The tarot cards say it's not so bad

Where: Near food tents

When: Approx 8.30pm

Who: Liza and Fabian ( @fabianxprewettx​ )

Liza had been enjoying the carnival so far. It felt nice to be back out in public. She, of course, felt slightly nervous, but Fabian was with her, and she felt okay. He said he wasn’t going to leave her side. Things would be okay. They were being more cautious since the poisoning inccident, but it was nice to celebrate valentines day with her love. They’d had a good day so far, and she was really looking forward to the auction later. But for now, they were enjoying some food.

“You know love….” She murmured, shaking her head as she took a bite out of her hot dog. “You really don’t have to try everything that I’m going to eat”

.

Fabian was happy that they were out with others again. It wasn’t exactly that he felt comfortable. A lot of safety they had built had been dashed when the incident happened, but this felt like a happy memory. That and it was the first valentines day they were celebrating together, and he was hoping for many more in the future. 

Still maybe Fabian was being more cautious then he normally would - and at the words he couldn’t help the laugh that came out. She’d caught him easily enough. 

“Would you believe that I just think your food might be much more tasty than my own?” He said with a smile stealing one of her fries. 

Fabian was concentrating on having a nice evening with Elsbeth. After all she hadn’t been able to go out after she’d been poisoned and it was Valentines day after all. Still he had seen some pretty flowers, and keeping her in sight he had gone to buy some. They weren’t much after all, but he though it would make her smile. 

However sometimes fate seemed to have a wicked way of making a calm evening at least more entertaining if not absurd. Fabian caught Mia out of the corner of his eye, and she looked distressed. 

Without thinking he grabbed the flowers and went to figure out what had happened, not really remembering how they were in public and that she probably didn’t want to talk to him. However given the atmosphere he could just be talking to a stranger. Besides most people couldn’t tell him apart from Gideon and that was useful at least for now. 

“Hey - are you alright? You look like you’re readying to deck someone, and if you’re going to do that I’d rather it not be me. What’s going on? ” 

Gideon felt like he barely knew his family lately. To their credit, he had changed quite a lot lately too. He felt like the war was forcing them to make different decisions and with all the new relationships, Gideon felt like their large family had gotten even larger. The holidays were always hectic: filled with food and drinking and way too many people in the same home. This year felt even more intense though. It wasn’t the same holiday time with his parents and siblings. He was spending more and more time with Bethesda and Amos and Cedric and his siblings seemed to be making similar decisions.

It was all a sign of growing up, sure, but he felt like he had just gotten his footing in his own relationship and now there were more people to account for at the dinner table. Gideon was feeling like he was too cramped. 

Marlowe and Sirius had taken Gideon by surprise, but that had made sense to him. Fabian and Elsbeth Rosier? A Rosier suddenly joining them for holiday roast? He was already bad enough at picking out presents for people and now he had way more people to worry about. And his real worry was keeping Amos and Cedric safe. Something that felt like less and less of a certainty these days.

Gideon always thought he and Fabian had been more or less on the same wavelength. Both sorted into Gryffindor. Both lived together after school. Both joined the Order. He wasn’t sure what had come over him lately. And after Fabian had been so hurt by Gideon’s hiding of his relationship, Gideon couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

They needed to sort things out and Gideon wasn’t quite sure how it was going to go.

“Well, you’re not going to pack them are you?” he asked, only slightly answering the offer. It felt too close to their last argument when Gideon was packing up his own flat. He didn’t know how to start. “Do you have any idea where you’re going or are you just making another decision without thinking it through?”

.

Fabian was fairly certain that Gideon was looking for a fight, or at least an explanation. He wasn’t sure that his twin was going to like either the answers he had or the lack of fight Fabian had. After all, it wasn’t like Fabian. He’d always been fairly quiet when it came to dating and very rarely was it an awkward affair.  As chaotic as Fabian could be it had never translated to romance. 

In all actuality though, he didn’t think that Elsbeth was that out of field for him o you talked to her. She was witty and adventurous. He was sure if she hadn’t been a Rosier that no one would have looked twice at them as a couple. 

