A proper life

Eggs, scrambled. Bread, toasted. Bacon, fried. Tomatoes, grilled, with cheese. Black tea, with a splash of milk.
He had put everything as pretty as he could in the table that was innocently in the middle of the room. He had put the tableware as his mother had taught him. A plate for the bacon and eggs, another for the bread and the tomatoes. The teacup looked pristine in his little plate.
A small tray with butter, sugar, and salt right at the center so they could share. Everything was perfect. The only missing part of the beautiful scenery was Sirius, who he can hear grunting his sleep away going down the stairs.
He could imagine what picture he will do to Sirius.

And, of course, it was a perfect picture.

The first thing Sirius saw that morning was the empty space by his side. It hadn’t been that many days, and in fact, it was only their second day in the apartment his uncle had given him. But he couldn´t help it. He couldn´t bear the emptiness of his bed.

He had spent the last week waking up to his husband beautiful and resting face. He would be ensconced in his arms, wrapped in many blankets. He had learned that his husband was extremely afraid of cold, and he would seek out warm out of the blankets and out of him.

It was an advantage for him though. He would wrap him in hugs as soon as the sun went down, relishing in the scent of his husband. Now that he was fulfilling his duties as Severus’s husband, providing everything he needed and wanted, his dear has taken a liking to a pomelo and vanilla soap. His hair, now unexposed to potion fumes and enjoying the constant supply of water, shampoo, and conditioner, was blossoming into a silky mat that smelled too like pomelos.

He followed the trail of his husband scent all the way to the kitchen. He saw a beautifully clad in pajamas young man, with his hair tied up in a low ponytail, wearing a clean light blue apron hanging from his neck and tied to the narrow waist, standing beside a perfectly put breakfast in their small table. He was definitely not looking at him with expecting eyes and a small, almost not there, nervous smile.

- Good morning, dear – the wolfish grin in his face couldn’t be avoided while he approached to stamp a kiss in Severus’s cheek.

- Good morning – he answered reluctantly not totally used to his bouts of physical attention out of the bedroom.

He ushered him to sit down and put the apron away to sit with him. His plates were a carbon copy of his own. All except for the tea. His was what seemed to be black tea with milk and Severus’s was an herbal one, extremely fragrant.

- Is it Jasmine? – he moved his eyes from Severus’s to the tea.

- Yes – he seemed to frown for a little before asking – do you prefer Jasmine Tea? I didn't know, I supposed… - he started muttering before trying to go back to the stove. Sirius moved quickly and stopped him.

- Don´t worry, I do like Black Tea. I just wanted to know if you preferred Jasmine – he shrugged his shoulders before steering Severus back to his seat – You know, for future reference.

Understanding seemed to sink in Severus features and he blushed before sitting.

- I don´t particularly like Jasmine tea, my late mother used to tell me that once I was married, I should start drinking Jasmine tea, I guess it was tradition in her family. – He explained softly.

- Oh, I haven´t heard about that, it is unique though. – Severus hummed his response.

Severus hadn´t taken a bite of his own meal yet and he realized lately that he wouldn't start his meal before him. He was getting used to it though, they have been falling in that routine for a week after all. He started eating promptly and couldn’t help the pleasure moan that scaped his mouth after tasting his top-notch skilled husband's cooking.
A soft laugh followed his moan, and he was startled at his Severus carefree laughter. He was entranced and started laughing with him. They were surrounded by a tranquil and happy aura.

He could see himself doing this every day. His pretty husband’s cooking was excellent and he served what was perfectly necessary. At the end, he was full but not bloated. His husband seemed happy with his appreciation for his food. He was humming a calmed melody while he washed the dishes being fervently stared at by him.

- What are you going to do today? – He asked not needing to take his darks orbs off the dishes.

- I don't know – he sighed – I was going to go to the Auror Academy with James, it was a shared dream but now it just vanished, I don't want to be an auror to be honest – he was assaulted by the image of his portrait suddenly – I don´t know why I never pictured myself doing one of those jobs serving people.

At his statement, Severus tilted his head to looked him in the eye and slowly arched his eyebrow in his direction.

- You never imagined yourself serving others? – The incredulity in his face was unavoidable – Will wonders never cease.

He was squirming under his husband gaze. He was not raised to be servant, he was raised to be a Lord. He couldn't help but recall James's words “It is not your case anymore, but I do am the rightful heir”.

Rightful heir.

Rightful heir.

