Authors' note: We really are so glad you guys are enjoying the Hannah/Frankie storyline. There's more to come and don't worry if you haven't seen some of the other characters in awhile...they will be back. We're trying to give them all equal time. And for those of you who asked, Joey and Zach are not brothers.
Saffron missed Andrew terribly, but she did have to say that without him here, she was able to concentrate on her studies and she was currently pulling in top marks in all her classes. She knew that they'd only been in school for about three weeks now, but she was off to a good start and she felt good about her chances at Head Girl next year. The only competition she really had was a Ravenclaw named Mary Ellen Ward.
Her friendship with Peter was also growing and she was glad to have her friend back. Peter had even started hanging out with her and Alexa in the library. It was surreal after all that had happened, but she'd told Andrew about it and while he was wary, he was secure in his relationship with Saffron.
That evening, she was studying for the first big test of the year in Charms. They had taken up their usual table in the library and were busy quizzing each other. Saffron looked at her watch.
"I thought Mimi was going to join us."
Beth shrugged. "She's in detention again."
Saffron rolled her eyes. "She's so transparent."
Beth giggled. "She ditched class to stalk our new Headmaster."
Peter laughed. "She's not the only one. I heard Professor Malfoy say that they've never had so many people get in trouble....well, girls, that is."
Saffron shook her head. "He might be dreamy but he's doing a good job so far. My sister told me he's really on top of things."
"I know what I'd like him to be on top of," Beth began only to have Saffron throw her quill at her.
"Beth, he's old enough to be your father," Saffron said laughing.
"But he's gorgeous!" Beth took Saffron's quill and began doodling on her parchment.
Peter sighed. "I've really got to start hanging out with some blokes..."
Saffron laughed at him. "We're better than any bloke."
"And you're getting invaluable information as to the female psyche," Alexa chimed in.
"Just what I always wanted," Peter commented dryly.
Saffron laughed. "All kidding aside...we do really need to study..."
"What do you think he wears?" Beth asked dreamily. "Boxers of briefs?"
"Who?" Alexa asked curiously.
"Duh," Beth said. "Oliver Wood!"
Alexa rolled her eyes. "As if you'd ever get to see them anyway."
Saffron shook her head. "I wasn't kidding when I said we needed to study..."
"Right," Peter agreed. "No more talk of men's underwear please."
"I suppose you'd like to talk about women's underwear instead?" Beth asked.
"Sure," Peter said with a grin.
"I'm about to move to another table," Saffron threatened.
"How about we go over the conjuring spells again?" Alexa suggested. "Aguamenti is sure to be on the test."
"Sure," Saffron replied. "I could use a little practise on that."
Alexa blushed. "The last time I tried it in class, instead of water coming out of my wand, it was mustard."
Saffron giggled at the memory of it.
"Nice," Peter chuckled.
"I was so embarrassed," Alexa said blushing.
"You'll do better this year," Saffron assured her.
"I hope so," Alexa said softly.
She dropped her voice. "Have you heard back from RJ yet?"
Alexa had written to her boyfriend to congratulate him on his first match. And even though he'd told her time and again that he wasn't much of a letter writer, his response had been two pages of pure romance in Alexa's book. She'd stashed the letter under her pillow.
She nodded "He's looking forward to their first road trip."
Saffron grinned. "Hopefully it won't interfere with our first Hogsmeade weekend next month."
"How's Andrew?" Alexa asked.
"Good," Saffron said. "I miss him so much though Lexie."
"I know, but we don't have that long before Hogsmeade," Alexa said. "And we'll listen to his match on the wireless this weekend."
"Right," Saffron nodded. "At least I have studying to help keep my mind off him not being here."
"I keep waiting for them to walk in here and tell us to come up to the common room," Alexa said softly. "Or convince us to go and nick something from the kitchens..."
"They were bad influences," Saffron looked back down at her textbook again.
"Good bad influences," Alexa said with a grin.
"Exactly," Saffron agreed with a sigh.
They spent the next hour going over the conjuring spells and finally decided to call it a night. They said goodbye to Peter and made their way slowly up to the Gryffindor dorms.
"Good evening, ladies," a familiar voice said in a Scottish brogue.
Beth froze and giggled nervously as she turned around. "Good evening Headmaster..." she stammered.
