Tweak

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Tweak says, "Now you know what rimming is."

Jessi McKimmon (upon_my_return) wrote in around_again,
@ 2009-03-26 19:27:00

Entry tags:

1996 08, @private residence, alice longbottom, frank longbottom

August 26, 1996 - Home, Sweet Home
Who: Alice, Frank
Where: the Longbottom residence
When: August 26, 1996, afternoon
Rating: FtB

Status: Closed, completed
Summary: Frank and Alice begin to pick up the pieces of their life with discussions of what their plans are for the future. A talk with Dumbledore and a house of their own are high on the list.

It had been a whirlwind of days. They'd had to both get new wands, robes, clothes, everything. What they did still have and still fit was fifteen years out of style - though Alice clung tenaciously to some of her favorite outfits.

There'd been two separate (but small) articles in the Prophet about their recovery, but Alice was glad it wasn't highly publicized. The last thing they needed was Bellatrix and her friends coming back to finish what they'd started. It wasn't completely outside the realm of possibility, though she didn't think they'd be a priority. Not now. Not when both Harry and Voldemort's locations were known.

Humming to herself, Alice moved easily around the kitchen to make lunch. She supposed at some point - soon - they should figure out how to go about with things. She was all set to brush up on her auror training and get back into the thick of things - there was still a war going on, after all - but she supposed that should be a decision they made together. She could do other things, after all.

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 11:40 am UTC (link)

"Frank," Alice chastised lightly. "It wasn't your fault, what happened. To both of us. You were a proper father while you were well," she continued. "And of course he's happy to have us back."

Speaking of, she was rather surprised he wasn't here with them just now, but maybe he was simply trying to give them alone time together. Which was sweet, if that was the case.

"But no, I can't imagine he'd prefer living here to living with us." She liked Augusta well enough, but she knew what a pill the woman could be. And to think of her poor son growing up with that.

But that would change, now. She and Frank would take care of him.

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worldenough
2009-03-27 11:56 am UTC (link)

"Sorry," Frank's cheeks flushed- he knew he shouldn't blame himself, but he couldn't help it, sometimes. There had to have been something more he should have done- even if he'd still been taken down, he should have been able to save Alice--

No, he couldn't think like that. There was no changing the past, and he just had to be glad for the time he'd been given, now.

"We'll be alright, you know," he offered, finally, with a confidence that nearly surprised him. "It's daunting and overwhelming but- me and you, Alice, we can do anything." At least if the last week was any indication, that seemed true enough.

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 12:56 pm UTC (link)

"I never had any doubt about that," she assured her husband with a smile. "We can do anything, together."

Devoting her attention briefly to her food, she started to eat before it got cold.

Them, together, with their son ... she didn't think there was a force in this world or the next that could stop them. Not even Lord Voldemort and all his followers.

"So," she began after a slight pause. "What was on the agenda for today?"

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worldenough
2009-03-27 01:04 pm UTC (link)

"Today?" Frank repeated, glancing up from where he had been eating (having remembered his soup after noticing Alice eat, too). "Well, we can send a letter to Dumbledore, I think- and it's probably better that we wait to see what he says before throwing our names into the mix at the Ministry. It's only been a few days, we don't need to save the world quite yet." He gave a playful wink. "Other than that, I'm admittedly not quite sure. I'd like to start looking for a place to move, but I'm not sure that's a feasible option quite yet. There's still money in our Gringotts account," thankfully, "but- well, I'd say we shouldn't be rash, but then where's the fun in that?"

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 01:40 pm UTC (link)

"Well, there's no harm in looking for a place. Getting some papers or something and just ... seeing what's out there. On the market. Maybe we can find a nice quiet place out toward Hogsmeade," she suggested.

Though she had to admit at least part of that desire had to do with being that much closer to Neville. And in proximity to Hogwarts.

"And honestly, I wouldn't even dream of going to the Ministry before speaking with Albus." Because if it turned out that the Ministry was exactly the wrong place to go, she'd want to know before she got there.

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worldenough
2009-03-27 01:59 pm UTC (link)

"Definitely somewhere in the country," Frank agreed, "and Hogsmeade would be nice. I think I've had enough of the city sort of business- at least, I know I don't want to live here." He might have been able to stomach it when he was younger, but now Frank much preferred the idea of a quiet place, somewhere away from most everything else.

"We won't make any decisions- at least, ones about our jobs and such- until we talk to Dumbledore. I trust him with my life, and he'll be able to steer us onto the correct path." Because the Prophet certainly wasn't reliable.

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 03:15 pm UTC (link)

Alice nodded, and since it seemed like that plan was settled, she smiled. So they'd browse about for a place to live, near Hogsmeade. They'd talk to Dumbledore, they'd figure out what to do with their lives, and then they'd go about living that life.

