Venice in summertime (Rich and Bri)

[Richard Romain]

Richard held onto the portkey as it deposited himself and his wife into a heavily warded area on the edge of one of the main canals of Venice. His arm comfortably around his wife's waist, he smiled at her happily,

"Here we are mein leibling..." he gestured at the canal and the gondola boats gliding along it, "Venice in summertime my love."

He kissed Briony's cheek with a smile as he took her hand in his and led her to the edge of the canal to a waiting gondola. Helping his wife into the boat, Richard tapped the wood with his wand and the boat began to glide down the river with the two of them snuggled up in it,

"Is there anything you wish to do in Venice my love?"

[Briony Romain]

Briony smiled happily when she saw that lovely sights of Venice in the summer time, this place had a lot of fond memories for her and she couldn't believe that she had managed to take a break from school for a few weeks to come here again.

Kissing Richard softly Briony hopped into the gondola and grinned, looking up at the towering buildings around her:

"I never tire of this city, it's so beautiful, yet so peaceful here in the back alley water ways."

Unable to bring herself to keep her guards up Briony relaxed completely, wrapping her arms around Richard and snuggling into his chest, pecking at his neck.

"Just be with you love, maybe have a look at some galleries and shops, you?"

[Richard Romain]

It always made him smile, to see his beautiful wife so happy. And this old city on the canals really seemed to light her spirits. It had been a miracle that they'd managed to get time off from planning the next school year for this but he supposed it was just something he'd have to work on juggling more, so that he could make Briony happy by letting them visit venice more than once a year. He smiled and snuggled up to her as their boat glided along,

"It is a very pretty city..." he agreed with a smile, "The moonlight on the canals makes the water sparkle so beautifully... it's a place I could imagine living in."

Wrapping his arms around his relaxing wife, Richard smiled in absolute contentment as they looked around at the old buildings as they floated aimlessly through the canals,

"That all sounds good to me." he kissed her lightly on the lips, "Especially the first part mein leibling."

He gave her a small squeeze before looking up at the clear blue sky,

"It really is such a beautiful country..."

[Briony Romain]

Although it was in the middle of the day Briony could easily imagine Venice in the night time, it was magical an especially when they had masquerade balls on, which luckily they had managed to get tickets to two days from now.

"I would like to settle down somewhere here also, although, I'm not quite sure we're ready for that just yet."

Briony poked Richard on the nose with a grin: "Even if we do end up having a coronary because of all the stress that we put ourselves under sometimes."

Returning the kiss that Richard gave her Briony sniffed lightly, smelling the wonderful aroma of what could only be described as heaven; her husbands aftershave and real Italian Lasagne.

"Mmm...you smell nice today, is it the afertshave I got you?"

[Richard Romain]

It was the middle of the say and it was shaping up to be beautiful day. The sun was high in the sky and the people were friendly. Of course their boat was equiped with muggle repelling charms so only magicals were actually aware of them,

"Yes I do believe we're too young to be talking about that..." he winked at her, "We've got more sexy years before we settle down."

Richard wiggled his nose and stuck his tongue out at her,

"Yes well that's going to be lessened now my dear." he kissed her lightly on the forehead, "The Ministry is too busy actually beginning to fight a war now to bother us."

When his wife noticed the smell he grinned a little bit and nodded happily,

"Yeah it is." he nuzzled against her neck, kissing her neck slightly, "It smells nice does it?"

[Briony Romain]

Briony grinned playfully and thought that when the time came that age wouldn't even be able to stop her and Richard from getting together in that way, maybe the use of several potions and glamour charms however would be needed.

"Are you saying that you wouldn't find me attractive when we're older? You cheeky thing."

Sticking her tongue out Briony looked back up at the sky and even though it was warm, drew a blanket over her and Richard's legs, just to make it even cosier.

"If only they would have realised this sooner! It would have been so much better for us...or rather, for the country."

Briony sighed slightly but decided that this holiday she would be leaving behind all the stress that Britian held for her. She was not going to worry about it.

"Yes, I think it smells lovely, that's why I chose it for you, I'm happy that you're wearing it."

