The Invitation
Title The Invitation
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Jo owns Alphard, but I own Albert. I'd love to have the set, though.
A/N: Prequel to leavingforlove's letter.
For wildesidewalker, Andromeda's brilliant puppetmistress.
Thanks to my beta, minnow_53
***
Albert Deschamps heard the flapping of wings and lifted his gaze from the newspaper to the bird flying in the direction of the terrace. He took a sip of coffee as the owl landed gracefully next to Alphard, a roll of paper tied securely to its leg.
After living with a wizard for the best part of twenty-seven years, Albert was inured to things such as owl post. Not that the two men were in constant contact with Alphard's world; actually, it was quite unusual to receive such a message. Once in a while there would be a bird coming from the current Headmaster of Alphard's old school - Bubblelore, or something like that. The old man kept Alphard updated with the goings-on of the Wizarding society.
Then one day, about four or five years ago, one of the school owls had brought a letter penned in a childish hand in response to a note Alphard had written to his niece, Andromeda Black. The old Headmaster had been keeping Alphard informed about this middle niece, who wasn't much liked by the Blacks. Alphard had, of course, immediately taken upon himself to get to know this "little rebel like myself" better. Uncle and niece started a correspondence and found they had a lot in common, those two Blacks who had never met personally. Andy wrote to Alphard about her concerns and issues, and Alphard's love for the young girl increased with each piece of advice or solace he gave her.
Albert thought it was amusing to see his partner as a father-figure. But Alphard had taken the role of surrogate father to Andy quite seriously. He even told Albert that he'd love to have her come live with them as soon as she was of age and able to leave her parents' house.
A little hesitantly, Albert agreed. He would, of course, like to meet the young girl, but he wasn't sure about having a teenage female in his house. He preferred the company of men and sincerely detested female wiles.
But, naturally, he wouldn't deny Alphard anything he wanted.
If Alphard sensed the reluctance, he ignored it, and he’d sent Andromeda a letter telling her she had a home in Bonaire as soon as she was of age. In the same letter, he'd commented that he'd like to meet her before then, maybe during a Hogsmeade visit.
***
Placing his cup on the saucer, Alphard took the message from the owl. Albert pushed the pastry tray forward, and Alphard broke off a piece of scone for the bird. The owl ate, but stayed put. Albert turned back to the newspaper. He knew the signs by now: the owl was waiting for a reply.
He watched Alphard uncurl the parchment and his face open in the smile that had captivated Albert so long ago, the one he'd captured in many paintings hanging in museums and galleries around the world. He knew the letter was from Andromeda, and Alphard's evident happiness meant that she’d accepted his invitation to move in with them.
Several thoughts passed through Albert's mind: this tranquility of a breakfast for two on the terrace facing the sea would be disrupted by young laughter. Gone would be their privacy, the skinny-dipping in the blue sea in the middle of the day, the lovemaking whenever and wherever it pleased them, the sessions of naked posing by Alphard, which invariably ended in one of the 'whenever and wherever it pleased them' instances.
Albert wanted to communicate all this to his partner, but he couldn't say more than, "From Andy?" And, after a happy nod from Alphard, "I reckon she accepted your invitation?"
"She did! And, what's better, she's found a way to spend Christmas with us! Oh, Albert, she's such a little sneak, just like me. She's telling her parents that she'll be staying at school for the holidays, but the school will imagine she's going home. I can meet her in London and Apparate her here."
Christmas! A month away. Not a few years to prepare for the sudden invasion of his house, but mere weeks. Albert nodded, forcing a smile, then put his newspaper down. "It'll be nice to have her company for Christmas, Alphard, but have you thought about all the implications of this?"
Frowning, Alphard shrugged. "What do you mean, implications?"
"Our freedom will be restricted, you know? I mean, Michelle is coming to spend the holiday with us, but she makes herself pretty scarce to give us privacy."
"Andy won't intrude into our privacy." Alphard stood up and, after pushing Albert's chair back slightly, he straddled his lover's legs. Albert groaned happily under the welcome weight.
"Well, we won't be able to do this," he said, putting his hand under Alphard's shirt and rubbing his back affectionately.
Cradling Albert's face in his hands, Alphard kissed him at length, his body responding to the familiar touch. "You're right," he said against Albert's mouth. "We won't be able to do this all the time, but she won't be stuck to us the whole day long. She's young - she'll want to go to the beach. She'll make friends."
"Suppose she comes back from the beach at a very inopportune time?" Albert's fingers hooked on to the top of Alphard's shorts, tugging them down slowly.
"Hmmm…" Alphard was sucking on Albert's neck. "I suppose we'll be just like any other parents - we'll have to go to our bedroom for a little nap in the middle of the day, won't we?" He rose slightly to allow Albert to pull his shorts down his legs and then off.
Albert opened the front of Alphard's shirt and took in the sight before him - Alphard, naked from the waist down, chest bared to the nipples, wantonly looking at him with eyes full of desire. This was one of his favorite scenes, one he'd painted a few times, keeping the canvasses securely locked in the room behind his studio.
He could only nod. Pulling Alphard closer for another kiss, feeling his own shorts being unzipped, Albert knew he would do anything to make Alphard happy.
