The Imp obligingly showed Francis around the kitchen, though despite its obedience, he was sure it looked ever so slightly sceptical of his ability to cook. He didn't blame it, he wasn't the world's best by any stretch of the imagination.

"If I ask you to help, I'll only be cheating," he told it with a faint smile, though it looked unconvinced, its arms folded, but obedient.

"I know you're here to serve your mistress, but let me, just for one night, please?" Gabrielle's servant bowed and pattered away across the kitchen floor before vanishing and leaving Francis alone in the kitchen to contemplate his actions. He could do this! He could cook dinner for Gabrielle, and he would.

So he set to work, and time flew. He only hoped she wouldn't be too late home. Department Heads worked so very hard, as did Unspeakables, even if he'd worked an earlier day to ensure he had time to slip to Gabrielle's use the spare key and talk nicely to her imp.

Finally when she appeared in the kitchen doorway, he smiled broadly, wand in one hand as he opened the oven door and levitated out the metal tray containing the salmon for their starter. Once it was safely popped on the stove top, he opened his arms to her.

"Welcome home my love, thought I would surprise you. with dinner. Haven't burnt it yet…!"

Long workdays, indeed. Paperwork and pleasantries to drown oneself with a hundred, no, a thousand times over. Gabrielle was grateful, however, for Johann's cooperation and understanding through it all. A new year, a new leaf, a new page. A holiday was being to sound more and more pleasant, truth be told. However, that would have to wait until the tournament was over...

Blast.

However, seeing Francis helped and that was nice. Very nice. A snap and crack from London to Wiltshire took no time, her thoughts still collectively stuck on Francis and that gorgeous face. Gabrielle could see him clear as day in front of her mind's eye whilst opening the door. Even with that in her cranium, Gabrielle was not expecting to hear that voice, let alone that body directly in front of her.

"MAKER BE!" she yelped in an instant, eyes wide but soon saw him smiling and urging an open embrace. Merlin, how Gabrielle loved this man. Strolling forward, she slid her own arms around his waist, inhaling his cologne (which smelled divine), leaning to kiss his cheek.

"My sweet ragged man. Have you gone domesticated on me? This...this is a wonderful surprise."

Wrapping his arms around her, he smiled contentedly over her shoulder and kissed her neck and then her cheek, and then finally her lips, his hands cradling each of her shoulders with strong fingers.

"Least I can do for the woman I love." He whispered to her, and kissed her again.

"Here, let me pour you a glass of wine, take the weight off your feet." He let go with one arm and led her round to the kitchen table with gentle guidance of his other arm around her.

"I hope you don't mind eating in the kitchen, its just, there's a chance I'll remember to keep cooking dinner instead of staring into your eyes and forgetting myself." His arm took leave of the small of her back and his wand made easy work of the cork on the chilled bottle of white wine, before he poured it gracefully into a waiting glass.

"I'll have things sorted in just a minute." Francis smiled broadly to his beloved, setting the bottle down.

The kisses were a wonderful reminder of how much she longed for those lips at times. The final strokes to her own pair caused the fuzzy, warm sensation she hadn't really enjoyed since the ball, so call it more than longing as Gabrielle kissed back a bit longer before breaking away. Grinning like a teenager all over again at Francis' orders, she saluted the other with a plop into one of the chairs at the table situated within the kitchen. Ah, relief.

Gabrielle took the glass of wine without hesitation, listening to Francis ramble on about how the safety of eating in here opposed to the ten plus manned table in the dining hall and being distracted there. "Oh, stop it. You'd be distracted easily in here as well... however, I believe you're capable of keeping focused, darling man," Gabrielle quipped, taking a drink from the wine. "An excellent choice, Francis....you might be a maitre'd before long."

A grin as she hid behind the wine glass for a moment more. "By the way, how did you ever get Imp to leave you alone to your own devices?"

