Augusta Longbottom perched on the edge of Minerva's bed, watching as she swiftly and neatly packed a case. 'Are you quite certain?' she asked, for what felt like the hundredth time to Minerva.

Minerva flicked her wand at the case and it closed, the latches fastening with soft clicks. 'Gussie, I havena had a holiday since I left school. There isna a day where I dinna work. I am, as they say, done in.'

'But America,' Augusta ventured.

'It isna a wilderness,' Minerva retorted.

'And him?'

'Jack?'

'Yes, Jack. You haven't laid eyes on the man in two years. What if you arrive in San Francisco and find neither of you actually feel as you did in nineteen forty-five?'

'Then I'll make other arrangements,' Minerva sighed in clear exasperation. 'I'm no' a wee bairn.' She carefully pinned a small round hat to her hair and stood in front of Augusta. 'Well? How do I look?'

Augusta tilted her head back. 'That's what you're wearing?''

'You ken as well as I that American witches and wizards wear Muggle clothing much more than we do here,' Minerva replied, fingering the lapel of the jacket..

'Muggle clothing is fine. It's only that suit is about ten years out of date. Oh, Minnie, they've got some glorious things coming out of Paris,' Augusta sighed. 'And you're wearing that drab excuse for a frock.'

'I just bought it six months ago!' Minerva protested.

'In a second-hand shop?' Augusta shot back.

'It's hardly been worn.' Minerva smoothed the front of the jacket of the burgundy wool suit. 'And you know those new things from Paris don't suit me. I'm about as curvaceous as my broomstick.' She stooped to study the hat perched on her head in the mirror of a small vanity tucked into the corner of the bedroom. 'Jack wilna notice if it's two years or ten years out of date,' she murmured.

'What time is your first Portkey?'

Minerva glanced at her wristwatch. 'An hour.'

'You'd best get yourself to the Ministry, hadn't you?' Augusta slid off the bed and picked up Minerva's case. 'Off you go.' Minerva took the case and Augusta caught her free hand. 'Be careful.'

'Of course I will.' Minerva followed Augusta from the tiny flat. 'I'll see you when I return, aye?' She clattered down the stairs and burst into the bustling street below. Augusta stood on the landing, hands planted on her hips. 'If you return,' she muttered.

XxXxXxX

Minerva ducked into the ladies' room. The eight hour time difference between London and San Francisco had made her slightly dazed and disoriented. She removed her hat and tidied her hair, then splashed cold water over her face. Minerva's hands shook as she repinned the hat and straightened her skirt, feeling butterflies in her stomach. Minerva spent much more of her pay packet than she was willing to admit on posting letters to San Francisco. Her father would have given her lectures about the importance of thrift, had he been alive to do so. What if Augusta was right? What if after so many months, they were to find it had been nothing more than the cloud of war hanging over their heads? Minerva shook herself and glared at the reflection in the mirror. 'Enough. You're no' a coward, Minerva McGonagall. Gi' on wi' ye.' She retrieved her case and handbag and marched out into the dimly lit waiting area.

Jack leaned nonchalantly against the wall, face brightening when he caught sight of Minerva striding toward him. 'Min!'

'Jack.' They stood mere inches apart, barely breathing, before Minerva reached out and smoothed down the upturned collar of Jack's shirt, just as she had on the dock in Southampton two years before. Jack caught her hand, and pressed a kiss to her fingertips, before releasing her hand and taking the case from her.. 'What is this place?' Minerva asked as they made their way through the eddies of people to an Apparition point.

Jack grinned. 'Alcatraz. It's a No-Maj prison.'

'No-Maj…?'

'Muggle to you.' Jack glanced up at the darkened ceiling. 'People think it's haunted, so if there's any noise from Apparition and Portkeys, it won't cause much comment.' He led her to an alcove. 'I can take you to my apartment or there's a nice hotel nearby.' Minerva gave him a long look, brow raised, with a wry smile. It was an expression Jack knew well. His lips twitched. 'Apartment it is.'

