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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 23, 2011 18:17:16 GMT -5
Several blocks away from the Leaky Cauldron a rather young witch stood in the middle of a small London flat. Eyes wide, hair on end, and smoke permeating the room, Arianna Blackthorn was in over her head. In less than an hour her ex-fiance would be knocking on her door looking all dreamy and here she was looking frightful with smoke everywhere. With a wave of her wand she cleared it away but the room still smelled like a dirty 18th century chimney. And she was the chimney sweep. It was all so much she just wanted to scream. Instead she cradled her temples in her hands before pulling on her hair. There was so much to do, make the room smell nice, make herself look nice, wash the dishes, actually clean up the place, find something for dinner, find something to wear, and figure out how in the world she would tell Curse Kameren that two years ago she lost his baby. Dear, merlin this was all big cock up.
For several more seconds she stood there wallowing in her living room before coming to her senses. Nothing was going to get finished if she just stood there pitying herself. Who cares if she had burnt dinner? She could just order out. Grabbing her muggle phone that she had for her muggle family she dialed out for delivery. In half an hour, salad, pasta and bread sticks would hopefully be on her Aunt's china and ready to serve. That finished, she dashed around the apartment like a madwoman using her wand to send books into their proper places on the shelves. She had completely lost track of time, it happened when she was researching. She hadn't known until about an hour ago that today was the day that she was supposed to have dinner with Curse.
He was going to hate her. Who wouldn't? Especially, now that he knew what it was like to have the love and responsibility of a child. She wouldn't think of it. Couldn't, she had far to much to do. With a wave of her wand, she banished the burnt food to the rubbish bins outside and set the pots to scrubbing themselves, praying that the suds would not lose control.
A glance at the clock told her she had less than thirty minutes before he and the food would be here. What to wear? Sniff. She needed a bath. Smelling like burnt toast and ink was not attractive. The warm bath water calmed her down a bit but it also caused her to linger longer than she had ought to. Rushing, she had barely time to dry her hair and hadn't applied any make up when the bell rang. Either that was Curse or the food. She prayed it was dinner. Grunting, she pulled on a pair of slacks that were sticking to her wet skin. Grabbing the first shirt she could, a white blouse, she pulled it on, forgetting that it was slightly see through and she was still a little damp.
Arianna raced to the door, her rather damp hair falling around her in wild disarray. She pulled open the door just as the bell rang again.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 23, 2011 19:58:40 GMT -5
Curse leaned on the door as he opened it for a food delivery person. He still wore the jeans, shirt and tie he had taught in earlier that day; it had been a stressful week since Echo had been detained, as now he taught at Hogwarts all day and worked to get her out of the Ministry all night. He had been looking forward to this meeting with Arianna. He needed a rest, and this night with his ex-fiancee was the closest he was going to get to a reprieve. He ran a hand through his hair, taking the stairs.
He sent the delivery person a questioning look. "Excuse me..." He reached into his pocket, taking out a rumpled piece of parchment. "... are you headed to, erm, apartment 404?" The delivery person nodded, frowning as they looked down at the bag of food. He held out a hand. "Here, I'll just take it up. Save you the trip." She shrugged, handing over the package and heading back down.
He shook his head, chuckling as he headed up the stairs. Italian take-out. It wouldn't be the first time they'd had it together. Really, whenever it was Curse's night to cook they had take-out. There really wasn't a point to giving him a cooking night. The smell made his mouth water as he climbed the stairs, finally stopping on the fourth floor. He looked up at the number on the door as he rang the bell.
