A Second-First Date [Ari]

[Arianna Blackthorn]

"Sounds fun,"

"I thought so, we can get as creative as we like, so many possibilities," She said with a wicked grin. She wondered how long until he realized that this game didn't have to be so innocent. K is for kissing...in the mean time it could be a fun way to explore each other's minds. What would he think for A? Art came to her mind. If she remembered correctly there use to be sketch artists at one side of the park who could drawn them in funny poses with large cartoon heads.

Anticipation welled up inside of Ari as they walked along the path. She kept stealing glances at him as he thought. It was cute when he had that look of concentration on his face. His mind was so brilliant, even with the potions he took to make himself seem more normal.

Without much of a warning, a gleam shown in Curse's eyes. In one swift move he dropped the basket, leaned forward as if jumping into the air. Then he was gone. For a second Ari was startled, her hand hanging in midair where it had been holding his. Then she glanced down at a very cute cat that began to rub itself against her ankles.

A sweet laugh escaped Ari as she watched the Cure-kitty frolic. "Very imaginative. Ten points to Gryffindor," She teased as her fingers itched to pet him. Would he like that? Curse wasn't actually a cat and Ari wasn't entirely sure what the protocol for handling animagius was. Temptation was prevented by the graceful return of human Curse.

"Shit,"
Ari paled, was Curse alright? Then she saw it, his cat like eye. Of course something had to happen to add more color to their moment of normalcy. Ari didn't mind really.

"Sorry, I'm fine. I'll get it back to normal eventually."
"I suppose 'B' should probably be 'Back to the Wizarding World', then..."
"C then, is Curse's house. We could bake cookies while we wait. Max and I actually never did make them." She said with a soft smile as she reached for his hand.

Together they walked to a shady tree where they could disappear without being noticed.

[Curse Kameren]

"C then, is Curse's house. We could bake cookies while we wait. Max and I actually never did make them."

Curse gave her a confused look. "You want me to bake something?" He asked, his crooked smile flashing across his lips. Was she not just teasing him about burning breakfast earlier? Wasn't she the one worried about him making their lunch? He had actually gotten pretty good at sandwiches and mac & cheese, though; the joy of Max always wanting to eat the same thing meant that Curse got to practice making it. He pulled her closer, his arm fitting perfectly at the small of her back as they came to a safe spot to apparate. He quick stole another kiss from her with a laugh as he pivoted, apparating smoothly from the park back home.

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

They were on the path of the Kameren's home in Godric's hollow, Curse's hold on Arianna lingering for a moment before he let her go. The small pink house seemed inviting to them as Curse pulled out his keys; some of them were literally for locks, others were disarming objects that took down the spells he had over the house. There were still bits of his paranoia he couldn't quite kick, and the safety of his family was where it showed most strongly. It took him a moment to get all the locks open before he could open the door, letting Arianna in before him.

He closed the door behind them, smiling warmly at Arianna with his back to the door. The house was relatively tidy compared to most days, with a few of Curse's various projects out on his desk and Max's toys forming a restricted mess in the corner of the living room. Tabby was curled up in the center of the couch, but Lucy was nowhere to be seen. The light from outside the home lit up the house quite nicely, making the old house feel fresh.

He followed into the kitchen, moving around the cupboards looking for cookie ingredients before he realized he had no idea what was needed to make cookies. He rummaged in a drawer where he found his dark-rimmed glasses, charming the lens he needed to aid his vision before putting them on; the lenses were charmed originally by a transfiguration specialist, to help him see clearly with his cat eyes in human form, for situations just as the one he'd found himself in.

"What do we need?" He inquired, leaning on the counter and meeting Arianna's dark eyes curiously. He was close to her, and he suddenly felt that odd bit of tension they always had when they were alone together. He wanted to touch her, to hold her. He restrained himself, though; he wanted her, but he didn't know if Arianna shared the feeling. There was playful flirting, and then there was this tension. It was tough to keep the latter in check sometimes. It had been nearly three years, after all.

Curse busied himself, taking bowls and flour and things out of the counter, unsure if what he was taking out was what they needed. Anything to distract from the tension.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

He had a very valid point. While it might seem similar potion making and cooking was very much different forms of art. They might have shared attributes but it was like singing and playing a musical instruments, both required reaching the right musical notes, but different ways of execution.

"No, I'll bake, you'll just stand there and look pretty and pass the spices, " She teased stepping closer to him. It still amazed her at how well they fit together. Not just in personality but also physically. Odd, how someone not so tall (she was five'4) and someone very tall could meld. Dazed from the quick kiss distracted her from the disconcerting squashing feeling that always tried to swarm her when apprating. It was a very annoying feeling like she was being compressed into a thin line and being forced through a whole that was still entirely too small. Was this what it felt like being born? Before that thought could fully form, they arrived in Godrick's Hallow with a loud crack.

