Wishing on Stars (Aleksandr)

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Something about the moonlight in the village of Hogsmeade always drew him from the castle walls and brought him, floating like a dream, across the dirt pathways and into the safety of the village. People had begun to recognize him from his moments with Aleksandr and greeted him with a soft wave and a smile, which was returned wholeheartedly before he was brought into the embrace he always sought. However, he moved to a spot not normally one of their meeting spots tonight, instead seeking refuge next to the old stone fountain within Hogsmeade. The fountain was rather large, and he found himself perched upon the edge in a quiet posture gazing at the moon's reflection within the barely moving waters.

It was a very soothing effect.

The barely audible sounds of trickling water danced over his senses followed by the far off sounds of laughter from the Three Broomsticks, and the savory aroma of roasting birds was barely covered by the smell of lavender planted around the fountain. Something about this village felt like home. It was full of the comforts of home without the modern conveniences that most muggles needed.

There was never any need for such things here.

In fact, he had a gift for Aleksandr on this evening. In a spur of the moment visit to Berlin on the past weekend, Jamie had gone shopping with Li through the various antique shops through the historic part of the city. It always shocked people to see them together, neither of them particularly favoring one gender over the other, but both still very beautiful in their own way. Flawless pale skin, green eyes, flaming hair, nearly identical builds (slender, lacking a definite shape as Jamie's frame held slight curves and Li held only a soft curve and no swell of a bosom). but the captivating thing was in the way they both moved. It was obviously inherited from someone, the grace, the way that the wind made their hair move like a fire, the light of their smiles...all drew much attention that went otherwise unnoticed.

Within one of those shops, Jamie happened upon something of interest. Inside one of the display cases, sat a bronze watch, opened so that the face was visible, along with the vaguely tarnished scroll work of the metal. Li was haggling for a beautifully kept mahogany writing desk when she noticed her brother's fascination with the watch and directed the shopkeeper to the case he was at while she considered the lower price. He'd asked to see it and admired the coolness of the metal against his hands before turning the watch and looking at the inscription on the inside lid of the watch, transfixed with the elegant scrolling font.

Such is my love, to thee I so belong,
That for thy right myself will bear all wrong.

Oh, the sun had no chance to outshine the light within his eyes upon reading the inscription and the light of his smile soon followed. "Li...this is a must. Have we enough in the budget?" His sister joined him and cast a glance over the watch with a decidedly teasing smirk. "So sentimental, Jamie. Is it to keep you from being late at work?" Jamie's head shook, "Not for myself. For...well...you know?" Li laughed, playfully punching his bicep softly, "I know, you never buy for yourself. You always buy such thoughtful gifts. But...it's tarnished, Jamie."

It was true, it was also quite old.

"I will shine it by hand and with the utmost care. Please, Li?" Why...did he always let her carry the money? Oh, that's right, because he would buy far too much. Li haggled down the price of the watch and the desk to fit within their daily budget (any more would require going back to the exchange to get more muggle money. They did shop within these shops often, but not daily. They had to watch how they spent their muggle money carefully, lest the muggles wonder how they came into it) and the shop keep wrapped the watch in a shining rag and also placed it within a beautiful box that he had said that it came to him inside.

He had sat at the desk at home for hours, tracing the scroll work with the cloth until the bronze shined like new within both the watch and the chain. It was positively a beautiful piece, only he added one thing to the inscription. A flourish in an antiquated font of a J at the end of the quote. The cover was plain and unmarked, to which he engraved the image of a dove with its wings spread and in the same antiquated font, he wrote out Aleksandr's name. The whole process took nearly the whole weekend, but he was satisfied with it at the end of the day.

Li had watched him work with such love on this gift and couldn't help but smile. She had never seen this side of her brother since their parents died.

The antique box sat beside him on the fountain's edge and a cautious hand rested atop of the wood as he gazed at the reflection of the stars within the reflecting pool of water. He caught himself wishing that Aleksandr would come. He wanted to see his face when he saw it at last.

He just had to be patient.

[Deleted]

It seemed as though the warm and unbearable days of the summer would continue on and on, taking their time before finally fading away into the sweet coolness of the beautiful night, something that already tried his patience every single day and if that weren't enough, there was another thing that was currently adding onto his already greatly tested patience, a young man by the name of Xayden Andrews, the one that he was supposed to be training to become an auror. It was hard enough to tolerate the boy's arrogance and yet there were also underlying tones of disrespect that were present in his tone that the vampire would not tolerate from someone that was seven years his junior.

