Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/ works/12454527. Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Underage Category: M/M Fandom: Harry_Potter_-_J._K._Rowling Relationship: Draco_Malfoy/Harry_Potter Character: Draco_Malfoy, Harry_Potter, Remus_Lupin, Lucius_Malfoy Additional Tags: Mpreg Stats: Published: 2017-10-22 Updated: 2017-11-27 Chapters: 7/? Words: 7269 ****** How I Met Your Father ****** by snarrydrarrytomarrylover Summary in a nice day, harry decide to tell his children how he met their father,Draco.Between fights, discussions,and revelations, the children got to know the real love story of their fathers Notes hi!this fanfic is also being posted in portuguese, hope you all enjoy me and my partner work really hard so hope you guys like it. ***** chapter 1 ***** chapter 1 "you know children"started harry while siting in front of his children"the story between myself and your father is more long and complex from what you know...everything started in 1991, when i enter the hogwarts express for the first time.  I was a little scared and confused with the idea of being a wizard, for me that was totally insane, but anything was better that my uncles so... Rigth after stepped into the train, i seriusly thougth i was crazy and was going agaisnt a wall but lucky me a family of red heads helped me or i woud have been there a long time trying to find the plataform. the twins that i later found that were called Fred and George helped me putting my trunk into the train and now i was with their youngst brother ,Ron,eating chocolate frogs and a lot of other candys. A girl called Hermonie Granger, stepped here a few minutes ago, she seemed really smart and was funny to see how she had left Ron so pissed "dad, we know how you met uncle Ron and aunt Hermonie, you told us!"said the brown hair boy "ok ok"harry laugth"lets jump to the part your father shows, how about that?"harry asked and the children nodded"ok..." i was chatting with Ron about hogwarts houses when 3 boys show up at the door of our cabin. two of them look like bodyguards or mayben even loyal foloweres i confess i didnt pay a lot of attention on them because my attention was stuck in the boy on the middle of them. He had blond and long hair, almost white, he´s eyes were grey, stuck on me, making me unconfortable "it´s true?"he asked still looking at me "they are saying Harry Potter is in this cabin.so it´s you?" "yes"i simply answer, his voice make me shiver, i looked away from the blond one to look to his side "oh, this is crabbe and this is goyle" he presented"and my name is Draco, Draco Malfoy" the children started moving in the couch what make harry laughed "ok, smart ones, you already know this part to, right?" harry asked and they nodded"so you also remember that he tried to be my friend and i denied?"they nodded again"ok so lets skip a little in the story to when the hate between draco and me started to grown bigger "i still can´t belive you broke the rules and got the skeeker place on the quidditch team"said hermonie unbeliving "and got malfoy with an idiot face,dont forget that" Ron laughed "it was not quite like that"i answer underbelly , walking into the great hall with them. "of course it was, he left cursing you of all posible names after the teacher got you out of there"my best friend told while sitting at the gryffindor table i follow him and sit by his side, thinking about what happen i lifted my eyes and looked at the table of Salazar Slytherin that was envolved in an happy chat, the students looked exited with the activities during the week espcially the first years. my eyes run the tabe until they found the blond i was looking for. Malfoy was talking with a blond girl and a black hair boy, laughing at something they said. i watch  him for sometime, close to his friends he was completly different of the boy that anoyed me . He laughed of something and drink a little of pumpkin juice, his eyes stopped founding mine. i felt a shiver going at all of my body i looked aways feeling my face burning. Great now malfoy will think i spend my dinner looking at him   ***** chapter 2 ***** Chapter Notes hello again! hope you guys enjoy last chapter here is a new one! chapter 2 31 october 1991 dread.if  i had to describe what i was feeling in only one word, that word would be dread. We were on the middle of the halloween special dinner when professor quirell enter the great hall screaming of the existence of a troll in the dungeons.the despair took a place on the great hall, right after professor dumbledore try to get everything in order sending the perfects to leading the students of their houses back to the dorms. in the middle of screams and chaos the perfects were trying to do what they were sent to. i was getting back to the dorms with Ron and the other students when i remerber something... "Ron...i´ll be right back"i whispered to him "Are you mad?there´s a troll inside the castle, you cant just go around all by yourself"he whispered back "i´ll be ok, i promise!"i said before scaping between the middle of the students, doing the opposite path of the dorms.A thought came by my head and made me nervous, the troll was in the dungeons,professor quirell said Dumbledore send the students to their dorms. Did anyone remember that the slytherin dorms are in the dungeons? I felt my hands sweating and started running in the castle going to the place i most hate of them all... i was going straight to the dungeons. While running the image of long blond hair invade my mind.was he ok?what if the troll catch him? i shook my head while turning to the hallway. im getting mad, thats the only answer to my thoughts. where was my conscience when i thought of risking it all just to see if Draco Malfoy was ok? but when i look i saw something that made me paralise Malfoy was down in the floor, looking straight to the troll in the front of him, ready to attack him.   "children exist certain moments in life where you start to question your sanity"said harry from the couch"and i found myself there with conly 11 years old, holding a wand when i didnt even know the most simple of the spells, ready to figth with a troll to protect Draco Malfoy, son of a death eater and the boy that make my life a hell everyday, i was sure i was mad"   " and what did you do about that dad?"they asked curious "well..."he laugh and start remember what happen i was still paralise without knowing what to do on that kind of situations.Malfoy was shrunken between the wall and a armor, creeped out, and hadnt notice me yet. i saw when the troll started to walking closer to him and he shrugged a little more, thats when i decide to act. i hold my wand and tried to  throw the first spell that i could remember. the troll turned around and looked at me and that was when the blond one notice me to. I look at them both completly lost and soon the troll started walking toward me. the wand trembled on my hand and look at Draco who was still shrunken on the floor.i was getting ready to attack when malfoy cast a spell on the troll caling the attentio of the creature towards him again "Malfoy you stupid idiot"i curse when notice that the troll was getting back to attack him. i tried to remember one of the spells i knew. i cast a confundus charm and quickly grab one of malfoy hands getting us out of there. we started running on the school halls until we found a open classroom. i got in and dragged malfoy with me trying to cast a protection charm right after. "you really are an idiot"malfoy mutter while he cast the spell "im the idiot who saved you"i snort annoyed "i didnt asked for your help potter"he snarled"im a malfoy, malfoys dont need rescues" "great, then next time i let you die" i said while sitting tired on the floor "its a favor that you made me. i dont need a pathetic lion with an hero complex trying to save me" "why are you snakes so proud?"i murmur " we are superiors, its different"he said while sitted on the table"why did you came after me?" "i-i-i.."i started talking trying to find a goos excuse "lions...all idiots"he snorted while cleaning his clothes"risking their lives for people that would let them die without thinking twice" i tried to answer that comment but a voice coming from the outside stopped me "is there someone inside?"someone called trying to open the door "its the slytherin perfect"Malfoy said and jumped of the table"stay here,Potter, i dont want people to think we solve to lock us here together"he started walking but right after he stopped"oh one more thing"he look at me" tell someone about this and i will get your scar bigger"he snorted and right after unlock the door,leaving the room   i started to think on what he said and got to a conclusion Draco Malfoy was really an idiot                                                                                                               .... "children, your father and i got into a lot of fights and you know it very well, so i decided that it will be better if i didnt tell them all, just the most important ones!"  "like when you broked your arm daddy?" asked the smaller boy with curiusity "oh,yes...that was the first time i saw him worried about me" he smiled remembering   November 1992 i dont know exacly how it happen, even today that game is still a white space in my head. i remember perfectly being hit with a spell and fell of the broom, that is something i will never forget, but after that everything is confused. screams of victory, fainting,wake up with the rain on my face. i remember that professor Lockhart tried to fix my broken arm but all he could get was lefted me without bones. i remember the pain, the people around me and after i remember going to the hospital wing, where i was bound to spend the night, drinking something for my bones to grown up again.   Hermonie and Ron went to visit me. Dobby to. when the elf leaved i thought i was finally alone when the door open.   It was not my friends.   or Dobby   much less was madame Pomfrey   Even without glasses i recognized that long and blond hair perfectly brushed.   I  really thought i was crazy, or the potion that made my bones grown was to strong or even that it was a dream or a nightmare.       but it wasnt Malfoy really was there, walking carefully throught the place, getting closer to my bed. " what are you doing here, Malfoy" i asked "i thought you would be sleeping,Potter"he answer "and came to watch me while i sleep? please Malfoy take a picture and put it on your bed  its easier!" "dont be stupid Potty"he snort"i came to see how the lion king was!, just to be sure you are ok so the next game i can beat you" "oh how much consideration" i smiled and close my eyes"the snake spend the precious time just to check i didnt died" "it wouldnt be funny to see you dying  on a quiditch game... its to simple" " oh yes i forgot, you prefer that Voldmort kill me with his own hands" i said and open my eyes just in time to see him shiver with the name pronouced "the dark lord as nothing to do with my visit" "so admitt you came here to see me.. go back to your dorm and sit in the front of a mirror brushing your hair" Malfoy snorted again "i owned the moment of concern, you idiot" " what do you mean?" i asked confused "you save me from the troll last year, thats not something so simple to forget!" "you still remember it!" i said surprized "of couse i do, your the only lion stupid enought to risk your life for me!" "why did you do it, Potter?" "it woudnt be funny to see you dying in the hands of a troll...its to simple" i imitate and he gave a smile "you really are an idiot Potter!" he laughted underbelly" a perfect lion with a touch of snake" "i would never be a snake, Malfoy" i answer not believing my own words "you already saw im fine Malfoy you can leave!" "off course" he stat moving away" rest well,Potter!he smile and left me there confused and alone.  