[park] familiar grounds [tatum]

The streets were empty as he stepped outside of Aces & Six. "Niko, get a coffee or something I'm not going far." He didn't wait for an answer from the other man as he started down the street. He knew the importance of Niko's presence, but sometimes he made Aeric seem unapproachable. As he walked down the familiar streets he thought about everything that had happened since he had taken over the family. So much change in such a small period of time put weight on his heart. It would seem that things had died down, but the injuries sustained by those close to him was still fresh on his mind.

A cool breeze picked up around him giving relief from the sun. He loved the spring. It was the one time where the weather was more than likely moderate. Not too hot and not too cold, just right. Aeric's body shifted to walk towards the park, it was a nice enough day to go. If a man wanted to think, a park was the place to do it. Being there made him think of Sky. He was with Dom camping with the rest of the younger boys in the family. His life had changed a lot, it was crazy when her thought about just how much it really had. He was a father. Something he had thought about a lot. Skylar had come into his life suddenly.

A son he had never knew existed. When Saffron had come to him with the news he thought she was joking. He remembered thinking about what kind of father he would be. He wondered if his son would like him? Seeing Skylar for the time was an indescribable experience for him. He was a father, and a good one at that. Being around his son had someone given him the compassion he had lacked over the years. He was a gentler person. Even now in the wake of being left he was still functioning. He was finally accepting the fact that Ivana was gone.

Green eyes followed a woman walking her dog as he moved to sit on a bench. The park was quiet, not what he would have expected from one. There was a gentle laughter from kids not too far away. It was nice sometimes to watch other people go about their day. They always looked as if something important was always about to happen. Maybe it was, there was really no telling. Sitting back on the bench he let his eyes close for a moment. He was finally somewhere that didn't remind him of work.

It seemed nearly everyday this was where he found himself. Sitting on the same bench for a few hours just enjoying the moment. After some time Niko would show up and Aeric would go home to work. For now he would simply the stillness that seemed to surround him. He didn't think about his issues with work or family. He didn't worry about the strains in his life. No, he enjoyed the fresh air and watched people. Taking a deep breath he turned to look in the other direction when he saw her. He wasn't sure what it was but she caught his attention. He watched her for a few seconds before finally standing. Dropping his gaze he frowned when he realized he'd left his watch.

There was really no telling how long he had been gone. It had been a few hours, the temperature had dropped while he had been thinking. The sun wasn't directly above him anymore. "Hi." He spoke as he moved to step in the woman's path. "You wouldn't happen to have the time would you?" There was something familiar about her. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Today was yet another busy day for Tatum Atherton. She had a drop off at a local book store. They needed delivery owls and someone to eat the mice that seemed to over ran their store. For once Tatum brought he new puppy on her run. She probably looked like some crazy animal lady. A bird was located in each other, flapping wildly, and then a hyper active husky mix puppy who was basically being dragged by the leash by this busy lady. Tatum made it to the store dropping off the birds and having them sign the proper paper work. She was glad her business was taking off more. Most people were wanting these custom trained owls for their companies. She was starting to put loving birds wherever she could. She was beginning to think to put an ad in a newspaper but she needed to extend her company a little more, like hiring someone else to help with the birds. Tate did not trust anybody though.

The puppy was prancing and acting like he was needed to go to the bathroom. Maybe it was time for both of them to get some lunch and go the park. Tate was going to take him to the bathroom first before she stopped by anywhere to get food. She picked some feathers off of her shirt and adjusted her satchel and made her way to the park.

It was extremely nice out today. She was tempted to let the little thing off the leash but she was still working on training him. She never knew having a husky was so much work. He at least scared the cats away from eating her precious little birds. Most of the time yapping helped. He was to small to do much else. As she walked and enjoyed the park, she was stopped suddenly by a man asking for the time. He looked very familiar. As she glanced at her watch, she brushed some magenta hair out of her face... looking back up at him. "Its around four." She smiled gently. Just as she done that the puppy went to the man and licked his shoe. "Uh- sorry... he's very friendly." She tugged his leash back and bent down to pet his head slightly. As she moved back up, she raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you?"

There he stood staring at her, speechless. He could remember her from school so clearly it scared even him. He had a thing for faces, he remembered them. He gave her a smile before taking a slightly step back to look at her better. "Wow, I think we went to school together." He had been a party boy in those days. Now not so much, it was more business than anything now. "No need to worry about the puppy, I have a dog of my own I know they can do what they want sometimes." That was it he remembered her name, but just to make sure he didn't make a fool of himself he opted for a introduction.