Rightful heir.

Fuck!

Who the fuck was ringing the bell?

When he got out of his own mind trapping loop, he noticed that his husband had gone already to open the door.

Oh, Merlin. Maybe he hadn't really got out of his mind trap because he was absolutely watching hallucinations.

Oh, Merlin. Lady Black was at his doorstep. He was wearing pajamas. Absolutely unforgivable.

Oh, Merlin, her new son-in-law was absolutely adorable!

She had waited a whole week. She had intended to wait for another week or so, but when Reggie had a breakdown about being forced to be the heir and not being able to get married, she had enough. Obviously, she wouldn´t tell her child that her eldest was coming back to be the Black Heir again. Not possible. She would first have Sirius complying to her offer before presenting him in flesh to her youngest. Like a band-aid, it was better to rip it off in just one go.

When the door opened, she saw a young man, shorter than her son for at least ten centimeters. She was almost looking him in the eye, but she was at least a centimeter shorter. His skin was pale, beautiful, and soft looking. He was paler than Sirius too, like porcelain. He was still in his pajamas, wearing dark purple trousers and light purple shirt. He looked slim and delicate. He would look so much better in a gown, full of white lace. But that could be arranged later, she will make sure of it.

Big dark orbs where staring at her while he turned a bashful shade of red. His long and slender neck was visible due to his silky black hair being tied up by a dark ribbon. Pretty, he was a pretty thing.
She knew that her son had a good taste, he must have had inherited that from her. After all, she preferred her men like that too, pretty things.

- Lady Black welcome to our home – a deep soft voice resounded in her ears. Perfect.

- Am I welcome? – she dipped her own voice with skepticism.

- Of course, our home will always welcome you – No hesitation at all. His voiced sounded even sweeter now.

- Mom… - a breathed word that she hadn´t heard in so many years from her eldest son.

- Maybe we should take this to the sitting room and talk there – her son-in-law intervened before her shocked son could say anything.

She was led to a cozy sitting room. Her son-in-law had been quick, better trained than many pureblood daughters and scions. Soon, her son was sitting in a wingback chair, led by hand by his husband. She was sitting in a loveseat right by his side. Severus sit by her side and with no words being uttered he conjured a plate with pastries and summoned the tea set. She was served tea, Jasmine, prepared the Chinese way.

Jasmine.

- Do you prefer Jasmine tea, Severus? – Confused eyes looked at her for having her attention thrown to him.

- Not particularly – he answered slowly, hesitating a little before elaborating – My mother expected me to do it once I’ve gotten married, a family tradition she said – She squinted her eyes in inquiry.

- And If I may know, who was your mother? – the question slipping swiftly from her mouth. The young man in front of her seemed to be filled with love.

- Eileen Snape née Prince, Ma’am. – Perfectly polite.

- Oh, it makes sense – She looked at him appreciatively. At least she could ascertain that he was indeed a Prince, now it seemed that the Rowle part would be harder. Before she could ask further, Sirius in an unusual show of a perfect upbringing coughed slightly to attract her attention.

- Mother, as much as your presence here pleases me, I would like to know the reason behind it – He was looking at her with doubt and a little bit of expectation. She could work with that.

- My dear son – at being called like that Sirius couldn´t help the twitching in his eyebrow – I was looking at the Family tapestry yesterday – at this Sirius relaxed a little, knowing now what to expect – I couldn’t help but be surprised and extremely hurt by the news of your marriage. Afterall, I was not invited to attend – She let the words hang a little opening an opportunity for an explanation.

- I am so sorry, mother – now the one that couldn´t help her expression was her, her son, her proud son was asking for forgiveness – I was in a haste to marry Severus, for if I had stalled, he may have been snatched away – a playful tone in a truthful answer that made her son-in-law stare fiercely at his husband.

- We are sorry, Ma’am, we were indeed in a hurry and we know it was a faux pas to not sought your approval beforehand – Severus looked properly chastised without her uttering a word in disapproval, he was a well-behaved child by the looks of it. Exactly what her son needed.

- Tsk, tsk. Silly children. – at the soft scolding her son widens his eyes – Although I would have liked to attend the Ministry ceremony, it is not like we are not going to cater a proper event.

Severus whipped his head to assess her face while Sirius´s mouth hanged open in disbelieve.

- Of course, we are celebrating your wedding. There´s no way the Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black will not have a proper celebration for his rightful and lawful wedding to his Heir Consort.