Author's Note: Here's chapter 2. It's later than planned, but earlier than promised to one person :P

Hope you enjoy, and please review!

Michael – you owe me a chapter!

A New Old Life: Chapter 2

As sixteen year old Maya made her way downstairs for breakfast, she was met with a surprise.

"Morning, Maya."

Maya looked up, immediately knowing the voice but hardly believing it. But, sure enough, there was Stephen, sitting in the living room. She resisted the urge to squeal and run to Stephen's arms, her eyes resting on her father, who sat across from Stephen.

"Good morning, Stephen." She said calmly. "What brings you here?"

Stephen had moved out of the house when Maya left for Hogwarts. He just hadn't been able to stand the idea of spending time around Quinton and Ariana without his sister around. Maya was the only thing that mattered to him after Quinton and Ariana had discovered that he was a squib, and she was the only reason he stayed with them. When Maya left, so did Stephen.

"Your letter came today." Quinton said, holding up an already opened envelope.

Maya didn't have to ask to know what letter he spoke of – it was her Hogwarts letter. She nodded, wondering what that could have to do with her brother's visit.

"You require dress robes this year." Quinton got to his feet as Maya reached the bottom of the stairs, making his way towards her and giving her a very formal looking hug.

"Oh." Maya replied simply. She wasn't sure she fully understood yet. "Some sort of formal event this year?"

"And formal events usually require…" Quinton prompted.

"Dancing." Maya came to the realization. "And goodness knows I'm dreadful at it." She hung her head a little.

"And that is why your brother is here." Quinton said. "Most unfortunately I couldn't find anyone else who had the time to teach you."

"That's a shame." Maya replied robotically. She shot a quick glance to Stephen, who nodded in understanding – they both knew this was how she was expected to act in the presence of Quinton.

Quinton eyed his adoptive daughter for a moment, then snapped, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go have your breakfast and get changed. The sooner you learn the sooner he can leave."

Maya nodded, making her way to the dining room. "Yes, father."

XXX

About a half an hour later, Maya stood on a makeshift dance area that had been created in the backyard, wearing a dress that looked like a dressed down black ball gown and gloves, her hair tied back loosely, as Stephen demonstrated some steps.

"See? It's really not all that hard." Stephen smiled, taking his sister's hands and guiding her across the ground. "Once you get the general idea."

"It's difficult when you're a klutz like me." Maya replied. "I mean, I fall over in regular shoes, let alone in these heels."

"Why don't you take them off until you get the hang of it, then practice in them." Stephen suggested.

"Two steps ahead of you." Maya replied. She'd already kicked one of her shoes off and was in the process of kicking the other off, pushing them both off to the side.

"That's a first." Stephen grinned.

"Yeah, well, just don't go stepping on my toes." Maya replied.

"Hey, you're the one who can't dance." Stephen teased, earning a glare from Maya.

"Yes, but it would seem clumsiness runs in the family." Maya winced ever so slightly as Stephen playfully stepped on her toe, not putting enough pressure to injure her.

XXX

An hour later, Ariana came into the backyard, carrying a tray of drinks. "How's she doing?"

"Oh, she's doing fine." Stephen smiled, twirling Maya around a little. "Just takes a bit of practice."

Maya certainly did appear to be doing better – she had her heels back on and was twirling around the make shift dance floor like she'd been doing it all her life.

"A good teacher helps as well." Maya smiled – she knew she could be more relaxed around her mother.

Ariana chuckled as she placed the tray she was carrying down on the table. "Sometimes it's as though you never moved out, Stephen." She took a seat in one of the deck chairs.

"Nonsense." Stephen released Maya as they finished their dance. "If I still lived here, we'd be worse."

"Did father go out for a while then?" Maya asked.

"He did." Ariana nodded, giving Stephen a sympathetic smile. "I wouldn't be out here if he hadn't."

"Good, then I'm going inside to get changed. This dress is getting terribly uncomfortable." Maya took her shoes off again, then went into the house, leaving Stephen and Ariana to talk alone for a few moments.

"You know we miss you around here." Ariana said when Maya was gone.

"Perhaps you do, but HE doesn't." Stephen frowned as he took a seat beside her.

"Maya does as well!" Ariana said quickly, and then paused for a second. "And he does too, he just doesn't show it."

