For those of you who couldn't read the note at the orkut group, we have decided to take a brief hiatus from writing this fic. If you want more details, please go sign up there. It's a great community with lots of discussion- and we've even been known to post a cookie or two there ;)
Also, please remember your tissues with this chapter. It starts off with a bit of a tearjerker. As always, please review!!!
***Begin Flashback***
Samantha had been in and out of the hospital for the last few months. The doctors hadn't given her much time and Gabriel spent every waking hour at the hospital despite his mother's pleas that he go to school and try to live as normal a life as possible.
"Hey," Gabriel forced a smile onto his face as he saw his mother open her eyes. He set aside his schoolbooks and leaned over. "Sleep okay?"
She smiled at him. "Off and on..."
"How about some juice?" he asked, reaching for the cup on her bedside table.
Samantha shook her head. "Could you help me sit up, though? I need to talk to you, Gabe."
"Sure," Gabriel pulled up the pillows behind her as he raised the bed.
Samantha looked proudly at him. He reminded her more and more each day of his father. And now that her time was limited, she knew it was time to tell him the truth.
"I-I love you more than anything in my life," Samantha began.
"I love you too Mom," Gabriel said, squeezing her hand gently.
"For the longest time it's been just you and me," Samantha said. "I know that I wasn't able to give you the life that you---"
"It doesn't matter," Gabriel interjected.
"Yes, it does," Samantha said, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Mom..." Gabriel was concerned.
"I've hidden something from you," Samantha said softly.
He was quiet for a moment. "Hidden?" he asked.
"I-I thought it was for the best," Samantha said. "Can you hand me that book on my nightstand, Gabe?"
"Sure," Gabriel eyebrows were knit together in confusion.
Samantha took the book from him and pulled out a photograph. She looked at it for a few moments before she continued with what she had to tell him. "I want to tell you about your father, Gabriel."
"My dad?" Gabriel asked. "I thought... I thought you said he died..."
"Just listen to me," Samantha pleaded.
"I will," Gabriel reached for her hand again.
"I met him at this restaurant I was working at," Samantha told him. "He was older than me, but I just had this feeling about him the first time I met him. The first night we met, we went out for coffee and talked for hours."
Gabriel nodded. "Did you get together right away?" he asked curiously.
"Yeah," Samantha said fondly, as if picturing him in her mind. "He was everything I always wanted, Gabe. And I loved him so much. We moved in together even though your grandpa was dead set against it."
"How come you never told me about this?" Gabriel asked.
Samantha wiped at her eyes. She knew if she didn't continue, she'd never get through it. "We were together for two years and I thought that we'd get married, but he held back...."
Gabriel felt slightly angry at this. "Did he leave you for someone else?"
"He was still very much in love with his ex-girlfriend," Samantha explained. "And he figured this out just as I was...I don't want you to think badly of him, Gabriel. He was a good man."
"He left you when he found out you were pregnant," Gabriel guessed, his jaw tensing.
Samantha shook her head. "He--he didn't know."
"Why didn't you tell him about me?" Gabriel asked. "And who is he? You haven't told me his name."
Samantha felt weak and very tired, but she summoned every ounce of strength she had, handing her son the photograph. "This is him."
Gabriel looked at the photograph, laying his eyes on his father for the very first time. "Mom... this is that director guy..."
Samantha nodded. "You look just like him, Gabriel Seamus Boyd."
Gabriel looked at the photograph for a long moment. "How come you never told me about him? How come you never told him?"
The reasons for it felt so stupid now and Samantha didn't know how she'd be able to explain. "Seamus broke up with me right after I found out and I guess it was my pride that kept me from telling him. I didn't want him to stay with me out of some obligation---"
"Obligation?" Gabriel stood up. "If he's my father he damn well should have been around!"
"Gabriel--" Samantha tried to calm him down, but he waved his hand at her. "He would have been here if he'd known. This was my fault, Gabriel. And I'm so sorry---"
"I just don't get why you couldn't even tell me," Gabriel hated that he was angry at his mother, but he couldn't help it. "All this time I thought my father was dead, and he's been right in the same area!"