Perhaps it was his sadistic nature talking, but he would break that pathetic little boy if it was the last thing that he did. He would break him then he would go and mold him into a respectable man and auror, something that would eventually save his life one day in his line of work, for in the end that arrogance of his would only get him killed.

It was during the nighttime, when Xayden had wandered off rightfully exhausted after their day of training that Aleksandr allowed himself to patrol the village again for the final time that night. It was a beautiful night and yet the vampire found himself unable to appreciate it fully as his mind was focused on numerous other things. His brow was furrowed in slight frustration and his lips were pulled into a slight frown. There were so many things that it seemed he had to worry about lately and the stress was starting to get to him. Death Eaters. Xayden. Nikolai. A new partner that he would soon be receiving from the ministry to lighten his work load. All of the thoughts were plaguing his mind at once, causing him a seemingly endless amount of stress before suddenly, almost as though it was a gift from god himself, the scent of his favorite mortal filled his senses, immediately relaxing him.

So Jamie had come to visit had he?

A small smile crossed his lips for a moment before the vampire turned around and moved quickly through to shadows, wanting nothing more than to see him even if only for a small moment. It was easy to find him, though he was surprised that he had chosen to wait for his arrival at a fountain instead of one of their usual meeting places, though Aleksandr was not complaining finding the sound of the flowing water in the fountain and the pleasant scents that mixed with Jamie's to be enjoyable. All was quiet for a moment as the vampire gazed at the mortal with almost glowing blue eyes before a slow smile crossed his pale lips again and he spoke, his rich and accented voice breaking the silence and filling the air.

" Privet moyey lyubvi. How are you doing on this vonderful night?"

[* Hello my love ]

[Jamie Rosenthal]

It hadn't taken long before the scent of his lover drifted into his senses, filling him with warmth and a deep contentment. Always, whenever he was near, Jamie felt safe. Like no harm could befall him without Aleksandr putting an end to it. It was a good feeling.

When his voice slid across the silence, Jamie turned his body to face him, adjusting his posture to remain relaxed and seated upon the fountain, pulling the small box along with him. "Guten tag, mein liebe." Green eyes lifted and rested on those icy hues that he adored so much before his body followed.

He moved joyously to him, and with the box in one hand he wrapped both arms around his torso, pressing a pale cheek to his chest before leaning back and gently pressing a warm kiss to those waiting lips. "I missed you, liebe." Seeing the smile cross the vampire's features, his heart went light and soared through his chest.

His free hand moved, softly tracing along Alexander's chest before speaking again, "I brought you somesink from Berlin vhen I vent to see my sister last veekend. I did not make many changes to the original gift, but, zhose I did...vell
...I hope you like it." The other hand brought the box forward and presented it to him.

This was the part he always loved, watching the reactions that his gifts produced. He had so loved the original copy of Romeo and Juliet, and Jamie could only hope that this gift would receive a similar reaction.

[Deleted]

There were a few things about his mortal lover that amused the vampire greatly without him even having to try making him so. While there was a list [and a very long one at that!] of reasons why he loved his Jamie so, perhaps the biggest reason why was simply because he did not even have to announce his presence before Jamie already knew that he was there with him. A small smirk crossed those pale lips when he saw Jamie inhale for a moment before that beautiful body of his relaxed completely, knowing that he was safe while he was there to protect him from the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

Well, wasn't that interesting?

Sharp eyes watched with a gaze of affection the way that Jamie turned to face him. He could see that he had brought something with him on this particular visit and yet his attention was completely on that face and those alluring green eyes that the mortal possessed. It was then that he spoke in that beautifully accented voice before his love rose and moved to greet him in such a loving way that he could feel his icy heart begin to warm from the affection. Both of the mortal's arms wound about his thin frame as a cheek pressed softly against his chest. The vampire smiled before placing both hands on the mortal's back, allowing then to slowly trail down until both hands were gently resting on the man's waist, thumbs gently rubbing a soft pattern into the flesh as he smiled down softly at his Jamie.