could he really be worried about me?     ***** chapter 3 ***** Chapter Notes hi! im back again sorry about the wait!hope you like the chapter  chapter 3   Do you remember when I talked about doubting my insanity? that’s right. In 1992 the chamber of secrets was open again, everyone in school thought your father was the heir of Slytherin, of course Draco never said anything about it, but the truth is that he even took some attitudes that made us believe it was really him. In that year me and your uncle Ron take one more step into craziness and we took Polyjuice potion assuming the shape of Crabble and Goyle. -- 25 December of 1992  After the terrible sensation of the transformation, Ron and I started walking around the castle already on the skin of Crabble and Goyle, until we found Malfoy. It was a good thing, of course, since any of them knew the word to get into their common room. He dragged us around the castle and soon we were in the silver and green room, trying to disguise the anxiety. I thought Ron was going to deliver us when Malfoy started talking bad about the Weasleys, or when he called Hermione a Mud Blood, but then I decided to act. “You must know who is behind all of this?” he looked at me” I mean…the chamber of secrets…” I tried to explain. “You know I don’t Goyle, how many times I need to say that to you?” he answers not in good mood “My father didn’t want to tell me nothing about the last time the chamber of secrets was open. Of course, it was fifty years ago, before his time but he knows everything that happen and said that the case was closed, and it was going to release suspicions if a lot of things that happen the last time get out. But I know that the last time the chamber was open, a Mud Blood died. I bet it’s only a matter of time until one of them get killed…. I hope its Granger. Ron closed his wrists beside me, and I notice he was almost losing control, so once again I decided to act. “You think it’s true what everyone is saying about Potter being the heir od Slytherin?” “Potter?” Malfoy asked in surprise, mas right after made a face “For Merlin Goyle, that idiot don’t even know how to make a decent spell in Potions class, he could never be the heir of Slytherin!” “But is what most of the school is thinking…” Ron remember “Off course, everything because of that story of he talked with snakes, big thing!!, probably he only did that to scared everybody…” “You really hate him?! Ron asked, and I moved trying to hide my discomfort. “Didn’t we talk about this already?” Malfoy asked “What Draco, you know how we are…” I said trying to make him talk again “I don’t hate him” he answers, and I get surprised “I mean…he is really an asshole specially because he took down my friendship offer, but…I don’t hate him so much now…. Potter did something for me that….” He stopped talking and looked at us “what am I talking about? I don’t need to tell anything! Leave me alone and go get food that is the only thing you do properly” “But…but we…” I tried to talk but he stopped me “Get out Goyle!” he almost screams “Leave me alone I already said I don’t know who open the chamber” he pushed us out “Dude, what have you made for him?” Ron asked confused “I don’t have any idea” I lied “so, let’s get back to the lavatory and see how is Mione doing” I nod and followed him thinking about what happen, I smile imagine that he doesn’t hate me that much now. --   “Children, I don’t even need to tell you that years after your father told me he freaked out when it got into the chamber of secrets, and that he got worried when I fainted in the Hogwarts Express, even if he annoyed me with that story for a long time, but I want to skip a little bit and tell you one of the most important moments that happen right after the Triwizard’s tournament, on my fourth year. -- 24 June of 1995 That had been without doubt the longest and worse day of my life. Between the last task of the tournament, catch a portkey, seeing Cedric dying and fighting against Voldemort, I really didn’t kwon how I was still alive. But I was And Cedric died because of me I was in the infirmary, I wasn’t sick, at least I didn’t have any broken bone, or something like that, although I felt sick about everything that happen. Madame Pomfrey dragged me to the infirmary, said that it would be best if I stayed there for some time, fixing possible psychologic damage, what I thought idiot since I already suffer from that damage since I discovered about Hogwarts and about my parents especially how they died! My friend tried to see me, but I didn’t want to. I couldn’t. I was not ready. All I could remember was the green light getting out of Voldemort’s wand and hitting Cedric that fell dead on the floor. I feel the tears stared to fell again and the noise of the opening. Madame Pomfrey had gone sleeping so I know it couldn’t be her. I turned my back against the door. “Ron…Mione…Leave me alone” I asked believing it was my friend. “I’m not a Weasley, Potty…” I heard that voice that I knew so well “and the last time I checked I was still a Pure Blood, so…” he joked I turned around scared looking at Malfoy “Malfoy what are you doing here?” I asked surprised. “I wanted to see how you were!” “Come on Malfoy, I don’t have patience for your jokes today…” “I’m not joking. I really came to see how you are!” “oh yeah, of course, the child of the snake came to see if his dear Dark Lord didn’t hurt the little lion enough, or if he hold being disturbed a little more” I answer sarcastically “It really hurts when you talk like that you know?” he gave a sad smile “why is it so hard to believe that I came to see you?” “Because you don’t like me” I talked and for some reason it hurt inside me “you don’t like, don’t care and all you do is treating me badly” I passed my hand on my face “You were crying?” he looked at me worried “It doesn’t matter” I snorted, but more tears fell right after “Potter...” he called underbelly and came closer “I’m really sorry about what happen…” I looked at him surprised hearing the sincerity in his voice. Was he really Draco Malfoy. “I thought that snakes were cold and without feelings…” I let out bur regret right after seeing the expression on his face “Malfoy, I…” I tried to fix but he stopped me “So that’s what you think of me?” He asked underbelly looking somewhere “You think I’m cold and without feelings?” his eyes found mine and I could see the sadness on them “that’s ok Potter keep thinking that, because a person without feeling really would come here on the middle of the night getting the risk of being caught, just to disturb the boy who lived! A person without heart would have spend hours trying to make a potion that would over with your dreams for one night, only for that you could sleep right. A cold person would have been out of all of this and didn’t give a damn about Diggory father or the boy who had to face the Dark Lord again! You are right Potter, I’m sorry” he said it all by once and letting tears fell. “Malfoy, I…” “Forget it, Potter” he said nervously “I shouldn’t have come here, good night” he started walking to the door “shit, Malfoy” I shout and get up to go after him wrapping me on the sheet and felling in the ground moaning from the pain right after Malfoy sighed, he gave a deep breath and came by my side, he catches me helping me get up. I shivered feeling that touch, different, and more intense from what we usually had. “Be more careful, Potter” he asked while putting me on the bed “thankyou” I talked without looking at him “I’m going to let the potion here for you to take, if you want to…. Now rest, you need to…” he started to walk again to the door “Malfoy” I called, and he stopped “why are you doing this?” “Of all people in this school I thought you would be the one to understand me” he said and got out leaving me alone. In the dark I thought about what had happen, my heart beat fast, I smile remembering the hug he gave me so se could lift me up and put me on the bed. What I felt for Malfoy was strong, very strong. And maybe, if I stopped and think, I didn’t hate him that much   ***** chapter 4 ***** Chapter Notes Sorry for the short chapter but for the story to work out i really need to over the chapter on that part! A new chapter probably in two days! hope you like it <3 Chapter 4 After what happen in the infirmary I got away from your father. I escape from him every time I could. I avoid walking around Hogwarts alone, and tried to stay away from Slytherin in the classes we had together. He noticed and got hurt so in the afternoon of some Friday a note in a shape of a plane got into my desk.           “Found me at the lake, after your last class.                     Please don’t run away from me                                                                             D.M” "I sighed and looked at Malfoy. He was looking at me, and only for one second, I really believed he was sad. “Harry?” Mione called me “Harry, are you listening to me?” “what?” I looked at her and kept the note in my pocket “Sorry Mione I was distracted” “It’s everything alright?” she asked “Yeah, don’t worry” I gave her a smile “ok, so I was talking that….” And I turn off again, thinking of the meeting. -- The classes passed slowly from my point of view. I couldn’t focus, I don’t listen at what they were saying…. My mind was confused. I give up trying to understand and I started drawing the paper, hearing Hermione complaining was in a while. Right after the classes were over I literally run to the lake. I was anxious about seeing Malfoy, I even missed our fights. I sited on the grass, breathing fast from the run. “You were quick Potter!” said the voice that make me shiver “Malfoy” I turned around to look at him “I though you wouldn’t come… “he said underbelly and came closer “Why would I do that?” “You are running from me for weeks now…” he sited under the tree next to me “what did I do wrong?” he asked, and that question catch me surprised “You are really asking me that?” I looked at him unbelieving “Malfoy, have you ever notice our relationship? Everything you do is humiliating or tease me!” “But that never stopped you from responding my teases!” “One hour you get tired, no?” He denied “You get away from me after I went to see you in the infirmary…what happen? Did I do something wrong?” “What?” I asked surprised “No, of course not” “So why are you running from me Potter?” He asked underbelly I open my mouth to response, but I couldn’t. My thoughts of the last weeks invade my mind, and I shivered. Lately the only thing I’ve dreamed about was Malfoy and that was leading me into insanity. “You know that what happen in the tournament was not your fault, right?” Malfoy asked underbelly while picking my hands “You weren’t the one that killed Diggory, it was not your fault…” “I could have been avoided…” I said underbelly pressing his hands “You couldn’t… I know that if there had been a way, you would have done it… you have that damn hero complex, like every single lion. You prefer die that to let anyone get hurt” “But I was there…I saw him get killed” I said hiccupping “Hey, look at me” he asked and right after I felt his hand on my face, lifting it up “the fault of all of this is The Dark Lord, not yours. You only have mischance of being the Boy who live…I know that it must be horrible, but no one blame you for nothing of that…” I looked at him still crying underbelly. His eyes, so beautiful, his face so well drawn, that blond hair, oh god! Without even realize it I got closer to him. I only realize what I was doing when I felt his lips against mine. I knew it was wrong. I knew I shouldn’t be doing that. I know that Malfoy would kill me after, but I didn’t care. I could hear his breathe surprised, but right after he relaxed and let the kiss continue. Merlin, his kiss was so good! I closed my eyes and get the kiss even deeper, my hand going into his hair and his hand caressing my face. Seconds later I realized what I was doing and stepped back scared. “Malfoy, I…” I tried to talk, but get up in a hurry and catch my bag “Potter, wait!” He screamed “I’m sorry!” I shout back and run back to the castle leaving him alone in the lake I run through the halls, get in a room, and I sited on the floor, I hided my face on my knees, letting the tears fall, and hiccupping.    