5:55pm

The crack in the midst of a typically quiet Thursday was likely heard by those nearest to Francis Pepper household, but the witch causing the sound could have cared absolutely less. Reaching underneath the fake log, Gabrielle unlocked the door like a normal individual, returning the key and entered the abode. Sighing heavily, she kicked her heels off, moving quietly into the kitchen, eyeing the surroundings. Five minutes, Francis would be off and within five minutes of that, he'd be home and would find the love of his life sprawling out on the couch lazily. She grabbed for a glass, filling it with water, gulping it down and repeating the motion twice more before heading to said couch.

Flopping down and reclining backwards instantly, her eyes gazed upward to the ceiling. The paint was needed in a few spots, but it seemed there were no leaky areas thankfully. The silence that took over the space, however, was fully immersing itself into Gabrielle's mind. Ugh.

Trials and tribulations since July. Normally, she would have opted for just an owl or even continuing their little note passings, but tonight? She needed, she craved his affections, his tender mercies.

Just hopefully.....he wouldn't keep her waiting.

There was a crack and a jangle of keys in the back door five minutes later. Francis Pepper stepped into the kitchen of the three bedroomed Biggleswade home and hung his keys on the pegs beside the doorway to the hall.

Gabrielle's perfume hung in the air, and he could near feel her presence.
"Hello?" He called out, more that he thought he might be imagining things. Slipping off his deep purple jacket, he hung it on the bottom of the stairs to remember to take it up with him later.

But sprawled on the sofa was the love of his life, as he had suspected. Francis held onto the doorframe between hallway and living room and smiled.
"There's a sight for sore eyes." He chuckled, and stepped in properly, approaching the sofa.

"Much better than an owl, anyhow." He clarified, finding space on the edge of the sofa so he could perch, lean in for a kiss, and just be close to her.
"Staying long?" He asked, as they parted and Francis sat up again, taking her hand. "Or do I have you 'til morning?'

Hello, indeed.

Gabrielle smiled happily at his arrival, pleased that Francis didn't take any longer than what she had. And if her perfume lingered, his own cologne began to mingle with hers. It calmed her thoughts, her anxieties and gave more than a little flutter in her stomach. Her lips cracked into a bigger smile soon enough as his feet padded across the floor arriving to her soon enough.

The lip locking was met in earnest response, Gabrielle kissing Francis in return, holding him there until he pulled away. Hm. Hours or the night? She really could tease him badly and normally would, but not tonight.

"Not hours tonight, methinks. If you're willing to deal with an overburdened, overworked, and overstressed department head who is rather yearnful for her other half for a few days..." She paused, glancing at the hand that held her own, "or till morning, she'd be ever so grateful."

"You're never something I need to 'deal' with, my love." Francis admitted, reaching out to smooth her hair away from her face, trying not to let his eyes dwell too long on how tired she looked. He gave a fond smile and stroked her hair.

"Forget being that woman who does everything for the night then." He raised his other hand and clicked his fingers. "Gone, just Gabrielle, love of my life, most beautiful woman in the world. No responsibilities, no obligations."

He shifted, stretched his legs out across the living room carpet, shoes had been left at the back door, leaving him in dark green socks.
"How does…" Francis looked away, thinking through his pantry, "a warm bath, wine, and…" he squinted, realising that he probably needed to go food shopping and hadn't anticipate Gabrielle turning up on a Thursday night where it had been dinner for one planned, "… chicken kiev.. " He asked, tone rising with his question, "… sound to begin with?" He looked down to Gabrielle reclining on the sofa. "Or you know, I can fetch something in. I'm not as resourceful as Imp. I'm sure he'd cook a gourmet meal out of what remains in my pantry." He chuckled to himself and squeezed Gabie's arm gently.

Mercies, all of that sounded amazing, to be completely honest. Especially not to be busy and content with Francis petting her hair, Gabrielle could live with that quite well. "You're too good to me, Francis, and even as I know you don't mind aiding the cause, I'm grateful." She heaved softly, her eyes staying firmly focused on the wizard for a few minutes before moving to kiss his hand gently.

"I love you so much."

She looked at him with seriousness in her tone, her eyes, her heart. The week's episodes of insanity had reared its ugly head and with it, a slew of emotions Gabrielle hadn't let rise in some time. Watching Wolfgang off and die brought to mind the faint remembrance of when Mina had passed. She wasn't capable of mentioning it just yet to Francis, but the abrupt horror of the other day and that Christmas had brought up nightmares. Hopefully if she stayed here for a few days, they'd head away from the mind. Licking her lips, Gabrielle finally nodded to Francis about his suggestions.

"I can take the soak while you cook if that's not going to be an issue with you, darling. As for your skills within the kitchen, you've come a long way and I'm sure that Imp would be quite proud."