“Probably not no,” Fabian said nodding towards the fridge as he went to build another box.  At the question he sighed slightly putting the box down. “Yes I do. I have a new flat actually, and for the underlining question you might as well ask it directly, Gideon.”

—

In her head Liza was trying to work out a way that they could work this out. But she couldn’t. Or well. She knew. She knew how they worked this out. It was dangerous though. It would put huge targets on both of their backs. She knew the side of the war that the Prewetts aligned there selves with, and she knew that it meant he already had a target on her back. Liza really didn’t want to make it any worse for him. But, by being around him, letting herself fall in love with him. She had made it worse.

She wiped away at the blood on her lips, it stained the back of her hand, and then his white shirt that she’d wrapped around herself. She didn’t know what to say. Or what to do. 

He was closer to her now, and she could reach out and touch him. But she didn’t. He still kept himself away from her, and she wondered why. She just wanted him to hold her. To say it would be okay. She knew it would be lies. That it might not be okay. But it would make her feel better. It would make her feel that maybe he still wanted her. That he wasn’t pushing her away.

“Fabian…..” Her voice cracked as she took in all his words. Nobody had ever said anything like that to her before. Nobody had loved her like that before. She was crying again. But it seemed that this time the tears were happiness. Even if things weren’t going to work out, and they weren’t going to be happy. For one little happy moment she felt happy, and loved. And maybe that would be enough. “I…..” She really was lost for words. “Nobody…. has ever loved me…. like you do…” And it made he so mad at herself. She’d met and fallen in love with such an amazing man…. and she was probably going to lose him now.

And then she was in his arms. It was like everything felt okay again. She found herself clinging to him, her arms wrapping tight around his torso as she rested her head on his chest. “There are…. so many reasons why I love you too….. but I feel like if I say them….. It’ll just feel like I’m copying you….” And she didn’t want to do that. She wanted him to know that she truly loved him, and not that she was trying to top what he’d said to her.

She sighed, pulling back from him, just slightly. A hand moved up, caressing his cheek softly, and wiping around the tears. “I don’t know what to do either…..or well…. I do….. “ She did. “But it’s dangerous…..really dangerous. For both of us.” She blinked, as she looked up at him, becoming more sure of what she had to do, now that she was saying it out loud. 

“I can stop being a death eater.”

.

There was a lot to the notion of being everyone’s friend but no one’s darling, that being in a room of people who respect you but no one that saw you. Maybe that was what was happening now. The moment of being seen as a whole being  and the idea that it could be taken away. 

With Elsbeth in his arms, it felt like being seen. Not as someone who was an abstracted version of himself, or a brother or a thousand other things that he was but not fully. Maybe that’s why she was crying too, he didn’t want to ask but maybe it was the first time she was being seen as a person first and Liza Rosier second. 

At her words though he couldn’t help a choke of a laugh. It was creaky and staggering but it filled his chest. “It’s okay darling. You don’t have to make any declarations. It’s okay.” 

That at least he could say was okay. That wasn’t going to be the thing that made them hurt. If they had time she could tell him or show him. If they had time they could say a million little things in a million different ways. 

That was the problem in the end. Time was right outside the door. 

As she pulled away Fabian looked at her softly, his eyes slightly concerned at her bitten lip but more so focused on the gentle touches he felt at his cheek. He hadn’t realized how many had fell before but he leaned his face slightly into her hand anyway. 

He froze though at her words a sudden fear coming through him for a moment thinking that it wasn’t possible - until he realized it would be the only way too. 

One, he wouldn’t join the Dark Lord. It wasn’t in him to do it. That he didn’t think they would accept him anyway. Elsbeth would have a chance defecting. 

Merlin, they only needed a chance. 

“-Are you sure? Elsbeth. If you tell me you’re sure I’ll do anything to get us out of this and to get the chance to stay with you, but I don’t want to make you miserable. I don’t want you to regret me.”

After that there wasn’t really a possibility for awhile and things moved to quickly for Fabian to catch them. The space that had grown between him and Gideon had made it easy to not tell him or feel guilty about it. The danger had kept his mind moving forward not considering everything. 

