Saturday, 5 January, 23:53, PDT, present day
Drew stared at her mobile screen for a moment. She blinked as her eyes started to water. Her breath hitched slightly as she felt his arm around her shoulder. She looked up at the dark haired young man as she placed her mobile, screen down, on the nightstand. She smiled up at her 6'5" dear friend.
She leaned into his chest. "Thanks for always being there for me," she whispered.
He smiled at her. "Hey, everyone should spend his or her birthday with friends and family, right?"
She nodded. They both turned to the sleeping infant. The young man kissed the baby boy on the top of his head. Drew did the same before looking up at the young man and nodded towards the door. They both exited her bedroom.
"So, have you changed your mind about telling him, yet?" he asked as he walked towards the fireplace.
"Give me a break, Aston," she said, smirking at him.
He put his hands up, laughing, "Okay. Just thought I'd mention it for the umpteenth time since you told me."
"You're incorrigible," she smiled.
"Yes, but you're still my friend," he laughed. He kissed her on the forehead. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You need to go on a date, or something."
"Are you trying to set me up on another blind date?" she smiled coyly. "You do realize what happened the last time, right?"
"We had a very nice time, I thought," he said smiling. "And we did make Phillip quite jealous."
"You are such a prat, and I just gave birth a month ago," she flushed. "I don't think the dating scene is for me right now."
"You look amazing," he smiled.
"You're being kind, Aston," she shook her head.
"You need a man," he said, smirking and then shrugged his shoulders, "I'm just saying."
"Ha ha, right back at you," she smiled. "I noticed you accepting an invitation to come to the mainland to play pool at the sports bar with Marco tomorrow."
"It's just pool," the restaurateur canted his eyebrow.
She smiled up at him. He placed his forehead on hers, "Happy birthday, again."
"Thanks, Aston," she said as she kissed him on the cheek. She watched him sprinkle a handful of floo powder onto the flames of the fireplace. He turned to her and smiled before saying his island destination as he stepped into the green flames.
She breathed in and smiled before heading back to her bedroom. Aston had been there for her the past few months and she was thankful for that.
o-o-o
Sunday, 3 June, 10:15 HST, 7 months ago
She waited patiently outside of the Kahala home after ringing the doorbell. She wrung her hands nervously.
"Hey, stranger," the young man said as he opened his front door. He nodded for her to enter before giving her a big hug. "Just in time for brunch."
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she asked, looking around as Aston led her to the kitchen. Aston had already been cooking up two place settings of fried rice and eggs. TMZ was on the television screen in the kitchen.
"Of course not," he smiled as he pulled out a stool for her at the kitchen island. "What was Phil's famous line? I'm in between friends."
"That's an overshare," she laughed. He joined in.
"Ha ha. Coffee?" he asked as he pointed to the old school drip coffee maker.
She poured herself a cup of coffee and added two teaspoons of honey and a pour of half and half cream. He plated two plates of shoyu, Portuguese sausage fried rice with two over medium eggs. He placed one plate in front of her before sitting down next to her.
"Are you sure you weren't expecting company?" she asked as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Well, Dad always said our Wizarding gift was that akin to Legilimency," he smiled. "Besides, we've always had brunch every other Sunday, remember."
She laughed. The pair began to tuck in.
"So, what news have you?" Aston asked as he took a bite of his rice.
"I just got back from London a week ago," she said. She took a bite of her egg.
He nodded his head as he took a sip of his coffee. "Dad said there was some sort of dust-up a few months back? Something about Cecil Schield rising from the dead and Wizarding World War III being thwarted?"
She gulped. "Yeah, something like that," she smiled. She blew out a breath. "Phillip's one of us."
He nodded, knowing just a tad bit about the rumors flying around the Wizarding World. "So, how'd he take it?"
She snorted. "I don't know," she said as she looked down at her plate for a moment. "He's a Schield and Tanner."
"Two of the oldest Wizarding families," he said as he took a sip of his coffee. "Dad said everyone thought their line ended when Kellen Tanner and Roxanne Schield died thirty years ago."
"Apparently not," she shrugged. "Mr. Schield really wanted revenge on my family."
Aston nodded his head. "Phillip's a trooper. He'll eventually make sense of everything."