And, for the time being, it would only be for the holidays.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Jo owns Alphard, but I own Albert. I'd love to have the set, though.
A/N: Prequel to leavingforlove's letter.
For wildesidewalker, Andromeda's brilliant puppetmistress.
Thanks to my beta, minnow_53
***
Albert Deschamps heard the flapping of wings and lifted his gaze from the newspaper to the bird flying in the direction of the terrace. He took a sip of coffee as the owl landed gracefully next to Alphard, a roll of paper tied securely to its leg.
After living with a wizard for the best part of twenty-seven years, Albert was inured to things such as owl post. Not that the two men were in constant contact with Alphard's world; actually, it was quite unusual to receive such a message. Once in a while there would be a bird coming from the current Headmaster of Alphard's old school - Bubblelore, or something like that. The old man kept Alphard updated with the goings-on of the Wizarding society.
Then one day, about four or five years ago, one of the school owls had brought a letter penned in a childish hand in response to a note Alphard had written to his niece, Andromeda Black. The old Headmaster had been keeping Alphard informed about this middle niece, who wasn't much liked by the Blacks. Alphard had, of course, immediately taken upon himself to get to know this "little rebel like myself" better. Uncle and niece started a correspondence and found they had a lot in common, those two Blacks who had never met personally. Andy wrote to Alphard about her concerns and issues, and Alphard's love for the young girl increased with each piece of advice or solace he gave her.
Albert thought it was amusing to see his partner as a father-figure. But Alphard had taken the role of surrogate father to Andy quite seriously. He even told Albert that he'd love to have her come live with them as soon as she was of age and able to leave her parents' house.
A little hesitantly, Albert agreed. He would, of course, like to meet the young girl, but he wasn't sure about having a teenage female in his house. He preferred the company of men and sincerely detested female wiles.
But, naturally, he wouldn't deny Alphard anything he wanted.
If Alphard sensed the reluctance, he ignored it, and he’d sent Andromeda a letter telling her she had a home in Bonaire as soon as she was of age. In the same letter, he'd commented that he'd like to meet her before then, maybe during a Hogsmeade visit.
***
Placing his cup on the saucer, Alphard took the message from the owl. Albert pushed the pastry tray forward, and Alphard broke off a piece of scone for the bird. The owl ate, but stayed put. Albert turned back to the newspaper. He knew the signs by now: the owl was waiting for a reply.
He watched Alphard uncurl the parchment and his face open in the smile that had captivated Albert so long ago, the one he'd captured in many paintings hanging in museums and galleries around the world. He knew the letter was from Andromeda, and Alphard's evident happiness meant that she’d accepted his invitation to move in with them.
Several thoughts passed through Albert's mind: this tranquility of a breakfast for two on the terrace facing the sea would be disrupted by young laughter. Gone would be their privacy, the skinny-dipping in the blue sea in the middle of the day, the lovemaking whenever and wherever it pleased them, the sessions of naked posing by Alphard, which invariably ended in one of the 'whenever and wherever it pleased them' instances.
Albert wanted to communicate all this to his partner, but he couldn't say more than, "From Andy?" And, after a happy nod from Alphard, "I reckon she accepted your invitation?"
"She did! And, what's better, she's found a way to spend Christmas with us! Oh, Albert, she's such a little sneak, just like me. She's telling her parents that she'll be staying at school for the holidays, but the school will imagine she's going home. I can meet her in London and Apparate her here."
Christmas! A month away. Not a few years to prepare for the sudden invasion of his house, but mere weeks. Albert nodded, forcing a smile, then put his newspaper down. "It'll be nice to have her company for Christmas, Alphard, but have you thought about all the implications of this?"
Frowning, Alphard shrugged. "What do you mean, implications?"
"Our freedom will be restricted, you know? I mean, Michelle is coming to spend the holiday with us, but she makes herself pretty scarce to give us privacy."
"Andy won't intrude into our privacy." Alphard stood up and, after pushing Albert's chair back slightly, he straddled his lover's legs. Albert groaned happily under the welcome weight.
"Well, we won't be able to do this," he said, putting his hand under Alphard's shirt and rubbing his back affectionately.
Cradling Albert's face in his hands, Alphard kissed him at length, his body responding to the familiar touch. "You're right," he said against Albert's mouth. "We won't be able to do this all the time, but she won't be stuck to us the whole day long. She's young - she'll want to go to the beach. She'll make friends."
"Suppose she comes back from the beach at a very inopportune time?" Albert's fingers hooked on to the top of Alphard's shorts, tugging them down slowly.
"Hmmm…" Alphard was sucking on Albert's neck. "I suppose we'll be just like any other parents - we'll have to go to our bedroom for a little nap in the middle of the day, won't we?" He rose slightly to allow Albert to pull his shorts down his legs and then off.
Albert opened the front of Alphard's shirt and took in the sight before him - Alphard, naked from the waist down, chest bared to the nipples, wantonly looking at him with eyes full of desire. This was one of his favorite scenes, one he'd painted a few times, keeping the canvasses securely locked in the room behind his studio.
He could only nod. Pulling Alphard closer for another kiss, feeling his own shorts being unzipped, Albert knew he would do anything to make Alphard happy.
And, for the time being, it would only be for the holidays.