Mad & Brilliant

Cassie: stop I'm serious.

Cassie: look at that picture

Cassie: [sent a picture]

Cassie: and tell me her hair doesn't look like it changed colors in the last five minutes.

Pan: well

Pan: that's better than how we found out

“Believe, I know a thing or two about owning one too many mugs and teacups,” Astoria shook her head in amusement. It’s what most of her cousins in France would send her. Then again, they weren’t the most creative people. 

“Perhaps you could bake her something.” Astoria suggested with a smile. T”he key to a person’s heart is through their stomach. The same notion applies to parents. A Quidditch-themed cake or something of the sort would be quite the gift..” 

“If she would trust it’s safe to eat something I made for her,” he said with a laugh. It actually wasn’t a bad idea, though. “I could do something like that, along with something small on the side that isn’t edible.”

“I can still be a petty ex, Pandora.” He looked at her. Dylan nodded, “Yep. Leave the kids with your husband – we go on a vacation. Because going on a vacation with your devastatingly gorgeous ex isn’t weird.” he shrugged, “I mean, you’re gorgeous too, but you know.”

His smirk faded when she looked down at her arm. “Baby, it’ll be okay. He’ll be more mad at himself. I mean, you know he loves you. I wouldn’t have let him marry you if he didn’t.” Dylan moved his arm back around her. “But can you at least come in sometime tomorrow so I can look at it while I’m at the hospital to make me feel better?”

“Sounds good to me. I think Teddy can handle the girls on his own for a bit. Besides, I don’t even think of you as an ex. It’s even weird to consider now,” she said, nose wrinkling. “Probably because I was in love with Teddy the whole time. But you know that, of course.”

Cassie: Be honest.

Cassie: Is her hair less red?

Cassie: [sent an image]

Cassie: It is, isn't it?

Pan: Shouldn't you know?

Pan: I'm not her mum

“You said that last time.” Teddy looked at her. “When Dylan followed you and had to force you back home.” He shook his head, “Darling, it’s not that I don’t appreciate it – I do. I wish you could make it better for me and I wish you could stay out there with me all night to make it a little more bearable, but you can’t.” He sighed, “You just have to trust me, Pan. I know what’s out there too, you know. And I might not be in the right frame of mind, but I know I can handle it.”

Teddy’s eyes fell down to her arm and he sighed again, dropping his head back where it was against the wall. Knowing he’d done that – right frame of mind or not – wasn’t something he was going to be able to get over. “I’d feel the same way if it was you,” he said eventually, not looking at her. “But it’s going to be hard enough on me knowing I did that.” Teddy tilted his head so he met her gaze. “Don’t let it get worse. You have to promise me you won’t follow me again.”

“I know. I know,” she said, shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. The way he spoke made her feel like a child. Although she understood why he was so adamant, it was beginning to irritate her. “I said I wouldn’t. If you want me to trust you out there, then you have to trust me when I say I’ve learnt my lesson.”

“It’s the first time you’ve ever been scratched by a werewolf,” Teddy looked at her. “I’m not one of your unicorns or pygmy puffs, Pan. My scratches carry a little more weight.” He shook his head, running a hand through his curls. “What I had bitten you? You’d turn every full moon like I do, and do you really think I could live with that?” Teddy gestured towards her arm, “’Cause I’ll have a hard enough time living with this.”

Teddy rolled his eyes and leaned back against the wall. “Don’t start this again. Me choosing that had every thing to do with me as much as it did you. I wasn’t choosing for you, I didn’t want to watch this happen. Because you never listen to me. As soon as I told you that day, you followed me out of school into the woods when you knew it was going to happen. And I’m not saying I’m not grateful, because outside my parents, grandmother, and the headmistress, you were the only person that knew – and I needed that. But I don’t need this. When you get those feelings, Pan, they’re not about me. Every full moon, I stop being your husband for those 12 hours and there’s nothing you can do to help me.” He met her gaze. “Except not follow me. You can’t. I might not remember myself in those few hours, but I know how to handle myself.” Teddy sighed and dropped his head back against the wall. “This I can’t handle.”

“I never said you were a unicorn or pygmy puff, Teddy,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And you forget, I studied werewolves. Extensively. Bloody hell, I’ve handled dragons. I’ve been burnt by one before. I know what I’m doing.” With a sigh, she leaned against the bedpost. “And trust me. Based on my training alone, I know it was a really stupid move, and I’m not planning to do it again. Some people just don’t fully learn until they are burnt, I suppose. Consider me schooled. I may seem fine and dandy with it now, but I was a wreck last night.”