Drew nodded in agreement. They continued to eat.
Aston studied her for a moment. "So, what else is on your mind?"
She shrugged and gave him a weak smile. They both turned as the TMZ crew covered the NBA Championships.
o-o-o
"And on the lighter side of our coverage of the NBA playoffs," the entertainment reporter said as the photographs of the Celtics team members flashed. "The defending champs find some time for rest and relaxation at the Celtics community fundraiser. Fashion model, Lisa Randle and star power forward, Phillip Martinez share an intimate moment."
The photograph captured the pair with their hands clasped on the table top. Lisa leaned into Phillip's chest and whispered something in his ear that made him smile.
o-o-o
Drew blew out a slow breath and looked down at her plate. She finally looked up at Aston.
"The guys an idiot," he said.
Drew laughed. She gulped. "I'm happy for him," she said, not very convincingly. "They've been together for the longest. He found his match."
Aston put his hand over hers. "You sell yourself way too short, you know that."
"I don't know what you mean," she said softly.
"Remember what I said about our family's way with Legilimency," he said. "Since I met Phil in daycare, I've kinda been trying to play matchmaker."
"You're nutters, you know that," she smiled.
He shrugged. "So, what's next?"
"I put in my two weeks," she said softly.
"Are you taking the post at your Mum's hospital?"
She shook her head. She looked into his eyes. He nodded, knowing she was hesitant in telling him where her new post was going to be. She knew he was Phillip's best friend.
"Everything's going to turn out fine, Drew," he smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "Seconds."
She laughed and nodded. He stood up to serve them.
o-o-o
Sunday, 19, August, 5:00 HST
"Two ensaymadas and a medium decaf coffee, Mrs. Baltazar," the young doctor said as she pulled her coat close.
"Here, Mrs. Baltazar, I'll get her coffee," the owner's son said as he smiled. "Two teaspoons of honey and some cream, right?"
"Thanks, Aston," Drew said, a little softly as she handed the older woman at the counter a twenty-dollar bill.
"Your money's no good here," he smiled. Both Mrs. Baltazar and Drew laughed. Aston turned to the older woman, "Mrs. Baltazar, throw in four ube tarts, too."
"Yes, Sir," the Filipino woman nodded as she added four of the purple sweet potato deserts into the pastry box. "Here you go, Ms. Drew."
Aston handed Drew her coffee cup as he took hold of the pastry box. "I'll walk with you," the tall young man said.
Drew nodded as he put his arm around her shoulder. "You got a lot of 'splaining to do, huh?" he said with an exaggerated Cuban accent. They both laughed as they walked upstairs to Aston's old apartment above the bakery.
o-o-o
"Mrs. Baltazar said that you have been coming in every so often," Aston began as he stood by the fireplace.
Drew smiled and then shrugged, "I like your Dad's baked goods."
Aston laughed. Then he nodded at her abdomen, "So, is there something you'd like to share with the class?"
"I guess we can't put the cat back into the bag, huh?" she smiled.
"So, your place or," he looked around for a moment, "your place? Come on, I showed you mine you show me yours."
She laughed then nodded at his fireplace. He stoked the fire with some powdery floo powder. "After you," he nodded as she led him into the fireplace saying, Da Imu, the name of the small bar in Waikiki that served as one of the international travel points in Hawai'i.
The pair stepped out of one of the local chimneys and entered one that listed the Los Angeles international travel point. From there, Drew nodded to a local floo network fireplace. She blew out a breath before saying the address to the suburban six-bedroom home.
o-o-o
Sunday, 19 August, 8:15 PDT
"Wow," Aston said as the two stepped out of the fireplace and into the quiet home.
She shrugged before leading him to the kitchen. Aston placed the baked goods on the island as Drew took a seat on a kitchen stool. Aston pulled two dessert dishes from the cupboard above the sink and quickly rinsed and dried them. He plated two ube tarts and placed one serving in front of Drew. Drew nodded at him.
"This is amazing," she said.
"It's our newest best seller," he said as he took a bite of his own. "We bake them twice each day, once in the morning and then at lunch time. They sell out within the half hour.
"So, this is your new digs, huh?" he said as he looked around.
"Yeah," she said as she took a sip of her coffee. "Two story, two bedrooms, two full baths on the bottom, four bedrooms two full baths upstairs."