"Curfew is in ten minutes," Oliver reminded them.
"Yes, sir," Saffron said. "We were on our way to the dorms now."
"I had dinner with your parents last night," the headmaster said to Saffron.
"You did?" Saffron asked.
Oliver nodded. "I haven't seen your father in quite some time and your mother wanted to discuss some matters about the school. She's a very smart woman. I see where you get it from, Miss Potter."
Saffron blushed. "Thank you sir."
Alexa watched in horror as Beth leaned back to examine the headmaster's trousers.
"Can I help you with something, Miss Murphy?" Oliver asked.
"No!" Beth squeaked.
"Good evening, ladies," Oliver said before continuing back down the stairs.
"That was really smooth, Beth," Alexa hissed.
"I can't believe you did that," Saffron shook her head. "Beth where is your bloody head?" she grimaced. "Wait- don't answer that."
"I can't help it," Beth said. "He's so different from Professor Dumbledore...he doesn't wear those long, flowing cloaks for one thing..."
Alexa and Saffron shared an amused look.
"You're so lucky, Saffy," Beth said. "He knows your parents!"
"My dad used to play Quidditch with him," Saffron said as they went into the common room.
"And he taught your dad everything there was to know about the game," Beth said.
"Something like that," Saffron said as she dropped her bag next to the sofa by the fire. "Merlin I am exhausted."
"Me too," Alexa agreed. "I can't wait to climb into bed."
"I need someone to carry me up," Saffron giggled.
"We could work on our levitation charms," Beth teased.
"You'd drop me halfway up the stairs if someone said the name Oliver," Saffron returned with a grin.
Beth looked affronted. "Saffy!"
"You know it's true," Alexa said nudging Beth.
"Think your partner in crime is back yet?" Saffron let her hair out of her plait.
"Meems probably ran into him on the way back," Alexa said sinking down onto the sofa. "We'll never see her again."
Beth crossed her arms. "You don't think she'd try and steal him away do you?"
Saffron stared at her incredulously. "Beth? How can she steal something that was never hers?"
Beth turned red. "I meant um... I think I need to go to bed now..." she turned and ran up the stairs.
Alexa and Saffron could only shake their heads.
"They're unbelievable!"
"Tell me about it," Alexa rolled her eyes as Ewan came down into the common room and waved in their direction.
"Hiya, Lex," he said. "Saffron."
"Hey Ewan," Saffron smiled at him. "Ready for Quidditch tryouts?"
"I sure am, Captain," Ewan said smiling back at her.
"You didn't tell me you were trying out," Alexa said. "What position?"
"Beater," he replied. "Or Keeper. I'd play any position as long as I get on the team."
"I can't wait to see you play," Saffron said. "Be there early."
"I will," Ewan promised. He looked shyly at Alexa before heading upstairs.
"I think he still fancies you a bit Lex," Saffron said softly once she was sure he was gone.
"I don't think so," Alexa said thoughtfully.
"Didn't you see how he just looked at you?" Saffron sat up.
"No," Alexa said. "How did he look at me?"
"Like out of the corner of his eye," Saffron said. "And he blushed a bit."
"Oh," Alexa said softly. "Well, I haven't done anything to encourage that."
"I know you haven't," Saffron replied. "You've barely stopped talking about RJ since we got back to school. I haven't heard another bloke's name come out of your mouth."
"Kind of like you and Andrew," Alexa said.
Saffron grinned. "I'm so glad he gave me this. I can see him whenever I want."
"That really is a beautiful locket," Alexa said smiling at her friend.
"Thanks," Saffron said. "I do miss him though. Like I love seeing him in this but it's just no substitute for him actually being here."
Alexa knew all too well how her friend felt. "I think I'm going to go on upstairs. You coming?"
"Yeah," Saffron got to her feet. "I need plenty of sleep for tomorrow's big exam."
"Psst!" they heard someone call out. Alexa and Saffron froze and looked around the room. They were the only ones in the Common Room.
"Where's it coming from?" Alexa asked.
"Saffy, it's me, Andrew," the voice called out again seemingly coming from the fireplace. "Is that you?"
"Andrew!" Saffron squealed.
"I'll see you later," Alexa said excusing herself to give her friends some privacy.
