✧if the crown fits✧

“Hey, you!” Evie exclaimed when Marcie opened the door, leaning in to give her friend a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Gosh, it’s freezing out there,” Evie shivered as she walked in, handing her friend her things so she could hang up her coat. “I wasn’t sure what kind of cookies you wanted to make today, so I just brought all the fix-ins. Anything in particular in mi--” she started to say, before getting distracted by the diamond sparkling on Marcie’s left hand. “Sorry, but oh my god, what a rock! How do you even walk with that thing?” Evie laughed, taking the other’s hand for a closer look. “So, how’s it feel to be a future Mrs. Weasley, hmm?”

Despite being one of her favorite holidays the last few Christmases had been rough for Evie, but this year her holiday spirit was back in full force. The brunette took a moment to stand back and admire the freshly decorating sitting room at her parent’s house, sighing a sigh of a job-well-done. “I’ve gotta say,” she rested a hand on her hip and smiled proudly, the twinkling lights illuminating her eyes as she turned to her mother entering the room. “I think we’ve really outdone ourselves this year! What do you think?”

"Just a few more touches aaand--” she muttered, fluffing a couple tree branches, “voila! Except you’re going to need to add the topper.” Evie pointed to Cassie, pouting with a slight roll of her eyes. “I tried, but even with my heels and the step stool I still can’t reach.”

YVETTESELINE posted a photo

Sorry for what I said when I wasn't wearing my wings. 😇✨ #happyhalloween

The latches of the door began to unlock as she lit the last candle. She flicked off the lights and took a step back to admire her work, deciding that if journalism ever fell through for her, party planning honestly wouldn’t be too bad of a fallback plan. “Hey you,” she hummed as the door shut behind Lincoln, greeting him with a kiss. “I’d say ‘surprise,’ but if you weren’t already expecting something from me, I’d be surprised.”

“It’s what I do best,” he countered, a grin crossing his lips. He knew that enough was enough just by the look on her face and he immediately backed down. The beauty of having known Evie for as long as he had, he knew exactly what buttons to push and when to push them, or in this case, when to stop. “That’s the one with the girl who dies at the end if I remember correctly, so that’s a no from me.” Lincoln’s hands dropped to rest on her waist when she took the case back and he pulled her toward him before his hands slid around to her lower back, then down. He leaned forward to press a soft kiss to her jaw followed by her neck as he let out a soft mhm in response. “Yes, princess. You won’t hear another word from me.”

Evie raised a brow as he pulled her close, impressed he could still remember the plot knowing it’d had likely been close to ten years since the last time she made him watch it with her and they didn’t exactly pay attention the entire time. “Careful,” she warned, smiling, closing her eyes as his breath teased her skin, tossing the case onto the couch beside them. As tempting as it was to let his lips wander, Evie reluctantly pulled his hands from her waist, letting his hands fall from hers back to his side as she made her way into the kitchen. “Don’t forget we’ve still got dinner to get through first, babe,” she called out over her shoulder with a smirk. “I’d hate to see all your hard work go to waste.”

Sullivan leaned into the woman’s hug and smiled as she looked at her. It had been a few years since their last encounter. Evie looked good, happy then. “Yeah!” she walked over to the rack and grabbed one that looked as if it would fit before handing it to her. “You heard about it,” she laughed. “I’m doing okay. The shop’s are doing good. How are you?”

“Um, love,” Evie’s jaw dropped slightly as she held the garment up to her and ran her fingers along the stitching. Her brows rose as she let out a laugh. “I did,” she replied draping the blouse over her arm and turning her attention back to Sullivan, her expression fading into one more serious before continuing. “That’s kind of why I’m here, actually. I kind of feel like I owe you an apology? Ads finally told me about the letter the other night.” Evie knew it was years ago and her apology might not even matter at this point, but she couldn’t help but feel bad for ghosting Sulli when she thought the woman had given up on repairing her relationship with Addie. “Had I known you’d sent it, I might’ve forced her to actually read it, and... I don’t know. Things might be different.” Evie shrugged, giving her a reassuring smile as she lightened the topic. “But it sounds like you’re doing well for yourself though, at least! Two shops now? It’s a wonder us two shopaholics haven’t already run into you before now.”

Reese raised an eyebrow, not sure if he entirely bought that she was fine, but he took her word for it anyway. “I know I am,” he teased, lightly, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. Reese dropped his arm and leaned back in his seat a bit.  “But if this gets too much - you and I both know Pan wouldn’t want you to push yourself if it hurt you. There’s no timeframe on this, Ev. We go at your pace.” Reese looked at her for a moment, before continuing. “I think we need a better understanding of what those last few days looked like. Teddy told us a lot, but there has to be something more.” He paused for a moment, knowing he needed to be careful about his answer. “She wasn’t involved in anything, was she?  I know there’s all this talk of different armies and stuff. Even friends with someone who was. Maybe we should start there.”