They were standing close to each other, each having an arm wrapped around the other's waist. Ari took the time to examine the odd colored house. It was eccentric to be sure but it some how fitted the Kamerens. Besides, if he really wanted to couldn't Curse change the color? It was unusual but charming as it proclaimed to everyone that this was a very cool accepting family. Or so that was what the house seemed like to her.

Ari's attention was pulled away from what looked like gnomes preparing a garden invasion. Curse had managed to use all of keys and enchantments to unlock the door. She smiled at his chivalry as she went inside first. She'd paused in the entryway, facing him as he closed up the house. There had once been a time when she thought so much protection was unnecessarily in this peaceful age. Foolishly she had once thought that wizard kind was beyond the needless urge to destroy their fellowman. She had been mistaken. For some reason there was this innate urge to destroy things inside of humans and Curse had been on the receiving end of that destruction far to many times.

His smile never failed to make her heart skip a beat. There was just no other way to describe it. While she knew it shouldn't happen but he affected her in a way no one else did and it wasn't just because of arousal. Sometimes she swore she stopped breathing in his presence. If people at work read her thoughts they'd commit her as a project. Everyone there was typically so clinical, detached and unemotional. Merlin, even she was like that some times. If it hadn't been for Curse....she'd be more than just detached part of the time. She had been well along on her way of becoming a mystery drone, intent of scientific exploration and cold hard facts.

Together they made their way into the kitchen, Curse slightly behind her. Once in the cheerful space, Ari paused. This wasn't her house, so she waited for Curse to make the first move. she watched as he charmed special glasses so he could see. Did he need to go to St. Mungos? While she had been with him when this had happened before it had been several years ago and one never knew what could change in that amount of time. Curse had a myriad of health problems that could have change something. But he seemed fine.

Casually, he leaned back on the counter across from her. In the close confines of the kitchen, all she had to do was lean forward and their bodies would touch. She suppressed a shiver at the thought. She hadn't come here to jump his bones. What would he think of her if she confessed that she thought about it? They were supposed to start afresh and well while she did know Curse, this had changed. He was different, she was different too. Despite wanting to prove to him that she was different and get to know this older curse, there was that familiar urge to well, touch him. She was human and that meant urges.

"What do we need?"

Her first thought was not something that needed to be said aloud. It was a three letter word...that had little to do with cooking. Ari subconsciously licked her bottom lip as she tried to force her mind back to the task at hand. Curse then sprang into action pulling out bowls and flower.

"Right...umm we need peanut butter. Max wanted peanut butter cookies. Flour, which you got...two eggs, some vegetable oil, sugar..." She said summoning an apron for her self and one for Curse. She had a feeling that things were going to get messy. Arianna set the oven to the correct temperature to preheat it.

"Do you have measuring cups?" She asked sliding up next to him to look in the cupboards at level with his shoulders. She stood on her toes to look at the second shelf, her left side brushing against his. Accidentally the side of her chest grazed his arm sending a shock of electricity through Ari's body. Had he noticed her shiver?

[Curse Kameren]

Curse could hardly breath, he was trying to hard to stifle his libido. They couldn't just go at it in his kitchen, he made food for his son here! It wouldn't be good for Max if they did it. Max didn't get 'the talk' yet from Curse and Amelia, what if he found out and asked his mum about it? If he bedded Peter's cousin this early into their relationship he was sure he would probably start another fight. Besides, they weren't ready for that yet, were they? Curse wasn't so sure anymore; the more often they saw each other, the more painful it was trying to fight away that tension. Eventually, something had to give.

It suddenly felt hotter in the kitchen, and Curse took of his jacket, levitating it off to the coat closet as he pulled objects he assumed were used for baking out of the cabinets. Had Arianna turned the stove on? Why was it so hot?

"What do we need?"

There was a pause in their conversation, and suddenly the modest amount of cleavage of Arianna's sweater was glaring him in the face. He looked away, biting his lip as he leaned up against the counter. He never realized before how small the kitchen was, how close two people were when they were in it together.

"Right...umm we need peanut butter. Max wanted peanut butter cookies. Flour, which you got...two eggs, some vegetable oil, sugar..."

She slid closer to him, the tension getting stronger with the smaller distance. He inspected the objects on the counter, keeping his eyes down.

"Do you have measuring cups?"

