More of the barbecue, as well as Audrey meeting the family. Also, for those of you who enjoy the Sims, expect an update as soon as the new version of SimPE comes out- which is what I use to package them up for you lot. Hope you enjoy!
"I'm starving," Saffron said. "Kissing you makes me work up an appetite."
"Your dad's over at the grill," Andrew said.
"Then we know the food's going to be good," Saffron said, leading him over.
"There's the Head Girl," Harry said smiling at his daughter.
Saffron grinned at him. "Are you making me a burger?"
"With extra cheese," Harry said. "Hello, Andrew. We're glad you could make it."
"Thank you sir," Andrew shook his hand. "I'm glad to be here."
Neville walked over with Cho. "I understand that congratulations are in order."
Saffron beamed at him. "Thanks, Uncle Neville."
"We're very proud of you, Saffy." Cho gave her a hug. "We knew you could do it."
"Thanks, Aunt Cho," Saffron said. "It was touch and go for awhile, but I'm glad I could pull it out."
"One step closer to being Minister?" Neville joked.
"No thanks," Saffron said with a grin. "I want to play Quidditch. It's all I've ever wanted to do."
"She certainly didn't get that from her mother," Harry said putting cheeseburgers on both Andrew and Saffron's plates. Andrew waved at someone who'd just walked through the front gate and Saffron followed his gaze. There was RJ walking in as if he owned the place with a pretty brunette.
Her eyes narrowed but she bit her tongue. She could dislike RJ all she wanted on the inside, but now that she'd just gotten Andrew back, she didn't want to push him away again.
RJ took Audrey's hand and led her over to where his parents were sitting.
"Mum, Dad." RJ smiled at his parents. "I want you both to meet Audrey."
"Audrey Marlowe," Audrey said extending her hand to Ron. "It's lovely to meet you both. RJ's told me so much about you."
"It's lovely to meet you as well," Ron said warmly.
Luna smiled at the young woman. "We're so glad you could make it."
"RJ's been telling me stories about his family," Audrey said with a grin. "So I decided to come check it out for myself."
"Only believe the good stuff," Ron said.
"UNCLE RJ!" Emma squealed running toward him.
"Em!" RJ scooped her up. "How's my favourite goddaughter?"
"I missed you soooooooooooooooooooo much!" Emma exclaimed throwing her arms around his neck.
"I missed you too," RJ kissed her cheek. "You remember Audrey, right?"
Emma nodded. "Hi, Odd!"
Audrey laughed. "It's nice to see you again, Emma."
"I'm gonna go play with Case, but Em be back, kay?" Emma asked clapping RJ's cheeks.
"Okay," RJ nodded, setting her down. "Did she just call you odd?" he asked Audrey.
"Probably hard to say Audrey," Audrey said watching as the little girl ran back over to her cousins.
"Why don't you introduce Audrey to the others?" Luna asked.
"I will," RJ took her hand. "Come on, let's make the rounds."
"Okay," Audrey said smiling at him.
He took her around, introducing her to Josh, Lizzy and the triplets before moving on to Drew and Darla.
"And this," RJ stopped in front of Maddie. "Is the sister that could probably tell you a life's worth of embarrassing stories about me, but since she's my favourite, she won't say a word. Mads, I want you to meet Audrey."
Maddie grinned. "He's such a flatterer. Hello, Audrey. It's really nice to meet you."
"You too," Audrey shook her hand. "RJ speaks quite highly of you, actually. Now I think I know why." she added with a grin.
"This is my husband, Ethan," Maddie said linking arms with her husband.
"Hello," Ethan said. "I'd shake your hand, but this plate is mine, and these two are my wife's."
Audrey laughed.
"We'd better get some food before it's all gone then," RJ said. "Come on, Audrey. I'll introduce you to my Uncle Harry."
"Okay," Audrey slipped her hand back into his. "Your family really is great, RJ."
"I'm glad you like them," RJ said grinning at her.
Alexa and Gabriel had just stepped outside on the porch and Alexa stopped when she saw RJ with the brunette girl.
"Come on," Gabriel hadn't noticed them yet. "The food's almost gone already."
"Um," Alexa hesitated. She wasn't so sure she wanted to get in the queue behind RJ and his new girlfriend. "Okay."