"That's a lot of quarters," he said. "Significant other?"
She paused for a moment. She shrugged. "Don't have one."
"Was it a bad break up?" he asked as he looked at her midsection.
"Remember when I said that Mr. Schield wanted revenge on my family?" she started as he nodded. "Well, he used Phil as one of his weapons."
"I'm going to kill him," Aston said standing up. Drew put a hand on his hand. He looked at her.
"We all know how heinous Obliviate can be, Aston," she spoke softly. He calmed down as he took his seat.
"But still," he said.
"I forgave him," she gulped. "He wasn't himself."
"So, he's the father," he said, nodding. "What did he say when you told him?"
She looked into his eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath, knowing what her hesitation meant.
"He doesn't deserve to have this bombshell dropped on him," she started. "He's moved on with his life and I've done the same."
"The whole 'single mother route', though," he began.
"My family's there for support," she shrugged. He nodded as he squeezed her hand.
"You got me, too," he said. "We Squibs can keep secrets, right?"
She nodded as tears started to roll down her cheeks. He pulled her in for a long hug. "Everything's going to be okay, Drew.
"So, tell me about this hospital of yours," he said after a few moments. She laughed before starting to fill him in on the months after she left Hawai'i.
o-o-o
Tuesday, 25 December, 21:50 PDT
Drew kissed two-year old Nora on the top of her head as she slept in Neve's arms. Aston hugged both eight-year old Diana and six-year old DJ as they held onto their father's hands.
"I'm glad you guys could make it," Drew said as Neve hugged her.
"Are you kidding?" Neve laughed. "Anything to get away from the London cold."
Everyone laughed. "Neve's right," Dean smiled as Neve kindled the fire with some floo powder.
The two kids yawned. "Well that signals our exit," Neve said as they all noticed the two youngsters. They all laughed again.
The Londoners set foot into the chimney and Flooed home. Aston and Drew looked at each other. He gave her a hug.
"I guess I should follow suit," he said smiling at her. He turned as he took some floo powder into his palm. He nodded at her. "You know he's probably thinking about you."
She laughed. "I'm sure I'm the farthest from his mind, Aston."
Aston rolled his eyes. He nodded at her. "It was nice spending time with family and friends."
"Yeah," she nodded back. "Do you think Andy will remember his first Christmas?"
He shrugged, "You never know. Kids are interesting creatures."
She laughed, "I'll see you in a week?"
He nodded and dropped some floo powder and said his destination. Drew smiled to herself as she headed to her bedroom to get ready for bed.
It really was a nice day. She was so grateful that everyone was able to make it for the Christmas holiday.
She entered her bedroom and smiled. Andy was fast asleep in his basinet. She kissed him on the forehead before heading into the bathroom.
o-o-o
Tuesday, 25 December, 11:50 PDT
Drew was thankful that everyone was okay with spending Christmas in sunny California. Drew was observing the old wives' tale about sequestering herself and the baby at home for at least the first month after giving birth.
Aston was the first to arrive at a little before noon with some kalua pork sliders. Drew's parents came a little after he did with an already-carved roasted goose. Junior and his family brought some creamy mashed potatoes, gravy, and braised cabbage. Hans and Catherine brought cranberry sauce and Yorkshire pudding while Heath and Caroline brought a smoked salmon dish. Dean and Neve brought a prawn cocktail. Drew made a prime rib roast.
Drew had invited Marco and some of the Emergency Room crew from San Agustin's, all of whom were Muggles. They were forewarned about the possible peculiarities they may see during the get-together. The crew had brought various desserts and eggnog, both non-alcoholic and adult-beverage versions.
The food was blessed, and everybody began to tuck into the scrumptious spread. Eight-year olds, Draco and Diana led seven-year olds, Crystal and Heather to the half-court wooden basketball court out in the backyard to have their Christmas lunch. The younger kids, six-year old Dean, or DJ to distinguish him from his dad and granddad, and five-year olds, Hector and Paige walked to the large avocado tree and sat down under it to eat.
The adults sat in clusters all over the wooden patio as they conversed while eating. Hermione and Draco sat with Drew, holding Andy in her arms, Aston, Marco, Guillermo and Nancy, both Muggle doctors on one of the patio picnic tables.