"I'm sorry," Samantha repeated, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I made a terrible mistake, Gabriel. But, but it's not too late."
Gabriel shook his head. "I just can't believe you'd keep this from me. We always said there would be no secrets between us."
"I know," Samantha said reaching for his arm, but he shrugged away from her.
"I need to get out of here," Gabriel said coolly.
"Don't go," Samantha begged.
Gabriel couldn't listen anymore and stormed out of the room.
He couldn't believe she had kept this from him for so long. he didn't realise until he was at the elevators that he still had that photograph in his hand. He fought the urge to tear it apart.
Instead, he stared at it, stared at the man who was his father, at the man who didn't even know he existed.
The man who probably wouldn't have cared about him, had he known, Gabriel thought bitterly. He shoved the photo in his pocket and took the elevator down to the lobby. He needed to cool off.
It was an hour before he finally felt his anger subside and he headed back into the hospital. He decided to apologise to his mother about running out the way he had.
From the moment, he stepped out from the elevator, he knew something was wrong.
His grandmother was sobbing and his grandfather looked like he was barely holding himself together.
"What happened?" Gabriel strode forward.
Since Margaret couldn't speak, Louis put his arm around his grandson. "Samantha...Samantha is..."
Gabriel stared at him. "She's.... she's not.... Mom is in there, right?"
Lewis shook his head. "No, son...she died about half an hour ago..."
"But... I was going to apologise." Gabriel refused to believe this. "We had a fight and I was going to tell her I'm sorry."
"Gabriel--" Margaret said weakly.
Gabriel pushed past his grandparents and into Samantha's room. "Mom--" he stopped short.
Margaret put her hand on her grandson's shoulder. "She loved you so much...."
Gabriel stared at the bed. Samantha was lying there, her eyes closed, her face composed and completely still. "Mom?" he asked his voice breaking.
"I-I can't do this without you, Mom," Gabriel said reaching for her hand.
Everything was as it had been when he stormed out- his schoolbooks lying in a pile, the lamp on the bedside, the cup of juice right where he had left it. But his mother wasn't there anymore, smiling and talking to him.
"It's not fair," Margaret said wiping at her eyes. "She still had so much to do."
Gabriel hardly heard anything she was saying. He was still staring at his mother. "She can't be gone," he heard himself saying. "We have to talk about my father. She can't be gone yet."
"She told you about him," Lewis said quietly.
Gabriel looked at the crumpled up photograph in his hand.
"There will be enough time to sort that all out later," Margaret said sitting down beside her grandson. She pulled him into a fierce hug. "She knows you loved her, Gabriel."
"Mom's gone?" Gabriel asked hoarsely.
Margaret nodded and sobbed into her grandson's shoulder.
Gabriel felt his heart pound and was dizzy.
"Can----can I have a few minutes alone with her?" Gabriel asked.
"Come on Maggie," Lewis said quietly. "We need to go fill out those forms..."
"We'll be right outside," Margaret told Gabriel.
Gabriel nodded numbly.
He sat in silence for a long time, just looking at his mother. "Why, Mom?"
Samantha's face remained still and reposed.
"Why did you tell me this?" Gabriel asked. "Now? And why did you go before I had the chance to...to...to..."
He wished she'd open her eyes and smile at him; tell him that everything was going to be okay.
"Mom I'm so sorry," Gabriel choked out.
And at that moment, he wasn't thinking about that father he didn't know. At that moment, he was thinking about his mother, who had sacrificed so much for him.
"I love you so much Mom," Gabriel said, his eyes blurred with tears. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you that."
***
Seamus wiped at his eyes when his son finished telling him about the day Samantha had died. "She knew you loved her, Gabe."
"I know," Gabriel wrapped his arms around himself. "I just really wish I could talk to her again."
"Someday maybe you will," Seamus said remembering when he'd had that conversation with Sam.
Gabriel shrugged. "I guess I just have to sort of believe she knew I was sorry when she died."