Gabriel squeezed her hand. "I'm starving."
She and Gabriel took their places in the queue behind Nick and Julie.
"And this is my Uncle Harry," Alexa could hear RJ saying to Audrey.
"Hello Audrey," Harry shook her hand. "I'm glad you came tonight to join us."
"Thank you for the invitation," Audrey replied. "You have a lovely beach house, Mr. Potter."
"Thank you," Harry said. "What can I get you from the grill?"
"Chicken would be great," Audrey replied. "Thank you."
Gabriel nudged his girlfriend. "Earth to Alexa....come in, Miss O'Leary."
"What?" Alexa asked. "Sorry... did you say something?"
"I asked if you wanted to sit with my dad and Lavender of if you wanted to sit with Andrew and Saf," Gabriel told her.
"Oh, I don't care." Alexa smiled at him. "You pick."
"Put all the pressure on me, then," Gabriel said. "Well, since I haven't seen them all day, how about we sit with my dad and Lav?"
"Sure," Alexa gave him a quick kiss. "That sounds good."
Audrey and RJ finished talking with Harry and Audrey spotted Andrew sitting at one of the picnic tables. "How about we sit with Andrew?"
"Um...." RJ looked at the brown haired girl sitting next to him. "That may not be such a good idea."
"Come on," Audrey said nudging him with her elbow. "We should at least say hello."
Before he could stop her, Audrey walked in Andrew and Saffron's direction.
"Hey Andrew," Audrey said. "How's it going?"
"Good," Andrew said smiling at her. "How was the drive up?"
"Gorgeous," Audrey replied. "I don't think I ever saw so much ocean!"
"I didn't realise you had a car," Saffron said not looking in RJ's direction.
"I borrowed one," RJ answered, surprised she was speaking to him. "Um... congrats on the Head Girl position."
"Thank you," Saffron said quietly.
"Audrey, this is my girlfriend, Saffy," Andrew said. "Saffy, this is Audrey Marlowe."
"Hi," Saffron offered the girl her hand.
Audrey shook it. "Nice to meet you, Saffy."
Saffron gave her a little smile and sat back down next to Andrew.
"We'll catch up with you later," RJ said. "Come on, Audrey. We can sit with Jon and Allie."
"Okay," Audrey answered. "Nice to meet you, Saffy and good to see you again, Andrew."
"Nice to meet you too," Saffron said.
"Thank you," Andrew said once Audrey and RJ were out of earshot. "I appreciate that."
Saffron shrugged. "I said I'd be nice."
He gave her a kiss. "And I appreciate you sticking to that."
"I expect to be rewarded for my good behaviour," Saffron said grabbing a crisp and stuffing it into his mouth.
"You will be," he answered. "Big time rewarded."
Saffron grinned. "I like the sound of that."
"Starting just as soon as dinner's over," Andrew leaned in.
"Eat fast," Saffron said before giving him a kiss.
"So we had to delay shooting for an hour," Seamus was telling his son, Alexa and Lavender.
"Because she wouldn't come out of her trailer?" Lavender asked with disdain. "I can't believe how high maintenance some people are!"
Seamus grinned. "Because you're not high maintenance at all, are you dear?"
"Absolutely not," Lavender said before taking a sip of her juice. "Absolutely not."
"So those seven suitcases you brought were because you're low maintenance?" Seamus continued to tease.
"Four of those had designs and fabrics that I brought from the States," Lavender said defensively.
"Okay," Seamus said, still grinning.
Lavender looked at Gabriel.
"No comment," Gabriel said with a grin.
"See," Lavender said pointedly. "Your son is smart. He knows when to keep his mouth closed."
"My son feels the same way," Seamus said. "He's just trying to be tactful."
"Again, no comment," Gabriel sat back and put his arm around his girlfriend.
Alexa laughed. "I'm going to get another drink. Does anyone want anything?"
"An iced tea would be fantastic," Lavender replied. "Thank you, Alexa."
"I'll be right back," Alexa said getting to her feet. She made her way over to the drinks table set up off to the side. She grabbed a soda for herself and was in the process of pouring Lavender some ice tea when to her dismay she saw RJ and Audrey heading in her direction.
She wondered if she should turn to try and avoid them but they were right next to her in a moment.