"Good question," Francis replied looking ever so slightly unsure, and looking round the kitchen. "It took some persuading, but I think I convinced it that me cooking would be what you wanted."

His eyes alighted on the salmon which was probably cooling off if it wasn't for the warming charms that preserved the food on Gabrielle's stove. Merlin he loved magic, there were limits to it back home with Muggles for neighbours and Muggle built home. The Imp would be lurking, somewhere, ready to step in and extinguish a fire should it happen.

Hastily, the unspeakable assembled the starter for them both, and hurried it over to the table, and lifted his newly filled wine glass to Gabrielle.

"To us," He toasted, "May this year be for you and I alone. I'm so very glad to have you back in my life as more than a friend."

Their glasses clinked and Francis met her eyes with his and smiled.
"Can hardly believe its been a month since Christmas, its all gone so quickly. Can you?"

Gabrielle's eyes almost misted at the prospect found in Francis' words had she not forced it back down. Yes, more than a friend - more like a companion, an equal....a crooked one in your family's eyes, even as they are glad you've found happiness again... Gabrielle soon drowned the nagging voice and instead, regained focus on the magnificent gentleman before her.

He had cooked a meal for the two of them, but primarily her. Yes, Gwyn nor Kabir had really been given the chance (a regret, in all honesty, considering they were wonderful men and good company) but Gabrielle knew more of Francis and his efforts. "Aye, a new year, a new chapter...and I hope I prove to be much more level-minded in addition to making sure you, with the boys, are remaining strong." Even if I'm not strong enough myself, she added inside her head, finishing the first glass off. "The salmon looks absolutely wonderful - thank you again for this, Francis. Truly."

"Nothing, really." Francis smiled.

Their chatter over starters turned to Gabrielle's day, and a little of his, though both knew the other couldn't discuss the finest details ever. Secrets were part of the job.

As Gabrielle recharged their wineglasses, Francis attended to the main course, nimbly laying it out, conversation dipping as he added the vegetables to the side of the lamb. His expression was much the same as when he worked on the timeturners, thoughtful and intense, which lingered until he'd managed to land the precision laid dinner in front of Gabrielle at the table.

"I just wanted everything to be, perfect, you know?" He reasoned, still a little preoccupied with making the food absolutely right. Francis and cooking were occasional friends. Usually he became preoccupied with something other than cooking which ruined things, and it had been a battle to do that, that evening too.

When they were settled, Francis sipped his wine nervously, watching Gabrielle take a taste. When she seemed happy, he let the other thing on his mind take over.

"Gabrielle, I've been thinking," He began - always a phrase to install confidence in your other half, or rather the opposite, "thinking about me and Claire. I think it might be best if I see about setting our affairs in order legally." He had barely touched his own main course, and gripped his wine glass instead in one hand, worried.

She watched Francis at work - nimble, graceful and rather magnificent (in addition to beautiful as usual) at his task at hand. Her body gave way to goose bumps, recognising how much she truly loved him and how much happiness the two of them brought one another. She had begun to cut into the carrot, munching on it as she smiled with closed lips, swallowing moments later. "Well, it's absolutely wonderful and you don't have to try so hard on us, on me. You know I'm not so hard to please, Francis. Just a smile a day from you (and a few kisses too, her brain added) would be more than sufficient enough for me."

Another bite of the carrot was followed by cutting into the lamb and smiling quite contentedly as it was beyond perfect and she didn't really begin to notice Francis' grip on his glass, much less that he wasn't eating until she rose her head back up for a moment to compliment on the lamb. She didn't even find an opportunity to ask Francis instantly began his spill of words. "Gabrielle, I've been thinking....thinking about me and Claire. I think it might be best if I see about setting our affairs in order legally."

The fork clanged softly against the china, her eyes looking wide at Francis and noted he was quite serious at his revelation.