"Pff, no." Curse scoffed, reading the package of flour when he felt it. He didn't see the shiver that went through his ex-fiancee, but he felt it from her close proximity; he knew that shiver. He suddenly saw it in her body language. She was fighting the same battle that he was.

That was it. Curse put down the flour and took Arianna by the hips, pulling her close to him and kissing her. His kisses were more aggressive than the ones in the park, more excited. His hands explored her body, touching all the parts of her he missed. He had missed Arianna as a companion and a partner, but he now realized just how much he missed her body as well. They were physical people, after all. They had needs.

This could be bad for Max, he warned himself. Amelia and Peter would be angry if they found out. Alex would disapprove. They might not be ready. Bollocks. They could be horny teenagers for an afternoon, it wouldn't hurt anyone.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

"Pff, no."

She should have known. No wonder his cooking was horrible. She'd just have to transfigure her own. Ari reached again for a cup, praying that Curse hadn't noticed her shudder. It would be odd explaining what it was. Some how she doubted he'd believe that it was simply nothing. Then suddenly his hands were on her hips and he was dragging her closer to him. A thrill raced through her and she gave up the attempt to cook. She didn't resist when he dragged her body up against his. Heat flared inside of her as her face flushed. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck as she reverently kissed him back. One of her hands buried it self in his hair while the other molded his shoulder. This felt so right. It shouldn't but it did.

She knew that they shouldn't be doing this. Not in the kitchen, it was inviting trouble. But she could not help it. Years. It had been years since she had allowed herself this kind of comfort and she had been craving Curse. Caution flew out of her mind as she gave in, a moan escaping her. Ari tugged at his shirt, her lips still connected to his. Her own body felt warm, too warm underneath the sweater and camisole that she had placed underneath it...

[Curse Kameren]

Curse was subconsciously reprimanding himself, but for some reason it only encouraged him. His hands dipped under the hem of her shirt, feeling the hot skin beneath. He wrapped his arms around her, positioning her up against him. They fit so perfectly, like a lock and a key. She was so perfect, everything about her. More perfect than any other woman; it was only her. She pulled at his shirt and it came up and over his head, landing on the counter next to them. She moaned it and it encouraged him more; he picked her up, her legs wrapping around him as he held her under her thighs.

They ended up in the other room, on the living room couch. He laid underneath, with Arianna on top of him; the couch was a bit small for a man of his height, he didn't want to kill the mood by awkward positioning, or worse, falling off. He sat up, running a hand through her hair as he kissed her. Three years of pent-up heat was building up in him, lessening with each kiss. It had been three years. Curse had never had a dry spell that long before. Now, having Arianna around again and not being able to touch her was driving him mad.

They were on fire as Curse's hands pulled Arianna's green sweater over her head, her long hair falling around her face when she was freed from it. He couldn't stop the crooked smile from growing across his face as he met her eyes, pulling her body down on his as he kissed her again.

[Alex Kameren]

Alex and Max appeared in front of the pink house with a loud crack, Alex tugging at Max when he went to scratch.

“Don’t scratch.” He said. Wasn’t that what one said in situations like this? When someone was sick, and kept scratching, they weren’t supposed to scratch, were they? Elle arrived with Eden, and Alex dropped Max’s hand as he climbed the short steps to the door, pulling out his key after a bit of searching.

“Come on, we’ll get Max situated and then we can take Eden home.” He looked up as he entered the living room from the hallway, then stood rooted to the spot. The couple on the couch didn’t notice him, they were far too interested in each other.

“What the Hell.” His voice seemed extraordinarily loud, though he hadn’t raised it. He spun on his heel, heading for the door. “On second thought,” He told Elle, “We can take Eden home first. C’mon Max.” He herded the boy, who’d been right behind him, out ahead of him with Eden and Elle.

[Elle Callahan]

Elle braced herself for the jarring impact that the ground always delt her when she landed. For being a small person gravity sure did a number on her knobby knees. It might also be the added weight of the petite Eden. Merlin, Elle was only a few inches taller than the twelve year old.
“Come on, we’ll get Max situated and then we can take Eden home.”

"Right, I want to give him some fever reducing potion," She said dogging Alex's heels. She made to push past him when he paused in the hall a curse escaping his mouth.

"Don't cuss," She admonished. Really must she tell him everything about behaving in front of children? Where did that common sense she had admired as a teenager gone to?

“On second thought,” What? Elle rolled her eyes as Alex suddenly turned around. Really was he that terrfied of putting a ten year old to bed? Then she heard it. Breathing. Rapid breathing, and a moan...was someone hurt? Wait....a telling blush burned at Elle's cheeks. Curse Kameren was snogging a girl on his couch.