"Hiya, Lexie," RJ said giving her a slight smile.
"Hi," she said quietly. "Um... how are you?"
"I'm well," RJ said. "And how are you?"
"Good," Alexa nodded. "Just getting some refills."
Audrey smiled politely at her. "That's a really pretty blouse."
"Thank you," Alexa smoothed it down self consciously. She stuck her hand out. "I'm Alexa O'Leary. It's nice to meet you."
"Audrey Marlowe," Audrey shaking her hand. "Um, RJ, how about I get our drinks and you meet me back at the table?"
"Sure," RJ smiled at her. "Thanks Audrey."
Audrey grabbed a couple of sodas and headed back for their table.
Alexa looked down at the grass, unsure of what to say. This shouldn't bother her, but for some reason it did.
"How have you been?" RJ asked.
"I've been good," Alexa replied. "Just enjoying the holiday."
"I heard Saffron got Head Girl," RJ said. "Hope it doesn't go to her head."
Alexa smiled. "It's her first step to world domination, you know that."
"I'm probably in big trouble then," RJ joked.
Alexa laughed. "You always could make me laugh."
"Good to know I haven't lost my touch," RJ said with a grin. "I'm glad to see you're happy, Lex."
"Thanks," Alexa said softly. "I'm really glad you're happy too. She seems nice."
"She is," RJ looked over at Audrey, who was laughing at some story Allison was no doubt telling about Jon.
"Are you getting ready for your new season?" Alexa asked.
"We start up again in a few weeks," RJ nodded. "Thank goodness I'm not the rookie this year. Don't think I could handle that again."
"You'll go easy on the rookies though since you know what it was like, right?" Alexa asked. "Um...wait, no, you won't. You'll be brutal..."
"I hope I wouldn't be as bad as Scanlon," RJ said ruefully.
"You're nowhere near as bad as he was," Alexa said smiling at him. "You're one of the good guys."
"Now I am," RJ said. "Last year around this time, I'm not so sure I was."
"You got lost, but you found your way back," Alexa said.
RJ nodded. He looked back towards Gabriel. "He's treating you okay?"
Alexa smiled. "Yes, he is. He's one of the good ones, too."
"I'm glad," RJ said. "He's lucky."
"I should get back," Alexa said. "I'm sure you want to get back to Audrey."
"Yeah," RJ nodded. "I should."
"I'll see you later," Alexa said smiling at him before heading back to her table.
"Sorry that took so long," Alexa handed Lavender the iced tea.
"Everything okay?" Gabriel asked her.
Alexa nodded and slid back in next to him. "Just fine," she smiled at him before giving him a chaste kiss.
RJ sat back down beside Audrey, who smiled at him. "So, what's this hear about you being a fairy?"
He groaned. "Jon, dammit..."
"I think it's cute," Audrey reassured him.
"Does nothing for my ego," RJ glared at his older brother.
"She asked for me to tell her a funny story about you when you were a kid," Jon said defensively.
"She pulled it out of him, RJ," Allison said.
RJ shook his head. "Suddenly I think I need a beer."
"Oh get over yourself," Audrey said nudging him. "We all have those embarrassing things in our past. When you meet my mum and dad they'll tell you some things about me and we'll be even."
"Oh and I'll be writing them down," RJ teased. "Publish a bloody novel on you."
Jon put an arm around his wife. "We grew up together so we pretty much saw each other's humiliations."
"You never wanted to take a bath," Allison remembered. "Least of all with me."
RJ smirked at his brother. "Imagine that..."
"Thanks, Al," Jon said dryly.
"Your menu continues to be a hit, Allie," Audrey said. "Vic's thrilled."
"I'm glad," Allison said. "I have a few new recipes to share with her when we go back."
"I think I've sampled everything on there at least once," RJ said.
"Once in RJ speak means about ten times." Jon explained to Audrey.
"So I've learned," Audrey said.
RJ sat back his arm along the bench and Audrey leaned against him. He liked how well she fit next to him. In fact, the more he got to know this girl and the more he saw of her, the more he wanted to date her.
Maddie also noticed how much happier her younger brother looked. She was keeping an eye on the triplets with Ethan while Lizzy and Josh ate.
"Aidan, will you dance with your Aunt Maddie?" Maddie asked the little boy who shook his head.