"Hey," He smiled as she answered on the second ring. He hugged her lightly in greeting with one arm as she invited him in, the other arm holding their meal. She looked unkempt, like she hadn't had enough time to get ready. He smiled, setting the package of food on the counter as he looked around her apartment. "Nice place," He turned to her, his eyes turning inadvertently down towards her chest. She was showing a bit more than she realized, he figured. He snapped himself out of it, awkwardly returning to the package of food on the counter. "If you're not ready, I can just go down and have a smoke on the street..." He started, shrugging slightly. He kept his eyes on their surroundings. He wasn't sure he'd be able to look at her again with that shirt on. "Or I can just wait here while you, I dunno, change your shirt or something..." He tried to make the hint a little subtle, but he was succeeding like Max in subtlety at the moment: not at all.
He opened the package of take-out, gesturing towards her to go. "Go, finish getting ready if you like. I can take care of dinner."
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 23, 2011 20:37:41 GMT -5
Of course it was Curse Kameren standing on her door step looking a bit disheveled but perhaps even more alluring because of it. Her mind tried to lead her down that dusty lane of memory and thoughts of how good he could look and all of those feelings. Ruthlessly she clamped down on those thoughts and buried them. This was not the moment to salivate over her ex. There was a purpose to this dinner and she would tell him it.
She held the door open for him echoing his greeting. Her eyes closed briefly as his arms encased her in a very quick hug. The thin material of her shirt was no adequate cover, she could feel his heat through the thin cloth. Merlin, she must look a sight. She hadn't even brushed her hair! Then again he'd seen her like this countless of times but that was after a night... She barely held in a groan as he pulled away and entered her humble apartment.
"Thanks," She said softly in reply to his complement. The place had cleaned up nicely. Most of the walls were covered with book shelves, there was a small couch and table in the living room where she usually had her homework strewn about. To the left there was the small kitchen and a tiny space that served as a dining room. It was a rather small space but it was entirely hers and quite enough for someone who practically lived at the office.
She followed him her gaze on the food. Apparently he'd either brought his own food or apprehended the delivery person. Probably the latter as he lived in the magical world and it would be quite the coincidence if he brought food from the same place. An awareness of Curse tickled her senses and Ari glanced up to see him staring at her. There. She should have been offended, instead she grew aroused, slightly. Then embarrassed as he pointed out that she needed to change her shirt. Never again will she blindly pull something out of her closet. Her wet hair had turned the thin lacey cover up invisible. she normally wore the thing over a undershirt. Her cheeks burned and she bit her lip.
"I'm so sorry." She gushed then rushed from the room. "I'll be right out. Hadn't paid attention to what i was putting on ten minutes I promise. Plates are above the microwave." She called as she practically ran to her room. Quickly, she found the most conservative shirt she could. It was a mint green turtle neck that would cover up everything.
A little more than ten minutes, alright fifteen minutes later, she walked out of her bath room. Her hair had been dried and clipped halfway back, with a few stray curls framing her face. A tiny bit of makeup gave her a bit of confidence and she actually had shoes on.
"Thank you for laying out dinner. I had gotten lost in work and before I knew it I only so much time to get everything ready and I was going to cook but..well i destroyed dinner." Really, she was an unpoised mess tonight.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 23, 2011 22:30:43 GMT -5
Curse prepared dinner for them while Arianna went to get ready. He let a suppressed laugh escape him as she went, her face burning red. He got the plates from the microwave where she directed him, taking out the pasta and salad and expertly placing them on the plate. He had to search for silverware and cups, but he managed to find them and set the table nicely. He was just finishing as she came back out. He smiled. "Very pretty." He liked Arianna in green, it looked nice with her long red hair.
"Thank you for laying out dinner. I had gotten lost in work and before I knew it I only so much time to get everything ready and I was going to cook but..well i destroyed dinner."
He chuckled. It was almost eery, how similar this felt to their old life together; their behaviour with each other was often like this. They would compensate for each other, they worked easily as a team without working at it. He would do dinner while she got ready, and if he was the one who was a mess that day, she would do the same for him. They kept each other running smoothly. Merlin knew he missed being able to live like he used to with Arianna, most days when his apartment was a mess and he had forgotten to pick up dinner. "Its alright, not like I haven't done it before," He smiled at her, taking a seat at her table across form the other placement.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 23, 2011 22:39:08 GMT -5
The set table could have been one of many they had shared, what seemed like a thousand years ago. And yet, it was different. They were different. It was all terribly confusing because they were also the same. A never ending circle. She ducked her head slightly, when he called her pretty.