"Carry on, beg your pardon...We'll just be leaving" She called out slightly embarrassed as she followed Alex and Max back outside.


"There making a baby aren't they?" a small voice shattered the awkward silence outside. Before Elle could say anything Eden turned Max a smugish grin on her face.

"You might have another sibling if they keep that up."

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Surely they were going to burn in hell, or at least regret fooling around in the kitchen. Arianna paid no heed to the fact that anyone could glance through the kitchen window and she the couple sucking each other's faces like they just discovered French Kissing and hormones. Nope not a care in the world. All she could think about was touching his skin, feeling his body shiver beneath her touch. It had been far too long since she had allowed herself to feel this way. It was glorious and altogether just right.

She grinned in triumphant as his shirt went off over his head. Eager fingers roamed his back before playing with the springy hair across his chest. A moan escaped her and in response strong arms tugged at her, lifting her up. Instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist as his hands cupped her backside. Lips locked together, they stumbled into the living room. She barely registered the fact that they had left the kitchen. All she could think about was Curse and the stolen moment they had. It wasn't often that they were alone and she meant to glean everything from this time that she could for both their sakes.

Smoothly they landed on the couch with Arianna straddling Curse, her knees resting on the sofa. She leaned back as Curse tugged on her sweater, lifting it up over her head. She shivered in anticipation, leaning forward to kiss Curse, pressing her body to his. She hadn't heard the scrape of the key or the soft thudding of footsteps.

“What the Hell.”

An all to familiar voice broke through the haze as if it came from another world. It took several minutes for Ari to realize that they were no longer alone.

“On second thought,” He told Elle, “We can take Eden home first. C’mon Max.”

Alex Kameren was in the living room. Watching them...Alex..MAX Ari abruptly stopped kissing Curse, wrenching herself off of his lap, falling haphazardly next to him as she reached for a pillow to cover up her half exposed upper body.

"Carry on, beg your pardon..." the healer Elle said, as everyone quickly left the house.

Blushing furiously, Ari glanced at Curse trying not to laugh. This was the second time they had been caught.

"Ummm, I think we're no longer umm a surprise..."

[Curse Kameren]

The air around Curse and Arianna seemed to hum with electricity as the two lovers gave into each other. Curse hadn't realized how badly he needed this physical connection. He and Arianna were more than just mental matches for each other, they fit perfectly physically as well. She lowered herself on top of him, and Curse Kameren was lost to the world, a willing prisoner to Arianna's whims. His moan was in chorus with hers as eager hands explored her body. A shiver of pleasure went through him when he touched her warm, soft skin. This wasn't an opportunity the couple often had, or would often happen again; Curse was a busy father and their relationship still wasn't out in the light yet. Hell, he hadn't even told Al--

“What the Hell.”

It was odd, how a situation could turn from total pleasure to complete torture at the speed of sound. A moan turned into a groan as Curse's hands left Arianna like a hot stove. Alex had walked in on them because of course Alex had walked in on them. There was no way the couple could have a real, legitimate private moment without half of London barging in through their door.

"Dad? What are you guys doing?"

And the situation was instantly worse.

Curse let out a deep sigh, his emerald eyes boring into the ceiling as he took his embarrassment in stride. There wasn't any point in jumping up and panicking, they'd already seen everything. Well, thankfully not everything. For a moment Curse was glad they'd barged in when they did; if they'd opened the door mid-shag he'd have a lot more to answer to Max for. Not to mention Alex would have seen much more of Curse than either of them felt comfortable with. Was it strange that Curse was more embarrassed by Alex seeing them than Max? Kids walked in on their parents, it happened. Alex was like a different species, though. A rare breed of asexual Kameren. This encounter felt more like he was robbing Alex of his innocence than Max for some reason.

The small group (as apparently his brother and son had his doctor and one of his students with them as well, great) quickly scurried back out, letting Curse and Arianna have their privacy. Curse put a hand to his head, his eyes meeting Arianna in her flushed state of undress. He realized he probably looked just a mess as she did. He couldn't help but laugh; it was bad enough getting into this situation once, but twice? Two of the best minds of their generation and they had yet to understand the concept of a locked door.

"Ummm, I think we're no longer umm a surprise..."

Curse groaned, as if this was news to him. "We have got to find better places to snog..." He replied with a self-depreciating chuckle. He sat up, scooping up Arianna's sweater and handing it to her before standing and heading into the kitchen for his own clothes. Time seemed to be moving much slower now than the last few minutes. "Bloody Hell, we left the oven on." He switched it off, pulling his shirt over his head and crossing back into the living room.