"Aeric. Aeric Regan." His hand came out to shake hers. He could remember her from the common room. She had caught his eye a few times during school. "I never expect to run into someone from school, I don't know why though. I have to say in this case I'm happy with who I bumped into." He was sure she might have been a friend of someone he dated. Well if one would call his tactics back then dating. Many girls had been left in tears, it was strange how things had changed.

"Cute puppy too by the way." He bent as he said it to pet the dog and get a better look at him. Suddenly he didn't know what to say. He had always been good with conversation but there he was again staring at her like a fool. His eyes traced the locks of hair that traced her face for a moment. "Uh...I'm usually good at catching up but um..." He shrugged a little. "I seem to be on the nervous side of things." Now that was the most unusual. What had happened to him?

"You were in my house, Slytherin." Many people came from her house. Good and bad. She had a few people tease her about her blood state when she was going to Hogwarts. Mudblood as they would call her. They did not think she deserved to be in a prestigious house like that with her blood state. Most of the time she joked them off and went off to find some liquor with the boys. She was pretty sure she drank with this kid some time or another. It was hard to remember school. After everything that happened there after she left she was glad she left when she did... or she would not be standing around now. She smiled as he mentioned having animals of his own. Well, that was relaxing. Puppies were hectic and worse around non-animal lovers. "He always does what he wants... little guy has a big personality."

As he put his hand out, she stared at it for a second and then placed hers within his for a shake. "Regan. There are so many of you..." She smirked, then continued. "Tatum Atherton. Call me Tate." Tate really never thought she would run into many people from school, but most of her time was spent around birds. She did have an owlery in Hogsmeade, which did not help she always had students coming over there to see her birds. Old students was rare. "Well glad I could make you happy." She chuckled gently. Tate was horrible around guys. She was always awkward or just plain violent. She was raised with all boys. She was even a twin to a boy. Tatum was named thinking she was going to be a boy.... just she never was blessed to even being close to lady like.

Tatum watched as he pet the dog. He wagged back in response. "He likes you. Oh- his name is Pepper. I did not introduce him." She named him Pepper only because he looked like he had pepper spilled all over him. He was gorgeous. She could not pass him up. "I am still getting used to dogs. I am more of a bird person."

Why was he staring at her? Tate was wondering if she had feathers still in her hair. Oh Merlin- she probably did. As she touched her hair searching for feathers, she listened to him say that he seemed nervous. She probably seemed like an idiot as she felt for feathers. Tate did manage to find one and quickly dropped it on the ground and move her hands back down with the leash. "No reason to be nervous. I don't bite and that little one just loves chasing cats." She smirked at him. Hopefully joking with him would liven him up. He was attractive, so Tate was feeling a little nervous herself. The only way to fight that was to joke and have some fun. "Do you want to go for a walk or do you have somewhere important to be?"

"Yeah." He nodded as he spoke, memories of her coming into his mind more clearly. He wouldn't say they had been friends, they had gotten drunk together a few times. He remembered because she didn't make her presence and awkward thing. She hadn't been like most girls, she had blended into the pack so to speak. Aeric liked that about her back then, he wondered if that was something that was still the same. He smiled as she spoke of her dog, he knew big personalities. Isis was a force on her own, Etain spoiled her mercilessly which made her behavior worse. But she was the best dog, extremely aware and focused when she had a task to do. She was good at announcing a person's arrival too. "I hear the ones with big personalities are the best kind to have." His own dog had been calm, still was. It fit well with Aeric though, he was a calm man himself.

He laughed softly. "Yeah I say the same thing all the time. Seems like there is a new baby every year." His family was big, bigger than he wanted to admit sometimes. But with it's vastness was it's strength. "Tate.." He had been right when he'd thought of her name, points for that. The Irishman usually wasn't good with names. "Well I'm hoping to return the favor." It had been awhile since he had been pleased to see someone. So long since he had been happy, or close to it. Maybe this encounter was what he needed to get out of his funk. She was attractive, so far the conversation was good. He'd hoped for a distraction, just hadn't expected one as appealing as her. "It's nice to officially meet, Tate." He had gotten her name from a friend in school so they had never been formally introduced.

