Friday, 15 November, 19:30 PST, present day
"You should put his hair up in a man bun," Marco said.
"Huh?" Drew said as she sat up straighter. She noticed the staff room quickly emptying.
"Here," Marco said leaning over Drew to draw on her yellow legal pad. He used his pen to draw a band around the caricature's afro. "isn't it how he's wearing it these days."
Drew laughed as she shook her head. Marco extended his hand offering to help her up. She took it.
"What did I miss?" she asked as she followed Marco out of the larger of the two hospital staff rooms.
"Hmm, let's see," the Latino doctor said as he took the notepad out of her hand. He looked over her notes before handing the pad back to her. "You missed Dr. Johansson's long-winded spiel about the fundraiser dinner. Oh and his last call for volunteers to work that night shift versus participating at the gala."
"Wait, what dinner is this?" Drew said as they entered the emergency room lobby.
Marco turned to her and smiled. "Wow, you're really out of it. Management's been emailing us reminders for the past month or so."
She shrugged as she looked at her device for any recent work emails. Marco looked at her browser and clicked on her Spam mailbox. He showed it to her as he shrugged. She rolled her eyes as she took back her mobile.
"So, what's the likelihood of me being able to get on that list of working that night shift?" she asked as they both picked up a clipboard.
Marco laughed. "We're both slated off on that day, and you work the Wednesday and Thursday. You know Johansson doesn't like us not taking at least twenty-four hours away from here."
Drew rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I guess," she said as Marco smiled. "This was that annual dinner, that I missed, that you talked about last year, right?"
"Yup," Marco said as he leaned against the counter for a moment. "We're probably four to five years away from breaking ground on the new cancer wing. So these fundraising events are important.
"Besides," Marco shrugged, "Aston's doing the dinner. Or at least his L.A. Hilton is, so that should be cool.
"And you wouldn't want to let all those pediatric cancer patients down."
"Wow," Drew laughed, "Way to pull a guilt trip."
"Hey, you're the one who suggested not coming to chat up the wealthy donors to help the cause."
They both laughed. "Alright," she said putting her hands up, "I hate formal events."
"You'll be fine," Marco said as he put his arm around her shoulder. "Besides, I'm sure everyone here would like to see you in anything other than scrubs or a pantsuit."
"So, no pantsuit, then," Drew smiled.
"Yeah," Marco shook his head, "No. Do you need help shopping for an outfit?"
"I can shop for myself, thanks," Drew shook her head laughing.
"Alright, then," Marco said. "We'll be sipping on champagne and cavorting with L.A.'s wealthiest donors. You bringing a plus one?"
"Uh," Drew smirked, "I'm planning a short night, thank you very much."
Marco laughed. It was his turn to roll his eyes. They both looked up as the red flashing lights blinked in the waiting room and the alarms started to blare.
"Must be a Friday night in L.A.," Marco said as Drew nodded at him. They both followed the throng of emergency room workers to the ER entrance for the incoming patients.
o-o-o
Saturday, 16 November, 14:00 GMT, present day
"You're getting better, Phil," Draco, Jr. said as he handed the Pureblood Squib an opened bottle of beer. The training session had ended nearly a half-hour ago. The Malfoy twins left a few moments later.
Phil nodded as he took a sip from the green bottle. "I don't know. I still can't get that apparition spell down."
"You'll get it eventually," Draco said as he sat down next to the Muggle athlete. "So, what's on your mind, mate?"
"Can't keep anything from you, can I?"
The platinum blonde wizard laughed and shrugged. He canted an eyebrow.
"After getting screwed by the Club and my agent in the summer, I thought I'd never had to deal with any more drama," Phillip said as he took a swig of his beer. He continued, "My ex-agent canceled just about every single special event in my calendar. All except for two, that I was oblivious to."
"Okay, I'm intrigued," Draco said as he nodded for him to continue.
Phillip laughed, rolling his eyes. "There's a hospital in L.A. that has sent fundraising invitations the past three years. Usually, Ray would take care of that stuff. He'd pull funds from my account and donate ten thousand dollars in my name and an apology for not being able to attend.
"This time, though, he secured a seat at a table for a thousand dollars. According to Mr. Montague, the funds were pulled back in May. Go figure, right.
"Don't get me wrong," Phillip shrugged. "I'm all about giving to charity, but still."
"How does this hospital know you?" Draco asked,
"The NBA always partners with local charities all the time. I didn't even put two and two together until I had to actually go there for treatment."
Draco narrowed his eyes at him as his mind started to flash. Draco blew out a breath. "So does this hospital have a name?"
"San Agustin," Phillip shrugged, "which I am told has no relation to your mother's hospital."
Draco almost choked on his beer. Phillip barely noticed.
"So, what's this charity event all about?"
"It's a dinner," Phil said, "on Friday, the thirteenth of December, no less."
Draco nodded. "Maybe, you'll get lucky."
Phil canted an eyebrow. They both laughed.
"So what's this second event that your agent screwed you over with?"
"London Fashion Week," Phillip said as he downed the rest of his beer. "Or at least the kickoff on Sunday."
"Sunday?"
"Yeah, the eighth of December."
Draco nodded. "You could always cancel that one."
"Not at ten thousand pounds a ticket," Phillip said.