"I.....you aren't doing this...." for the wrong reasons? Not doing this just for us? A lump rose in her throat, suddenly feeling the mess of emotions she had felt last October[1] when they reaffirmed their long lost love for one another and all the nervousness she had felt crawling in her stomach. "Are you certain this is what you really want?" she finally inquired rather weakly, not intentionally trying to ruin his moment, to ruin their dinner.

1.	Bacon, Eggs, Pyjamas, Strudel, and Spam!

At her question, Francis took a large gulp of the wine in his hand and didn't look up.

"Yes… no… yes I think." He responded with hurried, hushed words. To be asked if he was sure, after so much contemplation suddenly shot him back to his first thoughts again. Gabrielle didn't think it was a good idea, otherwise she wouldn't have asked that, clearly.

"No, I mean, it is what I should do to stand by Claire. She needs to be free of me, I'm no great help to her any more. I don't recognise the woman I fell in love with, had two children with and married. I just see something that looks a little like her."

Francis took another long drink of wine. He had hardly touched his main course.
"She can be happy. We can be happy." He told Gabrielle softly.

"I can be happy again."

He admitted, feeling incredibly guilty for being so selfish but unable to stop himself. He had given up hope on Claire ever recovering, ever being the wonderful mother of his two boys. It was easier to run back into the arms of Gabrielle, to pick up where they left off and to put Claire out of the picture. The boys would understand - they had accepted somewhat at Christmas when they had spoken about it - but there had been tears, silences, and Ambrose's level stare across the room at them both. Merlin he'd grown up a lot in the past few months.

"Do you understand what I mean?" He asked his lover across the table, appealing.

She understood as best Gabrielle honestly could and that was hard on both of their hearts. Unlike the literal death and burial of her mother, Claire Pepper was breathing, living, struggling even, to recall what precisely had befallen her. The tragedies to not know your husband, your children, even to forget the vows you made in a chapel to remain together in toughest of times. Gabrielle's heart thumped heavily, soon wiping tears that had formed in her eyes and heaved out a shuddered breath. He deserved happiness, but truly at what cost? To have Claire diminish away at Mungo's? His family scorn them? The public finding out and shaming her over a few decades old flame that never was quenched?

"You and the boys...." Gabrielle tried to begin, voice crackling as tears falling now in freeform, unable to hold them back any longer. Ignan's words were there - there was time still - as were Crina's. Was this truly now the time she had waited for? Or was she still the same Gabrielle Murray that rejected Francis Pepper in Godric's Hollow on a wintry's eve in December?

Scared, afraid, terrified of what may come? Yes, she was.

But.

Time wasn't going to let her have another chance more than likely, was it? Probably not. "....you and the boys need love more than ever. (So do I, she inwardly mused) A love that can be faithful and steadfast; a love to take hold of you when the world scorns you. A love to protect your darkest secrets and pains and to heal them with a love that feels those things too."

Gabrielle sniffled, soon clutching Francis' free hand. "A wonderful young man once told me that time would not wait for no man, no woman. Likewise, a wise old great grandmother smacked me for breaking that young man's heart when all he wanted was to prove how much he would go to bring the moon and stars to me. How he would make me happy and to forget all the bad that had ever befallen my younger days." Her eyes glistened, a soft smile finally showing. "I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if I said no a second time."

Despite himself, Francis Pepper began to sob happily at Gabrielle's words, gripping her hand thankfully.

How different life would have been if she had said yes back in Godric's Hollow all those years ago - the way he had planned and dreamed. Now here in her kitchen, all those years later, he wanted nothing more than to have that reversed. He couldn't turn back time with all the clockwork without a paradox, without erasing the existence of his two wonderful sons.

"You have no idea how thankful I am to hear those words," he confessed, wiping away tears that trailed his cheeks, "my Gabrielle, always and forever." His other hand covered hers between his own and he smiled through his tears.

"Truth is, I was scared if I was making the right decision. The decision a good man would make? Ever since we told the boys at Christmas, I have doubted my choices since Godric's Hollow, what became of us. I don't deny I believe I loved Claire, but it was never the same as how I loved you, and love you still."