"Please?" Maddie pleaded dramatically.
"No Mad," Aidan said.
Maddie pouted at him. "Pretty, pretty please, Aidan?"
"Me!" Casey exclaimed. "Me dance!"
"Oh, I'll just go dance with Casey then," Maddie pinched Aidan's cheek.
"The boys and I will do manly things," Ethan said sitting down on the grass with the two boys.
"E!" Noah waved to him. "Play here!"
Ethan moved over beside Noah. "Okay, Noah. What are we going to play with? The trucks?"
Noah nodded. "Vroom!"
Ethan chuckled. "What do you say you get a truck, I get a truck and Aidan gets a truck and we race them?"
"Race!" Noah shouted happily.
"All right then," Ethan gathered up a few of the toy trucks. "Come on over here Aidan!"
Maddie looked at Casey. "Why must boys always race, Casey?"
"Don't know?" Casey said innocently.
Maddie kissed Casey's cheek. "How about I show you mine and Ethan's dance?"
"Kay, Mad." Casey giggled.
Maddie took Casey's arm and held it out with hers. "Okay, we're going to move really fast and at the count of three, you say 'Cha-Cha-Cha'. Do you think you can do that?"
"Cha- cha..." Casey echoed.
"Good," Maddie said grinning at her. "Okay...here we go..."
She set off across the yard with Casey in her arms. "One...two...three...."
"Cha- cha!" Casey sang happily. "Cha- cha!"
Maddie giggled. "Okay...we're going to go in the other direction...."
Casey was laughing. "Mad dance good!"
"One...two...three...." Maddie said moving with the toddler across the grass toward Ethan and the boys again. "Sing it, Casey!"
"Cha- Cha!" Casey was laughing uncontrollably.
"Shall we sit down?" Maddie asked already knowing Casey would want to go again.
"No!" Casey said. "Cha-cha Mad!"
"Okay," Maddie said. "Once more with feeling!"
Ethan grinned as he looked up from the race to watch his wife. It had taken him by surprise when she'd voiced her desire to have children now, but he knew she'd make a wonderful mother. And as long as they were doing it together, he knew he'd be fine.
Saffron spotted Sean walking into the yard and she excused herself from Andrew to say hello to him.
"Glad you made it," she said. "There's still a little food left."
"Thanks," Sean said giving her a hug. "How are you holding up?"
"Great," Saffron said. "Andrew's here."
"You made up then?" Sean asked.
Saffron nodded. "We did." she couldn't contain her smile. "Plus I got Head Girl!"
Sean grinned. "Saffy! Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Saffron gave him another hug.
"I don't want to intrude on your reunion," Sean said.
"It's okay," Saffron said. "You shouldn't miss it when my dad grills."
"I'll grab something and catch up to you," Sean said grinning at her.
"Alright," Saffron smiled back. "I'm just over there."
Someone turned on some music and Saffron smiled when she saw some of her family and friends getting up to dance. She felt so happy tonight. It was as if everything had finally come together and nothing in the world could go wrong.
"Hey you," Andrew came up behind her. "Why don't we show them a few moves?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Saffron said taking his hand.
"I'm just glad it's a slow song," he said pulling her close. "Gives me a chance to hold you like this."
Saffron rested her head on his shoulder. "I missed this."
"I did too," he said softly. "I love you, Saf. I can see myself spending the rest of my life with you."
Saffron smiled up at him. "You can?"
"Yeah," he looked at her. "I can..."
"I want that too," Saffron said happily. "Starting a family someday..."
"Maybe once you get out of school, we can talk about this," Andrew said softly.
"I wish I was out of school now," Saffron said giving him a kiss.
"One more year," Andrew touched his forehead to hers. "Then we can be together all the time."
"I can't wait," Saffron said softly.
"Me either," Andrew kissed her again. "Let's sneak away for that walk in a little bit..."
Saffron smiled. "Okay, but we should hang out with Sean for a bit. I don't want him to feel left out."
"Sure," Andrew nodded. "Where is he?"
"Sitting at our table," Saffron said. "Come on."
"Right," Andrew squeezed her hand.
"Ron!" Harry called out. "Do you mind taking over at the grill while I dance with my wife?"
"I suppose I could," Ron answered. "Gives me first dibs on everything."