"She did," Seamus reassured him. "And I know how proud she'd be of you."
"Thanks Dad," Gabriel said. "Her getting sick was what really made me want to become a doctor."
"And I'm glad she told you about me," Seamus said. "And I'm extremely grateful you sought me out."
"At first I know I was a pain in the ass," Gabriel said. "But I really am grateful for everything you've done for me Dad."
"I'd do anything for you, son," Seamus said smiling at him. "You and Lavender are my family."
Gabriel smiled back. "Mine too."
Lavender knocked on the door. "Hello, boys."
"Hey," Seamus smiled at his wife.
"I'm going upstairs to make sure I'm all packed," Gabriel said wanting to be alone for a few minutes.
"Is he okay?" Lavender asked as he left. "He didn't have a fight with Alexa did he?"
Seamus shook his head. "The anniversary of Sam's death is coming up soon. We were talking about it."
"Oh," Lavender said quietly. "I'm sorry, Seamus."
"I wish I could change things," Seamus said leaning back in his chair and looking thoughtfully at his wife. "Go back to that day when Sam and I broke up and make her tell me."
"You didn't know," Lavender perched on the edge of his desk. "And she seemed as if she was pretty headstrong. If she didn't want you to know something, she wouldn't have told you."
Seamus shook his head. "I told her we'd still be friends. I threw her that horrible cliché, Lavender. And then I never saw her again."
"She obviously didn't hold a grudge," Lavender said. "I know you meant well, Seamus. But now you have Gabriel. And he's wonderful."
"I still missed out on so much," Seamus said wistfully. "I can see pictures and hear stories, but it's not the same."
"I know it's not," Lavender toyed with the edge of her skirt. "It's sometimes how I feel about my parents... what I haven't been able to share with them."
Seamus walked around the desk and gave his wife a hug.
Lavender hugged him back. "I love you, Finnigan."
"I love you too," he said softly. "Brown."
"Brown- Finnigan," Lavender corrected with a smile. "I may not have been the one to give you a child, but I did give you the best years of my thighs."
Seamus laughed. "Interesting way to put it."
"I made you smile," Lavender said, satisfied.
Seamus gave her a kiss. "Yes, you did."
"Are you sure you don't want to head back to the States with Gabriel?" Lavender asked. "I don't mind staying here until my show is over."
"You wouldn't mind?" Seamus asked her.
"Of course not," Lavender put her arms around his neck. "I know how much you love spending time with him."
"Thanks, sweetheart," Seamus said.
"Just give me a decent kiss to go on for the rest of the week," Lavender said slyly.
"That's easy," Seamus said leaning in.
Lavender closed her eyes as her husband kissed her passionately.
"How's that?" Seamus asked with a cocky grin when they pulled apart.
"Just what I was hoping for," Lavender said dreamily.
"I'm going to go and tell him the good news," Seamus said to his wife.
"Okay," Lavender gave him one more kiss. "I'll be up to say goodbye in a few minutes."
Seamus grinned at her. "Thanks, by the way. For making me feel better."
"Part of the job," Lavender joked.
Gabriel met his father on the staircase. "What's going on?"
"I'm going to be coming back with you," Seamus told him with a grin. "I only have a few scenes left to shoot and I can come back later in the week to do it. Lav's going to stay through Saturday for her show."
"You don't have to---'"
"I want to," Seamus assured him.
Gabriel nodded. "I'd like that, Dad."
"Great," Seamus clapped him on the shoulder. "We'll have to go out for dinner when you feel like taking a break from studying."
"Or you can help me study for that Physiology exam," Gabriel joked.
"Well that sounds like a load of fun," Seamus replied.
"Let's go then, Old Man," Gabriel said.
"You know, you're going to age a lot faster than me," Seamus said. "I'll be a hundred and still look like this while in your forties, you'll look your age."
"You keep telling yourself that, Dad," Gabriel laughed.
Seamus cuffed him on the head. "Let's see if you're as quick as I am."
"Dad," Gabriel said shaking his head. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Oh you don't worry about that," Seamus said loftily. "You just try to keep up."