"Pepper, it's nice to meet you too." He grinned softly. "Really, I have always found birds intriguing. Being able to fly about and be free, you know." He thought for a moment about the birds he'd seen throughout his life. No matter where they had caught his eye. He was infatuated with them as he was with dragons. He laughed at her joke, nodding as to say he would try not to be. It had been too long in his opinion since he'd spent real time with a woman. He was afraid of saying the wrong thing, or doing something stupid."Nowhere important to be." His body shifted to walk down the path as he glanced over at him. "So tell me, is life after Hogwarts all you'd thought it would be?" He wondered about that all the time. Had he done what he was supposed to do, or had he fallen short of his destiny.

It was hard at times to know what path was the right on to take. Hell, he had done some unsavory things to get to where he was. Thing he wished he could take back, well maybe a couple things. Aeric had done what he dreamed of after school; worked with dragons. Now he was doing what was needed of him, and he had to say now that he had found his own he liked it. "I mean are you doing what you thought you would, or did you go down another route?"

"The big personalities are the hardest to control." She smirked gently. That would be concerning Tate also. She had a huge personality, like her puppy, but never let anybody tell her she could not do anything. Even in school she loved doing the opposite of what she was being told. Most of the time because her housemates would call her mudblood. She would hate that name and do the opposite of what they told her to do laughing the whole way. Many girls punched or teased her, but some of the guys were her only friends because she stood up for only herself and could hold herself strong even when they would do all those things to her. "I love this little pup, as much as a pest he is." She smirked petting the puppy's head.

"There probably is..." She chuckled joking with him about the children being bored each year. As he mentioned he wanted to return the favor, she joke once more. "Well, there's a lot of things that you could do that will make you happy... I am not a very unhappy person." Usually she's the life of the party. Doing something outrageous and being noticed for it. She loved to drink and just enjoy life with loud music... sometimes to loud for other people. "Nice to meet you too, Aeric... Pepper thinks its nice to meet you too- but I am just assuming that because you won't leave you bloody alone." The puppy was sitting at his feet wagging his tail non-stop, panting with excitement. Maybe Tate should bring him on runs more often. He is usually cooped up with the birds.

"Exactly! That is why I love birds. They can fly and do anything that they wish. The views they see and everything that they can do- its amazing." As they both started to walk and he asked about Hogwarts, she thought for a moment. She never in her wildest world thought she would be here. She thought she would be locked up like most of the muggleborns- but I guess ratting people out helped her in a way. She was safe for one more day, but now she was safe for good. He changed what he said and asked another question. "Well- I own an owlery now. I did not think I'll be doing that. I thought I would be doing something nothing actually. I could never make my mind up on what I wanted to do in love. Half the time I just want to sell my owls and just travel- but that would not be responsible of me would it?" She smirked gently at the comment she made. Then drew her eyes back at him. "What about you? Everything great for you and more?" The puppy now was trying to run in between the legs of Aeric. Tate had to keep moving around him or stopping to fix the leash. She could not stand it anymore.

"One second." She bent down and unlatched the leash from him. She pulled out a small whistle and let the puppy run around. He would know when to come back and always stood close. She trusted the little thing. He just was just hyper and needed to burn off energy. "Sorry- he kept doing that. Its like he was trying to tangle us together."

She was right, containing a personality was hard. Especially when that personality was big, explosive and at times all over the place. He didn't mind too much because he enjoyed a challenge like the next man. Aeric felt that opposites always attracted, no matter the circumstances it was just a simply way of life. It made things better in his opinion. Being able to vastly different from the other person, keeping things from seemingly settling into a routine. "Yeah, but I think allowing someone to be free to be who they are is the only way to get to know them. Animals included." Being true who a person was was the most important thing to Aeric. No relationship could last when built on a lie. There was no solid foundation when things went that way.

He laughed a bit, nodding to her statement. There really was a baby born every year in his family. Well, thats how it seemed. They were all so close in age, allowing for everyone to have someone to spend time with. "Trust me, I am far too busy to do anything remotely pleasing. There always a meeting or something important to be dealt with." He glanced over at her with a smile. "Aside from those rare moments like these, where I can get away and enjoy some company." He liked Niko and all but he would chose her any day over the other man. He never spoke. It was the weirdest thing. Only twice had he heard the man ever say anything to him directly. Having some actual conversation was nice.