It was a moment later that his lips were claimed in a gentle kiss, something that he returned with every single bit of the love and affection that he held for the mortal. " I missed you as vell lyubvi. It seems like the bond that ve have seems to gnaw at my heart vhenever be part, chipping avay at it until I am able to see you again, dearest." Jamie's hand began to trace gently along his chest and he was surprised to find himself leaning into the gentle touch, even now. Yes they had been through a lot, including the joining of their bodies as they finally became one, but it was still surprising to him that there was a mortal whose touch he actually enjoyed after spending twenty-some years shying away from any sort of physical contact, even when it came from his mother and father, but that was another story for another day.

Jamie spoke again, telling him that he had gone to visit his sister last weekend and that he had gone through the trouble of bringing something back for him. He said that not many changes were made to the original gift but those that he did make, he hoped that he liked before a beautiful box was presented to him. Icy eyes blinked in slight surprise before a gloved hand moved forward to gently take the small box from Jamie's hands so that he may observe the gift better. A leather covered thumb gently traced over the metal carvings of the box, appreciating the detail that was placed into the box alone for a moment before his hands opened the beautiful container, eyes widening in shock at the beautiful gift that lay waiting inside for him.

Inside the box, lay a beautiful bronze watch that despite its old appearance, shone as though it were brand new. The cover of the watch was completely bare with the exception of a beautifully carved dove in flight and his name carved into the metal with such a beautiful antiquated font that if Jamie had not told him that he had made some changes to the watch, he would have believed that the original owner of the watch had shared a name with him. Leather coated digits gently ran over the cover, feeling the detail and just how fine of a job that his beloved had done in altering the watch made him appreciate his lover even more and when he open the watch to see the inner details, his eyes would land on the inscription inside and his heart would melt even more.

His eyes softened as he read the quote, the smallest smile crossing his lips when he saw the first letter of Jamie's name following the quote, after admiring the watch for a second longer he shut both it and the box, returning his attention to Jamie. His eyes were the softest that they had even been around the male, and all was quiet for a moment before the male spoke. " I am almost at a complete loss of vords if I am to be honest vith you...I vould never have expected to receive such an amazing, and beautiful gift from another being neither vampire nor mortal...you are truly incredible Jamie...that you vould do such a thing, that you vould put so much time and effort into a gift meant for a beast like myself...vords cannot begin to describe how I feel. Thank you love. Thank you for being in my life, and thank you for all of the effort and time that I know you put into this gift. I vill treasure it alvays, for the rest of eternity just like I vill treasure you...my Jamie. My love." My mate. His words were finished as his hands moved to gently cup Jamie's face before his lips moved down to claim Jamie's in a kiss, the vampire pouring all of the love and adoration that he felt for the other man into that simple meeting of their lips.

Merlin did he love his Jamie...

[Jamie Rosenthal]

The light in Aleksandr's eyes was enough to know that he had chosen the correct gift. Those sharp features had softened and in that moment, so had the German's heart. To see him so taken with the object made him realize something about the way he felt about Aleksandr, he truly cared about what Aleksandr thought, about how he felt, about the things he liked and things that he didn't. He was more in love than he'd ever thought himself capable of. The light in this man's eyes and the warmth of that smile was the only thing that he ever needed in his life.

And his love. Oh, yes. His love.

The depth, the ferocity, the need of his love. That would surely drive him insane, but he wouldn't trade it for any treasure that this world had to offer. His love was the greatest gem that this world had to offer.

When he spoke, Jamie listened intently with only a slight wince when he called himself a beast. That was something that he was having trouble accepting. After he finished speaking, however, he was going to reply when those lips came crashing down upon his and the world simply shifted. No kiss from Aleksandr needed to be passionate to drive love into his heart and drive fire through his veins.

Jamie's hands softly brushed along the sharp contours of Aleksandr's face. "I am glad that you like it, mein liebe. However, Liebe...the person I see vhen I look into your eyes is far from a beast. I see someone who is as carink as I. I see someone who loves to quote the classics, who loves to read, who loses himself visin his passion...vhy do you call yourself a beast? You are no beast. Your love is the greatest treasure I vill efer know and the only one I vish to cherish."

He tried, but he just couldn't understand, even with Aleksandr's nature to drink blood...how he could ever see a beast within himself.

