Wednesday, September 27th, 2006 – London, England

"So she accepted all of your requests?" Abby asked as she and Severus took a stroll along the London streets after a dinner date. The temperature was just right and the lights of the government buildings lit up the night. Other couples were enjoying the evening as well, strolling slowly along the tree lined boulevard and music drifted out to the street from open doors to bars, mixing with street musicians busking on corners. Severus had picked her up after his meeting with the Headmistress and Abby was interested in the outcome.

"She did," he was saying. "She had to – she's too desperate to get a competent teacher. Peatbank barely qualifies. He is fine for the younger years and teaching the basics – much more patience than I ever had, but falls apart with the older children. I can see us eventually splitting the classes, me taking fifth years and beyond. They've had too many students barely pass their OWLs in the four years he's been teaching. And precious few pass their NEWTs. I had much better results – I demanded much better results. And Tetroos..." he let out a rush of frustrated air.

"He's the defence instructor?" she prompted.

"Yes and about as incompetent as Lockhart was – which is saying a lot. I've told you about him, haven't I?" he asked, looking over at her. She nodded her head, remembering the letters he'd sent that year. They'd kept her in stitches, laughing, the entire term; which she'd desperately needed during her grad school years. He continued, steering her around a group of patrons watching a street dancer. "I promised McGonagall that I would personally look for a better teacher for next year. His contract is up in July and she will not be renewing it."

She was quiet for a moment, thinking. She had a solution, but knowing their past, wasn't sure how he would take the suggestion. Might as well just go for it. "I've been spending a lot of time with Harry and his family this week, playing with Teddy and James – to get them out from under Ginny's feet while she gets used to another baby in the house," she explained. He eyed her with barely concealed curiosity as to where she was going with this. "Hermione has been spending a lot of time there, waiting for her baby to come as her healer won't allow her to work right now. Did you know that Harry taught most of his friends defence during his fifth year? Apparently, there was a really bad teacher that year."

"Umbridge. Yes, I was aware of his illegal study group. Most of us turned a blind eye to it because they were learning. They had to do something, Umbridge certainly wasn't teaching."

"That's what I heard as well, and I remember you writing some things about that year – but I hadn't coordinated the information until now. Anyways, with two young ones at home, I bet you could convince Harry to change his career for one safer than Auror. I understand he has totally renovated his department, setting up training programs for the Aurors that are much tougher than what Dora went through. Everyone who went through his study group ended up passing their defence OWLs and NEWTs with flying colours," she reminded him, helpfully. "I bet he could do the same with the defence curriculum – make a standardized procedure..."

"You think Potter would give up his life as a celebrated Auror?" he scoffed.

"In a heartbeat. Ask him. It would make going over those journals easier if you were working in the same institution," she pointed out.

"I'll think about it. Ah, here we are!" he said as they turned a corner around the County Hall and Abby looked with delighted eyes upon the huge Ferris wheel known as the London Eye, all ablaze for the evening. She clapped her hands and danced in place in her excitement.

"We're going on it? Oh, Severus, thank you!" She turned and gave him huge kiss then fairly tugged him to the ticket booth. He followed, laughing and they joined the queue. Being autumn and a school night, the line was relatively sparse and they did not have long to wait before they were ushered into a capsule and began the slow, stately rise above the Thames. The lights of London spread out before them as their pod slowly rotated in its berth, the wheel carrying them higher and higher.

Abby and Severus staked out the centre of the long window, his arms wrapped around her as she leaned back against him, marvelling at the scenery spread out below them. A happy grin was plastered on her face during the entire thirty minute ride and Severus played the good host, pointing out landmarks. He also snuck kisses, nuzzling her neck every so often when the rest of their group was busy looking out other sides of the capsule. A discrete notice-me-not charm didn't hurt either.

Afterwards he bought her a postcard book from a street vendor and she bought t-shirts to take back to her friends at work. He found another vendor offering Italian Ices so he bought two which they ate as they walked along the riverbank, enjoying the night and each other.

Thursday, September 28th, 2006 – The Tonks residence

"Teddy, are you ready, my man?" Abby called across the hall as she pulled on and buckled her last biker boot over her black jeans – the ones Severus had transfigured for her. Today she had paired them with a French tee with an argyle design of a pink-bowed skull running across her chest. A belt designed from a pair of handcuffs held up her jeans. She had pulled her hair back into a single tail that swung jauntily to and fro, her fringe sweeping across her forehead in front.