Teddy let out a breath at the first thing she said. “Pandora – I have had to deal with this my entire life. I’m not discrediting those feelings, but if Mum and Dad let me go as a child, you’re going to have to learn to be able to do the same.”  He stopped and looked at her when she said she followed him. Teddy remembered her coming after him once before, until Dylan somehow got her to go home – that was why he told him she wasn’t feeling good. Teddy didn’t even hear the last thing she said, his eyes had already fallen to the bandage on her arm. “That’s why I told you not to go after me,” he said, in a tone just above a whisper.

“You didn’t….”  Transform is what he was going to say, but he knew she hadn’t. She was way too calm, even in her current state, for her to have gone through that. Teddy shook his head and moved back a little. “Why can’t you just listen to me? I told you no, you should have just listened to me.” He got up from the bed and walked across the room, taking another breath before he continued, “That’s why I didn’t want to get married – this was why. Because I knew this was going to happen. Me never asking you out  in school had nothing to do with my training, Pan. I knew I’d end up marrying you and then we’d get here, and I didn’t want that for you.”

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Although she had prepared for this moment and his reaction, it didn’t make it any easier. “I’m sorry,” she said simply, knowing it was not enough, but it was all she could do. Hugging her knees to her chest, she watched as he walked across the room. It was as if she could see him breaking in front of her, and it tore her apart. “You’re right. I should have listened to you.” She shook her head, gazing down at her arm. “I had Dylan take a look. He said I’m fine. It’ll scar, but it’s not the first time I’ve been scratched. Really, Teddy. I’m okay. Like I said, it’s my fault.”

He knitted his eyebrows in concern, nodding. The first thing that came to Teddy’s mind was something to do with them trying for another baby – but she wasn’t pregnant, yet. Unless they got it wrong, which they could have. “You freak me out when you get cryptic like this.”

Teddy ran a hand through his still-damp curls and sat on the edge of the bed in front of Pandora, reaching over to push her hair from her face. “Darling – what is it?”

“I had an odd feeling last night, similar to that one night when wolf-you got in a fight with another animal.” She pulled her gaze up to meet his, heart sinking even more as she continued. “So, because I clearly can’t listen, I dropped the girls off at your parents... and then I followed you.”

She tore her gaze from him for a moment, ashamed of herself for having to admit her own blunder. It was one thing for her mistake to affect herself, but it was another thing entirely when something she did wrong hurt others. Especially someone she loved, like Teddy.

“I found you before you changed. I suppose you can’t remember.” Her eyes met his again, and she reached for his hand with her good one, holding it tight in her fingers. “But I saw you change, and you saw me. You knew who I was for a moment, but in a flash you forgot, just as you told me you would if I ever did something like this.”

“Now, it would surprise me if she didn’t like Quidditch. Does your dad even talk to people like that?” She chuckled, thinking about how Oliver was even more obsessed with the sport than her own father - and that was saying something. “Baking competitions shows are the best, but I try to avoid them, because I always end up incredibly hungry and I suck in the kitchen. So I open my fridge expecting red-velvet flavored cakes and cupcakes, instead there’s only a bottle of wine and… No, that’s it” She noted, well aware that people didn’t need to know more about her unhealthy habits. “So… Likes Quidditch. What could she possibly not have, since she’s a Wood?” Vicky wondered. 

He smirked. “Not really. I mean, he does when he has to, but all of his friends love it to some extent. They sort of have to, eh?”

“As a mum, the last thing I would want is a mug that says “best mum in the world”, though I admit my children haven’t tried that just yet.” Astoria smiled sheepishly. “Perhaps you could her something lasting and worthwhile? Have you any idea what she might like? Any hobbies of interest?”

“She would absolutely hate something like that too. Too unthoughtful,” he laughed. “And I think she has enough mugs and teacups to full an entire room.”

“What, it’s not like you’re naked,” she retorted, sticking her tongue out. She flopped onto the couch, folding her legs up underneath her. “You’re always training. Not gonna lie, though, probably a good thing because you’re gonna need it. The Harpies are so gonna crush Puddlemere this year.”

Maddie rested an elbow on the back of the couch, her chin perched on top as she looked at him quizzically. “So, about Christmas. Halfsies?”

“Okay, but what if I would have been?” He scrunched his face up in a cringe, but it turned to outrage in a second. He looked at her, aghast, and sat across from her. “That hurts me,” he stated with a teasing glare. “But you’re on. How much you want to bet mum and dad each place money on one of us?” He snorted, leaning his back against his chair. “I think they already do.”