"That's utter nonsense and we both know it." Stephen replied.

Ariana decided not to go any further on the subject. "Regardless, it's still nice to see you once in a while."

"Is Maya all right?" Stephen changed the subject very suddenly. "She seemed a little quiet today, not to mention a little stiff and formal, as though she were…"

"As though she were around her father?" Ariana correctly finished Stephen's sentence. She sighed. "Yes, she's been under a little more pressure than usual lately."

"What's he doing to her?" Stephen demanded to know. He wasn't a fan of how Quinton treated Maya normally, and the thought of Maya being under more pressure from their adoptive father made him cringe.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. It's really not something you should hear from me." Ariana replied. She knew this would only make Stephen more suspicious, though really felt he should learn the answer to his question from someone else – preferably Maya herself.

"You can't tell who what?" Quinton had returned home and had made his way to the back patio. There was a young man at his side – one who was all too familiar to Stephen.

"Nothing." Ariana went silent, looking at the ground.

"Hello, Stephen. Home for a visit?" The young man behind Quinton asked, very obviously trying to be polite.

"Just finished teaching Maya to dance." Stephen replied, a great strain in his voice.

"Speaking of Maya, where is she?" Quinton asked, glancing around the back yard as though he expected her to jump out from behind a tree.

"Cordell!" Maya rounded the corner, coming back out onto the patio and looking quite surprised, though also a little uneasy.

The young man turned and smiled. "I think she's found us, Quinton." He approached Maya and put an arm around her shoulders, leading her towards the rest of the group.

"I trust you remember Cordell." Quinton looked at Stephen. "Maya's fiancé."

"Fiancé?" Stephen raised his eyebrows, looking at Maya suspiciously. "When did this happen?"

Maya found she couldn't look at her brother, no matter how hard she tried. As she opened her mouth to speak, however, Cordell cut her off.

"A little over a month ago." He beamed. "Though we're waiting until Maya is out of school to hold the wedding."

Maya forced herself to smile, knowing it was expected of her.

"We're quite pleased with the match." Quinton smiled. "As are Cordell's parents."

"I can imagine." Stephen replied stiffly. "Though I really should be leaving, so I won't intrude on your lives any longer." He got to his feet and made to leave.

"Maya, go see your brother to the door." Ariana suggested, knowing both Maya and Stephen wouldn't be at all opposed to the idea. "And be sure to thank him for taking the time to help you today."

Maya nodded and gave Cordell a quick peck on the cheek as he released her, then led Stephen into the house and to the front door.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Stephen asked when they were far enough out of hearing range.

Maya hung her head. "I didn't know how…"

"Are you happy with him?"

Maya shook her head, unable to speak her answer. It was as though she was afraid Quinton would overhear.

"Then why…" Stephen was cut off by the sound of Quinton's voice carrying through the house.

"Hurry back, Maya, we'd like to leave for dinner soon."

Maya winced. They'd only been gone a moment or two, but it was all ready too long for Quinton's liking.

Stephen sighed, the same thought on his mind. "We obviously can't talk here, but do you think you'll be back in time to meet me later?"

Maya nodded, knowing exactly what Stephen meant. "Yeah, that'll be fine. I still take walks in the evening, so they shouldn't suspect anything."

"Excellent. I'll see you then." Stephen smiled.

Maya quickly opened the door as she heard her father approaching. "Well, thanks again, Stephen. See you next time." She spoke a little louder than usual.

"Of course. Just remember not to step on anyone's toes." Stephen mouthed a goodbye as he left the house, just as Quinton approached.

"Is that annoyance gone at last?" Quinton asked as Maya closed the door.

"He is, father. I apologize for taking so long." Maya replied robotically.

"It is not a problem, Maya, I know how much of a bother he can be." Quinton replied, laying a hand on Maya's shoulder and gripping it tightly and leading her back to the back patio. "But we ought to leave for dinner now, if you'd still like to take your evening walk."

Maya nodded. "Though I've been out in the sun and dancing all day, an evening walk does sound refreshing."

"Then off to dinner we go." Quinton smiled down at his daughter, pausing on their way to the back patio. "And Maya?"

Maya looked up at him.

"Happy birthday."