His shoulders heaved and he swallowed noisily, the relief of it all seeping out.

His heart ached when he thought of it all, but it felt somewhat at peace and jumped at the merest scent of Gabrielle in his house as Claire's perfume found a place at the back of a drawer. Where once it had soothed him to sleep after a puff onto a pillow, he now held Gabrielle in his arms, pressed against him while his heart sang so loudly the world could surely hear.

His love for Claire, what it had been, companionship, friendship, convenience and agreeable, a good team to bring up children, was different to how he felt to love Gabrielle. He couldn't imagine life without her - all through his marriage to Claire she had remained his best friend despite her absences. He would still have told her his deepest secrets even though he shared his bed with the mother of his two children.

She had been the second place, the resolution when he had not been able to have the woman he truly matched. It had not meant she was any heathen or any less of a wonderful person, a magnificent mother, but he believed they both shared the feeling the one they really were fated to be paired with in their souls were those they had been parted from before their marriage. For Francis, Gabrielle, and for Claire, the unspeakable and the father of Thomas, her first child, estranged step-son.

"It won't be easy, Merlin knows. I'll set my own affairs in order, without linking them to you and I, for the sake of the boys, for the sake of Claire getting better and her family moving on and focusing on her. We'll all be able to move on. They'll still see her, she'll still be their mother-."

Francis came to an abrupt halt in his torrent of words and closed his eyes, lips curling into a smile, the maelstrom of worries blowing through and the sunlight beginning to break through.

"How is it I have been blessed with you in my life, Gabrielle Murray?" He asked, opening his watery eyes softly to gaze upon her beautiful, radiant face.

Taking the free hand when her other was gripped, Gabrielle stroked his softened yet worn hands and smiled gently towards him. When he moved to wipe his tears away, her heart thumped at the sight; after all, they had shared many tears over the past year but seeing him cry like this reminded her all too well of the sorrowful night so long ago. Soon, two pairs of hands embraced one another and she smiled warmly towards Francis, the thumping becoming increased in tempo. So much so that Gabrielle thought naively that it could, would be seen by his own eyes. Listening to him speak, she could hear the relief but the sadness of knowing the chapter that included a marriage, children, pain and tears, joy and laughter.... were now to close.

"It won't be easy, Merlin knows. I'll set my own affairs in order, without linking them to you and I, for the sake of the boys, for the sake of Claire getting better and her family moving on and focusing on her. We'll all be able to move on. They'll still see her, she'll still be their mother-."

Gabrielle had intentions to intervene on those words -- to state she wanted the boys to still very much to visit their mother, to interact with her. After all, to forbid in participating in their mother's life? It was inhumane and cruel at best and truly, Gabrielle Murray was not such a woman -- her family, her mother's father had raised her to be much better than that. Truly, Alan's advice and instruction were words she valued as equally as her father's side of the family.

"How is it I have been blessed with you in my life, Gabrielle Murray?"

The very breath she had come to exhale was taken in an instant and Gabrielle was rendered speechless by Francis' kind words. His weary from tears smile made the thumping in her chest ache to see him look so lost and yet so in wanting for love to be given in earnest return. "I....." she began, pausing briefly to move one hand out to wipe his tears away and to lean in to kiss the wet substance away from his eyes. Hopefully, that wouldn't start a new onset of tears for such a gesture, surely?

"I won't say Fate or Time has a hand in it because those are genuine possibilities. So, I'll say it's because we never stopped loving one another. That our hearts, separated by distance and yes, time, have only waited for one another for so long. Also... it's because I truly, unequivocally do love you, Francis Albert Pepper. You mean much more than the span of galaxies and planets, of time and logic. I adored you then so long ago and now, I adore.... no. I love you even more."

The world was healed. For in that moment, in that kitchen, the world was right, and he was unbreakably happy.