"I'm almost ready!" her cousin yelled and they ended up meeting in the hallway, both carrying jackets and small backpacks that contained stuff for the day.

"Aunt Andi, we're taking off!" Abby told her Aunt as they trooped through the kitchen, kissing the older woman on the cheek as she sat at the table reading the morning Prophet and sipping her morning cuppa, reading glasses perched on her nose.

"Have a good time, you two. Teddy – you listen to Abby, now. Don't be acting up!" she said, eyeing the boy sternly.

"I won't, Grandma..." He rolled his eyes as she smoothed out his hair he'd just spent many minutes mussing up just the right way. She smiled indulgently at him and smacked his bum as he turned away to head for the Floo powder. They would be heading over to the Potter's to pick up James as well before taking the bus to the zoological park.

"We'll be fine Aunty. Sure you won't join us?" Abby asked as she stood in the doorway to the parlour.

"I'm sure. Go have fun," she said, waving off her niece and reshuffling the paper to the next page. Abby shrugged and joined Teddy at the mantel, grabbing her own floo powder and throwing it down.

"Here, he passed out just as we were leaving and hasn't woken since," Abby whispered as she passed the sleeping toddler off to his chuckling parent. Teddy was standing next to her, yawning himself. He finally gave up and leaned against her, hair turning black as hers as he began to nod-off as he stood there.

"C'mon in, Abbs – you guys can spend the night here. You'll never get him home in this condition," Harry suggested, ushering them through the Grimmauld place door.

"Are you sure – I wouldn't want to put you out..." she said, fluttering her hands around Teddy, getting him to move with her.

"Don't worry about it. We have plenty of room – I've had a room set aside for him here since he was a baby, and we have a lot of spare bedrooms. It's no problem. Let me take Ted and you head down to the kitchen. Kreacher and Ginny are down there. I'll let Andi know where you guys are," he offered.

"Thanks, I'll take you up on it. I didn't think the trip would be this long," she said apologetically.

He waved her down the corridor and she complied, nearly tripping over a huge Umbrella stand that looked like it used to be part of an elephant. She pushed open the door into the kitchen and spotted Ginny feeding Albus, a receiving blanket slung over her shoulder hiding the nursing baby while Kreacher, the House-elf, bustled around the kitchen getting dinner ready for the family.

Ginny smiled when she saw Abby, telling her to take a seat. Abby snagged a chair across from the mother, dropping her bag across the back of it.

"So how did James like his first trip to the zoo?"Ginny asked.

"He loved it. He was fascinated by everything. His favourite bit was the petting zoo and when I get them printed tomorrow, I have pictures for you. He sat still for nearly twenty minutes while a rabbit sat on his lap, just petting it." She continued to tell Ginny of her day with the boys, laughing at their antics as they had gazed upon the exotic animals. There had been one point where they had been the only ones in the reptile exhibit and Teddy had held a contest with the Chameleon to see who could change colours the quickest.

Ginny guffawed. "What if someone had seen him?"

"No one saw him except Jamie and me. I wouldn't have let him do it otherwise. He needs to practice though – and it really was hilarious. I took some pictures, you'll see."

While they talked, Kreacher set the table around them and Harry finally returned.

"Both of them are fast asleep. Teddy kept nodding off while I was changing him. Andi sent through a bag for you, Abbs – she says it also has clothes for tomorrow night in it. What are you doing tomorrow night?" he asked curiously as he handed over the case.

"Date with George... Actually, George and I are taking Brian to the Weird Sisters concert at WRock Palace. He's never heard them – so we are expanding his horizons," she said smiling widely as she served herself some shepherd's pie.

"I thought..." Ginny began.

"You thought what?" Abby teased her.

"Well, I thought you were with Severus?"

"And?" She wasn't going to make this easy – she wanted to see how far Ginny would take the questioning.

"How can you be going out with George?" she blurted out, confused.

"George and I are friends only. We like the same music, I do consultations for his store, and we hang out together when I come to London – that's all. My relationship with Severus is different than that – or at least it is right now. After Sunday, who knows?" She shrugged. "We are good together, I'll grant you that." She winked at the new mother who blushed while her husband chuckled over his dinner.

