Talbott had always loved those moments spent with his mother, outside tending to the garden they had at his childhood home. When the world was too much for him, he could be found tending to certain plants, still enjoying the old habit throughout his childhood and early adulthood. That's why the majority of the kitchen counter space and window sills were filled with different potted plants. As far as Talia was concerned, they were not a bother, however she refused to tend to them, mentioning that if she were to even try, the plants might end up dead during the first days of their fragile lives. Her only request was that they never kept lavender or anything containing that scent in the house. It reminded it too much of her mother, how she used to smear on her pale skin that hideous body butter after every bath.

While he had his way with the plants, she dragged him to Diagon Alley in order to take some pictures which were already framed and hung up on walls. While Talbott was not too fond of having his picture taken, he could not deny her that pleasure, her picture now also having a place in his wallet. For her such memories were important, it represented the marking of certain moments, keeping them alive throughout time. That's why the very first picture they ever took was with them holding up the keys from the rented apartment. She also bought an album that as per words would be filled by the end of the year with wonderful memories of their time together, spent with each other but also with friends.

He arranged their books in the small bookshelf in the living room, while Talia swayed to a soft song that played on the second hand radio they got their hands on, different decorations finding their rightful place in various spaces around the house. She hung fairy lights in every room, soft embers bathing the walls in a warm glow, making the apartment appear cozier than it already was. She always had an affinity for lights of any kind, Talbott trying hard not to release a groan every time she brought another scented candle inside the house.

Inside the kitchen, she owned the space as if it was her own territory, Talbott soon learning he was better off with helping with the dishes instead of cooking. Yet it suited him perfectly. The days he enjoyed the most where those late afternoons when he would come home only to find her dancing in the kitchen or humming a song as she chopped up several ingredients, wooden spoon stirring slowly inside a pot. He loved coming to a warm apartment, the smell of freshly cooked food invading his nostrils, Talia turning on her heels to smile at him. She would always go over to him, placing a kiss to his lips uttering the words he longer to hear all day "Welcome home."

She bought two wine glasses and would serve up the very same wine they enjoyed back on their date on Valentine's day alongside a cooked meal. And it warmed their hearts as they stayed inside their space built for two, Talia introducing a new meal, relating a story about its origins or where she first tried it, Talbott always offering her his full attention, eyes filled with adoration as he keep his gaze on her.

It was everything he could have ever asked for.

Two weeks after they settled in properly, morning coffees were shared with additional people, that particular morning Tonks being chattier than usual as she morphed in Moody, impersonating him "Keep rolling your eyes miss Tonks, you might find a brain back there." Talia threw her head back, laughter rolling off her tongue, her entire body shaking, the coffee in her hand almost spilling "How can you be so good at dueling yet appear to have two left feet when walking?" Tonks continued, even Talbott smirking at her display "What was that Winger? Drop and show me fifty pushups."

"Don't remind me." He groaned in retaliation, the very memory as if sending a painful jolt through his arms. He ended hating pushups since day one of training and it was always him who had to do them. Tonks was always asked to either run laps or do sit-ups.

"Another twenty for that snide remark." Tonks continued, Bill slapping his leg in amusement as he continued to watch the display.

"Got to hand it to you, I would never be able to withstand such a training." His eyes travelled to Talbott as the girls continued to talk about the many ways he used to basically torture them, or so they thought.

"Why are you even here so early?" Talbott's eyes travelled to the clock indicating a bit past seven in the morning. While he could agree with a visit here and there, it was starting to become a habit, especially for Tonks since their place was on her way to work. She ended up from waiting for them downstairs, to coming up, to enjoying coffee with them. What would come next? Game night? Sleeping over? The venue of ideas made his head throb.

Bill offered a small smile, ignoring the annoyance in Talbott's voice, not letting it bother him "Ran out of coffee before I left for my last assignment and didn't get a chance to buy any since I arrived last night. But I did bump into Tonks."

Rolling his eyes, Talbott sighed "Good to know we have become a coffee place." Yet Bill just continud smiling at his friend, eyes taking in the small kitchen before looking over at Talia and Tonks who were on the subject of Mirunna Finnemore.