[Deleted]

It was one of those exceedingly rare moments where the vampire felt at piece with the world. Soft hands brushed gently against the sharp curves of his face and he found himself leaning into that beautiful touch, eyes sliding closed and his body completely relaxed as he did so. He completely trusted Jamie, something that was shown on a daily basis with the small actions and gestures that he made on a near daily basis and yet as he listened to the mortal speak this time as he allowed himself to be held, he could feel his body slowly begin to tense up and his icy eyes slowly began to open again until he was gazing at Jamie with his normal unreadable stare.

Not a beast? Had he truly managed to fool his Jamie into thinking that he was anything other than the monster that he truly was?

" Lyubvi....I say that I am a beast because that is vhat nature designed me to be. These arms that hold you, the hands that caress you have ripped apart many others in the past, dealing death to them in the cruelest and most painful of vays. These lips of mine that you love so much, they have led many to their death in the past and are capable of cursing you with the inability to ever feel the sun or to live in the vorld of light ever again. I am a cruel and selfish creature that has only allowed you to see only the parts of me that are lovable in human standards, vhen in reality I am a lot more cruel. My nature inclines me to possess you, to claim you as my mate so that you may never leave my side for the rest of eternity, even if you should ever love another."

Oh how quickly he would put an end to any notions of leaving him if he ever truly mated with his Jamie. He would probably even end the life of whoever had stolen Jamie's attentions from him if he was given the chance, just as he would have ended the life of his Veela friend if he had dared to ever touched Jamie who had been under his charms at the time.

" I am a beast that can feel, think and even love. That is what makes me the most dangerous of all. I am able to plan my traps ahead and I was given an attractive appearance to help me trap my prey. Tell me lyubvi, how can you be so sure that one day I vill not hurt you in some way? I love you, yes but ve vampires are more than capable of hurting the ones that ve love be it intentional or not. Vhat makes you stay by my side? I truly am curious."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Jamie listened as carefully as he was able to as Aleksandr spoke. He never felt the slightest tug of fear in the other's presence, but he also knew well what Aleksandr was. All it would take was one solid puncture from the vampire to end him or to curse him, but still, he trusted him to not strike him. As Aleksandr asked him how he could be so sure that he wouldn't hurt him, Jamie's frame slumped slightly as his head lowered. "I can nefer be sure of zhat, and I villinkly gife you the power to do so every day. But, from vhat I understand...love is the same. I gife you the power to end me, to hurt me, but I trust you to not."

He looked up again at those eyes and his throat wavered with the slow swallow that rippled along the muscles. Why did he stay?

"I stay, because I love you. Zhat is all the reason I need. I vill love you until you turn me avay, and efen aftervard." His grip loosened upon the vampire's torso softly and he stood up to his full height again. "As for you beink a beast, again, your nature may hafe provided you vith a need to consume life, lurk in shadows, vith speed and senses enough to rival the gods...but you can show compassion. Zhat sets you apart from others." It was not like Jamie to lecture, but when someone he loved seemed so adamant in proving his horribleness when Jamie had faced those with a nature far worse...he was going to make a point.

"You could kill me, but you choose to kiss me. Your nature urges you to drink my blood, which I villinkly gife you so that you may live. A beast, as you put it, vould hafe killed me the first time instead of stopping. No, liebe. I have seen a beast. I have faced a beast." To prove his point, he moved away from his lover and turned his back to him lifting the airy linen of his shirt to expose his back. In this form, nothing could be seen, but it took a few moments before that began to change. The normally unmarred skin gave way to pale, jagged scarring that littered nearly each area of his back.

He'd never let him see the scarring that he'd been unable to heal, covering it between forms and beneath clothing. He'd never discussed the happenings. He'd never voiced his complete and total fear of the person that caused it. "Zhis...is the vork of a beast. Zhis vas done methodically, vithout regard, being completely human. Zhis vas vithout compassion. The same body zhat a vampire vould caress, a mere human vould mutilate vithout so much as a second sought. And you say you are the beast..." He finally turned and faced Aleksandr again, his skin slowly changing between pigments to adjust to the form with the lack of scarring. "You ask me vhy I stay. I stay because I can see the love in your eyes, despite your nature. I stay because I could hafe the vorst day of my life, and the instant I hear your voice, it no longer matters. I stay because falling asleep in your arms calms me. Because your smile makes the hours apart vorth it. And...because...I could look like anyone in the vorld, but you still know me. I am not just some face to you, you know me. You know the subtle sings zhat I do zhat put me apart from others. But, most of all...I love you. I love you madly, completely, tenderly, and vithout question. Not your nature. You, Aleksandr. Just you."