XxXxXxX

'It's a little small,' Jack warned, tapping the doorknob with his wand. He opened the door and gestured for Minerva to go through. Jack closed the door and reset the charm to lock it. Minerva glanced around the Spartan front room, with a tiny kitchen separated from the rest of it by a half-wall. 'It's no' much smaller than my flat in London,' Minerva told him, shrugging off her coat. 'Or the one we had during the war.'

'I mostly just sleep here,' Jack said, as he hung Minerva's coat on hook next to the door. 'Come on. I'll give you the five Knut tour.' He pointed to the kitchen. 'Kitchen. Obviously. Sitting room.' His arm swept in a broad arc, taking in the rest of the front room. He made his way down a short corridor. 'Bathroom… and bedroom.' He set Minerva's case down at the foot of his bed. Minerva unpinned her hat and dropped it on the foot of the bed. 'I'll just let you unpack. Closet's over there, and this drawer's empty,' Jack muttered, touching one of the top drawers of the dresser.

'I'll do it later.' Minerva stepped closer to Jack. 'Are ye going to give me proper greeting nor no?' Minerva asked.

'What?'

'I didna come halfway around the world to hae tea together like strangers.' She lightly touched her handbag, sitting next to her hat. Jack's letters to her were tucked inside. 'Unless ye've changed your mind about me.'

Jack lifted one hand and traced the planes of Minerva's face with his fingertips. 'I dreamed about you every day on the troop carrier. Nobody here even comes close to you. And my mother's tried to set me up with all sorts of lovely girls. But they're not you. None of them would become an Animagus. Or demand I hex them until they could transform under pressure. Or do any of the things you do.' He grinned bashfully. 'I didn't want you to think getting you into bed was all I had in mind.'

'Ye've got me here for three weeks,' Minerva commented, unbuttoning Jack's coat and sliding it off his arms. 'Plenty of time to talk.' She closed the gap between them, and fitted her mouth over his. The months and weeks fell away, and Jack's fingers fumbled for the buttons of Minerva's jacket. Minerva impatiently scrabbled for the hem of her skirt and tugged off her knickers, kicking them off, along with her shoes.

Jack lifted Minerva onto his dresser, then unbuckled his belt and unfastened his trousers. He slid his hands up the backs of Minerva's stocking-clad legs and drew her closer. Minerva sighed when he entered her, fingers convulsing in the sleeves of his shirt. 'God, I missed you,' Jack breathed.

Minerva wrapped her legs around his hips. 'I hadna noticed,' she said dryly, groaning aloud as Jack shifted slightly. Jack's fingers tangled in her hair and kissed her until he could no longer muffle the sounds that rose to his lips. One hand braced on the edge of the dresser, the other pressed into the small of her back. Minerva suddenly giggled, as their current position stirred her memory. 'London,' she gasped.

'The kitchen,' Jack replied breathlessly. 'Oh, God,' he grunted, his hips thrusting faster, head bent so his forehead nearly rested on her shoulder.

'Ahem.' The light cough broke through the haze of lust and yearning from the long months of separation. Jack stilled and his slowly peered around Minerva's head. Kamiko Hashimoto stood in the doorway of the bedroom, arms crossed over her chest.

'Ifrinn!' Jack muttered. Minerva raised a brow, knowing Jack had no idea what the word meant. He'd picked it up from her during the war. Jack stepped back and turned so his back was to his mother and hurriedly fastened his trousers. 'Jesus, Mom,' he snarled over his shoulder. 'Don't you knock?'

Minerva tugged her skirt down her thighs and slid to the floor, mortification staining her face bright red.

Kamiko rolled her eyes. 'I did. Several times. And you ought to have a stronger charm on your door. Any eighth grade student at Salem could open it.' She turned her gaze to Minerva. 'I swear John, you've got no manners at all,' Kamiko scolded, with a pointed glance at Minerva. Jack flushed, his cheeks turning a dull red. The only person in the world who could make him feel like a naughty five year-old was, in fact, the diminutive woman who'd given birth to him.

Jack took a deep breath. 'Mom, this is Miss Minerva McGonagall. Min, my mother, Mrs. Kamiko Hashimoto.' Jack lightly touched Minerva's arm. 'Min and I worked together during the war,' he added.