Lavender looked up at the two of them. "I knew I smelled testosterone..."
"Which is why you're bringing the estrogen train?" Gabriel asked his stepmother with a grin.
"You two need to watch it before one of you gets hurt," Lavender chastised.
Gabriel turned his grin to his father. "See Dad? Even Lav knows you'll hurt yourself."
"She knows about my athletic prowess," Seamus said smugly.
Gabriel made a face. "Don't' say anything about prowess in front of me."
"We wouldn't," Lavender said hastily looking at her husband.
Seamus grinned at her. "Gabriel should know about prowess by now."
"How about we not talk about prowess at all?" Gabriel asked moving past his father.
"Agreed," Seamus joked.
"Give my best to Lewis and Margaret," Lavender said to Gabriel. "I know this isn't an easy time for any of you."
"Thanks," Gabriel was touched that his stepmother had remembered. "I appreciate that."
Lavender gave him a hug. "And good luck with your studying."
"Thanks," Gabriel hugged her. "I'll see you next week though, right?"
"Absolutely," Lavender replied.
"Good," Gabriel said sincerely. He had grown to love his stepmother in the past year.
"I'll ring you later tonight," Seamus promised his wife.
"Sounds good," Lavender gave him a kiss then hugged Gabriel again. "You take care now."
They used a portkey to return back home to Los Angeles. Gabriel was going to take the bus home to his grandparents' house, but Seamus shook his head. "Take one of my cars, son."
"What? Dad--" Gabriel began.
"Either you drive one of my cars home or I drive you there myself," Seamus interjected with a grin. "You shouldn't have to lug your baggage on the bus, Gabriel."
"Dad I already told you, I don't need a car," Gabriel objected.
"I'm just letting you borrow one," Seamus reminded him. "You know you sound like your mother right now."
"And that's a bad thing?" Gabriel asked.
Seamus shook his head. "No, but I remember me trying to give her a car and she telling me point blank that she didn't need one and if she did, she'd buy it herself."
Gabriel laughed. "Yeah, that definitely sounds like Mom."
"And our son," Seamus said with a grin.
Gabriel smiled ruefully. "Can I take the Jag?"
Seamus laughed. "From not wanting one to wanting to borrow my pride and joy..."
"I thought I was your pride and joy," Gabriel teased.
"You are," Seamus assured him.
"Then can I take the Jag?" Gabriel asked. "I promise I'll bring it back tomorrow."
Seamus nodded. "Take it. I trust you, Gabe."
"Are you serious?" Gabriel asked. "I was just kidding."
"You know where the keys are," Seamus told him.
"Wow," Gabriel said. "Thanks Dad. This is going to be so cool!"
Seamus hugged him. "I'd do anything for you, Gabriel. I hope you know that."
"I know," Gabriel hugged him back. "Thanks Dad. For everything. I know it's only been about a year but--"
"It's been an adjustment for both of us, but I'm really happy that you came into my life," Seamus said.
"I am too," Gabriel said. "You and Lavender... well you've been amazing."
Seamus smiled. It was good to see his son smiling and not being so angry at the world. Seamus picked up his son's suitcase and carried it out toward the garage.
"I'll call and let you know a good night for dinner," Gabriel said as he grabbed the keys off the hook.
"Okay," Seamus said. "Thank you for spending the holiday with us, son."
"Thanks for helping me get back for the game," Gabriel said. "It meant a lot to Grandpa."
"It meant a lot to me too," Seamus said. "And maybe your grandfather and I are a bit closer because of it."
"I hope so," Gabriel hugged him again. "I love you Dad."
"Love you too," Seamus said clapping him on the back. He couldn't put into words what it meant for him to have his son call him "Dad".
"I'll see you soon," Gabriel sent him a grin before sliding into the car.
Seamus nodded. "Drive safe."
"I will," Gabriel grinned at him before backing the car out and driving away.
Seamus watched him go and couldn't help but smile.
Gabriel was the best thing that had happened to him, even over his wife. And he was glad that his son had accepted the way things were and that they were able to have a strong relationship now.
