I am once again in my lab, the days are short and cold, the wind is bitter and bites through even the warmest of cloaks. The air is frigid when still and the glossy surface of the lake is black. Snow blankets the ground around the castle and I find peace in the stillness. The windows are covered in frost and the cold penetrates into the castle so I have been forced to light fires in the grates of our rooms. The warmth from the fire is a stark contrast to the world around me, and the feelings within me. The long months of silence on her end have left me worried that something unthinkable has happened, though I know I would feel the shift within me were she gone from this Earth entirely. I know she is busy, I know this was our deal, but I wish it weren't. I miss her. The cold morning finds me bent over my cauldrons again. I have not slept or eaten in the last few days, I have been so immersed in my work. My concentration is broken by a soft tap on the door.

"I'm busy" I grunt, trying to keep count of my stirs, I need to change directions soon and cannot afford a mistake at this point.

The soft tap comes again, and it's accompanied by the irritating pull at my magic as my wards are slowly dismantled. The distraction isn't enough to warrant a miscalculation on my part and the pattern of my stirs transitions smoothly to the next step. I pick up my wand and begin muttering the incantations I need to stabilize the potion within.

Another knock at the door and it creaks open.

"Severus?"

It is only Minerva, probably wondering where I've been these past few days. I wave my hand towards the door and shut it in her face. The lock clicks with a ringing finality. I do not wish to be disturbed. The small glimpse of me over my workstation should be enough to convince her to leave me alone. I hear the door open again and sigh in irritation, it appears she is going to wait me out. I reach the next step of my brewing and place my hand on the workbench where I left the mortar of crushed ingredients I need only to find it isn't there.

Puzzled I tear my eyes away from my work to locate it only to see it clutched in an all too familiar hand.

"I'm home, Severus." Her voice suffuses the room, three softly spoken words and all at once my world realigns. She unfastens the catch on her cloak and I get a proper look at her. She is as radiant as ever, all tanned skin and soft freckles, copious curls and bright shining eyes. She smiles at me and the answering smile comes as naturally as any smile ever has though the muscles have not made the effort in months.

I reach for her and pull her into my arms, the smells of summer surrounds me as I breathe her in again. I plaster desperate kisses atop her head and wrap her tightly in my arms, I murmur my love and devotion for her into her lips, hair, neck and shoulders as I greet her. Behind me I can hear the potion destabilizing but find that I cannot care because she is home with me again. My heart fills to bursting with the emotions that were absent these long six months. I vanish the spoiled liquid as I gently lead her out the door to our room. My black eyes never leave her warm brown ones. I can't believe she is finally home, all the months of loneliness and waiting, of wishing for her next to me become worth it when she grants me another of her beautiful smiles. It is a special smile she wears now, one only reserved for me. We make it through our door and she switches from following me to leading me to the bathroom. She turns the taps on, always knowing the perfect temperature. Then she carefully, methodically, and tauntingly teases each button from its assigned hole. The slow undressing is enough to arouse me. There are no words between us, none are ever needed. The first day of her return we exist on touches, smiles, and cozy relaxation. There will be time for words later. After days over the cauldrons I realize I probably stink so I am thankful for the opportunity to shower before the night I know will be filled with passionately reacquainting ourselves. As she slips the last button free she trails her dainty fingers across my skin as she removes my many layers. I have missed her touch. After I am fully undressed she starts on her own clothing and I drink in the sight of each piece of skin that was uncovered before me. She is so breathtakingly beautiful.

I cup her cheek with my hand and her eyes flutter closed as she leans into the touch. Another of those special smiles graces her features and her warmth leaks through my palm and into my heart. I lean forward and gently kiss her forehead, one hand still on her face, the other arm wrapping around her tiny waist to pull her closer.

"I missed you" I mutter into her hair.

She sighs softly and gives me a gentle squeeze, her hands running slow circles around my back.

"I missed you too, Severus" She rises up onto her toes so she can kiss the scar on my neck. The skin there is always so sensitive to touch and I hiss in pleasure at the sensation. She is the only one I've allowed to see my scar other than the healers.

I guide her into the hot spray of the shower with me not breaking the warm contact we share. After so many months alone I do not want to let her go for anything. The way she clings to my side and rests her head against my chest shows she feels the same. She leans past me to soak her hair and it trails in wet paths down her back. I sweep some of the curls off her collar and slid my hand down her neck, her shoulder, trailing a path down her arm to her hand. I pull the appendage to my lips and kiss it softly, my finger ghosting over the ring proudly displayed on her fourth finger. She smiles brightly at me and captures my mouth in a searing kiss that could have lasted hours for all I know. We wash each other slowly, trailing hands over hungry flesh, slick with water and soap. I kiss her whenever I can and our slow kisses turn passionate and fierce. The slow build-up for what is to come making us both desperate as we continue denying our bodies what they truly want. Finally, she has had enough and she shuts the water off, practically dragging me from the shower to our bed.

"Impatient tonight love?" I smirk at her; she is always the first to break in our little game.

"Severus, please" she whispers "I need you."

That is all the encouragement I need to press her into the mattress and show her how much I missed her.

The morning dawned bright and cold but our bed was finally warm again. It smelled of summertime and her warm body was pressed against mine. Our legs were tangled together in the sheets, her head was on my chest and her hair was in my face. My arms were wrapped securely around her and the only sound was that of our soft breathing. I slid out of bed gently so as not to disturb her and summoned an elf in the sitting room to bring us breakfast. When I returned with the tray she was sitting up, wiping the sleep from her eyes and taming her hair back into a plait. She smiled brilliantly when she saw me and moved to accommodate me in bed for our breakfast. I sat there surrounded by her warmth drinking my coffee as she leaned against me eating pomegranate seeds.