Chapter 34: The Chogward's Express

Natasha awoke the following morning to find herself alone on the couch. She rubbed her eyes with one hand and ran a hand through very tousled hair. She noticed that she was wrapped in a very warm blanket. She lifted it and noted, pleasurably, that she was still naked.

She turned over on the couch and smiled up at the ceiling and placed two hands behind her head.

She heard the creak of a floorboard and opened her eyes. Upside down, she saw a familiar face, Kristen’s. She was beaming and holding two mugs of tea, the steam wisping into the air and was blissfully naked.

“Hey babes,” she said smiling.

“Hey,” said Natasha, righting herself and opening up space on the couch for her companion.

Kristen held the mugs of tea while Natasha repositioned herself so that the blanket was now draped over their shoulders.

“Mmm, thanks.” Said Natasha, taking the tea.

Kristen nodded as she sat and folded her knees up on the couch. She had added a few extra logs to the fireplace while Natasha had slept.

“Sleep well?” she asked, taking a cautious sip from her tea.

Natasha leaned over and kissed Kristen on the cheek, “the best.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, each of them enjoying the tea as well as the ambiance of a lazy morning. Kristen stuck a foot out from under the blanket and was tapping her toe in time to invisible music that Natasha found sweet and endearing.

“So, got any plans today?” Asked Kristen, knowing the answer.

“Not a one.” Said Natasha with a smile.

“Well, I do.” Said Kristen.

“Oh? And what might that be?”

Kristen looked over at Natasha and made to take her mug of tea from her. She set them both down on the table in front of them and wordlessly pressed against Natasha, who allowed herself to be lowered onto the couch. Kristen straddled her as she repositioned the blanked to cover them both and whispered into Natasha’s ear, “my plan…is to make love to you all day…”

++++++

The next few days passed in a similar manner. Whatever time was free to them between school duties and Natasha’s digital work was spent in blissful company. They took turns exploring the depths of each other’s bodies trying new things while sticking to what always worked.

Kristen dutifully prepared meals of varying sizes and satiety levels. Wine was always at the ready and so were her concoction of little blue squares.

One evening, she bewitched her bathroom so that her shower stall was converted into a plus-sized whirlpool.

“Oh, god, I forgot how great taking a bath can be.” Said Natasha over a sip of wine. Her hair piled up in ponytail, her eyes gazing into Kristen’s.

“Right?!” said Kristen, who was, at that moment, skimming some dense foam off the surface of the water and applying it to her chest so that it looked like she had frosted breasts.

“Want a cupcake?” she said with a smirk, waggling her shoulders suggestively at Natasha, who brought a hand to her mouth to suppress a laugh.

“Only if I can have the whole thing.” She breathed.

++++++

An hour later and considerably wrinkly, the two women got out of the tub on shaky legs, each smirking at the other for the deeds done in the water. After grabbing two plush towels to warm themselves, Kristen grabbed her wand and waived it around so that the steam from the room began to clear.

Natasha made to look at herself in the mirror and wiped its surface with her hand.

“Thank you dear,” said the Mirror.

Natasha had gotten used to the Mirror’s interludes and smiled, “You’re welcome.”

“My dears, you look as old as I do. Come, let’s fix that.”

Natasha turned to Kristen who smirked back. Out zoomed Kristen’s faithful hairdryer which proceeded to roam over each of their bodies in turn and, with precision, lingered over their lower waists.”

“Ah, now that’s better. You both look refreshed.” Said the Mirror.

“Much refreshed, thanks Mirror.”

“You two do make a lovely couple, night dears.” And the Mirror shimmered.

++++++

Dinners at the big table were always an event, as the women had now placed their Everbloom plants, the Amore Infinito follemente, as the centerpiece. The plants shimmered and swayed, dancing and reaching for each other in a way that made ballet look gauche.

“God, I could watch these little guys for hours.” Said Kristen, who was holding Natasha’s hand after they had supped.

“It’s better than television, that’s for sure.” Said Natasha whose eyes were also locked on the dancing flora.

After ten silent minutes, Natasha turned to Kristen, “Hey tomorrow’s my last day here.”

“Yeah,” said Kristen, giving her hand a little squeeze and turning toward her.

“These last few days have been more than I could have ever imagined. I don’t suppose you have a time-reversing charm that we could get stuck reliving this vacation over and over again, do you?”