"What are you doing?" Saffron couldn't stop her grin.
"I've never tried this before," Andrew admitted, his face in the flames of the fire. "But I couldn't resist..."
"I miss you a lot," Saffron got to her knees in front of the fireplace. "I think about you all the time Andrew."
"Me too," he said softly. "Congratulations on being named captain, by the way. I knew you'd get it!"
"Thanks," Saffron said with a grin. "I'm holding tryouts in a few days."
"RJ and me are going to be hard to replace," he joked.
"Maybe," Saffron teased. "You will be, at any rate."
"Good answer," Andrew said. "You look beautiful, you know that?"
"I look tired," Saffron said with a grin.
"Still look gorgeous to me," Andrew said smiling at her.
"You're going to make it for the Hogsmeade weekend next month right?" Saffron asked. "The third weekend of October?"
Andrew nodded. "We don't have a match that weekend so I'm all yours."
"Just the way I like you to be," Saffron giggled.
"I love you, Saffy," he said. "But I have to go..."
"Already?" she pouted.
"I didn't have that long of a connection," he admitted. "I was lucky to get this time actually."
"Okay," Saffron relented. "I love you too. I wish I could kiss you."
"Don't try now," Andrew teased. "You'd get burned and I wouldn't want that."
"I'll just kiss you like this," she pressed her lips to the locket. "And I'll see you next month."
"Night baby," Andrew said before disappearing.
Saffron sighed as she watched him go then got to her feet and headed upstairs.
Alexa had already changed into her pyjamas and was reading in bed when Saffron came into the room.
"You look happy," Alexa teased.
"He's just so sweet," Saffron gushed.
"He is, isn't he?" Mimi asked poking her head out from behind the curtains. "I was a little disappointed that he wasn't going to be in charge of my detention, but I ran into him on my way back and---"
Alexa sighed. "Mimi, we were talking about Andrew, not the headmaster!"
"Oh," Mimi frowned. "Well he's cute too, but nothing like Oliver Wood..."
"He stopped and talked to us too," Beth said her arms folded. "On our way back here."
"Well I bet he spent a longer time talking to me," Mimi replied pertly.
"Will you two please listen to yourselves?" Saffron asked grabbing her pyjamas from her dresser. "He's in his fifties. And while he is cute, you shouldn't be talking about him like he's going to date one of you..."
Both Mimi and Beth glared at Saffron.
"Saffy's right," Alexa said. "Besides, Mimi you told me not two days ago that you fancied Jake."
"Well yeah but--" Mimi began.
"Concentrate on Jake," Alexa counselled.
"You two," Saffron shook her head. "Absolutely crack me up."
"Maybe we have gone a little overboard," Beth admitted.
"A little?" Alexa asked with a grin.
"Okay, a lot," Mimi said. "But we can't help it. All of our male professors are positively ghastly. And then all of a sudden, we get this eye candy as our new headmaster...."
"I guess I can sort of see your point," Saffron conceded.
"We promise to tone it down," Beth said. "We can't all be as lucky as Lexie..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alexa asked.
"Well, you have a superstar boyfriend and Ewan still fancies you, not to mention Saffy's cousin," Beth explained.
Alexa rolled her eyes. "Gabe and I are just friends, and I've done nothing with Ewan since the ball last year."
"You should give me tips," Beth said smiling at her.
Alexa tossed her pillow at Beth in response.
"I'm going to go and change into these and brush my teeth," Saffron said holding up her pyjamas. "Don't say anything stupid until I get back, okay?"
"Shut up Saffy!" Beth squealed.
Saffron shook her head as she walked out.
Alexa set aside her book and pulled the letter from RJ out from under her pillow.
She smiled as she read it over again. His words were so sweet.
"...and I was thinking that by the time you finish at Hogwarts, you could move in here with me. Andrew's probably going to have moved out by then and we can have the place all to ourselves..."
Alexa lay her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes, imagining the two of them living together in his flat.
"She is such a tart!" Beth called out breaking Alexa out of her reverie.
"Who are you talking about now?" Alexa asked.
Beth held up a copy of Witch Weekly. "Serena Starr."
Saffron came back into the room and heard Beth's last words. "Ugh I hate her."