What the fuck had I done?         ***** chapter 5 ***** Chapter Notes Look who is back in less that 24 hours! The chapter is a little short but like the last one it was really need for the story to work like i want! Last short chapter i promise :) Next chapter probably in a few hours! Hope you like it today´s chapter is what happen during harry´s 5th year so i can move in the story! Warning: NEXT CHAPTER WE FINALLY HAVE DRARRY <3 Chapter 5 My fifth year at Hogwarts was, from far, one of the worsts. Still on the summer me and Dudley were attacked by dementors, so I had to use my wand to protect us, I was expelled from Hogwarts and had to face a trial. After Dumbledore helped me, things just got worst. On my first day of class we met our new teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts, professor Dolores Umbridge. The first weeks and I already got detention with her, I will never forget how bad it was too had to write with my own blood, a lot of times, the same sentence, “I must not tell lies” In that same year we figure out what had happened to Neville parents, and it was when I started having Occlumency lessons with Snape, so I could protect my mind. Cho and I broke up, professor Trelawney was fired, Dumbledore was fired, Fred and George leaved Hogwarts. But what disturbed me the most were my dreams. Between nightmares and weird dreams, sometimes blonde hair and grey eyes show up, calling me, trying to help me. Since that kiss Malfoy was always on my thoughts. I deviated every time that I saw him, I was the last one to enter the classes we share and the first to leave, I didn’t walk on the Slytherin part of the Castle, and the most important part I avoid with all my efforts walking alone around the Castle. Things got worse when I started to have erotic dreams with Malfoy. The dreams felt so real, I really felt I was there, dreams that make me wake on the middle of the night breathing hard and sweating, I even had to cast a muffliato on my bed every night before going to sleep, scared that the other boys heard me. In classes I could feel he was looking at me, but I never looked back at him. He sends me papers with notes, but I never answer or even open it, I just throw it away. My friends asked me what was wrong with me and I always talked it was nothing. What the hell was happening to me? I was in love with Draco Malfoy, that was the problem. Laying on my bed, one of those nights after awaking with another dream with him, I was thinking how that happen. Well, if I stopped and think, that was kind of obvious. All those fights, the insulting nicknames and teasing…. I don’t know what it means for him, but I knew what mean for me. I fell in love with Draco Malfoy since the first time I looked at him and now I understood it. I remember the first time on the train when he showed up at my cabin. So small, with his “I’m better than you” pose…. Oh god, how could I fell in love with him? Oh yeah, I knew the answer That blond hair, grey eyes…. Malfoy was beautiful, incredibly gorgeous, I was mad if I didn’t like him The way how he smiled while talking to his friends, the way he protected his “snakes” … So, I remember, when his soft lips were against mine, innocently stooling my first kiss, making my hand started shaking and my stomach freeze from happiness, And I left running. I turned around on bed and sighed. I’m so pathetic, I’m here sighing for that idiot, when I know he will never look at me with other feeling than angry! I felt tears falling and turned around in the bed again, looking at the window. To Malfoy, I will always be the Scarhead. ***** Chapter 6 ***** Chapter Notes Finally Draco and Harry!!! I probably only gonna to update next week i have to study and im kind of sick so... see you next week! Hope you like it Chapter 6 When the sixth year started I was devastated. After Sirius death I isolate myself and back away from everyone. I leaved my Uncles house in July, so I spent the rest of my summer in the burrow, I was nominated to be Gryffindor team Capitan but that didn’t cheer me up. I dreamed with Sirius, every night. I remembered his death, the desperations that consume me with the anger I felt. A lot of times I woke up crying or with Ron waking me worried about me. But that didn’t make my dreams with Malfoy stop, oh no, far from that. I always end up dreaming about him again, always calming me, comforting me, helping me. Was I so in love with him that even think he would come and help me? That he simply would stay by my side on this hard moment? I sighed and move myself in the sofa of the cabin. Already made a long time since the Hogwarts Express leave, and since that I didn’t move I was shrunken in the cabin, looking at the window, even if I didn’t even look outside. Ron and Mione left some time ago. Business’s about being Perfects and that after they would go to the other Weasley’s Cabin, the last one which was a lie of course, they only wanted some time to date alone. That thought made me sighed and moved again. The two of them are in a relationship for a couple of months and since then I felt more left behind than ever. Not that I’m not happy for them, because of course I’m happy for them, it was just that I couldn’t get free of the sensation that I was losing my best friends, since now they are always cuddling each other. I sighed again and got up, leaving the cabin and I start to walk around the train, right after I notice where I was going but I didn’t care, what had to lose? I saw other houses students looking at me with pity, but I ignore them, I put my hands on my pockets and continue walking. I stopped in front of the cabin and knocked on the door a few times, I was already getting ready to the insults and ridiculous jokes that would come right after, but all I heard was a “come in” underbelly I obeyed and open the door, surprising myself when notice he was alone, shrunken in the Conner of the cabin, reading a book. “What do you want here?” He asked when he saw me “I…wanted to talk to you” I answer, feeling my hands sweating “Are you going to run again?” He asked, and I denied “Let’s go to another cabin, I don’t want that my friends came back and saw you here” I sighed and nodded, and we start to walk around the train trying to find an empty cabin. We found one and got in, right after he cast a spell to give us privacy. “Be quick, Potter. What do you want?” He looked at me and he seemed tired I couldn’t hold on and I hug him tight, feeling the tears forming in my eyes I could feel his body tense, surprised with my action, but right after he relax and sighed, hugging me back “What happen, Potter?” He asked underbelly Malfoy grown up a few inches in the summer. We were almost from the same high but nothing that could stop me from place my face in his chest. And that was exactly what I did, starting to cry right after. He surprised me, leaning his head above mine, and caressing my hair, trying to calm me We stayed like that for a few seconds, until my breath starts to calm and my crying cease, I step back a little bit and looked at him. “I-I’m sorry, I just… I just need that you insult me, be bad to me, that treat me like you always did, I need to see that at least one thing didn’t change” I asked He laughed “Potter, I can’t do that…” He said smiling “Why not?” I asked confused “Because I never wanted to treat you that way” He smiled and caressed my face “How so?” I asked kind of lost “You never notice, Potter?” He stopped his hand on my jaw, caressing there “I never hated you… I always liked you… Even before I met you. I dreamed about you since the first time I heard about Harry Potter. Your story enchanted me, and when I met you… oh god, there was no way I could not fell in love with you… look at you with that green eyes like emeralds, shinning and hypnotizing… that hair always messy, you are so beautiful, so charming… I only treated you that way because you didn’t want to be my friend, and that really hurt me…” I looked at him stunned and surprised “You… are in love with me?” I asked underbelly He nodded “Since the first time I saw you!” He smiled and caressed my face. I close my eyes with that action so good that made me crawl “So…When I kissed you…” I started underbelly and he denied “I wasn’t going to fight you, Potter… I had dreamed about it for a long time I looked at him again, that eyes so pretty that have been on my dreams for so many nights “You didn’t run…even after what I told you “He said underbelly “that is a good sign?” I nodded “You have been making me crazy Malfoy, since the first day here…I have been dreaming so much with you that I even think I was mad… it took me a long time until I realize and admit to myself that, I always been in love with you…” “You what?” he asked surprised but right after opened a smile Seeing Malfoy smiling that way I couldn’t resist, I took advantage that I was still in his arms and pulled him into a kiss. He got surprised, but right after his arms were in my waist, hugging me and pulling me closer to him, I smiled and put my arms around his neck deepening the kiss, and I could feel him smiling. That was for sure the best sensation in my life, having Malfoy hugging me, kissing me with those thin lips but so good We stayed that way for a long time, kissing and still hugging, just enjoying the moment. Pulling our foreheads togethers, and we smiled. “I’m in love with you, Draco!” I whispered ***** Chapter 7 ***** Chapter Summary Im back with a new chapter! Right now im full with school stuff, i will try to update next week but i cant promise. Hope you like it. Chapter 7 The Charms classes always were a little boring for me, but in that morning, they seemed worst. Professor Flitwick was explaining something that I could not understand, even when I tried to look at my notes. Moreover, my notes were just some doodles, that was awful didn’t had anything I could take avail of. I sighed and stretched my arm picking Hermione notes. She complained but in the end, she just agreed, she knew I wasn’t ok. While I copied the notes, a small bit of parchment flood to me, I opened it carefully, and smiled recognizing the handwriting                     “You don’t seem ok…. something happened?” I quickly wrote an answer and the parchment flooded back to him, who looked at me.                      “The same as always, another nightmare”                      “You want to talk about it?”                      “I don’t think so…. But I have a better idea… you still want me?” This time he looked at me unbelieving my question. Right after the paper came back.                       “What the hell Potter? What meaningless question is that?” I smiled with that.                        “Great, so I see you next to the lake after classes. I promise not to run this time” ... The rest of my classes I just couldn’t pay attention, my brain was too far away from there. Professor McGonagall was talking something about kettles, cups and animals, but I just couldn’t get it, or even gather all words to form a sentence. So, I looked at the window I let myself deeper in my thoughts. I thought about my nightmares, the pain I felt about losing my godfather, the Newts, and so I remembered the Hogwarts Express Oh yeah, that had been one of the best times of my life. After the kiss and my declaration, Draco and I stayed in the cabin together talking about how insane that was but also how much time we had wished for it. After a lot of talking we decided to give our relationship a try, see what would happen both of us, see if what we felt was true. Off course all of this without telling anybody. Not that we didn’t trust our friends; but we both needed to understand what we felt for each other before telling anyone. Since then, whenever we had a free time, we enjoyed quick moments together by the lake. I was in love. I knew it and was completely sure of it. Every time Draco touched me a new wave of emotion and hot sensations invade my body, making me want even more. There was still a little problem, maybe the most important motive to keep all a secret: our history. Everyone that knew us, knew about our rivalry, if someone discovered we were together everything could turn into a chaotic stage. Right after the last classes came to an end, making me happy, I gather all my things together in a hurry. “Harry? Let’s study?” Asked Hermione “Hm?” I looked at Her “Sure, Mione. I’m just going to talk to Dumbledore really fast, and right after we can study.” “Are you going to talk to him about the nightmares?” Ron asked “yes…” I lied “Do you want us to go with you?” “You don’t need to, everything is alright…” I gave them a weak smile “you can get going, I will meet you after” I looked at the entrance and saw Draco already leaving. I pick up my invisibility cloak and put it on, running through the halls to get to the precious lake. I got there after a few minutes, founding the blonde sited waiting for me. I smiled and got closer carefully, taking the cloak and hugging him, making him jump with the fright. “You scared me, Potter! I almost died of my heart” he looked at me angry “Don’t call me like that” I made I face “Harry…” he gave a silly smile, holding my chin “Draco…” I smiled “I missed you” he admitted “I missed you to…” I said caressing his hair and right after pulled him into a kiss He smiled with the hand on my face, enjoying the sensation of our lips together “This is so good” I whispered “yeah” He said caressing my face “how are you?” “The same way…” I sighed “but let’s not talk about it, you already know everything “I wished I could help you” He hides his face on my neck “You already help…” I smiled shriving with his breath “just being here with me” “you are going to make me even more spoiled, little lion” He joked and looked at me “I don’t really care, my beautiful snake” I laughed caressing his face “You should… I’m already a spoiled person, then you came and made it even worst…” “I’m just being honest, blondie” I laughed “Oh, Potter… you are going to break me that way…” He smiled and kissed me again I smiled during the kiss, my body shivering as always. Then we heard some voices coming closer and we quickly stepped back. Draco looked at me scared and right after I pulled my cloak covering both of us. “What is this?” He asked confused “My invisibility cloak” I whispered “Your what?” He looked at me surprised “shhhh” I asked, and the voices got closer, three students talking “Did you notice how Potter and Malfoy are behaving lately?” a girl asked “They are weird… They barely talk to each other” another girl answer “yeah, there’s a long time since their last fight…” “The two of them are weirds. I think they fight that way because they love each other” “oh no, Potter is just too much to Malfoy… he is really spoiled” someone talked, and I hold myself not to laugh, winning a slap from Draco “In my opinion Malfoy is to hot for Potter…” they answer, and the blond smiled while I growled unhappy Right after the students got back to the castle, we waited a little and I took the cloak off “To good for me?” Draco complained “hottie? Who that girl thinks she is? Did you recognize her? I’m going to hex her” I growled “Hm” He looked at me “Are you jealous?” “off course! Did you heard how they talked about you? I answer nervously, and he smiled “what?” “you got so cute when you are jealous…” he smiled and kissed me I immediately get calmer my hand in his face pulling him to me “I’m only yours” He said “only mine?” I asked interested “yes” He smiled “I like it…” “I just wished I could stay with you without needing hiding” he sighed “What will you do tonight?” I asked “Nothing why? “Meet me in the room of requirements? I want to do something special tonight” “what are you planning?” “You are going to find out when you get there… what do you say?” “Tell me the hour and how to get there” He smiled I started to get anxious for tonight just to spend more time with my blonde. Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work! r out of her own kitchen like that." "Shut up and dry." ***** Chapter 7 ***** There are unpleasant wake ups and then there are horrible, gut churning, 'Please let me die now' wake ups. Unpleasant is waking up expecting a sunny day and it's a bit nippy, overcast, with the possibility of a drizzle. Waking up to find your blankets somehow managed to fly across the room instead of hanging off your bed. Rolling over to grab the book you went to bed reading, and having to hang over the side to pull it out from beneath the night stand. The other? Well the best example is waking to someone clearing their throat, wrapped in the arms of someone who's not supposed to be there. Recognizing who the sound belongs to in the same instance that the parentally uninvited slides their hand beneath your shirt to tuck just below your breast. "Downstairs, five minutes." The look in his eyes when she blinked slowly at him did not bode well. She recognized the tightness in his jaw, theway his eyes darkened, and knew that if she wasn't down in two it wouldn't end well at all. Watching him leave, she grabbed Charlie's wrist and flung it off her, scrambling off the bed only to have her legs tangle in her blankets to fall to the floor with a solid thud. "What are you doin'? It's early." "My parents are home." She hissed, yanking her shirt down and eyeing the small bruise on her throat with a groan. "Oh." Any other time, watching him stretch, the way the muscles shifted beneath his shirt, would have been riveting. At this moment, all she wanted to do was kick him to make him move faster. "Charlie! Get the fuck up!" "Hmm? Yeah, yeah, just need a minute, pet." "Well when my Da comes up to skin you alive, remember you could have had your feet under you." She gave him a dirty look, before stalking out of her room and down the stairs, hesitating as she leaned over the barrister to peer into the kitchen. Mom at least didn't look too upset, the low murmur of her voice mixing with the dark growl of her father's. Shit. "Hey Mom." Pressing a kiss against her cheek, she glanced warily at her father before sitting down beside her mother. "You guys are home early." "Is that Charlie?" "Yeah." Oh, so no to the pleasantries then, he must be furious. "What's a strange man doing in my house?" "Sleeping." The moment she said it, her mother let out a soft snort of amusement as she lifted the cup in her hand to hide her smile. "We didn't do anything." "His hand was under your shirt." The chill in his voice had her chin lifting, crossing her arms over her stomach as she leaned back in the chair. "Kid, this ain't alright. How could you invite him over to my house without letting me meet him first?" "Well I did ask you to come to the library with me, you were supposed to meet him at the cafe." "Does he work there?" "No." When she didn't elaborate her father's jaw clenched, his body mirroring hers subconsciously, fingers tapping against his forearm. "So what does he do, then? Or doesn't he have a job?" "More or less." His eyes narrowed at her, mouth opening only to close when there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs. Watching Charlie walk down the stairs, hands still tugging his shirt down over his torso only to come to a stop just outside the kitchen. "Hullo." "Morning, Charlie. This is my Mom and my Da." "Morning, Charlie." There was a soft thud, her mother's foot connecting with her father's shin beneath the table to produce a grumbled greeting. "Been staying here long?" "No, ma'am. Off and on the past week or so when she wasn't feelin' comfortable on her own." "That's sweet." She rolled her eyes at the way her mother sighed, the soft curl of her lips. Though she did have to admit it was better than the way her father was glaring daggers at her, his teeth grinding hard enough she could hear it. "So... Is there coffee?" she finally asked when the silence grated on her nerves, the moment her mother got into the kitchen in the morning she always started a pot. Well, almost always. "Not yet, I-" "She's still in school, you know that don't you. Hasn't even graduated, and you're sniffing around?" He interrupted, his hand slamming down on the table top as he finally turned to look at Charlie full on. "What's she going to do when you get her pregnant and she can't go to college?" "Da... Seriously? We haven't done anything that could get me pregnant, I don't even know if I want to go to college. Just stop, okay?" "No. There's been a strange man in my home, in my daughter's bed, half naked with his hand under her shirt." "Half dressed, would be a better way to look at it." She chirped, sliding off her chair to grab a mug and tugging the tea from by the stove. "Being half dressed would mean that he'd been fully naked to begin with, which is not an option I'd like to be thinking about right now." "... Fair enough, half naked it is then." Mixing the tea, she handed the mug to Charlie before mixing her own coffee and creamer. "When did he get his own stash of tea, in my house?" "Um, I think it was after I met him in the park? I knew he liked tea so I grabbed some at the store one day in case he came over." "Stop it, both of you, quit baiting each other." But they didn't, not through two pots of coffee, pancakes, and her mother's medication. By the time her mother had cleared the dishes away, it was clear she was fed up with both of them. "Out." For a moment her father looked pleased, smiling at Charlie's blank face until he noticed she was pushing her daughter out of the kitchen as she motioned to Charlie as well. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He demanded, his coffee cup spilling as he surged to his feet. "She's grounded! Do you hear me, grounded!" "You of all people should know, that the only way to keep her grounded is to chain her down now that she has Charlie." "Then I will." "Good fucking luck with that." She muttered, grabbing a pancake and strutting out of the room and out the front door with Charlie's wrist tightly gripped in her grasp. "Be back later Mom!" He followed her silently for a while before pulling her to a stop, eyeing her as she slowly finished the pancake without looking at him. Letting out an annoyed sound, when she started to try and walk again, yanking her back. "It wasn't that bad." "Really? Please tell me I'm just missing your sarcasm." Pulling her wrist loose from his grip, she stared up at him, a sneer curling her lips. "Tell me how it wasn't 'that bad'." "I didn't get shot." He watched as emotions flitted across her face before she slowly smiled, a low chuckle in her throat before it turned into a full throated laugh. "Fair enough, you didn't get shot." "And he didn't throw the hot pan at my head while making breakfast." "Could you imagine if he did though? You'd be covered in batter and scrambled egges, not to mention grease..." It was hard to understand her around her laughter, but he grinned none the less, the laughter better than the way her skin had grown colder. "Think I'd survive going back some other day for a proper greeting?" "Yeah, ... Well maybe." She paused, her nose wrinkling. "Very possibly." "Fantastic..." ***** Chapter 8 ***** Chapter Summary The things I do with these convos... askldjf I AM NOT SORRY Her father never did get around to shooting Charlie, even when he found the two of them curled up on the couch, her face buried into his chest as her fingers clung to his shirt. Didn't shoot him when he walked in on her settled between his legs as she did her homework. Well, her homework in her lap with her head twisted and making soft sounds in her throat as they kissed. That one had been a close call. So she wasn't too surprised that Charlie survived asking her parents to stay with him at his mother's house, shoving him towards the couch the moment they got there, and sprawled on top of him while they watched a movie. Her eyes hadn't wanted to stay open, falling shut as she cuddled down between his bulk and the back of the couch. There was something nagging at her though, even in her sleep and it was driving her crazy. Even with his breathing in her ear, the steady rise and fall of his chest under her cheek, she'd never felt safer. So why, why was her stomach all in knots making it hard to eat anything at all? When morning came around she groped for the remote, turning on the TV and hitting play on whatever VHS it was that they left in the night before.and hazily stared at the screen until something they said had her head lifting as her gaze sharpened. Why the hell had they gone to bed watching Forrest Gump? Reaching out to turn it off until she was ready to actually get up she glared at the screen ~They was trying to grab you Rude, very rude, she groused to herself as she felt Charlie wrap an arm around her waist as he rolled onto his back. Fingers splaying over his chest to try and silently warn him not to roll again, she glanced at the screen again and felt her throat close up tightly at the look on Forrest's face as he watched Jenny leave, again. What the fuck was it even doing on this part? Did Charlie just turn it off before sleeping instead of letting it play through. Muttering beneath her breath she hit stop and rewound it, her skin crawling, she slowly squirmed off of him and headed to the movie case. She was up now, might as well find something to watch. The moment Forrest was done rewinding she just grabbed one at random and went to pop it into the VCR before looking at the case, Armageddon. Which for the most part would have been just fine if her mother had remembered to rewind it after watching it, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler all cozied up in the back end of a rocket. Seriously?! She almost broke the button trying to stop the film, that crawling on her skin getting worse as she guiltily looked back and Charlie wondering if she'd woken him up. No, but looking at him made those funny squirmings her stomach did even worse, gnawing lightly on the outside of her thumb. Her mother had joked about her finding the love of her life early like she did, ha ha ha. That's not what this was, she wasn't going to fall in love with anyone. Ever. Not happening, falling in love made you blind to so many things you lost track. No she wasn't going to- Shit. She hadn't even realized that she'd stopped breathing until she felt his hand running down the length of her calf and it made her gasp. Shaking him off, she shook her head when he muttered a good morning, again when he asked if she was alright. "Leave it." She growled out between clenched teeth. "Destiny..." "I'm fucking serious, leave it." She wasn't ready for his hand to cup her wrist, trying to pull her to face him, jerking her arm loose. When he made another grab for her, she hit him, her fingers curled into a fist and hitting him in the stomach as she tried to escape. Another when he pulled her close, this one a slam down of her fist on his shoulder as she struggled. "Stop hitting me." He hissed, lifting his head when a wild right hook made it's way to his jaw. Blinking surprised as he let out a soft grunt when she punched him right over the heart before grabbing her wrists. "I said stop it!" "Let go of my wrists, Charlie." She felt like she couldn't breathe, the tight grip on her wrists making her heart flutter in panic. Trapped, that's what love was it was a trap. Her birth mother and her side of the family had taught her that before her father had taken her home. "You goin' to stop hittin' me?" "No." She couldn't if her life depended on it, fight or flight, and since there was no running well... "What's wrong with you?" Looking up at at him she could see the concern and confusion in his eyes. Eerily enough the look was so much like the one Forrest had given Jenny that she felt the panic get worse. "No." "That's not an answer." There was a hint of anger beneath the concern now but there was something else too, something that if she let herself she could fall into... "No..." "Destiny?" "NO!" Tugging futilely at the grip on his wrist, she was tempted to bite him, the idea short lived when he let go of her wrists to wrap his arms around her. "Don't..." She didn't care if she woke her parents, though she wasn't sure if she'd be relieved when her father saw the panic in her eyes and kicked Charlie out, or if she'd fight for him to stay. It took her brain a moment to remember where she was, taking in the photo graphs that lined the shelves. Turning her gaze back on him, she felt her cheeks flush at the sight of their pants tucked into the couch and his vest wrinkled with a few holes that hand't been there before. Right, they'd, well they hadn't done that, he was still being stubborn, but she'd managed to talk him into getting very close before he'd draped his arms across her back to make her go still. So close, she'd almost had her own underwear off after he'd lost his, letting her explore for quite a while before waving the proverbial flag. "You won't even let me hold you?" Glancing up at him, she shrugged, feeling the hesitancy as his palms passed over her sides before wrapping around her and slowly pulling her close. "That's better... What's wrong?" "I love you." She wasn't even sure that he'd heard her, the words whispered against his chest as she rested her forehead against his collarbone. "That's bad?" The reply was slow, the words measured as his hand slowly rubbed along her back. "Yeah." "I love you too." Feeling the grin as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, she fought the urge to start swinging again. "No. "Yes I do, now let's get back to bed before my Mum comes home." There was so much humor in his voice it took every ounce of will power not to bite down deeply into the muscle of his chest. He thought it was a laugh riot, she could tell, his arms tightening around her before letting go and and brushing his lips along her forehead. "I hate you." "Come on, I'll make you feel better." A hint of suggestion in his tone had her narrowing her eyes at him, noticing out of her peripheral that he was half hard. Wasn't that a normal thing for guys or- She couldn't really think, but she snatched her pants off the couch all the same. "Keep your dick in your pants, Bronson, or I'll chop it off." She was amusing him, the prickly defense making him grin as he dug around in the couch trying to find his briefs. Following her to his room, pants and belt in hand, he reached out with the other to pull her close and slowly trail kisses down the side of her neck. "It's already out." Heat rose up her throat to stain her cheeks, twisting out of his grasp to crawl onto his bed and curl up on her side. She stiffened when he joined her before pressing back against him, tangling her fingers with his and pulling his hand up to cuddle it. There was an insistent prodding that had her squirming before she went still at the light tap he gave her chest bone with his fingertips. She could still feel his amusement, squirming more until her shirt rode up in the back to press against his bare skin. Given an option she'd have stripped too, probably, a very solid maybe, but he was holing her to that no sex til she graduated thing. "It was a metaphor." She muttered, moving her leg back to tangle with his, most of her earlier panic gone. She felt his smile when he pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, and the quiet hum of agreement as he worked his way along her shoulder. ***** Chapter 9 ***** Chapter Summary Sex. As a forewarnin' thing. "Stop... Fighting... Me." Graduated, and her first thought hadn't been about college, or going out to drink with her friends. No, her very first thought was that she could finally, FINALLY, get her own vehicle. Which may or may not be directly tied into the fact she'd planned an a large vehicle with room in the back for her things. That may or may not be moving to a small flat her mom had helped her pick out, and her father had taken an instant dislike to. And Charlie, she'd skipped all the celebrations, ignored the calls of her friends, to make her way over to him and all but tackle him to the ground when she hugged him. When they got back to the house, she dragged him up the her room and slammed the door shut. She wasn't sure where their shirts had landed, pretty sure she broke a nail on his belt, but she didn't try to jump him right away, mostly she just enjoyed the feel of skin on skin as he stared down at her bewildered. It hadn't taken him long to catch up, his mouth bruising hers as he lifted her, pressing her against the door as he ground against her. She was glad her parents weren't home, things falling from the dresser when he stumbled back and fell against it. Her whole body went still when he pinned her to the bed, heaving upwards to roll him and straddle his hips. "Destiny-" She cut him off with another kiss, her hips grinding down on his as a low sound came out of her throat at the feel of him gliding along her. "I want to be on top, just..." Hesitating when she felt the head slip between her lips, she froze as she stared at him. She wanted this, she knew she did, but now that she could finally have it. "Relax." "The fu-" His hands settled on her hips, angling them properly as she slowly continued to grind. "Fine." She'd read about it so she figured how hard could it be, insert a into slot b and voila. But the farther he slipped in the more she felt uncomfortable, her thighs aching as she tried to figure out how to lower herself on his shaft and slide down at the same time. The moment he's seated though she went still, muscles she hadn't known she had are protesting. "Aren't you goin' to move?" His voice was strained, his hands sliding along her sides and back as he shifted restlessly beneath her. "Destiny?" Swallowing, she tried to roll her hips like she had been, but the fullness, the way it stretched sent shivers up her spine and racing back down again as she stared at him confused. Felt good, yeah, heard that, but no one had mentioned how everything seemed to tingle and burn and- "Why are you looking at me