Francis smiled at the comment about his improvements in cooking.
"Why don't you head upstairs, I'll bring up your wine."

The wizarding wireless in the kitchen was a pleasing backdrop to the sound of water splashing upstairs in the bath. He very much enjoyed the evenings he had with Gabrielle alone. Much as he missed the boys, just them in Biggleswade felt rather homely, and he was glad she had time.

Francis was all for compromise in the relationship with Gabrielle's senior role as a Head of Department. Level Five was incredibly busy, and often called her away at odd hours or to far off places, but she would always return to him, in Biggleswade for something as mundane as a chicken kiev and a soak in the bath. That was love.

He vaguely recognised the song as one by Three Owl Standard. Ambrose and Tim owned a copy of one of the more recent albums and he recognised it from the summer.

Chicken kievs safely in the oven, he checked the time on his pocketwatch. The wireless was moving on to discuss a few of the news stories of the day, and on hearing the topic, he reached over and switched it off. Gabrielle did not need to hear anything relating to the day.

Instead, he climbed the stairs, a glass of wine in each hand.
"Did someone request wine with their bath?" He asked softly, only to announce his arrival if his footsteps hadn't, before he pushed open the door to the family bathroom.
"Well, here we are. Better?" He handed Gabrielle the wine glass and settled on the bathroom floor beside her at the head of the bath, leaning back on the door, knees bent.

"Friday tomorrow, at least." He smiled gently, taking a sip of the white wine. "Every crisis aside," he glanced to Gabrielle with an expression that he knew it might not be on the top two hundred list of Gabrielle's concerns, "where do you feel like going away next? I've a little leave left before the boys come back, be nice to get away just the two of again."

Kissing his cheek once more, Gabrielle moved out of the living room and upstairs to the bathroom.  Much like Francis,  Gabrielle enjoyed  the time spent here without the worries of two young boys making faces towards their father and his girlfriend. Entering at last, Gabrielle smiled wide, teeth showing, hen she noticed the bottle of bubble bath. A compliment,  no doubt, from Elixa. Clever girl. Removing all the clothing and placing the wand nearby, Gabrielle drew the bath up, pouring a small dose of it into the water, grinning as the suds formed. Slipping in, she sighed as the warm water soaked into her skin and aching bones, providing relief that was muchly needed after all of this week's episodes of hell. Shortly after the beginning moments of soaking and detecting the smell of cinnamon and rain, Gabrielle closed her eyes.

She was clearly relaxed enough when Francis came knocking, oblivious to his arrival until he spoke up. Reopening her eyes, she smiled, extending a wet hand to take the wine. Muttering her gratitude, Gabrielle took a small drink from the glass, listening to Francis talk.  "Yes, thank god for Fridays.  Especially this week and that's all I want to say about this topic.  After all, it's not on our agenda for tonight and the weekend,  right?" Gabrielle mused, nodding gently. "As for this bath, if Elixa's behind it, I'm gong to have to hug her for it and kiss you for being cheekily clever. It feels so much the better than the ones at the top of the week.  Now. As for where to go?  How about America?  Hear all about it from certain ambassadors in the department,  especially how beautiful it is in autumn. We could go camping or stay in a cabin, drink harmless cider, watch the stars? Most of all, we get each other's company and believe you me, I want your company more than usual. "

She smiled gently. "Not too much to ask for, is it?"

"Yes, thank god for Fridays.  Especially this week and that's all I want to say about this topic." Francis gave a solemn nod and raised his glass slightly to his lover on that note.

"After all, it's not on our agenda for tonight and the weekend,  right?" Gabrielle mused, nodding gently. "As for this bath, if Elixa's behind it, I'm gong to have to hug her for it and kiss you for being cheekily clever. It feels so much the better than the ones at the top of the week." Francis leaned over to sniff a little more deeply, inhaling the steam.

"Now. As for where to go?  How about America?  Hear all about it from certain ambassadors in the department,  especially how beautiful it is in autumn. We could go camping or stay in a cabin, drink harmless cider, watch the stars? Most of all, we get each other's company and believe you me, I want your company more than usual."

"Well," Francis began but her smile made him pause.
"Not too much to ask for, is it?" He mirrored hers and he shifted his shoulders against the bathroom door.

"No, not too much my love. My brother would have more than a few suggestions on where to go, of course, and insist we take one of his blasted cars." It was very strange indeed to think his brother had spent twenty years in America in the space of a few weeks.

"America does sound good though," he agreed, eyes drifting from his love to imagine it in his mind's eye. "More the cabin, admittedly, I've never been one for camping…" He gave a shrug, "But if the lady insists…" He raised both eyebrows.

