[portofino] twice. [tag; aeric]

It was another beautiful day.

Despite being November, it was still a balmy day. The sun was high in the sky, making the deep green lake shimmer like diamonds and she was on holiday. The invite had come from Aeric and she was only too happy to accept. Work had been stressful and the strange flu pandemic had put a deep strain on everyone. A few days of complete immersion in another culture was just what the doctor ordered. Madeline's usually pale skin was now a healthy, light tan. The freckles on her nose were more pronounced now. Her long blonde hair was tied up and back into a messy, haphazard ponytail with tendrils hanging down as she merrily swished through the villa.

It was a beautiful place. On the edge of Lake Como, it was relaxing and warm. The people of the town were friendly and through the use of a translation charm, she'd made friends with and charmed a few local fishermen. As a result, one had dropped off some flowers. Beautiful, full blown, sunny yellow roses, one of which was behind her left ear and weaved into her hair. She padded in her bare feet towards the water's edge, the pale marble warm to her skin. It was such a joy to wear nothing but bikinis.

The air smelled like gardenias and cypress. A fresh, floral scent caught on the warm sea breeze, mingled with salt and the coconut scent of sun cream. It was glorious. In the time she'd been here, Madeline had caught the boat across to a few of the small coastal towns. She'd picked olives and lemons, bought lavender soap for her mother and a bottle of limoncello for her father. She had various bits and bobs, too. She felt like a glamorous movie star, sweeping through the town in a sundress, carrying a wicker basket full of goodies. This was such a magical place. She didn't want to leave at all.

It was a little after six in the evening and it still felt like summer. The sky was clear, the sun would be setting in around half an hour. She didn't know if they were going out for dinner or if she was cooking. The steps lead all the way down to the edge of the lake to a small, private patch of sand. She desperately wanted to dip her toes into the Mediterranean ocean again. Seeing Aeric, she broke into a gentle jog, offering him a wide and dimpled smile as the contents of an old cream coloured box tinkled. "Hi," she said, holding the box out. "Look what I found."

The days seemed more relaxing. Maybe it was the exposure to the sun and the access to the water whenever he felt the urge. Maybe it was the company. He had to be honest, it was easy being with Maddie. She was easy to talk to and she understood him better than most. With everything happening in the crazy world around them, a vacation seemed like the best idea. Green eyes looked out at the water as it gave off gentle waves. There was a peacefulness here that had escaped the rest of the world. With so many people getting sick and the bizarre situation with the school it was hard to find a moment to be simply enjoyed.

Bare feet stepped into the cool water, smiling softly as his toes vanished beneath the soft sand Aeric looked out towards the town across the way. He could think here. He could see things about his problems that hadn't been there before. Answers flooded his mind to a million different questions. Walking a bit along the ankle deep water his eyes shifted towards the villa. He paused as he watched her walk towards him off in the distance. There was something said about the joys of warm weather. The lack of clothing. The heighten need to close to another person.

He watched her as he had school as she drew closer. The sun bounced off her golden blonde hair in a way that made her more beautiful. His legs carried him forward, the cool breeze running over her wet ankles and feet as he moved towards her. She looked happy. As if this trip had been one she had dreamed of. Deep dimples displayed themselves as he gave her a smile. "Hey gorgeous." A strong hand rose to run over his sun kissed bare chest as Aeric came to a stop some few feet from the water. "Did you go into town this morning?" Green eyes drifted to the box in her hand in curiosity. He wondered if this was why she hadn't been therr when he woke. "What's that?" His head inclined towards the box as his hands found their way into his pockets.

"Oh!" He gave a sigh. "Some guy dropped off a basket of bread and stuff? Something about spices you asked for..." His shoulders rose as he shrugged. "I just left it in the kitchen near the sink." He gave a slight grin. "I think the delivery man was sad when I came to the door."

"Hey handsome," Maddie replied cheerfully. She and Aeric had always had a fun, flirty relationship. It was easy. Unlike with most people, she didn't need to pretend to be anyone else but herself. At work, she needed to be cool, calm and collected. With Torsten, she needed to be ladylike but with him? Aeric wouldn't judge her if she had a bottle of beer or fell asleep with her make up on. Nothing had ever really happened between them, apart from that one night of wonderful, hedonistic madness at Hogwarts.

"I did!" She said brightly. "It's really pretty. There was a market on today so I was up before sunrise and used the boat," she said casually. The villa they were staying in came with a small motor boat and a jetty. The harbour side town was kind of an inlet, as island. There were plenty of small seaside towns and the like that she wanted to explore. She loved Italy and she wasn't short of any male attention. Cries of ciao bella! had her confused but now, they had her giggling. It was easy to pretend to be a movie star in a floppy hat and sunglasses here.

"Stuff," she said vaguely as she drew closer, sitting on the a low rock so her feet were in the warm ocean, the coastal breeze flapping at her cover up. She snorted and then she blushed, her cheeks colouring and the red going all the way up to the roots of her hair. "I'm sure that wasn't the case," she said demurely. "I was just wanting some herbs. You can't get amazing lemons like you can here," she said brightly. Aeric understood her passion for food. Or, at least, he didn't laugh at her when she went mad over fine chocolate. She hadn't seen the box of stuff but she assumed everything was in order. "I was gonna make croissants for breakfast," she said as she blinked at him. The urge to please him at times was overwhelming.

Absently, Maddie patted the empty space next to her as she opened the box. "Look!" She laughed as she held out a photograph. She'd been around fifteen and Aeric, a little older. Dressed in their uniforms, they were under a tree in the school grounds. It had been a beautiful day, warm and pleasant. In the box were fragments of their friendship; photographs, notes and letters, little keepsakes she'd held on to. "You've changed," she said gently as she looked at the teenager in the photograph and the man close to her. She blushed. It was no secret that she thought Aeric Regan was attractive. The whole time they'd been here, Madeline had been plagued by the gorgeous Italian beach bunnies that had constantly been trying to catch his eye.

He smiled as he saw the light shining behind her eyes. Maddie was a different kind of woman. She had always been different then the other girls in school. She could make him laugh. She was beautiful and intelligent. Aeric had been drawn to her like a moth to a flame. There was a calmness that overtook him in her presence. He felt more himself with her then he had with most of the people in his life. There were no lies between the two. There was no need to pretend to be people they weren't. Green eyes searched her face for a moment, taking each of her beautiful features in.