like that?" Brow furrowed, he took in a breath and let it out slowly, groaning as he lifted his hips impatiently before going still again. "Does it hurt?" "I- I can't..." "Fuckin' hell, you wanted to be on top, now you don't know?" Frowning at him, she sat back, her fingers trailing over his stomach as she tried to figure out how to handle the shock of all the new sensations. His eyes slid over her, hands sliding up to cup her breasts which sent a whole new thrill through her like it hadn't before. Why was this so freaking hard? "Are you blushing?" "No." She probably was, not that she'd be able to tell with the heat that seemed to skim along her skin and make her blood burn. "Then move, I can't stay inside of you forever." "I can't..." "Why not?" His hands stilled on her thighs, feeling the tremble in them and blinked up at her slowly. The smile on her lips explained better than she felt like doing, a steady throb making her restless though she wasn't entirely sure what for. "Oh..." She slapped his chest with the flat of his hand when he laughed, letting out a sharp sound of surprise when he rolled them again and lightly pushed at her knees. Her hands slid up to cup the back of his neck to pull him down. Kissing she knew, kissing she understood, that throb between her legs could wait but then he pulled his hips back and slowly slid them forward. Her eyes opened wide, breaking the kiss to stare at him as he did it again and a low whine escaped at her as she tried to move away. "Come here, just open your legs a bit more." He grinned when she whined again, her nails digging into her shoulders as he began to thrust faster watching her face. "You okay now?" "Mhmm." Her mouth fell open in surprise, her hands shoving at his shoulders before he slowed again. Body giving an odd twitch, her hips lifted and ground against his her eyes locked on his going impossibly wider as she cursed through her shock. Laughing, he leaned down to kiss her, a hand sliding up her stomach to cup her breast and knead the softly. "I'll take it slow, alright?" When she nodded, her eyes unfocused as she tried to figure out what the hell just happened. Didn't realize that she'd said it out loud until Charlie laughed again, reaching down between them the brush his thumb against her clit and made her startle enough her hips tilted and he missed on his next stroke. She liked the way his thumbs dug into her hips to hold her still, slamming into her and bringing her screaming as her nails tore through the skin of his back as her teeth sank into his shoulder. She frowned when she couldn't move her legs afterwards, a dull throb slowly ebbing through her as he pulled her tight against him, nuzzling her ear. The grumbled complaints were only half heard, her fingers trailing along arm until he nipped her shoulder in a bid for quiet. A few hours later she woke up, facing him with her face nestled against his throat. Grinning, she nipped the pulse that had been beating against the tip of her nose, her hand skimming over his torso to palm him slowly. At first she thought he wasn't going to wake up, enjoying the way the pliant flesh hardened and slid along her palm. The low groan, his hand moving to cup her thigh and pull her closer, the tip sliding against her clit making her whimper as her hips rolled. Shallow thrusts had her clinging to his upper arm, the other hand moving to cup his neck when he kissed her. All that foreplay was nice, months of it was fun, but this was so much better. ***** Chapter 10 ***** A month and a half later she still didn't regret the obvious idiocy of dragging Charlie to her room as much as she felt stupid for not locking the door. Her father still wasn't speaking to her, absolutely livid. Oddly enough, he'd had no problem talking to Charlie when he'd helped her move things to her new place. That had made her angry like his blow up and frigid silence hadn't. And she was still wondering if that was the point behind it. "They said well done, not burnt." She jumped, looking down at the steak that was putting off an unhealthy amount of smoke, cursing as she flipped it to get a look at te damage. Her friend Cory laughed at the face she made before she snatched it off the flat top and threw it towards the back. "Shut up." "You sure you're alright?" The teasing tone was gone, replaced instead with a hint of concern as if he wasn't sure she wouldn't hit him. "Yeah." Grabbing a new steak from the fridge she tossed a fresh one on after adding a bit of butter and spices to the hot metal. She shouldered him out of the way to grab the potatoes she'd diced and tossed them on as well. "Uh huh." He eyed her for a moment before grabbing the new order from the server. "Charlie's on the phone, by the way." "Busy." "I can-" "I'm busy!" The snarled reply didn't do her any good when he only shoved the phone towards her. "Hi." "What's wrong?" "Nothing." Ignoring the snort of disbelief behind her, she reached out for the season salt from the shelf and sprinkled the potatoes with it before covering them. "Right..." "What is it?" She knew it came out more irritable than she meant it to when she heard the low annoyed sound he made in the back of his throat. "You're busy, it can wait." The flash of guilt that ran through her and it just made her angrier. Fumbling with her thoughts she tried to rein it in, not her greatest skill set to begin with, she scowled at the food she was preparing. "It's fine, really. What is it?" "I've got a fight tonight." "Oh." The sudden shift from angry to upset left her dizzy, her lower lip catching beneath her teeth. "So no to meeting at the club then?" "Yeah, you can still go if you want." Snorting, she shifted the phone to her other shoulder as she flipped the steak. It wouldn't be so bad, she had a couple of her friends that would be more than happy to meet her there, had even asked her to go out in the first place, and she'd shameless begged until Charlie agreed to join. "Or you could come watch?" "Seriously?" That piqued her interest, blinking slowly as she checked the potatoes. The last fight he'd had, had been at a strip club of all places, so he'd told her not to come. The argument that it had technically been below it hadn't shifted his stance at all, and she couldn't help grinning and bouncing lightly on her feet in anticipation. She almost dropped the phone when Cory poked her, mouthing what and then poking her again when she tried to wave him off. "Can I bring Cory?" "Who?" Rolling her eyes, she separated a chunk of potato from the rest and check it. Done, grabbing the steak and sliding it onto a place, she surrounded it with the potatoes and handed it out. "Cory. You know, big, adorable, blue eyes. The two of you almost broke my dresser moving it up the stairs?" She laughed when Cory batted his eyes at her before flexing, her reaction hammed as she pretended to swoon. "Think he's good lookin' then?" "Well, yeah." The answer, coupled with a shrug, came quickly before she actually hear the tone that went with the words. "He's like a little brother, Charlie. I didn't mean it like that!" "I don't remember him bein' all that little. Ain't he about my size?" "Bigger!" She almost lost the phone, startled when Cory leaned close to speak into the speaker. swatting him away with a grin, she shook her head. "He's a brat, is what he is." She choked on the squeal she almost made when he poked her ribs, glancing at him to see the pout on his face. "An oversized three year old who costs more than he's worth to feed." "If you want to, you can." "Charlie?" She shoved Cory away with a frown, turning away from him even though that didn't give her any more privacy. "Hey, don't do that. He really is just a little brother to me, I wouldn't ask to bring some guy I was mooning over. Not that there is one, well there is but he's already going to be there. Because that's you and-" "Just stop." Cory whispered, shaking his head rapidly at her. "Seriously that is a hole you're just digging down into." "Listen to your little brother, pet. Bring him if you like." "You're not going to beat him up are you? Cause that would put me in a really awkward position, okay?" She pointed to the food he'd left unattended, narrowing her eyes at him until he finally gave in. "I mean it, Charlie. You can't just beat him up because you got mixed up." "I'm not goin' to hit your baby brother, calm down." "Promise?" "Are you goin' to come or ain't you?" There was a hint of amusement beneath the annoyed tone, and she hadn't realized there'd been a clenched fist in her chest until it eased. "I will, definitely." Tugging on Cory's sleeve, she jerked her head towards where there supervisor was working on paper work. "I'll get Cory to talk to our boss right now, yeah? Be there as soon as we can." "Hey!" "What, Charlie?" "If it came down to a fight between me and him, who would you back?" The question shouldn't have surprised her but it did, letting out a low suffering sigh as she grabbed the new order. "You, but then I'd make you miserable." "As long as it's me you're backin' I don't care." "You would, I'm a vindictive bastard when you get me upset." "I know." ***** Chapter 11 ***** The building itself was hard to place, probably a barn, maybe. Charlie on the other hand was easily spotted and she worked through the crowd as she dragged Cory behind her. She'd seen him, a few times, not in a real fight, but just watching him swing twice and knock an man on his back was enough to make her catch her breath. “You going to be okay?” “Hmm? What?” Smiling when she caught Charlie's eye, she made a move towards him only to stop when he turned away from her. “I'm not going to have to pin you down when that other guy hits him, am I?” “It's a fight Cory, I know what happens during a fight.” Ignoring his scoff, she scowled at Charlie's back before jumping when Paul's fingers caught her elbow. She didn't have a clear reason for disliking the man, Charlie loved him to bits, but something about him rubbed her wrong. Lips twitching as she fought a sneer, she pulled her arm away and instinctively moved between Cory and Paul's interested gaze. “And who is this?” “Mine.” She snapped, feeling Cory's amusement against her back. “Cory Car-” “What do you want, Paul?” “Just to say hello.” Lifting his cigarette, he took a slow drag, eyes narrowing speculatively behind his tinted lenses. “One of Charles' cousins?” “No, he's mine.” “Must be from your mother's side.” It didn't take much for Paul to become distracted, the other man they'd chosen for the fight eyeing Charlie with murder in his eyes. Narrowing her gaze on him, she wrapped herself around Cory's arm and tried using his presence to ground herself before she did something stupid. Something like kicking the moving mountain between the legs, then breaking his nose, kind of stupid. She really didn't like the way he was staring at Charlie, like it wasn't a fight it was something more serious than that. “I can't feel my hand.” “What?” “Chill, I'm sure Charlie knows what he's-” The rest of the placation was lost as the crowd roared, Charlie's head snapping to the side even as he struck out blindly and caught the man behind the ear as he turned back to face him. Her nails dug into Cory's upper arm, a low sound in her chest when the man continued to pound on Charlie, forcing him back. “Can you fucking stop!” “Sorry, sorry.” Her grip didn't loosen, her eyes locked, lips curling when she saw the opening and watched as Charlie took it. “Give him hell, darlin'! Make sure Hades won't recognize him!” She wasn't sure what happened, watching the dark skinned man slowly bow beneath Charlie's relentless