"Thanks, i was rather frightful before wasn't i?" She joked as she stepped up to the table. He had done a rather good job finding everything. She took her seat across from him as his words reminded her of the past. They were good together...sometimes.
"How's Max doing?" She asked lightly as she folded her napkin in her lap. It wouldn't do to rip the band aid off just yet, first she had to let him know that there was even a wound. How did was precisely tell someone they had loved that they had lost their child? It was going to be a very long night.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 24, 2011 0:54:04 GMT -5
"Thanks, i was rather frightful before wasn't i?"
Curse chuckled, but didn't say anything. He never though Arianna was frightful, even all wet and without her makeup he found her beautiful. That wasn't alright to say that to her, though. At least, he wasn't comfortable saying it. She took her seat. He met her eyes, smiling lightly at her. For a moment, they felt like they used to.
"How's Max doing?"
"He's doing well," Curse glanced up at her from his plate, meeting her eyes. "Hasn't left my sight since the day Echo was taken. I'm surprised he let me go out tonight." He sounded a little uneasy when he mentioned that day; he had been very afraid that day. Afraid for his son, afraid that he may never see him again. He had gotten lucky that he got out of that without any trouble, now he had to be careful. "I've talked to the Headmaster, and he's going to start Hogwarts a year early, in September. His magic's developing really quickly. I can take him to get a wand this summer." He smiled as he talked about his son; the magic of parenthood still hadn't worn off of him, and he practically beamed with pride for him. He felt slightly guilty as well, mixed with the happiness. This joy and responsibility was supposed to be something Curse and Arianna were experiencing together, with their own child. He knew how much Arianna ached for a family of her own, and he had always wanted to share that with her. He still wished he could. He pushed that lingering guilt aside, not wanting to bring it up in conversation. They were closer than before, but not that close yet. "How have you been? Haven't heard from you in a little while, I was glad to get your letter."
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 26, 2011 15:27:58 GMT -5
The comfortable routine of dinner settled down around them. Arianna allowed herself, more like forced herself to breath. They were two adults having a bite to eat and some conversation. This should not be difficult. They were old enough to sit across from each other and chat amicably. That is until she once again ripped the stitches out of his heart with her bare hands.
"Hasn't left my sight since the day Echo was taken. I'm surprised he let me go out tonight."
A weak, half smile, was all she could muster in response. She knew why Max had let Curse go. Like any child his age, he thought that his Father and Arianna were a match and would try everything in his power to force a marriage. It would have been sweet if she wasn't the victim.
"I've talked to the Headmaster, and he's going to start Hogwarts a year early, in September. His magic's developing really quickly. I can take him to get a wand this summer." Arianna couldn't help but be swept along by Curse's fatherly pride.
"That's wonderful. He really is a brilliant boy." It was a bitter sweet moment. She was happy for Curse and Max but a part of her kept thinking that this should have been Curse gushing over their supposed two year old child's first words. That dream would never happen.
"How have you been? Haven't heard from you in a little while, I was glad to get your letter."
"Sorry, This whole Echo study is absorbing all my time. Actually, this meal is late in coming. I promised to tell you something that night that...you well, realized my mother was alive." Was this the right moment? Should she prolong the inevitable? Or just tell him now?
"I didn't mean to keep this a secret. I was only trying to protect you. It would have been worse then if you knew. There's no easy way to well say it..."
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 26, 2011 18:36:49 GMT -5
"Sorry, This whole Echo study is absorbing all my time. Actually, this meal is late in coming. I promised to tell you something that night that...you well, realized my mother was alive."
