caught in the middle with you

Alice grins and puts the bags down. “Perfect,” she says. “Help yourself, then. And please don’t judge me for stuffing my face.” She nods to the papers. “Anything interesting?”

Alice grins and puts the bags down. “Perfect,” she says. “Help yourself, then. And please don’t judge me for stuffing my face.” She nods to the papers. “Anything interesting?”

Andy nibbled on her lip. “You don’t have to worry about me,” she murmured. “I’ll be alright.” She caressed his cheek with her fingertips. “There has to be a little bit of rest,” she said. “You can’t burn the candle at both ends.”

Cordella smiles a small smile and chuckles a little. “I never knew you were such a poet, Ted.”

Cordella frowns, considering. “As long as it’s a proper, tart raspberry flavor, and not the overly sweet, fake flavoring muggle candy likes to use.”

Andy smiled up at him. “You had plenty of admirers,” she said firmly. “You just don’t see yourself clearly so you don’t notice them.” She looked up at him, her brow drawing together. “What do you worry about?”

Andromeda peeped up at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “You know I don’t care what they say, don’t you?” she said. “I never have. They can judge all they like. No one would have made me happy the way you do.” She smiled. “It isn’t nonsense. And plenty of other girls were interested in you. I would know, I vividly remember them all.”

Andromeda watched him and giggled, looking up at him. “I think the community has already formed its opinion on us,” she said, with a light laugh. It honestly didn’t matter to her anymore. She peeped up at him, grinning. “Is that what people tell you?” she said. “People tell me how lucky I am all the time, I thought I was special.” 

“Aren’t you a little old for candy? I don’t think I’ve had a sugar quill since I was ten years old. Although at least it comes after marrying and having a child. Even if no one with any sense approves of the marriage, it should come before candy.”

They did what?  Really? This is amazing!

Andy gave a little giggle as he spoke, leaning against him as he kissed the top of her head. The height difference between them meant poor Ted had to bend nearly double, but she loved it. It made her feel safe. “Maybe I’ll just age drastically by then,” she said, and smiled up at him. “Would you still love me if I looked like an old crone?”