Then - well Christmas had happened. He had thought she was going to stay with her family, and maybe he could bring it up then but Elsbeth had run. She hadn’t felt safe, and to be honest it was probably for the best she had defected when she had. 

However, that meant that there was no gentle landing pad. There was no way to ease his family to just hearing vaguely about a girl he was dating to just seeing her. It also wasn’t hard to connect the dots either. 

Fabian had thought most of his family took it in stride, but he wasn’t sure about Gideon - and honestly that freaked him out.  He thought he would always know how Gideon felt, and he wasn’t sure he did now. However it might just be he didn’t want to know. 

So, Fabian had invited Gideon over as he was packing his apartment. He wasn’t sure exactly where he was going to go, but he figured here wasn’t exactly the safest. He was hoping maybe soon Elsbeth and him could move in together but at the moment it was probably best she was at Sirus’. 

“- Hey,” Fabian hearing the other appear, softer than his normal tone knowing that there was a non zero chance he was going to get yelled at and knowing he might deserve it. “ - I don’t really have anything to drink other than a few beers if you want one.” 

lizarosier​:

Where: Some muggle cafe, North England

Who: Liza and Fabian. Later including Mia ( @fabianxprewettx​@miastravers​ )

When: 20th January 1983

Liza hadn’t really been on many dates before. To be honest she hadn’t been the dating kind. She hadn’t really been the one man kind of girl. But she was now. And it was new, and it was different. But she liked it. So when Fabian had suggested they went on a little date, she’d jumped at the chance. To be honest, she probably would have jumped up at the chance to get out of the house with anyone. But with Fabian she did feel a little safer. She knew he’d have her back, and would protect her if anything happened.

“I will admit some random cafe in the middle of no where was not the place I’d have picked….” Liza mused, grinning at her boyfriend from across the table. To be honest, she’d have taken any location with him. He made her happy, and that was all that mattered to her. “But also….. this coffee sucks. I should’ve had a hot chocolate”

Her weekdays belonged to her hustles… to poker, arithmancy, and to ending the war… but her weekends were for peace.  It was one of her favorite things to frequent random Muggle cafes – to sample the coffee and treats and to just be herself.  No one expected her to be Mia Travers.

This cafe had been on her list for quite some time.  The coffee didn’t seem to be anything to write home about, but the view outside the front windows was quite nice and the town had a nice reputation for friendliness.

But as soon as she walked in she immediately regretted it.  Her eyes fell on Fabian almost immediately in the corner.  God damn, was he everywhere?  She fumbled immediately, grabbing for the menu on the counter, using it to hide her face.  Had he seen her?

@fabianxprewettx​

.

Fabian knew that Elsbeth was probably chomping at the bit to go out. He didn’t think of himself as an over protective person - hell he was pretty sure Elsbeth probably could protect herself better than he could. Still, he couldn’t deny the fact that they did have to be cautious. She couldn’t go out all that often anymore, so when he had the day off he figured that - well it couldn’t hurt really for them to do something fun. 

At her observation Fabian couldn’t help but burst out into a laugh. “I’m sorry, Darling. To be fair last time I was here I was a bit - let’s say under the weather. Next time I’ll pick one where I didn’t have a black eye how about that. I can go get you a hot chocolate if you’d like. ” 

As he spoke, he got up to go order one anyway thinking that Elsbeth wouldn’t stop him especially with a smile on his face. 

Without thinking he turned to the counter and - well Mia was trying pretty hard to be invisible but Fabian was pretty good at finding things that were off. Maybe if he hadn’t seen the rush and connected her form he wouldn’t have noticed but he did. 

It stopped him for a second as he instinctually moved to block where Liza was. 

“Love, would you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?” He said trying to keep an even tone as he tried to figure out if Mia was here to tell him something or was - well following Liza. He pointedly looked at Mia as if to tell her to stay there and not to come closer as he waited for Liza’s response. 