"Yeah, whenever I see one I always wonder where they've been and how far their about to travel." it was amazing seeing something that was free. Truly free to move about anyplace in the world. He used to wonder what that feeling would be like, but soon learned that dreaming was not for the real world. At least not the world that he lived in. He walked a dangerous path. One that had nearly taken a few of his family members in the process. "You know I think being responsible is for when you're older. I mean this is our time right? The moments where we shape our lives." His eyes were ahead of him as he moved his hand to show the expanse of a person's life.

"How can we be great if we don't take risks? If we don't simply enjoy being young? This is the time for mistakes...to fall in love and out of it. To work one job maybe two." He sighed as he thought of Sky. "When I look at my son, I think of what his life will be. What choices will define him as a man? and on the off chance they do, will the realization break him." Aeric had suffered through a lot to be where he was now. He had made choices that haunted him for the protection of those close to him. But of all the things he had done, he had never truly lived. So consumed with hatred and revenge he had missed out on the prim of his life, so to speak. There was time for that now, time to make up for what he had lost in his haze of destruction and chaos.

He chuckled softly. "Well...when I left school I did do what I loved. I worked with dragons...it was the most amazing thing." He looked over at her before shrugging. "But my family needed me more. I have younger sisters and brother who depend on me to make sure the world isn't harsh. I have dreams and wishful thinking all around me. I handle all my families business. It's long hours and stressful nights, but its for the bettering for the people I love." It was simple, he had taken the chair because he would do anything for his family. Anything without hesitation.

He paused as she untangled her dog. Grateful because he knew sooner or later he would trip and fall. He watched as the puppy shot off to enjoy his freedom. "I wouldn't say being tangled up with you would be a bad thing." He looked over at her with a smirk on his lips. "Unless....yeah not even then would it be a bad thing." He took a look around them before speaking again. "So, what guy is crazy enough to let you walk alone?"

"My parent's were very supportive of my freedom. They really let me be whosoever I want to be. It helps a little having a twin brother though. They could morph him to anything but we are all loud and exciting. Never put football with Manchester on our tellie. They go nuts." She smirked, then realized she was talking about muggle things. Hopefully he was not one of those people who were hard on muggles. It was hard being a muggleborn sometimes. She usually stood quiet about her muggle family or about muggle objects. Half the time she was so used to doing it the muggle way she preferred it. At least her parents did not go crazy when she was a witch. They knew their daughter was a free spirit and different. 

"You should get more time to enjoy yourself. If you are to busy then you'll stress out and won't be any use to those meetings. My best thinking is when I am enjoying myself. Your mind frees and you get better ideas." She smiled, "Well, that is me.... should do more of these rare moments."

"Risks are everything, but still got to be a little careful." He had a son. Tate was not a big kid person, but it was only because she really was never around them. Most of the kids she met were at Hogsmeade when she was getting owl food or dropping off something. They were always bratty to her. "How old is your son?" He was doing something she would never attempted after school, dragons. That would never be her. She was not that brave. As he cotinued about his family and taking care of them, she respected that. She probably would go take care of her family also if something happened. "Dragons are amazing. I am not that brave. I'll stick with the small flyers that don't breath fire." She smirked at him. "As long as your family appreciates it then you doing what you need to do to take care of them is the best thing in the world. Just have a little more fun," She smirked and hip bumped him. "You don't want to be a fifty year old man who works twenty-four-seven and does nothing for himself."

As he spoke about being tangled up with her wouldn't be a bad thing. That made her ears turn a pink color. "Well, it probably would've been bad if he took off with us tangled here.... probably would have someone getting hurt." She chuckled at him gently. As he looked around and asked the next question, she let out another chuckle. "Every guy..." She paused and spoke up. "The only men in my life are my big brothers. I really don't date much. I put my focus on my birds and work." Maybe she mention that half the guys see her as friend more than a girlfriend. She was going to stay quiet about it though. "You probably have a gorgeous girl waiting for you at home." He had too. He was just to attractive and nice not to have someone. Usually, Tate was cursed with liking guys who already have someone.

As he listened to her speak he realized that they had two different upbringings. His father had been a strict man. Making it a point half the time to remind Aeric that failure was never an option. Davin had been a cold man even up until the moment of his death. The former Slytherin hoped that he never turned int that kind of man. He pursed his lips slightly as she spoke of football. He had never sat down to watch it but it was one of his brother-in-law's favorite thing to watch. "I don't know much about it, but my sister's husband loves it."

