Harry Dresden (dresdensluck) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-07-20 20:46:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, elaine mallory, harry dresden |
Ready for our date, young lady?
Who: Harry and Elaine
Where: out and about.
What: a dat night on her birthday
When: on her birthday, 2013
Warnings/Rating: PG-13, for sexiness and couple talk.
Status complete
Harry smiled as he hugged Elaine, and kissed her. "Ready for our date, young lady?" He smirked as he held her, eyes dancing as he considered his fiance(!), with a warm smile.
The ceremony over, things settling out with Cora, and no new crises, it was nice to just take time for them.
Elaine smiled up at him, pressing close to his body, basking in the wonder of what they had just accomplished together. It had truly been an amazing morning. “I’m ready when you are.”
Harry kissed her again and grinned. “I love you, and let’s go.” He grinned at her and led the way out, bouncing in his step and ready to have a night on the town with his fiance(!), and just enjoy life. He smirked at her as he led the way outside, and the horse-drawn carriage he had rented and that was waiting was revealed.
“Our carriage awaits, milady.” Literally.
He held out a hand to hand her upward. He was wearing a tuxedo for once, or something very close to one, a well cut suit that showed off his body very well.
Knowing that Harry would be in a suit, Elaine had changed her sundress for something a little more dressy, and pinned up her braid in an elegant knot at the nape of her neck--the better to show off her chandelier earrings. She smiled as she let him help her into the carriage, and slid over to make room for him. “You really went all out. Almost as if you knew it was going to be a special day.”
He slid in as well and then snuggled her close. “Who me? Well, there is a certain person with a birthday, but it also is perfect for us to just... be us and away from it all for once.” He kissed her hair and her lips.
“It is,” she said, leaning comfortably against him. “And I’m glad we’re taking the time out. It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it?”
“It has been of late, a rather wild one.” He kissed her hair and thought that it seemed to be getting wilder. But that was a subject for another day. For now, he hugged her close and smiled, inhaling her scent. “As long as we are together, I promise there will always be moments for us.”
She nodded, content to let all worries go for the time being. Even after all the energy they'd poured into the ritual, she felt strong and balanced, and Harry's aura seemed steady, grounded. It was like things had finally fallen into place. "I'm ready," she said again, "I know I'm right where I belong."
“Me too.” He snuggled against her as the carriage rolled onward, and rocked them together lightly. He stroked her hair. “I feel like I’m finally right with things. Nightmares. dreams, and all.” He knew some of his dreams woke her sometimes. It seemed his dreamworld grew darker, and he tried not to let it affect their waking moments, but some nights, laying awake beside her, it was hard not to. And he would go crazy if it weren’t for Elaine being there to hold him up.
Swaying gently as the carriage rocked, Elaine nodded her head. Her own dreams weren’t all sunshine, rainbow, and unicorns, either; but waking up to know that Harry was right there beside her made it easier to muddle through the darkness. “I’m not going to run away again.”
“I know. I trust you, Elaine.” More than he had ever trusted anyone. He turned and kissed her full on, his hands stroking her legs and her arms, gently, and he smiled softly, a little breathless when he broke the kiss. “You and me together.”
Elaine’s eyes closed as she leaned into the kiss, sighing softly as it broke. She blinked up at her fiance, and smiled. “Together.”
He smiled softly, back, and kissed her nose. “Yes.” He snuggled her close as the carriage went on. “I feel like things are going so well. Dreams are being okay, magic is behaving, and life is for the moment, quiet. I hope it stays that way for a short period of time.” He wanted just a day or two to enjoy his family.
“Mm. Me too,” Elaine agreed. Cora seemed to be settling into herself, gaining confidence in her secondhand knowledge, and enjoying the process of discovery. Thomas and Neena would be okay now. She was going to make the most of the calm before the next storm of happenings. “Have you thought about how soon you want to get married?”
“Yes. On the one hand, right now. One the other, I kind of like this being engaged thing. I suppose that’s no real help.” He chuckled, and kissed her again. “I don’t want to wait too long, unless we go for like, Spring Solstice next year. That would be okay. But otherwise? Next week? The week after? How do you feel about it?”
He wanted to seal with her this life.
“What about the Winter Solstice?” she asked, tilting her head as she contemplated the idea. “Six months from now, when our powers are at the balance point again?” It had a certain symmetry to it, and it was sooner than waiting a full year. “I know it’s close to Christmas, but Christmas is always a good reminder that Winter is not forever.”
