HOME IS WHERE HIS HEART IS

Chapter Three
~ a few years’ later ~


Cheyanne entered the lively bar, taking in the rustic decor, with the nicked tables and chairs, the sawdust and peanut shells on the floor and most of the regular patrons of the bar either sitting drinking their usual poison, or dancing to the country band of the week, a place where she worked and hung out with her friends. A place where the main attraction – besides the dancing, drinks, and good music – was a mechanical bull, that took up a good portion of the corner of the bar.

She let a smile slip as she took off her light jacket, to step behind the bar, nodding in greeting to Mitch, the owner, and friend, at the other end of the bar. She caught the eye of her dark-haired friend as he hefted a couple cases of beer behind the bar, then laughed as his arm was pulled by Rick. She had to admit this friend of hers was a looker. About 6'3", broad shouldered, dark hair that hung messily to his shoulders, muscles in all the right places, and green eyes that sparkled when he laughed, like now, when his boyfriend tried to get him to do something for him.

“Come on, Haze. Show these guys how it’s done,” Rick laughed, skimming his hand up the tanned forearms of Harry.

Harry looked to Cheyanne who shooed him away. “I’ve got work to do, Rick,” Harry grinned, shaking his head.

“Come on, baby. I love to see you riding the bull,” Rick grinned.

“Okay,” Harry smiled, knowing he would give in to the blond man – his man of the month.

Harry strode over to the mats that surrounded the large mechanical bull, and gripped the handle on top, swinging his leg over. He carefully grasped the handle, raising his hand in the air, ready to give the signal to start. He shook his head in bemusement to see the owner of the bar, collecting bets on how long he’d last on it this time. He nodded to him to show that he was ready.

Cheyanne leaned back on the bar watching Haze – or Harry to the select few, do what he does best. As she watched the slow beginning to the ride, she reflected on how she met her friend. She had met him two years ago in this very bar. They were applying for the same job as bartenders. The owner ended up hiring both of them, and let Cheyanne move into the suite above the bar. Haze and she became fast friends, with her teasing him constantly on his many boyfriends. He spent so much time at the bar and her place that he moved in. Cheyanne never regretted asking him.

They spent many nights over a bottle of bourbon pouring out their life stories. She told him of her mother dying of cancer and her father leaving them when she was younger. He told her of his time with his relatives and him being a wizard. She didn’t believe him at first but he had never lied to her before then. He proved it by magicking their empty bottle of bourbon full.

She understood Haze’s reasons for wanting his own life and didn’t treat him any differently. She would see him do small amounts of magic, but so little, that it became nothing abnormal to see.

She heard the bull stop suddenly when a thump on the matted floor was heard. Harry was being pulled up by Rick, and helping him brush off the sawdust on his jeans. Harry was the champion of bull riding of the place. Hard to believe the first time he rode a horse was just a year ago.

Harry gave a brief kiss to Rick’s lips, hearing the many catcalls around him, then snagged a couple of empty beer bottles to bring back to the bar.

“No one’s gonna want to bet against you, Mitch,” Harry grinned, shaking his head, as many times before, when Mitch handed him part of the betting take. Mitch didn’t even try to push the money on Harry anymore, just added it to the jar under the bar.

“So, how was the doctor’s, Chey?” Harry asked, leaning over the bar to kiss Cheyanne’s cheek.

“Good,” Cheyanne replied, shrugging her shoulders, not meeting his eyes.

Harry came around the bar, and took her chin in his hand to bring her head up. “What’d he tell you?” He asked, seeing her eyes misting over.

“I’ll tell you later, okay?” She smiled, turning her head to kiss the palm of his hand.

“Promise?” Harry asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “We’ll dig out the mint-chip ice cream and I’ll tell you all my woes,” she teased.

“With chocolate sauce?” Harry grinned.

“Yeah,” she laughed. “You’re such a chocoholic,” she added, gently pushing him away.

“It’s all your fault, Chey,” Harry laughed, nodding to some regulars who were holding up their drinks for a refill.

Cheyanne popped a couple of pills the doctor gave her to help her headache when Harry looked away, then put on her smile to help Mitch at the bar.


