The door creaked open, and a tired and seemingly bedraggled Kendall Fleetfoot shouldered the door, tiredly dropping his rough worn leather travel pack to the ground to the side of the door closest to the little kitchenette.
He inhaled deeply.  There was something to be said for familiarity, but at this moment something was missing from that, A scent that he had been missing for the weeks he had been away at seemingly more and more inane conferences.

Kendall sank into the chair closest to the fire which was not roaring, but still lit enough to provide some warmth.  He was tired of all this.  If his work had not become so respected, he would not need to attend these confederation conferences year after year. 

Resting his head back against the chair, he closed his eyes in thought.  He enjoyed being in the halls of Hogwarts.  He enjoyed the staff and he even enjoyed the students.  It was time that he became the true scholar that he was instead of the one that the Confederation made him out to be.

"No more yearly conferences.  No more meetings and side meetings.  My goal is to support the students here.  No more of this traipsing around the world on a seemingly fools errand"

Since he had announced to the research community that he was taking the position at Hogwarts, he had expected to be shunned, but on the contrary he was constantly bombarded with more and more requests to speak, to attend, to adjudicate... Kendall was tired of it all.

Of course the auburn haired beautiful Transfiguration Mistress who had rooms just down the hall had nothing to do with this attitude either.  Morrigan had made him feel alive again.  Their little confrontations, which were minor compared to what things had been like at Red Rocks, were what got him through each day, and he was beginning to realize just how much he desired more than just her companionship.

Since beginning their relationship, and it was now a relationship not just flirtatious infatuation, Kendall had found that he missed her constant presence.   It wasn't just a study partner as they had been at Red Rocks, he studying his texts and she studying hers.  He enjoyed the silence when he would be marking, and Morrigan would be silently reading, just being in each others presence.

He had realized how desperately he needed her now as he had finished the first week of meetings before the next was about to start when he had taken just five minutes to floo call her, and his boredom was gone.  Just hearing her voice, even seeing her face embodied as coals in a fireplace re-energized him.  She was a part of him, and he hoped he was a part of her now.

A light knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.  He stood and headed toward the door, when it was opened and a large bundle of fur pounced upon him.

Outfit

Just in time for break to begin, Kendall was back.  Morrigan had spent the last few weeks watching two very large dogs and helping cover his classes and was not glad that it was coming to an end.  Conferences were fine, but he had responsibilities here.  She also couldn’t deny that she had missed him, the brief floo class not really enough even though it brought a smile to her lips.

Everything had been too quiet, even with the two dogs.  Aside from occasional pleasantries and small talk she still wasn’t speaking to Isaac and he seemed to have no interest in hearing her side of things.  Not that he seemed to need her friendship anymore as he was currently spending most of his free time either writing or ‘catching up’ with the new counselor.

The looming break hadn’t really helped her mood much either.  Her family was sending her regular letters asking her when she would be making an appearance in Maryland.  Part of her wanted to hide away and ignore them all.  She knew what it would be like…he mother and sister giving her that look, wondering if she was ever going to settle down and start her own family since at forty time was of the essence in their minds.  At least this year she could tell them about Kendall which gave her a little comfort.

She had just gotten back from a walk with the dogs, having really worked with them over the past several weeks at being able to run off leash and actually come back to her when she called them.  Her efforts had finally worked and on her way back to her chambers she had grown curious as to whether or not Kendall might already be back.

Knocking on the door, both dogs sat quietly next to her, Gatsby her Picardy shepherd sat directly next to her watching her expectantly while Amat, Kendall’s wolfhound, stared at the door.  Hearing shuffling inside she didn’t wait for him to answer, a small smile forming on her lips as she pushed open the door.  Amat didn’t wait, bounding forward pouncing on Kendall causing her to laugh as Gatsby strode forward much more calmly to investigate.

“I’d say she missed you,” she smirked moving inside and shutting the door behind her.  “Although, she wasn’t without lots of attention of companionship…but when we’d pass the door after walks you could just tell she missed her master.”

" I would dare to say, Amat! Enough!" He laughed as the wolfhound seemed to bounce on his chest and try to lick his face.  "That I missed Amat and Gatsby too!" Kendall pried himself away from Amat, and tousled Gatsby's head before looking back up and seeing those eyes that he could stare into forever. "I would say though that there is someone in this room I missed more though."  Kendall's face heated at the thought, and the admission that he had missed Morrigan as much as he had.

"So the obvious question is are the students ready for the mid-terms?" Kendall pretended to be all business to calm his blush, "And did you possibly miss me even a little while I was gone?"   He was stood as Amat continued to bounce around his feet, while Gatsby seemed content to sit and wait for whatever attention he would receive.

Not as an afterthought but after a hanging pause Kendall added, "And this was my last conference.  No more speaking engagements and no more Confederation.  I am a Hogwarts Professor now, and it is time that I start taking on that responsibility instead of chasing after my past in research."