[Richard Romain]

Richard laughed lightly at the jokey atmoshpere they were building. It was rare for Richard to laugh but when he did it was clear that he was totally relaxed,

"Ah no nothing like that." he grinned a little bit, joking along with her, "Sexy years are when we are young enough to find spending an entire week off work to fool around to be a good idea. After about 40 I think we'll find it slightly harder to justify and stick to days off instead."

Sticking his tongue out in retaliation, he cuddled up to Briony even more when she drew a cover over their legs to keep them cosy and warm. He idly played with her hair as he joined her in cloud watching,

"Yes, I agree... it would have been so much better if the ministry had backed off sooner." he sighed a little bit, still smiling, "But now that they have we have much more time together."

Richard smiled a little as he kissed Briony's cheek,

"Of course I was going to wear it... you got it for me after all." he kissed her other cheek with a grin, "And you know me so well that you get me just the right presents."

[Briony Romain]

Briony grinned and was glad that Richard wasnt going to completely veto having a rather mature sex life when they were older, if they got to be that old that is, who knows what could happen in that time between then and now.

Nodding her head to show that she agrees with him, Briony smirked:

"Maybe we should take another week off soon hm? I think it's been far too long, after all, last time it was because of a bad reason, I think a more positive one is needed."

Idly Briony gazed at a cloud that looked a bit like a heart and smiled lightly, tilting her head up to kiss Richards neck, before nuzzling into his skin happily.

"At least they have at last backed off, you're right, we won't know what to do with ourselves well have so much time."

Briony couldn't help but chuckle as Richard kissed her on both cheeks: "I know were in Italy Richard but, the two cheek kisses?" she teased.

[Richard Romain]

Having a mature sex life was a very appealing concept to Richard. Call him selfish but he wanted as many years of sex as was physically possible for him to get and he wanted all of those years of sex to be with Briony. Of course, this little plan could be derailed if either of them came down with a sudden case of death. Ignoring that thought he smirked at her wife,

"Mmm I think we should definately take another week off." he agreed, nibbling her ear lightly with a grin, "We can fill it with lots of happy memories and spend lots of time together... intimately."

Richard smiled happily when Briony kissed his neck before nuzzling his check. He idly played with her hair as they just laid together,

"True... they haven't tried to contact me in about a week." he replied with a small grin, "I can think of lots of things to do with our free time and I'm sure you can too my lovely wife..."

He stuck his tongue out at her childishly,

"Oh don't be a party pooper!" he complained jokingly before smirking, "Does that mean we can't do other italian things? Like eating lasagne?"

[Briony Romain]

Briony chuckled lightly when her husband said that they should take another week off, she couldn't agree more and she thought that it might be wise to have that time off around the middle of term so that they could relax before having to go back.

"Well then maybe next term we will have to do exactly that, after all, school and paper work can make you over worked and tired..." Briony said in a pouting voice.

The nice feeling of Richard nibbling her ear, combined with him playing with her hair made Briony purr lightly, the warm sun on her skin, her lovely husband beside her. What more could she want?

Gasping when he said that they couldn't eat lasagne Briony pouted:

"Now now let's not get ahead of ourselves here! Eating lasagne is a must when in Italy, you wouldn't deny me my lasagne, would you?" she pouted.

[Richard Romain]

Richard was actually rather looking forward to having a week off from all commitments. That combined with the idea of him taking the week off with Briony made it a very appealing idea,

"Yeah... those things will be the death of us unless we find some way to fight back..." he smirked, "I think taking a week off to relax and have lots of... unwinding, is exactly what we need to do that."

When his wife purred, Richard grinned happily and continued his actions. Kissing along her jawline, he kissed her gently but passionately on the lips. At her gasp, he smirked a little bit,

"Mmm well I've never been able to deny you anything." he kissed her again, "Sure, we can have as much lasagna as you like."

[Briony Romain]

Briony grinned a little, she had tried every possible way there was to overthrow the almighty paperwork but alas nothing was working to a massive extent and so she spent many of her nights holed up with Richard at home doing piles of the stuff.