He himself couldn't see the lure, not even with American football. He was sure that was what Tony called it when he made him sit through it once. It looked to exhausting to be enjoyable. "It sounds like a good idea to me.." He answered to her suggesting he enjoy himself more. He had allowed a lot to take the joy from his life. It was time to get over it even if at times it still stung a little. "But I have a dilemma. I have no one to enjoy my time with half the time because my schedule tends to be all over the place.."

It was true the Irishman barely seemed to have time to socialize let alone enjoy himself. He was watching over several businesses and running a couple all while trying to raise his son. Aeric was grateful then that his family was so big. He knew that on busy days Sky was enjoying himself because he was always surrounded by his family. He needed to loosen up, to get out more and just live his life. Ivana had chosen on her own to vanish int the night. He was slowly realizing it hadn't been anything he'd done to make her leave.

"Yeah you're right about treading carefully with risks." He knew all too well what happened when they went wrong. He had risked it all and proposed and now he wished he hadn't. It was all in the past, even if it did bug him. "Sky's four." He smiled as he thought of the growing boy he had safely tucked away at home. Sky was blossoming and soon he would be going off to Hogwarts, or at least it felt that way. "He's an amazing little kid, he teaches me more then I do him it would seem." He chuckled softly at his words.

His head moved from side to side as he nodded. "Yeah I can understand that but dragons aren't that bad to be around. Their so ... graceful despite everything we think about them." His gaze had drifted off as he thought back to his time in Romania. He might go back to catch up with the guys. "That fifty year old guy sounds like he's an angry fella." He could only imagine missing his life because work seemed more important. It was just that sometimes his work was more important, because someone times a life rested in his hands.

"You're right, but on the off chance that even then no injuries its still not a bad thing." He gave a slight shake of the head as he spoke. Being close to a beautiful woman was never bad in the man's book. "See, and here I thought I was the only overworked one." He gave her a smile before turning to walk again. "Uh...had." He cleared his throat softly. "I proposed and she...well left." He gave a shrug as he said the words and for the first time he didn't feel terribly sadden by the fact.

He looked over at her, leaning over to bump into her slightly. "We as two overworked people should maybe get together sometime this week for coffee?" He wasn't sure if he was asking her out on a date, but he was sure he wanted to spend more time with her. "I mean, how else are were going to know if the other is taking time off to relax?"

"Oh, my bloody family goes nuts over football. Half the time they are drunk and screaming, my poor mum is cleaning up after them throwing popcorn at the box." She smirked gently at him. "My family is probably as crazy as me, but they at least live a half way normal life. They respect my choice, even if I am over-worked and they think I'll never get married." Her mother is already asking for grandchildren. Tate keeps trying to escape. She had three older brothers, they can give the babies. She will just stick to her freedom and away from poopy diapers.

As he spoke about having a bad schedule. She knew how that was. Tate went where the birds would send her. If someone wanted something or a custom order she would have to travel where they were to have them get the bird and make sure they sign her contract. She was completely anal about the care that came to the birds. She would not go to the extremes of curses or hexes against people who break contracts, but she did not have an issue letting the Beast Division know about the mistreatment of animals. Tate traveled all over. Normally, that caused her not to have a social life. "I understand that completely."

Four, that's not a bad age. She heard bad things about the terrible two's -oh and those teenage years. As he spoke about his son teaching him more, she couldn't help to smile over that. That's really sweet. Makes her want a kid slightly, but not currently. Plus, Tate would probably die being pregnant. She never imagined herself having kids, but she never found that person that hit that spark or made her want to settle down. Most of the guys were just friends with her anyways and never thought of her as anything more.

She chuckled at the angry fifty year old thought. "Grumpy old man trying to hex children to keep them off his grass." She smirked gently at him. "Don't want to be that fifty year old." She titled her head at him slightly, "I can see in your future - no grass hexing but calm relaxing by the beach." She chuckled once more, "I am kidding, definitely not psychic." Maybe she should think about not being a grumpy fifty year old woman scaring people away with her birds. Wow- Tate was going to be a crazy bird lady in the park when she gets old. She knew it already.

As he mentioned the proposal that failed, she frowned slightly. No wonder why he was a workaholic. It just made her feel awkward for a second, but she put out her own opinion - like always. "Maybe she just was not the right girl for you and you still have to meet her." She was trying to be comforting but she probably failed at it.