[Deleted]

He listened quietly as the younger man spoke to him, telling him that while he could never be sure that Aleksandr would not harm him, that while he knew that Aleksandr had the power to end him every single day, that he loved him and trusted him not to do so, something that caused him to stare deeply into the eyes of his beloved in confusion. Why did his love trust him so much when he knew of his dark nature and why did he love him despite knowing that he could very easily die at his hands? There was no guarantee, no promise that Aleksandr would not eventually hurt him, only trust and love.

It was a concept that was both beautiful and frightening at the same time.

When Jamie told him why he stayed, he felt his cold heart begin to warm in the way that only his love was able to make it. He was told that he stayed with him because he loved him and that was the only reason that he needed to stay with him. Jamie told him that he would love him till the day that Aleksandr turned him away and would continue to love him even after that, something that had his eyes softening again. He knew very well that he would never send Jamie away from him, he loved the other far too much and was far too selfish to allow Jamie a chance to find happiness with another man or even a woman.

" You know that I vould never send you away from me, lyubvi. I believe vith every bit of my heart and soul that you are my soulmate. You are the angel that vas sent to save me from a life of loneliness. I vould be a fool to rid myself of you.." Jamie was the Armand to his Marius but unlike Marius, he would not allow his Armand to ever leave him. His hand moved to gently caress the face of his angel before leaning down to kiss his forehead gently before the other pulled away from him and began speaking again, this time about him being a beast, something that seemed to really bother Jamie when he called himself that.

He told him that despite the fact that nature had cursed him to have to consume life and lurk in the shadows, that he had the ability to show compassion and it was that thing that set him apart from the others. He was told that he could kill him, he chose instead to kiss him. While his nature urged him to take Jamie's blood, he only did so when Jamie offered it willingly and that the first time he drank from him, he could have killed him but had chosen instead to stop. A beast would have chosen to kill him instead of having concern for his life.

He went on to say that he had faced a beast and turned around before lifting his shirt and revealing to him the scars that Dmitri had caused his form to retain, something that had him nearly seeing red the instant that his eyes landed on the remaining permanent markings. His breathing became labored for a moment as he tried to contain his anger and his growing lust to spill the blood of the one that had done that to him.

Jamie spoke again telling him that those scars were the work of a true beast. They were done methodically, without any sort of compassion. He was told that the body that he, a vampire, would caress a human would nutilate it without thinking twice. He was not a beast, the true beast was the one who had dared to mark another human in such a horrible way.

He was then told that he stayed with Aleksandr because despite his cruel and sadistic nature, he could see the love in his eyes whenever he looked at Jamie. He stayed because just his voice was enough to make Jamie forget even the worst of his days. He stayed because falling asleep inside of the vampire's arms was enough to calm him and because the hours apart were easily overcome with the vampire's smile. However the biggest reason of all was simply because he was not just a face but a person. He could take any face in the world and he would know that it was Jamie simply because he knew the aspects of the other's personality that made him, him. On top of that, he loved him more than anything else, just him.

The words that the other said touched his heart, warming it completely. His love saw only such good things in him and only seemed to care about the good things, not the bad. He didn't love him for any other reason than he was himself. Smiling softly, he moved towards the mortal and drew him into his arms, lowering his head so that his cheek lay pressed on the top of his lover's head. " Ya tebya lyublyu, Jamie. Vith all that I am and vith all of my heart. You are the very thing that gives me a reason to live. You saved me from my loneliness and you continue to remind me that I am not the soulless creature that I am accustomed to seeing myself as. You truly are the best thing to ever happened to me, moy angel."

[ I love you and my angel ]

[Jamie Rosenthal]

From the safe spot on Aleksandr's shoulder, a soft murmur rose up from the cloth of where crimson locks lay splayed. "Ich liebe dich...you know I do. I alvays vill, I vill let it fill my body, and my breath is only the love my body can....no longer contain." The instant those words left his lips, he caught himself reminded of the exact phrase his father used to utter to his mother as it left his lips. He suddenly grew quiet again, ignoring the throbbing numbness within his chest.

