Don't Mind the Daggers It's a friendly Chat (curse

[Arianna Blackthorn]

The small wizarding coffee shop inside of Diagon Alley was pretty busy but that was one of the reasons why Arianna had picked the place. If she hadn't things between her and a certian Kameren would most likely get extremely out of hand pretty quickly. At first, Arianna had thought it quite hilarious that Curse would have reproduced, then hurt that it wasn't there child and then far to annoyed at herself to do anything but work. She was not jealous of that trollop he bed a decade ago. Besides, she had no right seeing as she was barely even friends with him. God she was acting like such a little girl.

It would not continue. Curse had been right in the Ministry, they must and needed to meet soon to work out their differences so she could stop obsessing over him like a school girl over that boyband dreamfleet. So she sent the letter three days after finding out his little secret.

Without realizing it, Arianna took extra care with her appearance that day. Her usual comfortable, practical outfit was replaced by a flirty white skirt that stopped two inches above her knee. Her top was a light sweater of emerald green that brought out the red of her hair. Strappy, one inched sandles completed the look. She nearly killed herself on the dreadful things, but they were a gift, and matched her top. Besides she wanted to look nice for the get together at her cousin's house afterward.

Arianna sat in the window seat bar, over looking the alley, her bitten finger nails tracing a rune pattern on the counter top.

[Curse Kameren]

Of Curse's entire week, Arianna had picked the absolute worst day to want to meet. He didn't want to turn her down and possibly not see her at all, though. So he sucked it up, stayed up all night grading potions, and got ready to see his ex. He wore what he usually tended to when he had classes, like he did in this morning; a light-grey long-sleeved oxford shirt tucked into dark jeans, and his notoriously beaten sneakers. He sighed, when he spotted the cafe Arianna had named. He could see her, sitting by the window. He dropped his cigarette butt and ground it under his sneaker before stepping inside.

"Sorry I'm late, had class," Curse looked flustered as he sat down in the chair opposite Arianna, checking his muggle watch on his wrist. He had a little under two hours before he had to pick up Max. Amelia was having some sort of ridiculous dinner party, and Max didn't want to stay for it. It was all Peter's family, he'd said. Peter hadn't really taken a shine to Max for some reason. His loss.

"You look nice," Curse complemented Ari, his pleasant smile tugging crookedly at his scar. He looked down at the table and the runes she was tracing, his emerald eyes following her finger as it moved. He didn't look up from her finger as he spoke. "So I hear you had a hot date the other night." He couldn't help himself. The professor broke out into a wide grin, laughing as he met her eyes. Arianna and Alex on a blind date. It would never get old.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

"Sorry I'm late, had class,"

Of course Arianna had spotted Curse outside but had quickly lowered her eyes. She didn't want to appear eager and she quite liked tracing runes on stained counter tops. A restful pastime. So entertaining. She glanced up when he spoke to her as if she had no idea he'd walked into the room. As always she was aware of his presence before she could physically see him. No matter how much she wished it, she still had that cursed awareness of him. Muggles lied, wishes did not come true and there were no fairy god mothers to make Curse disappear. Oh well. She'll live.

"Sorry I'm late, had class,"
"Understandable," She offered, placing a menu in front of him. She had refrained from ordering anything, except water. No use giving him any ammunition against her if they ever came to blows, or for his rants about her to his brother.

Arianna ignored his smile when he commented on her outfit.

"I have a party afterwards."
"So I hear you had a hot date the other night."

For a second their eyes met and the tension between them was broken for the moment. Her first instinct was to groan about it but she shoved that reaction aside and decided to torment instead.

"Very steamy, actually. Complete gentleman. Actually, not a bad kisser. You could learn something from him" She smirked at him. It wasn't true, Alex hadn't even come near enough to touch her hand with a wand. Besides, he wasn't her type, not really.

[Curse Kameren]

"Very steamy, actually. Complete gentleman. Actually, not a bad kisser. You could learn something from him"

Curse laughed, wrinkling his nose at the idea of his brother kissing his ex-fiancee. "'Steamy gentleman.' I'll be sure to let Alex know you said that. I'm sure he has never been called either." He chuckled, flipping open the menu and scanning it. "I've walked by this place a million bloody times on my way into the muggle world and never noticed it..." he trailed off as he read; he was going to do his best to make this visit good, not awkward. He really wanted to be on good terms with Arianna. He knew it wouldn't stop him thinking about her, but at least he wouldn't be worrying about how much she hates him any longer.