Curse glanced up at Arianna, swallowing his mouthful of food. He only faintly remembered that night; he was very sick at the time, and remembered really only finding Aimee in the hall, and Arianna coming to see him. He hadn't remembered her promise, or most of their conversation for that matter. He had awoken to her holding his hand at his bedside, and pulled the meaning of their conversation from there. He didn't know this night had a purpose for Arianna beyond just having dinner together.
"I didn't mean to keep this a secret. I was only trying to protect you. It would have been worse then if you knew. There's no easy way to well say it..."
"Arianna, whatever it is, I'm not going anywhere." Curse reached across the table and put a hand over hers, meeting her eyes. After everything they'd been through, there wasn't anything she could say to make him turn away from her. He braced himself for a blow though, just in case; if she was this upset over it, it couldn't be nothing.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 26, 2011 19:10:53 GMT -5
"Arianna, whatever it is, I'm not going anywhere."
The moment had come and far too fast. It would be so much easier if she had shied away, prolonged the moment, waited until they actually ate. Not that she would have eaten much her stomach rebelled just thinking about having to tell Curse. Would he get angry? Would he be hurt that she hadn't told him when it first happened? He'd been in the middle of the darkest period of his life knowing that she had lost the baby could have sent him over the edge. Then his hand touched hers and she felt a bit of warmth battling her nerves. This was Curse. He might be mad at first but he wouldn't harm her. There was little to be afraid of.
"When I left I had no idea I was pregnant. If I had I'd have taken better care of myself and probably have come back sooner. Or talk to Alex...I had a miscarriage about two months after I left. I'm so sorry." She said softly, the last part barely above a whisper. She couldn't look at him, just stared at the table cloth.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 26, 2011 20:36:42 GMT -5
Curse surprised even himself when he realized he wasn't angry. He didn't feel anything, didn't know what to feel. He felt like he probably should be, that she expected him to be, but he didn't feel angry. Curse sat back in his chair, his hand being pulled away by the motion. He looked at her, his green eyes pensive as he figured out what the hell he was supposed to say to that. He felt like he'd just been hit in the chest.
He looked at her, but she didn't look up at him. That was a habit they were both guilty of, avoiding the other when they thought they would upset them. He was upset, but not in the way Arianna was expecting. He wasn't angry; how could he be angry at her for something that wasn't her fault? He knew that Arianna would have wanted that baby more than anything, and he was sure losing it alone, with no one to turn to, with the father in an institution, was beyond difficult. He was still in shock, but didn't want to hurt her with his silence. "Y-you should have told me sooner," He said simply; there was no accusation in his voice, just empty shock. He was still trying to grasp the concept of her news. He just couldn't believe it.
Taking a deep breath, Curse leaned on the table, replacing his hand over hers. "Ari, look at me please." He frowned, trying to meet her eyes. There was sadness in his eyes, but he stayed strong as he met her gaze. He didn't want to tell her he forgave her, because there was nothing to forgive. This was fate, not them. He didn't know what to tell her to make this okay, so he stuck to what he was thinking. "I still love you."
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 26, 2011 20:54:53 GMT -5
That old familiar ache washed over her, numbing her. It wasn't as strong as it had been. Time had dulled it, smoothed out the pain, taking out the sharp edges. It still hurt but nothing near as badly as it had when she first learned that she had been with child. Merlin, she'd been so stupid. After she had left Curse, she'd gone long hours without eating, barely picking at her food. She hadn't been hungry and it had cost not only her health at the time, but a baby. Her chance to make a family. She hadn't listened when the midwife, said these things were more common than one thought. She had been young, barely twenty three. She would recover and have more children, so the woman said. Ari wasn't so sure. Who would she have a child with? The only man she had ever been serious with was Curse. Bloody hell, she was still in love with him. Scared of him yes, but not for the same reasons. His days were numbered. Sad, but true. Could she live with the fact that she would be a widow? Two years ago it hadn't mattered. He had just gotten poisoned. There was so much hope then. He'd brew a cure, or she'd find a rune to heal him. Now? It was all a dream.