Why...of all things did he say that?

It took a moment of remaining clutched to Aleksandr's chest before he cleared his throat softly. "Analise vishes to meet you." With that, his head lifted and a smile stretched over his face. As he spoke his sister's name, it was noticeably heavier in his accent than the rest of his speech, which was beginning to get watered down by the amount of English speaking people he dealt with daily and the time spent at the castle. "On some...available veekend you have. She vorks as a dragon tamer in Berlin, vhere our home is and she is the head of her team, so she is normally available vhen company calls."

He admitted to himself that he was anxious to see what Li had to say about him. There wasn't going to be any surprises. "Oh, and she knows...vhat you are as vell. She is not concerned about you hurtink me either, but she is anxious to see who it is zhat has made...and I quote...such a drastic change in her little brozer." That woman and her patronizing.

The one thing that he was sure that would raise some questions, was how two siblings not even in their mid twenties yet were living alone within a home that was made to comfortably house nearly a dozen people. His mother used to tell him that their home was built to house all the love that their family held. He was sure that if they had lived, his parents would have filled the home with children and laughter as was his mother's dream.

[Deleted]

The minute that his lover spoke again and then fell quiet so suddenly, was the moment that he knew that something was currently bothering him and while he did long to know just what it was that was on his partner's mind, he knew that Jamie would tell him what was bothering him when he was ready to, for now he would just settle for holding his lover close in an attempt to comfort him in some sort of way. " Yes, I know that you love me my dearest. I know that very very vell." A soft kiss was pressed to his forehead before his love began speaking again.

He was told that his lover's sister wished to meet him on any free weekend that he had, something that managed to completely surprise him. For a moment he wondered if his love's sister knew just what he was before he pushed the thought out of his mind, smiling down at Jamie with a soft smile. " I vould love to meet your sister. If you vould like, ve can go this veekend? I have been meaning to make my trainee Xayden patrol the night shift on his own and I know that Josef vould take over my daily patrol if I asked." He wanted to meet Jamie's sister as well and he figured that it would be better for him to meet her sooner rather then later.

He was especially surprised when Jamie spoke again, confirming that his sister knew exactly what he was, something that both made him feel a bit more relieved and nervous at the same time. He was glad that he would not have to hide anything but at the same time concerned at the reason why she still wanted to meet him, after all it was not every day that a mortal wanted to meet face to face with a vampire. " I am glad to hear that she knows just vhat I am, that vill make it easier for me to get to know her vithout having to hide anything." That and it was always nice to know that his lover felt no need to hide anything about him from his family.

[Jamie Rosenthal]

Really? This weekend?

"Vell, I know for a fact zhat she's at home zhis veekend. And Aito has learned enough to heal most minor injuries. Zhough, I hafe...an inklink to leaf him vith an address in case he needs to send an owl." Another of those stupid fleeting thoughts went surging through his mind. Someone was going to take a nasty fall down those accursed stairs. It happened more than he would ever admit, but those things were fairly viscous! Durmstrang had no such things, so the first time they ever changed on him had startled him to death! Were they worth the hassle?

If he had a knut for every time someone came limping in because of those stairs deciding to change their destination and they went tumbling down...he'd be a rich man.

Oh, well. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

"I vorry too much. He is more zhan capable of setting bones, treating burns, and leeching infections. I just can't see anysink else happening in just a day's time since zhere is no happenings in the school zhis veekend, plus, his uncle is ze potions master. If Aito can't figure somesink out, his uncle vould." No classes, save from Professor Satoshi's dueling training and he was prepared for injuries.

"In vhich case, if you vould like to leaf in ze mornink...I vould be happy to stay vith you here." His cheeks turned red as soon as the words left his lips, a mischievous sort of smile coming across his lips before he spoke again, "Zhen again, you are far fetched to find me complainink about beink here vith you."

[Deleted]

He smiled as he listened to his beloved speak about leaving his own trainee to tend to the students during their short absence. It seemed as though the person that Jamie had been training, a young man that went by the name Aito was already skilled enough to heal most minor injuries without any help from Jamie and yet despite that it was easy for him tell that his Jamie was still worried about something happening to someone that would be beyond what the boy could handle before managing to convince himself that Aito would be able to handle a day without his guidance, something that had the vampire smiling in pure amusement.