"I think you might be on to something there Richard, to fight paperwork and annoying children we need lots of sleep, sex and relaxation."

Going to her pocket for a smoke, Briony remembered how her husband had quit and just scratched her hip instead, deciding against smoking and ruining this lovely scene. Kissing Richard back softly, gently biting his lower lip Briony chuckled.

"Darn straight we will, lasagne...that's my happy place Il Fiore De Firenze and a plate load of lasagne."

[Richard Romain]

He grinned along with his wife. They'd both worked on paperwork at home at some points and both hated the need to do that so the break would be perfect,

"Yes paperwork is powerless against the power of the after glow." he replied with a wink, "We'll be getting lots of that so that paperwork can be put behind us easily."

Seeing his wife reach for a smoke, Richard chuckled a little bit. To be fair he didn't mind if she smoked. He licked her lips when she bit his lower lip lightly,

"Lasagna is your ambrosia isn't it." he grinned a little bit more, "Well we'll have to go there again."

He kissed her again with a smirk,

"After we've floated on the canals for a bit longer."

[Briony Romain]

Unable to stop a small chuckle, Briony grinned at Richard, sometimes he knew exactly what to say to make her happy, even though she was already as content as she could ever hope to be.

"Sounds like a perfect plan, and part of it is appealing to me right now although I don't think that you'll want an audience for it."

Briony smirked lightly and traced Richards jaw with her Tongue, loving the fact that could be themselves here, the city where they were married, it was almost as if it was theirs.

"It really is...what I do without it I don't know. But I do know that there's one thing that beats lasagne every time..." Briony purred looking up into Richards eyes.

[Richard Romain]

Chuckling with his wife, Richard saw her grinning so contentedly that he couldn't help but grin wide in response. God he loved to know that he made her happy,

"Oh it's a great plan I know." he winked at her, "Well then it's a good thing that I have a hotel room booked across the street from your happy place then isn't it?"

As Briony traced his jawline with her tongue, Richard grinned and captured her tongue, kissing her passionately as he held her close in this, the city they had become husband and wife,

"Oh really now? There's something that beat lasagna?" he looked her in the eyes and grinned happily at the insinuation, "Well now... I'm sure you can sample both tonight my love."

[Briony Romain]

When Briony had left Richard to organise their holidays she wasn't sure how they were going to turn out, but both had worked out beautifully and she was sure that he was going to be the one in the future to plan where and what they would be going and doing.

"You're fantastic, did you know that? You've thought of everything this holiday, I love you Husband of mine." she said, quietly.

Briony allowed herself to be captured and she smiled lightly into the kiss, just enjoying being together with her husband at all, never mind in this beautiful location.

"I didn't mean that, I meant generally all of you Richard, if it was you or lasagne, I'd choose you in a heartbeat, no questions asked. Although the sex is beautiful too."

[Richard Romain]

When Richard planned an outing or a lovely hunt then he planned thoroughly. Every last detail was thought of to ensure that it was perfect. He liked to think this skill transferred over to holidays too,

"Well I like to plan to make it the best for you my love." he kissed her gently with a smile, "I want it to be perfect."

Smiling happily into the kiss, as Briony was too, Richard kissed her passionately yet lovingly as he cradled her against him. Sighing contentedly, Richard played with Briony's hair idly,

"Awww you really know just what to say to make me happy Briony." he kissed her again with a truly happy smile, "Being with you makes me the happiest I have ever been Briony... I love you."

[Briony Romain]

Briony smiled lightly, her husband obviously knew how temperamental she was and if something didn't go right then her whole day was ruined, that was until she actually had something happen to her, usually Richard, that made it all better.

"Well it is perfect so far Richard, and I know the rest of the stay will be too, we have so much relaxing to do, so much culture to take in...it'll be wonderful."

While she was held against Richard, Briony drew absent minded circles on his tshirt, something that she often did to keep her fingers busy while she talked.

"I'm so glad Richard, im so happy that I can please you so with so few words of love I actually speak, I'm only sorry I don't say more." Briony smiled, and kissed him gently.