Her usually pale skin now held a soft golden tint to it, he owed thanks to the Italian sun for that. Neat brows only brought out the length of her lashes, which casted a gentle shadow over her beautiful honey colored eyes. Aeric's bottom lip found its way between his teeth as he took her in. She was breathtaking. Strange how he had never noticed just how much until now. The sound of his throat being cleared touched the air before he gave a nod. "I figured as much when I woke up and you weren't there." His hand slipped from his pocket to rise up and run through the dark locks of his hair. He needed to get it cut, it's was a bit too long for his liking these days.

The smile that crossed his face was followed by a tilt of his head as he watched the blush rise in her cheeks. He was sure he had told her before but it was one of the many things he liked about her. There was an innocence behind it he couldn't understand but loved to see. "Uh, yeah. He looked at me like I had done something terrible to him in past life or something." He gave a chuckle as he recalled how upset the man had visibly been when Aeric had greeted him instead of the beautiful blonde before him. "The food is pretty amazing here." He had to be honest everything tasted better, the air it smelled better too. Italy was beautiful enough to make the man consider a permanent move.

Emerald eyes took a slow walk along the length of her legs causing him to give a slight shake of his head  before moving to take the seat next to her. His legs moved out to let his toes dip into the water as a strong hand reached out to take the photo.The man stared down at a reflection of who he had once been. He looked happy, he seemed more put together then he was now. He remembered the day perfectly. The running around the grounds in fits of laughter, the dangerous amounts of sweets that had been eaten.

His eyes shifted from the photo to lock with her gaze. "I hope it's not a bad change..." Though he thought it was. He feared it was. So much had happened to darken his soul that he was afraid that who he changed into was a replica of Davin. "You've changed too.." His hand moved out to brush a few strands of golden hair from her face. "..but in a good way. I don't know, you've always been pretty amazing to me so..." Reluctantly, Aeric pulled his gaze away to look out at the water. "I was a different person back then...I don't think I could ever be that way again. Sad right?”

Ivana had destroyed something inside of him that the former Slytherin just couldn’t seem to fix. She had dimmed a light in his heart. Aeric had opened up to her, had allowed her to know his son, and she had tossed it to the side as if it hadn’t been important. His trust in women had been ruined and it was a depressing thing for the man to even think about. His love of women was somehow tainted by the action of one woman. “Maddie…” His voice was soft, a bit unsure as his gaze dropped down to his feet.

“I’m not a completely terrible person, am I?” He knew of anyone else in the world she would be honest with him, even if it hurt.

"Sorry," Maddie laughed as the warm Mediterranean breeze ruffled the curls she hadn't bothered to straighten since they'd been here. "I've always been an early riser," she added with a casual shrug. It worked out better for her, really. Her days regularly started at 3AM in the bakery back in Paris, all so there could be plenty of fresh bread for opening at nine o'clock. "But come on," she said, gesturing. The water was a deep, crystalline blue. Small boats bobbed in the gentle currents easily. There was a mismatch of cute, brightly coloured houses not far away, along the shoreline and perched high on the surrounding hills and the sun that reflected glittered like diamonds. She heaved a sigh. "It's perfection and I wasn't going to waste a minute more sleeping."


The tall blonde laughed again, the sound high and tinkling. "Oh come on," she joked, shoving Aeric playfully as she shook her head. She knew he was just being nice. He was always funny, always kind and always witty, if not occasionally mistaken. "You know how Italian men are," she said fondly with a smile. "I'm probably sixth or seventh on his list for that day."

"It's so good!" She exclaimed, warmly and enthusiastically grabbing Aeric's arm and squeezing. Her eyes were wide and shining, like a child's on Christmas morning. "I honestly think I've died and gone to Heaven a handful of times," she added with a wistful sigh as her slender shoulders slumped. "We need to go to the market tomorrow," she said with a nod as though the matter was settled. "I met a man called Giancarlo there, amazing," she gushed. "He owns a restaurant not far away and the menu sounds divine, Aeric, honestly," she babbled on, her excitement practically bubbling over like an unwatched pot. "Plus, I need to pick up some figs. They're in season, too."

Following Aeric's lead, Madeline dipped her toes into the still warm water as she wiggled them, admiring the new shade of her skin. "Of course not," she said with a sunny smile as she turned and looked at him, swinging her legs lazily as she moved the hem of her cover up over her knees so it'd stay dry. "I meant more physically," she added on quickly in hopes of placating him. "You're taller," she said fondly. For all she knew, he was still the same Aeric. Still the same man who punched most of her ex-boyfriends and let her copy his homework and charmed her mother.

The brief touch of Aeric's fingers gently on her hair made her stall. The hairs on the back of her arms stood to attention as she felt a rippling sensation shoot through her body. It felt like a static shock, both brief and unnerving. It was an innocent touch and he'd done it plenty of times before but it felt a little different. It could be down to the Italian sunshine or the fact that she'd had prosecco with breakfast. Or that she hadn't had sex in three months.

"Not necessarily," Maddie finally replied as she remembered to breathe as she blinked, feeling both relieved and upset when Aeric broke eye contact. She cleared her throat as casually as she could manage. "That's part of growing up, though, right?" She asked. To an extent, Madeline had had a gilded childhood; loving parents, a good relationship with her brother, a dog, a large house in a leafy London suburb where she learned to ride her bike and play football. She didn't know all about his family but she knew there were issues and she'd never poked her nose in where it wasn't wanted. "Change isn't always a bad thing. You turned out to be a wonderful man and I think that was worth the suffering to an extent."

There was a beat of silence as her thoughts bumped around her head like dodgems at a fun fair. The only sound was the lazy lapping of the sea against the shore and a seagull circling overhead.

"What?"

The word escaped her before she could contain it and she stared at Aeric like he'd just grown a second head. "Absolutely not," she told him definitively with a frown as she huffed. Okay, sure. Maybe he'd made some poor choices but that didn't reflect on his character, at least, not to her. She parted her lips to say something but closed them again. She'd only ever lied to Aeric once. They'd been sixteen years old and it had been New Year's Eve. Neither of them had gone home and opted to stay at Hogwarts. There were fireworks and merriment they'd kissed at the stroke of midnight. Kissing lead to touching and touching lead to other…stuff.

The only time she'd ever lied to him was the morning after when he asked her if they were cool and if she was okay. She'd said she was but deep down, she knew she wasn't. Did she regret it? No way. It had been the single-most lovely, exciting experience of her life to date. They hadn't been each other's firsts, they hadn't taken advantage of one another and that somehow made things bearable. They stayed friends since that night. It just so happened that teenage Madeline Fletcher fell just a little bit in love with him.