Ginny let the subject drop, switched Albus to the other side and finished her dinner, letting Harry and Abby carry the conversation around her. The Goth girl confused her – but she liked her and she loved playing with the children. And she had to admit that if anyone was a perfect match to Severus Snape, it was Abby Sciuto.

"Do you think she will move here to be with Severus?" she asked her husband later that night as they got ready for bed.

Harry considered the question as he placed Gideon Prewitt's watch on the nightstand, the nightly ritual of running his fingers over the familiar dings and scratches – some that had been there from Gideon, and others obtained during its tenure with Harry – comforting him and always reminding him of who he worked for, blowing out the lamp before climbing under the covers and snuggling next to her. "No, I don't think so. They have a comfortable relationship that works for them. I agree with you that they are a good match – but don't let them hear that, they are both contrary enough that it would jinx the relationship. They are equals in a lot of ways, especially in their respective areas of specialty and they respect each other. But be honest with me, Gin: do you really see Severus Snape ever settling down with a family? I think the fact that we made him Albus' godfather is as close to a family as he will allow himself to come. You watch, he is going to dote on those boys – he already told me he would. And I bet he teaches Teddy, too. Abby has her own work; she's not going to give that up."

"I just hate seeing people lonely," she pouted, and Harry took full advantage of her lips, kissing them goodnight.

"You are a hopeless romantic with mothering hormones running rampant right now," he pointed out. "You want to mother the world and make sure they are as happy as you are." He kissed her nose as she grunted her approval.

"Fine, I guess you're right. I've always felt if the right woman came along..."

"Snape is Snape, Gin-Gin, you can't change him. Make him softer perhaps, but he will always be the quintessential Snape."

"Do you always have to be right?" she groused.

He grinned in the dark room, his smile catching the moonlight filtering through the tall, narrow windows. "Yes," He dropped down as she caught him across the head with her pillow, laughing all the while.

Friday, September 29th, 2006 – Diagon Alley, London, England

Abby was ready for the night. She had on a fresh pair of jeans, her platform biker boots, her Weird Sisters roadie shirt – signed by all the band members – under a black fishnet over-shirt. Matching lace, fingerless gloves graced her hands and she had made sure she was wearing perfect make-up for the night, her signature red lipstick glowing in the gathering gloom of the late summer evening. She was meeting Brian and George in front of Fortescue's and she was pacing impatiently, waiting for them to show up.

"Patience, Abby, they will be here."

She whipped around to spy Severus leaning up against the pillar to the fallen. He felt his heart flip as she smiled brilliantly at him, rushing over to give him a hug and a kiss.

"You decided to come along after all?" she asked, clearly excited at the prospect. He hated to bring her down.

"No, I'm here to read Weasley and the good Lieutenant the riot act concerning your safety tonight."

"Aww, you care, Severus..." she teased him, kissing his cheek in good humour.

"Of course I care. And they shall know that and they will know explicitly what will happen if one hair on your head is injured." He pointedly ran a hand over one of her pig-tails, tugging it in playfulness.

"Trust us, sir, we know," George said behind them. "We'll take good care of her and have her ready to board that plane tomorrow afternoon."

"You better, Weasley – or I'll remove the other ear on purpose!" he threatened and George clapped a hand over his good side, scowling at his mentor.

"You wouldn't!"

"Keep her safe, and you'll never know. Are we clear, gentlemen? Good. Have a good time, Abigail – I'll pick you up tomorrow and take you side-along to the airport." He started to walk away, but she caught his sleeve, turning him around, instead.

"Come back for me tonight?" she whispered for his ears only. "Midnight outside the store? I want to spend one last night with you before I have to go."

He gazed down in her eyes for a moment then nodded once, bending down to kiss her sweetly before turning and Apparating away.

Abby turned and linked arms with the two men, marching them down the street to the record shop, talking a mile a minute about the music they were about to hear and how much fun this band was.

Laughing and rollicking groups of young people slowly walked down the street, leading Severus to the front of the store where the concert had been held. He stood off to the side, people-watching; gathering the shadows around him as he watched for the bright carrot-top that would indicate Weasley was coming through the crowd. The tallest Weasley would stand out like a beacon in the crowd of black-haired enthusiasts, but it was quite a few minutes – well past Abby's requested midnight – before he finally spied them coming around the side of the storefront. Ah, she had gone back to say hello to her friends among the band, he realised as he noticed the lead singer – a quite hairy wizard – accompanying her to the alley's edge, shaking hands with George and Brian and giving Abby a friendly hug before waving good-bye to the group. George and Brian seemed to have their hands full of memorabilia and Brian seemed especially enthusiastic after his first concert with the famous band.

