Severus & Serena One Shots

Thanksgiving

"The Peace of Wild Things" - Wendell Berry
No me dejes: don't leave me
Mi rey, quédate aquí conmigo: My king, stay here with me

"Why would you celebrate a holiday based on a lie?" Severus asked her that morning as she slid a turkey into the oven in her quarters.

"I don't believe in many traditions, and I know that Thanksgiving is a lie. But that could be said for any holiday. I like the idea of being grateful for a whole day. And, I like to cook" she told him a bit defensively, peeling sweet potatoes and placing them in a casserole dish

"This is how you're going to spend the whole Saturday?" he teased, cleaning up the skins of the potatoes for her

"Yes, cooking and eating junk food. You don't have to stay" she threatened him, knowing that he wouldn't leave

"You know very well the only thing I enjoy more than brewing is listening to you wax poetic about American traditions" he continued on teasing her, it was his way of communicating affection and she indulged him

The verbal sparring between them was what he considered tantamount to foreplay. She wasn't afraid to tease him, to touch him, and to push his boundaries when necessary. In the seventy or so days that they had known each other, he was on his way to becoming a different man. Or, perhaps the man that was lurking all along.

Some days were difficult and they sat in silence, because the memories spoke too loudly. She simply sat with him, or offered healing energy. Other days, he didn't recognize himself: laughing and joking. Lighthearted. Those days she would touch his hand while talking, and he would stand closer to her than anyone else.

Today was one of those days.

She turned to him, her mane of curls clipped back, taking in his appearance

"I think you look nice in green"

He self consciously straightened his green turtleneck and black jeans, black socked feet against her light wooden floor

"Ten points from Hufflepuff for being inappropriate" he teased, knowing he could make a remark about how lovely she looked in her red dress, neckline plunging at just the right depth

"I think you rather enjoy when I'm a bit inappropriate" she threw back, stepping dangerously close to him

"That's a lot of cheek coming from someone so small" he rounded on her height, which was obvious between them, barely five foot tall versus his six plus feet.

"You're really pushing me today, aren't you Severus" she practically purred, her fingers lingering on his chest, the bottom of her bare foot rubbing against the top of his.

"What else have you come to expect from me?" he asked, unclipping her hair, watching it fall around her face and into her dress, twisting a curl around his finger

"I don't know what to expect from you, and I like that you keep me guessing" she answered sweetly, untying his hair from the loose ponytail it was held in before continuing

"I like your hair down..."

He had to hold himself back from pushing her against the wall and kissing her. What would happen if he did? She was perfect. And she loved him. He knew she did. They wanted each other's bodies. The need to express the unspoken feelings was getting to be too much. Her brown eyes smoldering as she stared up at him expectantly. But he was an expert in delayed gratification.

"Whatever you wish Serena" he murmured, running his fingertips down her neck and shoulders, noticing the goosebumps flood her skin.

"Excuse me" she gasped, turning acutely and making her way to the bathroom.