Junior and Payton, who held Denton in her arms, sat with nurses, José Dela Cruz and Tania Chan on one bench of the other picnic table. Heath, holding his infant son, Heath, Jr. and Caroline, holding Carrie, Junior's twin, sat across on the other bench.
Hans, holding his infant son, Hans, Jr. sat next to his wife, Catherine on the patio steps that led to the half-court basketball surface. Dean and Neve joined them on the steps. Nora sat on Neve's feet as she ate her lunch.
Drew smiled to herself as she looked around the full backyard. It reminded her of all the gettogethers her family hosted in the old Muggle home in Chiswick.
"Alright, Drew?" Hermione asked her daughter.
"Yeah, Mum," Drew said, looking at her and smiling. "I'm just remembering the family gettogethers we used to have at the Chiswick house."
"Well," Draco said, "at least we didn't have to enchant the backyard. The weather here in L.A. is very nice this time of year."
Everybody nodded in agreement. The celebration continued into the afternoon. The older kids played basketball. The younger kids were content to run around the backyard playing their own made-up games. The adults talked about the good old days.
o-o-o
Tuesday, 25 December, 21:40 PDT
The medical crew had left by 4:30 pm. They had, of course, volunteered to work the holiday shift, so Drew had invited them over for the Christmas celebration before they were scheduled to arrive for work at 5 pm. Aston seemed a little down when Marco had left.
The elder Malfoys left around 8 pm. Draco joked that the senior citizens were way past their London bedtime. Hans's and Heath's families both left at half past 8 pm. The children were all tuckered out.
Draco, Jr. and Payton had left at a quarter after 9 pm. Trey and Paige hugged their uncle Dean and aunt Neve goodnight before the Malfoys left by Floo.
The steady 23-degree Celsius weather allowed for a nice evening in the backyard. The adults talked as DJ and Diana played wizarding chess.
"Another Christmas in the books," Aston said as he sipped on the spiked eggnog.
"Yup," Dean said. "Hey, I see Phillip group texted all of us earlier this morning."
Aston laughed. Drew blew out a breath.
Aston pulled out his mobile. "Yeah, haven't heard our team name in a long time."
"Team name?" Neve asked.
"The Four Horsemen," Dean answered as his wife gave him an inquisitive look.
"Professor Ingles from back at Wellesley called us that," Drew shared. She took a sip of her non-alcoholic eggnog. "Professor always stuck Dean, Aston, Phillip and I together for group projects. He called us the Four Horsemen."
"Of the Apocalypse?" Neve said. Everyone laughed.
"Dean and I responded," Aston goaded her. "You haven't, as of yet."
Drew sighed. She looked up at him. Aston smiled and held up his hands.
"I'm sure everything will come around eventually, boys," Neve said as she put her arm around Drew's shoulder. Drew nodded her thanks.
"Yes!" Diana pumped her fist in victory as her black queen ran DJ's white king through.
"With that said," Dean laughed as he stood up to stretch, "I think it's time to call it a night."
Everyone laughed again as they stood up. Neve carried the sleeping Nora as Drew stood up as well.
"I'm going to put Andy down for the night," Drew said as everyone started to enter the house.
"It's too bad you can't make it up to England for New Year's Eve," Dean said as he closed the patio door after everyone entered.
"Andy and I can't travel for another two weeks," Drew shrugged. "Besides, I think Mum and Dad got the Saint Mungo's fundraiser down pat."
"Dr. Malfoy has become a pro at that," Neve said.
Drew nodded. "Yeah, I don't know how she does it so easily. I mean she does her own thing for Saint Augustine's Charity gala in June as well."
"Marco was mentioning that your hospital had a charity dinner a week ago," Aston said.
Drew raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Yeah. He mentioned that we raised a million dollars that will go towards the new children's wing," she said as she walked into her room to place Andy into his basinet. She walked back out. "He said next year the planning committee is thinking of having a dating auction."
"Dating auction?" Aston asked.
"Yeah, I don't know either," she said as she shrugged. Everyone laughed. "Who would want to go on a tour of the hospital and then have dinner afterwards?"