He flipped the menu closed, resolving to just get coffee. He knew he was going to have to feed Max after he picked him up anyway. "So, you have a party to go to after this, and I have to go pick up my son." He arched a brow at Arianna as he spoke, shrugging and smiling. "Alex told me that he told you. So, are you mad that I didn't tell you, or are you mad that I did it in the first place?"

He looked back down at the menu, looking for something he could possibly just bring Max instead. "He's great, Ari. You should meet him sometime."

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Arianna grinned back, both knowing how absurd her comment was. Still it wouldn't do at all if Curse teased Alex about the date. It could set him back for decades, especially if Curse told him about what Arianna had said about kissing and being steamy. She suddenly sat up, pointing a finger at him.

"Don't you dare tease him about this. He is shy enough around girls without you're help." She warned, her finger nearly jabbing his scar. Her tone wasn't harsh, a bit stern, but her eyes were glinting. They had fallen into a casual like teasing that felt nice. Arianna was slowly relaxing around him. It was still weird but better. She had to except the fact that Curse was not himself at the time and that he was better now. Still, a part of her wondered how long this would last. When would his demons take back control? It always happened, she had seen it countless times with her parents.

"You just have bland taste," She said as she glanced at her own menu.

"What are you getting? I'm thinking a Chocolate Frog Coffee." It was girly but very good and she needed the delicious goodness to ground her.

"So, you have a party to go to after this, and I have to go pick up my son." He arched a brow at Arianna as he spoke, shrugging and smiling. "Alex told me that he told you. So, are you mad that I didn't tell you, or are you mad that I did it in the first place?"

She had been expecting this but not quite so soon. She stiffened slightly. One of Arianna's dreams was to have a large family of her own, instead of borrowing everyone else's.

She couldn't meet him yet. She wasn't ready but soon. Maybe in another two years.

"Both. But then the logical part of me, reminds my irrational emotional monster, that you conceived this child a long time before we met. Still I had a right to know." She said not knowing that even Curse hadn't known about Max until around the time she had disappeared.

"Do you love his mum?" The question escaped her and she cringed as she heard it come out of her mouth. Desperate much?

[Curse Kameren]

"What are you getting? I'm thinking a Chocolate Frog Coffee."

He shrugged. "Probably just coffee." Did they even have just coffee? What was with all these coffees with stuff in it? Why did coffee have to have stuff in it? He flipped through to the meals, his eyes darting around the menu looking for any sort of kid section. "Do they just have some kind of mac and cheese thing? He's in a mac and cheese phase right now and he won't bloody eat anything else." Curse kept searching the menu, not looking up at Arianna as he spoke. "So, are you mad that I didn't tell you, or are you mad that I did it in the first place?"

"Both. But then the logical part of me, reminds my irrational emotional monster, that you conceived this child a long time before we met. Still I had a right to know."

"In my defense, his mum didn't get around to telling me until a month after you left," He glanced up at her, keeping track of how mad at him she was. She was still coherent, so all was well. "If we had met sooner, I was planning on telling you then. Didn't really want to drop that bomb on you when I ran into you in the Ministry. Not with everyone watching." He closed the menu. Damn, no mac and cheese.

He looked up at the waitress as she came up to take their orders. "I'll just have a plain black coffee, and--" He glanced across the table at Arianna, who apparently hadn't noticed the waitress yet.

"Do you love his mum?"

Curse sighed, smiling patiently as he turned his gaze back to the waitress. "She'll have the chocolate frog thing." The waitress nodded hesitantly, turning back towards the counters. Curse waited for her to get out of earshot before he continued.

He always hated explaining this. It made him sound awfully like a sumbag, but then again at the time he supposed he was. He sighed running a hand through his hair as he began. "His mum was a one-night stand at a party during my graduate program at University of London. I probably knew her about four hours. In those four hours I learned she was obnoxious, self-centered, and superficial. She still is. I didn't think I was ever going to see her again after that night, but then there she was. Funny, how of all the women I've had relations with, fate has me lose you and get stuck with her." He rolled his eyes as he chuckled at his predicament. Despite being the mother of his child, Amelia was far from on good terms with Curse. They almost hated each other; he found Amelia repulsive, and she thought he was insane.

"She's married now, and the bloke doesn't like our son, so they sent him off to live with me. She chose some guy she knew six months over her own son." There was an edge of contempt in his voice. The idea of it reminded him of his own mother, how she abandoned him whenever she had a new man. He wouldn't let Max feel estranged like he did as a child. At least, not from both of his parents.

