I really hate mornings where I wake up before my I need to be up. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with Rory about weekends next time I see him and break him of that bad habit. I'd hate to find that it is becoming a habit of mine as well. Then there was the fact that I couldn't feel my arm. 'Could be worse.' I thought as I attempted to roll over only to find that something had the arm in question pined. Slowly I opened my eyes to see a mess of dark red hair. 'Alright, I could get used to waking up like this.' I took a few moments to watch Aria sleep before my bladder decided that it needed my attention.

"It's a good thing Mum and Dad are out for the weekend with the boys." I mused quietly while gently freeing my arm from under Aria's head. I really should wake her and send her back to Rose's room, but I figured it would be another hour or two before my sister rolled out of bed to notice. Pulling on some shorts I made my way down the hall to the toilet. While in the lou I contimplated how much nicer it would have been if Rose had decided to go along rather than stay home. Amos and Max weren't given the option to stay behind for which I'm quite glad. Rose is fairly self sufficient. Having finished two years of Hogwarts she had plead the case that she was growing up and didn't need to be treated as a child. Mum agreed to let her stay, though I'm pretty sure it was only because Conner was out on a case, and it was a sure bet that Aria would be spending a lot of time at our flat. I'm not sure who was meant to chaperone who.

"Dae?" Rose's voice was nearly a whisper as she broke through my thoughts. I raised a sleepy eyebrow at my little sister who had apparently been waiting outside the toilet. "Can I ask you something?" I glanced back towards my bedroom where the door stood half open and thought about who was currently sleeping in there. I really hoped Rose hadn't looked in to find me and that it wasn't where her question was originating. Then again, she would already know that the guest bed in her room was empty. I sighed and cocked my head towards the kitchen.

"Sure thing Bud." I said as I slipped an arm around her shoulders and guided her into the sitting room. I sat her down at the table before making a pair of hot chocolates. As I walked around the table, I placed one in front of her, before sitting across from her. "What's on your mind?" Rose just stared nervously at her mug for a bit as she held it while she worked up some more courage.

"Do you er.. when did you... I mean.." As amusing as it is to watch your sister nervously fumble for words, I really wanted to get back to bed. I might even get another half hour of sleep.

"Rosie, I'm going to make you a deal right now." Rose gave me a worried look but nodded. "If you can form the sentance to ask your questions, I promise to answer honestly. However I reserve the right to deflect and not answer. I even promise what ever it is I won't get mad. How does that sound?" She seemed to relax a bit at that.

"How did you know she was the one?" her voice was nearly a whisper but I have to hand it to her, she did ask.

"I take it you mean Aria?" I asked. I was still a little leery as to the direction of this early morning conversation. Rosie gave a short nod. "I didn't right away. I honestly took her for granted being my best friend. We had been so close for so long, in a way I just stopped seeing her." Rose gave me a puzzled look. "Think of it like your nose. It is always there but you don't see it unless you are looking, because it is always in your field of vission. She was, is, a constant in my life. So it just didn't occur to me to look at her like that."

"Is that why you dated Skylar?" at least she wasn't whispering so much anymore.

"I went with Sky because she is pretty and smart. She had feelings for me and I didn't see the harm is spending time with a friend. Besides, she could kiss." Rose seemed to consider that for a moment.

"Did you love her?"

"I liked her well enough but I wouldn't say I knew what love was at the time. To be fair, I would have probably done the same with Tobin if he had been more talkative and swung that way."

"Mum and Dad don't like it when Aria sleeps in your room." she mumbled

"That is because they are worried that we will do things that they don't quite feel we are old enough for."

"You mean sex." leave it to my little sister to be blunt

"Yes, they don't want any unplanned grand kids."

"Do you and Aria..." Rose paused as she tried to work of the courage to say the words.

"Have sex?" I supplied to which she blushed and nodded at her nearly forgotten chocolate. "Yes." her blush deepened

"Did you with Skylar?"