He did wish that he could go back and change things so he would have known sooner, but this was the way things were. He couldn't turn back time, but he could make up for the time he'd lost. He hoped that in some way he had done that.
*** *** ***
It was nearing the end of the year, and Julie found herself quite swamped with essays and exams while most of her students prepared themselves for OWLS and NEWTS.
She was absorbed in grading when she heard a light knock on her door.
Oliver was standing there holding a stack of files. They'd been going over some of the prefect choices for next term and despite their plans to go over the candidates together, they'd conducted most of their correspondence by owl. "I finished with these," Oliver said politely.
"Oh," Julie said, rising from her chair. "Um... thanks. I'll look over them too."
Oliver nodded and handed the folders to Julie. He avoided looking at her.
"Thanks," Julie murmured.
Oliver turned for the door.
"Oliver?" Julie asked. "Wait..."
"Yeah?" Oliver asked.
"I um... I miss you," Julie said, her face a bit red. "We were good friends and now we hardly talk."
"I thought it was for the best," Oliver said finally looking properly at her. "The last thing I wanted to do was make you feel awkward and tense around me and I don't want you to leave Hogwarts, Julie. You're the best professor here."
"I'm not going to leave," Julie replied. "And I'm not going to step down as Deputy Headmistress."
Oliver smiled genuinely at her. "I'm glad, Julie."
Julie smiled back at him. "That is of course, as long as you plan on staying as Headmaster. You've done a great job this year."
"I'm not going anywhere," Oliver reassured her. "It's been a tough first year, but I think I can make a difference."
"You already have," Julie assured him. "Not that Dumbledore wasn't wonderful, but you've modernised things a bit here. You've made students think of their life beyond Hogwarts by bringing in former students."
"I couldn't have done it without you," Oliver said leaning against the door. "You and Professor Snape, of course."
"Of course," Julie deadpanned. "He just loves working as a team."
"He and I have really bonded this year," Oliver said with a grin.
"As have I," Julie said. "He's..."
"Right behind you," Snape interjected from the doorway. He glared at Oliver. "Sorry to interrupt your little rendezvous.'
Julie looked at Oliver and rolled her eyes, biting back a grin. "Can we help you?" she asked coolly.
"Professor Malfoy," Snape drawled. "I thought you might like to know that your little sister is serving detention with me for the rest of the week."
"What excuse have you invented now?" Julie asked.
"She talked out of turn," Snape said. "Repeatedly."
"And for that she gets a week's detention?" Julie asked in disbelief. "Professor Snape... if I counted how many times your Slytherin students talked out of turn, they'd be in detention until they were a hundred fifty years old."
"Perhaps your punishment was a little too severe, Severus," Oliver said.
Snape looked outraged. "As usual, I cannot count on YOU," he said angrily.
"Need I remind you that I am your superior?" Oliver shot back. "And you know that as a professor you are not supposed to let your personal feelings or grudges get in the way of that duty."
"I have never--" Snape began.
"You didn't like Harry's father," Oliver interjected. "Therefore, you didn't like Harry, or Ethan, or Julie and now Saffron. They had nothing to do with that grudge you're carrying and you're acting as if they do."
Julie bit her lower lip so she wouldn't start laughing.
"If Miss Potter was talking out of turn, you were right to discipline her," Oliver continued. "But I do believe that your punishment was far too excessive."
"And what do you suggest?" Snape asked coldly.
"One day's detention should be more than enough," Oliver replied.
"Of course," Snape's lip curled up in disgust. "As always, it's your way."
"Good day, Severus," Oliver said nodding his head toward the door.
"That was brilliant," Julie said once Snape had gone. "I can't believe he was trying to give Saffy a week of detention for such a stupid reason."
"I remember your father telling me that Snape gave him detention once because he had the nerve to sneeze during class," Oliver said shaking his head.
Julie rolled her eyes. "He once gave me detention for dropping my quill."
"The crime of being a Potter," Oliver said sympathetically.
