Who: Andrew & Sophie When: Tuesday, October 31st Where: Their Home What: Ships passing in the night Rating: Low Status: In Progress
Stepping through the Floo, Sophie groaned at the sweet silence of her home. The lights in the living room were off and the darkness was a welcome change from the bright lights of her office. She couldn't remember if she'd eaten lunch that day or where she'd last left her desk. Her eyes were exhausted and Sophie pushed her glasses up to rub the bridge of her nose. Her head ached, her neck was sore, and her stomach was growling.
Becoming the Minister's assistant was, without a doubt, a huge moment in her career. And while she didn't, and could never, regret accepting the position, Sophie was exhausted by the amount of work she had to do. His prior assistant seemed perfectly content to allow the Minister to do everything, but not Sophie. She was pushing herself every day until his office was in some semblance of order.
Dropping her very heavy bag on the floor, Sophie kicked off her heels and sank into a comfortable chair. She could fall asleep right there, she thought. Maybe just a few minutes of closing her eyes would give her some energy. Her last thought of what she was going to make for supper as she closed her eyes and she drifted off to sleep.
--
It was so late by the time he left his office that Andrew guessed he should pick up dinner, rather than rely on his own cooking or ask Sophie. They were both working ridiculously long hours since her transfer to the Minister's staff. Falling asleep halfway through a sentence or before dinner was even a thought had become the norm. Andrew hoped it would change once things were resettled in both departments. He wanted to talk about their future together. About taking some time away, at the end of the season, though he wondered if Lestrange would be able to spare Sophie by then. The one thing he was very glad for was the fact that they shared a home. He didn't have to leave the Ministry each night only to greet an empty house and a cold bed.
He stopped off at a muggle restaurant in London for something ethnic before finding a dark alley. It wasn't really necessary, as most people were too busy looking down at the little devices in their hands. Too busy even to notice as a man disappeared right in front of them. Still, he rarely took chances. His wards didn't allow for for apparition straight into the house, so he had to fumble with his wand a bit in the darkness, made darker still by his failing vision. The degeneration seemed to have slowed, at least, though his headaches hadn't lessened at all. If anything, they tended to come on with a vengeance now that he was doing the work of two at League headquarters. There simply wasn't anyone he trusted to do the sort of job he'd come to expect from Sophie. In truth, it hadn't been fair to her and it wasn't fair to his staff. He knew he should promote from within.
The frustration and stress fell from his shoulders as he stepped through his door. Everything remained dark, but he knew Sophie was home. Had she gone to bed already? He set the food down on the kitchen counter and toed his shoes off at the base of the stairs before padding silently into the living room. Andrew tapped the nearest lamp with his wand, lighting it with a soft glow. A helpless smile formed and he shook his head. He didn't want to wake her, but he had a feeling she'd forgotten to eat anything since breakfast. He leaned over her sleeping form, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Sophie," he murmured. "Wake up, sweetheart."
--
Grumbling in her sleep, Sophie turned in the chair and fought against the voice pulling her away from her rest. She was so tired, beyond tired really. And all she wanted to do was lay down and sleep for a year or so. Maybe then she'd feel properly rested. But Andrew's gentle voice called to her and Sophie's eyes fluttered open. Seeing his face in the dim light brought a soft smile to her face and she reached out and placed her hand along his cheek. "You're home," she murmured sleepily. "I was going to make dinner." Yawning, Sophie pulled herself up out of the chair and shook her head, trying to shake off the last threads of sleep.
And then the delicious smell of food wafted in from the kitchen and her face broke into a wide, adoring grin. "You brought food home," she said with a smile. "What in the world did I do to get so lucky?" Wrapping her arms around her boyfriend, Sophie rested her head on his broad chest and sighed. She must have done something right in life if she was fortunate enough to have the job of her dreams and the best man in the world at the same time.
"How was work? No, nevermind. I don't want to talk about work. We only ever talk about work."
--
Andrew couldn't help but laugh a little. He nuzzled his cheek against Sophie's hair, happy to breathe her in and feel the stress virtually melt from his shoulders. "That's because we work all the time." Hopefully, one day soon, they would rectify that situation. Andrew fully intended to take Sophie on a holiday in the coming weeks. Perhaps they could even begin to look at property outside the city - some place quiet and safe to raise a family. There was no doubt in his mind that that was where they were headed. It was a comfortable feeling, a surety that didn't require decisions or questions other than when and where and how many. He had someone to help him find the answers, whereas with the League, he had yet to find someone who got him the way Sophie did. "Even so, I'd say we're both incredibly lucky. Now come on, let's eat a bit since I know I didn't get lunch and I'm sure you didn't either."