"Once." Rose gave me a somewhat surprised look

"But you said you didn't know if you loved her." She all but accused me

"There is more to it than love Rose. For me a big part of it is trust. I trusted her enough."

"How did you know you were ready?" Ok so this *is* where this is going

"I didn't. In all reality we shouldn't have done it but we got caught up in the moment. Though I can't say that I really regret it. Even if the misunderstanding that followed it almost cost me the friendship of someone very important to me.." Someone who happened to be hiding around the corner listening to our conversation. I was wondering if she would notice that I was missing. As for Rose, I figured I should be aloud an answer or two for all my honesty. Besides, now I was courious. "So do I know this crush of yours? If you don't mind my asking." Rose's eyes grew wide. "I won't get mad." I may have been lying.

"Why do you think there is someone?" by the tone of her voice I was pretty sure she didn't believe me about not getting mad.

"You wouldn't be asking me about love at seven thirty in the morning unless there was someone that had caught your eye. You would also be asking Mum rather than me if you weren't curious about the physical side of it."

"Tony Markwood" To her credit he was only a year older than her and in Hufflepuff. Not that I care about houses but I still had to take a breath and accept that my little sister liked a boy. "You said you wouldn't get mad." she accused

"Yes I did." I agreed "Do you think he is the one?"

"I like him and he likes me but I'm not sure." Not that I could say much but I was thankful for her uncertainty.

"Then do me a favor." Rose's shoulders tensed as she ducked her head a little. Note to self, don't mess with her so much. Self to note, we will take it under consideration. "Wait until you are sure. If he tries anything and you aren't totally certain, tell him. If he really loves you, he won't mind waiting." This is not a conversation I wanted to have with my thirteen year old sister. "You might find that he just isn't someone you like that way. Look at Rory. He went with Genevieve but when it came down to it he didn't like her the same way she liked him. Certainly not enough to go to bed with her." Note to self, lets not think about who Rory likes going to bed with. That is not a picture I want in my head. "But what ever you do, if the day should come that you think you're ready. Be safe."

"Shouldn't you be telling me to wait until I'm married or something?"

"Rosie, you know I hate hypocrites. I love Aria and for some crazy reason she seems to feel similarly about me. For us it is a way of showing how we feel for each other. Granted there are days where we just need to scratch an itch but even then it is special. A big part of it is trust. If you aren't completely sure you can trust them, then don't." Rose nodded again to let me know she understood.

"Do you mind not telling Mum and Dad that we had this talk?"

"I promise I won't tell Dad. I will probably hold off on telling Mum for a while." Rose didn't look too thrilled but seemed to accept that. Dad would not take it well at all. Mum would be more tactful. It's bad enough that Aria's dad knows about us. I don't need to give Mum reason's to be more vigilant. "I won't say anything unless Mum ask's and I feel she needs to know." A look of relief brightened her up. "Just make sure you don't give me a reason for her to need to know. Now unless you have any more questions, why don't you go to Gran's for some breakfast and a fly. It's going to be a beautiful day. Try to clear your head and enjoy it."

"Are you coming?" Rose asked as she slipped out of her chair and grabbed her trainers.

"We'll be over in time for lunch. We have one more essay to finish with our summer homework." Not a lie but I'm sure we could finish in less than half an hour if we tried.

"Thanks for being honest with me." She gave me a hug before throwing on her jacket and disappearing in green flames up the floo.

"If I had a brother, I'd would want him to be just like you." I turned to see Aria leaning against the wall in one of my old tee shirts. Which is more than she was wearing when I rolled out of bed.

"If I was your brother then what we are likely going to do in a few minutes would be considered a sin." I replied as I leaned in to kiss her.

"According to Nikki, seeing as we aren't married yet, it's still a sin." Aria smiled as she took my hand and lead me back to my room.

"Do I have to wait until you turn seventeen or can I ask now?"

"You can ask but Dad says I can't answer until we graduate and you have a solid job."

"That's just mean."

"Stop talking and give me reasons to say yes when you ask." There is a time and a place to do as you are told. This is one.