"I guess there could be worse things," Julie said dramatically.
Oliver smiled. It was nice talking and joking with her again. And he'd accepted that there could never be anything more between them.
"What are your plans for this summer?" Julie asked.
"I'm going to go home for a few weeks," Oliver said. "And then I'll be back here. How about you? Brighton?"
Julie nodded. "I'm really looking forward to spending time with Nick and the girls."
"Maya told me that Katie's doing really well," Oliver said.
"She's going to have to work at it over the summer," Julie replied. "Her teacher said if she does, she'll be at the same level as her classmates in the fall."
"That's great, Jules," Oliver said smiling at her.
"I'm so glad you recommended Maya," Julie said. "Katie really does like her."
"I'm glad it's working out for all of you," Oliver said, a tinge of sadness in his voice.
"Oliver..." Julie said softly.
"I should get back to my office," Oliver said.
"I want you to be happy too," Julie told him. "You're a good friend Oliver. I hate to see you unhappy."
"I am happy," he assured her. "I have my work and I have good friends, and I like to think that you're included in that."
"I hope so too," Julie said.
Oliver smiled at her. "I think---"
"Jules," Saffron breezed into the room, not noticing the headmaster. "You will not believe what a wanker Snape is. He has really gone overboard this time..."
"Saffy," Julie widened her eyes at her sister. "Could you knock?"
"Why?" Saffron asked. "The door was open and it's just you and me---"
"Ahem," Oliver cleared his throat. "Good evening, Miss Potter."
Saffron tensed up and turned slowly to see the headmaster. "Um, hello, Sir."
Oliver smiled at her. "I heard you had a problem with Professor Snape today?"
Saffron nodded. "How did you find out?"
"He was just up here," Julie answered.
Saffron rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm sure he told you his version of events, but you have to hear mine. We were in Potions and we were going over our lesson and Professor Snape said something wrong and all I did was ask him in Wolfsbane would be a better ingredient and he completely lost it."
"Saffy you only have a day of detention," Julie told her dryly.
"No, he gave me an entire week," Saffron told her.
"Not anymore," Oliver replied. "I thought it to be too harsh a punishment and it didn't seem as if you stepped out of line."
Saffron beamed at him. "Thank you, sir!"
Oliver chuckled. "Just be careful around him, Miss Potter."
"You can count on me," Saffron promised. "Thank you so much."
Julie smiled at her sister. "Was there anything else Saffy?"
Saffron shook her head. "I just wanted to vent is all."
"Feeling better now?" Julie asked.
"Much," Saffron said sitting down on the edge of her sister's desk.
"I'll leave you to it," Oliver said smiling at them.
"I'll get back to you on these," Julie indicated the files. "Thanks Oliver."
"Thanks again, sir," Saffron said to him.
"You're welcome Miss Potter," Oliver nodded. "Good night Jul-- Professor Malfoy."
"Good night, Professor Wood," Julie said smiling at him.
"He really got my detention down to one day?" Saffron asked.
"Yes he did," Julie replied leaning back in her chair.
"He's so cool," Saffron said. "I see why you like working with him."
"He's...he's a great man," Julie said softly. "And a wonderful friend."
Saffron smiled at her sister. "What are those?" she prodded the folders.
"Early candidates for prefects for next year," Julie said slapping Saffron's hand away before the younger girl could grab the files. "And they're confidential."
"Oh come on Jules," Saffron pleaded. "Am I in there?"
"You are already a prefect," Julie reminded her.
"But am I going to be Head Girl?" Saffron asked anxiously.
"I don't know," Julie said evasively.
"Jules," Saffron whined.
"It is between you and Mary Ellen Ward," Julie finally relented.
"That cow?" Saffron scoffed. "I'm better than she is!"
"Saffron," Julie admonished.
"I am!" Saffron claimed. "Come on Julie..."
"Saffy, I don't have a say here," Julie replied in exasperation.
"But you have to have heard something," Saffron pleaded. "I've been working for this from the moment I was sorted into Gryffindor. You know how it feels---you were Head Girl, too."
