If there was one thing no one needed but in a sense did at the same time, it was a celebration for love, all around the world. Things have been tense for far too long, as if no one was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Yet in stolen single moments, some things tended to align differently, Talia waking up at four in the morning, sleep leaving her entirely as she stared at the ceiling. Getting dressed she retreated in the kitchen where she had a cup of coffee, enjoying the silence of the otherwise full house. People retreated at the headquarters of the Order of Phoenix, her knowing well enough that in a few hours, there would be a frenzy of people intruding on her much needed solitude.

But despite it, she had yet to return to her safe house, instead even giving some away for those in need of hiding. It was better like that, her feeling as if some good came out of her actions, that not everything she touched turned to dust and was destroyed.

Going through the cupboards, she ended up filling her time getting breakfast ready.

At six on the dot, Talbott was already out his room. He had decided to spend the night over after arriving late from a scouting mission, freezing to the bone and more tired than he cared to admit. He crashed on the bed fully clothed, sleeping until the early morning hours, not a single dream plaguing his mind.

Making his way downstairs, he could smell the freshly baked cookies from the hallway, the sweet aroma bringing a smile on his face. Entering the kitchen, he froze in place, not expecting to see Talia busying herself, but Molly Weasley. Turning a pair of clear eyes to him, she placed on the table a fresh batch "Coffee?" Swallowing, he just nodded, eyes scanning for the best place to sit, almost jumping out of his skin when she placed the cup next to him "One sugar right?"

"Yes, I still drink it like that." or maybe he could have just taken it to another room. Any room as long as he didn't have to be alone with her.

Nodding, she urged him to take a seat as she continued to busy herself "Help yourself to some cookies, I still need to finish the rest of the meal."

He knew the coffee was liquid, however it felt as if it was going down his throat in lumps. Eating a cookie did little to help as it felt like it just would not go down "Is everything alright?" he finally asked since he knew he could not sit there quietly while looking at her.

Wiping her hands on a clean towel, she turned to actually give him a proper look "Are you referring to my cooking frenzy?" she gestured to the food that was made and the one she wanted to still cook "It's fine. I just needed to do something to kill some time until everyone got up. Looks like it's a lazy morning for everyone."

Raising his brows, he replied dryly "It's six." Talia just throwing the towel at him for his obvious moment, him catching it without any effort "You've been up for a while now."

"So?" she frowned as Talbott threw the towel back at her. He knew her well enough to know that underneath all she was showing him, something more happened.

"You're keeping yourself busy." He watched her cross her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked him dead in the eye, him being unable to hold her gaze for too long "Apologies, it is not my place."

"Oh come off it." Taking her own cup of coffee, she took a big swing before placing it back on the counter next to her, lifting a lid from a pot to stir in it "Honestly if you're going to tip toe around me like this, then don't even bother addressing a word my way. I don't need any false pretence."

"It's not pretence. It was a genuine observation." Picking up his cup, he mumbled inside the mug "And concern."

"What?" she turned to look at him, stopping the stove, Talbott just shaking his head, avoiding her gaze once more. He had not been alone with her inside a room for a while now and the subjects that they could talk about were limited at best. She continued to place everything in its rightful place, topping up each of their cups, Talia addressing him "Join me?"

Lifting his eyes, the answer remained stuck in his throat, yet his body moved on its own as he got up and followed her up the stairs. It had been a while since he had seen her so calm and in her element though, as if in the middle of the chaos that was happening, Talia managed to actually find some stable ground and thrive instead of letting it affect her like the others. Then again she had always had this ability of drawing power while alone. People hindered her, he hindered her.

Turning the handle to her room, she stepped inside, Talbott hesitating. Taking a sip from his coffee, he frowned at the bitter taste, however going back down to get some sugar was probably a bad excuse to avoid being in the same space as her. Closing the door after him, he looked out of his element as he glanced around, Talia going to the window sill to smoke.

"Still at it I see."

Lighting it up, smoke blew past her lips, her just shrugging "It used to be something occasional I guess until it wasn't anymore. Now it's a habit, a way of contemplating on everything, I don't even know anymore."

