Wildflowers

The Boyfriend

A few days later...

Kat sat at the kitchen table, her eyes scanning the neatly written list of provisions Severus had compiled. She could sense his presence nearby, though he remained quiet, letting her absorb the contents of the pre-nuptial agreement. The flickering candlelight cast shadows over the paper, and as her eyes moved down the list, her brow furrowed slightly.

Kat will not travel alone internationally without first obtaining my approval.The children will never travel with her alone for extended periods, especially abroad.

Kat read those first two lines again, feeling a familiar rise of frustration. She tapped her finger lightly on the page before looking up at Severus, who stood by the window, his arms crossed.

"You don't like to travel the way I do," she began, her voice measured but tinged with irritation. "What if I want to take the kids to Spain for an afternoon on the beach or something? I don't want to be told no."

Severus turned from the window, his dark eyes meeting hers with a steady gaze. "I don't want my children disappearing to foreign countries on a moment's notice," he replied firmly. "Especially not without me."

Kat sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's not like I'd just whisk them away without warning, Severus. I'm not planning secret international getaways. But what if I decide one day that I want to do something spontaneous with them? A day trip to Spain, or Paris, or anywhere. You can't seriously expect me to ask for permission every single time."

Severus stepped closer, his expression softening slightly but his resolve unwavering. "I'm not asking you to ask for permission in that sense, but I need to be informed and involved, Kat. Traveling alone with the children abroad, especially without me—it's not something I'm comfortable with. I don't want you or them to be in situations where I can't be there if something goes wrong."

Kat leaned back in her chair, exasperation flickering across her face. "Severus, I can handle things on my own. I'm not going to put our kids in danger. You have to trust me with that."

"I do trust you," Severus responded, his voice calm but firm. "But I also know how unpredictable the world can be—especially the magical one. It's not about control; it's about safety. I want to be able to protect you and our children, and I can't do that if you're in another country without me."

Kat folded her arms, her frustration still simmering. "But the idea of having to get your approval for something as simple as a beach day feels... suffocating."

Severus exhaled slowly, his eyes softening as he crouched beside her chair, resting a hand on her knee. "I'm not trying to suffocate you, Kat. But our lives, and our children's lives, come with certain risks. I'm asking you to understand that I need to be involved in decisions like that."

Kat's fingers toyed with the edge of the paper, her frustration giving way to a sense of understanding, even though she still bristled at the thought of being restricted. "I get that you want to protect us," she said softly. "But it still feels like you're asking for more control than I'm comfortable giving."

Severus's hand remained on her knee, his voice lowering. "We can discuss the specifics. But I need you to see where I'm coming from."

Kat looked back down at the list, her frustration growing as she reached the next set of provisions:

Decisions about the children's education, healthcare, and significant life events must be agreed upon mutually, but I reserve the final say in matters of magical education and their exposure to certain influences.

She frowned, reading it over twice before meeting Severus's gaze. "I don't think you should get the final say on their education," she said, her voice firmer this time. "I think it should be a family decision."