" Love you must really give yourself more credit. If you are his teacher then I know that the boy vill be able things just fine until ve return. You are a great healer and I am positive that you are a great mentor as vell." He on the other hand would be asking Josef to keep an eye on his Xayden, for it seemed as though that boy could screw anything up without even trying and the last thing that he needed was to return to a destroyed Hogsmeade.

Jamie distracted him from his thoughts when he asked if Aleksandr would like for him to stay the night with him so that they could leave in the morning, he was given another smile as Aleksandr drew him into his arms. " Do you even have to ask love? You should know by now that I vill never turn you avay vhen you vant to stay the night. My home is your home, you are alvays velcome to come and stay vith me vhen you vish..."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

He couldn't help but nestle against that lean chest and smile in the most contented manor that he had in ages. Aleksandr never failed to put him in a much better mood when it came to his abilities. Ever modest, Jamie found an inability to accept praise for his work. He was simply content in the fact that his patients were able to live a higher quality life because of the work that he did. It was beyond reward enough for him.

"I vill send an owl to the school in the mornink, until zhen, all of my attention belongs to you."

~Next Morning~

When Jamie woke early the next morning, he was beyond content to press close to the skin of his dear Aleksandr before sitting up with a vaguely groggy groan from his lips. The blanket slid down his own shirtless frame and for a moment, he cast a glance over at the vampire who was either sleeping peacefully, or faking it well. He smiled and playfully traced a very slow trail of kisses down the cool skin of his chest before moving just out of grasp and giggling softly.

They'd be here all day if he kept teasing him like that, and he knew it! As if the previous night had not shown him that.

"I'm sorry," He crooned softly, "I vill stop teasink you, liebe." And true to his word, he had moved from the side of the bed and went to shower, one of his preferred ways to wake up. It may have taken longer than he'd planned, but when he emerged again, he was dressed in something fairly upscale and almost dated, but it was one of his favorite outfits. Li nearly always wore a suit, so, he tended to in her company. Plus, he enjoyed making a notable appearance.

He was brushing the still slightly damp length of hair for a moment before taking out his wand and casting a drying spell upon it to cut down on time. The school owl was already sitting on the edge of the window, hooting expectantly as he quickly stepped aside to write the letter to his trainee and sent it off. He was ready as the owl flew from sight. "Venefer you are ready, liebe." He said softly, voice laden in admiration.

[Deleted]

Upon waking up the next morning, he found that he couldn't help but smile when he felt the warm frame of his younger lover shift to press closer to his own before the other sat up in their shared bed with a quiet groan. Aleksandr's eyes remained closed even as he felt the gaze of his lover somehow managing to feign slumber until he felt the bed shift again and the softness of his Jamie's lips began to press against the skin of his bared chest, slowly trailing down before the other had the common sense to quickly move out of his grasp, giggling as a single icy blue eye opened to glare playfully at his lover for his gentle teasing, watching with sharp eyes as the other moved to leave the room, heading to the bathroom to shower, missing the small smirk that crossed the vampire's lips as he too rose from the bed. " You may tease me all that you vant love, but do not be surprised vhen I decide to tease you right back." The words were muttered quietly before the vampire trailed after his lover.

It was a long while before a very relaxed and sastified vampire emerged from the warmth of the shower, heading to his room before he began to get dressed in an outfit that was both formal and yet more simple than the things that he would normally chose to wear. His outfit consisted of a white collared dress shirt that was paired with a simple silver necklace, a pair of black dress pants that were tucked neatly into a pair of black leather boots giving him a neat and professional look without going too overboard. His hair was carefully brushed and dried before being styled into it's normal fashion and before he knew it he was in the hallway, making his way to the study smiling when he saw the school owl already there and Jamie already writing a letter to his trainee, waiting in the hallway so he could safely avoid the rays of the sunlight that shone through from the open window.

When Jamie sent the owl away and made his way over to the vampire, Aleksandr allowed his eyes to run over the form of his mate, taking in each and every detail before smiling at Jamie. " You look absolutely incredible as alvays, my Jamie." He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head before pulling away and smiling again. " I am ready as vell love."