"If you thought I was a bubblehead, you should listen to this," Beth said, turning the page back to the article. "While Serena admits her voice is not the best, she knows that she is where she is because of how she looks. 'Anyone can be talented,' the songstress says, 'but not everyone can look like me'."
"She's worse than I ever thought," Saffron said disgustedly. "One night over summer hols when Andrew and I were at home, she came over looking for RJ. We kept telling her he was out with Lexie and she just kept acting as if we hadn't said a thing."
Beth rolled her eyes. "That sounds like her."
Saffron got into her bed. "At least RJ has more sense than to take her seriously," she said to her best friend.
"I know," Alexa said.
"That his letter?" Saffron looked at the pages in Alexa's hand.
Alexa nodded. "I was just reading it again..."
"And again..." Saffron teased.
"Haven't you got it memorised by now?" Mimi asked.
"Sod off you lot," Alexa blushed.
"Good night, guys," Saffron said closing the curtains around her four-poster. "Sweet dreams."
"I know I'll have sweet dreams," Mimi replied coyly.
"About Jake," Alexa said. "Not the Headmaster."
"Maybe about both," Mimi giggled before pulling her own curtains shut.
Saffron unclasped her locket and kissed it before setting it on her bedside table. "Night, Andrew."
*** *** ***
Having finally finished principal photography on his film, Seamus left England and headed back to LA where he'd start preliminary work on his next picture. He also hadn't seen his son since they had all arrived back, even though they talked on the phone quite often.
For all intents and purposes, Gabriel seemed to be adjusting quite well to college life. He said he was enjoying his classes even with all the hard work. Seamus was quite proud of his son and couldn't wait to see him in person.
"I really think we should have called," Lavender said. "It's not that I don't want to see Gabe, but they aren't even expecting us."
"It would spoil the surprise," Seamus said dismissively. "Besides, Margaret said we were welcome anytime, Lav."
"If you say so," Lavender looked out the window as Seamus drove them to Lewis and Margaret's home.
"It'll be fine," Seamus reassured her.
"I have missed him," Lavender said. "I got really accustomed to him being around all the time."
"Me too," Seamus said as he turned the car onto Lewis and Margaret's street. "I wish he'd wanted to move into our house, but I guess I can understand why he wouldn't..."
"He's probably not around all that often," Lavender pointed out. "I mean, he's got to be studying non-stop."
"Probably," Seamus said turning the car into the driveway.
Lavender got out as soon as he parked and straightened her clothes. "I'm looking forward to seeing Lewis and Margaret again too," she said.
"Yeah, let's hope they feel the same way," Seamus said more worried about Lewis than Margaret.
"They'll be happy to see you," Lavender smiled at him.
Seamus rang the doorbell and then took his wife's hand.
A few moments later, Lewis came to the door. When he saw who it was, he frowned.
"Hello Lewis," Lavender put her hand on Seamus's arm. "It's lovely to see you again."
"We weren't expecting you," Lewis said quietly.
"We haven't seen Gabe since we got back," Seamus said quickly. "And thought we'd stop by."
"My grandson is still in classes," Lewis said. "He should be back in an hour or so..."
"Who is it Lewis?" Margaret called.
Lewis looked over his shoulder. "It's Gabriel's father and stepmother, Maggie."
Margaret came into the room. "Seamus!" she exclaimed. "And Lavender- how lovely to see you both."
Lavender stepped past Lewis and into the house. "It's good to see you, too."
"Gabriel's in class," Margaret said. "But you're both welcome to wait."
"Thanks," Seamus said ignoring Lewis' glare. "How's he doing?"
"Wonderful," Margaret said proudly as they sat down. "He's been working so hard, but it's already paying off."
Seamus grinned. "He didn't get that from me. I was rubbish at classes."
"Humph," Lewis grunted.
Margaret shot him a look. "So how long are you in town for?" she asked Seamus.
"I'm here for awhile now," Seamus replied. "I just finished the main shooting for my last film, and I'll be doing the preparation for another."
"Gabriel will be happy to hear that," Margaret said. "Can I get you both something to drink?"
"Lemonade would be lovely, thank you." Lavender smiled. "Can I help?"
"That would be lovely," Margaret said. "That dress is beautiful. Is it one of your designs?"
"One of my newer ones," Lavender nodded. "I'm just putting it on the market."