[Richard Romain]

Richard tried his best to make everything just perfect for his wife because he loved her so dearly that whenever she was disappointed in him he felt as if he was scum. Hence he tried to make her happy all of the time, something he was happy to say he suceeded in doing more times than not,

"The gondolas are a great place to relax once they've been charmed." he agreed, giving her a gentle squeeze in his arms, "And this city... it is our city Briony."

Feeling her drawing circles on his chest without thinking about it, Richard hummed happily at the light sensation. He played with her hair and she drew circles on his chest, it was how they occupied their hands while relaxing,

"Don't be sorry for that meine leibling." he kissed her lovingly before looking sheepish, "After all... I think that's more my fault than yours..."

[Briony Romain]

When Richard said that it was their city, Briony smiled happily for a moment before letting it vanish once more, it was a lovely thing to say, and it was especially lovely since she herself had just thought of it.

"That's exactly what I was thinking, this is our city, our home away from home, and I will always love it here."

Liking the way that they both seemed to connect together when they were relaxing together, both of them needed to keep their fingers busy and Briony was glad Richard seemed to like what she was doing.

"Don't worry about that at all Richard, it's your loving nature, someone has to make up for my stoic appearance, even in this relationship, it's just hard for me to articulate how I feel."

[Richard Romain]

Seeing Briony smile so freely and so happily, Richard knew that he'd said the right thing and that made him smile, especially when the result was Briony's happiness. He raised his eyebrows in surprise,

"Really now?" he grinned, "Well I think the same way Briony... this is where we were joined and this will forever hold a place in my heart."

Briony didn't stop her circles and Richard didn't stop playing with Briony's hair, although he did take to twirling a strand of her hair lightly,

"Well I still blame myself for not always giving you the chance..." he kissed her again, "I just want you to know that you can say whatever you like and I'll love you for it."

[Briony Romain]

Briony couldn't help but think that she had made the completely right choice in man when she had had that decision to make between the two, if she had stayed with That she would be some Trophy Wife on the shelf, but she was loved here.

"Exactly my thoughts, this place is special to me, for a lot of reasons and it's really somewhere that I feel a connection to, perhaps when our time at Hogwarts is up, we can retire here?"

When Richard told her that she could say whatever she liked and that he would still love her for it, Briony fought the urge to keep this as leverage for a later date.

"Well I will make sure that if I have any random romantic thoughts that I voice them in the future."

[Richard Romain]

Richard was thankful for every day he spent with Briony, it was as if everyday was a holiday to him when he spent it with her. There had never been anyone else for him like Briony and he was so glad that she loved him too,

"The old buildings... the churches... our chuch... it's all linked to us and I love it." he agreed before grinning, "Retiring here huh? That sounds like a great idea! We get to have a pool too."

As soon as Richard was finished speaking he felt an ominous feeling for some reason but ignored it in favour of just kissing Briony on the lips with a happy smile,

"And if you do voice them I'll be ready and waiting to hear them." he blushed lightly, "I'd... I'd like to hear them after all..."

[Briony Romain]

Briony took a deep breath, the fact of the matter was that she felt so attatched so attached to this city that if anything was to happen to it it would hurt her inside, she felt that strongly for it.

"You think that it would be nice? To retire here? I had been thinking of asking you for a while but...just kept forgetting."

Smiling lightly, Briony thought that there was something that she needed to tell Richard, it was something that she had thought about for a good long while and decided that she wanted even after what happened last time.

Briony turned to face Richard and sat up, clasping his hand in her own; "Richard, I was wondering..." she said, unsure.

[Richard Romain]

Richard saw Briony taking a deep breath, a sure sign that she was thinking about something that was at least mildly distressing or serious. He held her close to him and gave her a loving squeeze,

"I think it would be lovely to retire here! Get a nice little venitian house near a canal... it'll be lovely." he answered happily. He gave Briony a light kiss on the lips, "Well you remembered now didn't you?"

Seeing his wife looking rather more serious than before, Richard held her tightly to him in a hug and waited for her to tell him what she was thinking. After all, he wanted her to be comfortable in speaking,

"Go on Briony." he encouraged her with a reassuring smile, "You can tell me anything my love."

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