—

If she was truly honest Christmas had been hard. It had been hard to not spend it with her family. But she had a new family now. Fabian was her family now. And among all the chaos that was Sirius and the Prewetts, Liza had felt accepted. Sure, they didn’t know she had been a death eater, not the Prewetts anyway, and maybe that would change things. But, right now she felt accepted, and it was a nice feeling.

She had an ache in her chest. A ache of desperately missing her brother. An ache of knowing that she was never going to be accepted there again. But she also had a hope. That life was going to get better. Fabian made her feel so special. He made her feel loved. Sure the Rosier’s loved her, but never like this. It made the decision easy. She wanted Fabian. She wanted their love, and she didn’t regret her decision.

She curled up against his side, closing her eyes as she just enjoyed being close to him. It had been a different Christmas, but she was happy. She was happier than she could remember being before. “I liked the chaos” It had managed to keep her mind off of the sadness that she was also experiencing right now. She adored being happy, but it was tinged with the grieving of the life she had given up.

She pushed him back a little, and then moved, straddling over his lap, so that she could look up at him, but still be close to him. A hand moved up, caressing his cheek gently. “I love you……” She murmured, a happy smile on her lips. “I’m….. I’m glad I chose you… I’ll always chose you.”

.

Christmas was always hectic but he really thought it would have been Gideon making things hectic this year. Although, maybe this was a bit of karma coming up to bite him too. Still, he was happy. Happy he got to see Elsbeth today even if it wasn’t the way they were hoping for. Double lives weren’t something sustainable - but it didn’t make it hurt less. 

Fabian closed his eyes for a minute just happy she was close, knowing that even if it had been a lot - that it was worth it. Maybe she wouldn’t always feel that way, and that would haunt his nightmares he was sure but for the moment at least he was overjoyed by the fact that they had - at least in someway done it. Maybe it was fruitless - maybe it would end in tragedy but as she moved to sit facing him he couldn’t help the small smile and knowing that it was worth it anyway. 

“I love you too, Darling,” Fabian said leaning his face into her hand for a moment. At her continuing the words his smile got softer and a bit more giddy and he looked at her. 

“I’m glad to hear that. I’m afraid we’ve lost the receipt already I’m afraid. You may be stuck with me for an awful long time. -  I choose you too Elsbeth.” He said putting his hand over hers on his cheek and turning to kiss her hand. 

..

Gideon knew sometimes he had a flair for the dramatic. He relished in telling long, colourful stories or drawing out minor details to be more major. He felt like it was part of his upbringing. Everyone in the Prewett family always seemed to be telling some tall tale. So even if their little present dilemma was not the most pressing matter in the world right now and could rightfully send his brother into a panic, he still couldn’t stop himself from sending the panicked message.

“Good you got here quick,” he said approvingly when he saw his twin. “Oh come on, now you’re being the dramatic one,” he said with a smile. “Okay so what’s the plan? You were always the planner.”

.

Fabian would agree that their family was dramatic, but in vastly different ways. For example, Fab usually was dramatic because he got arrested not because he called for an emergency family meeting for presents. Still he figured that made it more interesting. 

“Of course I did you said it was an emergency. I thought we were bailing someone out of jail,” Fabian said snorting and relaxing as his twin seemed to be okay. “ Since when am I the planner?  Fine fine Okay - I have a couple of ideas. I made a few list of things for the each of them if you want to start with that. Molly’s pretty easy to get something for but I’m not sure what Marlowe wants this year. I figured you might be able to pin point on the list what she might like. ” 

Fabian knew that it had been a shock. It hadn’t really been his intention to hide Elsbeth from everyone - or at least he didn’t mean for it to have lasted for as long as he did. Truthfully, he’d been scared. Not that his family would disown him - that wasn’t something that had crossed his mind, but that by telling them they would be put into danger. 

Maybe they were but after Elsbeth had made it clear she wanted to leave her family outright the danger seemed to be around them anyway. There wasn’t anything he could do other than say that he understood it if they needed them to leave that he would. 

That hadn’t happened, but Fabian was fairly sure he was still going to get a lecture about warning people but he had expected it from Molly and not Marlowe. 