She heaved a sigh as she shook her head. "Not at all," she told Aeric once more as she twisted her silver filigree rings around one of her fingers. She'd bought it yesterday at a souvenir shop on the harbour front. It was cheap but she hadn't brought any jewellery with her. "So you made a mistake," she replied as she looked out on the water. "So did I. At least you didn't get as far as signing the papers like I did," she joked, mentioning her failed marriage and his failed engagement. Swiftly, she winced. "Sorry," she said hastily. "That was in bad taste. Fiancées are shit."

“Don’t be.” He gave a shake of the head as she apologized. He liked the fact that she got out and enjoyed the beauty that was around them. He had ventured off on his own a few times while they had been there. There was so much around them to take in it seemed that there was always something to do or someplace they just had to see. His eyes washed over her face as she spoke of perfection and he gave a small chuckle followed by a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s better to appreciate beauty, especially when it’s right in front of you.” Here he turned his gaze out towards the colorful scene ahead. “It would be a crime otherwise.”

His body rocked to the side as he was pushed. “Hey, I’m serious. He wanted to do me harm.” Aeric gave a laugh, something he hadn’t done in a while, as he leaned to gently bump her. “Can’t blame the man for having good taste.” Madeline was beautiful, he wished she saw herself as he did. An infectious smile, the dazzling honey colored eyes and the golden halo of hair that framed her face perfectly. Those long legs, man those long legs. Her body was amazing, there was no other way of putting it. Everything about her made her more appealing.

He looked over at her as she burst to life with excitement. He loved the fact that she was passionate and not afraid to show it. It was so rare to see someone in love with their work the way she was. “The market it is. I’ll even wake up early.” He couldn’t help the smile that displayed his dimples as he looked at her. “You know…when you get all excited like that it’s really adorable.” His head moved to the side causing the curly strands of his ever-growing hair to fall into his face. His hand moved up to pull the soft locks from his eyes, pulling the tie from around his wrist to put his hair in a ponytail.  Winter had long since passed, it was time to let his hair get short again.

The Irishman looked down at himself as if he could somehow tell how much taller he had gotten. “Taller, huh?” He shifted to hold out his arms, looking them over. “Damn, and here I was hoping you said muscular.” Her glanced over at her with a slight smirk playing on the edge of his lips. It was so easy being himself with Maddie. So easy to forget the fine lines of their friendship. There were times, just like this one, that the man wanted to blur the lines.He couldn’t out of respect for both her and their friendship couldn’t allow himself to. Even if at times, he really wanted to.

He had to look away otherwise he would do something he couldn’t take back. Maybe it was the Italian sun or the amazing food. Maybe it was the time alone or the length in which he went since he’d last spent a night with a woman. Whatever it might be it hit him like a wave crashing against the rocks. The silence enveloped them, the only sound other then their soft breathing was the waves a few feet away. “You see the best in me…even when I don’t think there is anything good left to see.” His eyes danced along the horizon before coming to rest on her once more. “How do you do that?”

He thought about his mistake for a moment. He thought about each second that had been a relationship wasted. He gave a chuckle despite himself. Yes, fiancées were in fact shit. Well, it depend on the person but in their cause it had been true. “I just…sometimes after all the failed relationships I think,” His eyes lifted up towards the sky. “what’s the point? Why fall in love if you’re going lonely anyway?” He scoffed, kicking his feet a bit causing the water to splash. “I just..is it so terrible to want to make someone happy. Like really happy. No pretending and none that confusing uncertainty. Just two people happy.” He sighed. That was a fairytale world. In the real world happiness came in small quantities.

“Sorry…” He shook his head a bit. “I so just messed up this nice moment we were having…the thought had just been bugging me.”

"Mm," she agreed shortly as she snuck a peek at him. It felt like they were having a parallel conversation, full of things they really shouldn't be saying. Was he comparing the gorgeous surroundings to her own brand of beauty? Nah, she wasn't that conceited. Or silly. She couldn't work him or them out. The words just felt a bit laden.

"Charter the boat tomorrow," she told Aeric casually. "There are a lot of little islands and beaches if you're bored here," she added. Countless little fishing villages, brimming with people and colour. Though settled as a Parisian, she thought she might like living in Italy. "I won't lie," she began. "I think I could live here," she commented as she tilted her face up towards the sun and closed her eyes, letting the warmth further bring out the freckles on her face as she gave a pleasurable sigh. "This is the life, hey?"

"Oh stop it," she snorted, flushing a deep shade of pink. "If you keep saying that, I swear, my head's going to inflate." It was a casual comment but she couldn't remember the last time she'd had one. In Paris, she had the height but not the body. For a while, it was unsettling to see this steely-faced women, dressed in black, marching around the pristine streets. Madeline looked very…English in comparison. "I bet you say that to all the girls," she said, offering the classic joke as she rolled her eyes in an effort to diffuse the focus off of her.

"Yeah?" Madeline asked with a wide grin that made her dimples appear. "Dad always said passion was the most important thing in life so he will be proud," she mused. Both she and her brother Ben were focused and resourceful. "I think that was what got me the job. My boss, Loren, took a chance on me and I really don't want to let him down." Pausing, she sighed. "He's nice though," she added with a soft smile. "He reminds me of you a little," she concluded. "Very family focused. He's got a super cute little boy. He's younger than Skylar but no less wonderful."

If she was at all artistically inclined, she'd whip out her pencil and pad and sketch Aeric. The sunlight was hitting him so perfectly, she regretted not having her camera handy. "That too," she admitted with a laugh. She flushed again and blamed it on the heat from the sun.

The way Aeric was looking at her so intently made her freeze. Everything around her stilled and became calm. "Because no one is past redemption, Aeric," she began gently as she tilted her head. "Who you were isn't who you are. Everyone does some things they regret. I regretted getting this." With that, she turned and opened her cover up a little more and lifted the edge of her bikini slightly to show a small tattoo on her side. She laughed. "Thank goodness the band of my bra tends to cover it," she shook her head, curls bobbing. "The point is, Aeric, you're not a bad person. I don't see why you're so hard on yourself. You did what you did for your family and your friends and I'd be counting myself lucky if anyone did anything similar for me."

She frowned as she realised how much pain he was in and how long he'd been carrying it around with him. "Because," came the curt response as she shrugged. "You're supposed to take risks. I honestly think hurting over a broken heart is so much better than never experiencing it at all." Her honey coloured eyes focused back in the water, just as a small fish swam by.