Harry nodded. “We could do that. It sounds like a good date.” He grinned at her. “Let the banners go forth then, and I’ll have to go get me a best man.” He nodded.
“Good. We can tell Cora when we get home, if she’s still awake.” And she supposed she’d have to pick out a best woman, too. “I think Cora would like to be included, somehow.”
“Well, it is traditional for the child to act as a flower boy or girl, and sometimes as the Ringbearer. Think she could stand to do those?” Harry liked the idea of her being a part of that. And knowing them, it might even be a pair of magical rings.
“Oh, I think she’d like that. She might even be able to manage both jobs,” Elaine said, snuggling against him. “If her sketchbook is any indication, she’ll probably want to dress us, too.”
Harry grinned at her and sighed happily as the carriage clattered along. “Is she any good?” He had no objections, if Elaine didn’t, as long as the designs didn’t make their wedding look terrible.
“Well, let’s just say her tastes are evolving,” Elaine said, laughing softly. Cora’s drawings weren’t bad for an eight year old, but she was almost sixteen now. “I guess I’ll have her look at bridal magazines with me, and see what sort of things she picks out. Do you know what sort of wedding you want? Big? Small? Something in the middle?”
“Something in the middle, and ceremony is right. Or maybe a small normal one, and a small ceremony one, if you get my meaning.” It felt right to be joined to her by mortal laws, and also to be joined to her by magical ones.
She nodded. In a way, she felt as if they were already married--or at least the commitment was there--in spirit, the walking down the aisle bit would just be bringing things full circle. And that would be good. “Should we have the private ceremony first, with the public one after?”
“I think so. Something small, for us.” He grinned. “My only question is, do we do is civilized and invite those close, or old school, and just us?” And by oldschool, he meant it all the way, including being skyclad during the ceremony.
Elaine smirked a little, and bopped him lightly on the nose. “I’m open to negotiating,” she said, “What would you like to do?”
He poked her lightly, brushing fingers across her ribs. “I’m open to either, but...” And he nodded, letting words form. “I want to make it a part of us, this union, of us. I want to make it about us and us alone. old school is more like that, and sheds all excess. Maybe we could do that and then have a small reception for those family? The have the normal ceremony and the normal reception?”
“All right,” she said, “We could make it a weekend event, even.” She leaned in and kissed him again. “I think it feels right. And I’m excited.” She was very excited.
Harry smiled softly. “That sounds perfect. I love you.” He grinned and almost bounced. “I’m getting pretty excited, too.” He snuggled her close as the carriage clattered to a halt and the driver shortly opened the door. “Your restaurant, sir and madame!” And Harry stepped out and helped Elaine out, smiling as he saw the restaurant ahead, and then offered her his arm.
“Shall we?”
“Yes, please,” Elaine said, placing her hand in his, and leaning lightly on his arm as she stepped down. She smiled as he led her to the restaurant, taking in the ambiance as they walked up to the door and stepped inside.
He led the way to the restaurant, and grinned as they were seated by a man who spoke Italian accented English. Menus and water followed, and Harry grinned. “Wine? They have a great white, here. I had a few lunchtime business meetings here and had a chance to sample the wine. I think you’d like it.” Mrs Summers enjoyed her comforts.
“Sounds good to me,” Elaine assented, nodding her head. It was a new dining experience for her at this particular place, so if Harry had been there before, she was happy to take his recommendations. “What else is good?”
“The fettucini and the angel hair with the beef and mushroom stuffed ravioli is excellent, probably my favorite meal here.” Harry liked Italian food, a lot.
“Mmm.” Elaine had to admit, she too was a fan of pasta. “I guess that settles it, then.” She did peruse the menu a bit, just to see what there was to see, but she was much too tired to think that hard--even if it was a good, happy, satisfied sort of tired. Easy decisions were a-ok with her.
Harry snuggled close to Elaine and with her assent, ordered for them both, wine and pasta both, and then sat back. The wine was delivered and poured quickly, and Harry lifted his glass. “To us, and to our future, made together.”
“Together,” Elaine echoed, her glass chiming softly against his. She liked the sound it made. “I think this just might be shaping up to be the best birthday that I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad you think so.” He slipped a hand into his chest suit pocket and pulled out a small box. “I hope you’ll like this even better.” Inside was a necklace of interwoven silver ore and steel. on it was simply the infinity symbol crossed with another of the same. “Happy Birthday, Elaine.”