He nodded in thanks as the waitress set down their drinks. "So, no. I don't love her." He took a drink of his coffee, looking down into its black depths. He didn't really want to see what Ari thought of his little tale. It sounded bad, but Max came out of it. So it couldn't have been all bad.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

Family had always been a sore subject with Arianna. It was probably due to coming from a dysfunctional one herself, but she wasn't entirely sure. As a child when everyone would ask what were her biggest dreams, she'd always say to have a family who truly loved her. By the time she was nine she kept that particular dream to herself, since the age of feminism was in full swing and most adults gave her a patronizing that's nice dear but what do you want to do. Arianna loved her parents and in their own way they loved her back but it wasn't enough. They all knew it.

She craved a large family of her own, with holiday traditions and vacations, all of it. Until she met Curse, she'd been too afraid to create her own. In school she'd been accused of stealing other people's parents because her friends thought they preferred Arianna over their own birth children. Even her cousin Peter complained a few times that Arianna stole his parents attention too much. They were always telling him to be like Anna, she got a full ride to a prestigious prep school in Ireland, be like her.

"In my defense, his mum didn't get around to telling me until a month after you left," He glanced up at her, keeping track of how mad at him she was. She was still coherent, so all was well. "If we had met sooner, I was planning on telling you then. Didn't really want to drop that bomb on you when I ran into you in the Ministry. Not with everyone watching."

Arianna nodded, he was right of course. It would have been a disaster if he had told her at work with everyone practically standing on top of each other to listen in on their conversation. Afterward, strangers flocked to her desk like Harry Potter manics flocked to his parents memorial at Godrick's Hallow. All were curious about their relationship, how Curse Kameren was doing and if they were an item again.

Confusing thoughts and emotions sucked Arianna into herself, her mind contemplating everything. To tell him or not to tell him? He had a right to know but...more pressing matters first. Arianna Blackthorn was jealous of a woman she had never met. The woman who had born Curse's child. It wasn't fair. That was supposed to be her. The love question flew out of her mouth before her mind could reign in the green goblin. She hadn't even noticed the waitress until Curse ordered for her. God she was such a ninny. She hated being all twisted over this but she had to know, then she could decide to tell him.

"His mum was a one-night stand at a party during my graduate program at University of London. I probably knew her about four hours. In those four hours I learned she was obnoxious, self-centered, and superficial. She still is. I didn't think I was ever going to see her again after that night, but then there she was. Funny, how of all the women I've had relations with, fate has me lose you and get stuck with her."

It hadn't been the story she expected to hear, especially not the last line. It had stolen her breath, her eyes stuck on his face. Secretly it had been what she wanted to hear though. Relief flooded her as she realized that he had never loved this woman, had never had a real relationship with her. She didn't want to feel this way, to feel the stone around her heart fissure, as hope touched her. She wasn't going to even entertain the idea of going back with him. Not that he'd after her. She had left him, had hurt him. He probably would never forgive her once she told him her secret.

"She's married now, and the bloke doesn't like our son, so they sent him off to live with me. She chose some guy she knew six months over her own son."

A frown distorted Arianna's face, her bottom lip nearly invisible. Rage stiffened her spine. How could a mother leave her son? Arianna would have never done that. It wasn't fair. She wanted a child to love and nurture but this woman just gave her son away for a new love. It was....it was she didn't even know she was so angry. It took Arianna a minute to notice that her hands were clenched into a fist, her nails indenting her light skin, nearly breaking it. Several deep breaths, slowly released the tension inside of her. It wasn't the time or place to lose her firm control over her emotions. There might be more to the story she wasn't getting.

"So, no. I don't love her."

Arianna stared at her drink, the words echoing in her head. But did he love her still? Ari glanced up from the chocolate pool to meet his eyes briefly.

"She sounds horrible, how could she abandon her son--" She broke off a little too emotional. While Arianna was proud of Curse for taking care of his child despite his dubious health, she would have never gotten herself in the situation in the first place. Arianna wasn't a one night stand kind of person. Only when she knew the person for a while did she give all of herself. Hell, Curse was her first lover. But he was a man and she knew he had experience when they had made love.

"Sorry, I just don't understand people who place their own lives ahead of their children. Especially when there are plenty of women who have lost their own children," she whispered, her throat clogged with emotion. The usually detached, contained historian was losing it. She hated herself for it. Out of habit, her finger began to trace a rune on the table, loss.

[Curse Kameren]

Curse glanced up at Arianna when she didn't reply right away, a little shock hitting him when he saw how upset she was. She wasn't angry, though; she was sad. This distressed Curse. Could he comfort her? What was the social etiquette for comforting your ex-fiancee? Could he even touch her? He wanted to, his lips turning into a frown as he watched her finger trace a rune into the table. Ah, Hell. Just go for it.

