BAZ

Fiona got me the tickets for my birthday.

"Happy birthday, Basil," she had said. We were enjoying a rare afternoon at home in her flat, our flat, together. Sometimes it's difficult to remember this is where I officially live. I make an extra effort to spend time here when she's home between jobs. I think it's nice to spend some real time with the person who was closest to my mother when she was young, besides, I'm not at all sure how Fiona feels about Simon and I don't particularly fancy having it out with her about what I've chosen to do on that front quite yet. I don't know if it's the gay thing or the Chosen One thing, or the questions about how a vampire can safely date a human that I'm worried about, she doesn't seem as perturbed by any of it as father does, but I'd still rather avoid a scene.

"But my birthday isn't for another month," I say.

"Well, I'm leaving tomorrow, you tit. Take it." She was holding a white envelope out towards me and looking smug. I took it and slid the flap open to reveal two tickets. They were for the London Symphony.

"They're doing the Bruch. I know it's one of your favorites."

I'm touched. I didn't know she paid any attention. I mostly just practice my violin when she's here to annoy her. "I thought you hated my playing."

"I don't. You're good at it. I'm proud of you. I just think you should get out more. Normal nineteen year olds don't moon around indoors sawing away at a hunk of wood for fun."

"Normal nineteen years olds don't have fangs and try to avoid sunlight," I reply. I expect her to tell me to stop feeling sorry for myself, but instead Fiona responds by grabbing a handful of my hair with one hand and getting an especially vicious grip on the back of my neck with the other, forcing my face down and away from her. (Is this part of her vampire hunting routine? I hope it is, it's damned effective. Although what I really hope is that she never has to get close enough to one of the bastards that this comes in handy.) She drags me, bent double, to the open window, directly into a shaft of sunlight.

"You're supposed to say, 'Thank you,'" she hisses into my ear. Anyone watching us would be afraid for my safety. Anyone watching us who doesn't know I'm a vampire, and who can't see her struggling not to laugh. She's never truly angry at me. She just loves melodrama.

"You're too kind," I say, as nonchalantly as I can manage, given the circumstances. She gives my head a shake, and twists, exposing more of my skin to the sun. "Thank you," I try again, choking a little on the words this time.

She lets me up. My head will be hurting for a week.

"Really. Thank you Fiona. This is a wonderful surprise." I take a closer look at one of the tickets. "But...it isn't until May. Are you coming back for this?" I know I'm her favorite nephew (easy when you're the only nephew), but interrupting her work for an orchestra concert I know she isn't the slightest bit interested in isn't her style.

"Crowly Basil, I'm not planning to go out on a date with you myself. You're as thick as that golden-haired Prince Charming of yours sometimes."

I freeze, suddenly grateful that I haven't fed all day, no worries about blushing.

Fiona goes on as if she hasn't noticed a thing. "Take Snow. I'm betting he has no idea how important this is to you. It's time you start letting him into your life a little more." Letting Simon into my life...little does she know...but kissing and handholding, and well...all of the other things aside, she's right. I'm nervous about inviting him to share some of the private parts of my life, the things that kept me grounded during the most difficult years. Snow is a new steadying force for me, but I have to fight the urge to keep him separate from everything else. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe he won't vanish in a puff of smoke if I think about him too hard. But I can worry about that later.

I arch an eyebrow. "Did you just tell me to take Simon on a romantic date to the symphony?"

"Don't put words into my mouth, but yes, I did. Where's the harm in that, Basil? You're behaving like I've asked you to drain Mordelia's rabbit." I wince, a little too close to home. Rabbits are, in fact, delicious, at least compared to rats.

"I just didn't think you approved. That's all."

"He's a good bloke. What I don't approve of is having to tell my dimwitted nephew that he should take his boyfriend out somewhere nice once in a while."

"What did you just say?"

"That you're a dimwit."

"Not about me," rolling my eyes at Fiona is risky, but I can't stop myself, "about Simon."

"He's a good guy, Baz." She looks me in the eye, "but don't ever ask me to say that again." I'm grinning now, although I'm trying not to let her see it. I feel like she's just given me a second gift. "

I move in the direction of the door. She follows me and keeps talking while I begin putting on my coat, stashing the tickets in the inside pocket, next to my wand. "Also, I like seeing you happy for a change. It looks good on you." She leans in and gives me a quick one arm hug, then ruins the mood by punching me with her other arm. Hard. She's a great deal stronger than she looks, but I don't care. "Thanks," I say again, on my way out the door. This time it sounds genuine.

"The seats are in the balcony," she says from across the room, where she's suddenly busy, with her back to me.

"Ok," I say, starting down the corridor.

"Because Numpties can't climb stairs!" she calls after me. I'm not even thinking as I whip out my wand.

FIONA

That boy makes me groan, and laugh. The skill in him...and the arrogance. I suppose it's good that he had music on his mind. Music makes the world go round is a weak spell, even in his hands. As soon as the neighbor turns his radio off, possibly even before, I'll stop rotating and be back on the ground. I want to fume at him, and curse him, and I'll tell him I did the next time I see him, but I can't help being proud of everything he's become.