Understanding

Understanding
Chapter Twenty-Eight:
Goodnight

****Goodnight, sleep tight
No more tears
In the morning I'll be here
And when we say "Goodnight"
Dry your eyes
Because we said "goodnight" and not "goodbye"
We said "goodnight" and not "goodbye"****

Lying next to Hermione, I gazed upon her sweet sleeping face in awe. I still wondered (often, actually, if I'm being honest) why she had taken me back, but I knew I would be eternally grateful that she had. Gently, I began rubbing my fingertips along her bare side, relishing the feel of her skin and the heat of her body.

"Severus, will you please quit it?"

So much for romance.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't think it would bother you," I replied while simultaneously removing my hands from her side. She always did that to me. I'd think she was asleep and then she'd start talking. To be truthful, it kind of freaked me out, carrying on a conversation while her eyes were closed and she looked like she was fast asleep.

"No, not the touching. I like the touching. Would you stop staring at me? You know I can't sleep when you stare at me."

"Sorry, sweetheart. You know I just can't help myself." Eyes still closed, Hermione began to smile, and she snuggled closer to me at the admission.

"I know, Severus, but I've got to be up early in the morning and, well... it already IS early in the morning, so I'd like to get SOME sleep." I knew she was teasing me- it was her fault we'd been up so late. She'd started it for once tonight. I kissed the top of her head and wrapped my arm posessively around her, positively ecst whe when her smile widened.

I stayed silent for a while, lulling her into a false sense of security. If I was to be chastised for gazing upon the woman I loved, I was going to make her pay. She was almost asleep when I attacked.

"Hermione?"

"Severus..." she whined after a considerably lengthy yawn. I grinned wickedly as she once again smiled, but this time with a mock pained expression on her face. I knew from experience that sleep depravation was like Hermione's Kryptonite.

Oh, God! Spending so much time at Hermione's house had turned me into a Muggle! Kryptonite? Time to start spending more time at the castle.

"So, you're taking the job at Hogwarts next year, right?"

She made a reply that to untrained ears would have sounded like incomprehensible rambling through a yawn but that I interpreted accurately as: "You know that I am." She rolled over so that her head was buried against my chest- a clear indication that she wanted to stop talking and start sleeping- but I knew that if my plan was to go off as I intended I needed to keep her conscious for a few more seconds at least.

"I was just thinking," I began but was interrupted by a long, aggravated groan from Hermione, "that the students would really freak out if they saw two Professor Snapes when they got their schedules."

"Are you going to clone yourself?" she asked almost incoherently.

"Clone? What? No! Hermione, listen to me," I commanded as I rolled her onto her back. She opened one eye and scowled at me, but I simply smiled as I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I don't want to clone myself. I want you to be a Professor Snape, too." Opening her eyes slowly, Hermione gazed at me cautiously, hope barely contained under the surface.

"I... um... are you?..."

Making sure she was looking in my eyes, I gently took her hand.

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" Slowly, as if afraid I'd change my mind if she made any sudden movements, she lifted her head and kissed me sweetly.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

Giggling euphorically, Hermione answered me.

"Took you long enough!" she teased, still obviously exhausted but considerably cheered by the proposal. She kept kissing me anywhere she could reach- lips, neck, chest. Once I captured hers ass as they skimmed mine and kissed her long and slow, hoping to convey all of my emotion in that kiss.

"So, then it's a 'yes'?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," replied Hermione, though her eyes had fallen closed, and I could tell she was already falling asleep again.

So, of course I couldn't resist harassing her some more.

"Are you sure?" She moaned a little but answered me.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"I'm going to change my mind if you keep asking me and won't let me sleep!"

Content that I'd given her a hard enough time, I relented.

"Alright, love. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I had completely intended on stopping talking at that point, but as I gazed upon her once again, I absolutely could not resist speaking again.

"Hermione?"

"Mmmm..."

"So- just to reiterate- you WILL marry me, then?"

"I already told you that!"

"You really want me to shut up so you can go to sleep, don't you?"

"Mmmm..."

"Hermione?"

"Mmmm..."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Severus. Always will."

********A/N*********
Thanks everyone!

Hawklaw: Thank you so much! Can't say I knew of any issues in the fandom, but then again, I'm not much for community togethernes... Hope you liked the rest!

JennD: Yes, happily ever after! I get terribly upset when there's not a happy ending (You listening, GrrArrg?)!!!!!!!

spaz141: Of course you qualify as my minion- I mean, faithful reviewer! Thanks, and I hope you liked it!

Deb: Thanks! You are the best! Thank you so, so much!!!

GrrArrg: Glad you liked it! And the fight should have reminded you of a Buffy fight 'cause I wrote it like a wrestling match which I've noticed Buffy takes A LOT of cues from (Buffy did a Litacanrana once!!!!) Okay, now you've got a happy ending, I'll be expecting mine anytime now in that pesky little sequel. Bring it, bitch!

Florentia: Thanks! I'm blushing! Hope I didn't disappoint you!

deblovesdragon: Thanks, DM! You rock!

Emery: Thanks for the input!

squiggle: Thank you so much! You rock! Don't worry- I'll be writing more. Might take a while, but I'll be writing!

droxy: Thanks! No, no funeral, you sicko!

Katze: Sorry to upset you, but all good things... =) Thank you!

PinkTribeChick: Thanks! Hope I didn't disappoint!