Kamiko's mouth twitched, but whether from suppressed humor or rage, Jack didn't want to know. 'I'm aware of how you and Miss McGonagall came to be acquainted with one another. Why don't we go make some tea and let your - friend - freshen up?' Kamiko suggested in a tone Jack knew well from his childhood that brooked no argument. 'She's come all the way from London, and I'll bet you haven't offered her so much as a glass of water before you started manhandling her.' Jack scrubbed a hand over his face and trudged past his mother. She reached up and slapped him smartly on the back of the head. 'Ow! Mom, your ring…' Jack protested as they went into the kitchen.

Minerva scooped up her jacket and knickers, then quickly padded into the small bathroom. She quickly slipped on the knickers and unpinned the now-disheveled chignon, quickly raking her fingers through her hair, then swiftly repinning it back into the customary neat knot. Minerva held a face cloth under the tap and pressed it to her face, trying to gather the tattered remnants of her dignity. Minerva draped the face cloth over the edge of the sink and pulled the suit jacket over her shoulders. 'Ye didna let Da make ye feel shame,' she told herself sternly in the mirror. 'So you wilna let Jack's mam shame you.' With that, Minerva tugged the hem of the jacket into place and squared her shoulders. There was nothing left to do but go out and face Kamiko.

In the kitchen, Kamiko rummaged through Jack's cupboards. 'Why don't you run out to the bakery, John, and get something to have with the tea?' Again, it wasn't a suggestion.

Jack stood rooted to the spot. 'Mom…'

Kamiko tapped the kettle with her wand. 'Shoo,' she ordered. 'Your Miss McGonagall is safe with me.' She spooned tea into Jack's rarely-used teapot. 'I won't hex her for debauching my son.' She poured the hot water over the tea leaves. 'Although, I doubt there was much arm-twisting on her part, if at all.' When Jack continued to hesitate, Kamiko softened a bit. 'I'm not stupid, John,' she murmured, setting cups and saucers on the table. 'You're a grown man, and I'm not so naive as to assume that you've never been intimate with a woman before this afternoon.'

'Be nice, Mom,' Jack pleaded. 'I like her. A lot.'

'I'd hate to see what you'd do with someone you didn't like,' Kamiko retorted. She pointed to the door. 'Bakery.' Jack barely refrained from rolling his eyes, but displayed his displeasure by slamming the door.

Minerva padded silently into the kitchen in her stocking feet and stood by the scrap of a table tucked into a corner. Kamiko poured tea into two of the cups and waved to a chair. 'So you're Minerva,' she remarked, taking one of the other chairs.

Minerva folded herself into the chair. 'Yes.'

Kamiko tilted her head to the side, studying the younger woman. 'We've heard a great deal about you from my nephew Takeshi. John, of course, speaks very highly of you.'

Minerva poured milk into her cup.. 'They're probably exaggerating.'

'John doesn't tend to exaggerate,' Kamiko said tranquilly. She took a sip of her own tea. 'My son likes you a great deal. I would even go so far as to say he loves you.'

'You don't approve.' Minerva set the milk just down with pronounced care.

'I want John to be happy,' Kamiko allowed. 'But I don't think he quite understands what the two of you could face here.' She twisted her wedding ring around her finger. 'It's currently illegal for the two of you to marry in California. You can go elsewhere, of course.'

'And you're getting ahead of yourself,' Minerva retorted, more sharply than she'd intended. 'I haven't agreed to anything.'

'Fair point,' Kamiko agreed. 'But I know he's asked you to leave the United Kingdom and move to San Francisco. Repeatedly.' She sat back in her chair and examined Minerva. 'You're not very pretty, are you?' she said abruptly.

Minerva blinked. 'Not especially,' she replied.

Kamiko smiled thinly. 'I always found pretty girls to be empty-headed idiots,' she said. 'Never had to have more than two thoughts to rub together in their head.' She heaved a sigh. 'Never had much use for the pretty girls in school. Takeshi's told me you're an Animagus.' Minerva nodded, sipping her tea. 'So you must be very clever, then.'

'I daresay more than most,' Minerva demurred.

Kamiko picked up her cup. It takes a lot of intelligence and hard work to become an Animagus.'

'Aye. It does.'

'And what do you do with yourself?'

'I'm a researcher for Transfiguration Today.'