Severus stepped forward, dispelling his shadows, as Abby caught sight of him – her smile lighting up her face as always.

"You had a good time?" he asked, accepting a peck on the cheek as she linked arms with him and they all began walking toward the main square of Diagon Alley.

"Fantastic! Brian liked it, didn't you?" she asked the American Auror who was busy shrinking his souvenirs and tucking them away in his jacket pockets.

"Great music – and fantastic showmanship. Don't know why they aren't that popular over in the States – they would do well there!" he commented, a little loudly, as his ears hadn't acclimated to the lower decibel levels of the quieter street. Abby and George laughed at him, George slapping him on the shoulders in amusement.

Abby seemed to be steering the group through the central square. "Join us for an ice-cream?" she asked Severus. "Fortescue's is staying open for an hour or so to accommodate the concert-goers. It will be my last until I can wrangle the time to come back here again," she pouted and how could he refuse a request like that.

He joined them, ordering a small cup of vanilla which he tarried over as the three split a banana sundae piled high with nuts, whipped cream and cherries – while Abby displayed her talents by tying a knot in her cherry stem using just her tongue as she held his gaze the entire time, tempting him to take her right then and there. He blessed Wizard robes for their voluminous hiding capabilities and as soon as they were done with their treat and said their goodbyes, he bundled her up and Apparated to his cottage, carrying her into his bedroom and knocking the door closed with his heel.

Saturday, September 30th, 2006 – Sherwood Forest – England

"Sev, where is my other boot?"

Snape looked around the bedroom as his lover stomped around unevenly gaited as she searched for the errant footwear. Where had it gone last night? They had undressed so quickly in their eagerness, that they were finding bits of clothing scattered everywhere around the bedroom. Not seeing the biker boot, he finally dropped his wand into his hand and muttered "Accio boot", scooting out of the way as it shot out from under the bed. He handed it to her and left to begin a brunch before he had to return her to Andi's home so she could pack the rest of her belongings.

As he scrambled some eggs and set the toast to heating in the oven, she came into the country kitchen and leaned up against the counter, watching him.

"You could make yourself useful and set the table," he suggested. She smiled and bounced up to search for plates and silverware, taking them out to the porch so they could eat out there. She came back in and grabbed a pitcher of juice from the cold storage and two glasses from the drain board. He followed soon after carrying the skillet, a plate of oven-toast floating behind him, already buttered and sliced, fresh tomatoes.

They ate companionably, sharing the Daily Prophet that the delivery owl had dropped off earlier, pointing out interesting articles to each other.

She finally leaned back, looking out over the forest. "I'm definitely going to miss it here – but I'm also feeling homesick for my lab. I really don't want to know what they've done to it!" she groused. He nodded in sympathy.

"I would feel the same way. Have you heard from them at all?"

"No – and that worries me. But, I've sent them postcards and emails when I've been able to access my email. I wish I had time to visit some of George's friends; I could use a laptop that isn't affected by wholesale magic. I really shouldn't worry, though, Gibbs doesn't like it when we bother him on vacation so I'm sure he's trying to let me relax – but I'd relax more if I knew everyone was all right," she flustered. She really had never been one to worry patiently.

"You'll know in ten hours, Abby," he pointed out, having followed her rambling soliloquy.

"So I will," she agreed, pigtails bouncing as she nodded her head. She snuck a glance at her watch – a mechanical piece that wasn't affected by ambient magic. She kept it for when she was on trips to England – an old Timex from when she was a little girl that still had a picture of Alice in Wonderland under the number twelve, her twirling arms acting as the watch hands.

"Damn, better clean up and head back to Aunt Andi's." She matched word to deed and stood up to gather plates when Severus just waved his hand and the dishes floated back into the kitchen to start scrubbing themselves.

"They will put themselves away – it is built into the spell. Do you have everything?"

She had sent everything back with Teddy that afternoon and had only kept her ID, which had been in her back pocket all night. She verified that it was still there along with a credit card, and he gathered her in close to Apparate to Andi's back garden. She stayed in his arms a little longer, enjoying the contact before reluctantly removing herself at the sound of her Aunt's voice calling from the kitchen window.