"Y-you should have told me sooner,"
His statement barely penetrated the cold, London fog her brain had turned into. He was right of course. She'd almost told him in the coffee shop, the day she had learned that Max was his son. But it hadn't been the place. Who shattered another person's world in front of everyone?
Numbness flowed over her as she kept thinking about the child they could have had. The baby would have been two. Just learning how to walk. Images of what their child could have been played in her mind. She barely felt his hand covering her own as she let herself go. It was rare that she allowed herself to think about what the future could have held. And might still be. Could she be able, would she allow herself to have the family she always wanted with someone else?
he isn't dead yet fool, a tiny voice in side of her head muttered. It was true. Curse Kameren still had a decade or so left. It was hard to tell. He could even have more years if he was careful. They had wasted so much time already. Maybe they could work things out. There could still be hope after all. Max needed a mother, Amelia was nice but she knew nothing of the wizarding world. She could not help Max in that area. Arianna could and as his step aunt she would but as a mother ...
"Ari, look at me please."
Slowly, his words reached out to her in her torment and she obliged. the anger she had expected to see was not there. A sadness welled in his green orbs but also something she had missed. His words confirmed it.
"I still love you."
Suddenly, she didn't feel so cold or empty. After all they had been through, after all she had done to him he still loved her. That didn't mean he'd want to marry her, she did have a propensity for leaving when things soured but there was a possibility. The darkness ebbed inside of her eyes and she smiled softly at him.
"I as well." There she admitted it. Sort of. She really did love him. Maybe not the same as she had two years ago but that Arianna was more child than woman.
Where did they go from here? It was obvious they both cared for each other but there was so much between them that needed to be repaired.
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 26, 2011 22:57:35 GMT -5
"I still love you."
"I as well."
"Well, good." Curse sat back in his chair, slightly squeezing her hand as he did. He was still a little in shock, and also a little surprised that she'd admitted to loving him too. He wasn't sure if she would, after the Hell he put her through. They both had hurt each other equally, and neither of them meant to. Now they had to pick up the pieces of their relationship and see where they stood.
He shrugged, resting his head on his hand as he met her eyes. The initial shock started to leave him, and his mind started to speed up to its regular level. "Now what? Do we date again? Probably not, we couldn't do that to Max without getting our problems worked out. We have a lot to work out, obviously. We're here, we're alone, lets talk." He sighed, his voice still quiet though he smiled lightly at his love. "What questions have you wanted to ask me?"
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on May 31, 2011 22:59:43 GMT -5
She admitted it. But it there was no choir singing, fireworks or that general warm feeling of giddiness that often accompanied an acknowledgement of love. She was normal. Her heart was beating a bit faster and her stomach was clenched but that was a typical feeling around Curse. She was also a bit nervous. She wasn't ready for a serious relationship. She wanted kids and loved Max dearly but to parent a ten year old? Right now he might think the idea of her and Curse dating was cool but was he actually thinking about the fact that their relationship would change a bit. She wouldn't be the cool aunt he saw every now and then who brought him presents. She'd be a mother figure who made him drink milk and eat healthy things like brustle sprouts. Could she handle the loss of Curse? Could he provide her with the family that she needed? So many questions, so many possible roads. Then he opened the gate further. Her questions?
Arianna let out a slow breath she hadn't been aware she had been holding. He didn't want to date her yet either. Good. Slow was better, they needed to build mutual trust again.
"What is the status of you're illness, how--long do you have left?"
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Post by Curse Kameren on May 31, 2011 23:30:14 GMT -5
"What is the status of you're illness, how--long do you have left?"