So when he looked up to see her he sighed and gave her a weary smile. “They send you in to lecture me about being irresponsible? I’m not apologizing for bringing her but I’m sorry I didn’t warn you all.” 

—

Liza was terrified that he was going to make her leave. That her assurance that she adored him, that she loved him, and never wanted to hurt him wouldn’t be enough. She wouldn’t have blamed him, and she probably wouldn’t have trusted him if their roles were reversed. She’d not been truthful. She’d hidden a huge portion of herself from him. She regretted it, but she had been scared that he’d never have accepted her if he’d known who she truly was from the start.

She’d not experienced heart break before. But this hurt so much. She didn’t want to think about walking out of that door and never seeing him again. Fabian made her smile. He made her day in a way that nobody had ever done before. He made things seem okay. That her life would be okay as long as he was in it. But she was scared that he wouldn’t want her anymore. That she was destined to marry that creep that her parents had betrothed her too. She didn’t want to marry anyone but Fabian. That was a huge move considering she hadn’t wanted to marry anyone before she had met him.

“I know…..” She murmured, biting on her lip. She tasted the metalic taste of blood, and realising that she’d been biting on her lip too hard. A hand moved up, wiping the blood away. “I’m sorry….” She didn’t know what she was saying sorry for, but it felt like the right thing to do.

She blinked at his words, looking up at him through the tears that were falling down her cheeks. “How….. how could you love someone like me?” Someone that was a death eater. Someone that lied to him. She didn’t understand how he could still feel like he was falling in love with her. She should have been happy, but it just made her heart hurt more. She didn’t want to know he loved her, only to have him ripped away from her.

“I don’t want to lose you….” She murmured, a fresh set of tears flowing down her cheeks. Fabian was her world, and she’d only just realised it. He meant everything to her. He was worth giving everything up for. She knew it would be dangerous. That it would put targets on both of their backs. But if it meant she got to be happy, for even a little short period, then maybe it would be worth it.

“Please don’t make me go….” 

.

Fabian had morals. He stuck to the things that he knew were right, and he was fierce about that. It’s why he’d joined the order, and why he’d dropped out of being an auror. It wasn’t enough to hold good thoughts it was good actions too.  He had always been unwavering in that, even when others around him bent themselves ever so slightly to their own self-interests Fabian stood by them.  Then the war kept going on. It wasn’t enough to shake the resolve he had, but there were bits of him that had changed. He’d been more reckless, anyone could see that. He’d been ready to march himself right into a fight. He didn’t think about his future. 

Well he hadn’t thought about his future, but slowly ideas did creep in when he was with Elsbeth. Some happy dreams about after the war. Even now, he didn’t quite seem able to let those go. It was a spark of a tiny hope - but he didn’t want to go back to the way he was either. Anger and Righteousness were good for understanding why he did what he did, but they didn’t keep him from self-destruction either. 

He wanted to build something. He wanted to build a life with Elsbeth, and it seemed so cruel for someone to take that away. 

When he looked at her while speaking he saw the blood and for a moment panicked before he realized what it was. 

He didn’t think really moving to her - he couldn’t tell you if he had walked around the bed or if he had gone over it. But he was near her again, just an arms lengths away too scared to come closer and cause her to be scared. 

 All he knew was she was crying. 

At her question though he was pretty sure he was too. He didn’t want to say why like this. He’d meant it to be Romantic at least. To tell her when they were happy, a happy moment. 

But it wasn’t certain they were going to get that.  He might not get to say any of it, and even if this killed him he might as well be honest now. So Fabian said softly, “ I don’t love someone like you Elsbeth I love you. I love the way you are confident and assured. I love the way you go into a room and light it up. I love your curiosity and sense of adventure. I love when I ask you a question I genuinely don’t know what your answer might be. I love that I can talk to you for hours on end and still find another thing I want to tell you. I love that you adore those closest to you and appreciate them. I’ve got a million things I can say and - you’re amazing Elsbeth.”  His voice cracked and he realized that all of that might be true - and she was also a death eater. They didn’t seem to be reconcilable in his head, but before he could continue he heard her again. 