"I love you too." Francis echoed without hesitation. "I have always loved you, but I thought I couldn't have you, oh how different life would have been if things had worked out differently." He bowed his head a moment and closed his eyes, shaking his head - curls bouncing about his temples a moment.

"But no matter, Gabrielle, I promise you a life together, we will get through this, I will make amends as necessary with her, with the boys, with family. They will understand how things are, nothing can deny us what was clearly in the fates." His voice wavered as the emotion got in the way, "and then when we are clearer in our lovestruck heads, I will put things right formally."

He meant of course, that he would take her back to Godric's Hollow, get down on one knee and ask her to be his wife again, but this time she would say yes. But he didn't want to ask her that now, it was not only too early, but not the right moment. He wanted to do it properly, as he had before - and besides, he was still officially married to Claire still. But he was certain he wanted the woman sat opposite him to be Gabrielle Pepper within a year.

The unspeakable let out a long sigh, relieved to have that out finally, and gave Gabrielle's hands a squeeze before letting go finally.
"Eat up." He told himself, as much as her, "I'll have to practice this cooking lark in this kitchen." His hands found his cutlery again, and then his wand to warm things again, "I plan on spending a lot more time here if the owner permits." This was certainly a perk over their lives when they were together in their youth.

Francis couldn't help but let his curiosity get the better of him.
"Do you think there's still time, you know, for family?" He asked, eyes not meeting her face, but rather more insinuating them as a 'family' than the Peppers or the Murrays in general.
"If you still wanted such… of course." He blushed a little.

Gabrielle continued to be the listener, giving Francis the time and space to express what precisely was on his mind. It was clear, however, how much he truly loved her and how much he had longed to fully express it without reproach, without fear. As for the putting 'things right formally,' Gabrielle smiled knowingly what precisely that would mean, but she could wait until that occurred - after all, one ought not to press affairs to move quicker than before. After all, that was rude and a Murray tried to abstain from rudeness as best as a Murray possibly could.

The instruction to eat once more occurred as did the declarative statement of spending time at the manor.  A grin crept to her lips, amused that Francis would honestly need permission. "You know you and the boys are always welcome here - I have to be a hospitable host, after all. Aside from the heiress and department head that you, along with majority of the British Isles wizarding communities, know I am, I enjoy opening up the abode to those I don't mind having about. So. Rest assured, you, Ambrose and Timothy are always welcomed here."

Taking another bite of the lamb, her smile remained in true form, watching Francis enjoy his meal. However, looking down at the plate to cut another piece provided the moment of shock with Francis' following inquiry. "Do you think there's still time, you know, for family? ........ If you still wanted such… of course."

A choke sound followed Gabrielle as she looked up to Francis, noting the blush and outdoing his by a mile. Her cheeks burnt considerably before taking her goblet to drink down what contents were left to rid the half chewed bite of lamb down. "I...yes. God, yes. However, maybe that's something..." She went silent for a moment before sheepishly grinning. "I've always wanted that. In fact, I may or may not have saved a booklet of ideas when we were dating."

"Saved a …?" Francis looked surprised. "Did you say, a booklet?" He couldn't help but laugh, not for thinking her silly, but because it was typically Gabrielle, and yet another example of how she had never quite given up on them.

"Yes, though, perhaps a little when the initial matters are settled." He agreed quietly, his grin diminishing to a bright smile instead.

"I am so very glad you and I are of the same thought. I've been worrying myself silly," he admitted. "A month on from Christmas and I'd convinced myself things had changed for the worse I suppose." He shook his head, dismissing the silly notions.

"I promise you," Francis continued, reaching over for his love's hand, "we'll weather this, you, me, the boys. We'll come out alright, and we will have our own." He squeezed tight, eyes locking and conveying all the sincerity he could.

There was time for Francis Pepper, there was time for Gabrielle Murray, and to hell with those who said otherwise!

End