Morrigan grinned a little to herself when he stated he had missed her.  Of course the students were scheduled to leave on Sunday, which meant the staff would be scattering for the holiday break shortly after.  She hadn’t really made any plans, thinking perhaps she might go back to Sedona for a few days before heading straight into another round of Ramsay family chaos.  Going into the middle of that and playing aunt to three boys required more energy then she had at the moment.

“While charms may not be my specialty, I saw to it personally that they were drilled on all of the information covered in the last term,” she told him with a smirk.  Of course, very few of the students had been thrilled to find her helping cover Kendall’s classes.  “And, yes…I did miss you.”

She blushed slightly, looking away to hide it as she tucked her hair behind her ears and studied the fire.  However, her eyes quickly snapped back to find his when he said there would be no more conferences.  A grin spread across her features, and she chewed her bottom lip as she processed what that meant exactly.  He was making a commitment to be at Hogwarts.

Without allowing herself any time to think better of it or retreat and distance herself from him and what she was feeling, she crossed the distance between them.  Wrapping her arms around his neck she pressed her lips to his for a lingering moment.  Part of her had wondered how long it would be before the conferences took him away from Hogwarts completely, but that worry was now pushed from her mind.

“I’m sure the Confederation is sorely disappointed,” she said pulling away slightly, “but, I’m glad to hear that.  It was too quiet around here in my off hours without you, even if the mutts tried to keep me entertained.”

In that one single moment, he knew that the decision he was making was right!  Morrigan in his arms provided an incredible warmth that he had not realized he so sorely missed.  "Kiss me again and I may just decide to never leave the castle again even for holidays!"  Their lips were just inches apart, and he could feel her breath against his lips.

Of course Amat decided now was the perfect time to squeeze in between them.  "Amat! Yes you are my girl, but," Kendall looked into Morrigan's eyes.  "There is more to life than four-footed companions, or books and parchment."

Taking in Morrigan's very muggle attire, Kendall had to admit that most robes left much to be desired over simple muggle pants and tops.  Although he was appraising her fashion sense, he was not letting go of her hands either.  "Do you have time to stay for a bit?  I'd be interested in hearing about your plans for the winter break."

When he had been... Married? Was that even the right word for what he had been with Aiene? She had been sure to order him as far as where they would be spending holidays, and generally Kendall didn't mind since it was always far away from her family.  His being a halfblood would bring shame upon the McDuffy clan so that was never a problem, but Morrigan's was a halfbood as well, and he could remember vaguely the mood Morrigan had returned to Red Rocks in after the holidays in their last two years there.

"We can just sit by the fire with the dogs and have a nice cup of tea?"  He had no idea how much he had missed a good cup of tea.  Coffee was still his morning mainstay, but tea, a good English cup of tea was something to be enjoyed, and he hadn't had that since teh conferences were being held in Japan, Australia, and then California.

Morrigan was about to close the distance between their lips again when Amat decided she much preferred to be the center of attention and she took a step back, her hands staying joined with his.  Gatsby as if knowing she would be staying a little while before she even agreed unceremoniously plopping himself in front of the fire.  A smirk formed on her lips as she looked at the mass of fur when it heaved a rather large sigh.

“Well, I suppose that should answer your question,” she said with a little laugh.  “I can stay for a bit.  I don’t have anything planned for the morning actually since my midterms were earlier in the week.  So tea sounds good.”

She gave him another quick kiss before pulling away to go settle on the sofa.  She didn’t really want to discuss break, but she was well aware the he would be curious as to her plans.  If she had her way she would fine an excuse to remain hidden away at the castle ignoring her family completely.  In school her mother and sister had always been asking her when she would find herself a nice boyfriend.  Now it was when would she been settling down and having children because, as they often reminded her, she wasn’t getting any young.

“I haven’t really finalized any plans for break,” she said with a slight shrug.  “I’m not really in a hurry to go rushing off to the States although perhaps the break from Hogwarts would be nice for a few days.  It’s just...well, visiting home has never particularly been one of my favorite past times.”

"No I suppose not"  Kendall found himself being lost in those eyes again and had to draw back slightly.  "So you are thinking of visiting Sedona?  Maybe a guest lecture while you are there, or thinking more of just a walk through the campus for 'old time sake?"

When his grandmother had finally passed on, Kendall had not realized the extent of the family holdings.  There was a lovely adobe home in Sedona that they owned, sitting on a rise and looking into the valley.  It was a quiet spot, and about thirty minutes from the school, so an easy drive if you wished to appear muggle.  There were other properties too.  There was a house just west of Boston, one where Kendall had lived for the first three summers of his life, a condominium in Manhattan that overlooked Central Park that he had never visited, and a small hunting lodge that had been from his father's side of the family that was located in Montana.  This was without details of the European estate such as the villa in Greece, or the Manor there in Wales.

"If you like I'd accompany you to Maryland?  It isn't far from my house in Boston.  I..." He paused.  This was a big step he was about to take.  "If you wanted we could stay together in Boston and just go down to Maryland for the few days around Christmas?  The dogs could come with us and stay in Boston with one of the house elves."

