CHAPTER 21

"Glasgow" - Catfish & The Bottlemen

Gen sat, curled up in the hotel room chair, one of Oliver's Puddlemere United jumpers hanging loosely over her body. The top was large on her, and the neckline stretched enough that one sleeve hung loosely off of one of her shoulders. She had pushed the sleeves up as she drank her morning coffee.

"Morning, love," Oliver murmured, turning over in bed to look at her, seated in the chair in the small hotel room. He wasn't quite sure how they had gotten away from sharing a room these days, but figured Deverill was saving money on booking one less hotel room for any away matches they had.

Gen smiled, looking up from the paper to see her bed hair riddled boyfriend, "Morning. I made some coffee… should still be some on the counter.

There was a tiny kitchenette in the studio style hotel room. Oliver got out of bed, sore from the game yesterday and stood up, walking over to his girlfriend. He leaned down to kiss her good morning before heading to the kitchenette. Reaching for the second mug on the counter, he poured himself a cup of coffee, adding in the creme and far too much sugar that was already sitting atop of the counter.

"We made the papers again," Gen said, grabbing his attention as he walked over to the couch to sit down with his coffee.

"Is that so?" Oliver asked, curiously.

"Mhm," Gen sounded, flipping through and handing him the sports section.

Oliver looked over the paper, smiling to himself as the photographer had captured Puddlemere's win from the day before against the Montrose Magpies. That Magpies were worthy opponents having won the European Cup many times. Oliver was proud that Puddlemere had played such a great game yesterday, earning a big win under their belts. It certainly felt like what they needed to redeem themselves after their loss the game previously. As his eyes scanned the page, they traveled lower to below the fold.

"This year's IT couple, keeper, Oliver Wood, and girlfriend, Genevieve Zhao were spotted celebrating together post-game with a walk along the beach," Oliver read aloud. "Shouldn't this be in the gossip column?!"

Gen laughed in return, "The more important question is WHO could possibly be interested in writing about us?! They went for a walk. Please… I'm not sure what's newsworthy about us going for a walk."

Oliver sighed, "What has become of the Daily Prophet?"

"Not sure but I'm almost certain there will be more about us in the gossip columns… namely Witch Weekly here soon," Gen replied, rolling her eyes at the thought of it.

"Well we ARE this year's IT couple," Oliver teased, shooting Gen a look. She laughed at his joke but knew that there was an ounce of truth to it. "Get over here, you." Oliver nodded his head towards the spot on the couch next to him, causing Gen to smile. She stood up from the chair she had previously been sitting in and walked over to the couch, gently placing her coffee cup down on the coffee table. She crawled onto his lap, straddling him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You know how much I love it when you wear my clothes, m'love," Oliver murmured, lost in his desire for her. His eyelids felt heavy as he examined her, returning his eyes back to hers. She smirked and only kissed him in response.

"Yes, they're quite comfy and I have grown an affinity for that old Gryffindor jumper of yours," she mumbled into the kiss. "And I DO like turning you on so that's a plus."

He laughed a little, before pulling away from the kiss, trying hard not to get ahead of himself, "So…." He cleared his throat and took a breath. "Would you like to leave a little bit?" Before the game in Montrose, Oliver had asked Gen to stay with him a little longer in Scotland since Puddlemere didn't have another game for a few weeks. He wanted her to meet his family so they were headed to Glasgow today.

"Mhm," Gen sounded. "Actually… I had an idea."

"Yeah?" he asked, curiously.

"I know that you had your heart set on apparating but…" she started, feeling him out for what she was about to say. "You see, I looked it up and Glasgow's only about two hours away. Thought maybe we could spend a little extra time together… thought maybe we could rent a car and drive." She searched Oliver's face for a reaction as his face shifted into panic.

"But.. but I don't know how to drive!" he exclaimed, surprised at her request.

"I do," Gen said back. "Come on. It'll be fun. I'll drive us and we can listen to music and you can spend two whole hours freaking out." She was only half joking.

"Ehhh… I'm not sure it's a good idea," Oliver managed to get out. "Where'd you learn to drive anyways?"

"America," Gen replied. "The kind of magic my Mum was gifted with… witches and wizards like that in America have to hide in plain sight. They live as muggles and practice magic too. So… I kinda picked up a few things."

Oliver tossed the thought around in his head before sighing out, "Why the hell not?"

Gen grinned, "I promise. I think you'll like it."

A few hours later, they had packed up from the hotel and rented a car at the nearest muggle port. Oliver sat in the passenger seat, his eyes practically bulging out of his head at the unfamiliar contraption.

"What do all the buttons do?" he asked, flabbergasted. He reached his hand out to touch the button labeled with a big, red triangle. He pushed it, immediately met with a clicking sound.

"Oh, yes, that one turns on our warning lights, which will definitely don't want on at the moment," Gen chuckled, turning it off as quickly as it was put on.

"Oh," Oliver said. "What about this one?" He pushed another button right next to what looked like a slot.

"That one is for a cassette tape but… we don't have one AND it doesn't work till the car is on," she explained, finding the wizard's fascination with the muggle car endearing.

"Oh," he said again in response. Gen quickly put the keys in the ignition and started the car. "What just happened?" Oliver felt the car shake and vibrations underneath him.

"It's on. That was the motor and ehm, well I turned the car on," Gen answered.

"Wicked," Oliver said, amazed at the technology. It wasn't magic but he was sure this was as close as muggles got.

"You ready?" Gen asked, looking to her left to check in with him.

He nodded, "I think so, yeah."

