I'll Be Home For Christmas

After some deliberation, and a lot of encouragement, I've decided to continue this story. Many thanks to the delightful SickPuppy for all her help and encouragement.

Severus is in for one big surprise! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!





Severus sighed happily, and held his lover closer, resting his cheek against that messy black mop. "Yes, Harry, indeed you did promise to be home for Christmas, and so you are."



"I loved my gift," Harry said, "...and...I have one for you, too."



"You being here, home and safe, is all the gift I require," Severus said, pressing a kiss against the scar that marked his love's forehead. "However...if you insist," he added, thinking that another round of ravishing his young lover's body wouldn't be unappreciated. He was always insatiable when Harry returned from his missions, his fear and worry and need to be as close as possible to the source of his happiness fueling his desire.



"Hey," Harry chuckled softly, feeling the man's hands begin to slide over his body, "although I wouldn't say no, that's not exactly what I had in mind."



"Oh?," Severus said cocking an eyebrow, "what exactly did you have in mind then?"



"Well...I've missed you, and while your gift was just what I was hoping for...well...I thought maybe we could just enjoy being here together by the fire a bit before I give you yours," Harry said trying to keep his voice light, "...you know, just talk a bit."



"Did something happen on your mission?" Severus immediately asked, his voice tight with concern.



"No...no, come on, Sev, I just want to lie here by the fire in your arms and enjoy being with you," Harry smiled.



After a moment Severus allowed himself to relax, and couldn't help smiling when Harry sighed contentedly and snuggled in closer.



"Alright then," he said, playing along, "what do you want to talk about?"



"Oh, just...anything," Harry shrugged.



Severus couldn't help his teacher's instincts kicking in and knew Harry had something on his mind but at the same time he didn't want to spoil the mood and so, for the moment, he continued to play along. "I see," he said lightly, "perhaps you should begin then, as it is your idea."



"Right," Harry said, "well...erm...how about ...what are you looking forward to most about going back to school?"



Severus raised a brow again as he snorted and said with lethal sarcasm he couldn't help, "What do I look forward to most about going back to school. Hmm. Oh, I don't know...it's hard to choose, really. The irritating noises all the brats make clattering through the castle. Then, of course, there is their relentless gossiping about one another's pathetic love lives. And let's not forget their complete inability to follow even the simplest of instructions. Oh and then there's my own personal favourite, the absolute waste of time spent trying vainly to force even a modicum of knowledge through the slab of concrete that surrounds their feeble little minds. Does that answer your question sufficiently, my love?"



Harry gulped audibly squeaking faintly, "Erm...uh...yeah...."



Severus chuckled and snuggled Harry closer to himself. "Glad to hear it, " he murmured suggestively into his ear, "now, on to my gift. What do you have for me?"



Harry took a deep breath and turned in his love's arms to face him. "Erm..well.....you won't have to pace the floor crying with worry at me being gone too long on missions anymore," he said, overly bright.



He knew Harry wouldn't let him live that down! Infernal brat! He stifled a sigh, instead letting it go and smiling benignly. "Oh? And why would that be?" he asked.



"Because I won't be going on anymore missions for awhile," Harry said nervously, "I'll be home in time for dinner with you every night. Only...you...you may not want me to come to Hogwarts for it. Dinner, I mean."



Severus frowned, trying to make sense of what he was being told. Not want Harry to come to Hogwarts? Whyever not?



"Why would I not want you to come to dinner at Hogwarts?" Severus asked, voicing his confusion, "and why won't you be going on any more missions? You love being an Auror. You can't possibly be telling me Shacklebolt has demoted you, or...sacked you? You didn't quit, did you?" Was this what was on Harry's mind? Had he complained so often about Harry's absences and safety that the boy had actually left the job he loved? For him? Severus felt a thread of guilt wind through himself, and cursed himself for still thinking of Harry as the boy he once was. He was definitely no longer a boy, or they definitely wouldn't be lying here naked together on this adbominable carpet. Harry was a man now, as Severus well knew, and able to take care of himself. Hadn't he, after all, rid their world of the darkest evil in living memory? Freeing Severus in the process? Wasn't it Harry that had shown Severus how to finally live and enjoy life? And now he'd given up what he loved to please his curmudgeonly lover? Severus felt both touched and guilty now.



"Harry...I...you didn't give up being an Auror...because of me, did you?" Severus asked quietly.



Harry looked up, his green eyes both somewhat sad and somewhat amused at once. "No, Sev...," he said, shaking his head, "I didn't give up being an Auror...."



"Shacklebolt sacked you?!" Severus said scowling fiercely. Had the man suddenly taken leave of his senses?!



"No, Sev," Harry said, bemused, "I still have my job, it's just...I'll be stuck with a desk job for awhile is all. And no, I've not been demoted."



Severus's patience was beginning to wear thin, and he couldn't quite keep the annoyance out of it. "Then why..."



"That's your...gift, Sev," Harry said uneasily, "I...erm...I'm pregnant......Surprise."



Severus's eyebrows both shot for his hairline as his jaw made a beeline for the floor, the endless black eyes wide with what Harry could clearly see was utter shock. There was no doubt about it. Severus was defintely surprised.



"H-happy Christmas?" Harry whispered hopefully.