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Reese was right: Pandora wouldn’t want her to stress herself out, there was no timeframe, et cetera, but after two years of no progress on the case, Yvette still couldn’t help but feel like her sister deserved more. “Not to my knowledge, no,” she shook her head. “Her best friend was Dylan Parkinson, he was dating my brother at the time. They broke up a little while after, but I highly doubt he’d be involved in anything.” Her voice trailed off, losing herself in thought. “All of her other friends all kind of just fell off the face of the earth after it happened, so I guess he’d probably be the best person to start with.”

As much as he wanted to call her out for being corny, he couldn’t even bring himself to do it. She had the same effect on him: she always had. He hadn’t even known that the level of happiness he felt with Evie was even possible until they had finally set aside their differences and given themselves a chance. They had lost that sunshine for awhile, but now they were back together, and if he had it his way, they’d never be apart again. He fully intended on keeping his word to her that he’d marry her one day. They just had to figure out how to make things work. 

“Yes, atrocity. That’s exactly what I said. I didn’t stutter,” he replied, shrugging up a shoulder as he made his way back over to the stove. Lincoln checked on the food and once he was sure that it was completely ready, he waved his wand to set the table and serve them both a plate. He placed his wand down then made his way over to stand in front of her once more, this time reaching out to snatch the case from her hands. A loud, dramatic groan left his lips as he wrinkled his nose. “Really? We’ve watched this one at least a hundred times since you’ve introduced it to me. Haven’t we worn it out?” Despite his protests, Beauty and the Beast was one of his favorite Disney movies, even if he wouldn’t admit it. In a way, it had a way of reminding him of their own relationship. “What ever happened to girls wanting to watch romance movies?”

“I don’t even know what I expect to happen from here,” Addie mumbled out as she watched Evie refill her glass of wine. Since she had gotten home a little earlier she had been sitting on the couch recounting the events of the day, trying to make sense of all that had happened not only earlier, but also in their last encounter before they broke up. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, and she couldn’t figure out what the next step was, or if there should even be one. “We had a nasty fight and my hotheaded ass stormed out and never looked back. I hurt her just as much as she hurt me.” Addie reached out to pick up a folded up letter off the coffee table before she held it up for her best friend to see. “She wrote me not long after she moved for school and I never even wrote back. She tried.” Up until now, Addie hadn’t mentioned the letter to Evie. She had tucked it away in a desk drawer and hadn’t pulled it out again until today. “She wanted to talk. She apologized. I was the asshole who refused. I’m surprised we even spoke civilly today, so I don’t know how a coffee date would go.”

“Oh?” Yvette raised a brow, trying her best to hide her surprise at seeing the letter in Addie’s hand--a letter she had suggested for Sulli to write all those years ago. Unbeknownst to her friend, the two kept in contact for a few months after the separation, mostly so Evie could keep tabs on her and update Addie if her ex’s life fell apart, as all best friends are dutied to do, but sometimes also for moral support; Sulli was her friend too, after all. The breakup wasn’t easy on either party so Evie suggested a letter, hoping it could bring her friend some answers, if not closure, but since Addie never mentioned getting one, she always assumed that Sulli had never sent it and their contact eventually went cold. “You were hurt, you needed time to heal. Hey,” she nudged Addie’s knee to grab her attention and pull the woman out from spiraling in her thoughts. "That’s not a bad thing. But I’m not here to push if you’re not ready, so let’s just start with the baby steps--like Facebook stalking,” Evie laughed, nodding over to the laptop on the table in front of them.

“Evie, we both know I have no say when it comes to the boys’ Halloween costumes,” Marcie spoke with a small smirk. It was all Reese’s thing and she was happy to let him go all crazy with the costumes and bond with the boys even more. “Of course, I love them,” she reassured her friend and ran her hand over them to feel the fabric. “They’re a little bit smaller than other kids their age, don’t worry, they’ll fit,” Marcie nodded with a smile and looked at the costumes again. “Honestly, I don’t really remember these movies, I wasn’t watching them for plot,” she teased.  

“Does anyone?” Evie quirked a playful brow, lifting her cup to her lips with a smirk. “I mean, honestly, the films aren’t bad but I’m not ashamed to admit I was 95% there just for the eye candy.” She laughed, waving off her joke as she sipped her tea. “Now, I heard you've gone back to work, yes? How has that been, exciting? You adjusting okay being away from the lil nuggets?”

