*I own nothing.

It had been a few days since "the incident" as I've begun to call it. I was still upset with him and Tom was keeping his space, for once, not crowding me. I awoke early though and decided I would head out early for work. Tom had given me free reign to come and go as I please, perhaps this guilt trip was a good thing in a way. I was much happier now that I felt as though I had some freedom, even though I knew that he was always there, watching, somehow. Whether it be one of his goons or him himself, I knew I was being watched but at least I was there. I hadn't seen Tom anywhere other than at dinner and he had cancelled the dinner he'd planned with Cory. I was sad, but relieved too… Especially since I was still upset. I had taken to bringing Cal with me to work. He was good, the children loved him and it gave me an excuse to have a little fence put up around back, now, I can go out there in the afternoons when nobody is there and watch Cal chase the butterflies. I've bought some seeds and plan on planting a garden as well. The silence between Tom and I though has gotten a bit tense and I know I should probably end that with him sometime soon. I apparate to work and open up shop, after a half hour the girls come in and ready themselves for the morning shift.

The day goes by slowly but not any different than any other day. Happily I chat away with my customers, Cal is happy in the back, some of the kids have brought him bones to chew on and he is overjoyed with them as well as the squeaky toy that I bought at the store down the road. The dinner rush starts and I feel that rush in adrenaline that I get at every busy hour. Baking away I smile at the smell of the food that I'm working with my hands, and at the cheerful smiles the customers bring in with them. I chat a little bit here and there and all the while I feel at home, I feel happy, safe, comfortable, I feel… I feel happy. It's dessert time now, and I begin to walk around, as the girls pick up the dinner plates, asking if my customers would like any dessert. A couple of chocolate cakes here, cookies there, and pies of different sorts in each corner of the shop.

Finally, the dinner crowd is tapering off and the girls too begin to head home, to their happy unassuming lives until it is just me and Claire and our last few customers. Still though, there is a happy cheer about the place and I'm content with the place staying open for a bit. A few men stumble in and my thoughts on cheeriness are drowned out by their drunken stupor. I sigh and glance at Claire, we're not leaving so early tonight it seems. The men sit at the counter, they're not requesting anything at all. I sigh though and stand behind the counter waiting. Of course, like always in their stupor the harassment kicks in and I resist the urge to curse them. Men are men when drunk.

The cat calls I can deal with. The inappropriate comments fine, whatever. Claire on the other hand, she isn't so good at dealing with it and finally, after one of the men says something completely inappropriate I tell her to leave. She hesitates and asks if I'm sure. I nod. I can handle myself. Besides, Gordon, Frank, and a few others are here. She leaves in a hurry and I go to stand by the door to make sure that she isn't followed out by the drunk men. I notice that they're not from our town, which makes it worse, I can't just call their wives, or in some cases mothers. I take a tub and begin to clear dirty dishes that have been left on some tables. As I do, one of the men says to me,

"Hey pretty lady, why don't you come sit over here and see what pops up?"

I ignore him and his friend's laughter. The jests keep coming and I keep ignoring them. Sometimes it's part of the job. But I keep a level head, I'm good at keeping a level head-at least here at my shop I am. I am facing the front wall of my store, looking out as I wipe down the tables. I don't hear one of the men come up behind me until it's too late. He's got his hands on my waist and is saying,

"Hey honey, why don't you let me have a piece of your pie."

I turn and face him and shove him off. I look around for help when I realize that Gordon, Frank, and their fellow friends have left and I'm alone with them. Fear rips through me I remain calm on the surface. "Keep your hands off of me and please leave." He laughs at first and then says,

"Aw but honey, we just want to play."

I shake my head, "No. Please leave." And I push him away again. He raises his hand to hit me and I flinch, my eyes closing, but there isn't an impact. I open my eyes to see his face pale and his hand being held by a much larger one. To my right, is Tom. And he is more livid than I have ever seen him.

"It would be wise. If you, and your friends," he says in a hiss, "leave…"

They do and I sigh. In relief and look up at him. But he isn't looking at me, but looking over towards the door where I see Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe follow the men out. I shake my head at them and I open my mouth but Tom looks back at me, I shut my mouth at his fierce gaze.

"Where is Cal?"

I point, and his eyes follow. I hear a door open and Cal comes bounding in, excited and happy as usual, completely unaware of what just took place.

"If you," he says placing his hands on my cheeks, "are to be here alone, then Cal will be in here with you. Understood?"

I nod, still a bit shocked at has taken place.

"Do you have tea?"