"Well, people spend money for the darnedest things these days," Dean said as he gave Drew a hug before the London family was set to leave.
o-o-o
Monday, 31 December, 15:55 PDT
"Happy New Year, you three!" the platinum blonde wizard said as he raised a glass and smiled into the camera of the large flat screen.
"Happy New Year to you all, as well, Dad!" Drew said as she gently held onto Andy's left hand to say hello into the camera of the Surface laptop.
"Happy New Year!" the young man beside Drew raised his bottle of Heineken.
"Happy New Year, Aston," Dr. Malfoy said, raising her own glass of champagne, "We wish you guys were here!"
"I know, Mum," Drew said smiling. "Andy and I'll be able to travel to England in another two weeks.
"You two better get back to the gala," Drew said, nodding.
"I guess we should," Mr. Malfoy smiled. "We'll see you in a few days for your birthday."
"Thanks, Dad!"
"Good night, kids," both Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy said as they ended the call.
Aston looked at Drew and nodded. "Well, we've got another eight hours to kill."
Drew laughed as she stood up to walk Andy around the living room. She shrugged at Aston, "College football's on."
"Now you're talking," her old friend said as he turned the channel to ESPN. "I'll go bring the food to the coffee table."
o-o-o
Aston knew Drew was probably going to be stuck in L.A., away from her family for the New Year's Eve holiday. Following his father's lead, he had always given his restaurant employees the days off during Christmas Eve and Christmas as well as New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. So, he suggested that he come up to the mainland to spend the last day of the year with her. She laughed, and then nodded.
Aston had arrived at 3 pm with a fresh sushi platter and a half-pan of pancit, a Filipino noodle dish. Drew grilled a couple of steaks with horseradish sauce.
o-o-o
Monday, 31 December, 20:45 PDT
They sat back on the couch in front of the flat screen television watching highlights of the college football bowl games that were played that day. They both noticed Drew's mobile vibrating on the coffee table. Drew nonchalantly silenced the digital device.
Aston nodded at her. She gave him a weak smile. "Alarm," she shrugged, "Andy's feeding time."
Aston canted an eyebrow before shrugging. "I'm gonna get another Heineken," he said standing. "Virgin Sangria refill?"
She nodded. She picked up her mobile and saw the small voicemail icon. She placed it on the couch next to her right thigh and blew out a breath as she started to breastfeed Andy on her left breast. Aston handed the glass of juice to her. She nodded her thanks as they continued to eat and watch the highlights of the day's championships.
o-o-o
Monday, 31 December, 21:20 PDT
"As the clock struck midnight on the east coast," the sports anchor started, "Social media has captured the many scenes at the different athletic team parties."
Snapshots of partyers freezeframed to the left of the screen as the narration continued. Drew canted her eyebrow as the photos continued to flash on the screen. Aston took a sideways glance at the new mother.
"As we go down the right coast, we see the New York teams celebrating. Times Square going all crazy as the ball came down. The Yankees and the Knicks teams all partying up. We move down to the Boston area. There's the Patriot QB and his wife sharing a New Year's kiss. The Red Sox star shortstop and his girlfriend sharing a champagne flute. Oh, and of course our favorite Celtic basketball star and his fashion model girlfriend not being shy for the camera," the anchor said as Drew started to blink. "Just put a ring on it already."
The report continued down the east coast. Drew blew out a breath as she stood up. She gulped and turned to Aston and said softly, "I'm going to put him down for the night."
The young man watched her enter her bedroom. He stared at the television screen for a moment as the photographs flashed one last time. He shook his head as he took a second look at his childhood friend and his famous girlfriend.
o-o-o
Monday, 31 December, 21:25 PDT
Drew gently placed Andy into his basinet which was right next to her bed. She blew out a breath as she sat down. She looked at the screen of her mobile and touched the voicemail icon. She stared at the familiar number in her inbox and took in a breath. She deleted the message without listening to it.
She looked up as she noticed Aston leaning against the doorjamb. He nodded at her as he walked into the room and sat next to her on the bed.
"I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night," she said softly as she turned to him, "Just to check Andy's breathing. I just watch him sleep. It's calming."
Aston smiled. "That friend of ours needs a stern talking to," he said. "He should learn to keep his love life out of the mass media."