Elaine drew the necklace from its box, cradling the pendant in her hand for a moment before she fastened it around her neck--drawing her hair aside so Harry could see how it fell against her chest. “Thank you,” she said, “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re welcome. Something beautiful, for a beautiful woman.” He kissed her hair and her lips, and smiled softly. “I wanted you to know I didn’t forget, even with the madness.”
Elaine smiled, leaning into his touch. "I guess that's one of the good things about scheduling everything all at once. And having a memorable birth date."
“I think you might be right.” He kissed her again and nodded. “I love you, Elaine, and I am very glad we found each other again, and Cora.” He nodded. He found himself loving this arrangement more every day.
“I had another thing I wanted to ask about. I know Cora will have to be asked too, but... what do you think about me moving in with you two?” He hoped sooner, rather than later.
She listened, nodding at Harry’s suggestion. “I’m certainly open to the possibility.” She reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re with us often enough, I was kind of wondering when you were going to make it official.”
“I wanted to get past this thing with Thomas, and breathe, but... I find my car steering toward your house more than mine these days.” He chuckled. “Why do you think Mister and Mouse live there? If they lived at my house, they would never see me.”
He smiled softly. “We should talk it over with Cora when we can.”
"oh, you mean Cora isn't just holding them for ransom? I would never have guessed." Elaine laughed, and sipped her wine. "We can talk to her tonight. But I have a feeling I can guess her answer."
Harry snerked and kissed her hand. “Sounds good. And really?” He was hopeful, but he didn’t want to count on things.
The food came, and refills for the wine, and Harry smiled, and paused before starting to eat. “Have you ever thought of whether you want more children?”
“She loves you, Harry,” Elaine assured him. “She loves her...step-dad too but one look at her sketchbooks after you and I started seeing each other again, and you could see she’s already made a special place for you in her heart.” She smirked at him, and teased, “Or maybe you’ve just bought yourself a special place with pizza and magic lessons.” Whatever the case, Cora didn’t seem threatened by the thought of sharing her love with two dads.
Elaine smiled as the conversation continued on. She’d had a feeling the subject of more children would come up again sooner or later, after their little scare. “You mean Cora hasn’t started asking you, yet, when we’re going to have another baby?”
Harry smiled softly and hugged her again, then smiled wider. “No, she hasn’t. I just figured it was a matter of time.” He chuckled and kissed her nose, and nodded. “All I know is that I couldn’t imagine anyone I would be happier having a baby with.”
“Oh, you should have heard her, cooing over the announcement of baby Baggins’ birth,” Elaine said. Granted, that was back before Cora had grown up, and now the sixteen-going-on-ten year old was starting to learn tact, but Cora was very much the nurturing type. She liked puppies, and kittens, and...yes...babies. And it was no surprise where she got that from.
“I wouldn’t mind having another baby, or two. Or three. I’m not fussy about the number, as long as I’m not raising them by myself. That was the one thing I decided, that next time, I’d want their father in the picture, full time,” she said, “What about you? How many children do you want?”
“I’ve been thinking six.” He held a serious face for a moment, then chuckled. “No, really, two or three, at most. I think. We can start with one more and see how that goes.” He grinned wider at her. Harry felt his heart lift, shimmering in utter and complete joy. This woman, god, she made him feel amazing. And add in Cora, and Thomas, Neena and the rest... and he was just finding that life, despite all the knocks and downflops, was good.
“You never know,” Elaine parried, not missing a beat, “We might pop out a set of twins.” She smiled. She would take as many as they happened to be blessed with, once they decided they were ready to start trying--or even if they were surprised with one. “How soon do you think you want to start?”
Harry chuckled. “We could. A twin set of girls, no less.” He winked at her, grinning. He enjoyed this sparring, of the loving sort. “Is tonight too soon? I know we’re not married, but I am yours and you are mine, and the world is far too short on time.” He kissed her once more, lovingly. “I vote tonight.”
Elaine smiled, and ran her fingers through his hair, as the kiss resolved. “I suppose we could forget to use protection...again.” And even if they didn’t get pregnant right away, they’d certainly enjoy trying.
Harry smiled softly. “I suppose we could.” He kissed her again. No matter how long it took, it would be okay. Harry and Elaine and Cora and the others... they finally had a chance to make a future. And he would grab it.
~fin~