When she said she didn’t want to lose him, Fabian couldn’t help moving towards her to pull her close without the initial fear. He wasn’t sure if he was shaking or if she was. 

He wanted to say that she wouldn’t loose him, but he didn’t know if he could. He might love her but he wasn’t going to be a death eater - and he didn’t know what she felt on the matter. He couldn’t turn an eye on that, but he couldn’t ask at that moment. 

Not when she asked him the second part. 

“I’m not. I’m not going to make you go, Elsbeth. Not like this. I - I don’t know what to do but I’m not going to make you go like this.  ” 

“What do they need for you to sign the petition?” Artemis wanted to just say that would be great and she was happy to do so but the idea of attaching her name to something was enough to make her pause. She didn’t have an address and she wouldn’t give a second name but would it mean anything if she just signed it with Artemis and nothing more? She could see why the Ministry might treat a signature like that with suspicion. “On the record?” she asked with a hint of confusion.

She blinked in surprise when Fabian offered to take her over to some werewolves who had joined in the protest. “There’s a group of werewolves here?” Generally the packs she knew stayed away from things like this. Human endeavours, most of them felt and for the ones who stayed further from wizarding communities they could almost be seen as events which would highlight them as werewolves to the Ministry. She knew her pack alpha would be suspicious at least. They didn’t conform to Ministry regulations so why would they put themselves in the firing line to protest against something they planned to ignore? “From the city? The Canary Wharf lot?” she asked, looking around to try to pick out someone she might recognise. If she was going to guess any of the London packs, it would be them, as they were a newer pack, mostly made up of wolves who were turned later in life and so still held some hope that the wizarding world might come around to accepting them and their location closer to the centre of the city than others automatically brought them closer to wizards.

“Twins,” she said softly, voice surprisingly calm considering the stab of pain that went through her. “That makes sense. I should have known. I’m a twin. Was. We weren’t identical, though.” She never really knew where to stand on that but she didn’t linger on the self-correction too long. It might never truly be healed but at the very least it had been long enough ago that she had come to terms to it. “It’s very nice to meet you, too. I’m Artemis.”

“For the petition? Just your name should work. I know that some don’t have a second name, and for that they tend to put “Doe” or “Merlin” to indicate that if that’s what you’re worried about.” 

At her question he laughed slightly and said, “Sorry that’s probably strange to say. I’m saying that it’s not something that I know as a reporter, just a guess and a thought. Can’t be telling people something is a verifiable fact when I don’t know if it’s a hundred percent true you know?” 

At the question he nodded slightly and said, “Yes. I can’t recall what group but there’s only a few of them here this time. Your guess would probably be as good as mine. I’m also fairly sure they are ones that were forced to register already, so there’s not much risk to write their name down.” 

He knew there was an order member who’d done that, but he wasn’t quite sure if they wanted themselves outed to another werewolf or not. Marlene never seemed to care, but he wasn’t his place to mention it either. 

He caught the was and couldn’t help the little wince that came from the knowledge. It wasn’t pity, or at least not exactly but the sting of thinking about losing a twin as well. He wasn’t quite sure what had happened to the other, but he wasn’t dumb enough to ask if her being a wolf was connected.  “Sorry. And to be very fair to you, Gideon forgets to warn people a lot.” 

It took everything in her not to roll her eyes at Fabian’s pat, although there was something comfortable about him doing so. Without allowing herself to go down memory lane, though, Marlowe gently nudged him. “Hey, no touchy!” she teased. “I worked hours on my hair and, as you know, that never happens so I’m going to be picky about it!”

There was nothing that she could say to Fabian’s words, so instead she just laughed at the memory. It was a good one, despite it all, although Molly would probably never let them live it down. She, obviously, hadn’t been as upset about the dress being ripped, and personally didn’t understand why it might ruin a night. After all, Molly and Arthur’s wedding was so beautiful. 

