Theodore pushed open the door to his flat, watching Tracey's reaction to his sparse furnishings carefully. He hadn't expected on bringing anyone here, especially not her. But something told him he had to; something told him she needed to know where he was coming from and something told him she just might be the one person who would understand despite the fact she never lost her inheritance and for that, he was thankful.

Tracey was fully aware that her friends thought she was rubbish at hiding her true feelings, at least to them, but this time she was fairly certain that her mask was firmly in place. Where her face had just been soft and caring it quickly turned to stone. She was angry. That Theodore Nott had been forced into staying in a place like this was beyond reprehensible to her. It wasn't Theo that she was upset with. The bloody Ministry! she thought, taking things that don't belong to them. Taking from pure-blooded children who didn't ask for their parent's allegiances. Without hesitation, and without her mind telling her she was doing it, she reached behind her and found his hand. "Well, I suppose you weren't kidding when you said you didn't need much help moving, Theo." She looked up at him, not in pity, but there was fire there and she only hoped he didn't notice it. If he did their conversation would soon delve into politics and even after inviting him into her home she was still afraid to open that can of worms in front of him.

Theo sighed, squeezing her hand. He saw the determination, the half-pity in her eyes. But for some reason it didn't faze him. What got to him was the open respect and concern and the anger. The fire. Her dark green eyes blazed with determination and anger on his behalf. Suddenly, it hit him: there was not even a shadow of pity in her eyes. It was all anger for him, for his situation. She had tried to bring levity to the circumstances, yet had failed miserably. He leaned forward slowly as if to kiss her, but pulled back, still unsure of what her reaction would be.

He cleared his throat, straightening his shoulders. "Now you know... my well-kept secret. I not only work, but I'm practically destitute." He forced a smile, but he knew, he felt it when he looked in her eyes, that it didn't come anywhere near his eyes.

Reaching across them and touching his face, Tracey pulled him into an embrace that she was fairly sure he wasn't prepared for. She couldn't keep the words she was grumbling into his chest remain inaudible. "Damn ministry!" She'd known he was working, and that his family home had been appropriated by the government, but she hadn't had any idea that it had been this bad. Pulling away, Tracey let her anger seethe into something else... surety. "Theo, you're not staying here tonight. You're coming home with me. You don't belong here." You belong with me- with your own kind, she finished in her head.

Theo pulled her back into an embrace, knowing this was as close he'd probably ever get to her. She was poised and good, and she would never support him if she really knew him. He stroked her hair and she embraced him in return. It was as if something had broken suddenly and opened the floodgates of emotion. He had spent so long pretending he was still rich, it felt strange knowing that someone knew and yet they still accepted him. He pulled back suddenly and looked down into her eyes.

"Wouldn't it impose on you if I moved in tonight?" he asked, not truly concerned but still polite enough to ask.

She couldn't help but roll her eyes through her smile. "Of course it won't, Theodore. Though I'm afraid if you want an entire wing to yourself, you'll have to wait until tomorrow morning. A few of the guestrooms down the corridor from mine are always set to rights in case Blaise is so pissed that he can't face his mum or Pansy sleeps over. I'm sure there is one that neither of them have mucked in lately. Are you sure you won't mind moving into the Park with me?" She grew serious again, "I suppose since 'this' is so-" New? Unexpected? Wonderful? "Well, since it's been such a short time since I've found you again, it's not me being too forward is it? You can have an entire wing to yourself if you'd like one. In order to invite anyone you'd like there. I didn't really ask you so you'd be stuck with me all the time. You wouldn't even have to wait until the bloody elves woke up, I'm sure Baxter would move mountains for you regardless of the time." She was babbling. Things were never good when she was babbling.

He smiled at her. A real smile. "I don't need a wing to myself, Tracey." He gestured around the room. "This has been my home for years. I think that I can survive with one guest room for a bit. Only a bit, though, I promise. I'll leave as soon as I find a place so I don't impose on you and your house elves for too long." He paused. "It's getting late.." his voice trailed off. He wanted to embrace her again, or shag on on his old couch, but he resisted the urge.

"Baxter!" Tracey said firmly and her house-elf appeared before the two of them. "Baxter, Master Nott will be moving into the Park tonight. I want everything in his wardrobe packed..." She turned to Theodore. "Any thing else? Baxter will move it for you. Books, anything really."

"All I have is my clothes and a few heirlooms already in boxes in the bedroom." He glanced at the house-elf, and gestured him to follow him into the small bedroom off the living room. He could hear Tracey's footsteps following them. He pointed to the wardrobe and the two boxes beside it. "That's all. But some dodgy furniture, that is."

"Did it hold any particular sentimental value, or can it be left behind?" she asked with a crooked smile. Being bold once again, she found his hand. "Shall we go then? You'll have to help me set the wards. You're the Charms expert."