Drew sighed and shrugged, "His personal life is his business. It's not his fault the paparazzi is all over the place."
Aston snorted. "Still," he said canting an eyebrow.
"He chose her," she said as she looked up at him. "I'm not like any of his girlfriends. I'm not glamorous or glitzy enough.
"I'm just me," she shrugged as she gazed at her sleeping son, "I welcome my downtime. I enjoy curling up next to a fire and reading a classic. I'm not red-carpet material.
"I can't compete," she said as she looked at Aston, her eyes started to brim with tears.
He put his forehead against hers, "You're worth ten of her."
She shrugged. A tear or two began to roll down her cheeks.
"Hey," he said taking a hold of her hands as he stood up. "What say we spend the next two and a half hours watching a movie on the boob tube."
She nodded. She picked up the baby monitor. She hesitated but then decided to leave her mobile on the bed. "Okay," she said as she allowed him to lead them out of her bedroom. "I'll make the popcorn."
"Right," he said as he let go of her hand. He took his seat on the couch and started to scroll through the movies on the on-demand channel.
Drew brought over the popcorn and another Heineken bottle for Aston. She took a seat next to him.
He nodded his thanks for the beer and then smiled, "I got one."
They sat back in their seats as the main title screen for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet scrolled on the flat screen. Drew smiled as she ate some popcorn.
o-o-o
Monday, 31 December, 23:55 PDT
The pair took a stretch break as the movie credits rolled. Aston walked in from the kitchen holding two drinking vessels. He handed her a full glass of yellow tinted bubbly liquid. He nodded at her. She smiled back.
He looked down at his mobile clock as it turned the hour. "Happy New Year, Drew," he said as he kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy New Year to you, too," she kissed his cheek as well.
"Ahhh, gotta love that sparkling cider," Aston said exaggeratingly.
Drew laughed. Aston joined in.
"To Phillip," Aston raised his glass, "may he finally realize what he has let slip through his fingertips."
"You're incorrigible," Drew said raising her glass. Aston smiled. She took a breath, "to Phillip, may he finally find his true happiness."
They both clinked glasses before downing their non-alcoholic beverages. She smiled at Aston, "Thanks, Aston."
"For what?" he smiled back.
"For coming today."
"Are you kidding me," he smiled. "Saved me from all that fireworks induced smoke inhalation."
They both laughed. "You'll still have three hours to party back on the islands," she smiled.
"True that," he said as he placed his glass on the fireplace mantle. "Hawai'i has the best illegal New Year's aerial fireworks shows on earth."
Drew laughed. Aston smiled. He kissed her forehead and then nodded at her, "I'll see you on the fifth."
She nodded as he threw some Floo powder on the flames, turning them green. "You know I could talk him into popping out of a cake," he smirked at her.
"Don't you dare," she said, punching him in the arm.
"Ow," he laughed. He put his hands up, "kidding."
She shook her head smiling as she watched him step into the chimney and vanish. She took in a big breath, 'One more year in the books,' she thought to herself as she headed to her room to check on Andy before getting ready for bed.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 15:55, PDT, present day
Marco had arrived at a quarter to four. He brought a full pan of carne asada and some corn tortillas. He was helping Drew with grilling various vegetables when Aston arrived with a pan of pancit.
"Hey," Drew said as she greeted Aston with a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, yourself," Aston said as he placed the pan next to the carne asada. He smiled and shook Marco's hand in greeting. "I need help bringing in the rest of the food?"
"I'll go," Marco offered as he handed the tongs to the birthday girl. Drew canted an eyebrow and laughed. She watched the pair of Squibs reenter the house and Flooed to the middle of the Pacific.
Drew tended to the grill as her mobile pinged off the hook with notifications upon notifications of birthday wishes. She ignored the dings, noting she would answer them later.
Aston and Marco had arrived with the rest of the food twenty minutes after the hour. Drew had pulled the grilled vegetables off the grill and placed them on the kitchen island with the rest of the food.
"Wow," Drew said as Aston pulled the foil off the lechon, the Filipino style whole roasted pig. "How are we going to cut that?"
"Hello," Aston laughed, "I didn't go to culinary school for nothing, you know."
They all laughed, even Andy. Drew placed Andy into the playpen while the adults pulled the foil off the food pans. Aston began to cut into the roasted pig.
