"Mm." Ignan replied, holding her close. "Not quite the same as the weeks before you took up your post." They'd managed to negotiate spending time together within the castle under the guise of collaborating on lessons.

"I'm glad you came. I didn't really know how to broach this with you, not by owl certainly. Never quite keep track of your hours in London either." She smelled of the hospital, it was familiar, and although associated with visits there over the few years he'd been in Britain now, it more reminded him of Miranda. It was her hospital. He was sure she in turn smelled the castle when he made an excuse to go back to Godric's Hollow and swap out books or other materials rather than asking Gerda.

"Have you been home tonight?" He asked, drawing back a little to study her, the evening was waning on, and Miranda was never one to do reasonable hours. He reached to her hand, lacking her wedding and engagement ring, and thumb and forefinger grazed her ring finger. This and the smell made him believe she hadn't been home. Ignan knew she didn't want to lose them in amongst using her hands at work. They were both getting used to it. Ignan occasionally knocked his hand against something and forgot the additional noise it brought.

"Have you been home tonight?" The question was one where both parties knew the answer. Ignan had surely asked more for confirmation than anything else. He knew Miranda well enough by now to know she lived and breathed work, ignoring real life and the need to eat and sleep. Her dark eyes met his, lips pressed together. Was he asking to show himself up as the caring husband now that they were married? Aware that Ignan did care for her and considered her work load marginally ridiculous, Miranda appreciated him being out of the way to not see her comings and goings. He could make his own judgments without comment.

“Have you?” A childish answer escaped her lips with a raised eyebrow. At least Miranda went home to sleep; Ignan worked 24/7, on duty throughout the night, there to cater to the whims of over sensitive teenagers.

Despite herself, Miranda let her mind wander to where his fingers brushed over her finger; the finger that should have held her wedding and engagement ring.
“It’s not practical.” She found herself making the excuse as she pulled her hand away and tugged the chain from around her neck up and out from beneath her blouse. It revealed two sparkling golden rings glinting in the candlelight.

“I should leave you to it. Gerda will be fitting that I’ve not arrived home for tea yet.” Miranda reached forward and placed a light kiss on his lips before pulling back an inch. “Until tomorrow.” Another quick kiss was planted on his lips before she pushed herself off the edge of the desk and went to leave.

"Have you?"
"Hmph, I wish." Ignan replied quietly, letting loose a sigh. He acknowledged Miranda's gesture with her rings. He knew why, but he hadn't said it outright. "And I know. I would hate to hear you lost them inside someone…" The older wizard made a face at the thought.

"Until tomorrow." Ignan agreed, blinking slowly for the kiss and managing a genuine smile for his wife as she departed. He only hoped the next evening went better than this one had.

End