'Your family?'

'My mother died when I was a young girl. My father died three years ago. I haven't any siblings. The only family I really have is my aunt Janet. My father's sister.' Minerva set her cup down firmly. 'I'm a self-sufficient sort, Mrs. Hashimoto.'

'I see.' Kamiko set her cup down and stood. She'd heard enough. Minerva followed suit. 'I'd best be going,' Kamiko said, tightening her scarf. 'Do make John take you out for a decent meal. He hasn't got a scrap of food in this place.' Kamiko strode to the door. 'I'll see myself out.'

Minerva dropped to her chair and poured herself another cup of tea, wishing heartily that it was a stiff drink. She wasn't sure what had been more uncomfortable — her initial introduction to Kamiko or the terse interview afterward. She drained it, not caring that the hot liquid burned her tongue. She set the cup down and strode to Jack's bedroom, unable to sit still just now. Minerva picked up her case and set it on the bed and flipped the lid open. She hung her clothes in the closet and slid her underthings into the empty dresser drawer. Something crackled in the back of the drawer, and Minerva slid her fingers to one side and encountered the flimsy sort of envelope Jack, Reggie, Tony, and Frankie had used during the war.. She grasped it with her fingertips and withdrew a yellowing V-mail envelope. She thumbed it open and peered inside, frowning at the lock of hair, neatly coiled in a tidy loop, as the door to the flat rattled.

'When did Mom leave?' Jack asked, propping a shoulder against the door frame.

'After she interrogated me.' Minerva closed the dresser drawer. 'She would make an excellent member of the Investigative Division."

The side of Jack's head fell against the frame. 'I'm so sorry.'

Minerva smiled. 'I wouldna expect any less.' She held up the envelope. 'What's this?'

Jack heaved a sigh and scratched his ear. 'Your hair. You got frustrated with it and whacked it off, because it kept falling in your face. You Vanished most of it. Except for that.' He indicated the envelope with a flap of his hand. Jack pushed himself off the door frame and plucked the envelope from Minerva's fingers, shoving it into his trouser pocket. 'I picked it up off the bathroom floor and kept it.' His cheeks reddened.

Minerva's mouth twisted and she opened the drawer, pulling out a small mound of olive-drab fabric. She shook it out. 'This was the vest you wore the last day in London. The morning we left, I told you I had to finish packing and sent to to have a wash before the others woke up. I stuffed it in my case.' Minerva re-folded it and slipped the vest into the drawer. 'I slept in the bloody thing every night for months,' she murmured, rubbing the back of her neck.

'Minerva McGonagall, you're a marshmallow,' Jack chuckled.

'I am not!'

'Yes, you are. But your secret's safe with me.' Jack crossed the room and picked up Minerva's hat from the bed. 'Are you hungry?'

'I could eat powdered eggs.'

'It won't be that bad.' Jack handed Minerva her hat. 'It is a surprise though.'

XxXxXxX

The restaurant was tiny, but bright. The neon sign cast its red glow against the darkening night sky. Jack opened the door with a wide smile. Minerva glanced at him curiously as she crossed the threshold into the scents of simmering tomatoes and garlic.

'Minerva?'

The voice brought Minerva to a stop. 'Reggie?' She blinked and the tall, lanky form of Reginald Davis wound its way through the clusters of tables and chairs. Minerva flung her arms around him. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she stepped back, fishing in her handbag for a handkerchief.

'I'm next…' Minerva's head swiveled and Antonio Lopez wrapped his arms around her, giving her a swift kiss on the cheek. 'I don't think you've met Jeanne, though…' Antonio held out a hand and drew a petite woman forward. 'Jeanne Delacour er, Lopez, this is Minerva McGonagall. Min, this is Jeanne. My wife,' he added shyly. Jeanne grinned, and rose on her toes to lightly kiss both of Minerva's cheeks. 'Eet ees a pleazhur to meet you.'

Jack pulled out a chair and motioned for Minerva to sit. 'Surprise!' he murmured into her ear.

'When did you get married?' Minerva asked Tony with no little surprise. Jack hadn't mentioned it in his letters.