"No, not terrible," the baker was quick to placate Aeric as she frowned again. "Idealistic maybe but not terrible." She offered him a quick smile. "I know you," she began as she wiggled her toes in the warm water absently. "You need support. Maybe you need to just let it happen. It could be right in front of your face but you wouldn't know," she replied cheerfully. "I believe in karma and I believe in soul mates. One day, the planets are gonna align and mystic winds are gonna blow and everything's going to click into place. You'll be walking somewhere some day, guided by something and you'll look up and see a girl and you'll just know," she stressed, sounding dreamy and optimistic. "There'll be a little voice in the back of your head that says that’s her. And birds will sing and fountains will spring to life, yadda yadda," she concluded as she waved a hand through the air nonchalantly. "Long story short, she's on her way so hold tight."

Madeline blushed at how impassioned she'd become and she gave a nervous laugh. "It's all good," she added, feeling a bit dazed. "You should be able to talk to me about anything you want to so don't worry. You didn't ruin anything." Turning to face him, she squeezed his shoulder warmly. "Do you feel better?"

“Not bored…relaxed but not bored.” He didn’t need to go off searching for something to take up his time. He didn’t need the tourist attractions and marketplace deals. Aeric was a complex man who valued the simpler things in life. Good company and good conversation was enough for the Irishman. Honesty and loyalty was all he ever asked for. He was demanding of things and never put pressure where it wasn’t needed. Just sitting on this rock with Maddie was enough for the man to enjoy the rest of his day. Even if they did nothing - said nothing - he would still enjoy every moment of it.

Aeric turned his gaze to Maddie just as her eyes closed and the sun casted a glow along her already tanned skin. Emerald eyes washed along the line of her neck, traced the curve of her jaw. He couldn’t lie, Madeline was beautiful he had always though so. She was intelligent and passionate. She was kind and considerate. Most of all she got him, she understood who he was beneath the rough exterior. “Yeah, I know what you mean. It’s a place you could easily fall in love with.” He looked back out at the town off in the distance. “It’s kind of peaceful here.”

“I could never see myself leaving Ireland, but if I found the right place at the right time maybe.” Relocation had never been a thought but more and more the former Slytherin couldn’t help but wonder what joys other parts of the world would bring. He lived in Romania and that had been a nice vacation from all of his problems. He would never want to call it home unlike Italy which had a certain appeal all on it’s own. “All the girls?” Here he laughed. “I barely have time to think there are no girls.” He gave her a smile.

Aeric nodded a bit before tilting his head from side to side. “I think being passionate the way you are is good. It shows all over your face, just talking about it.” He reached out to rest his fingertips on her shoulder. “I don’t think you could let him down if you tried. You’re doing something you love, there is no failing in that.” Aeric liked how easily they could switch through the topics as they spoke. How seamless the conversations seemed to be. Always Maddie had shocked him, whether it be with her kindness or her natural ability to be a friend. He could talk to her about the things he didn’t think he could talk about with anyone else. Someone trusted outside of his family, his sisters.

“I just wonder I guess, you know with karma and all.” He had done some terrible things while trying to get where he was now. He had destroyed lives and told the most horrible lies. He had hurt people and made the hard call. His eyes drifted to the tattoo, “If it matters I like it?” Aeric slowly pulled his gaze up to look into her honey colored eyes. “You have me..” If her gaze was a storm he was trapped in the middle, surrounded by his own confusing emotions.

Clearing his throat Aeric broke eye contact with the beautiful woman next to him. “Not all risks are good ones. What happens if the risk changes everything?” He wasn’t afraid of love or loving. He was afraid of not being good enough. Afraid of the possibility of once more being left alone. “I’m all for taking risks…but thats a risk I’m not just taking for myself.” Skylar was an important part of his life and any choice he made would be a risk for his son as well. He hadn’t been careful before and Sky had gotten hurt in the end, it was a mistake that would never happen again. Trust was a delicate thing and he couldn’t allow Sky’s to be destroyed.

“Love at first sight?” He shook his head, moving his feet to make small waves in the warm water. “I don’t know…what if I missed her because I was too busy in my office or a major ass in school?” He glanced over at her. “What if I thought I felt it but it happened more then once?” Even though it hadn’t. Aside from Maddie there weren’t a lot of women he had seen and thought, hmm something makes her different. He wasn’t driven by the need to know them. But maybe his friend was right. Maybe he just needed to let go and let things happened.

Blinking rapidly as her touch brought him from his thoughts Aeric turned to give her a smile. “I do feel better. You have a way of doing that…making me feel better.” She always knew the right words to say. Seemed to know when something was wrong or needed to vent. “You know how my mind works, I overthink everything. I could drive myself insane trying to figure things out. “

Maddie offered him a bright smile. Relaxed was good. Aeric had taken on too much, too young and he was digging himself into an early grave. "Cool," she said gently, wiggling her toes into the still-warm water. If this mini break took the edge off, then it was a good thing. Even if they hadn't hung out in a while, she still worried about him. It was a trait she inherited from her mother, the unnecessary worry. She worried about Ben in a similar way but the way she felt about the Irishman wasn't anything close to brotherly.

"I think I'd like to come back," she said casually. "I love the city, don't get me wrong but sometimes it wears me out." The tall blonde gave Aeric an understanding smile. "Of course not," she added. "Ireland's in your blood." There was a huge contingent of Regans in Ireland and she knew Aeric was an integral part of it. "I, however, have no such issue with moving," she replied as she lifted the hem of her cover up a few inches higher and away from the water's surface. "I'm a little jealous of you. I've never really had a real sense of belonging before. But don't feel sorry for me," she joked. "Paris is home for now."

Feeling like she'd accidentally overstepped the mark, Maddie flushed pink. "You don't need to  explain yourself to me, honestly," she said breezily, hoping to deflect the personal question she hadn't meant to ask whilst mentally kicking herself.

"Thanks," she said with a soft laugh as she tucked a curl behind her ear, finding the warm touch on her shoulder comforting. She shrugged. "I just get in my own head a lot," she replied honestly as she watched the water ripple around her ankles. "I'm the youngest chef to run a kitchen a kitchen in a century, apparently." It was a bit of a bombshell to drop. "I'm always constantly thinking that someone's out to get me, you know?" She asked Aeric with a frown. "I've got a whole list of people to prove wrong and sometimes, I'm just about keeping my head above water." She sighed heavily, ruffling her hair. "I guess we both needed the time off," she said with a grin.