The professor hesitantly reached across the table, taking her hand and squeezing reassuringly. He met her eyes, trying to smile comfortingly before he let go and resumed his hands around his coffee.

A strange sort of shock went through him when he touched her; It was a happy spark of... something. He missed holding her hands. He tried, very, very hard to not show that fact. He knew far too well that he still wasn't over her; being here was probably the worst thing for him. He knew they would never be together again. How could they be, after all they'd been through together? God, he still didn't know what he did to her...

"So," He looked back up, trying to bring cheer back to the conversation with a new subject, "tell me about you. What did you do after you left?" He smiled, his emerald eyes meeting hers with genuine interest. He wanted to know about the last two years of her life spent away from him. "Besides finding a far more handsome and less psychotic boyfriend, that is..."

[Arianna Blackthorn]

That all to familiar feeling of traitorous despair laced with failure threatened to consume Arianna. It had been a long time since she had felt so sad about losing the baby. It had been nearly two months since she had left Curse when it had happened. The months after had been dark as she question what she could have done to keep that little part of their happiness alive. It still hurt but it was more of a stinging regret than a sharp hallow pain, but sitting here with Curse talking about his child being replaced in his mother's affections, brought it all back.

Then a gentle, soothing pressure warmed her hand and Arianna was pulled back. She blinked rapidly, their joined hands coming into focus for a second before Curse move his. The sudden loss of his warmth made her ache. It had been a long time since anyone had touched her in such a way. It was nice. Forcefully, she shoved her wistful moody thoughts away. This was not the time or place to devolve her secrets. In private, when her resolve was stronger, she would tell him.

So," He looked back up, trying to bring cheer back to the conversation with a new subject, "tell me about you. What did you do after you left?" He smiled, his emerald eyes meeting hers with genuine interest. He wanted to know about the last two years of her life spent away from him. "Besides finding a far more handsome and less psychotic boyfriend, that is..."

A self-deprecating bark of a laugh gurgled forth at the thought of her dating. She hadn't seriously dated anyone since she had left. A few pity dates here and there, or an interested colleague but nothing serious. None had held her attention for longer than an hour. Besides, she hadn't been interested. Work was what was important then. It was hearing that Curse had his own legacy in his son that sparked Arianna's need to start her own family again. If she couldn't with Curse, then she would just have to find someone else. She wanted, no needed a family of her own.

"I focused on my work and maintaining the few family relationships I have left. You're not going to be happy with this but I went to Italy." She said watching for his explosive reaction. He had never been happy with her fascination with the place. Understandably so, but she wasn't him and she hadn't gotten hurt.

"I also spent some time in Egypt, studying." She shrugged, not really having done much at all. "What about you?" She asked also interested in his life. How and when did he get healthy? Was it his son that made him seek treatment? Had a child succeeded where she had failed?

[Curse Kameren]

"I focused on my work and maintaining the few family relationships I have left. You're not going to be happy with this but I went to Italy."

Curse looked up at her disapprovingly, but didn't comment. He wasn't happy about Ari's research in Italy, but he had expected it. Where else would you go to escape Curse Kameren? The one place he couldn't go, of course. Pretty convenient that that one place was an entire country. His concern over it was merited; he had lost loved ones to vengeful dark wizards before. He was a powerful auror, and the wizarding underworld didn't forget when they were wronged. Curse was notoriously overprotective, but he knew in this situation, he had every right.

"I know you did," He replied, taking a drink of his coffee when he noticed she was looking for a reaction. He shrugged. "Of course you did."

"What about you?"

He sighed, looking up at her then back down again at the table. Where should he start? He didn't want to tell Arianna about the suicide attempts; there had been two, one a week after he'd found her ring. Alex had started living with him by that point, doing his best to save his older brother from himself. "Alex took care of me after you left." He pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke, looking out the window. Talking about his mental break was difficult for him. "Honestly, I don't remember most of my illness. I blacked out a lot," He glanced at Ari, looking guilty as he met her eyes and looked away. "Which is better, I suppose. There are some things I've been told about that I can't--" Curse stopped himself, getting upset as the thought of some of the things he'd done and said flashed before him. He did his best to push it aside and continue.

"I went into treatment about a month and a half after you left. It was my son that got through to me, I think. I couldn't just leave him. I'd never had a dad, and I didn't want that for him. I don't know, some things are still foggy." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His break from reality was one of the darkest times of his life; revisiting it was not easy for him. He looked up at Arianna hesitantly, hoping he hadn't scared her too badly. He forced himself onward. "I spent nine months in treatment. Alex and Max-- that's my son's name --were the only ones allowed to visit me. I ended up getting approved to take some responsibility for Max when I got out, at first with an at-home nurse, but then on my own."