Just to add to the temptation, Kendall added "My personal transfiguration adn Charms libraries are attached to the house in Boston, and I have an international floo access back to the Manor in Wales. We can make a very fast escape should we need to."

Morrigan have a slight shrug when he mentioned Sedona.  Red Rocks meant having to deal with Professor Will Olsen, something she preferred avoiding if possible.  Will fit into many categories, most of them beginning with the prefix ‘ex.’  There was ex-professor, ex-mentor, ex-boss, ex-colleague, and perhaps more profoundly ex-lover.  Trips to Sedona usually meant a lot of mental preparation.

“I don’t know, it might be fun to go back for a visit,” she said.  “Usually though it’s just a lot of memories of things that would be better left in the past.”

The mention of Maryland was a bit of a relief but it took a moment for her to truly process what he was asking.  She found herself blinking at him, trying to process the statement.  Going together to spend Christmas with her family, with her parents and her sister’s perfectly little brood, was a huge step.  She looked away for a moment, studying the flames in the fireplace.  Was she ready for all this?  She wasn’t entirely sure but he was waiting for an answer.

“Kendall…” she began slowly, taking a breath, “I…are you sure?  I mean, I’ve just never actually brought anyone with me for a holiday visit.  It’s not the most relaxing place…There are places to escape to and it’s really quite pretty, but my sister’s three boys can be a bit much.  It’s just not the most relaxing of holidays.”

She paused for a moment turning back to face him and added, “I would love to accompany you to Boston…and if you think you’re up for it, I would also love to show you my home town.”

Kendall smiled, Morrigan wanted him to see her hometown in Maryland.  "I'm there for support you know that.  Okay yes I see some personal advantage in we get to spend time together away from the school." He stroked her arm affectionately.  "And I was an only child with no cousins so I really have no idea about nephews, or rambunctious scamps!" Amat barked. "Other than four-legged ones"

He paused to think for a moment about something she had said. "I rarely go back to Sedona for more than delivering a lecture.  And now with my commitment to Hogwarts, it will take an act of the Headmaster for me to even think of lecturing there again." He smiled. "Besides my own students need my lectures more than those in Sedona.  I still can't thank you enough for covering my classes."

Leaning back into the sofa, Amat at his feet, Gatsby somewhere nearby, and importantly Morrigan beside him, for the first time in a very, very long time Kendall felt at home, and at peace. "You know a wizard could really get used to this. What a great way to end a day."
Their relationship was only months old, yet had started so many years before in Sedona when neither of them had ever realized what it was.  The next few weeks could possibly make or break them as a couple, and Kendall was willing to face that. And nothing in his past could stop him.

In her mind she was already hearing the million questions her mother and sister would be asking when she showed up with Kendall for Christmas.  They would ask in private of course, but she knew they would all pertain to the future of the relationship.  No matter how many time she tried to explain that happiness did not mean having to create some picture perfect family they were convinced that was what she needed in her life.

“They listen at times about as well as the four legged ones,” she quipped.  “They’re great kids…they’re just typical boys who are under the age of ten I suppose.  The middle boy will likely think you the coolest person he’s ever met as they’re fairly certain he’s magical you’ll be the only wizard aside from my father he’s had any contact with. They’re just they perfect example of the principle of inertia.”

There was a relief at hearing he wouldn’t likely be going back to Red Rocks for guest lectures, or anywhere else it seemed.  She didn’t want to dwell in the past.  I couldn’t be completely forgotten, but she could ignore it a bit longer.  The only response was a slight smile as she looked over at him again.

She chewed her lower lip as he settled back a bit more on the sofa before deciding to move closer and lean against him.  The holidays would likely be a test, but at least then they would know if they could actually manage to be in something more then just a tentative relationship.  She needed to know if she could actually manage to take this step.

“So what’s Boston like?” she asked.  “In Maryland we tended to have a lot of white Christmases, is it the same there?”

Kendall smiled at her enthusiasm to both change the subject from her family, and in that she wondered about his own home-life.  "I hardly remember Christmas in Boston.  After all I was only three when we left.  Or was I four?"  He chuckled.

"I mostly would spend breaks in Boston between my 'adventures' and that was usually early fall, September or October." Kendall sighed.  "It is wonderful to see the colors change on the leaves and to smell the salt air as the ocean cools, but Hogwarts more than rivals that!  The colors looking out over the black lake were fantastic this year!"  Let alone the fact that he had stood watching for hours as Morrigan had walked the grounds, patrolling, or walking Gastby.

"The weather can be very unpredictable in Boston around Christmas.  I can remember being at the house one November for Thanksgiving, and there was a blizzard which dropped eighteen inches of snow.  I can also recall another year where it was so warm we were out in shorts and t-shirts.  You just don't know what you will get there."

The fresh smell of Morrigan's hair invaded his nose, and he was nearly intoxicated by that smell.  It was one of the things he had missed while travelling.  It was all he could do not to turn and burry his nose into her tresses, taking in deeply her scent.