Jeanne giggled. 'We were married in Chamonix last month, but we will have anuzzer ceremony for Antoine's family.'

Tony rolled his eyes. 'We had to get married in France so I could bring Jeanne over as a war bride. My family couldn't be there, so Mami insisted we have another one in San Antonio.'

'How did you meet?' Minerva wondered how Tony would have had the time, embedded with the American army.

'Bastogne,' Tony supplied. 'Jeanne was a nurse.' He gently squeezed his wife's fingers, then brought them to his lips.

'And a great many letters after ze war,' Jeanne added impishly. 'Ze poor owls.'

'Is Frankie no' coming?' Minerva asked, glancing around the restaurant.

A muscle jumped in Reggie's jaw. 'He said he'd rather not relive the war.'

Jack nudged Reggie in the ribs. 'It's not his fault.'

Reggie nodded, his lips thinning. 'War messed up his head. Quit bein' an Auror. Works in the Wand Permit Office. Says it's quiet.'

Minerva hastily reached for her glass of wine, and took a sip, a lump in her throat for the memory of the cheeky young man, determined to visit every pub in London, the cocky greeting he gave every woman who even looked in his direction, regardless of age. The table was silent for a moment. Jack cleared his throat. 'Frankie's not the only one who quit the Aurors.' He pointed an accusing finger at Tony. 'That bastard left me alone and took up training as a Healer.'

'Chasing Dark wizards didn't have the same appeal after the war,' Tony said mildly.

'Knock it off,' Reggie hissed. 'This is supposed to be a party.' He held up his glass. 'May the future be better than the past.'

XxXxXxX

'Jack!' a young woman flung the door of the small house open. 'You're here! Thank goodness. George is about to lose his mind. You're the only one he really likes. And Takeshi won't stop teasing him about something stupid.'

'Nice to see you, too, Eileen,' Jack muttered. 'This is Minerva, by the way,' he sighed.

'Oh, you must be Minerva,' Eileen continued blithely, as if Jack hadn't said a word. 'I'm so glad to finally meet you! I heard you met Mom yesterday.'

'You could say that,' Minerva murmured.

'Ooooh. You sound just like Olivia de Haviland,' Eileen gushed.

'Who?' Minerva mouthed at Jack.

'No-Maj, I mean Muggle actress,' Jack told her quietly. 'And no she doesn't,' he retorted, looking at Eileen.

'Come on. Everyone's waiting,' Eileen chattered.

'What do you mean everyone?' Jack demanded, grabbing Eileen's elbow. 'This was supposed to be a quiet family dinner!'

'Takeshi told me that Mom was at their house last night and said something about you and Minerva yesterday. He wouldn't tell me details, as usual. Anyway, Aunt Sadako and Uncle Hideo invited themselves over. You know Aunt Sadako. Gotta have her nose in everyone's business. Such a busybody. And of course, Takeshi had to tag along. We're eating in the back. We won't all fit in the dining room inside.' Eileen shook off Jack's hand and motioned for them to follow her into the back garden.

'Does she ever pause to draw breath?' Minerva wondered.

'Sometimes. When she's sleeping,' Jack said. 'You'd think having a baby would slow her down, but I think it's only made her talk faster.'

Minerva hesitated. 'Your mam willna say anything about yesterday?'

'No. But she will hold it over my head for months to come,' Jack said, only half joking. He held out his hand. 'Come on.'

Minerva allowed him to steer her into the back garden. Jack headed to his mother, standing next to a man who resembled Jack. 'Mom,' he muttered, kissing her cheek. 'You remember Minerva.'

'Of course. How lovely to see you again, Miss McGonagall.'

'Thank you, Mrs. Hashimoto. You have a lovely home.'

Jack cleared his throat. 'Dad, this is Minerva McGonagall. Min, this is my father, Kenji Hashimoto.'

Minerva held out a hand. 'How do you do?'

Kenji shook the proffered hand with a gentle smile. 'So you're Jack's Minerva.'

'You can call me Minerva,' she replied with a cheeky smile of her own. 'Jack's Minerva seems so formal.'

'Ah, a sense of humor! Jack said you were quick on your feet.'

'Did he?'