"Once I got out I started my doctorate at Cambridge. Abstract Physics, sort of a genre of my own design; it was essentially taking advanced muggle physics and applying it to the magical world. I had to cloak it in theory, obviously since it was a muggle school, but one of my colleagues was a half-blood and-- I'm being boring. Sorry." He chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee to stop himself from rambling.

"Anyway, got out of Cambridge with a DSc much more quickly than I expected to, less than a year. I taught physics there in my spare time, and I was going to take a permanent position there when one of this Minister Harkness' new laws released my auror files." He rolled his eyes. Obviously, Curse would not have voted for Jack Harkness. "So I applied at the place I figured would be safest for us. Hogwarts. They wanted to give me DADA, but I'd always been better with potions." He shrugged.

A bright smile grew across Curse's face as he mentioned his son. "Lots of work, but I really spent most of my time getting to know Max. He's brilliant. You never know what he's going to say. He's just so smart and stubborn and creative, and just... family." He was practically beaming with pride for his child. Family was always something Curse longed for, and their mutual need for it was probably what brought he and Ari together. He was glad he'd finally found family, he just wished he could share it with the woman across from him.

He stopped himself, though, his face falling as he sighed deeply. It was time for her to answer the question that had been bothering him for two years. "Arianna, I'm sorry about this, I truly wish I didn't have to ask, but..." He paused, suddenly uncomfortable again. He didn't know how to put his question into words, how to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt her. "But I was blacked out the night you left. Ah... I don't know what I did." The professor was seeping guilt, his miserable frown pulling at the rest of his features. He grabbed for the packet of cigarettes in his pocket on instinct, his own dirty habit, before he noticed the 'no smoking' sign in the window.

He met her eyes expectantly. He didn't want to know, but he needed to so he could make it up to her.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

A part of her was eager to see his frown, watching his reaction storm across his features. As she spoke though, she was wary, her senses on alert. From her childhood experiences with her mother's madness, she knew that one comment could spark an episode. He'd been so adamant, nearly hysterical when she mentioned her work in Italy.

"I know you did," He replied, taking a drink of his coffee when he noticed she was looking for a reaction. He shrugged. "Of course you did."

His grip on reality wasn't so tenuous that he lost control, instead he remained disappointingly calm. No fuel for her angry fire there. He knew that she had gone to Italy and he hadn't followed her. The little jealous monster inside of her sneered, if he had loved her he'd have risked pain of death to bring her back. Then again, it would have been a waste because Arianna had been deadly terrified of him. She still was scared that he would slip into madness again, let the demons win. It was so easy to give in to the voices. Her mother had done so numerous times. Things would be calm, almost boringly normal for some time and then WHAM! Someone was following them and they had to move, or Arianna was accused of being a monster and must be cleansed.

A trembling hand snatched the coffee-chocolate concoction, allowing her mind to focus on the state of the now luke warm drink. Thinking of her mother was pointless. She couldn't save her mom and she had believed that she couldn't have saved Curse but now, Arianna wasn't so sure. Had Curse's son and brother anchored him in this world, saved him? The last couple of days before Arianna had left had been brutal. Curse had been trapped in his mind battling with the dark thoughts that tried to take control. She didn't recognize him anymore. Instead he'd morphed into her mother and sometimes she heard her voice instead of his, accusing her of spying. She had to go, had to leave or she feared that she would go insane herself.

Guilt shot through Ari as she listened to Curse talk about the month after she left. She couldn't look at him, see the ghosts in his eyes. So she stared into the murky depths of her drink, even there she saw him. A couple of times she had felt compelled to glance at him but mainly she listened. She smiled slightly as he spoke about Max and how he had under gone treatment for him. He'd never leave his son. It hurt Arianna as well as brought her joy. She should have told him about their child. She almost did then but he looked so happy talking about his studies and his son that she couldn't ruin the moment. this was the excited Curse Kameren she had fell in love with.

"Arianna, I'm sorry about this, I truly wish I didn't have to ask, but..." He paused, suddenly uncomfortable again. He didn't know how to put his question into words, how to say it in a way that wouldn't hurt her. "But I was blacked out the night you left. Ah... I don't know what I did."

She'd expected the question since he first admitted about his blackouts but nonetheless it hurt. Back straight as a inflexible wand, she slowly took a sip of her drink, forming her thoughts. She had to tell him, she knew that but she didn't want to. Wouldn't it be better if they just never talked about it. Best if he did not know? But it wouldn't be fair. It'd always be the hypogriff in the room, staring them down, stalking them. Preventing them from moving forward, into what she didn't know. Their relationship was more complicated than abstract theoretical charms.