"The thing about karma is that you're a great guy," Madeline replied casually. "Whatever you did, it wasn't borne from a bad place so I reckon you're off the hook," came the cheery reply as she looked up at the cloudless clear sky. This time, she laughed properly, loud and clear like a peal of ringing bells. "Don't be so nice to me," she added playfully. "I had my teenage rebellion phase a little later on in life." The tattoo was a mistake, she knew that the moment the needle pierced her skin but she'd just gotten out of a broken and toxic relationship. Some girls cut their hair but Maddie decided to go on step further. Turning to face him, she offered him a gentle smile but declined to answer. He must already know how much his support meant to her by now.

"Unfortunately, that's the nature of a risk," the baker said with a gentle frown that creased her smooth forehead. "You don't know if it'll pay off until after you do it." She understood where Aeric was coming from. Though she didn't have anyone's welfare to put before her own, she got it. "Skylar's a great kid," she placated her friend as best she could. "But being too careful could backfire on him." Being sheltered was just as bad as being hurt.

"You weren't a major ass," she chuckled, nudging him slightly with her shoulder. "A minor one, maybe." Madeline offered Aeric another comforting smile. "Hey listen," she added softly. "Don't beat yourself up about it, yeah?" After their little rendezvous on New Year's Eve, they hadn't spoken about it but it had definitely happened. Neither of them had been drunk but both of them had wanted it. Things the day after went back to how they had been, despite her wanting to ask him why and dissect it. She'd resisted and she knew now that it was the right decision. Did she regret it? No. Did she want it to become a regular thing? Yes. But he'd said it himself, he cycled through girls and then she knew exactly where she stood without him having to say it. And it was fine. Not long after that night, she started to date Ernie but that was one relationship that she did regret.

"You're allowed to fall in love more than once," she grinned. "If I had my way, I'd fall in love every day of the week." She sighed dreamily, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "I think it's great. Very exciting." Had she been in love with Aeric when she was in school? Maddie wasn't sure. It could have just been teenager infatuation but a small part of her still felt something. It hadn't completely faded away, even all these years later. "And totally bonkers, mind you," she concluded with a thoughtful frown.

"Excellent," Maddie said cheerily, suddenly buoyed up by his words. "If over thinking is the only vice you have, then I’d say you were a very lucky man indeed," she said kindly. "I don't doubt that for a second," she agreed with him about going a little bit batty. "Don't let it get to you. Would you fancy some lunch?" Madeline asked as she shifted as though to get up off the jetty. "I made some focaccia this morning," she explained. "It's a little bit flat but if it tastes a bit weird, we can just put some mozzarella on it and make it into a pizza." There she was, Madeline Fletcher, ever the optimist. "Or we can feed it to the ducks." She was also extremely practical, too.

He gave a chuckle because she was right, Ireland was in his blood. Ireland had saved him when he thought there was nothing left to save. It had kept him safe when the demons hunted him. Could he leave Ireland and still maintain his duties, of course. Would he, now what was a different question all together. “Maybe…but in my case being bound to Ireland wasn’t an initial choice.” He wanted to tell her more, to talk to someone outside of his family about what it was he actually did. “My grandfather got ill and I can home to help my sisters and grandmother..” And be groomed to run his family after his grandfather passing. A task Dom refused when offered he had been told. Maybe he should have been wise like the other Regan.

As hard as the job was at times he knew he had been born to do it. Of course he was met with resistance and shows of force. He expected nothing less, after all a power exchange called for a testing of the waters. But when it was the innocent who had been used to prove a point, when children had been harmed the waters turned black. Black enough for the man to lose himself within them as he sought out retribution and revenge for those he cared for. He shifted on the rock, clearing his throat again softly as he looked out at the water.

“I know…I just wanted to let you know…no girls.” It was easy to assume the man was taken. He was always in his office whether it be home or the club. He should be enjoying his life, experiencing the joys it offered. He shouldn’t be looking to settle down, but it was all he really wanted. Someone he could come home to and tell about his day and still be a hero in their eyes. He wanted someone who loved him despite the choices his had to make, because they would at times be too dark for even the most capable.

“Maddie…” His tone grew serious as he prepared to speak to her. He had listened to her words, he had heard the doubt there and the determination as well. “…if you spend all your time trying to prove people wrong you’ll miss the moments that make you great.” He had been there, consumed with showing people that he could be better then they assumed. He was so lost to the need to be right that he ultimately became the people he was trying to beat. He had learned the hard way that not living for himself came at a price too high to pay willingly. “I see you and all you’ve accomplished as that ‘open your eyes I’m freaking awesome’ moment.”

He gave a laugh as he leaned his head back to look up at the near cloudless sky. “You know, I always wonder how you see the good in me?” He smiled a bit, glancing in her direction. “Even back in school when I was…well you remember how terrible I was back then.” He had been the bad boy, the tortured soul looking for peace. He’d been privileged and acted as such, not that he was better but that he wasn’t afraid to use what was given to him. He went through women fairly quickly, only dating a few. Cassie and Isabella had been his longest relationships. Cassie ended up his friend and it seemed they worked better that way. He and Isabella argued about as much as they shagged, which seemed to be far too often to be healthy.

“You’re right…there is no way of telling beforehand.” He wasn’t sure if he could afford to take anymore risks. He was afraid, as weak as that made him feel he had no choice but to admit it. “It’s hard you know, knowing what to do. It always seemed like our parents just knew how to handle everything.” He chuckled thinking about how much he wished to be an adult then and how now he wished to be the reckless teenage boy again. He looked thoughtful for a moment as a hand rose to scratch his temple lightly.

“Everyday?” He looked over at her. “And here I thought I was the romantic.” His hand rubbed together before coming to rest on his thighs. “I can see the appeal though. That feeling when you fall…the feel of the earth shifting on it’s axis. Suddenly the world makes sense and you forget that gravity is holding you down because you know they are holding you down.” He knew that heavy in his chest feeling. The weight being lifted from his shoulders as he realized that the feeling in the pit of his stomach went away whenever she looked at him. “It’s not crazy if it can happen.” He gave her a smile that caused his eyes to sparkle.

He rose letting his toes slip into he warm water to cover his flesh up to the ankle. A strong hand was held out as in offer to help her up to her feet. If he was anything he was a gentleman. “Lunch actually sounds amazing right now. I went for a swim earlier so I burned off my breakfast.” He moved to step into the sand, sliding one of his hands into the pocket of his shorts. “I never asked before…but why Paris? I mean was it just for the job or did you go there and fall in love first?”