"I told you, she's not like Moody, she's…different." After she showed up for training the day after she had given her the file on Jasper Munday, it was clear she was going to put Talia though the training of her life and in a sense it was all for a good reason. Out in the field, one mistaken, one disobeyed order could cost lives.

Talia accepted the training without too much fuss, swearing at one point she was actually worse than what Tonks and Talbott have related about Moody and his way of training recruits. However Finnemore did back down slightly after Talia approached her one day "I want you to know I actually understand your feelings toward Jasper, despite my personal affiliation with him. If Talbott were to somehow chance his entire persona, I would also try to save him, aid if I could."

That was the exact moment when the trainer decided to back down. For her it meant that Talia understood certain aspects, actually had given them thought and was willing to see things differently despite her hate for Jasper "Thank you, I hope that one day you can also come to me and tell me all that is bothering you, to see me as a friend you can trust."

Talia just chucked the very idea to the back of her mind, not wishing to relate anymore facts about herself to other people. Enough was enough in terms of knowing, however she did trust her trainer to a certain degree. She was certain that only time would be able to determine the true nature of their relationship.

"But I would have preferred to be trained by Moody, I think his rough nature suits me better." Talia added snapping out of her day dreaming state, Tonks opening her mouth, however words failed to come out of it.

Talbott chuckled softly "Careful, if he hears that he might actually crack a smile and then it's the end of the world as we know it." Placing the empty mug in the sink, he turned to everyone "Come on, we all need to get to work."

Stepping outside in the cool morning air, the streets were rather empty, however in less than an hour they would be swarming with people going to work and car honks ringing, noise filling the city rapidly. The air would be thick and heavy, as if changing suddenly with the constant wave of busy people going about their normal week day. Waving goodbye to Bill, Talia, Talbott and Tonks turned the corner, making their way to the Ministry for another day filled with training.

As they approached the building, their faces dropped seeing Moody wobbling their way at a much faster pace they generally had seen him display. His free hand immediately wrapped around Talia's arm, her steading on her feet as he yanked her "Have you read the papers yet?" she searched his eyes with frantic panic rising in her chest, eventually getting over her shock and just shaking her head.

"What is this about?" Talbott immediately intervened as Moody released Talia from his grasp, eyes searching his face for answers, practically demanding them.

"Alright, you three come with me. Quickly now." They obeyed his command without a second thought, quickly realizing that whatever had happened was causing a commotion inside the Ministry of Magic. Aurors were arriving inside the headquarters, hurried steps and hushed conversations happening left and right.

Moody shoved them inside his office, locking the door behind them, staff casting spell after spell in order to ensure no one would listen in to their conversation "Early this morning one of the Azkaban prisoners escaped. We already have search parties out on the field, but I thought you might want to hear this from me instead of someone else." Grabbing a wanted poster from his desk, he extended it to Talia, Tonks and Talbott quickly stepping near her to have a look.

Tonks read the name circling the room with her eyes, yet remained silent seeing the grave expression on everyone's faces. Talbott tried to swallow, yet it felt as if his throat dried up instantly. Glancing at Talia she was pale as a ghost, eyes glued to the picture printed out on the paper she was holding, hands shaking slightly.

Talbott placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her flinching violently as if he had hurt her, immediately creating some distance in order to have her eyes on everyone. Moody tensed, ready to act if necessary, knowing very well Talia was like a ticking time bomb at that very moment.

Glancing back at the paper, her hands stopped from shaking, eyes darkening as raw fury held her in place. Inhaling sharply, she held that breath in for a few good seconds before her teeth dug in her lower lip, immediately piercing it, blood shining through. All her thoughts blurred and blended until nothing made sense inside her mind except for the name mocking her, that face looking back at her, those eyes that she hated so much.

Fire engulfed the poster in an instant, burning ashes reaching the ground, Talia lifting her eyes to stare at Moody "What do you need me to do? You have my full cooperation, just know this, I will kill him without batting an eye."

Moody huffed, that bright eye constantly scanning, reading into everything "Well now miss Hayes, aren't you a bit too enthusiastic."

Lifting her chin slightly, she grinned, blood painting her teeth "Just say my name, there is no better time than the present."

"Very well miss Crane. Here's what we will do in order to capture your father." Tonks froze when Moody turned to look at them, however Talbott had not once taken his eyes off Talia "And you two will help."