Rolf lay on the sofa, idly reading the paper. Wurzel was sat on the carpet, watching him intently. Rolf looked at him and smiled.

'I'm fine! Honestly, you're as bad as Luna! I'm not decrepit yet, I just needed a bit of a breather.'

Wurzel didn't look convinced. Rolf had spent nearly half-an-hour walking around the garden, generally taking stock and planning for the new planting season, which wasn't that far off now. Yes, it had made him tired; that still happened a bit.

He'd spent several weeks in the hospital in Bogotá, and then more convalescing before he'd been able to travel home. For a start off he'd needed regular blood transfusions until his body had produced a new set of red cells. The venom had also caused a certain amount of oxygen starvation, and his muscles had suffered as a result. He would need months of physiotherapy and exercises to get back to anything like full strength.

They'd had a very quiet Christmas because of it. The boys had been allowed to come home a few days early, and were upset when they found out why.

Lysander, in particular, had not been happy when he found out how close his father had come to dying. He wanted to know why he hadn't been sent for immediately, informing his parents in no uncertain terms that he would have flooed or portkeyed out straight away – or even got on an aeroplane. Being told that Rolf had been well looked after and studies were very important didn't satisfy him.

Lorcan had been affected, too. He'd grown much closer to his father since their talk last summer, and realised just how much he meant to him. Luna was still important, of course, but there were certain things that you couldn't discuss with a female even – especially – if she was your mum.

Then Kristine turned up, and the boys were rather grateful they were in their bedrooms when she arrived. It didn't matter though; they could still hear her. They made sure she was out of the way before going back to the living room.

'Wow she just so totally launched into you there, didn't she Dad?' Lysander was looking worried.

Lorcan had a grin on his face. 'Mar-mar's never been that pissed with me! I reckon that makes me her favourite now.'

Rolf gave them a nervous smile; he was still a little pale. Mamma could still make him feel like a little boy. In the end he'd given up even trying to defend himself.

Yes, the work was dangerous, just like she'd always told him.

Yes, he had nearly got himself killed for stupid animals.

Yes, he would have left his wife and children to fend for themselves.

Only at the end had a spark of resistance flared.

Yes, she might as well talk to the table.

He decided he wouldn't say anything to her about their next expedition until she was safely out of the country.

-o0o-

He was just drifting off into a snooze when the fireplace flared and Luna stepped out. She gave him a sad look.

'Have you been overdoing it again?'

Rolf was no fool, so gave a wan smile. 'I think so.'

She crossed the room to sit by him and brushed the hair from his face. 'Oh, Rolf. I keep telling you to take it steady. Shall I get you something?'

'A drink might be nice; I would have got it myself, but…' He trailed off.

'You stay there.'

He tried to avoid Wurzel's eye as she left the room. The cat gave what sounded suspiciously like a sniff, and then departed with his tail held high.

Luna returned shortly with his drink. It was a mixture of herbs known to strengthen the blood and improve the function of the liver. It didn't taste particularly nice but she insisted he drink it. It was nice being cared for – yes he knew he was milking it a bit – and it seemed to please her as well.

He accepted the mug from her gratefully. 'So, how was your day?'

'Oh, Rolf, I'm not sure this was such a good idea after all.'

'Why?'

'They're all better than me, not to mention younger. One of them offered me a chair today; I nearly hit him with it.'

Rolf choked on his drink and had to wipe his chin. Luna had joined the apparition classes at Hogwarts and travelled up there every week for her lesson.

'Have you actually moved yet?'

'No. I sort of felt something tingling this time, but it doesn't help that the teacher looks about the same age as the boys. If he goes on about "Destination and Determination" once more I'm going to send him to bed with no supper. You make it look so easy.'

Rolf found himself laughing again. 'My Luna! Maybe that's the problem. It is easy, but if you try too hard you get all tensed up. Just relax. Listen, you'll have no problem passing your test.'

'Maybe I'm too old to learn.'

Rolf reached a hand up to stroke her hair. 'Hey, what's brought this on?'