Reaching out, she squeezed his forearm affectionately. While she didn't know a lot about his personal life, but she knew he struggled. At school, especially. She'd been a bystander and complacent. He filled his days with countless girls, perhaps trying to find validation but he didn't know that he didn't actually need it. "You weren't that bad," she told him with a gentle smile. "There were way worse boys than you," she joked, nudging him gently with her shoulder. "And it's because I know you. More than those girls did," she said gently. "I know that you weren't as tough as you made out you were. It's endearing, actually."

Maddie winced at Aeric's honest words and she couldn't help but feel like she was being told off by a headmaster. "Well, some people need to be put in their place," she mumbled, sulking as she pulled at a loose thread on her cover up and pouted. Before long, she laughed again and wrinkled her nose. "Yes sir," came the playful response as she offered him a mock salute.

"I miss it, you know?" She asked, her brown eyes on the water that lazily lapped the shoreline they were sitting on. Aeric must know, he'd been engaged after all. "I miss the butterflies and I miss the lightning when you touch and I miss making all of those insane, stupid, unattainable goals and plans." Maddie sighed gently as the sea breeze ruffled her curls. She and Ernie never made any mad plans like she'd wanted to. She'd wanted to go travelling to far flung places; Peru, China, India and get tattoos together and buy a small apartment and furnish it brightly. All he wanted to do was pay bills and impress his work colleagues.

"And you call me romantic?" The tall blonde snorted gently, her eyes wide in awe by his lovely words. She shrugged gently. "I think I just miss the security. I miss someone being there when I get home. Not that I don't love my room mate," she said swiftly, as though Emilie was somehow lurking. "It's just not the same. I'm not into the whole fireworks and lust and stuff," she said, flapping a hand through the air. "I miss the strong foundations for a future. I've tried the one night stand thing before and it's not really my style," she added with a grimace.

"Thanks," she said gently as she let Aeric take the strain as she hoisted herself back up onto her feet and stretched. Unable to help herself, she let out a laugh. "Lucky locals," she added. She'd seen Aeric shirtless before and he was a walking work of art and so far, they'd been very polite. They'd never crossed paths in their underwear or accidentally interrupted each other in the shower. It was all very unassuming.

With that, she began their walk back to the villa. The wind whipped at the hem of her cover up, causing her to tie it at her waist tightly in case she accidentally flashed her friend a glimpse of her baby blue bikini.

Why Paris?

Maddie paused as she frowned. "Because it wasn't London," she answered Aeric honestly. She shrugged. "I wondered where in the world would be the best place where I could learn my craft. Paris just seemed logical," she replied as her long bare legs wandered along the coastal path that lead to the sprawling villa. She shook her head. "I moved there without a plan," she commented and her brother went mental. "I didn't have a job or a place to live and I didn't know anyone there so it was a complete fresh start. I even bought a second hand bike in an effort to feel more Parisian," she said with a grin.

"I think it was the best thing to do," she told Aeric solemnly with a nod of her head. "I don't think I'll ever move back home," she told him gently. "I mean yeah," she began. "The apartment is tiny and the plumbing is shocking. French people are rude and public transport is a nightmare. I have loud neighbours and there's a dog that hates me in the building. The entire city is covered with pigeon poo and my job is insane but you know what?" She said to Aeric with a bright smile. "It's mine and I did all myself." Cheerfully, she walked the curving path that twisted up and around the cliffs like most homes did in Portofino as she unlocked the wooden door and stepped inside.


Since being here, Madeline had overtaken the kitchen. There were crates of fresh fruit and veg and pots of herbs, trailing over the window sill. Fresh flowers were on the table and she had no idea who they were from. There were left on the doorstep without a note but they were beautiful. "Right," she said briskly, clapping her hands. "Try the bread," she ushered to Aeric before pouring two glasses of wine and shrugging casually. "We're still on holiday," she said by way of justifying it. She grabbed a handful of basil and rinsed it beneath the tap, casually ripping it up before finding a knife and slicing a tomato between sips of wine. "Can you pass the mozzarella?" She asked, aiming for a sort of Caprese salad in hopes of impressing him.

It always felt as if Maddie knew what to say. Whenever he sought out advice, it was her he went to when he couldn't go to his family. As he looked at her Aeric realized that Maddie meant something to him. He cared. It might have been masked by their friendship but he had always felt something for the blonde. Ruining what they had wasn't worth what they could be, not if he could never see her again. “I'm glad someone outside of my family knows the real me. It's comforting, especially during these times.” He gave her a smile that caused his left cheek to dimple. He'd missed their time together when life had beaten him down.  He missed being able to just be with a person.

He could understand what she meant. Some people did need to learn lessons more then others. He just didn't want Maddie to lose herself to trying to prove them wrong about her. “you're right..I just don't want that spark you have to fade because of it.” He glanced at her for a moment before looking down at his feet. He missed it too if he had to be honest. He missed the connection he shared with another person. He missed the laughter and meaningless yet significant conversations. He nodded as she spoke because he knew what it was to miss falling in love. That center of the earth opening feeling that made everything else pale in comparison.  “Yeah…it is one of those feelings you don't want to go away. Forever. Not just you any more but you and that other person. A future…yeah I miss it too.” He gave a sigh and a smile. “I miss the hell out of it.”

“what can I say, I'm hopeless.” He joked lightly with her. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I miss it too. Coming home and talking about my day with someone. It's nice so I know what you mean” He laughed a bit. “if any locals are lucky it's the men at the market.” He still remembered how the man who left the package had tried to peek inside for her. It was expected, Maddie was beautiful so he couldn't be upset that these men hoped for a chance.

As they walked along the path Aeric gave a chuckle. He could tell that Paris had been goo for her. That of all the choices she regretted, Paris was not one of them. “well that makes perfect sense. Starting fresh. It sounds like Paris was where you should have been all along.” He bumped her a bit as he looked down at her. “I think I'll have to stop by your job one day. I've tasted your baking and I have to say if there is a place where you're running the kitchen, count me in.” He loved her cooking, period. It wasn't a terrible quality to have, he liked to cook himself. Being able to share a kitchen with someone who knew how to properly use it was rather nice.

He looked around the space and liked that it looked like someone lived in it. It was different then his kitchen at the estate. He didn't cook there, he barely did anything aside work inside those walls it seemed. He reached out to take a piece of the bread, looking it over for a moment before taking a piece off to eat. “This is good, did you make this?” He asked as he took another bite, nodding as he grabbed the glass of wine intended for him. “sure. Just let me” he placed both his wine and bread down to walk across the room. “Did you need anything else while I'm over here?” He turned to look back at her and smiled. “You know we've never shared a kitchen before this vacation…” He walked over mozzarella in hand.