Curse sighed, running a hand through his hair uncomfortably. He knew that was going to be one of Arianna's first questions; they'd covered his other illness pretty thoroughly so far, but his poison had gone unnoticed. Since he started his new brew method and treatments, he wasn't particularly sure how much time he had now. He was too early into the treatments to calculate it accurately, but he had vague estimates that were good enough for now. He knew it was helping, though. He could feel the strength coming back to him, day by day he could work a little bit harder, so a little bit longer without a dose of antidote. The antidote wouldn't save him, but it bought him valuable time with his son. And with Arianna, if she would let him.
"Not exactly sure, but more than I had before." He shrugged lightly, meeting Arianna's eyes. "I got ahold of a Bildenrungle Root to strengthen my resistance to the poison, and that procedure I was doing when you saw me at Mungo's helped too. I'm trying to secure a research grant for the antidote through Mungo's with their Potions Master, to see if we can find a cure. Right now, if I keep up with my antidotes the way I am now I should be able to see my late forties, possibly early fifties. If the next twenty years are anything like the last twenty, though, I might not make it that far." He chuckled bitterly, taking his hand away from hers to take a drink of water from his cup. "I'm getting my affairs worked out now for when the time comes, but I really just want the time with Max. I hate looking at him and knowing he's worrying about that. He shouldn't have to be thinking about his parent's death."
He sighed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms as he met Arianna's dark gaze. He looked at her curiously, getting lost in her deep brown eyes. "My turn for a question, I suppose." What should he ask her? He had many questions, especially now. He had always wanted an opportunity to have a one-on-one like this since she left, but now that they were really doing it, only one question was nagging at him.
"The baby -- did it have a gender?" His face was steady, though there still was sorrow in his eyes at the mention of the lost child. he wanted to know about it, though. He wanted to picture their child that would never be. It couldn't have been an extremely early pregnancy for Arianna; he had already been sick a while by the time she left him, Curse was preoccupied with his illusions by that point. They had to have conceived the child earlier.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Jun 1, 2011 0:35:05 GMT -5
Sighs were not good. Well, some sighs were but that involved romantic touches and while there was tension in the air it wasn't that kind. The sigh combined with hair pulling was a very bad omen. How many years had he lost because he had lost control during those dark months? He had to have been affected by his slip of sanity. What was he afraid of telling her?
"Not exactly sure, but more than I had before."
More? That tiny seed of hope about their future budded. It wasn't exactly a flower yet but it was further along than a tiny seed. He had more time. She stopped nibbling on her lower lip and squeezed his hand excitedly. This was very good news.
"I got ahold of a Bildenrungle Root to strengthen my resistance to the poison, and that procedure I was doing when you saw me at Mungo's helped too. I'm trying to secure a research grant for the antidote through Mungo's with their Potions Master, to see if we can find a cure. Right now, if I keep up with my antidotes the way I am now I should be able to see my late forties, possibly early fifties. If the next twenty years are anything like the last twenty, though, I might not make it that far." He chuckled bitterly, taking his hand away from hers to take a drink of water from his cup. "I'm getting my affairs worked out now for when the time comes, but I really just want the time with Max. I hate looking at him and knowing he's worrying about that. He shouldn't have to be thinking about his parent's death."
It was so much to process. Curse had about twenty years left. Max would be an adult. There would be a future. If they had kids he'd be around for most of their life. If, and it was mighty big, everything went according to plan. The magical world had the tendency to make life crazy. Then the phrase, time with Max took a whole new meaning in her mind. What if Curse didn't want more children? Could she accept that fact? A large family had always been her dream but while she ached for her own children maybe adoption could be an option? But those were questions for the future.
"No one should. If I can do anything to help, let me know."She whispered before the staring contest began. My turn for a question, I suppose." His words broke Ari's concentration. She'd been staring into his eyes mapping the different shades of green and the scar, that to her looked curiously like a rune. She nodded briefly at his comment about a question. Fair is fair. she just hadn't been expecting this one. But she should have. Arianna had been around 20 weeks pregnant. The baby had just developed it's gender when she lost it. She should have known then that this wasn't his first child.
"A girl. I named her Ashlynn, it means dream."
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