Kenji glanced around. 'Come. Let's get you something to drink.' Kenji tucked Minerva's hand in the crook of his elbow, despite the fact she was taller than he by a head, and led her away. 'And maybe you can tell my why you and Jack are so nervy around Kamiko.'

Jack dragged his hand down his face, then strode to Takeshi. Takeshi punched him on the shoulder. 'So you brought her to a family dinner.'

'What was I supposed to do? Leave her in my apartment?'

'Who?' George Ichimura, Eileen's husband asked.

'Jack's girlfriend,' Takeshi teased. 'English girl.'

'Scottish,' Jack corrected automatically.

George whistled softly. 'You're either really brave or really stupid,' he remarked.

'I'd say both,' Takeshi chortled. 'As many girls as Aunt Kamiko's thrown at you over the last two years, and you bring her here.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Jack asked icily.

'She's not Japanese,' George muttered.

Jack rounded on George, eyes wide. 'We're not Japanese!' He rubbed the back of his neck. 'Well, we are, but you know what I mean!'

'We only spent four years trying to explain that to the No-Maj government,' George retorted.

Jack rubbed his forehead. 'Where's Dad hidden the beer?'

Takeshi held up a bottle in reply. 'Saw you coming up the walk.'

'You're my favorite cousin,' Jack breathed, taking the cold bottle. He scanned the back garden, searching for Minerva. If his aunt Sadako got her cornered, they might not make it back to his apartment before next Tuesday. 'I wonder when Dad's going to bring out the naked baby pictures,' he groaned.

'She doesn't need baby pictures,' Takeshi chortled. 'I imagine things have changed since Aunt Kamiko quit changing your diapers. Although it would help if you actually took your clothes off next time.'

Jack froze, the bottle halfway to his mouth. 'What did you say?'

'Yourmom came over last night. Said your face when you realized she was standing there was priceless.'

'Oh, God…'

'That was after she and Mom had tossed back enough wine to make a sailor blush,'' Takeshi added, sipping his beer. 'Next time you wanna play grab-ass, lock the door so your mother can't interrupt.'

'But I did,' Jack protested weakly.

'They're expecting you to make a big announcement,' George said idly, examining his fingernails. At Jack's blank look, George sang, 'Dah-dah-de-dah…' Jack swore softly under his breath. George nudged him. 'I thought you wanted… It's the impression I've gotten from Eileen.''

'I haven't seen her in nearly two years, George.'

'And you're going to tell me that's not what you want?' George asked, pointing with his chin.

Minerva sat in a rattan chair, George and Eileen's two-month old son, Henry, in her arms. She glanced up, saw Jack, and smiled. Jack felt his lips curve in an answering grin.

George's dry voice intruded into Jack's thoughts. 'That's what I thought.'

XxXxXxX

'Have you ever thought about children?' Jack turned the bathtub taps off with a flick of his wand and settled into the water.

'What about them?' Minerva fastened her hair into a loose knot high on the back of her head and stepped into the steaming bath, lowering herself gingerly into the hot water. She leaned back against Jack's chest with a sigh.

'Having them.' Jack fished a sponge from the bathwater ran it over Minerva's shoulders.

'Are these theoretical bairns yours?'

'No, I thought we could get Reggie to father them,' Jack drawled sarcastically, flicking water at her. 'Of course they're mine!'

'I have,' Minerva admitted softly, watching the amber flames Jack had conjured dance in a jam jar on a shelf. 'There isn't much that scares me,' she added. 'But having children does.'

'You seemed fine with Henry,' Jack remarked.

'I was.' Minerva said tartly, her shoulders stiffening. Jack continued to squeeze water from the sponge over Minerva's shoulders, keeping his thoughts to himself for now. 'I know what it means to lose a parent. And I know how emotionally debilitating it is,' she continued. 'I rather imagine losing a child is even worse.' She let her head fall back against his shoulder.

Jack traced a tendril of hair that trailed down the side of Minerva's neck. 'But you won't let that stop you?'

'Of course I won't. Fear of something isn't the issue. It's how we react to it.'

Jack grinned. 'That's my girl.'

Minerva chuckled wryly. 'Your mother frightens me more.'

Jack laughed and kissed the edge of her ear. 'She does tend to do that.'