"Oh stop," Maddie said with a laugh as he spoke about the man who'd dropped off the ingredients. Aeric was only flattering her but she felt an odd stab of pain. He'd always been unattainable. He'd always been that super cool, super popular guy. She knew he was only poking fun at her but she felt disappointed that he didn't see her as a desirable object. After their little tryst, they'd slipped back into an easy friendship without any problems. It was clearly destined that they just be friends.

"It's probably just my colouring," she told Aeric casually as they climbed the incline towards the villa with a shrug. "Brown eyes and blonde hair isn't really that common here, I don't think," she added. Maddie wasn't really actively looking. She'd been on a few spectacularly bad dates with some rather amorous French men. At the risk of tarring everyone with the same brush, she thought Italian men might be worse. Besides, the delivery man could have left his contact details. She would have been in touch to arrange something.

"Maybe," she replied with a laugh as she was nudged, wobbling a little. "I suppose I needed a disaster to make me realise what I needed to do. I was sort of treading water for a little while but I love Paris. The people are rude and everything is expensive and I'm never going to fit in but you know what?" The tall blonde asked Aeric after exhaling deeply, as though letting go of all of the stress. "It's home for me now."

"Please do!" She said, her honey coloured eyes wide and bright as they stepped into the kitchen with ease. "I'd love to see you and the kitchen's amazing. I'll pack you a box of rejects." She smiled. "I just mean the imperfect ones, they're cheaper. And Loren and his wife are great. Their little boy is super cute," she gushed wistfully. "Very inquisitive. I sometimes sneak him a little cake when the boss isn't looking but don't pass that on," she joked. "I was never really sure on kids but hanging out with William kind of makes me think that I might want a few some day."

"Yup!" Maddie said brightly with a smile. "I can do better but I don't really want to work too hard on holiday," she said to Aeric with a smile. "Do you think it might be worth making up a little box of cookies or something for the neighbours?" Everyone so far had been lovely. Everyone from villagers to delivery men. It wouldn't take her too long and she thought it might be a good idea.

Impressing Aeric seemed to be the main priority of the moment and she was glad he liked the bread. Since being on holiday, the prepared food had been lighter. A mixture of fresh bread and salads and pasta, not too heavy. Fishermen were local in the village and if she ever wanted anything, they just plucked it out of the sea for her. No one could get any fresher than that. She blinked. "I can make a start on those cookies if you wanted to help? Eggs, sugar, flour and milk," she said, pointing them all out before taking the cheese from him and nibbling a slice of fresh tomato. Or later on.

"Funny, isn't it?" Maddie asked with a smile. "We've been through a lot and haven't really done anything so mundane as that." It'd be so easy to fantasize about being Aeric's girlfriend whilst doing something so simple as making lunch. She blushed. She was woken from her reverie by a cup on the windowsill sneezing. She frowned at it before shrugging carelessly. "Anyway," she said briskly as she set out slices of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil neatly on the plates before sprinkling a little bit of highly prized olive oil and slicing some bread and placing that down too. She wandered through the kitchen and opened the wooden doors that lead out onto their little secluded balcony. There was a small table covered by a white table cloth and two chairs. Someone had left a small vase of flowers there.

Frowning, she stopped, her hands still full of food as she turned towards Aeric. "Do you know who keeps leaving those?" She asked. "That's happened a few times now."

“Maddie.” He said her name as he gave her a look that screamed ’are you serious’ before his head shook. “Yes the hair is nice and your eyes are warm.” He looked out ahead of them as his head did a small tilt from side to side. “You’re beautiful, Madeline.” It had been years since he had called her by her actual name, she had always been Maddie. Green eyes drifted over to the baker, glancing at her. “Really beautiful and anyone who says less…” His head shook “is a fool.” Once more he looked away from her, wondering faintly if what he had just said would make things between them change. He was worried about losing more than her presence, he was afraid of losing his friend.

He had been terrified after New Years back then, worried that the tense awkwardness would settle in and they would slowly drift apart. The awkwardness hadn’t settled but the drifting had happened. He’d moved to Romania right out of school to tend to dragons, he’d heard from so far away that she was engaged. But Aeric being raised as he had did nothing to put his belief in a rumor; if Maddie had gotten engaged she would tell him. He’d come home because his grandfather had fallen ill. She’d moved to Paris for a fresh start, the future she’d planned halted. He’d learned on thankful Friday afternoon.

Life had nearly faded the fine line that held their friendship intact away. “I think disasters shape us.” His had, they had redefined him as a man. “I mean, you found your home in Paris. You have this amazing job you love.” He wanted to leave Ireland but not forever. He had a loft in London that he never slept in, a safe house of sorts now. It was strange how his life was not what he pictured it to be at all.  He’d thought himself married with maybe three kids. He pictured the house with a nice fence and the cute little dog – a life he wasn’t allotted – all the time as he sat behind the desk in his office. He wanted forever and always but he wanted it with the right girl. A girl that could love all of him.

He laughed. “Well, imperfect or not I bet they still taste amazing.” He looked at her, a bit surprised. They had never really talked about what they wanted for themselves outside of Hogwarts. “I never knew you wanted kids..” He’s always wanted a big family, lots of children to love. Though his childhood had been marred and tainted by tragedy and betrayal, Aeric was still capable of love. He had compassion in his heart and even when he was slow to forgive he was nearly always merciful. 

“Maddie what you’ve done so far is more than enough.” He moved to take another sip of his wine. “I think it would be nice. They’ve all been so welcoming and helpful.”  He’d never felt more welcomed then he did here, strange enough. The cookies would be a nice gesture, it was a brilliant suggestion. He grabbed another small piece of the bread before he moved to gather everything she needed for the cookies. He took his time grabbing only what he could carry in his hands before going back for the rest. “What kind of cookies will you make?” He asked curiously as he watched her move about. His eyes washed over her frame while he wasn’t under her gaze, drinking in the tan to her skin and the length of her legs.

The more time he spent around her in this romantically beautiful place the more he wanted to be closer to her. He wondered if it was the Portofino sun or the sweet wines they’d been drinking. Whatever it was he found that it was getting harder to ignore. “What?” His eyes shot up to her face as a hand moved to rub the back of his head, guilty and caught. “Oh, yeah. But now we can say we’ve cooked together. And..” Here he leaned against the counter “..I’m offering now to cook you dinner.” He gave her a smile just after and moved to busy himself, gathering a few differently sized bowls to place out for her when she was ready.