I sigh, looking up at him, "Of course I do, you know that." He sits down and looks at me. I sigh and move away to the back of the shop to get him some tea. When I return, Malfoy and Goyle have joined him, "I suppose you two want tea as well?" They nod and I sigh, of course they do. After I've returned with tea for them as well I stand there and look at them.

"Come sit my dear, surely your feet must be tired."

I nod. They're not but I understand that wasn't really something that was left up for question. They drink their tea and I look at them. I have a wave of courage and I start, "So Goyle, how is Nancy doing?" He looks up at me, startled I suppose that I spoke to him, even more so that I spoke to him about Nancy. He looks over at Tom, who doesn't show a sign of anything on his face, and then looks at his tea for a moment.

"She is fine. I wasn't aware that you two were friends."

I smirk, and I can feel Tom's steady gaze. "We're not. I just thought I'd make conversation since you all are great conversationalists." He only nods.

"I see."

I look over at Tom and he looking out the window, at what I do not know but I'm brought back from the silence by Cal's whining. "I-I suppose that I should take him back. He's had a long day and is probably tired." Tom looks over at me.

"Yes, that is probably a good idea. Done with your tea?"

He says to Malfoy and Goyle. They both hand me cups with tea still in them, Tom hands me an empty one. I sigh and look at him a moment. "Alright well ugh… I'll-I'll go back now." He only nods to me. "I have to lock up the shop."

"We're fine here my dear."

Apparently he doesn't understand. "No, Tom… I have to lock up the shop. Otherwise you can't leave."

"We'll apparate out."

I nod. "Alright then." I lock the door, wash the tea cups and then call Cal to me. I look at the trio for a moment. Silhouetted in the moonlight and sigh, wondering what is going on with them, and then I blink out of the shop and enter my bedroom. Instantly Cal runs into his box. He's taken a liking to it and has all of his toys and bones in there. I've set some blankets and a large pillow down and he likes to sleep in there sometimes. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth and hair before changing into a long t-shirt, it must be Tom's, but I have no idea where it came from.

Laying in bed reading I hear a rustle outside the door and Cal comes out of his box, growling. On edge, I pull my wand out, ready to stun or stupefy someone-or something. The door opens and Cal's growls become more intense but then taper off as Tom steps through the door, receiving a brush from Cal with his body against his legs. Returning to his box, Cal settles down quietly as I put my wand away. He stands there, staring at me for a moment before he glides across the room to stand on the opposite side of the bed.

"I am worried about you working at the shop."

I sigh. I knew this had to be coming. "I know. It was my fault that-"

"You didn't not put your own hands on your body, it was not your fault."

He says in a harsh tone. I narrow my eyes at him as he calmly stares back, "No, that I had sent the last girl home and hadn't realized that the other customers had left. That's all." I take a breath. "I know that it wasn't my fault that man did what he did." Tom just stands there and stares though, his eyes roaming mine. "Out of curiosity, why didn't Crabbe come back?"

"I am unsure."

Was his answer and I cross my arms at him. "Please don't lie to me." He opens his mouth to talk, "Especially since I know you are lying to me."

"My dear, I've told you before that I live in two worlds. One where you are my domain and the other, and I know I've told you before that I will not mix or discuss the two with you if possible."

I merely glare at him and huff. "Well that's stupid Tom. Why can't you just tell me?!" He shrugs. And he turns and walks back towards the door. "Hey!" He stops. "You-you are staying the night aren't you?"

"If that is what you wish."

I look at him. His back is still facing me. "Yes."

"Then I shall stay."

And he returns to the bedside and disrobes and gets into bed. "Tom…"

"What?"

"Next time you wish to know something, just ask. I'll be honest, alright?" Silence is my answer. "Tom?"

"I'll do what I wish."

"Tom-"

"Shut your book, dowse your candles, and come here, it has been too long since you've been in my arms."

I glare at him. "Tom."

"I didn't stutter did I?"

I look at him and turns a steely gaze upon me. Sighing, "No, you didn't."

"I didn't think so."

I just stare at him though. Not wanting to give up ground. Not when I've gained so much in the past few days. "Tom. I'm serious."

"Why aren't you over here?"

I sigh in an exasperated manner, "Because I am still waiting for an answer."

"You got one and that is the only answer you shall receive. Now… Come over here. I wish to hold you."

I grunt with frustration. "I need to brush me teeth." And get out of bed and go into the bathroom, shutting the door with a click and twist of the lock. Leaning back against the door I sigh and wonder, "Why must he be so hard to deal with?"

Well that's it for now. I hope to be able to update more in the future. Enjoy and I hope you had a good holiday. –Sevy14