Tate felt the bump, then a question about coffee next week. Could she manage to squeeze away for a little while for coffee. Then he mentioned getting to know each other. That would be really nice to do. Tate could do with a new friend, maybe more if that happens. "I think I can manage to squeeze you in somewhere," She winked at him. "Of course-- I would love to get coffee with you." The dog was quiet, she looked around and whistled very loud and it bounded over with his ears flopping. She looked back up at Aeric. "Any day works, I'll figure something out." Tate was probably going to do a happy dance when she got alone. He was far to attractive to think of her as more than friend in her mind, but she was hoping for the best.

He gave a chuckle. He knew what it was like to have expectations dished out by family. His grandmother had her views on his life and she made point to tell him when he was able to listen long enough. He knew that it was just a way to be sure that he was happy. She seemed more upset by the fact that Ivana had left than anyone and he could hear her whispering into the fireplace more often. It was beginning to worry him, she was a woman with a plan and he knew that could be a dangerous thing. "You'll get married one day. We're still young though...I think living a bit more is okay." He had made the mistake of trying to settle down and from it he had learned that rushing made things fall apart.

It was strange for the Irishman to be out socializing. So much of his time had been spent locked away from the hushed conversations and stares. He knew he needed to get out more, to start to live his life again, but it was hard stepping out into the world again. It didn't mean that he wasn't afraid of what lay ahead, just that he was a bit unsure. Aeric had never given himself a chance to shine through his own light. Gradually, he'd stepped from the shadow of his father to be a man in a relationship all before he knew who he was supposed to be. The man had spent the better half of his life trying escape his father's clutches that he found himself lost in woman after woman.

He had never been alone and as it dawned on him, the former Slytherin realized that being alone for a bit wasn't a bad thing. His laugh was soft. "I know that fifty year old guy." He thought back to his youth and how his neighbor hated when he and his cousins would run across his lawn. The memory brought a smile to his face that touched his eyes. "Psychic or not, that future sounds promising. I might have to look a bit more into making that happen." It'd been awhile since he'd been to Egypt, maybe it was time to give his grandfather a visit.

"See that is the type of outlook we should all have.." Ivana hadn't been right for him, even if he felt she had with all his being. He needed someone who would stand beside him when things got tough. Someone who would tell him that even his worse choices were for the benefit of his family, someone who would quiet the doubt in his mind with just her presence. Aeric needed a woman that could accept his life and all that came with it. He hadn't found her yet, but he knew when he did he would never let her go. Ever.

He gave her a cheek dimpling smile as she agreed to have coffee with him. He wasn't sure what would come from them spending time together, but he was happy to have the company regardless it's outcome. He watched her puppy bound over after she gave a whistle as he ran through his schedule in his head. "Maybe...Thursday?" His brows came together as he thought for a second more. "How about Thursday around lunch time?" If his week went the way he'd planned then he would be free. "Did you have a place you like to have coffee?" He wanted to go somewhere aside from Aces, he lived in the back office practically so going somewhere else would be nice.

"I agree with that completely, but you don't bloody know my mother. She thinks me being the only female just is grounds that I am the child bearer and the one she wants to start a family. My brother's haven't given her grandchildren yet though, so that's why they probably are giving up on me." Her brothers weren't even married yet or in a stable relationship. Maybe Manchester United needed to take a break so these boys could religiously find a woman instead of watching the games. They were decent boys, but when the game came on they completely lost every form of their brain. Football instantly became their lives. Their moods just depended on whose winning or whose score was higher. If someone scored the whole house became an in out roar depending on what it did to effect the game. Tate was raised around that and instantly knew how to handle it, but other women- they did not. Half of her brothers' girlfriends were just snotty, brats of women. Half of them carrying more about their appearance than the personality of the boys inside. They would learn their lessons on their women though.

"The beach sounds amazing, just don't hex them children." She smirked at him, winking.

As he said everybody should have that outlook, she smiled. She wished more people did. Tate tried to not focus on the bad. She basically ruined someone's life by turning in their muggleborn wife, when she was muggleborn herself. She could not focus on that bad she put into their lives. She needed to focus on the good that she was going to do with the rest of hers. "Fear causes people to do things they might have never done before, maybe fear of marriage was hers. If she had that fear though, she did not need to be involved in your life. Just keep positive." She smiled at him. She needed to take that advice herself. Tate did not want to hurt anybody else after what she did. She thought about herself. Everybody always said how bad Slytherin's were. She never really believed them. Yes, there was bad fish- but she was one herself after the pain she put someone's family through to save her own ass. In her mind, she just thought at that time it was her or them. She cared more about herself than the other people, which she was trying to change now.