Margaret smiled and motioned for Lavender to follow her into the kitchen.
Seamus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Gabriel said he met your parents while he was in Europe," Lewis said quietly.
Seamus nodded. "We went over there for dinner a few times."
Lewis muttered something unintelligible.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," Seamus leaned forward.
"Nothing," Lewis grumbled.
Seamus sat back. "Did Gabriel show you the videos of Sam that I found?"
"He did," Lewis replied.
Seamus waited for Lewis to say more but he sighed when the older man stayed silent.
Luckily, he heard the front door open.
"Granddad, I'm home," Gabriel called out. He set his backpack beside the door.
"We're in here," Lewis called back.
Gabriel walked into the living room and froze. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
"Hey," Seamus grinned. "We just got back in town again and I wanted to see you."
Gabriel hugged his father. "How long are you guys here for?"
"We're back for awhile, barring I don't have too many shots that have to be redone in England." Seamus told him.
"How were classes today, Gabe?" Lewis asked.
"Great," Gabriel replied. "I got a hundred percent on my last test."
"That's my boy," Lewis said with a pointed look at Seamus. "I used to help him with his homework all the time, didn't I, Gabriel?"
"Sure Grandpa," Gabriel said. "Those old study habits you taught me really come in handy."
"He picked that up from me," Lewis said with another pointed look at Seamus.
"And Mom," Gabriel said with a laugh.
Seamus's smile faltered a bit. "Right," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Is Lavender with you?" Gabriel asked.
"She's in the kitchen with Margaret getting drinks," Seamus replied.
"I'm so glad you guys are here," Gabriel said smiling at his father. "I've really missed you."
"I missed you too," Seamus's smile returned. "It's too quiet without you around."
Lewis huffed. "I'm sure Gabe's got loads of work to do..."
Gabriel stared at his grandfather. "I can start it later, Grandpa. I wanted to catch up with my dad."
"I see," Lewis nodded. "Well I have some things to do in the garden..."
Margaret and Lavender came back into the room just in time to see Lewis stalk out of the house.
"What happened?" Lavender asked.
"I'm not sure," Gabriel was baffled at his grandfather's behaviour.
"He's used to being Gabe's father figure," Margaret explained. "This hasn't been very easy on him."
Seamus nodded. "I understand."
"That's no excuse," Margaret said. "I'll go and talk with him."
Lavender hugged her stepson. "It's so good to see you again Gabe."
"You too," Gabriel said hugging her back.
"I heard you're doing well in school," she said as Margaret went outside in search of her husband. "Oh and I have a few letters for you from Saffron and Alexa."
"Oh," Gabriel said in surprise. "Great."
"We were hoping we could talk you into spending Christmas hols with us," Seamus said. "Of course, if you can't--"
"Here?" Gabriel asked.
"We were planning on being in England for some of the time," Lavender said. "But we can pop back and forth if we have to."
"And my parents will disown me if we don't have you there for a little something," Seamus said.
Gabriel nodded. "I'd like to see them again."
"They'll be happy to hear that," Lavender said. "We usually spend a couple of days with Harry and Hermione and my Aunt Elinore and then we head on over to Dublin. You'll have a really great time, Gabe."
"Well my grandmother usually makes quite a feast on Christmas Day," Gabriel said. "Plus I always spend the day here with them."
"Of course," Lavender said. "We wouldn't want to change that, Gabe."
"Thanks," Gabriel said with a grin.
Seamus walked over to the window and could see Margaret and Lewis arguing. He wondered if perhaps there was something he could say. He excused himself and walked out into the garden.
"...they have no right to come in here and think to change things," he heard Lewis saying to Margaret.
"Lewis, Seamus is Gabe's father," Margaret reminded him. "He has every right in the world after all that he's missed out on."
Seamus cleared his throat and Margaret and Lewis stopped talking and turned towards him.
"I was wondering if I might have a quick word with you, Lewis," Seamus said.
Lewis looked as if he wanted to say no but Margaret nudged him. "All right," he relented.
Margaret walked back into the house and Seamus looked thoughtfully at the older man. "I'm not trying to step on your toes here, Lewis."
Lewis grunted and turned to some of his tools.
"He's my son and I'm not going to go away," Seamus continued.