“Many sons don’t think about this sort of thing – why do I feel like that’s another dig at me.” He followed Leo. “I dunno. I mean, she could be like my Mum and give you a list and tell you what you’re buying her, which has been the norm for the past few years.”

Dylan gave him a look. “You went from you need to talk your feelings over with your ex to I’m not renting your room out just yet real quick, Leo.” He gently shoved his shoulder. “If anyone had to end it, it would be him. I’m not messing this one up. Even though technically it wasn’t my fault last time either, but whatever.” Dylan stopped and opened the door for the girl walking out of the store, giving her a smile. He gave Leo another look when she was gone, silencing him before he could speak. ”I was being polite.”

He smirked. “I mean, was it? What do you get your mum for Christmas? Just something from her list?” The thought was odd to him. His mum wasn’t the sort to ask for anything.

He snorted. “Babe, Id be the worst maid in the existence of maids – do I look like a house elf to you?” Dylan reached over to cover her mouth, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “Do not make a short joke, I’ll kill you.” He dropped it after a second and shrugged. “Your wedding was funny, though. I had you so gone on anti-nausea medication, I’m surprised you even remembered your vows.”

Dylan rolled onto his back. “He was really big about the beach, so. Beachfront house, secluded island. I think we should go. Bestiemoon.” He tilted his head a little to look down at her, moving his arm back around her, keeping her at his side. “And I can be a petty bitch and take pictures and tag him on Instagram.” Dylan reached up and brushed her hair from her face, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I know you’re okay. You always are. But you know you can be not okay with me though if you need to be.” He pulled back a little to look at her. “I might get called in before you wake up, but I’ll stick around until Teddy gets back. If you’re still asleep and it looks like he doesn’t remember or isn’t freaking out over it, I’ll just tell him you’re not feeling well so you can do whatever you need to when you tell him.”

She closed her mouth, keeping the short joke that was on her tongue locked inside. She smirked at him. “Funny to you at the time, maybe. I felt like I was going to throw up my guts, yet I ate at least five pieces of cake. Never forget.” Shaking her head, she laughed.

He reached for his wand and levitated the boxes out of the bedroom, to the kitchen. “See? I remembered I’m a wizard,” Dylan gave her a half-smirk, but it faded as she spoke. He shrugged, moving to lay back beside her when she was snuggled under the covers. “I’ll stay as long as you want and need me to, okay?” Dylan smiled and shook his head, moving his arm around her. “You don’t have to say it, Pan. You’re my best friend and I love you. It’s my job. Besides, between you and my two goddaughters who make it their personal mission to see how they can test the limits of their own mortality on a daily basis, I’m desensitized.”

Truthfully, he wasn’t. Pandora’s indecisive impulsiveness had nearly given him a heart attack on more than one occasion – but she knew that. “You force me into a musical binge and tell me to get off my moping ass when my fiance broke up with me, I hold your hair back and shield your gown when you’re dying of morning sickness on your wedding day – it’s what we do.” Dylan paused at that. “Speaking of – I still have that already paid for - by said ex - honeymoon  just sitting there waiting for us to take a bestiemoon, just saying.” Dylan rolled more onto his side so he could look at her, his expression softening. “Are you okay, though?”

“If you love me so much and will stay as long as I want, then you should just move in and become the nanny and maid I always wanted,” she teased. “Then again, you and Leo couldn’t even keep a plant alive. I have no idea how you’d manage my daughters on a long-term basis.” She considered for a moment, before adding, “Honestly, I’m not sure how Teddy and I manage.”

She cringed, remembering her public, official wedding day. It was funny in hindsight, but she had felt terrible that day. She raised a brow at his next words. “Where were you two planning to go? I’d be up for a vacation at some point,” she said, brightening.

“Oh, don’t look at me, I’m the worst at Christmas’ shopping. I mean, you’re supposed to know what to get for the people you love and etcetera, but then why is it so hard?” she pondered. “I’m sorry, I’m blabbering. What does your mum like? Maybe I can be helpul for a change” Vicky inquired.

“No, I completely agree with you. I think it gets harder than more you know someone, actually,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile. “Anything would help me.”

“Does she like sweaters?” Jacqui asked. “You could get her like a Christmas ornament or something of the sort.”

“I think she would disown me if I got her a Christmas ornament for Christmas,” he said with a smirk. “A sweater isn’t a bad idea, though. But I wouldn’t know where to start for that. I don’t trust my guy senses to buy women’s fashion.”