Theodore wasn't used to coming back to Whittom Park after work, but with the thought of Tracey there, hopefully there at least, he smiled.

"Master Nott!" Baxter cried as he came hurrying about the corner.

"For the last time, I am not master. Bloody hell..." he muttered as he kept right on walking up the stairs. The door to Tracey's bedroom was shut and he knocked gently, hoping not to surprise or disturb her. The lights were dim and when he was certain that she was still asleep she began to undo his tie and crawled up on the bed toward her.

Tracey smiled in her sleep and then rolled toward his warmth. "Good morning, Theo." She whispered into his chest. She couldn't help smiling at him, even when he couldn't see how happy she was.

"Good Morning? Tracey, it's nearly six," he pointed out with a smile, letting her snuggle in close.

"I know, but I just like saying good morning, and I've been having a nap... so it's morning to me. How was work?" she asked, wiping the sleep out of her eyes as she stretched.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "It was work. Long, boring. How was home?" He put his lips to her hair, inhaling her sweet scent.

Tracey sighed contentedly. She had to be dreaming. Things like this didn't happen to her. Things like Greg leaving her and Blaise replacing her - those things happened to her. She wasn't one who had ever done anything to deserve someone like him. "Home was good." Her heart jumped a bit at the words. 'Their' home, was good. "I suppose I'll have to go back to work eventually. Maybe tomorrow. My assistant has been handling things for me, but maybe I'll not be so tired tomorrow. I think I was supposed to do something quite important today, I hope she took care of it." Tracey could see over his shoulder and knew that it really was time to get up, for dinner at the very least.

He smiled. When she tried to sit up, he tightened his hold. He wanted to hold her, at least for the moment. There was a small knock on the door.

"Yes?" Tracey called.

Baxter slid in, holding a box. "This came for you today, Mistress." He turned to Theo. "Dinner will be ready soon, Master, now that you are home."

"Bloody hell," Theo muttered again. He wanted to hex the elf, but Tracey only smiled at him and flattened a piece of his hair behind his ear. It must have calmed him.

"Thank you, Baxter" she dismissed the elf politely.

The elf scurried out of the room after he dropped the box on the side table.

"Were you expecting something, love?" he asked her once she'd sat up in bed and reached for the package.

Tracey couldn't think of anything. She'd not been shopping since- her eyes lit up. "I know what it is! River and I bought it on Thursday afternoon before our girls' night. Do you remember River Montgomery? We got sodding drunk. She's the only person I've ever let myself get really pissed in front of. We bought this while sober though, which is a good thing, since I don't remember much of Thursday night other than this bloody tattoo, and even then, I'm sure there is more that I'm forgetting," Tracey mused to herself as she pulled back the tissue paper.

Theo had watched her stand, and it made him feel like the bed was empty without her in it. "What is it?" he asked casually, thinking of Tracey drunk. It had to be a sight to behold, amusing and sexy at the same time. Realizing it was clothes in the box he nearly rolled his eyes. He had no interest in clothes.

"It's my Halloween costume. I have to go to Hogsmeade for the Festival, remember?" Tracey frowned. She suddenly remembered the more important event that was occurring that day. "There isn't any way I can get out of it, I have to be there for work. I know it's your birthday. It's Greg's too but we're making him come. Do you want to come? With me? Er... or, you don't have to, but-"

He shrugged. "If you have a prior engagement, it's fine. If you want me to come, I'll come. I wasn't invited, though, if that would be a problem." He paused. "What is the costume?"

Tracey rolled her eyes and grinned at him before taking out the blue satin and chiffon. "Everyone was invited, prat. The entire village of Hogsmeade is hosting it for all of us." She held the halter top to herself and blushed a little. He'd seen her in a lot less, but it was still new, so she was still shy. The silver trousers were low riders. "Thank heavens, they won't chafe my back," she muttered to herself. She grabbed the bracelets and had to tip the box to find her second shoe. One of the heels had been stuck in the cardboard. Stilettos were too pointy, she decided. "I'd like you to come with me," she said finally, looking up from her assembled costume on the bed to his blue eyes.

He smiled. "Then I will. What is that supposed to be exactly?" What he really wanted was to ask her to try it on so he could help her take it off, but trying to be decent, he said, "Why don't you try it on? Make sure it still fits."

Tracey grinned. "A Nereid - a water nymph. Er, I'll be right out then, yeah?" She could shag him, several times now, but she couldn't change in front of him. There was seriously something wrong with her. Standing in her bathroom, she admired the way the costume shone and the way it slid through her fingers. She flicked her wand and her hair twisted the way she and River had discussed before getting pissed and the glitter in her hair shone. Tracey couldn't help but smile. She felt very pretty and she knew that even Theodore would think so too. Her shackled bracelets clinked as she held the counter to look behind at her lower back. Her most recent tattoo peeked out over the top of the shimmery trousers and would be in no danger from being rubbed raw by the waistline. Softly rubbing the lotus on her hip, she walked out of the bathroom to see what Theo would think of her completely in costume. "Like it?"

Theo's breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful and sexy. "A water nymph?" he said slowly, trying to resist the urge to pull her onto the bed with him and charm off the ridiculously sexy costume right then and there. He grinned. "Very sexy, Tracey." Shaggable, you might say, he thought to himself. Shifting slightly, he hoped she didn't see him already responding to the sight. Her low riding trousers and halter top showed her tattoo off as well as her perfect figure. Funny, she never struck me as the type of girl to get a tattoo, he mused. Theo knew he wasn't in any position to stand up so he suggested, "Can you spin for me? Let me see how the back looks?" Anything to get me to stop looking at your gorgeous front.