Kristen laughed, “Well, I am sure that you wouldn’t want all the memories to replay themselves.”

“Well, that’s true. Yes.”

“We still have one more night, so let’s not spoil it by getting melancholy.” Said Kristen, smiling up at Natasha who smiled back.

“Deal?” She added, catching Natasha’s eye.

“Deal.” She replied emphatically.

They retired to Kristen’s bedroom where they made endless love, their most passionate yet. After they had climaxed, they lay in clean sheets that Kristen had magically laundered and took a few sips of a DreamPotion that Kristen had concocted which promised vivid and blissful sleep.

“Night babes,” said Natasha with a yawn.

“Night beautiful,” said Kristen.

++++++

On the final day of the trip, Natasha spent her morning packing up her work things and her clothes. She had trouble finding things that fit, for after her time under Kristen’s constant dining and lovemaking, she estimated she was at least 25 pounds heavier.

She resigned herself to wearing her active wear pants which had the most stretch in the legs and rear and had to forgo any underwear as they all now were painfully tight. She chose a loose-fitting top, which now was more form-fitting and the jacket she had worn the day she arrived had no hope of being buttoned up.

She dragged her belongings to the front door and spied Kristen who was ready for the return journey with her.

“Hey there, lovely.” She said, running her hands down Natasha’s shoulders and beaming.

“Hiya,” She replied with a smile.

“That’s an interesting wardrobe combination you’ve chosen for your trip back.” Said Kristen with a sideways smirk.

"Well, someone promised me that I wouldn’t get fat this trip.” Natasha swirled and twirled for Kristen, showing her the evident weight gain.

“Well, I think you look absolutely scrumptious to me. And besides,” she added, addressing her own wardrobe.

She stood back and lifted up the t-shirt she was wearing. The results were startling now that she was looking at Kristen during the daylight without bedroom eyes. She had an enormous pot belly with deepening navel and jeans that were held up, magically thought Natasha, with a unique looking belt.

Natasha laughed, poking Kristen’s middle to verify its ripeness. “Okay, fair enough.”

Kristen beamed and smoothed down her shirt.

“Goodness, I will miss this place,” said Natasha quietly more to herself. Privately, she had not wanted the trip to end. She was having so much fun. She felt safe and protected with Kristen. They got on better than she could have ever expected and despite the information she had garnered about their past, she felt even more drawn towards Kristen. Still, she didn’t want to get morose. So she hitched a smile on her face.
She took one last look around the cottage that had been her home for what felt like ages. The kitchen, the bathroom, the couch, the couch…

They had agreed to let the Everbloom plants stay with Kristen. “Kind of hard to explain moving plants to other No-Wa-Kah’s, you know.” Kristen had said.

Kristen used magic to elevate Natasha’s belongings and the exited the cottage to a beautiful morning.

“Want to take a shortcut?” said Kristen.

“Not if there are giant spiders or snakes!” said Natasha with mild shock. But Kristen had her hands raised in surrender.

“Kidding! Kidding!”

They took their time walking down the little lane of cottages and towards the front of the castle grounds. Natasha spied the giant gamekeeper, Julius Gamgee and his giant dog. She waived and he waived back, his dog letting loose deafening barks of farewell.
They passed the stony knights that guarded the castle entrance and they talked and reminisced as they made their way back to Hogsbottom.

“Still out of service, I see.” Said Natasha to Kristen who nodded in the direction of the hotel she was supposed to stay at, Boardman’s Lodgings. They had to cross the street to avoid the water that was still spilling out from the hotel entrance.

++++++

The girls nipped into the Three Cauldron’s for a quick breakfast before the train arrived at the station. Natasha having a modest eggs, toast and bacon sandwich while Kristen chose a blueberry muffin.

“Oh, going light for breakfast now, are we?” joked Natasha eyeballing Kristen’s selection.

“I just don’t want you to miss your train,” she said as she applied liberal amounts of butter onto her muffin and making Natasha laugh.

Their bellies somewhat full, Natasha and Kristen made their way to the platform for the train which was chuffing merrily into the station.

Kristen spied the clock on the wall, “It’s 9:55, train heads out at ten.”

“Still sure you can’t stop time so we can live in these five minutes forever?” said Natasha hopefully.