"There's not much left," Harry said. "But you can have at it."
"There's some ribs here," Ron rubbed his hands together. "I'll take those."
Harry shook his head and took off to find his wife.
"Hello gorgeous," he said in a low voice when he found her. "Fancy a spin around the deck with your dashing husband?"
"Some people might say we're too old for that," Hermione said hiding a grin.
"Old," Harry scoffed. "I'll only be old when I'm in the ground."
Hermione smiled at him. "Let's dance then."
"Let's stay right here," he said. "Quieter... and I can kiss you like we're twenty all over again."
Hermione put her arms around his neck. "I like that idea."
The evening progressed very nicely without much incident. Josh and Jon announced they'd be setting off fireworks in a bit and the younger kids gathered around a small fire that Ron had started.
Alexa smiled at her best friend. She was so happy for her that she and Andrew had reunited.
Saffron grinned back. "It's been a good night," she moved over next to her.
"Especially for you," Alexa said. "I knew you and Andrew would work through this."
"I promised to be nice to RJ," Saffron said. "And... don't' tell anyone this, but it's not as hard as I thought."
"I'm glad," Alexa said chancing a look over her shoulder at RJ and Audrey who were talking with Ron and Luna. Alexa felt a stab of jealousy when she saw him put an arm around the other girl.
Saffron followed her glance. "She's nice," she offered.
"Yeah," Alexa said. "I'm going to go inside and get a jumper. Do you want one, too? It's a little chilly."
"Sure," Saffron nodded. "Thanks Lexie."
"I'll be right back," Alexa said excusing herself.
Saffron moved back next to her boyfriend.
"Where'd you go?" Andrew asked, putting his arm around her.
"To talk to Lex," Saffron said. "She's gone to get us jumpers since it's a little cool out here since the sun went down."
"I'll warm you up," Andrew pulled her closer. "Better than any jumper could."
"I thought you might be able to," Saffron said closing her eyes as they snuggled.
Meanwhile, Sean had ambled over to where Audrey was sitting. RJ had gone to get them some marshmallows to roast on the fire. "Hi," he said. "I'm Sean Grant."
"Hi," Audrey said shaking his hand. "Audrey Marlowe."
"First time at one of these?" Sean asked.
Audrey nodded. "Yes and I'm hoping there's not a quiz at the end of the night. There's so many people."
Sean laughed. "What's even crazier is they're all related in some way."
"RJ was telling me that the families have been friends for years," Audrey said.
Sean nodded. "Saffron's parents own this place- usually RJ's mum and dad are around as well, but this year they just showed up for the weekend."
"You sound as if you know them all pretty well," Audrey commented.
"I used to date Saffron," Sean told her. "Just for a summer... but we've stayed friends and I see her every year here."
"Oh," Audrey said smiling at him. "That's great that you can still be friends."
Sean nodded. "And it didn't even take me long to get over the magic thing- my cousin used to go to the same school as them."
If Audrey heard the part about magic, she didn't let on. "But you didn't go to school with them?"
"No," Sean shook his head. "I'm what they call a Muggle."
"A what?" Audrey asked.
"Muggle," Sean said. "You know, us non magic people."
Audrey raised an eyebrow at him. "Non-magic people?"
Sean nodded. "No one told you?"
"Told me what?" Audrey asked.
"Everyone here, except for Gabriel, is magical," Sean said. "You know---witches and wizards? Spells and all that?"
"Really..." Audrey said slowly.
"Yeah..." Sean clamped his mouth shut. "I have the feeling I just said something I shouldn't have."
Audrey wondered if perhaps Sean had been drinking something. Things like that didn't exist except in movies and on the television and in story books.
"I'm sorry," Sean stood up. "I thought RJ told you..."
Audrey still thought he must have been drinking, but she saw something off in the distance that made her stop in her tracks. She saw RJ's father disappear. One moment he was standing by the grill and the next thing she knew he appeared right behind Luna who was all the way on the other end of the yard.
She thought Luna might scream or something but she only laughed and swatted Ron on the shoulder.
"There you are," RJ said, coming up behind her. "Got you a drink."
"Get away from me," Audrey said backing away.
"What?" RJ asked in confusion. "Audrey--"
"What are you?" Audrey demanded.