"Sentiment? Ha," he laughed humorously. "The furniture needs burned." He forced a smile, pulling his hand from hers. "I'd love to help you with wards." It was such an awkward moment; Theo felt embarrassed as well as touched. It was an odd combination of feelings. "There are obviously no anti-Apparition charm on the flat..." He grabbed her hand, pulling her once again to his side and wrapping one arm around her. "Hopefully side-along Apparition won't be hard on you," he teased before he Apparated with her to her front drive.

Whittom Park stood there, large and imposing, yet as Tracey looked up at her ancestral home it suddenly looked warm and inviting. She hoped he would find it that way as well. Dragging him along with her as she walked up the front stairs, Tracey pulled him into the house behind her where a house-elf was waiting for them to take their coats.

Theo shrugged off his cloak and handed it to the house-elf. He glanced at Tracey out the corner of his eye. She looked comfortable. Of course she'd be comfortable. This is her house, he thought to himself somewhat sadly. He didn't want too seem to eager or forward, so he stood there in silence, looking around the foyer. It felt familiar, almost as if it had an air of belonging to it and it reminded him a great deal of his former home in Windsor.

Tracey shook her head in disbelief. Smiling cheekily at him she explained, "They never wait at the door for my cloak. Baxter must have already told him that you were coming." Theo looked at her in confusion so she went on, "Our elves are very gender specific. They'll think you're their master, despite not being a Davis." Quieter and without her smile, she added, "Mum said it was because of Declan. They have it in their head that there should be a male heir--"

"An heir doesn't depend on the sex of the child. It's sexist for anyone to think that. Male or not, Tracey, you are the heir," Theo interrupted her without a hint of lightness in his voice.

Her smile returned. He was wonderful for thinking it upset her. It didn't. She didn't need to be told more than once that Declan should have been the heir. "You've not been here since we were children, you remember the way to the lounge, yeah? I'm going to go find Baxter. Feel free to make yourself at home. There's a wet bar on the far wall. I'll just be a moment."

He watched her leave, liking the smooth way she moved. Everything about Tracey was feminine. Once she turned the corner, he walked into the lounge, certain it wouldn't be a good idea to get something to drink. This was all moving too fast; he needed to be completely sober so he didn't do anything stupid or anything that he'd regret. Sitting down on the sofa, he sighed. It was strange being in a mansion again. He hadn't been in one since the Ministry had confiscated his mother's money and his inheritance. He had almost gotten used to the idea of never being in one again, at least not to live even if it was only for a few days. What hell have I gotten myself into? he asked himself. I couldn't control myself around her before, yet here I am, sitting in her lounge once again. I am going to be living in the same house that she is until I can find a place of my own.

Completely oblivious to his fears, Tracey walked with a purpose through the halls of the East Wing, only half consciously dragging her fingers over the furniture back as she walked. She eventually found Baxter outside her bedroom door and she wasn't quite sure why. "Baxter, what are you doing?"

"Mistress Tracey, we's moving Master Nott in as you asked."

"Into my bedroom? I didn't say that." What would he think of me? Do I LOOK like the kind of girl that would ask a bloke to move in with her after two dates and then move him right into her bedroom? "The guest bedroom, Baxter. The blue one. Neither Blaise or Pans have ever slept there. All right?"

The house-elf nodded somberly and turned back into the bedroom. Tracey tried to control her flaming face. What was I thinking? she wondered aloud. He thinks I'm barmy, I'm sure of it. Forcing him to move in here after two dates that were less like dates and more like Pansy's torture.

Summoning up enough courage to face him again, but just enough, she walked back down the staircase and entered the lounge, trying not to hope he had got her a very large glass of Scotch. He hadn't. Suppressing a grimace but realizing that he was probably right, she beckoned another house-elf. "Coffee, please. Theo?"

"Coffee sounds good," he said with a nod. She was still standing, he felt rude sitting while she stood and stood up. Walking next to her, he said, "Tracey, I just want to say, thank you. I do appreciate this." He smiled at her -- a rare genuine smile that he seemed to be doing more around her than anyone else.

Up until now, she had been sure that she wasn't going to be affected by him. It had been a long time since she knew that there was something about him that made her feel like there was less oxygen in the air, and she was sure, having him that close to her, that she was going to forget how to breathe soon. Her senses were full of him. She looked up at his face and he looked so free, even if just for a moment. He smiled at her and her knees grew weak. Wobbling forward on the balls of her feet she ended up with a hand on his shoulder to keep her balance. He felt so warm under her arm and she didn't want to let go. She just kept moving forward until their bodies were touching and she turned up to face him. He tilted his head toward her and captured her mouth with his.

It was a sudden move. One minute she was merely standing in front of him, the next he was kissing her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. The warmth of her small body in his arms felt like heaven, like something intangible, yet was. A moment later, when he knew he was still barely in enough control to not shag her then and there, he pulled away, without releasing her fully. Her green eyes were closed for a moment, before they fluttered open and looked up at into his. The surprise, yet not disgust, in her eyes made him let go of her, jerking backward so he almost fell over the sofa. It was too much -- too fast -- and under the circumstances it was probably the worst move they could have made. Yet it had felt so right. It had felt unreal to him. So different than anything he'd felt before.