"Dad sends his well wishes," Aston said as he pointed at the large cake box.
"That's so sweet of him," Drew said as she looked at the square white buttercream frosted chocolate cake surrounded by two rounds of cupcakes. 'Happy Birthday, Drew!' was written in blue on the main cake.
"I think we're all set," Marco said as he took a taste of the Kalbi short ribs.
"Save some for the guests," Drew teased as she handed both Marco and Aston bottles of Heineken.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 16:45, PDT, present day
"Happy birthday, Drew," the platinum blonde father hugged his daughter.
"Thanks, Dad," she said. She hugged her mother next.
All the guests started to arrive for another gettogether in the Los Angeles suburban home. The Malfoy children and their families came in one after the other. They were followed by Dean and his family. Jessica came with her fiancé, Blaise. Ronda had asked Drew earlier if she wouldn't have minded it if she brought Harlin Jankovic as her guest. Drew knew Ronda was one of the hardest nuts to crack, so if Harlin had made an impression on her, who was Drew to judge. Drew had heard that he was helping the Ministry with taking down the rest of the Death Eater cells.
When everyone had arrived, the older children helped to bless the food before everyone tucked in. Everyone settled into their areas. The men surrounded the big screen television. Amazingly enough, the Englishmen were enthralled with the college football national championship game on the screen.
The women sat with the little children as they ate and caught up with each other on all the news abroad. The older kids went out to the backyard to eat.
Drew looked around and took in a deep breath, appreciative of all the support she had. She sat back and enjoyed the food and the company.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 21:00, PDT, present day
"Happy birthday dear Auntie Drew," the children sang as the adults laughed. "Happy birthday to you!"
"Make a wish, Auntie Drew," Trey said.
Drew smiled, took in a breath and made a wish before blowing out the thirty-two candles, one for good luck. Everyone applauded.
"Alright, cake and ice cream time," she said as she stood up.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 23:35, PDT, present day
Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had left an hour after sharing some chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream; Dr. Malfoy had to go into work the next U.K. evening. Dean, Neve and the kids left shortly after that. The twins and their families left at the top of the eleventh hour. Marco had left a quarter after the hour, needing to get his beauty sleep as he had just come off of a forty-eight hour shift when he had arrived earlier that afternoon.
Both Andy and Denton slept soundly in the playpen that was in the line of sight of the adults who sat on the patio. Trey and Paige also fell asleep at the foot of the playpen. Junior and Payton sat next to Drew on the wooden patio floor. Aston sat next to Drew as he listened to the conversation. Blaise sat next to Harlin and Ronda on the picnic bench while Jessica sat on the patio floor in front of Blaise.
"Alright, Drew?" Ronda asked.
"Yeah," she nodded, "This reminds me of all the backyard birthdays we, kids, used to have back in the day."
"True that," Jessica said. "Only this time we're the adults doing the adult things."
Everyone laughed. "It's a wonder everyone got along," Payton said as Junior squeezed her hand.
"Well, we didn't get on all the time," Junior said. "Blaise always knew which of Jess' buttons to push."
"Well, I had to get her to notice me somehow," Blaise said as he kissed Jess' engagement ring adorned finger.
"Six more months until the nuptials," Junior said, nodding.
"Yeah," the pair said in sync. Jessica nodded at Drew, "You'll be able to make it, right, Drew?"
"Yes, we'll be able to travel by then," Drew said, smiling.
"You got a plus one in mind?" Junior asked.
"I think Andy will be a good stand-in," Drew said smirking at her brother.
"I can think of a much taller plus one," Aston said as everyone including Drew laughed.
"Could we table this topic until we're like old and decrepit," Drew said with mock exasperation.
"Alright, guys, give the girl a break," Ronda stepped in as everyone laughed.
"You're still coming though, right?" Jessica asked as she stood up. Drew rolled her eyes and nodded, smiling.
"On that note," Blaise said, also standing up to stretch. He kissed Jessica on the cheek. "It's getting late."
Everyone seemed to check their wristwatches. "Wow, it's after 11:30 already," Payton said as everyone started to stand.
"Alright, bathroom break before we Floo back to the U.K." Ronda said. Everyone seemed to scatter to get to the bathrooms first. Drew laughed as she walked into the house.