"He talks about you all the time you know," Lewis looked over at him.
"He does?" Seamus asked.
Lewis nodded silently.
"Why don't you like me?" Seamus asked him. "Even before all this, when I was with Sam... You never cared for me. Why?"
"Because I never thought you cared for my daughter the way she cared for you," Lewis said directly.
"I loved Sam," Seamus said defensively. "I cared a great deal for her."
"She thought the sun rose and set on you," Lewis replied. "When you two broke up it was like her world ended."
"I didn't know," Seamus said guiltily. "She cut off all contact with me after that."
"Things looked up when she found out she was pregnant with Gabriel," Lewis said. "But she never wanted to tell you because she didn't want you thinking it was some sort of trap."
"I wouldn't have thought that," Seamus said.
"Yes well you can't tell her that now, can you?" Lewis turned away.
Seamus couldn't help getting angry. "I didn't know, Lewis! She never told me! If you knew me at all, you would know that I never would have let her raise my son alone if I had any idea he existed. She wouldn't have wanted for anything."
"It's too late for any of that," Lewis still wouldn't look at him.
"That's right," Seamus said quietly. "But it's not too late for me to get to know my son. You might not like having me around, but I'm not going anywhere."
Lewis continued to mess around with his tools and Seamus finally turned and headed back for the house.
"Any luck?" Margaret asked when he came back inside.
"Not really," Seamus replied. "Guess it'll just take time."
"He'll come around," Margaret said patting his arm.
"Hope so," Seamus smiled at her. "It's been good to see you again too Margaret."
"It means the world to Gabriel to have you here," Margaret said smiling back at him. "And Sam would have wanted you to be here."
"I'm glad," Seamus gave the older woman a hug.
"And if you'd like to have your mother give me a call," Margaret said. "I can tell her some things about our grandson."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate that," Seamus told her. "Thank you Margaret."
"We're family," Margaret said smiling at him. "No matter what."
"Right," Seamus said with a grin.
"Let's go see our boy," Margaret said. "He was telling Lavender about his classes."
"I can't wait to hear," Seamus agreed, offering her his arm.
Margaret took it and together they walked back into the living room to find Lavender and Gabriel talking animatedly about Gabe's classes.
"Classes at eight o'clock in the morning?" Lavender asked incredulously. "That's barbaric!"
"Almost as bad as my six am calls," Seamus teased.
"I don't get up before nine in the morning ever," Lavender said scrunching up her nose in disgust.
Gabriel laughed. "That beauty rest is doing you good."
"Thank you, Gabe," Lavender said proudly. She reached into her bag and pulled out two envelopes. "From Alexa and Saffy."
"Thanks," Gabriel set them aside to read later.
"That Saffy sounds like a real handful," Margaret said with a grin. "Gabriel said she was something else."
"She's one of a kind," Lavender said. "But she's really very sweet."
"I don't think the world could take more than one of her," Gabriel said dryly.
"Shall I tell her you said that?" Lavender teased.
Gabriel shook his head. "I value breathing."
Seamus had a good laugh at that. "You learned well over there."
Gabriel grinned. "Well, that was something I learned very quickly, Dad."
"Aye," Seamus agreed. "So tell me more about your classes."
Gabriel told his father about his course load and some of the labs he'd taken part in over the first month of classes.
"So you've been really busy," Seamus nodded. "But I'm glad you're doing well. I just wish we could see you more."
"Well, it would be easier if my father wasn't off shooting films and rubbing elbows with celebrities," Gabriel teased.
"Like Laurie Hamilton?" Seamus returned with a grin. "She asked about you the other day."
Gabriel blushed. "No way..."
"Uh huh," Seamus laughed. "Wanted to know if you were coming back to visit."
"Wow," Gabriel said his cheeks turning an even brighter shade of red.
"Yes, but she's no Alexa O'Leary or Danielle Weasley," Lavender teased.
"Who are all these girls?" Margaret asked. "Gabriel?"
"You didn't tell her?" Lavender asked her stepson. "Gabriel!"
"There's nothing to tell!" Gabriel was even redder.