"Abby? Is that you? You need to pack, dear!" rang Andromeda's voice, and they sprang apart like guilty teenagers, laughing at the absurdity of it.

"Coming!" she called out, snagging Severus' hand and walking with him across the garden.

"You certainly did multiple times last night!" he said sotto voce, earning himself a slap on the upper arm, grinning the entire time.

"Severus! How good to see you! Thank you for offering to take Abby to the airport; Teddy is having a junior league Quidditch match today and I need to take him to that." Andromeda was bustling about the kitchen, packing a basket of food for lunch.

"It's no problem, Andi, I'm glad to do so." He pushed the Goth down the hall, after she had greeted her aunt with a kiss and hug, so that she would get started packing and stayed in the kitchen to catch up with the only Black he'd ever really gotten along with. She pouted, but acquiesced, checking on Teddy to make sure he was gearing up as well.

"Ready for your match?" she asked as he stood in her doorway, watching her pull her things from the drawers and roll them up to stack in her luggage bag.

"Yeah. Aunt Ginny is normally our coach – having been with the Harpies all those years – but Uncle Harry is taking over for the next few matches until Albus gets older." He peered out into the main part of the house, making sure the other grown-ups weren't listening. "Abby, are you coming back? I mean you and Mr Snape..."

She turned around and summoned him over to sit next to her on the bed. "I have a job to do, Teddy. Hopefully, it won't be as long between visits this time – I really love coming here, and I like Severus a lot. But he's going to have a new job as well, you know. Neither of us is ready to settle down, we like our independence too much. Do you understand?"

"But," he hesitated, "don't you love him?"

"I think so," she said, trying to be honest with him. "But I love my job and my friends, too – and right now, I miss them terribly. But, I'm going to try to come back every year, even if just for a few days. Or, you and your grandmother could come to America and visit me – I could show you my lab! I can't let you grow up so fast again! And here – I have something for you!" She pulled out two small leather wrist guards, studded with silver studs.

"Wicked!" he breathed, buckling them on. "Just like yours!"

"Uh, huh. It'll keep you from breaking those wrists in Quidditch, and maybe start a fashion trend," she said, winking slyly at him. She gathered the little boy in for a hug before shooing him off as Andromeda called for him from the parlour. He shot past the Potions master as he came to stand in her doorway, shouting a good-bye to the dour man.

"Are you packed?" Severus asked over the sound of the Floo activating. Abby stood and surveyed the room, making sure she had grabbed everything when she spotted a photo of her and Dora from happier times, in their Roadie shirts – mugging for the camera. Picking it up, she ran a hand over the photo; tracing Dora's grinning face as her cousin stuck her tongue out at her then hugged her younger self, hard. Making a quick decision, she unzipped her bag and buried the frame deep inside so that it was cushioned by the clothes and relocked the bag.

"I am now!" she declared. He took the luggage from her and she carried her pack and jacket out to the garden. Stepping into his arms, she kissed him as he activated the magic and whirled them away to the Apparation point at Heathrow.

He accompanied her to the check-in desk, waiting as they tagged her luggage and processed her return ticket, walking her to the scanners where they discovered Brian Boswell standing in line.

"Abby, Severus... You're on this flight, too?" he asked, surprised.

"Just me," Abby explained. "Severus was just dropping me off. You are flying to DC?"

"Just the first leg; continuing on through to Albuquerque. Where's your seat?" They compared tickets and discovered – to Severus' relief – that they were separated by fifteen rows. He was surprised at the surge of jealousy he was feeling towards the handsome Auror in his black leather jacket and button down shirt that had the top four buttons undone. He reminded himself firmly that Abby had come home with him last night instead of staying with her friends. But the green dragon was irrational and all he could do was put a choke hold on it and not let her see how it affected him. He watched as the lieutenant was passed through the inspection point and then it was Abby's turn.

He kissed her swiftly before she removed her shoes, dropping them, her leather belt buckle, her dog collar (a simple black one with red fleur de lis), and rings into the tray and her backpack onto the conveyor belt. He watched as they wanded her and had her step through the magnetic portal, passing their detector, and was amused as she reapplied her appliances and waved good-bye to him, blowing him a kiss before disappearing into the crowds.

Finis