"Cabins it is then. We've missed some of the really wonderful foliage by now, but I think if we chose November or early December, we'd have the chance to see early snows come in. That is, if it is snowing yet. As for Monty's car, he'll have to try harder next time to convince, I'm afraid. That all said, we'll have one another at our side and that's all I could care for," Gabrielle urged, leaning against the tub, soon tugging over to kiss Francis' cheek, grinning. "Been a long year since we started this all over again. Didn't really think I'd have a fighting chance, what with our schedules, relations with family and friends, their thoughts, our concerns. But."

Her lips curled in approval. "I could not be any happier than I am when you show up. Notes, owls, face to face, any and all forms of you just bring me to a warm place. Whether that's considered home or us just happy to be around one another, I look forward to it every day. You've been 'a trooper,' so I've heard a few of the junior staff say. Most would turn and give up -- you haven't. Thank you for that."

A hand clambered out of the tub, reaching over, taking Francis' hand in her water soaked, raisined one. Smiling at him, Gabrielle was so grateful he was here -- dealing with the horror inside the chambers alone, much like Camille and Johann were no doubt, seemed positively dreadful indeed.

"Time flees from us." Francis uttered against Gabrielle's comments that they would have missed the autumn colours.
 
"Been a long year since we started this all over again. Didn't really think I'd have a fighting chance, what with our schedules, relations with family and friends, their thoughts, our concerns."

"Come now," Francis murmured, face sympathetic and reassuring.

"But I could not be any happier than I am when you show up. Notes, owls, face to face, any and all forms of you just bring me to a warm place. Whether that's considered home or us just happy to be around one another, I look forward to it every day. You've been 'a trooper,' so I've heard a few of the junior staff say. Most would turn and give up -- you haven't. Thank you for that."

Her hand reached for his and he squeezed it tight despite how wet her skin was.
"It's never hard loving you, Gabrielle. I never really stopped after all." He glanced to her, and realised that she knew this, but with all that had happened lately she just needed to hear it again.

"I cannot imagine my life without you, my love. So I try not to." He squeezed her hand again, contemplating her ring finger though not letting his eyes linger there too long as he did.

"Even if it pours it down while we're away, I wouldn't mind, because as you say, we're together."

His pocketwatch in his waistcoat pocket began to tremble gently to indicate he should attend to dinner downstairs. He released Gabie's hand to check it.
"Time." He told her softly, with a little humour in his voice.

Hearing his ‘come now,’ Gabrielle could not help but be reminded of Alan, of Mary and Crina. Even Carmina in her moments to show there was perhaps warmth to that icy heart of hers. She could recall their wishes to encourage, explain it was never to be her fault for the problems that had occurred with Mina. That it wasn’t her who had made her mother perish. A jealous man with a selfish heart had done just that. It was the same when Voldemort had risen again and the Ministry fell to the powers of darkness. Albert Simmons[1] had been more than impressionable and definitely hopeful to add a few tarnished jewels to the Dark Lord. This said, Gabrielle had fought like hell to defend her honour, family and self, to the Wizengamot, then once more when she had secured the department head position. Times were trying, bonds broken and forged, but she stood firm through it all.

And Gabrielle was convinced she would continue standing firm until her final breath in life.

"It's never hard loving you, Gabrielle. I never really stopped after all."

Gabrielle felt as though she could weep from such a declared statement of confirming love. Godric, Francis truly was far greater good to her than she ever had anticipated from one individual. "Yes, we're together, you and I; through thick and thin, hm?" Gabrielle likewise assured, smiling at Francis with a pleased, closed smile. "After all, most would've gone screaming for the hills -- not to say you may haven't. I'd call you a madman if you said otherwise, my darling."

The tremble and hand removal, followed by his slight tease made Gabrielle grin genuinely about the concept. Time. A blessing and a curse for the pair, but she was grateful that perhaps now it was more blessing than curse. Nodding her head, Gabrielle looked perhaps a bit disappointed to have Francis leaving her side to check something ordinary as dinner. "What is the attire for the evening meal, good sir? I'm afraid formal sounds absolutely dreadful, constricting even, and I fear pajamas might upset the chef. Have you any suggestions to offer?"

Cheeky.

1.	The former department head, currently serving a sentence in Azkaban

As he reached for the bathroom door handle, Gabrielle asked a cheeky question.
"Pyjamas will not upset the chef, and attire is recommended my love. I'll see you downstairs in ten." Imp was very good at coming by regularly to ensure Gabrielle had a select wardrobe in his house for all eventualities. Pyjamas featured quite  a bit.


A little while later the two were sitting in the homely Biggleswade kitchen at either sides of the table. The kitchen looked as if there had been a few too many pans attempted, but dinner had emerged nonetheless. He would sort it all out later with his wand.

