CHAPTER 22

Gen replayed the words that Oliver had said back in the car about how easy she made it easy to love her. She began to smile as their molecules materialized once again, finishing the final step of apparation. Her and Oliver exchanged glances as they stood on the front porch of his childhood home. They had returned the car in Glasgow and apparated right to the house. She took a breath nervously as Oliver opened the front door, peering his head in, the rest of him following.

"Anyone home?" Oliver called out to the empty house. It was a much larger home than Gen had imagined. With the way that Oliver had described it, she had imagined that it was a wonderfully cozy home but considering it housed five once, she wasn't surprised. They walked right into the entrance way, where a living room sat to the left of them while straight on led to a kitchen and dining area.

Gen could hear footsteps clamouring down the stairs to reveal a strong boy who could be no more than sixteen or seventeen. He paused as he saw his brother and new girlfriend.

"Ollie!" he exclaimed. "I thought I heard the door!"

Oliver set down his bag as his brother hurriedly made his way towards him, "It's good to see you, brother." The two embraced immediately as the boy's feet hit the floor.

"And who might this be?" the boy asked, pulling away from his brother, making it very obvious that he was checking Gen out. His eyes looked her up and down as Oliver rolled his eyes at his little brother's reaction.

"Elliot, this is Gen..." Oliver introduced, as Gen stuck her hand out for a handshake. Oliver coughed, knowing his brother all too well and continued with, "MY girlfriend," making sure to emphasize the word 'my.'

"It's a pleasure," Elliot said, taking Gen's hand and kissing it. She laughed and shot a shocked glance over at her boyfriend, taking her hand back.

"Blimey, Ol. Who knew you had such good taste," Elliot remarked, teasing his brother. "I'm Elliot."

"Oh yes. Oliver's told me all about you," Gen chuckled, so amused by the brashness of Oliver's little brother.

"What's he told you?" Elliot asked, flirtatiously.

"Oh sod off, Elliot," Oliver interjected. "Where's Mum and Dad?"

"Well, you can go look for Mum and Dad. I'll stay here and get acquainted with-," Elliot began.

"I see what you mean by trouble," Gen interrupted, looking to her boyfriend for a little bit of help.

"Oliver!" a voice exclaimed, immediately breaking the awkward tension. All three in the entryway looked to the open door as a middle aged man had just come in. "We were expecting you earlier. Come here."

"Dad," Oliver smiled in recognition. He quickly went to hug his father. "Yeah, we uh, kind of went on a little adventure."

"Yes, sorry. That's my fault. We decided to drive from Montrose instead," Gen added.

"Ahhh and you must be the famous Genevieve we've heard all about," Oliver's dad sighed. "It's lovely to finally meet you. I'm Alan. Alan Wood."

"Good things I hope. I'm Genevieve Zhao," Gen answered.

"Elliot, you told me that you'd put on another shirt before-," another said, hurrying down the stairs.

"Oh you're here already!" the woman said, excited. More hugs. More greetings. Gen was soaking in every minute of this. It was just her and Dad and she had always wondered what it would've been like to grow up in a big family with lots of brothers and sisters. This was nice.

"Marianne, darling, come meet Oliver's girlfriend," Alan encouraged.

"Well it's about time!" Miranda said, eagerly.

"Mum!" Oliver protested.

"Not about having a girlfriend, silly," Marianne corrected. Elliot snickered in the back at the comment. "I just meant it was about time that we finally met the girl special enough for Oliver to write home about." Marianne placed her hands on Gen's shoulders, really looking at her, before pulling her in for a tight hug. "Well, come on now. The party's soon and we've got to get ready! Oliver, I'll show you and Genevieve to your room."

Marianne hurried Oliver and Gen upstairs to one of the rooms, reminding them that they couldn't be too late to the party this evening.

"Ever since you moved out, your Dad and I have been working on your old room. It's still yours, of course it's still yours, Oliver but, we've made some changes," Marianne explained, opening the door to reveal a bedroom with a bathroom attached. It looked like it could be used as a guest room, but still had quidditch memorabilia all over it.

"'S fine, Mum," Oliver shrugged. He didn't mind that they had changed a few things around. Like she said, he didn't live there anymore. "Where's Fletcher?"

"Oh, he's apparating in. He's got his own flat y'know. Right near school," Marianne answered.

"Right," Oliver nodded.

"Well, I leave the two of you to it. And Genevieve, I truly look forward to getting to know you better over this weekend," she smiled, before closing the door behind her, leaving them to get ready.

Even though they knew they were in a hurry, Gen followed Oliver's lead as they took their time to neatly unpack their suitcases. They laid out their clothes for the party along with the other things they had brought for the next two days. They continued to get ready, Gen starting on her makeup while Oliver settled into his room.

"Your family is…" Gen started, trailing off at the end to think of the right word.

"Overwhelming?" Oliver suggested.

"No! Well, yes, a bit. But welcoming. And so kind. You're right. I really didn't have much to be nervous about," Gen chuckled to herself, applying mascara in the mirror as they had to quickly pivot and get ready for this engagement party.

"Sorry about earlier. You know. Elliot," Oliver blushed, embarrassed.

"Oh, that's nothing. He's a teenage boy and you DID warn me about him," Gen reassured.

Oliver let his untied tie hang around his neck, the collar of his shirt sticking straight up, in a sexy, only half ready way. He tucked his shirt in then sat down to put on his shoes. He rarely even wore nice dress shoes but this kind of occasion called for it. It'd be the first time, he realized, that Gen had seen him all cleaned up like this. He watched as his girlfriend charmed her hair into a soft curl, painting her face, still in her underwear. He flipped his collar down with the intention of tying his tie.

