Casting a charm on another bag, Talia stared at the items on the large dinning table, counting them, going through the list inside her head as she placed several cans of food, medical equipment, clothes and toys inside the bag, nodding to herself and she closed it up, picking up another one. Hearing the front door opening, she listened in, eyes lighting up as several voices could be heard inside the house, Talia finally calming down once she figured out it was actually Tonks and Remus.

But her shoulders still tensed when she heard Tonks's happy voice as she joined her in the kitchen "Wotcher Talia."

"Keep it down please, I'm trying to concentrate over here." However she still turned around to hug her friend.

While the members have been divided during the summer tragedies, Talia and Talbott had found themselves being pushed further and further away from London, partially because of the attacks but also because it was what Talia wanted. She wished to be as far away from the action as possible and in all honesty Talbott wished the same for him and her.

So they settled at the beginning of autumn in a muggle neighborhood right on the outskirts, Talia using some of her Muggle money that could not be tracked down by the Wizarding community. It had been a couple of months since they had been there, Tonks and Remus visiting them often as they found shelter in one of the safe houses close by. It was not much, but it ensured they were safe for a while.

"Still making packages?" Tonks's pointed to the items, extending a hand to take a piece of candy, Talia slapping her hand away.

"Those people need it more than we do. Did you hear?" Tonks just nodded, a sad look in her eyes speaking of sadness, in that moment the façade as if falling, the months of war showing on her face "There were children in that safe house."

"Don't do this to yourself." Her friend stated placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder "Are you eating properly, you feel so thin."

"I'm fine." She stepped aside looking uncomfortable as she charmed another bag, resuming her previous task as she spoke "I could have done more, I should have been there."

"You can't be everywhere. Honestly, you should know better by now. You made a choice, a good one."

"But what if I could have saved them?" Talia glanced over at Tonks who offered her a reassuring smile, Talia's knuckles turning white as she gripped a few items.

"Not even you are invincible. Got anything to drink in here?" she asked already going over to open up cabinets and cupboards, finally finding a wine bottle, frowning "Red, of course."

"Got to stay fucking classy in times of need. There's something in the fridge, you might like that you simpleton." Both the women laughing softly as Tonks searched further.

Opening up a bottle of beer she did not know, she took a sip, going to Talia to offer her a drink as well, the latter almost chocking as the bubbles tickled her throat "Yeah, you stick to it. Talbott likes to drink it only when it's cold. He says its warm piss otherwise." Glancing at Tonks who just let out a small burp, Talia shook her head "Fucking charming. Surprised you have a man with that attitude."

"You think that's something then you should hear him snore."

"I heard you snore and it's enough thank you." Talia countered, the two laughing once more.

As she finished another bag, she finally moved away from the table, opening the bottle of wine Tonks left on the counter. It felt odd to be drinking something so fancy in such times, but it was her own little sense of normality, one she did not wish to abandon. She had spent enough time without something to ground her. It was silly really, but it was what it was.

Popping the cork, she poured herself a glass, not a fancy one, she always reminded herself as she rolled her eyes and turned to the door, walking to see Talbott and Remus in the small living room "Anyone fancy a drink?"

"Nothing for me, thank you." Remus added politely, way too politely Talia thought, but then again she just shrug her shoulders as she looked over at Talbott "Just so you know Tonks discovered your beer so choose wisely while you still have a chance."

"A beer is fine." He smiled slightly, turning back to resume his conversation as Talia walked back inside the kitchen.

"So" Tonks prodded as she looked at Talia taking out a drink for Talbott "how are you two?"

Cocking a brow, she shook her head lightly "There's nothing going on if that's where you're heading with that ridiculous topic. We just so happened to live together and have been stuck in this situation since."

Scoffing she blew away the hairs ticking her face "Right, because there's no history lingering between you two."

"I'll be right back." Heading inside the living room to present Talbott the drink, he cocked a brow at her, Talia glaring slightly before she went back to Tonks, closing the door behind her "He can hear you, you know."

"So what? Maybe then he will get that stick out of his ass and do something."

Talia smirked as she listened in, leaning against the door "He did actually, he did me." Her smirk growing when she heard Talbott chocking on his drink. Maybe that would teach him not to listen in to other people's conversations.

"Seriously? When?" Tonks jumped on the latest piece of gossip right away, hoping on the counter, Talia joining her as she lit up a cigarette, opening the windows with one swift move of her hand, frowning at herself as she hoped no Muggles saw that. It was hard to get used to some things and keeping up with them after being in the Wizarding world for so long. It felt as if it was especially difficult.

"Back at…" she refrained from using Sirius's name "the former headquarters."

A wave of sadness washed over Tonks's face once more, her choosing not to dwell on the subject right then and there "Ohhhh, tell me more."

Shrugging her shoulders, she just took a sip from her glass, flicking the ash in the sink near her "Nothing much to tell apart from that, we had a good few shags and that's that. Too much has happened for us to go back."

"Right." Tonks mocked her "Because you just shag and leave in a time of crisis with him without it being something. Are you even listening to yourself right now?"

Nodding, Talia just offered her a nasty look "I am actually and it's perfectly normal."