Pleased, she carried her empty bowl to the sink before she turned to lean against the counter.

"Do you ever wonder if this is just ... temporary?" It was an awful thought, but one she'd found herself wondering a time or two. If they were only being granted a slight reprieve for reasons she couldn't fathom. She doubted it, and she hoped not, but she wondered all the same.

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worldenough
2009-03-27 03:21 pm UTC (link)

He brought his empty dishes to the sink, pausing there just a moment to consider Alice's question. It wasn't something he really wanted to consider, though Frank understood why the idea would worry Alice.

"No," he said, finally, turning to face her. "It- the world may be many things, Alice, but I- I can't believe it's that cruel." Of course, the argument could be made that if the world wasn't so cruel, they wouldn't have been taken away in the first place. "It's- the Healers were just as baffled by our recovery as we seem to be, but- well, maybe we aren't the only ones!" Then again, a mass miracle might be even more strange than it just being the two of them.

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 03:40 pm UTC (link)

"Perhaps not," she agreed. She hadn't read the Prophet yet today; maybe there'd been another recovery or something. But even if - or especially if - they weren't the only ones, what did it mean?

Why them? Why now? What next?

"It's just so baffling, that ... after all this time we should just suddenly ... and together ..."

She ducked her head a little before she shrugged sheepishly. "I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth." A wry grin tugged her lips before she held out her arms for him, wanting him close to her again.

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worldenough
2009-03-27 03:53 pm UTC (link)

Frank was all too happy to move closer, his arms around Alice's waist, holding her in a gentle embrace. "I think it's romantic," he admitted, knowing it might sound silly for him to say as much. "That we woke up together- or near enough to it, at least. It shows we're not meant to be apart, no matter what state we're in." Cheesy and idealistic, yes, but a nice thought none the less. "That or I just wanted to be sure you didn't go off and find some new younger bloke to replace me," he added, teasingly.

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upon_my_return
2009-03-27 06:31 pm UTC (link)

Alice laughed softly before she dipped her chin in to nuzzle at his throat softly. "I would have waited for you, Frank. I would have gone to you every day and waited until you could join me. And if you never did, then I never would have sought anyone else."

The words may have sounded fanciful, idealistic, the stuff of fairy-tales, but they were true for her. She would have gone to his side every day, even if only for a few moments at a time, to simply be with him and wait for his return.

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worldenough
2009-03-28 12:24 am UTC (link)

"I know you would have," he replied, his voice quiet as he pressed a gentle kiss just to her hair. Anyone else might have cast doubt on such unquestioned loyalty or love, but to Frank it came natural- at least where Alice was concerned. But then again, he'd been in love with her since they were teenagers- most of his lifetime (even if he didn't remember all of it, now). "I like it much better this way, though," he added, an obvious statement or not. "I still need you around, very much."

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upon_my_return
2009-03-28 12:46 am UTC (link)

"Mmm, I like it better this way, too," she agreed as she tightened her arms around him. She was very inclined to see about bringing this to the bedroom; she thought they had a lot of time to make up for. Still, despite the fact they were both adults, she always felt vaguely ... awkward doing that in his mother's house.

Not that it had stopped them at night, but during the day ... She giggled faintly at herself before she kissed a soft trail along his jaw toward his ear, nipping softly at the lobe. "If we don't find something else to do today," she murmured against his ear, "I think I'm going to drag you to the bedroom for a ... nap."

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worldenough
2009-03-28 06:19 pm UTC (link)

Frank would hardly argue about making up time with Alice, especially this way- though the idea of sneaking around with his mum there left him... well, especially eager to move out, to say the least.

He turned his head to kiss Alice again, letting it linger a moment before pulling back just barely and offering a playful smile. "That certainly sounds better than anything else I might have planned," he admitted. "I've missed... napping, with you."

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upon_my_return
2009-03-28 07:44 pm UTC (link)

"Then let's go have a nap," she murmured to him. Her lips pressed softly along his jaw to his throat before she drew away slowly, her hands sliding down his arms to catch his hands.

Backing up slowly, an impish grin curving her lips, she started to lead him out of the kitchen.

Yes, she wanted to spend time with her son, too, but right now, she thought that she and Frank could do with a bit of time to themselves. Maybe they'd see if Neville wanted to do something after dinner. Chat, or play a board game, or maybe go out for a walk.

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worldenough
2009-03-28 08:57 pm UTC (link)

As awful as it might have sounded, when Alice looked at him like that, Neville was about the furthest thing from Frank's mind. He grinned- probably looking rather goofy and not nearly as alluring or playful as his wife did- but followed along all the same.

Reaching their bedroom (or, at least, the guest room where they'd been staying), Frank glanced none too subtly over his shoulder and, not seeing anyone there to stop them (not that he'd have let them), he closed the door firmly behind them.

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