He offered Arianna a hand to their feet. Time to perform; they had just been caught by his son in an intimate moment, now it was time to turn the parent part of him back on. Was he supposed to be guilty, or was he supposed to act like it didn't happen? He wasn't guilty, he realized; he loved his girlfriend, what they were doing was totally natural. He was just sorry that they had to find out about it in this way. Curse re-opened the front door, leaning on the doorframe and facing the small party on his doorstep. He still held hands with Arianna.

"Sorry about that," Curse ran a hand through his hair a little uncomfortably, but stopped himself when his mind flashed to Arianna doing the same thing. The tops of his ears burned a bit pink in embarrassment. What was he supposed to say in this situation? For being such a genius he sure didn't bloody know how to talk himself out of situations like this one...

[Max Kameren]

Max couldn't stop scratching. It was a relief that Alex and Elle were taking them home; hopefully his dad would know what to do. If Elle didn't know what it was, it must be a muggle thing. His dad could easily solve muggle things. At least, he hoped, or the itching would never stop. He frowned slightly when he turned to Eden as they appeared in front of his house, seeing the red spots starting to show on her skin as well.

“Don’t scratch.”

Max wrenched his hand away from his uncle to scratch anyways. "But it itches," he whined, frowning miserably. The itching was starting to hurt, he realized, but it didn't calm the feeling. His wide green eyes examined the house and he determined his father was inside; there were certain spells that were only activated when no one was home, and the house looked ever so slightly different when the spells were going. The windows were slightly tinted grey. Wasn't Curse supposed to be at St. Mungo's? Max sent a backwards glance at Elle once again, still a little curious. She hadn't mentioned anything of the sort.

The locks on the door finally gave way to Alex's key and his uncle stepped inside, Max close on his heels. Alex stopped suddenly, Max running into him with the sudden stop.

“What the Hell.”

What? What had shocked his uncle in such a way? It was rare to get any sort of reaction out of Alex, but the big codger wouldn't move out of the way for Max to see. He heard strange noises in the living room; heavy breathing, and some strange slurping and smacking noises. What was going on? Max finally maneuvered himself far enough around his uncle to see into the living room.

"Dad?" His dad was on his back on the couch, with Aunt Ari lying on top of him. They were the culprits behind the strange noises, as they were kissing each other very intensely. Also strangely, neither of them were wearing tops. "What are you guys doing?"

Max's question wasn't met with an answer as Curse and Arianna finally noticed them, jumping off of each other just as Alex shooed him back out the door. The young Kameren absent-mindedly itched one of the bumps on his wrist, but paid the feeling no mind; there were far more interesting things to wonder about now. "Alex, what were they doing?"

"They're making a baby aren't they?" Eden chimed in, and Max arched a brow at her. What did she mean they were 'making a baby'? How did you make babies? There wasn't some magic spell or potion where you can grow one. "You might have another sibling if they keep that up."

"Not another one..." Max thought about going back inside and telling his dad to stop that before what Eden said could happen. Eden seemed like she knew what she was talking about this time, more than Max knew. His mum and Peter were already giving him a little brother, he didn't need one at his dad's house too. But how did any of that have to do with his dad and Ari? They weren't going to have a baby, they didn't even tell him they were kissing. They told him they weren't getting married, and his mum told him having babies was something married people did. But his mum and dad were never married, yet here he was. All this was making his brain hurt. He couldn't explain any of it.

The door opened once again and Curse was there with shirt retrieved looking a little embarrassed. Aunt Ari was there too, holding his dad's hand. They both looked flustered and flushed, like they'd just gotten back from a run. After an awkward apology and another awkward pause, Curse invited the group back into the house. The house looked the same as it did when they left, save for a few things Max could see on the kitchen counter through the doorway. The incriminating couch was put right again with the pillows and Tabby reclaimed her space in the center.

Max caught up with his aunt and his father, taking Arianna's free hand though he addressed his dad. "What were you guys doing? Are you trying to get a baby?"

Without skipping a beat Curse pushed Max's questions away. "We'll talk about it later with your mum, alright?" Why did mum have to be a part of it? Did that mean he was in trouble? Curse's reassuring smile eased him, though, and Max nodded. His father's brow furrowed, though, as Max let go of Arianna's hand to continue scratching his itches. "What have you got?"

Curse kneeled at eye-level with his son, frowning slightly as he inspected the itchy red demons. "Eden, come here." He gave Eden a once-over as well, inspecting her little red bumps. Curse looked up at Elle, a questioning gleam in his cat-eye. "You know what this is, right?"