“No, no,” Neville said sternly, already shifting in his chair to sit up a bit straighter as he held a finger up to signal for her to stop talking. “You’re not crazy for choosing love over everything else.” Neville knew better than anyone else what love could do to you. People used to think he was crazy for his relationship with Luna, but no one else could see the moments they had together that built their relationship. “If I listened to what everyone around me said, your mother and I would have never started dating, let alone gotten married and started a family. Now, I know your situation with Mister Avery is quite different, but look at everything that has come from love.” He lowered his hand down to rest on top of hers. 

“Uncle Harry, for instance. Love saved his life, and became part of the reason of how Voldemort was defeated, and while I agree that your situation with Mister Avery seems a little irresponsible given the present circumstances, only you know of every moment that has built that love up to what it is today.” Neville gave Evie’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Let people think whatever they want. If you know in your heart that this is meant to be, and that he’s the only man for you, then you have my support, and I’m sure your mother’s as well. I just urge you to be careful, Princess. Not everyone will share the same sentiment. You may both be pure-blood’s, but sadly you’re on the side of the blood debate that he isn’t on, simply by birth.” He hesitated, his thoughts going back to the conversations he had with Lincoln so many years ago, “That includes acceptance from his own family, Princess. Both of you have to remember that while you’ll have support on your side, he may not have it on his, and it will be a big roadblock you’ll have to face.”

Yvette sat back in her seat and let him speak, smiling warmly when he rested his hand on hers. She wasn’t sure how long it’d been since she’d gotten a lecture from her father, but this was one she didn’t mind at all. “I know, I know,” she sighed, nodding solemnly as her eyes drifted down to the table between them. “And it’s the same roadblock as last time, his family, but it just feels so much bigger now--especially after what happened at the Malfoy ball.” She gave her dad’s hand another squeeze, making eye contact with him once more. “I...” she began, shaking her head as she found the words, “I don’t know how you did it. You, mum, Uncles Harry and Ron, Aunt Hermione. Sometimes I feel like I’m barely keeping it together these days, but you--you were children. Kids with the whole weight of the world on your shoulders.” Yvette let out a shaky breath but smiled, feeling honored to have such heroes, and now Lincoln again by her side. “I don’t think I’d be able to go through this again without your support, Daddy. We want to do things right this time--or at least, as right as we can practically being on opposite sides of the war looming over our heads...” she shrugged and let out a half laugh in an attempt to guise her anxiety around the situation, her voice fading off into the ambience of the restaurant around them.

“Do I though? Because it’s a little rough dealing with all the sunshine constantly. You have to come over to my side: at least the storms are fun,” he teased as the corners of his lips curled up into a smile. “Wow. Lost cause? Really? And you’re laughing at me?” He gave her an exaggerated pout as his fingers curled up in the hem of her shirt and he gently pulled on it, already trying to tug her closer to him, not liking the small amount of space that was between them. “I see now what you really think about me. You break my heart, Longbottom.” Lincoln teased, but he dropped the act when she leaned up to him, and he kissed her softly. It was amazing how easily distracted he could be when she looked at him like that. It wasn’t fair, and normally he would fight it, but right now he was fine with giving her a pass. “Ten more minutes. We have to let the rice finish,” he murmured against her lips, dropping the act fully now as he circled his arms around her waist and gently bumped his nose against hers. “What Disney atrocity are you making me watch tonight?” 

"That's just 'cause you're out of practice, but you'll get used to the sunshine again soon, I'm sure," she smirked before softening her expression into one more serious. "No, I've had enough of storms. You brought the light back into my life and I want to cherish every minute of it," she said, adding extra emphasis with a soft boop on his nose. Yvette realized she probably sounded incredibly corny as soon as the words left her lips, but it was true; she still had her off days but it was no coincidence that her depressive episodes had become fewer and farther in between since their reunion. She gave Lincoln a wide, smug grin when they pulled away from the kiss, pleased that her big eyes still had the same effect on him as before. That's what they call me: the heart breaker," Evie scoffed with a playful roll of her eyes. "Atrocity?" she echoed unhappily, giving him a soft but firm sove out of her way as she made her way to the living room. "You are seriously pushing it, you know that?" she called out over her shoulder before snatching the movie case off the coffee table and turning around to present it. "Well, I was thinking about Beauty and the Beast - that is, if it's up to Oh Pretty One's standards, of course. Don't wanna bore that pretty smile I love so much off your face."