Lavender laughed. "Well, Margaret. Your grandson was quite the player this past summer. Alexa is my niece Saffron's best friend. She's the sweetest girl and she and Gabriel became really close. The bad thing is, she already has a boyfriend. And Danielle is a rather upfront, forward girl who is the niece of one of my good friends."
"Lav," Seamus said. "This isn't a soap opera."
"It kind of was like one actually," Lavender said waving her hand at her husband.
"It wasn't exactly like that," Gabriel muttered. "We were just friends, and I only met Danielle at the wedding."
"Well, that letter she sent to you seems awfully thick," Lavender said with a wink.
"It's probably just some pictures," Gabriel replied.
"You'll have to forgive Lavender," Seamus said to Margaret. "She seems to fancy herself a matchmaker."
"I've done it before," Lavender said defensively.
"She was also married twice before me," Seamus explained.
"They didn't count," Lavender hissed. "Honestly!'
"You were married twice?" Gabriel asked interestedly.
"Sort of," Lavender said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not something we bring up a lot," Seamus nudged his wife.
"Everyone makes mistakes," Lavender said blushing. "And those were two of my biggest ones."
"But she more than made up for it when she got back with me," Seamus said with a grin.
"Grandpa," Gabriel said looking up to see Lewis standing in the doorway.
"I think they should go," Lewis said angrily.
"Lewis," Margaret stood up. "Don't be rude to our guests."
"He was off reuniting with her while Samantha was trying to raise their son," Lewis said folding his arms. "I was against this from the start. Now, I see I was right."
"Perhaps we should go," Lavender said looking uncomfortably at her husband.
Gabriel couldn't understand why his grandfather was being so stubborn about him getting to know his father better.
"Get out of my house," Lewis said walking over to the door. "I don't ever want to see either of you in here ever again."
"Grandpa!" Gabriel exclaimed.
"Lewis--" Seamus held a hand up.
"You keep going on and on about what Samantha would want," Lewis retorted. "As if you would know. As if either of you would ever know!"
"Grandpa stop," Gabriel said. "If Dad had known about me I know he would have been around more. I don't hold any of this against him, or Mom, or you or Grandma... so let's not argue about it okay?"
"You're going to have to get used to this," Margaret told her husband. "And I think I would have known what Samantha wanted. If she never wanted them to get to know each other, she never would have told Gabriel about him in the first place."
"If she wanted them to know each other then she'd have had them meet while she was still alive," Lewis retorted. "I'm going upstairs."
"If they're not welcome here, then neither am I," Gabriel stood up.
"Gabriel!" Margaret gasped.
"I'm sorry, Grandma," Gabriel said. "But if Grandpa can't accept my dad, I don't think I should be here."
"That's not what I meant Gabe," Lewis said.
"Then what did you mean?" Gabriel asked.
"He didn't treat your mother the way he should have," Lewis replied.
"Mom said he was a good man who treated her very well," Gabriel said remembering the conversation he'd had with his mother at the hospital. "And that she loved him with all her heart."
"But--" Lewis began when Margaret interrupted.
"You know that's not true Lewis," she had tears in her eyes. "Our Sam was so happy with Seamus. Their break up wasn't a bad one."
"Maggie," Lewis said his voice breaking.
"You know I'm right," Margaret said.
Lewis put his arms around his wife and hugged her tightly.
Gabriel exchanged a look with his father. "Mind if I talk to them alone?" he asked.
"Of course not," Seamus said. "We'll just be outside."
"Thanks," Gabriel replied.
"Listen to your grandson," Margaret said once they were alone.
"It's just hard," Lewis said. "He was always gone when Sam needed him."
"That's not true," Margaret argued. "He made her very happy, Lewis. Gabe, I can still remember the look on her face when she told me about this man she'd met at work. I'd never seen her eyes light up like that."
"He made her happy when he was around," Lewis replied.
"They lived together, Lewis," Margaret said quietly. "And the nature of his job did keep him away a lot."
"Look," Gabriel said. "What's done is done. I love my dad and I want him around. But I love you both as well. I don't like having you all fight."
"I don't want to see you get hurt, Gabe," Lewis told his grandson.
"I'm not going to," Gabriel told him.
"So I guess I'll have to get used to him being around," Lewis said quietly.
"It'd be nice if you did," Gabriel replied. "I still love you Grandpa. You did so much for me while I was growing up. I couldn't ever forget that."