She had to tell him.

With a deep breath she met his eyes and softly told the story.

"You were pretty out of it the last few days, racked by a strange fever. I tried to get you to go to Mungo's but I wouldn't force you. Guess I should have..." She said with a shrug before continuing. "The day i left I'd stopped by to check in I was leaving the week after to study runes in Greece. As soon as i walked in you were pacing wildly, waiting for me. Your eyes were filled with rage, betrayal. My itinerary for my trip was crushed in your hands. You accused me of being an Italian spy, sent by your enemies to kill you. I don't know how long it was but I was pinned to the wall as you questioned me, trying to get me to confess." She said letting out a long breath to calm down. She had to put down her cup because she was trembling so much. Memories washed over her as she spoke. Slowly she lifted up her hair off her neck with one hand and pulled down her sweater, turning her back towards him so he could see the thin two inch faint scar he had left her.

"Eventually, you collapsed but I have this to remind me what we're all capable in madness." She could have had the medi wizards heal her scar but she had wanted it. She needed to remember what could happen.

Self conscious, arianna quickly let her hair down, shifting away slightly. "I couldn't stay. Your madness was so similar to my mother that...I...I couldn't save her." she admitted tears in her eyes. If one couldn't save their own mother from madness, then how could she save Curse?

[Curse Kameren]

Curse was suffocating under his guilt. He couldn't bring himself to look up at her face; he stared blankly into his coffee, breathing deeply as she started. He had remembered the part where she was going to Greece, he knew. He remembered protesting that she go because he would miss her too much. Curse had already knew that his grip on reality was slipping by that point, which was why he had clung to his fiancee: she was the only bit of normalcy he had left.

"I don't know how long it was but I was pinned to the wall as you questioned me, trying to get me to confess."

"Oh my God," Curse could hardly speak as she lifted her hair to show a scar. How could he have done that to her, the woman he loved so much? He felt sick; Curse's hands started trembling, the coffee in his mug rippling before he noticed it. He felt numb: Curse didn't know what to feel. He wanted to kill himself all over again. Tears escaped his downturned eyes as he sat there, wishing his could melt into nothing. He wasn't worthy to see her, after what he did.

A long, troubled silence fell in between the two. Curse didn't know what to say to Arianna; he didn't know how he was capable of doing such things to her. She had been his guiding light for so long, even after she'd left. He had always stayed faithful, waiting patiently for the day she would return. He didn't deserve her now, he knew. He probably never deserved her.

"I... I had always wanted you to be the one." The professor wiped his tears, still unable to bring himself to look at her. His shoulders were heavy with guilt. "To save me, that is. Y-you were my guide to getting better, in treatment. I'd hoped you'd come back, and it'd be the th-three of us..." He forced his eyes up to look at the woman he'd hurt, he's hurt so many times. Though his features were dark with guilt, his eyes stayed strong. He knew he couldn't afford to give in anymore. "Thank you for not coming back. I wouldn't have been able to handle this before now."

He looked back down into his coffee, taking the last sip of it to stall for time. "Arianna, I don't know how to apologize. Saying it isn't enough. If there's anything I can ever do for you, ever. Anything. Know you only need to ask." He didn't look at her when he said this, but he meant every word of it.

The cafe was suddenly too loud for Curse, too many people even though only a few tables were filled. The professor practically stumbled out of his chair up to the counter, still numb from the emotional trauma of knowing his sins. He paid for their table quietly, still keeping his eyes down. He needed to get out of the building. This place was too overwhelming for him right now. He pulled a cigarette out of the carton in his pocket as he stalked back to the table and addressing Arianna. "I'm sorry, I just need some air. Are you headed into the muggle world? I can walk you there, if you'd like. I need to pick up my son soon." Though he kept his words at a normal pace, the anxiety in his face told it plainly. He needed to get out of there. Now.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

The very air was heavy as if with every word uttered there had been a brick laid between them. Their own iron curtain of silence built on the foundation of guilt. Silently, avoiding his eyes, except for quick darting glances, she waited. Was he going to flip out? Arianna had been so wrapped up in her own emotions she had forgotten his tentative grasp on reality. Were her words going to push him over the edge? She started at him worried, fear blackening her eyes even more after he had uttered a brevetted oh my god. She had been utterly stupid and insensitive. Despite how well Curse looked, how sane he had acted he was still very much recovering. She had spared no detail, when she should have told him the briefest of stories, skimming over the interrogation. But she had always been a firm believer of the truth, even if it hurt. This though, could kill him. So she watched him as he sat there a tortured look on his face, tears slipping, silently down his face. She had caused those tears. Every drop felt like acid on her skin. She was transfixed unable to look away as horror and abashment washed over her.