Luna started playing with her nails. 'I saw Lorcan today.'

'Yes?'

'He didn't see me.'

'So?'

Luna sighed and started walking around the room. 'He had his arm around some girl's shoulder; laughing and talking to her. And she looked no better than she should be; skirt half way up her back and make-up she'd put on with a trowel.'

'What House is she in?'

'That's the worst of it; she's a Ravenclaw! I sometimes wonder what's gone wrong with that school. We would never have dressed like that. Slytherins, of course, and even some of the Hufflepuffs, but to see a Ravenclaw walking around dressed like a….Well!'

'In that case her name's Abigail, and her father's a lawyer. He's got his own practice.'

Luna looked at Rolf in amazement. 'How do you know?'

'Lorcan told me about her at Christmas. I think he's quite keen on her.'

'He never said a word to me.' Luna's face was a mixture of regret and anger.

'You're his mum. You can't really talk about…relationships with your mum, can you? Not if you're a boy.'

Luna stared at Rolf incredulously. 'You mean he's…with her? And he didn't even mention it…her to me?'

'No! Calm down. He isn't.' Rolf smirked, he couldn't help himself. 'Not yet, anyway.' He held his hand out to her. 'Come and sit down.'

She did, reluctantly. 'He's only a baby.'

'He's growing up. He'll need more than us, eventually. He'll tell you about her when he's ready. We might even get to meet her. Luna, take the green out of your eyes.'

'I'm sure she won't be good enough for him.'

'I'm sure she will be good enough for him. She is in Ravenclaw, after all. Now, has the dragon finished guarding her nest? He'll want you to like her.'

Luna gave a reluctant shrug, and a rather embarrassed smile. 'I suppose so. If we do meet her she'll probably be more nervous than me.' She had a think for a minute. 'And Kristine was nice to me, wasn't she?'

'Good. So what else happened today?'

'I saw Ly, of course, and had to give a day-by-day account of how you're doing, and I had lunch with Neville. They might come over at the weekend. Oh! I saw Professor Loxley, too, and he said he'll teach me a Blood Replenishing Potion. It isn't an easy one but he says I should be able to manage it. They've got a new Flying Teacher starting next year as well. I think she might have flown for the Harpies with Ginny; I'm sure I remember her from the Hen Weekend we went on. I've got her address so I'm going to write to her and see if she'll give me some lessons before the summer.'

'Luna, you can't tick all the boxes.'

'I'm going to try.' She lay down next to Rolf, almost clutching on to him. 'If I could have done any of those things we wouldn't have had to go through all that in the jungle. I nearly lost you, you know, and I never want to go through that again.'

Rolf put his arms around her, and started stroking her hair.

'I don't have to go on expeditions, if you don't want me to. We've got enough money to take it easy, and with the royalties from the books…'

'No. That isn't what I mean. This is our life, Rolf. You aren't just a writer and I'm not just a publisher; our work is out there in the field. There will always be a risk, we both know it. We just have to make sure we've got as much covered as possible.'

They lay quietly in each other's arms for a while, and Rolf thought she might have fallen asleep.

'I've been thinking.'

'Oh dear.'

Luna lifted her head, so he could see her sticking her tongue out at him. 'I was in Ravenclaw, even if I do know how to dress respectably. We've got years of travelling and expeditions ahead of us. That's why we have to be as safe as possible.'

'Well, there's plenty more to find out there, I'm sure of it.'

'Maybe even a Snorkack.'

He had to laugh. 'You won't give up on that one, will you?'

'No more than I'd give up on you.'

'Really?'

'Oh yes. Get bitten by as many things as you want, but there's no way out for you. You're stuck with me.'

He hugged her close to him. 'That's the best news I've had all day…any day.'

'Is it really?'

'Yes.'

'Good. Forget the Nargles, and the Iktomi and Evanidus, you're the best discovery I ever made.'

'My Luna. Mine forever.'

'Yours for all time.'

This story is dedicated to all of you who have stuck with it and provided such wonderful reviews. Thank you. I hope you've enjoyed it.