“That was quite the sight, the two of you,” she said, shaking her head. “Blimey, I miss Arthur now. I wonder where they are…” Her eyes trailed around the room, although not spotting the sight of a familiar head of red hair, she sighed and turned back to Fabian. She held her glass up to him in a cheers, “Here’s to saving you the first dance, that is, if I ever get married anyways.” Tonight was a step up, of course, but she also couldn’t put all her hopes on one night with Sirius. 

.

Fabian rolled his eyes slightly and laughed, “ Don’t worry. I haven’t gone and messed it up, but I’ll stop. Hours? Really. ” 

It wasn’t an accusation or anything just a curiosity for Fabian. He couldn’t imagine spending hours on his hair, but he would have to ask Gideon if that was normal or not. He might have to ask Elsbeth too, just to get a wider perspective. 

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Fabian said laughing and he shook his head, “I’m sure their around here somewhere but bloody hell is it a busy night. ” 

At the cheers Fabian couldn’t help but smile wide and clink the glass to his sisters. “The first dance? Blimey your generous but I’ll take it.  Also you never know, there’s been much wilder and stranger things that could happen.” 

—-

Liza just smiled at him. Although this was there first official date, she’d seen him a few times, and she was enjoying his company. It was nice to do something new. She’d never really dated before, and she didn’t know if that was what she’d call them. But she was enjoying spending time in Fabian’s company. She was fast falling in love with the idea of spending more time within. Where as with other guys her thoughts would be on taking them to the bedroom, she just wanted to get to know him more. It was all new. And she loved it.

“I might keep it…” She murmured with a smile. Technically this was the first bit of work that she had done. “We do make a good team….” She murmured, a smile on her lips. “But no…. I’ve not actually ever considered a job at all”

.

Fabian was happy sitting there. It wasn’t that this was a hard thing to do. Fabian had been happy before for Merlin’s sake, but he wasn’t usually content. He wasn’t content normally - but now there was some contentment here he couldn’t really explain easily. Just that he could probably sit with her for hours and not feel particularly bored. 

He raised his eyebrow slightly with a bit of a laugh. “Go ahead. I don’t think it’s really a proper gift, but I think it’s a fairly nice memory at least.” He was delighted at the fact that she thought they were a good team and at the comment he raised his eyebrows slightly in shock. It wasn’t a big shock, but he hadn’t realize thought to ask if she had a job. 

“You always did seem like a proper lady, so I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked.  What would you do then if you wanted to work?” 

“Here’s hoping or it might be a disappointing night for the both of us” Of course, she did have other options to help her night to be entertaining. But she was holding hope that this man might be interesting. He was pretty interesting so far at least. And Liza was pretty determined that she would be able to guess who he was. She was a determined person and didn’t give up easily.

Liza just grinned at him. She was hoping he’d hold her up if she slipped because she was paying no attention to the steps that they were going down. But she felt like she could trust this man. She had no idea why, but he seemed familiar, and she felt like he’d never let anything happen to her.

Liza just smiled when she was right in her confirmation. “Ooh….” She was actually practically beaming. She hadn’t even though to ask him if he’d be here when she’d seen him a few days ago, so it was actually an nice surprise. She leant up on her tip toes, pressing a kiss to his cheek. She was glad she’d been right.

“I’m so glad it’s you” She murmured quietly. Tonight was really looking up.

.

“Oh I’m sure we won’t have a disappointing evening,” Fabian said with a slight laugh. Maybe he wouldn’t have been so emboldened normally but he was fairly sure that Elsbeth did enjoy talking to him. 

Fabian watched her carefully making sure that she wouldn’t fall in her heals. Normally he wouldn’t worry, Elsbeth seemed pretty solid on her feet in most instances, but she was intently looking at him and not at the steps. 

He was rewarded, and a bit relieved that he had been right feeling the kiss pressed onto his cheek he gave her a broad happy grin. “I’m glad too. I hadn’t even thought to ask if you were going to be here tonight, but I suppose most everyone is. It is still a very delightful surprise we’d find each other this way. I do have to warn you though my twin is here too, so you might want to be careful. Although he’s here with his boyfriend so I think he’d probably be pretty obvious it’s not me. Unless you’d like to stick with me, that way you won’t be confused at all.” 