"I... I had always wanted you to be the one." Guilt sliced her heart anew and regret stung the cuts like salt. She had believed he was her forever family...

"To save me, that is. Y-you were my guide to getting better, in treatment. I'd hoped you'd come back, and it'd be the th-three of us..."

Anger battled the pity inside of Arianna. She had thought at first that he had meant that she was that illusive true one, the love of a lifetime. Of course, he had seen it differently, seen her as his savior. Which was one of the reasons why she had left. There is a point where one had to save themselves. She couldn't have brought him back not indefinably.

There eyes finally locked but it wasn't insanity that she found. The hurt and strength in his eyes robbed her of her breath. He was there, the Curse she had loved and hurt as much as he had her.

"Thank you for not coming back. I wouldn't have been able to handle this before now."

"I couldn't save you Curse, not then." She admitted softly. She had been too weak. Too much of a coward. Too selfish. She should have canceled her trip, should have called St. Mungo's, should have knocked him out and dropped him at the healer's herself. But she hadn't. She escaped into her work, leaving him by himself.

"I should have just taken you to the healer's without your permission. I shouldn't have buried myself in my work. I wasn't there for you and I am sorry." Her own tears fell from her eyes.

"Arianna, I don't know how to apologize. Saying it isn't enough. If there's anything I can ever do for you, ever. Anything. Know you only need to ask."

He was right of course. She wasn't sure if there was anything he could do though to erase the incident. It would never be fully erased. She was still scared of him but it was lessened, like the small fear of burning oneself, or that awareness of how sharp dogs teeth are after you've been bitten. It would never entirely go away but it would be lessened, a mere after thought, with time. Arianna didn't know what to say, she just nodded and looked into her own cup.

Suddenly Curse stood up and she watched him pay for there drinks. He was acting odd as he pulled out a death stick.

"I'm sorry, I just need some air. Are you headed into the muggle world? I can walk you there, if you'd like. I need to pick up my son soon."

Before he had finished speaking she'd picked up her purse.

"Yeah, I'm not too far. I need to pick up a few things before I go to my cousin's." She said standing up. She too needed to get out of there. To clear her head, banish all of these sad moments. Suddenly the family dinner she was looking forward too now seemed bleak. But she had to go, needed to go really. By the time she'd get there she'd be back to normal.

[Curse Kameren]

"Yeah, I'm not too far. I need to pick up a few things before I go to my cousin's."

Curse nodded, holding the door open for Ari to exit. He followed dutifully behind her, popping the cigarette in his mouth and lighting it. He didn't bother offering one to his ex; she had always disliked his smoking, but it was the one vice he wasn't willing to part with. It kept him sane sometimes, and frankly, if it was smoking that killed him he would be very disappointed in the dark magic elite.

Curse stayed quiet, unsure what to say. Where do you steer the conversation after a discussion like they just had? So he simply followed her, staying faithfully by her side as he blew smoke towards the heavens. Curse couldn't wait to pick up Max, bring him home, and try to relax after this day. He couldn't forget what he did. He would never, ever forget. But that didn't mean that things couldn't get better.

As they moved in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron, Curse felt uncomfortable again. The link between the muggle and wizarding world was where the first met; it was a strange place for them to part ways. Merlin, why did everything have to be awkward now that Arianna was back? He felt like a bloody teenager.

"Well, I have to be at Max's mum's before six." Curse shrugged. It was strange, talking to Arianna like this. Curse had become domesticated. He always knew that there would be a time that he would settle down, but he never imagined it like this. He never expected to settle down on his own. "It was good seeing you." He smiled, his emerald gaze lingering on her before he reluctantly headed towards the Cauldron. "Until next time," He smiled before he turned his back to her. God, he wished there'd be a next time.

.. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Curse took the 19 bus south, towards Amelia and Peter Beauregard's flat. He dusted the smoke smell off of himself with magic along his way, trying to clean himself up to give Amelia less to berate. The only thing the two had in common was Max.

Arianna was impossible to erase from his thoughts. He had thought of her often before she'd came back, but now it was maddening. He couldn't say or do anything anymore without considering her. He swore he was seeing her everywhere. Thoughts of their conversation distracted him now so badly that he missed his stop. He stepped off seven blocks too far, grumbling about it as he walked the extra distance to Amelia's

Curse took the stairs up to the fifth floor. The only apartment on the floor was Amelia and Peter's flat; he had to admit Amelia had done well for herself. Not many people could afford an entire floor in downtown London. He ran a hand through his hair nervously before he knocked on the door. He hoped he arrived before the dinner party, he hated parties.