She walked over the closet, grabbing her dress and returning to the bathroom to put it on. It was a beautiful cobalt blue lace dress with the same color lining layered underneath the lace. It had a rounded neck, short sleeves, and fit her body snugly, hugging each curve and stopping just above the slipped it on, zipping it up only as far as it could go.

"Ollie, can you zip me up?" she called from the bathroom. Oliver had just finished putting on his suit jacket as he walked over to her. She turned to him, leaning up against the counter, her dress half zipped.

"Merlin, babe, you look-," Oliver stammered. Sure, he had seen her dressed up for the bar or for a date but this was…

"You don't look too bad yourself," Gen replied with a giggle. She turned around, eager for him to zip up her dress. The last thing she wanted to do was upset his perfectly lovely mother by making them late to the party.

Oliver's hands brushed over her shoulders and he couldn't help himself. He was in awe of this woman. He reached for the zipper, tugging it upwards slowly and carefully so that it was zipped all the way. His hands smoothed over her shoulders once more as the two stared at their reflection in the mirror.

"We clean up well," Gen remarked.

"Indeed," Oliver answered.

"Want me to get that for you?" Gen asked. "Your tie."

"You think I can't tie my own tie?" Oliver teased.

"'S not that. Just… I want to. If that's alright with you," she said back.

"Sure," he said as she turned around to look at him. She reached up, tying his tie perfectly, then adjusting it so that it fit around him.

"Careful, Wood. You look this good in a suit and I'm gonna want you like this all the time," Gen smirked, suddenly feeling the temperature in the room rise a hundred degrees.

"You're magnificent, woman," was all Oliver could say back. She made him feel unstoppable. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him in response.

As they approached the Abernathy home, Gen took in the sight. The house was even bigger than the Wood's. She and her father lived in London her whole life and she was used to more urban and contemporary flats. She was amazed at the Tudor like architecture and the old, Romantic feel of it all. She stood next to Oliver, Elliot to her left and both Alan and Marianne in front of them. The door swung open to reveal a joyous mother with her blonde hair pinned up behind her head in a bun.

"Come on in! Oh Piper will be so happy to see you," she greeted, cheerily. "So lovely to see you all."

"Roberta, this is Genevieve. She's Oliver's girlfriend," Marianne introduced, conversing with her friend.

"Hello," Gen smiled in acknowledgement.

"Well, what a lovely surprise!" she exclaimed, moving aside so that her guests could enter the home, Alan and Marianne stepping in first with Oliver, Gen, and Elliot to follow. "Fletcher is already here and please, feel free to hang your coats here and the house elf will take care of them…." Both of the Wood parents encouraged Elliot to follow them to look for Fletcher and to leave Gen and Oliver alone.

Gen took in a breath to calm her nerves, excited to meet Oliver's other brother and his childhood best friend. Oliver squeezed her hand in encouragement and followed Roberta through the foyer into the living room area where most of the guests were. Roberta slowed her quick pace as they stopped to see a woman dressed in a white cocktail dress, her long brunette hair cascading down her back.

"Piper! Piper, sorry to interrupt my dear but you have a special guest," Roberta said, tapping the girl on the shoulder. She turned around, her eyes lighting up the minute she saw Oliver. She squealed in delight, running over and hugging the man tightly.

"Merlin, Ollie, it's been ages! I'm honored you could pry yourself away from quidditch for one second to come to my engagement party," she exclaimed, happy to see her old friend.

"Good to see you too, Pipes," he laughed at her jest, hugging her back. She pulled away almost immediately, in surprise at the girl standing next to him. "I guess congratulations is in order."

"More like a congratulations to YOU. Hi, I'm Piper," Piper said, turning her attention to Gen.

"Genevieve, but you can call me Gen," Gen answered, shaking the girl's hand.

"My girlfriend," Oliver added, proudly.

"Girlfriend?!" Piper exclaimed in shock.

"Oh, not you too," Oliver groaned.

"I mean, your Mum told me that you'd be bringing someone but I never-, you've just never-, oh Ollie, this may be my best engagement present yet," she squealed. She turned her attention once more to Gen. "And I'm not sure HOW you managed to pull his mind off of quidditch. You must be really special to him."

Gen laughed uncomfortably, "Ehm, yeah, I'd hope so."

Piper immediately took Gen's arm in hers, walking her towards another circle of friends, "Well as Ollie's bestest friend, we must get acquainted. Oh! Ollie, please come with us. I'd like to introduce you to my fiance." She tapped a taller man who stood with his back to the three of them, a full head of dirty blonde hair. "Sam? Sam, my friends are here." The man turned around. "Sam, this is my best, and oldest friend, Oliver and his girlfriend, Gen."

"Sam?! Sam Spinnet?" Oliver exclaimed, surprised.

The blonde girl next to him turned around at the sound of Oliver's voice, "Oliver?!"

"Alicia?!" Oliver asked.

"Genevieve Zhao…" Alicia trailed off, shocked to see all the familiar faces.

"You all know each other-," Piper began.

"From school," Oliver answered, very surprised that his childhood best friend was marrying his school mate's older brother.

"Quidditch, babe. Remember? Alicia played with Oliver on the Gryffindor team," Sam recalled.

"And Gen played for-," Oliver began.

"Slytherin," Alicia answered, a glimmer in her eye as she looked at the two. "Well, this just got interesting." She chuckled to herself. "I'm empty. Anyone want another drink?"