, eyes wide, "And I didn't mean it like that when I said perfect. I didn't mean I see you as an entirely flawless person. I'd never put that sort of pressure on you, and anyway, how boring would a person have to be to be perfect? I like the ways you surprise me, and every time I see you for being yourself, I'm grateful. Because I know you trust me, and it helps me believe we could actually be together."

"Sweetheart, we are together. You and me, Severus, and Lucius, all of us are in this together, and I love each of you more dearly than the stars at night or the dawning of the sun each morning. Everything you are, everything you will become, and all that you have the potential to be. . . it's inspiring. I love you, Tom, and I want you to be mine forever."

"I already am."

"As I am yours, dear heart."

They went back into the infirmary, hand in hand, their hearts shining in their eyes.

Lucius and Severus looked extremely relieved to see them, even more so seeing how at peace they were. Lucius had immediately sprung up and embraced the both of them, while Sev hung back a bit, waiting patiently for his turn. Which, of course, came the next second.

"So how's Harry doing?" Tom asked, no sign of tears left in his beautiful crimson eyes.

"Much better," Sev said, "He's breathing easily, and Poppy says he's out of any real danger. She's also putting nutrient potions into Harry about every five minutes, as often as she can. You lost a lot of weight," Sev reprimanded.