They spent the next thirty minutes getting on the road on their way to Glasgow as Oliver couldn't shake how incredible this invention was. Gen found it amusing how fascinated he was. She was glad that she had suggested it. She wanted to spend the extra time with him and was a little nervous about meeting his family anyways. It gave her a little space before she did.

"So… your family…" she began.

"Yes?" Oliver asked.

"You think they'll like me?" she asked. She knew she was being vulnerable in the moment by revealing her anxieties.

"Well of course they'll like you. Mum is ecstatic to meet you. I think she almost gave up on me having a girlfriend. Said I'd marry quidditch instead," Oliver said. Gen laughed in reply. "I've been writing about you, you know. To Mum. And Dad, really."

"And your brothers… what're they like?" Gen asked.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Oliver asked back, turning to look at his girlfriend.

Her eyes were fixed on the road as she sighed out, "Yeah a little, I guess." Oliver only laughed. "This is kind of a big deal, you know?"

"Big deal?! And you don't think meeting YOUR dad, the over protective auror who knows how to disappear people wasn't intimidating for me?" Oliver exclaimed, teasing her a little.

"Yeah, well, I let you know last minute so you didn't have much time to think about it!" Gen shrugged, innocently. "I've had time… you know… to really think about this. What it would mean for me to meet them - your family. And worry."

Oliver nodded, understanding, "You have nothing to worry about, m'love."

Gen nodded too, hoping to quell her anxiety. There was a long pause as she drove before Oliver broke it by clearing his throat.

"Since you've been thinking… what does it mean, y'know, that you're meeting my family?" he asked, curiously. He had no hidden agenda but was genuinely curious as to what it meant to hear.

"Well," Gen started, glancing over at him. "I think it'd mean that, well, that we were kinda serious." Oliver smiled and nodded, liking the answer.

He shrugged and looked at her, "Well, I think we ARE kinda serious."

She glanced back at him nervously, "That kinda freaks me out." Oliver took a moment to receive what she was saying. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea about what she was saying so she followed her previous statement up. "I mean, it's a big deal - to me at least. Getting serious with you. Trusting you. I know you met my dad pretty early on but now that, you know, we're both going to know each other's parents it's just… it just hit me I guess."

Oliver nodded slowly. He knew what she meant and he'd never try to push her past what she was ready for her but he wanted to have the right words to explain how he was feeling too.

"Are you upset with me, Ollie?" she asked, nervously.

"No, no," Oliver shook his head, laughing a little. Choosing his words carefully he began to explain. "No, it's just. Well, I know what you mean. It kinda freaks me out too."

Gen sighed out with relief, "Oh thank Merlin!"

"What?"

"Nothing it's just… you know… it's always me freaking out and you being patient with me and it's just, well, it's just a relief," Gen explained.

"Sure," Oliver agreed. "I… I barely dated in school. And then there were a few girls, you know, that caught my eye. I dated some. Fell in what I thought was love. Then right after the war I found myself infatuated with an older woman. It was never something that would work out long term so that was that. You're… well, you're kind of my first serious girlfriend."

"No pressure," Gen said, only half joking.

"No! No, it's not like that!" Oliver protested, playfully. Gen laughed. "But… I mean, yeah. You are. You're the first person I've ever felt this way about… the first person I'd want to introduce to my parents, Gen."

Gen took a moment to really let what he was saying land for her. She knew that this was special - that he was special to her and that this was a big deal for him too. If she opened her mouth she knew it'd be too easy to deflect what he was saying to her.

"Ollie…" she started, not knowing where to begin. "I'm happy to be that person for you." She reached over, keeping one hand on the wheel, and grabbed his in hers.

"... Are… are you sure that's safe?" Oliver asked.

She laughed, "Yes, my love. I can drive with one hand. Promise."

The car was full of love and Gen and Oliver sat in the aftermath of their conversation for a few moments longer.

"So tell me about your brothers. And your friend. The one who's engagement party we're going to," Gen started, changing the subject.

"Hmmm, where to start," Oliver said. "Well, Fletcher is eh, home for just the weekend. He's at a school - a conservatory specializing in music. He's about eh four years younger than me. And then there's Elliot who's-."

"Trouble. You always say Elliot is trouble," Gen laughed a little, interrupting his story.

"Yes. Elliot's still a kid though so it's alright, I guess. In his last year of Hogwarts. Gryffindor, 'course," Oliver continued.

"'Course," Gen said, mocking him.

"Oh shut it," Oliver said back, laughing to himself.

"Then Piper's a family friend - practically a sister. Merlin, Mum wishes she were since she got stuck with four boys. She grew up right across from our house. She was my best friend growing up. She's an only child and when she moved into the neighborhood I said to her: well if you don't have any siblings I've got plenty I can share with you," Oliver explained. Gen laughed at the childhood memory as he continued.

"A year above me in school and eh, well, we've lost touch over the years but… hers and my family have always remained close. It'll be good to see her again… see who this guy is she's planning on marrying."

"Oh, PLEASE don't tell me you're going to pull a Thomas Zhao!" Gen exclaimed.

"Only if I have to. I've certainly been taking notes. You see. Your dad kinda furrows his brow and then he crosses his arms across his chest like this," Oliver joked, shifting his body to imitate her father.

Gen laughed glancing over at Oliver's impression, "Merlin, Ollie! The last thing I need is you pretending to be my father."

He guffawed, quite amused with himself.

"I'm excited to meet your people, babe. Thank you," Gen said.

"For what?" Oliver asked.

She shrugged, "I don't know. For wanting me to?" She took another moment to think on it. "For letting me in? For loving me."

"'Course, m'love," Oliver smiled, glancing over at her again. "You make it easy."