"Better?" He asked a minute or two after they had begun to eat. Gabrielle was looking more like he knew and loved, and although worries still weighed down her shoulders, she looked a little less immediately worried. Warm food, the man you loved, baths and pyjamas appeared to be the start of a successful unwinding.

He gestured to a letter pinned to the noticeboard nearby.
"Octavius owled me about Christmas, nothing urgent, just Catherine planning ahead with the Muggle side, you know. He's assuming we'll do the same as ever, Boxing Day at theirs with wider family, but wasn't sure if we wanted to also come Christmas Day, or whether we might be doing our own thing." He glanced up, "I'm assuming the boys will want to come back for Christmas as usual, of course." His knife and fork made easy work of the green beans as he elaborated.

"I think they'll go to see Catherine's side on Christmas eve, him and the girls. They didn't last year, well, he didn't, what with the…" Francis gestured to his own face, and shook his head "… ageing twenty years in one holiday. So I think it'll only be the family in the loop."

He looked up properly to Gabrielle.
"Though quite understand if you'd like to spend it with your family - some Christmases it is quite the temptation to use a turner for us all to accommodate everyone."

She couldn't help but grin largely at Francis' suggestion, knowing fully well that she would dress appropriately, even if that meant she stole one of Francis' outfits. And so, Gabrielle did, snagging one of the pyjamas sets, dressing well enough before heading down the stairs back into the kitchen. Taking one glance at the pans situation, Gabrielle knew Francis truly was trying to make a difference in his cooking and she was certain soon enough, Imp would have to relent in letting the wizard cook for the pair. Poor Imp indeed.

Tucking into the chicken, Gabrielle sighed happily as the warm meal replenished some of the emptiness felt by the gravity of the situation. Licking her lips, eyes soon followed to the general direction of where Francis wanted Gabrielle to take notice of. "Spending Christmas with my family? Hm. Haven't heard from Quincey[1] in months, but I suppose he's doing well. Uncle Thack[2] is sitting and retiring thereabouts nicely in Peel, minding his pints and quarts. I'm practically open for the holidays, so I suppose then that it'll be a Murray who joins again for Pepper celebrations, hm? A year later, can you believe it?"

1.	Gabrielle's step brother
2.	Mina & Amelia (Storm) Murray's younger brother

"We should visit them sometime. It's been more years than I dare think." Francis replied smoothly, contemplating Gabrielle's family. They had been keeping things so quietly under wraps what with the mix of approval and strict disapproval over the end of his relationship with Claire, that visiting family had not really been on their minds.

"And I think of you as a Pepper these days, just as much as the rest, my darling." Francis assured Gabrielle with a genuine smile and a little wink. "Did you want to spend Christmas with just us and the boys? Here? Or perhaps in Wiltshire?" Then again, such big questions after such a week. Though Francis wanted to look forwards, looking back and what was happening right then was no great outlook, and the future should lift their spirits.

Some day he and Gabrielle would have to decide where to live, probably to all move to Wiltshire and sell the house in Biggleswade. He had bought it with Claire after all, and it held many memories.

"Everything will be settled with Claire in a few weeks. We'll be free to be what we are without prejudice." He smiled, though it was ever so bittersweet - that a minority would still see that he had not stood by the mother of his children. But they didn't see Claire at the hospital, and how she reacted to him now. Things were definitely over, and there was only ever one woman he loved unconditionally, and that was Gabrielle.

"Mm, visiting my step brother and uncle? I'm not sure you'd last very well with Quincey and his endless questioning, considering I am his baby sister who he rarely writes to. However, look past that and definitely past Uncle Thackery's eccentricities, you'll be made. Then again, Uncle Thack's quirks range on the easy end compare to Monty's shenanigans," Gabrielle teased lightly, playfully kicking Francis' leg before devouring more of her dinner. These pyjamas were quite comfortable and seemingly unworn by Francis; whether that was a good thing or no, Gabrielle was not keen in pressing the issue and instead, chose to stay devoted to the meal and company set before her.

"We can spend it here so we don't have to worry about that. I mean -- I don't mind to have it at Wiltshire, either, though I imagine it could overwhelm the boys being in such a large home. (How she managed, she thought to herself, was anyone's guess.) I-I don't know just yet. However, it is only September. We've a few months ahead of us to figure that one out, hm?" Taking the final bites of the kiev and drink of wine, Gabrielle felt sated, comfortable even as she looked to Francis, feeling upbeat about their future.

"Mmm. Sounds like a plan. Until then, is there a pint of ice cream in that fridge of yours or am I not allowed in the icebox?" she teased, moving out of the chair and nestling behind him, giving Francis a good upper back massage for a few minutes, give or take. "You're a wonderful father and equally beautiful man, love. Your parents did well raising you."