He steadied himself and looked at her, the apology dropping out of his mouth before he had a chance to think it true. "I'm sorry Tracey. I shouldn't have done that. If you want me to go--"

Tracey was, for once in her life, the bold one this time. She pulled him by his collar and kissed him again, cutting off his insane apologies. It wasn't the slow and sensual kiss that he'd given her. She was full of passion that she didn't know she had. Her hand moved from his shirt to his hair and she knew she was completely out of breath, but she didn't care. She hadn't wanted him to stop and when he had before she'd been shocked so badly that it had almost hurt. This was something she wanted and she was trying to show him that without saying it in so many words.

He kissed her back, pulling her close to him again. His hands rested on her hips as his mouth opened up over hers. She tasted like the raspberry coffee she had had at the coffee place and his mind was reeling with knowing she was letting him taste her like this.

Then without warning, someone cleared their throat from behind her, making them pull apart, faces flushed. He peeked over her shoulder and saw Baxter standing there. "Mistress?"

Turning slowly, Tracey looked at the house-elf and tried to force her fingers to remain where they were when they really wanted to reach for her wand and hex the bloody thing for interrupting. "Yes, Baxter?"

"The Master's room is ready for him," he said as though he didn't notice nor care what he'd walked in on.

She could hardly control the urge to roll her eyes. "Thank you, Baxter." Wearily looking toward Theo, Tracey tried to keep it light, though it was very difficult. "Would you like to see your new room, Theo?"

Theo took a deep breath, still trying to steady himself from the kiss. "Yes. Oh, and Baxter, it's Mister. The only 'master' here is actually a mistress," he added coldly toward the house-elf who seemed expressionless.

Tracey couldn't suppress the happiness she was feeling. She was sure it was shining out of every inch of her skin. She shyly smiled at Theodore as soon as Baxter left them alone. "You know, they'll still call you Master, no matter how much you dislike it. They do it to all of my friends. Master Greg. Master Blaise... well, they don't generally call him that- he's Master Beeni, has been since we were five and I can't get the elves to stop. At least Greg is no longer Master Greggie."

"It's not a matter of disliking it, Tracey. It's a matter of respect. You are the heir; you are their mistress." He sighed heavily.

"They call Pansy, Miss Pansy as well, when they talk to her. She's not their favourite, I think. Though I suppose, he did just call you the Master, didn't he?"

"He did. And he shouldn't. I'll keep correcting him until it gets in his head." He smiled at her, unsure why, and she smiled shyly back. Grabbing his hand, she led him to a large room decorated in light blue. It was oddly masculine for a blue themed room. "Is this where I'll be staying?"

Tracey nodded, slightly worried that he would find the room unsatisfactory. "Is it all right?"

He turned to her and smile. "This is perfect." An awkward silence fell over the pair. Theo wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was (that the bed looked big and comfortable) but quickly discarded the thought as ridiculous. She was lady, and ought to treat her like one.

As nervous as she should have been being alone in a man's bedroom, she just wasn't. She was too busy thinking about the big bed and the man across the room from her and how appealing just pushing him down on the bed and continuing what they had started downstairs would be. She walked over and sat on the bed. "I'm glad you don't mind it. My room is just down the corridor on the right. There is a bathroom connected just through there. And as I just found out, the bed is very comfortable. It's not a room anyone else has ever slept in, not as long as the house has been mine anyway. It's just for you."

"Thank you," he muttered. He walked over and sat on the bed next to her, forcing his mind to think of anything else but sex. "It's great -- really. I'm glad you invited me to stay with you, but I will be out of your way as soon as I can." He faltered. Truth be told, he wasn't sure he even wanted to contemplate leaving. He laid back on the bed, and sighed. "It is comfortable. The bed I mean." He was babbling.

His words sent the smile off her face. She didn't want him to leave. Instead, she crawled up toward him on the bed and curled in next to him. Her back was to him but she felt his warmth right through her. "Let's not talk about that tonight. Let's talk about other things. Why did you decide to go into research instead of practising regular medicine?"

He smiled and instinctively pulled her into his arms. It was such a normal reaction; it just felt right. She didn't move away and for that he was grateful.

He rambled on about his research for 15 minutes before he realized she was already asleep. He suppressed his laughter, noting that his research bored her for future reference. Pulling her a tad bit closer, he closed his eyes. He didn't want to move her, he didn't want to have to let go of her. He didn't want to loose her. The realization scared him a bit, made him unsure of his true intentions concerning the woman in his arms, but he pushed the thoughts aside for the night. Breathing in her scent, he felt himself drift off to sleep and wondered if he would wake up with her in his arms or not, wondering if she would wake up screaming like he was some kind of lecher.

For the moment, as sleep began to overtake him, all he cared about was the fact she trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms.


(Summary: Theo takes Tracey to his run-down flat and she insists he move out NOW!)