blows, but suddenly Charlie went still with a soft wheeze that made her heart jump in her throat. A glimmer of something caught her eye as the man's hand went towards Charlie's throat, the fist hitting hard enough she would have sworn she saw his spine ripple along the back of his neck. Snarling curses, she suddenly went still, Charlie's blood arcing out of his mouth as the man used a right hook that made Cory wince to send Charlie reeling. “That mother fucker.” “What?” “Do you know why it's called bare knuckle boxing?” Dropping Cory's arm, she moved through the crowd, the look in her eyes killing any protests along the way. Cory caught up with her as she made the edge of the crowd, her whole body still except for her fingers which were dancing on the air as she stared at Charlie's opponent intently. Her skin was cool to the touch, her breath coming out as a low hiss before turning to look for Paul. “What is your problem?” “It's called bare knuckle because your fucking knuckles are supposed to be bare.” When Cory just stared at her blank faced, she let out a disgusted noise and used him for balance against the crowd to stand on her tip toes. “That bastard is wearing knuckle dusters.” Paul was easy to find, the slim man carried himself through the crowd like a snake, her ungenerous mind supplied. Pulling him close, she pointed at the man who had backed Charlie into a corner and was swinging his arms to slam them into Charlie's ribs. “That fucking twat is wearing knuckle dusters, correct it.” “Look, love, I am not going in there to get killed.” There was a sharp edge to his tone, one that rankled her even as she kept her expression clear. “If you want to risk it, by all means, go on.” Her mouth opened only to snap shut, turning on her heel and heading for the car, leaving the two men to stare after her curiously. It wasn't until she returned with an aluminum bat that either of them began to consider her a threat. “You can't just-” “Move.” “Oy, a pair of knuckledusters isn't that bad, a few weeks ago a man hid blades between his knuckles!” When Charlie his knees, coughing up blood, her eyes narrowed and both men scowled at her. The crowds' attention shifted, staring curiously at the girl whose whole body seem to emanate cold as she glared at the two men. “What's she got a bat for?” “Somethin' 'bout knuckledusters...” “That's cheatin' ain't it? Or is that allowed?” Listening to the murmur of the crowd, she took in a slow breath before pushing past Cory when he was distracted, to swing the bat and catch Charlie's opponent on the jaw. The loud ringing that split the air brought all conversations to a halt, the shouting trickling to little more than a murmur before stopping completely. “It is not allowed.” She huffed, shrugging off Cory's hand and shooing him over to Charlie. “Get up. I said, get the fuck up!” “What the hell is she doin'?” Charlie's words were slurred, but there was no disguising the irritation in his voice, or that the look he was drilling into her back was anything remotely friendly. Leaning down, she tugged off the man's knuckledusters and slid them onto her own hand, holding her hand out as she straightened to look them over. The sudden down punch to the man's back caught everyone by surprise, the shift from still to swing instantaneous. “Stop!” Cory's arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her away even as she aimed another for right over his kidneys.”Are you crazy?” “Put her down! I want to see what she's goin' to do when he gets up.” Sneering at the crowd, Cory dragged her away even as she squirmed trying to get out of his grip. Charlie followed them a moment later, after a word with Paul, his expression dark as he walked with a hitch in his step. He didn't say a word as they climbed in the car, watching her curl against the door and stare down at the knuckledusters still on her hand. It wasn't until they were back at her apartment, medical supplies littering the make shift coffee table as she sat perched on his knees to doctor his face, that he even looked at her longer than a few seconds. Staring up at her around the curve of her hand and wrist, he finally grabbed her, his fingers tightening to bruising grip. “Don't ever do that again.” “He was cheating.” “I don't care.” Voice low, he gave her a rough shake when she tried unsuccessfully to pull loose. “There ain't no reason for you to ever get in the middle of a fight. Never again, you hear me?” “Yes.” “Good.” “Next time I'll take him out from the sidelines.” Her tone was nonchalant, a slight wincing around her eyes when his grip tightened further. “What? You just said-” “That I heard you, because I did. But if you think I'm going to let some asshole use knuckledusters to try and win a fight you're off your rocker.” “It happens, not like it's a-” He glared at her when she dumped rubbing alcohol over onto the scrape on his shoulder. “If it happens, then I happen. You're mine and I won't have it.” “Yours...” “Yeah, like, fuck.” Yanking her hand loose, she continued wiping the blood from his face before going still again. “If you want to fight, fine, I actually really like watching you fight. But if you think I'm going to stand by and watch someone break rules because they can't beat you fairly you've got another thing coming.” “Des, you can't just-” “Can.” “No, really, if you keep interferin' I won't be able to get fights.” He watched her stew on that, the scowl on her face slowly slipping away. “I can take a few knocks, I ain't no pillow biter.” “I don't like it.” “I know but it don't matter.” “Oh?” He realized a moment too late he'd spoken wrong, watching her slide off his lap and slam the bedroom door behind her. Dwight Yoakam blared from the speakers a moment later, but he tried knocking on it anyways. “Don't be like this, turn that racket off and come out.” “I'll take down the door!” “Goddammit, you can't just lock yourself in and not talk about this. Open the fuckin' door!” “At least change the CD?” “DID YOU JUST PUT THE SONG ON REPEAT?!” ***** Chapter 12 ***** They still weren't talking. Three weeks, four brawls, and an interesting conversation with her boss later, she was still livid. Sure she was able to keep a smile on her face when she was out and about, able to tell jokes to the customers who looked a bit down and out, but she was still so furious with him she almost couldn't see straight. 'It don't matter.' Between that and the resulting fight when he'd taken down the door, just like he'd threatened to, she felt miserable with it. Couples fought, she got that, there was no way in hell with her temper and his own they weren't going to butt heads, but still. Shuffling the orders she completed, she slowly stacked them in a circle, turning each receipt slightly so they made a fan. He'd even broken her Dwight Yoakam CD, yanked it out of the stereo and snapped it when she'd refused to turn it down so they could talk. Tossed the broken pieces into her lap, and roared at her as she stared up at him boiling just beneath her snapping point. Neither of them had been expecting her hands shoving at his shoulders as she stood up, or the way she kept shoving until they'd reached the door and she'd kicked him out. Fuming as she slid down against the door and listened to him screaming at her in the hallway. Eyes flicking towards the small wrapped gift she was sure was a replacement for the CD he broke, she rolled over on her bed and twisted herself up in the blanket. To hell with him, if he couldn't understand why she was furious, then she wasn't going to talk to him until he did. Even as she mentally swore this, again, she reached out to grab her phone and dialed his number, again, and listened to the pulsing tone before hearing a light click. “Hullo?” Blinking, she stared at her wall squirming to bury herself deeper into the covers, listening to him breathe for a moment as he waited for a response. “Destiny, I swear if this is you I'm coming over after my fight tonight and we're going to talk.” Hanging up, she let the phone fall off the edge of her bed and dragged what she could of the blanket over her head. She missed him, angry as she was she couldn't escape that, her whole body hurt with missing him. And she did have to give him that he'd shown up two weeks after the fight, at her job, to try and talk to her, to give her the CD. She hadn't said anything, just stared up at him until Cory'd been ready to kill her for being such a brat when he was making an attempt. A light knocking at her door woke her up, the soft buzzing sound in her ears finally registering as her door and not the swarm of bees her dream had changed the noise into. Staring at the clock, trying to get her eyes to focus, she finally realized that it was one o'clock in the morning and let out a groan. Blanket falling off the end of the bed when she kicked at it, she rolled off the bed to hit her hands and knees before pushing herself to stand and moving to answer the door. “Oh my gods...” Her body went still as she stared at him, half his face swollen and bloody, the other pale as paper. “Charlie, what the hell?!” “Told you I'd come over.” He slurred, his body listing before coming to rest against the door jamb, split lip bleeding when he smiled. “Didn't think about caller ID, did you? Been callin' all week and not sayin' a word, but I knew it was you.” “You're a fucking mess! Wait, did you walk here?!” “I got my license revoked, you know that.” Leaning in closer, she could taste the sweat and blood on his skin, saw that his pupils were pinpricks from pain. “I missed you, pet. Couldn't sleep cause I kept dreamin' 'bout you.” Catching him when he lurched forward, she almost fell beneath his weight, stumbling for balance before staggering back towards the couch and tumbling onto it with his weight pressing her into the cushions. Hands sliding along his back, she felt him shudder, heard him swallow thickly to try and suppress the groan in his throat. Her whole body was filled with relief, even as her mind was in the middle of a freak out. His scent was in her nose, not the stale one from the shirt he'd left behind, every scar on his back was felt beneath the thin undershirt that was soaked with sweat. Even a mess he was perfect to her, every new imperfection carefully explored with her fingertips. “You still mad?” She wasn't, not now that he was there, the press of his body against hers, and that'd been why she'd been avoiding him like the plague. Anger she understood, she'd been angry most of her life for one reason or another, but what he made here feel left her confused. Clinically she knew it was what being in love was like. She loved Cory, he made her feel protective and weak all at once, but Charlie was so much worse than that. She didn't feel strong around Charlie, when it was just the two of them. She felt like a kitten who couldn't figure out how to walk, or a spider desperate to spin and having the wind tear away the branches where she was working. “I love you.” Going still beneath him, she felt chills run over her skin when he nuzzled her throat, the scrape of unshaved cheek against her as his arms slid beneath her. Her legs straddled his hips when he slid between her legs to lay on top of her and kiss her cheek. “Charlie,” Plucking at his shirt, she let out a soft noise when his blood slick cheek passed over hers before pressing his lips against hers hard enough she could feel her teeth break skin. “Charlie, please, you're getting my couch all bloody.” “I missed you.” “I know, I missed you too. But I need you to shower or something because my couch is starting to look like a crime scene.” Fingers digging into his back when he tightened his grip around her, she shivered as his lips skimmed her cheek. “Shower with me.” The husky tone, even with the words slurred, sent heat pooling between her legs as she tightened her grip on his hips. Nodding, she swallowed the soft needy sound that almost escaped her when his body pressed against hers as he tried to lever himself up onto his hands and knees, stumbling off the couch and towards the bathroom. When he pulled his shirt over his head, her mouth fell half open as she stared at the bruises that painted the pale skin. “Holy shit.” “What?” Glancing at her over his shoulder as he worked on his pants, she winced seeing the almost mark free half of his face, knowing the other side was almost monstrous. “Nothing.” Pulling the over sized tee over her head, she slipped past him and into the bathroom to turn on the water. Rough fingertips slid over her waist, hot chest pressing against her back as a scruffed jaw line slid over her shoulder. It made her knees weak, his arms tight around her waist as he kissed the side of her face. She could feel every bruise on his skin, the dark patches hotter than the rest of him as he nuzzled the side of her neck. “Charlie, we need to get into the shower.” Her voice was pleading, breath hitching when he lightly nipped at the pulse beating frantically beneath her skin. “We can cuddle after or something, but you're a mess.” “Okay, pet.. We'll shower.”  ***** Chapter 13 ***** He crowded her into the shower and she felt him flinch beneath the hot spray before relaxing slightly. “You always forget to turn on the cold water, fuckin' hell...” “It's on, I just like it hot.” “Yeah?” She could feel his smirk as his lips pressed against her shoulder. Eyes rolling, she squirmed out of his hold to turn and face him, lifting her hands to lightly cup his face. His right eye was swollen almost shut, a cut on his eyebrow still sending a trickle of blood down the side of his face. A mess had been the nice way of putting it, with his shirt off she could see the mass of bruises his torso had become, the dark fingerprints that lined his throat. Tilting his head back, she watched him grimace as the water ran into the cuts, brushing at the blood that wasn't rinsing away. She pressed against him when his arms loosely wrapped her waist, feeling the muscles in his arms quiver when he moved to tighten them. Even knowing that his body was one big ache, that breathing was most likely painful, she still deepened the brush of lips into a kiss. His mouth tasted sweet, and a bit like pennies too, her hands carefully moving up his chest to wrap her arms around his shoulders. When he winced she moved to pull back, grinning into the kiss when he followed, his breath hitching as the movement pulled a tender muscle tight. “You okay?” Brushing her lips along the bruises that covered the right side of his face, she grinned when his hand slid up her back to tangle in her hair, eyes falling shut as the scent of him filled her nose.. “Three fuckin' weeks.” A stab of guilt ran through her, the elation at having his body so close to hers dimming slightly. “I'd rather you hit me then stop talkin' to me.” “I'm not going to hit you Charlie, it just takes me a while to calm down is all.” “Three weeks is an awful long time for a fit.” As her mouth opened to argue, a low whine escaped her instead as he pulled her head back by the hand in her hair, his lips passing over her pulse. The feel of him hard between her legs as he lifted her made her eyes fly open, hands gripping his shoulders, nails digging in when they almost slipped on the slick skin. Impatient, she rolled her hips, catching the small lilt of his lips as the tips of his fingers dug into her thighs. “What're you going to do when you really upset me,” Fingers cradling the back of his head, she nuzzled his throat before sighing when he thrust into her. “And I refuse to talk to you for months.” “I'd beat a reaction out of you is what I'd do.” The words were mumbled against her collar bone, his lips skimming along her skin to bite at the curve of her breast. “You wouldn't da-” Her sentence cut off as his hips pulled back to thrust forward hard enough that her toiletry tumbled off the ledge to the shower floor. Scrambling for purchase, her nails raked his upper back, breath catching in her throat when he sucked a nipple into his mouth and toyed with it with his teeth. The back of her head hit the wall, legs wrapping around his waist, soft sounds catching in her throat as he relentlessly moved his hips at a slow pace that wasn't enough. Whining in frustration, she almost sent them both to the floor when she tried to quicken the pace, teeth baring into his shoulder. Half muttered curses in her ear made her feel a bit better, grinning smugly before the curl of her lips slipped away as her mouth fell open. He was right, three weeks was a really long time, the now brutal thrusts were making her ache even as she reveled in them. Letting him set the pace, she concentrated on kissing every inch of injured skin, her teeth sinking into the uninjured to leave her own mark. She hadn't even realized that the water had gone cold until she felt him shivering, her hands moving through the water that was sluicing along his back made her fingers curl with it. Catching his lips with her own, she worried at his lower lip until he growled at her and came, one hand slamming against the wall as he tried to brace himself. They still almost fell, the cap from her shampoo bottle opening and slicking the floor. Fingers digging into her shoulders, heedless of the bruises her nails sank into, she leaned against the wall when he put her back on her feet. She was more than happy to get out of the now frigid shower, but his hand slid down the wall, over her shoulder to palm her breast. “You didn't-” “What?” Her voice was husky, scrambling to pull him closer even as her jaw chattered. Silent, he turned off the water and grabbed a towel to wrap around her. His lips were hot against her skin, his mustache tickling as he moved them down her jaw, towel chaffing along her to warm her. When he pressed against her again she gasped, he felt like ice, fingers probing even as his thumb slowly rubbed circles on her clit. It didn't take much, the contrast of his lips and skin sending shivers through her as she clamped around his fingers. The smug lilt of his lips had her nipping his chin even as she hummed softly, her hands lifting to trail her fingers along the nape of his neck to his shoulders and up to his jaw. “Who was it?” “Hmm?” Catching her wrist he kissed her palm, his good eye blinking slowly as he tried to focus. “Who was who?” “The guy that did this. Who was he?” “Don't.” “I'm just curious.” Eyes still half hazed, she stared at him a moment before draping the damp towel around his shoulders. “I'm not allowed to be curious.” “We just made up, don't do that.” “I'm not doing anything.” With a snort in his direction, she wrung out her hair before stepping out of the shower. Rushing into her room, she dove into her bed and buried herself beneath the covers, cocooning herself and smiling when Charlie tried to tug one of the blankets loose. She wasn't prepared for how hard he was going to yank, almost sending her to the floor to pull one side loose and slip beneath. Chilled skin hit her back and she arched away only to have him drag her back. “Stop squirmin' and warm me up.” “You're a human popsicle! Use your own blanket!” “You've wrapped yourself in all three, didn't even leave the one you use as a pillow.” His arm slid around her waist, holding her tight against him as he nuzzled into the damp heat at the nape of her neck. “For the love of- Charlie!” “Hush pet, I'm fuckin' exhausted.” “And half frozen, you fucker, get off me!” Even as she snarled at him to move away, she cuddled closer, shivering when his hand slid over her ribs to cup her breast. “Fuck! Your hand is even worse!” “My head's splittin', stop screechin'. Please.” Blinking incredulously out into the dim lit room, her mouth opened to smart off before snapping closed. Shouldn't she just be happy that he was close to her, half frozen or not? It was his cold legs tangling with hers that decided it, squirming out of his grasp and out from beneath a blanket. To hell with hurt feelings, or making up, or any of that guff, she just bit her own tongue because his cold skin was making her teeth chatter. “What are you doin'?” “You can have the quilt, for fuck's sake Charlie you're half frozen!” Shoving it at him, she pushed at his shoulder to roll him before pressing up against his back. “And you're freezing me in my own place. Fuckin' rude...” “Maybe if you turned on the heatin'...” “No. I'll borrow you something to wear until we get your clothes clean.” “It won't fit and you know it, what would be the point?” His head half turned, and she could feel his amusement tempered irritation. “Just slip beneath the quilt with me?” “Nope, no way.” “Des...” “You- Warm up first.” Her eyes widened when he yanked her blankets off and threw them off the bed, rolling to lay on top of her as he adjusted the quilt to cover them both. It was the sudden shock of his cold skin pressed against her that caught her breath, feeling his arms wrap around her. Teeth grazing his shoulder, she tried shoving at him even as he started nuzzling her neck. “Charlie quit it! You're still cold.” “Warmin' up already can't you tell.” His cold nose brushed her cheek, but the fingers that brushed the wet curls from her temple were warmer than they had been. “Don't you ever stop talkin' to me again, you hear me pet?” “If you never use me like a human hot water bottle again, I think I can promise that.” “But you make such a good one, I feel warm all over.” “There's a difference between warm and hard, darlin'.” Her tone was dry, but her arms slid around his shoulders to hold him closer. “Aren't you tired, Charlie?” “Charlie?” There was a soft grunt in her ear, and she felt him shift before the muscles in his back fully relaxed, his hands resting half curled above her shoulders from where he'd slid his arms beneath her. “You did not just almost freeze me out of my own bed and then fall asleep.” Disbelief filling her from the tips of her toes to the roots of her hair, she angled her head to look down at him and the way his mouth hung half open. Unsure of whether to hit him or enjoy how adorable he looked, she slid her fingers along his skin until she could lightly play the tips over the bruises on his face. He winced, but nothing more, before shifting to nuzzle against her collarbone with a light sound of contentment. She felt chills all over her skin, goosebumps rising, as she wrapped her self around him like a living teddy bear. “Love you.” The words were muttered against her jaw, his face burying into the crook of her neck to press his nose against the hair that was bunched near her shoulder. She felt like a stuffed animal, wrapped tight in his arms as he rolled to sprawl on his back and taking her with him. Straddling his waist, she settled as comfortably on his she could with the way he was holding her, one of her legs pinned beneath his hip. It almost wasn't worth the effort, he was moving again curling on his side and taking her with him, twisting her body to suit his own curling into the fetal position. Letting out a soft noise of frustration, she shoved at him until she at least was able to lay comfortably though it was still hard to breathe around the constriction of his arms. It hurt but it was a good kind of hurt, her lips curling as she cuddled closer. Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!