He dimpled grin made her go weak. He was gorgeous. As he spoke, Thursday she could possibly do. When he said around lunch time, she thought for a moment. She would be free then. If she wasn't, Tate would try to move things around. "I happen to have that time open," She smiled at him. As he spoke a place to like to have coffee she thought. She really did not have any place in mind. "I do not have any clue of any place I really like, so if you have anything in mind I would be completely up for it. Just let me know where it is and I will meet you." She smiled once more at him.

The puppy now was trying to eat her shoes. She picked the little one up and attached the leash to its collar. She held it tight and the puppy started to whimper. She shushed at it while he spoke. She looked down at the dog, noticing the time. She did have an appointment. Tate was caught up talking, attempting to flirt, with someone that she almost was late. "I really do have to go though- I have a business transaction I need to do. I will meet you Thursday at lunch time though!" She smiled. "It was nice talking to you." Does she hug him, kiss him on the cheek, shake hands? Tate had no clue. She went for it though. Tate stepped on her tippy toes, hoping to reach his tall height and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Okay, it was weird for her to do- but she was attempting to make it not awkward which she probably did. "Yeah- I think I just made it awkward." She chuckled trying to liven it up. "See you then." She smiled at him, holding the puppy.

He couldn't relate, he had never gotten to the point where his mother would bicker to him about kids. He hadn't gotten to the milestone of the awkward conversationS on the correct way to treat a woman. Aeric was jealous of every person who still had those moments, still had time to right the wrongs with their mothers. He was jealous of how it might have felt to have been wrapped up in his mother's arms after being dumped the first time. He gave a soft chuckle as he nodded a bit. He might not have been able to relate but he could understand. "Despite all the crazy antics, I think it's done with the best intentions. She just wants what she thinks will be best for your happiness." As a father he knew that sometimes parents wants for their children could be a bit much for the child to live up to, but even so it was all for the best interest to their future.

He laughed as he glanced over at her. "I think I'll leave my wand at home, that way no mistakes happen." It was nice to laugh again. To feel relaxed enough to actually feel happy after it. He hadn't known it, but it was something he had desperately missed. Maybe fear had been the reason Ivana had left. Maybe it had been too soon for her to settle down. Too soon after being attacked and nearly dying, but Aeric had lost part of himself that day too. He had taken a life, granted that life had threatened the life of someone close to him but it was still a life. Yes, he had killed his father but that was justified. It had been well thought out and all the pros and cons had been weighed before hand. That day he had found Ivana had been a blur. There was no time to think or process what had happened. Seeing her hanging there had destroyed something inside of him, made him colder somehow. He had done what he had to do for the safety of someone he cared about and maybe she was doing what she had to for herself.

"Yeah, maybe. Who really knows? I think I'm getting over the sting of it all now. I just have to be twice as cautious now...once for me and once for Sky." He could take the pain of losing a woman he thought would be the one, but his son had not been so strong. He had been confused and it had been hard for Aeric to explain. Mostly because he didn't know what had happened or where she had gone. No matter how beautiful or smart the woman in the future would be Aeric would be sure before putting his son through what had happened with Ivana again. "We live and we learn though." And he had. Yeah, it had been hard to see the lesson in the beginning but now he was seeing it more and more. He was stronger because of the things he had been through and he knew he would only get stronger as time passed because it was what he had to do.

Green eyes rose to catch the gaze of Niko standing off in the distance. The man had impeccable timing. With a shake of his head, Aeric patted his vest in hopes that he still had the card to the coffee place he had been to for a meeting recently. "I don't have the card but there is a place in London.." His brows came together as his hand rose to let Niko know he'd seen him off in the distance.  "Serenata I think.." He gave a grin as he leaned down to hug her, catching a kiss on the cheek. Straightening back out Aeric gave a chuckle. "Well...now it is. But that's ok awkward can be good." As he spoke his legs moved him backwards towards his shadow waiting some distance away.

"See you Thursday, Tatum." Maybe he had just made a friend, maybe he had made something else. Either way he was looking forward to seeing her again.

[AERIC END]