He took her hand and led her through to the kitchen, where the food waited. Once he'd grabbed plates and silverware, Andrew went for two glasses of water. Some days he wished he could still drink alcohol. It would be a good way to ensure he got a full night's sleep. Neither of them seemed to be as rested since the dementor-induced nightmares.
"I was thinking we should go away soon. Not far, maybe, but for a long weekend before the holidays."
--
Oh, a holiday sounded lovely. Sophie's mind immediately began to list possible spots, far enough removed from London to reduce their stress, but close enough that coming back wouldn't be difficult should a crisis arise. She mentally pulled up the Minister's calendar, trying to sort out which days would impact his daily routine the least. Even though she knew he would all but insist she left if she mentioned it.
"Warm or cold? Where do you want to see?" Because in all honesty, if Andrew told her he wanted to see the furthest corner of the world before he lost his sight, Sophie would agree. There was nothing she would deny her boyfriend, nothing she wouldn't do for him. Even now that their careers were on separate paths, Sophie still went above and beyond to be there for Andrew. That would never change.
"Greece is nice," she said. "The Great Pyramids are amazing, I've heard. There's the Amazon as well. I could ask the Minister to put in a good word for us, get some exclusive tours, maybe?"
--
"Something in the north," Andrew replied, sitting down to eat. He gazed at Sophie for an extended moment, silently marveling at how lucky he'd gotten. Sophie was always willing to do whatever it was he wanted or needed. A plan had begun to form in his head, but it would keep, until their travel schedule was set. "Scandinavia, I think. I'd like to see the aurora. Before it starts to snow and doesn't stop." He grinned at her. "Maybe one exclusive tour? Of course I'd appreciate his recommendations, but the way Mara and I were in Spain was nice. Just tourists, wandering wherever and whenever we wanted. Spur of the moment things. I don't want anything to be rushed. Rushing is for work." There was so much of the world, and his time to see it all was dwindling, if his healer was to be believed. But there was one thing he wanted more than anything else. He simply needed Sophie's input.
"I was thinking we'd do Christmas here, if you want. Start a tradition or two." He'd had a tree, since moving out on his own. Mara visited the previous year, and the two of them had a great time, especially without their parents to sour the mood. Now that Sophie was in his life, he wasn't keeping any secrets about the fact that he thought they were a permanent thing. "Maybe invite my sister."
--
"We can go see the fjords," Sophie said with a grin. "I've always wanted to see them, and the aurora would be wonderful. I'[l make the arrangements," she said and took a bite of her supper. Sophie would have to pick up some new clothes for them as well, even London winters didn't compare to the North. And seeing Andrew all bundled up in a cozy, traditionally Scandinavian jumper would be the highlight of her trip.
"Can we invite Alec and Nora?" Sophie didn't care much for seeing her parents at Christmas, but if they were going to be a family the way she hoped and assumed they were going to be, she wanted Alec to be there. He was her brother regardless of where they'd come from. "I think having our families together at Christmas sounds perfect," she said with a smile. It never occurred to Sophie that she would ever spend another Christmas without Andrew. Once they had admitted their feelings to each other (and to themselves) it was as good as a proposal, in her mind. The when and where didn't matter, not really. Eventually they'd have the life they both wanted.
"But Christmas is so far off. Do you want to maybe have some people by for supper soon? Force ourselves to be a bit more social?"
--
Andrew made a face at the suggestion of being more social. The expression held briefly before melting into a smile. There was nothing that immediately came to mind that he wouldn't do for Sophie, even if he was protective of their time together. She was right, in any case. They did need to remember from time to time that there was a world outside work and their own little bubble. They'd have time together on their holiday. "Yes to both, although I'm fairly certain we're social enough every day." He smirked around his forkful of food. "I suppose it doesn't count if it isn't with the people we choose. Perhaps we could set something up outside. I have fairy lights somewhere in the house that Mara insisted I buy. I haven't had the heart to tell her they've never even come out of their packaging. Her last letter said she was glad I finally had a female influence in my life other than hers." He rolled his eyes, but the effect was lessened by the fondness written all over his face. "I'm surprised she hasn't started sending you fan mail yet."
They hadn't spent much time together, but Mara was already enamored with Sophie. Andrew wouldn't have it any other way. They were the two people in the world who meant the most to him. Whatever happened, he wanted to see them happy. The wizarding world was in a state of chaos, so it might be a long time coming, but he would see it done.
"It should probably be a Saturday, soon, before the weather turns."