[Jamie Rosenthal]

With a smile, Jamie shut the window before wrapping his arms snugly about Aleksandr and whispering for him to hold on tightly just before the two were whisked away with a loud pop. Through the rushing of space around them, Jamie had a destination in mind so that there was less risk of the sun getting to Aleksandr before they could get to the house. Li always had the curtains drawn in most rooms as to not damage the antiquity of the wood and the paintings that their family had been so keen in collecting. Wise, really.

Finally, their feet settled down on a sturdy pavement in a still shady section of Tiergarten, one of Berlin's most popular parks. "Velcome to Tiergarten, liebe." Jamie was smiling almost as brightly as the sun at this point. Having Aleksandr in Berlin with him was turning him almost giddy with anticipation. It was a rare thing to see the German show such a strong emotion over something so trivial, but to Jamie there was something more romantic about having his lover with him in the same places that he'd walked over and over again as he grew. It was as if he was getting to see another part of him.

He gently took a hold of that leather clad hand and moved through the shade with him, "I usually vind up valkink in the shade anyvay, so no one vill find zhis odd. I am a little too fair complected for the sun, as is Analise, so the grounds of our home are very shady, and since the house is full of antiquated wood and paintings, the curtains are alvays drawn. So, once ve get zere, you should be more comfortable. It is also a touch cooler visin the house." He was always concerned of Aleksandr's comfort and his health that he was often worried that he was annoying him, but it was one of the ways that Jamie showed that he cared about people.

After about a half an hour's walk from the park, they moved into a well shaded area that was full of Beech, Linden, and Juniper trees, filling the air with a quiet fragrance of the berries within. Through the trees, there were glimpses of a white stone wall. As they drew closer, it was revealed that they had been looking at the walls of a very large home. They had walked along past the back of the house and through all of the very thick shade to arrive at the front door, which had antique knockers, but no knobs on the doors.

Jamie brought his free hand up and placed it on the door knocker. "Wir geben Sie, bitte?"(May we enter please?) The knocker suddenly jumped and spoke loud and animated German from its place, which Jamie countered just as rapidly. They seemed to be arguing of something of a not so serious import, as Jamie was beginning to look impatient. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke in a low, clear, demanding tone. The knocker hesitated, then decided to open. "Damnedable Cold Var knockers. Zhey are charmed to react with vizardink blood, zhen zhey start askink questions about the reason for the visit, and such. I'm afraid we have nefer been able to figure out how to change the settings. Please, come in, love."

The foyer was vast and open, windows covered in thick velvet drapes to block the light from the mahogany bookcases, shelves, and desk that took up residence near the glass, but oil lamps were enchanted to fill the rooms with artificial light at a point of appearing to be daylight. "The light is completely artificial, liebe. You are safe." He looked up the sweeping staircase and called out, "Li? Are you avake?" A figure quickly appeared at the top of the stairs and was descending before the woman finally spoke. "Hard to sleep vis all zhat commotion from ze knocker. Vat in hell did you say to it? It sounded like Allied troops vere in the yard!" She was teasing, a wink passed from green eye to green eyes and Jamie turned red. "He said I smelled like a Brit, and I vas not permitted on the premises...I said I vould take him off ze door and cofer him in my coat if he did not open to rub that scent all ofer him. Ve need new knockers. Cold Var vas not an era zhat needs repeatink."

Finally finished with his rampage, he looked over and smiled. "Liebe, zhis is my sister, Analise. Li, zhis is Aleksandr." He smiled and stepped back as Li slipped from the stairs and looked at him with a smile. "So, I haf you to sank for ze massive improvement of my little brozer's disposition? Sank Merlin. Beliefe it or not, his broodink vas goink to drife me crazy." As Li finished speaking, Jamie was already gazing up at the large doors blocking the eastern wing of the house from the rest, almost wishing in the back of his mind that those doors would open and their parents would come down the stairs. If he looked hard enough, he could almost see the knob turning...

"Jamie..."

He looked down with a start, "Ja?" "I vould like to gife Aleksandr a tour of the house. Vould you like to join us?" He considered it heavily, but found his eyes wandering back to the door with a tug of numbness spreading through his chest. "Er....nein. Pardon me, but, I vant to make sure zhat zere is no papervork for me in my study."

"Shade is on your desk."

With an apologetic look to Aleksandr and a soft whisper that he would return soon and a kiss to his cheek, he all but sprinted into the furthest corner of the Western wing of the house and did his best to stop the horrible pangs of guilt that shattered through him like glass.