"What am I?" he shook his head. "I don't understand--"
Audrey just shook her head and headed for the front of the house. She wanted to get as far away from him as possible.
"Wait a minute," RJ followed her "Audrey, what's going on?"
"You tell me," Audrey said quickening her step. She wondered if she could catch a train back to London.
"I don't know," RJ said in exasperation.
"M-magic?" Audrey stammered.
RJ sighed. "I was going to tell you--"
"When?" Audrey asked. "You know what? It doesn't matter. We've been seeing each other for some time now. You had plenty of time to tell me your little secret, but instead you bring me here and----"
"I was going to tell you on our way back," RJ reached for her hand. "Audrey, please--"
"LET GO OF ME!" Audrey exclaimed. "I never want to see you again!"
"You can't go back by yourself," he protested. "Please let me explain here."
She shook her head. "You think I'd go anywhere with you? There's---there's no telling what you'd do!"
"Magic isn't a bad thing!" he exclaimed. "We do a lot of good with it. If you'll just let me tell you about it--"
"Like you were going to tell me about it when we started seeing each other?" Audrey asked.
"I swear, I was going to tell you tonight when we drove back." RJ pleaded. "Audrey don't leave..."
She shook her head, tears in her eyes. "Everyone in there is magical?"
"Everyone but Sean," he admitted. "And Gabriel…"
"Jon, Allie---they all lied," Audrey said quietly.
"No one lied," RJ said. "Not even Vic knows about Jon having magical abilities... and I asked them all to let me tell you."
Audrey spotted Sean walking by. She figured she could trust him if he wasn't magical. "Sean? Can you please give me a ride to the train station?"
"What?" Sean asked. "Um... sure...."
"Audrey---" RJ said. "I can take you there---"
"Leave me alone," Audrey said coldly, walking away with Sean.
"Damn it!" RJ cursed kicking the fencepost with his foot. How had she found out?
He could only think of one person that hated him enough to try and wreck his relationship.
RJ headed toward the backyard, nearly colliding with Maddie. "RJ, what's going on?"
"Saffron," RJ snapped. "She told Audrey about magic, and she just left!"
"What?" Maddie asked taken aback. "RJ---"
"She's the only person who would have told," RJ said angrily.
"RJ, wait!" Maddie called after him, but he'd already spotted the brunette.
Saffron was laughing when RJ stormed up. "Having a go at me?" he spat.
"What are you talking about?" Saffron asked, the smile falling from her face.
"You told Audrey about magic and she left," RJ yelled. "Happy now?"
Saffron laughed. "RJ, believe it or not, the world doesn't revolve around you. I haven't spoken to your girlfriend since you introduced us..."
"Why would I believe anything you say?" RJ asked, his arms crossed.
"Hey, mate," Andrew said joining them. "What's going on?"
"Ask your bloody girlfriend," RJ replied tersely.
"Saffy?" Andrew asked.
Saffron shrugged. "RJ's pissed because he thinks I told his girlfriend that we're all magical."
"I don't think," RJ glared at her. "I know you did. You're the only one here who would rat me out, Saf."
Andrew looked back and forth between his girlfriend and best friend. "Saffron- you wouldn't do that, would you?"
Saffron stared in disbelief at Andrew. "You can't honestly think I would do something like that, Andrew!"
He didn't want to believe that, but RJ was positively seething.
"Andrew?" Saffron asked.
"I don't know," he said uncertainly. "You were gone earlier for a little while..."
Saffron looked at him as if he'd slapped her. No matter what she felt toward RJ, she wouldn't have done something like that to him. A crowd was now gathering around them and everyone seemed to be looking at her with suspicion. "Andrew, come on. You know me."
"I thought I did too," RJ snapped. "At one point."
"I might not like you, RJ, but I promised I'd be civil to you and I kept that promise," Saffron said glaring at them. "But it's nice to know you believe the worst of me!"
"How can I not when you've only shown me the worst," RJ crossed his arms.
"Who else would have told her?" Andrew asked, trying to keep a reasonable amount sanity in the conversation.
"I didn't bloody tell her!" Saffron exclaimed. "But it doesn't matter what I say, does it? You're going to believe what you want to. I'm going inside."
She stormed through everyone and slammed the door behind her. Andrew followed. "Saffy--"