Tracey turned slowly. As she did, she blushed, "Well, sexy wasn't really my intention. River didn't tell me it was sexy... I just liked the colours. I hope it's not too cold. Greg has already threatened to transfigure my clothing to something that covers more and I don't want to give him any excuses." Her eyebrows furrowed and she couldn't stop herself from itching her back. "Do you think it will be all right?"

Theo saw the new tattoo immediately. Maeve. I wonder what it means? "Does your tattoo itch much?" She nodded. Fishing his wand out, he grabbed her hand and pulled her backward toward him. "Stop scratching it, please," he whispered, pushing her hands away. He raised his wand and muttered an incantation. Instantly her hand stopped inching toward the tattoo. "Better?" he asked quietly.

She nodded. She loved his arms around her, even when he was just keeping her from scratching. "Thank you, Theo. I should have learnt last time I went drinking with River. I always get too drunk with her. Tattoo Parlours should have my picture up saying, "Do not etch on this drunk lunatic."

He chuckled, pulling her down beside him onto the bed. "It's a pretty tattoo," he whispered. "You do realize both your tattoos are visible in the costume..." He reached down and his fingers skimmed the top of the one on her hip. His brain kept trying to tell him the significance, but when he looked into Tracey's green eyes all he could think about was her. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Are you hungry?" he inquired when he pulled back.

Tracey's traitorous stomach chose that moment to growl, and not the petite pretty gurgle you'd expect from a girl who could pretty much eat whatever she wanted, but a roaring growl telling the room that it hadn't eaten since breakfast. Why is everything I do so mortifying? she wondered. "I guess you have your answer. I am hungry. Haven't eaten since before you went to work. I think Baxter brought round some biscuits, but they weren't chocolate, so I didn't bother. Dinner then?"

Slightly disappointed but covering it well, he nodded. Letting her go, he stood up. "I'm hungry, too," he said, realizing it was true. Funny how looking at her in those clothes can make me forget I'm hungry. At least hungry for food that is. He extended his hand to her. "Do you need to change your costume then?"

Tracey nodded, but didn't let go of his hand. "I do. Will you help me?" She was finally being brave. Her eyes were on his and she could feel him take a sharp intake of breath.

He wanted to, but knew if he did they would probably never get down for dinner. He pulled her against him, capturing her mouth with his. The kiss was passionate and intense, deepened immediately. His body was happy to respond, but for the first time since he was with her, he put a halt to it, pulling away slowly, his mouth lingering close to hers. He could feel her breath on his face when he whispered, "If you want to eat any time soon, love, I think you need to do that yourself."

Her heart was pounding in her head and she nodded a little light-headed at his words. "You're right. Food. This isn't the time for this." Her hand reached up to touch his face and she kissed him again, this time softly. Her feet were supposed to take her somewhere, but she wasn't allowing them. She wanted to stay right there.

Theo reached up on her shoulder and drew the strap down her arm. But then he dropped his hand before he could pull the other down and pulled away completely. "Tracey, I'm telling you. If you want to eat soon, you have to undress yourself. in fact, I should leave. Now. Or else." I'll practically attack you, he finished to himself. He wanted her; he really wanted her. "After you've eaten, we can continue this." He leaned down and kissed her quickly. "Afterward."

She got the look in her eye, that same one that Greg has said she'd had since she was a little girl and she hadn't got what she wanted. When she was like this she was one hundred percent Slytherin. Before he could blink, Tracey had reached down to her hem and pulled her top right over her head. Her hand went to her belt as she smirked as an awestruck Theo watched her step out of her trousers. She hadn't been able to wear a bra with the halter, but she sure as hell knew he'd appreciate the silver thong she'd worn with the trousers. Sweetly, she pointed toward the green dressing gown behind him, "Theodore, be a dear and grab me that, please."

Theo growled. "Damn woman," he muttered. Instead of handing her her dressing grown, he roughly pulled her into his arms, crushing her mouth with his in raw passion that he could hardly control. His body was immediately ready to skip foreplay and go straight to the main event, but after a single breathless kiss, he pulled away. Turning swiftly, still reeling from the kiss, he grabbed the dressing grown and tossed it to her. "If you don't want me to shag you right now, put this on," he said, his voice still a growl with frustration and lust.

Tracey begrudgingly took the dressing gown and gave him the evil eye... only it wasn't quite so evil as she was hoping and in fact was quite a turn on in it's own right. "All right, all right. I know when I've been beaten. Dinner it is." Her serious faced turned into a grin, "Do you think the elves will mind me wearing next-to-nothing at the dinner table?"

"No I don't think they would, but instead of watching you and imaging shagging you on the dining-room table, I'd prefer if you were dressed properly." He winked at her.

With a sigh as melodramatic as Draco's tantrums, Tracey finally gave in. She pulled on a pair of proper knickers and absconded with one of his dress shirts that he'd left on her dresser while she tried to get the naughty thoughts about the dining room table out of her head. As she zipped up her jeans she held her arms out to him, "Satisfied?"

Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her close. "Not really, but thank you for asking," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "Shall we go downstairs?"

She nodded, giving him a charming grin, and they walked down together hand in hand.



(Summary: Tracey tries on her new Halloween costume for Theo, who likes it, but would clearly rather eat than shag. It's not all about the physical people!)