Lewis stepped forward and gave his grandson a hug. "I'm sorry, Gabe."
"It's okay Grandpa," Gabriel said.
"You're not going to move out then?" Margaret asked her grandson.
Gabriel shook his head. "I like living here. No laundry for me and no food out of a can."
Lewis laughed. "That's my reason for living here, too."
"I wish I could say the same," Margaret hugged her grandson.
"Thanks, Grandma," Gabriel said. "Dad and Lavender wanted to take me out to dinner. I shouldn't be out late."
"You have a good time," Margaret fussed with his hair.
'Grandma," Gabriel said rolling his eyes. "Are you ever going to stop doing that?"
"Don't count on it," Lewis said. "She still does it to me."
Gabriel said a quick goodbye to his grandparents and then stepped out onto the porch where his father and stepmother were waiting.
"Everything okay?" Seamus asked him.
"Yeah," Gabriel nodded. "Grandpa's not going to object to you guys coming around."
Seamus smiled in relief. "That's great, Gabe."
"Where are we going for dinner?" he asked. "I'm starved."
"I am dying for some sushi," Lavender replied.
"NO!" both Seamus and Gabriel chorused.
"You know Japanese restaurants serve other things besides sushi," Lavender pointed out. "Seamus you could get that Teriyaki Chicken you love so much..."
"But watching you eat it is almost as disgusting," Seamus complained.
"Where do you want to go then?" Lavender asked in exasperation. "In-N-Out Burger?"
"Yeah," Gabriel nodded. "That sounds really good."
"It's got my vote too," Seamus grinned at his wife. "Two against one. You're out of luck, Lavender."
"Sod you both," Lavender frowned. "I can't even get a decent salad there."
"I've known you to eat one of those burgers before," Seamus said to his wife.
"A long time ago," Lavender argued.
"How about California Pizza Kitchen?" Gabriel suggested.
"Good idea Gabe," Seamus replied. "The one across town is nice and I don't get mobbed too often there."
"That could be doable," Lavender said thoughtfully. "They have a great tomato and basil pizza that I like."
"Then we're agreed," Seamus unlocked the car,
Gabriel climbed in the back and pulled the letters from Saffron and Alexa out of his pocket. He was a little nervous about Alexa's, but like Lavender had said the envelope was thick.
"Dear Gabe:
I hope that you are doing well and that you're not studying too hard. Saffy and I have a really heavy course load this year. Easy for her, but not so easy for me.
You remember how we talked about the stories and poems that I've written? I'm enclosing a couple of them.
No one's ever seen them before, other than my mom. I've never even shown them to Saffy or RJ.
If you decide to read them, be honest with me on what you think. I can't talk to you on the phone from school, but your letter would mean a lot to me.
Saffron also gave me a couple of pictures of you and me from the wedding. I thought you might like a copy, even though you insisted you didn't really catch the garter.
He smiled when he saw the pictures- and to his amazement, they actually moved. He and Alexa were smiling at each other and talking quietly.
He picked up the letter again.
Saffron mentioned that you might be around for Christmas hols and I really do hope to see you then. No matter what happened, you do have friends here and I'm proud to consider myself one of them. I hope you think so too.
Take care,
Lexie
He looked out the window as they rolled along down the streets. Despite her still being with RJ, Gabriel had to admit he still cared about her a lot.
"Good letter?" Lavender asked.
"What?" Gabriel asked. "Oh... yeah. She just sent me a few pictures from the wedding." he passed them up.
Lavender squealed when she saw them. "Gabe! You two look adorable!"
"Lavender," Seamus warned.
"In a completely platonic, just friends kind of way," Lavender added on hastily.
"Thanks," Gabriel said dryly.
"I'm trying," Lavender said handing the photos back to Gabriel.
"It's all right," Gabriel shrugged. "I'm glad I met her."
"And you never know what could happen," Lavender said looking over at her husband.
Seamus sent her another warning glance. "Lav," he said.
"Well you and I didn't work out to begin with and we went our separate ways," Lavender pointed out. "I never imagined that we'd get back together and look at us now."
Seamus took her hand. "Things couldn't get much better could they?"
Lavender beamed at him. "I don't see how."
Gabriel watched them and hoped that someday he'd have something like that.