Taking a seat on the bed, he actually took time to properly look at her. She let her hair grow out again, however it still was not as long as he knew it to be. Somehow it appeared to have lost its shine after all those days spent on the run, its colour a hint darker. Her eyes were sharp and always analysing everything and everyone, dark circles telling their own story of restlessness. The freckles on her cheeks almost disappeared with the incoming cold, however he knew that once the summer sun shined across her face, they would be back in full force, dusting her cheeks in unknown constellations. She had lost weight, a lot of it, he could see it even under all the layers she was wearing. Everything was taking a toll on her.

"Have you thought about how you're going to handle your parents if you encounter them?"

Talia took a moment to reply, him having the impression she did not hear the question at all. Pushing on her lips with her knuckles, she turned her eyes to look at him. She had always known him to want to escape being in certain situations, but his body language told her everything he was not admitting out right, he wanted out of that room at all costs. Even if he tried to appear relaxed, his eyes searched every corner for a distraction. Both his hands held onto the cup because he needed to do something with them or else he would fidget. He bit on his inner cheek when their eyes met, the sharpness in his features forced. Hair fell in his eyes, the sight of it wanting to make Talia smile, yet she held it back.

Taking another long drag, she rested her head against the cold window frame "I'll do what I must, that's all you need to know."

Oh he knew, he knew what damage she could do, he had seen the prisoners in Azkaban and it was clear who was behind it, despite him not wishing to admit it, to see the truth staring him right in the face "If you wanted to kill them, you would have."

A low dangerous chuckle left her throat "Oh Winger, for such a pessimist you truly are an optimist at heart." Turning her face towards him, she continued speaking "But I'm not the Talia you knew. I spew fire and take lives and I will continue to do so until this war is over. No matter if I have to kill familiar faces, blood ties or anything in between, I will do what is needed."

There was no doubt in his mind that she was not lying. That vacant stare that sent chill down his spine, he had seen the same cold eyes when he looked at her father. They did have the same damn eyes.

Clearing his throat, he wanted to say something, anything to save her from the darkness she was falling in. He promised, he had to, he had to be the hero, not her. Yet all his brain could produce in that moment was more resentment and hurt "Even if you stand face to face with Rosier?"

Clicking her tongue, she smirked "And there it is." Taking another drag from her cigarette she got up walking over to Talbott "He received his warning and he got one just because he tried to save me, to steer the Death Eaters away by offering himself up. But he's not as stupid as to challenge me." The surprise in his sunset coloured eyes was evident, Talia leaning in "What? You thought I didn't know where he was? I know. Just like I know that Jasper is also with them, just like Josephine and Constantine. I have lists and locations, I know more than you think."

He watched the smoke cascading from her mouth as she spoke, a shiver running down his spine. Taking the cup from his hands, she placed it on her night stand, flicking the cigarette outside the open window "Talia, you can't do this alone."

"No, you're right, I can't." turning back to him, she pushed him on the bed, Talbott's eyes widened as she went between his legs, looking at him "But then again what can you possibly do to stop me?" turquoise depths drowned in flames, a spiteful look in her eyes "What reaction did you think you would get by playing your little game? Let me make something clear. Felix did nothing wrong despite what you may think. He tried nothing, despite you seeing more." Propping her knee on the bed between his legs, Talbott jerked as she stood above him "Now my suggestion to you would be to start training harder than you ever trained in your entire life. If you're angry, take it out on me in a good way. Spar, duel, I don't even care at this point. But focus."

"I'm trying."

Whispering, her hair tumbled across his chest, the heat emanating from her almost destructive "Then try harder because you're failing." Lifting her hand, she placed two fingers against his neck, his pulse hammering against her skin.

"You're one evil woman."

"Am I now?" removing her hand, she ran her thumb against his jaw line, thoughts by the dozen invading her head, of what she could do to him, of how simple it would be to take control and have her way. His breath hitched, hands itching to just take hold of her, pull her near and close to his body "Happy Valentine's day Winger. I'll see you in training."

Getting up, she left the room, leaving him alone, Talbott placing a hand against his chest "What the fuck just happened?"