"DAD!" Max practically pounced on his father as he opened the door, his young emerald eyes dancing with excitement as the small family embraced. Max had spent the last two weeks with his mum as a sort of spring break from his father, but had called Curse complaining almost daily about how much he missed him. The two really did live perfectly together. It was impossible for anyone to live peacefully with Amelia. "Moms making me stay for the party but she said you can stay too!"

"Oh--umm," Curse put Max down, his face falling from his crooked grin to a frown in a second flat. He poked his head into the apartment, arching a brow as he looked for Max's mum. There were several people chatting around the flat. The party had already started. Crap. He stepped hesitantly into the apartment, keeping a wary eye out for Peter. He always hated running into Peter, he always felt like the man was trying to compete with him. Why did he want to compete? Curse had absolutely no interest in his wife. "Amelia?" He called.

"Kris, there you are. Why don't you ever answer your bloody phone? I've been ringing you all day." Amelia swooped into the kitchen like a bird of prey on Curse, her cold blue eyes glaring him down as she pulled champagne glasses out of the cupboard.

The professor pulled his phone out of his jeans, arching a brow. No new messages. "Uh, no you didn't."

"Yes I did." Curse rolled his eyes. there was no arguing with this woman. "I want Max to stay for the dinner party. A lot of Peter's family is going to be here that he hasn't seen since the wedding. He's very excited." Both parents glanced at Max. The boy shrugged. Very excited indeed. "You can wait around until its over. Just don't bother anyone."

"You're too kind," Curse sent Amelia a grudging look, but she blew it off as she crossed into the dining room with full champagne glasses. The professor took a seat on a stool in the kitchen. He wouldn't socialize with Amelia's new family. Merlin, that would be even more awkward than his discussions with Arianna.

He heard the stool next to him creak as Max climbed up it and sat next to his father, watching his father brood. "I forgot you hate parties." He patted his father on the shoulder in a teasing sort of consolation. "You don't want to talk to anyone? My aunt Anna is coming, I think you'd like her."

"I'm sure I would, Max," Curse smiled at his son, messing his hair affectionately as the door buzzed again. "Oh, that's the door. Better get it," the professor smiled at Max as the 10-year-old scrambled off his stool and to the door. The apartment door opened opposite where Curse was sitting, so he couldn't see who was there.

"Aunt Anna! I missed you!" Max grinned as he embraced his step-aunt in greeting.

[Arianna Blackthorn]

That ancient, elusive concept of Chivalry was not dead after all. Not only did Curse Kameren embody the physical aspects of knighthood but he also opened the door for her and walked her to the proverbial door between both worlds. Arianna resisted the urge to quickly disappear into the crow before he could utter his goodbyes. Their coffee chat had turned far more serious and personal than she had originally planed but like before, words spewed out of her mouth when she was in his presence.

In front of the Leaky cauldron, the very place they had met, they both paused. Finally, Curse broke their silent war.

"Well, I have to be at Max's mum's before six." Curse shrugged. It was strange, talking to Arianna like this. Curse had become domesticated. He always knew that there would be a time that he would settle down, but he never imagined it like this. He never expected to settle down on his own. "It was good seeing you." He smiled, his emerald gaze lingering on her before he reluctantly headed towards the Cauldron. "Until next time," .

"Bye," She called out after him before melting into the crowd. She had a lot to do before the dinner party and she had a sinking feeling she was going to be late.

Nearly an hour later, she was just getting off the bus a couple of blocks away from Amelia and Peter's flat. There had been long lines at the grocery store which didn't help to improve Arianna's mood. She'd been too indecisive as she tried to pick out the perfect wine to give as a gift. For Max she picked out a book on ancient Greece and a toy the clerk assured her that every ten year old male was pinning after. Her gifts, safely wrapped in brightly colored gift bags, Arianna made her way to the dinner party. As she walked she tried not to think of Curse but it wasn't working. He really was like name sake sometimes.

Shaking her head in attempt to disspell the man from her thoughts, she walked up the flights of stairs, not trusting elevators.

Bags in one hand, "Anna" rang the doorbell. it opened rather quickly by a brown haired boy who oddly looked like Curse. Ari didn't dwell on that fleeting impression because she was far too busy greeting her nephew.

"Hi Max, I've missed you too." She said smiling as she wrapped her free arm around the boy.

"You've grown again. I swear the next time I'll see you, you'll be taller than me!" She teased as she stepped inside. She could hear the party starting in the other room.

"I've got a something for you. I do hope you'll like it." She said a little self conscious. She hadn't much experience in shopping for children.