Taking the glass from her hand, Tonks sniffed it "Wanted to see if it's gone rotten or something."

"That's not how wine works you know."

Waving her hand in front of her face, she looked over at Talia "Does Talbott know you feel this way?"

Sighing, she took a long drag, smoke leaving her lips as it rose to the ceiling "We haven't talked about it, not like there aren't any other pressing matters. What's happening now it more important than a failed relationship. Believe me, the world will survive if me and Talbott don't end up together in the end."

"But what about my poor heart?"

"Oh fuck off Tonks." She elbowed her in the sides, both of them giggling.

The sound was foreign to both of them, but at the same time so inviting as it bounced off the walls of the small kitchen. They needed a moment to breathe, a moment that they could come back to later when there was only darkness in sight. So they took what they could get.

"Fancy helping me finish these bags? I want to ship them out tomorrow."

Nodding both hopped off the counter, Tonks carefully watching Talia and replicating her moves "When was the last time you left the house?"

Frowning, Talia wished she did not ask that question at all "I go out in the garden, help Talbott there. I went to a call last month at the third safe house."

Placing the item in her bag, she lifted her eyes "You actually need to get out and do something different."

"Yes" Talia replied rolling her eyes "I will ask Voldemort to pause for a few days so I can go take a freaking walk."

"Talia." Her look was serious, the most serious she had seen her in a long time and at the same time there was something different dwelling in her eyes.

"Don't." closing the bag in her hands with perhaps too much force, she willed herself to set it down properly "You don't understand. I just can't."

"Can't or won't?"

Glaring, this time her eyes darkening, Talia spoke slowly "You are either being daft on purpose or you're trying to provoke me, none of which are wise." She witnessed her friend's hair turning a bright red color, both staring at each other.

The door opened, Talbott and Remus walking inside the kitchen, the room all of the sudden appearing extremely crowded. Talia looked away, turning around to leave, Talbott placing a hand in front of her in order to stop her from advancing "We all need to talk."

Finally convincing them to step outside in the garden, Talia took a few steps away from them as Remus related the plans for December, Talia feeling as if someone thrust a dagger in her lungs, turning around slowly to witness Talbott actually entertaining the idea "You can't be serious." She looked over everyone, going to pick up her own drink from the table before creating distance once more "We need to hide, not celebrate in large numbers a stupid holiday."

She was serious, dead serious as she looked at Talbott for support "I understand your point." But she knew he did not, not in the slightest "But Harry needs this, a sense of normality."

"And he can have it, or try to achieve it, but it won't change the fact that there's a fucking killer out there trying to end his life." It resonated, through everyone, but Talia especially, the subject hitting far too close to home.

Remus decided it was a good time as any to speak once more, Talia rarely hearing his voice in her presence "I know you're against it, but it's a positive thing. It will benefit everyone."

Talia tilted her head after downing her drink, just throwing the glass to the ground, Talbott frowning at her, fact which she ignored completely "Fine, you do what you want to do then. Ignore what's going on, party."

"We aren't talking or suggesting something big, just something to give everyone a bit of hope."

She knew, Talia understood the reasons behind it and she really did not wish to be the bad guy in that situation, but it appeared that no one was seeing reason anymore. Wrapping her arms around herself for added warmth, she sighed "Hope should be given in other forms, not by risking the life of several important members. Some of you have been through this, know how bad it is, how bad it can get and how utterly stupid it can be to gather so many people in one spot." Searching her pockets, she pulled out a cigarette, fingers trembling as she lit it "And what about the rest that are hiding? Shouldn't they celebrate Christmas as well?" taking a drag, she exhaled quickly "Or are you telling me there's a plan in motion and that's why we are risking such a big meeting."

"Of course we'll be talking about future actions." Talbott added "We're doing it regardless."

But Talia did not like it, however from the looks of it, the decision was already made "I'll think about it." Was all she added before she walked back inside, ignoring Talbott's groan.

Once their friends left, he of course had to come see her, Talia already have finished the rest of the bags, now placing them inside a box in order to ship them to the agreed locations near the safehouses "Don't hold it against anyone." He mentioned, helping her with the bags.

"I'm not, I just think it's stupid. It's not like people don't know where the Burrow is and where the Weasley's live. It's only a matter of time." Placing a bag down, she ran her hands through her hair "Why don't people want to live? I can heal them if I get there in time, but what if something worse happens?"

"Don't think like that please."

"How can you ask me not to, I'm a healer not a miracle worker Talbott."

Going to the fridge, he pulled out two beers, offering her one despite her not really liking it, but at least it meant her attention was going towards something different, even if for a little bit "It might do you some good to also get out more. You have been stuck inside for far too long."

Talia squinted her eyes at him waiting on a more elaborate reason as to why he even opened his mouth to suggest something like that, Talbott just leaving it at that, feeling rather guilty for it as well. He had been getting out in his Animagus form, luxury she could not afford "Alright" she relented "maybe you're right. So I will be getting out of the house more. But it will be on my terms and where I want to go."

"Fair enough." However he still cocked a brow at her. He just knew nothing was normal with Talia.