Kristen gave her a warm smile and shook her head.

“God, I am going to miss you to bits.” Said Natasha, finally unable to keep up the charade.

“Hey now, hey now.” Said Kristen, coming in for a hug and soothing Natasha by rubbing her back.

“It’s just…I—I love you and—”

Kristen looked up at Natasha and met her lips. They shared a long, lingering, watery kiss that felt like it lasted years. Instantly, Natasha felt at ease. Whatever doubts she was feeling about what the future held for the two of them were assuaged during that kiss.

“Woah.” Said Natasha, as the kiss ended, her breath coming up shallow.

“I know, right?” said Kristen, her breathing also shallow.

The women looked into each other’s eyes and knew all would be well.

Kristen helped Natasha onto the train and stored her luggage and gave her one final goodbye hug that lasted until the train whistle hooted for all remaining passengers to board.

“Write me, won’t you?” said Kristen from the platform as the train hissed, it’s engine beginning to turn over more loudly.

Natasha’ who had a window seat this time had lowered it so speak to her companion one final time, “Every day…heck, every hour if you want me to!” she bellowed over the sounds of the train.

Kristen smiled and made her hands into a heart shape. Natasha reciprocated.

The train was beginning to chug out of the station when Kristen gestured with her hands, pointing to Natasha and then to her pocket. She waived one final time and saw the train off.

Confused, Natasha reached down into her pocket and felt paper which she had not put there herself. A note? She looked up and behind her, but the train was too far out of the station to see Kristen.

Natasha breathed back a few tears and then unfolded the piece of paper, it read:



“Dear Tasha,

These past few days have been the happiest of my life. I couldn’t wait to see you at the beginning of this trip and now that it is over, I want to do it all over again.

I am sad, but also happy that you now know your truth. Our truth.

I love your body, your brain and your smile. I love every curve and line of your body both big and small. I hope you liked mine two (In fact, I know you did ;))

Hopefully soon, we can coordinate schedules so that you can invite me to one of your swanky office parties in the city?

With all my love, K.



Natasha wiped away tears as she read and re-read the letter. There was a second page behind the first, which read,


P.S. I have stowed in your bag your box of memories the photos of our past, some are magical and will move while others are still life. Think of me when you look at them, as I will be looking at yours, too.


P.S.S. Also stowed in your bag is a supply of my ‘digestive aides’ for those days when you feel like filling out but may not want to deal with buying new clothes. I love you in any size, but I definitely love you bigger :)


P.S.S.S Check your tote bag.

Love, K



Natasha furrowed her brow and reached for her work bag which contained her edited manuscripts and laptop. Kristen and her treasure hunts. She reached in the bag and extracted a framed photo. It was of the two of them, asleep on the couch under a blanked. How she had managed to get a photo like that was anyone’s guess, but Kristen being a witch, she probably used magic. Natasha smiled as she looked at their serene and sleeping faces, snoozing in the frame. She giggled as she saw her photo’d self twitch her nose (did she really do that!?). Then, photo Kirsten opened her eyes and made a ‘shh’ gesture with her hand and smiled through the photo up at Natasha and she smiled bigger than ever.

As she stared at the photo in her hands, she felt her fingers touch something on the back. It felt like another piece of paper. Turning the frame over, she saw a sticky note in Kristen’s neat scrawl.


‘Check your bag, deeper.
K’


Natasha reached to the bottom of her tote bag and felt something in wrapped fabric. Carefully opening it she saw a little card and underneath it, the necklace that she had worn when she went for a jog on the Chogward’s campus so many days ago.

She opened the card,



“Tasha,

This is seriously the last note I’m leaving you. Although the thought of you finding 100 more does tickle me to bits. Okay, the necklace you’re staring at isn’t just any old necklace.

It’s a PortCall. Remember from the memories that a PortCall works as a two-way travel system between two places.

The one you have will directly bring you here back to the Cottage. Hold it for Three Seconds and Whisper, “The Cottage” and your heart will find it’s way back to mine.

Love, Krissy.

P.S. If you come, you will get fat..

K”



Natasha let out a little laugh that startled her neighboring passengers and clutched the tiny package to her. Thought tempted as she was to use this PortCall immediately, she felt that distance makes the heart, and appetite, grow fonder.



All was well.



FIN