He turned to look out at the flowers and then her. “Me…” He admitted softly. It was a habit he’d formed and couldn’t break. His mother had always placed flowers on the table and he’d been doing so since her death. “I can stop if you want?” His hands rested on the counter. “I like having something beautiful at the table…sometimes they can make a bad moment a bit better.” His eyes drifted to the flowers and then back to her. He’d picked them early in the morning – late at night – while he went on a run to clear his head. On his way back he always walked and picked the flowers before going back to the villa.

He grabbed both their glasses and walked out the balcony, sitting each down in their proper place on the table. He looked over at her and he opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t. Could he say the words he was thinking? He knew he could always be honest with her but some things were better left unsaid. Some things were better kept safe close to his chest. He looked down at the white table cloth, running his tanned hand along the soft fabric. “Maddie..”

He moved to pull her chair out for her, always the gentleman. “I know back in school I was all over the place, but, I was thinking about how we were in school while I was out at the water.” He moved to take his seat, running the back of his hand under his chin. “I could always talk to you and I can’t understand why we never dated.”  He gave a chuckle, picking up his glass. “Well, all my friends said you were way out of my league.”

Madeline winced as her full name was used. No one ever called her it, except the people in Paris. They pronounced it incorrectly, too. Her name was Madda-line not Madda-len. It had taken her a few weeks to get used to how they said her name the same way as the famous French biscuit. "Okay, okay," she mumbled, looking like a sullen child as she pouted before sighing. The subject was closed.

She offered Aeric a soft smile. He was right, she loved her job but she wouldn't admit that she'd wanted to quit occasionally. The hours were long, the air was hot, the timing was tight and the precision took all of her strength. But someone had taken a chance on her. Loren had stuck out his neck and vouched for her, even when people tried to persuade him to hire an older, more experienced chef. She owed it to him, his wife and their little boy to make this work.

Fearing that she'd overstepped the mark somewhat, she shrugged briefly. "One day," she added on the subject of children. "I don't think I'm ready right now," she added. "My apartment's falling down and the hours I work are silly-stupid and I don't really have time to date," she said, all in one breath. "The Parisians don't go out until after ten at night and by that time, I'm passed out in bed," the tall blonde added with a wrinkled nose. "But yeah," she said brightly. "I'd love to be a mum. If it happens, great. If it doesn't, that's fine too. I'm just glad I didn't have any with Ernie," she added with a frown. Love had blindsided her completely. She didn't see that he didn't pay her attention, that he was trying to change who she was, that he was treating her like an accessory. Any kids that they might have had might not have received any care and affection from him.

Madeline very rarely spoke of her ex-husband, as though his name had somehow become some sort of taboo. All things considered, ending that relationship had been the bravest thing she'd ever done. Starting a new life in a foreign country was a piece of cake in comparison. "I think it'd be an adventure," she told Aeric evenly. Whilst she wasn't desperate for children, being with someone who was open to the idea was a good start. "How about you?" She asked. "Any more brothers or sisters for Sky?"

"Amaretti, maybe?" She said, answering Aeric's question about the biscuits. "Or do you think that's tempting fate, making a famous Italian biscuit as a thank you?" What if she ruined them? Heck, neither of them would be able to set foot in the town ever again.

"Really?" Maddie asked with a wide grin as she tilted her head with another easy smile. Aeric seemed flustered, like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have but she didn't press the issue further. "No one's ever cooked me dinner before," she replied, sounding star struck and a bit giddy. She refused to think that the sun was about to set and it'd be very romantic. "What're we cooking, then?" She wasn't going to let Aeric slave away all by himself. "But let's do it a little later on."

Aeric's confession about leaving the flowers made her face light up. The fact that she wasn't at all disappointed that it was him should have rung alarm bells. "No I love them," she gushed to tell him, eager to let him know. "They're beautiful, thank you," she said with a faint blush. Aeric had picked flowers in the colours that she liked; yellow, pink and orange and blue, the shades of a sunset. Did she want him to stop? She shook her head. "I wish I could take them home with me," she said with wistful sigh. There were plenty of gorgeous flower markets in Paris, stuffed full of elegant pink and white stems. But she didn't want elegant, she wanted real.

When the chair was pulled, she let out a laugh. She held the edges of her cover up and dipped into a low, melodramatic curtsy. "Thank you, kind sir," she joked as she dropped into her seat. The table was small and both chairs were positioned so they could look out onto the harbour and admire the setting sun glint off the water and the boats like sparkling diamonds.

Maddie crossed her long bare legs at the knee and took a sip of the wine. She honestly didn't know what was more distracting; the impending sunset or Aeric's face. The mention of what happened in school caused her to blush more violently as she swallowed anxiously. It was strange. They'd crossed the line once and the day after, they'd pretended like it didn't happen. They'd never discussed it or dealt with confusing feelings. Sex was always a big deal for her, then and now and she didn't know why he wanted to talk about it now, years later.

A very small part of her made her sit up straight and listen intently as he spoke but another part of her told her that reminiscing was a perfectly normal thing to do and nothing was behind the trip down memory lane. She offered him a soft smile. Madeline knew that if she told him the truth, he wouldn't like it. He had an on-off relationship with a pretty brunette who was completely mental. Imogen? Ingrid? No, Isabella. He was too wrapped up in her and the constant fights that he didn't even know she existed.

"You spoke about your girlfriends a lot," she told Aeric. At fifteen, it felt like he was being unnecessarily cruel and like he was repeatedly plunging an icy dagger right into her heart. "It kind of made me back off a little. You needed someone to offload to, someone that wouldn't judge you," she told him as she blinked. It didn't hurt so much any more. She'd long resigned herself to the fact that they just weren't meant to be. "Wrong timing," she said with a fond smile which turned into a snort of laugher. "Funny," she chided him. "That was exactly what my friends said about you," she replied with a playful eye roll.

Madeline watched him for a moment. It was quiet on the terrace. All she could hear was the lazy shore lapping against the stone and the distant cry of seagulls circling up above. Had they dated in school, would things have been different? Would she have married Aeric instead of Ernie? So many things could have changed. Maybe he wouldn't have gone to Romania, maybe he wouldn't have his son, there were too many variables to make sense. "But you actually wanted to date me once upon a time?" The baker asked with a slow grin before she gave a long, low and impressed whistle. "Wow. If anyone knew that, I wouldn't have been so crippling unpopular."