Later, Harry came out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping from the shower. He slipped on a pair of lounge pants that hung low on his hips, and a T-shirt before going out to their living room.

“No Rick tonight?” Cheyanne teased from the corner of the couch.

“Can’t make it too easy for him, Chey,” Harry grinned.

“Is this one serious?” She asked, lifting her legs to settle them on Harry’s lap, the tub of ice cream on her thighs.

“No.” Harry shook his head, spooning some ice cream. “I mean – he’s fun to be around with, a great shag, and gorgeous.”

“But not Draco?” Cheyanne asked, knowing of the blond from his past from the many talks they had.

“No, he isn’t,” Harry sighed, then turned to her. “So, what did the doctor say? And why’d it take you so long to get back?” He asked changing the topic.

“I just drove around,” she shrugged back.

“Doctor? What did he say?” Harry prodded, getting worried for his friend.

“You know that night a couple of months ago where I came into your room because you were having a nightmare?” Harry nodded. “When we . . . we . . . ”

“Comforted each other,” Harry finished, giving her a warm smile. “That was a special night to me Chey, even if it was a one time thing.”

“For me too,” Cheyanne smiled. “Not good enough to make you switch sides though, huh?” She teased.

“No. It was good, but too – soft,” he smirked in a mock grimace. “Anyway, don’t change the subject.”

“I’m . . . we’re going to have a baby, Harry,” she quietly said, looking into the tub of ice cream.

“A what?” Harry asked, his mind not catching up.

“You know, a miniature person, no teeth, need to change their diapers all the time . . . ”

“I know what a baby is,” Harry said. “Are you sure? What do I mean, you’re sure? Of course you are. Well – we’re going to be parents. Oh my god, parents,” Harry sighed in realization.

“You know that it’s yours right? You believe me?” She asked.

“Of course, I believe you Chey. We know everything – or everyone we’ve been with,” Harry smiled, taking the tub of ice cream off their laps to put it on the coffee table. “And you’ve been a saint the past few months. I never thought I’d have kids. I mean – I know wizards can get pregnant . . . ”

“They can?” Cheyanne asked, not hearing of this before.

“Yes, with potions, or if the wizard is magically strong,” Harry replied.

“Wow,” she grinned. “Wait – does this mean that our child could be a witch or wizard?”

Harry nodded his head. “It’s a pretty good chance, yes. Does that freak you out a bit?”

“It will get some getting used to,” she replied. “But you’re kind a normal, so . . . ”

“So, should we make this official? Maybe get married?” Harry asked, looking seriously at her.

“Was that a proposal?” She smirked. “Pretty pathetic, Harry,” she laughed.

“I was serious, Chey,” Harry said.

“I know Harry, and it means a lot to me that you even asked. I do love you, but not like that. I want you in the baby’s life, my life, but not as a husband. It wouldn’t work out. I don’t want to lose the friendship we have,” she softly said, snuggling into Harry’s side with her head resting on his shoulder. “Besides, you’d break all those gorgeous shaggable guys’ hearts out there.”

“Did you ask about the headaches you’ve been getting all the time?” Harry asked, combing his fingers through the back of Cheyanne’s hair.

“They couldn’t find anything,” Cheyanne replied, keeping it to herself what else the doctor had told her.

“I could mix you up a potion,” Harry suggested. “It usually helped when I had headaches after a wicked vision.

“It wouldn’t hurt the baby?” Cheyanne asked, tilting her head up to look at Harry.

“No, but I can ask at the apothecary in the wizarding village when I pick up the ingredients,” Harry replied. “You want to go with me?”

“Are you serious? I would love to go with you. I didn’t even know there was one near here,” she said, looking up at him, excitement in her eyes.

“Wizarding worlds are well hidden within the Muggle world.”

“You’re not worried you would be recognized?” She asked, knowing of Harry’s wish to disappear from that world.

“It has been a few years, and it is a long way from Britain, but I will change my appearance a bit,” Harry said. “You want to be a redhead tomorrow?” He asked, grinning down at her.


Note: Cheyanne normally wouldn’t have said ‘shaggable’, but after hanging and working with Harry for the past couple of years, she’s bound to pick up some of his expressions and words and such.

tbc