"I am not at liberty to say anything," Julie held up a hand. "Saffy you know that."
"I wouldn't tell anyone," Saffron promised.
"I know you," Julie said with a laugh. "If you found out that you were Head Girl, you would run out of here doing cartwheels down the corridor before rubbing it in Mary Ellen's face."
"I would not," Saffron blushed.
"I remember a certain nine year old who won her school's science fair and celebrated by standing in front of the second place winner and saying and I quote, "In your face!'," Julie countered.
"I was nine!" Saffron protested, giggling at the memory. "And she was a stupid cow!"
"You made her cry!" Julie exclaimed.
Saffron sighed. "Okay, okay... I'll wait until the end of summer hols. But if I die from it--"
Julie smiled and shook her head. "You are too much, Saffron Grace."
"I try," Saffron grinned at her sister. "How are my nieces?"
"They're doing well," Julie replied. "Katie's doing well with her tutor and Ash is working on some new sketches."
"I'm so excited about Ash being here next year," Saffron said.
"She is too," Julie said. "And I know it will be great for her to have you around."
"She'll love it here. I can see her sitting outside on weekends doing sketches of the castle." Saffron grinned.
"Where does the time go?" Julie asked. "My little girl is starting Hogwarts next year. You'll be starting your last year. And Katie's going to rule the world before we know what's happening."
"Katie will rule the world once I step down," Saffron said craftily.
"If you get the chance, you'd never step down," Julie said mussing her sister's hair.
"Kind of like Mum," Saffron replied.
"She's never going to retire," Julie said.
Saffron shook her head. "I'm really excited about Brighton this year too. It'll be fun to have Will, Frankie and Hannah there this time."
"Only a few more weeks," Julie said grinning at her.
"I really can't wait to see Andrew," Saffron said. "And to NOT have RJ there at Brighton. That's the best part."
"Saffron, when are you going to get over that?" Julie asked her.
Saffron rolled her eyes. "I'm over it! I just don't like him!"
"And he just so happens to be your boyfriend's best friend," Julie reminded her.
"Which is about the only sore part about our relationship," Saffron said sourly.
"Yes, well you need to find some way to peacefully co-exist with him or your relationship with Andrew will suffer because of it," Julie counselled.
Saffron sat back in her chair. "I don't know why he can't just fly off somewhere and never come back," she grumbled.
"Saffron, like it or not, he's Uncle Ron and Aunt Luna's son," Julie told her. "And he's mum and dad's godson."
When her sister was silent, Julie pursued on a bit further.
"Alexa isn't holding a grudge, is she? She's moved on with Gabriel now. No one is hanging onto this but you, Saffy."
"Jules," Saffron said biting her bottom lip. "He----he didn't just let Alexa down when he did this, he let me down, too."
"How so?" Julie asked.
"I'm not so sure I can explain it," Saffron said looking down at the floor. "I just---he and I always gave each other a hard time, but I thought of him like I did Ethan, Julie."
"But Ethan makes mistakes too," Julie shook her head. "We all make mistakes. Why is RJ the one to be unforgiven?"
"He just is," Saffron said defensively. "I doubt I would be able to forgive Ethan if he cheated on Maddie."
Julie sighed. "I guess it doesn't occur to you that RJ doesn't need your forgiveness, Saffron. But if you want to be happy with Andrew, you're going to have to deal with the fact that he's going to be around. It's only a matter of time before it's going to come between you if you can't just let it GO."
"I've tried," Saffron admitted. "It's just hard."
"But it shouldn't be," Julie said. "He was one of your best friends, Saffron."
"Can we talk about something else, please?" Saffron asked.
"If you like," Julie sat back.
"I should go anyway," Saffron said. "I'm meeting Peter and Alexa in the library."
"All right," Julie nodded. "Tell them hello for me."
Julie stood up and gave her sister a hug. "Think about what I said."
Saffron shrugged. "Maybe."
Julie watched her sister go and hoped that Saffron would try harder to make peace with RJ. Holding a grudge like this would only bring her pain.