"This was nice," Harlin said as he took a sip from his Heineken bottle, "I haven't hung out like this in a long time. Happy birthday, again."
"Thanks," Drew said, studying him for a moment, "I'm glad you and Ronda could make it."
He smiled to himself. "I was a little surprised when she asked. But, I'm happy that she did."
"So, you and Ronda, huh?"
He shrugged, "Weirder things have happened. I'm just grateful she was able to look past my shortcomings. Like you said, 'People change. Redemption is a part of life.'"
"Right," she smiled as she looked up at him.
"He fought to remember himself and you," Harlin said, taking another sip of beer. He saw the questioning look on her face. "When Mr. Schield was torturing him. It took the old wizard over an hour to break him.
"Phillip seemed like good people," Harlin continued as he finished off his bottle of Heineken. "You shouldn't give up on him."
All Drew could do was nod as the rest of the guests gathered in the kitchen. Jessica came over to Drew and hugged her first. Blaise hugged her right after.
"We'll see you in six months," Jessica said as Blaise nodded at the birthday girl. "Happy birthday, again."
"Thanks, you two," Drew said as she nodded at them. She watched them head into the fireplace and Flooed.
"Happy birthday, Drew," Ronda hugged her. The older woman nodded at her before she and Harlin Flooed back to England.
"Well," Junior said as he carried his sleeping son, Trey and pushed Denton in his stroller. Payton carried Paige as she slept. "Another year older."
Drew laughed. "Thanks guys," Drew said as she kissed the sleeping children goodbye. She hugged their parents.
"We'll see you next Sunday at the Manor?" Payton said.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Drew said. The family nodded at both Drew and Aston as they walked into the fireplace to Floo home.
"Well, that was fun," Aston said as he tanked the rest of his green bottle.
Drew pulled him in for a big hug. Aston hugged her back.
"Hey, you should get some rest," Aston said as he looked into her eyes. "Older people usually do need it."
"Ha ha," she slapped him in the chest playfully as he released her from the hug. She smiled, "I'm going to put Andy down for the night."
"I'm going to clean up a little before I leave," he said as she looked at him, canting an eyebrow as if to say that it wasn't necessary. He rolled his eyes as he started to gather up the trash.
He nodded at her. It was her turn to roll her eyes as she walked into her room.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 23:50, PDT, present day
She had been periodically answering the day's worth of texts and voicemail during the day. What started out at 145 birthday text messages when Marco had arrived, dwindled down to 13 text messages from earlier in the day.
She stood in front of Andy's basinet after placing him down gently. She looked at her screen and continued to return the well-wishing texts, albeit almost eight hours after the original texts were received.
She stared at the last text from the familiar number. She had to remind herself to breathe as she felt his arm touch her shoulder. She smiled up at her old friend.
o-o-o
Saturday, 5 January, 23:58, PDT, present day
She had quickly gotten ready for bed after Aston Flooed home. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before changing into an old Wellesley gym shirt and jersey shorts. She kissed Andy on the forehead one last time before slipping under the covers of her own bed. She blew out a breath as she stared at her mobile, face down on her nightstand.
She gingerly picked it up, unlocked the lock screen and then looked at the envelope icon. She blew out a breath as she tapped the last unanswered message from the NBA player.
The timestamp read 15:58 local time which would have meant he had sent it around his dinner time. 'He was probably out with her,' she thought to herself right before reading his text.
o-o-o
Happy birthday, Drew! Wanted to time it just right. Hope you have a great day today. Wishing you only the best. I know I haven't been much for conversation these past nine months; my apologies. It's been a wild ride since winning the NBA championship and then getting injured. I'm about to hop a plane back to London to rehab. It'll give me some time to shore up the house thing and to think on whatever the future is going to bring.
She took in a breath as she read the second message in the thread. I've been thinking about everything that's happened the past year. I think about you a lot. I miss seeing your smiling face. I miss hearing your voice. I miss you.
Drew gulped. Her eyes started to water. She smiled to herself as she typed her response, "I miss you, too."
She placed her mobile on the nightstand. She turned off her lamp and stared up at the ceiling before shutting her eyes to finally rest for the night. She smiled to herself as she gave way to slumber.