Where: Liza’s room at Sirius’ estate

When: Christmas day, 1982

Who: Liza and @fabianxprewettx

Liza had to admit that it was strange spending Christmas without her brother or her family was weird. But, the pressure from the annual Rosier ball had just been too much. Her mother had paraded her round, trying to get her to dance with as many men as possible. She’d hated it, especially knowing she had a boyfriend. Of course, her family didn’t actually know that. But she’d hated it. For the past month she’d been essentinally living two lives. But that night, in the aftermath of the ball. She’d decided that she’d had enough. She couldn’t continue living like that, and she couldn’t give Fabian up either.

So she’d gone. She’d fled. Her bags were packed, and she’d left Rosier manor. She was scared of the outcome. Scared of what her parents and brother were going to think. She was more so concerned with her brother than her parents. Evan was her big brother who she loved dearly. She knew being with Fabian was going to potentially cost her her relationship with Evan. But she was of th e opinion that Fabian was worth it. If her family couldn’t be happy that she was happy, then maybe they didn’t love her as much as they said she was.

But she’d fled to the one place she knew she’d be safe. Sirius’. He’d done the same, even if not for the same reason. That was where she’d been since. Now it was three days later, and she was celebrating Christmas with Fabian. Some of Fabian’s family were here too, along with Sirius of course. It had been a good day, even if she wasn’t so sure if Fabian’s family would approve of her, not when they found out she used to be a death eater.

It was later in the evening on Christmas day, and Liza was sat cuddled with Fabion in her new room. She was glad to be able to escape from the chaos of his family, and just have even an hour with it just them. She sighed, pretty content as she snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his chest. “Today was fun.” If not only a little chaotic.

Fabian felt terrible in what Elsbeth was having to go through. Even before her leaving her family at Christmas it was something that had kept him up. They’d decided to make this work, but it wasn’t easy. 

None of this was easy. He hadn’t expected her to pick him so strongly - not that he was sad or worried about that part. It made him feel a lot of joy to know that she did love him, but it wasn’t that easy. Family was important and part of him knew that it had to have killed her. 

So he’d been more gentle than normal as he visited her at Sirius’s place. It was why he had asked her to come with him if she felt comfortable, not wanting her to be alone. Maybe it was selfish, but he was really happy. That he could see her at Christmas and that she was with him right now. 

That she’d chosen him. Even if he was terrified that one day she might not like that she picked him. For the moment that didn’t matter. 

He hummed slightly at her words putting his chin on the top of her head. “Good. I’m glad you had fun, Darling. I did warn you it was going to be chaotic to be fair. But I’m glad I got to spend it with you.” He had a feeling he wanted to spend a lot more Christmas days with her but figured he didn’t need to say that out loud.  

Closed for @fabianxprewettx​

Whenever Gideon had a crisis big or small, he knew he could count on his siblings. He was lucky that way. Whether it was cramming for a charms test or nerves before Molly’s wedding, Gideon could rely on Fabian to be just as nervous as him and pull him through.

Gideon wasn’t sure how the holidays had managed to sneak up on him. He wasn’t sure if it was because of Amos or work or maybe the war making him feel a little less Christmas-y. He had completely forgotten to do any sort of Christmas shopping.

Call it twin intuition, but he had a feeling Fabian would be in a similar boat which is why he sent him a letter asking him to meet him in Diagon Alley for “very important matters.” 

He saw his twin almost immediately and walked briskly to him. “Please tell me I’m not the only one who still hasn’t gotten anything for Marlowe and Molly.”

.

Fabian didn’t really know what he could expect from an SOS message. Sometimes it was something simple and sometimes he needed to bail someone out of jail, and either way he answered it from his siblings. 

So when he got the “very important matters” he figured it probably wasn’t life changing news (but who really was to say as of late). 

“Hey -” Fabian said catching up to Gideon’s walk. When he spoke though Fabian stuttered, “Wait I thought we were doing that together. Was I supposed to do that alone? Oh no you were just saying you didn’t get them anything yet. Merlin you were going to get me a heart attack.”