"Wow," Draco said, laughing. Phillip joined in. "So, you'll get to see Lisa again, at least."
Phillip looked at him intently for a moment. Then he shrugged. "Not interested."
"Aw, come on, Phillip," Draco said, testing him, "You could rekindle things with her. Maybe even have her be your plus one for that hospital thing."
"For one thing, I might just bow out of that charity event," Phillip said as he stood up and yawned. "And for another, my heart belongs elsewhere."
Draco nodded as he stood up. He narrowed his eyes at him. "You know, it wouldn't be like you to turn your back on people in need."
"Okay, thanks for the guilt trip," Phillip said.
"Well, you know me," Draco said smiling. "I gotta take the side of my fellow doctors."
"Mom and Dad would kill me if I did that, too," Phillip smiled inwardly.
"So, it's settled," Draco said wrapping his arm around the older man's shoulders, "San Agustin dinner for one."
Phillip laughed as he followed the mediwizard into the house where he would ready himself to floo home.
o-o-o
Sunday, 17 November, 11:00 GMT, present day
Drew had finally gotten Andy to go down for a nap after his morning feeding. Drew placed him in his stroller.
The usual biweekly Malfoy Sunday Brunch gave way to Muggle television time for most of the adults and Muggle video game time for the kids. Drew still sat at the dining room table along with her parents and her brother, Draco, sipping their tea.
"Mum, I need to ask you a favor," Drew said as she placed her teacup on the saucer. "I was wondering if you could watch Andy on the night of the thirteenth?"
"Of course, Drew," Hermione said, taking a sip of her tea as Junior perked up. "What's happening on the thirteenth?"
"There's this function at the hospital. It's a fundraiser dinner for the new cancer wing. I'd like to think I can still try to get out of it, but I highly doubt I'll be able to."
"That doesn't sound proper at all," Junior said as he sipped his tea. "I mean, Merlin would strike you down for even thinking of that."
"Haha," Drew said, smirking at her brother. Both Hermione and Draco laughed.
"It's just having to hobnob with the social elite was never my forte," Drew shrugged.
"I'm sure you'll get through the night unscathed," Junior said as he returned her smirk.
"Well, it will be a short night," Drew said.
"So," Junior sat forward in his seat, "who's your arm candy?"
Drew looked at him incredulously. She canted an eyebrow.
"I mean," Junior smirked again, "This is as good a time as any to ask Phillip out, right?"
"Don't you dare mention anything to him, Junior," Drew said.
Junior put his hands up, "I wasn't even going to go there. I mean your personal lives are your own business, right?"
"Mum and I will be happy to watch Andy, Drew," the Malfoy patriarch said as he nodded at his two oldest children concluding the issue.
"Thanks, Dad," Drew said.
o-o-o
Sunday, 17 November, 22:00 GMT, present day
Junior looked at his wristwatch as he stood on the back porch. He and Payton had just finished tucking in the kids. Junior told his wife he had to make a phone call. Payton raised an eyebrow as she sat in bed looking up at him.
"Don't worry," Junior smiled at her, "I'm not calling Phil."
Payton laughed as she watched him exit their bedroom. Junior had looked up to the night sky before taking a breath. He dialed the number and waited.
"Hey, Draco," the voice on the other line greeted the wizard.
"Hey, how's everything In paradise, Aston?" Junior asked.
"Can't complain," the restaurateur said. "It's nice and warm for a fall November day."
"Rub it in, why don't you?" Junior laughed.
"What's the temp there?" Aston asked.
"Oh, you know, ten degrees Celsius, last I checked."
"Brr," Aston joked as he nodded to the bare-chested doctor sitting on the beach towel next to him.
"Am I interrupting anything?"
"If you mean a nice day at the beach, sipping cocktails with Marco, then, 'yes,'" Aston said. "But, seriously, what's up?"
"Marco's there," Junior stood up straighter, amazed at how things were falling into place so nicely.
"Yeah," Aston turned to Marco as he put him on speaker.
"Hey, Draco," Marco said.
"Hey yourself," Junior said. "I've got a proposition for both of you."
"We're intrigued," Aston said.
"So, Marco, you guys have that hospital fundraiser dinner in a few weeks, right?" Junior began.
"Uh, yeah, did Drew tell you about that?" Marco said as he sipped on his frozen mixed drink.
"Yeah," Junior said, "and so did Phillip."
"What?" Marco asked as he looked at Aston.
"Yeah," Junior said, "So, here's what I'm thinking. If there ever were a time to bring the two together, this is it."
"Phillip's on the guest list, then?" Marco asked.
"Yeah, mate. He says he's been invited the last three years."
"Wow, small world," the doctor nodded.
"So, what's this plan of yours?" Aston asked.
"Okay, hear me out," Junior said as he paced back and forth in front of the patio doors. "Aston, if and when Phillip talks to you, you make sure you steer him into going to the dinner. Same with you Marco if Drew brings up the fundraiser."
"Ooh," Marco nodded. "I like the way your mind works."
"Okay, so Operation Parent Trap, then," Aston said.
"Which version, the sixties one or the Lindsay Lohan one?" Marco asked.
Aston just looked at him and rolled his eyes. Both Marco and Junior laughed.
"Either or," Junior said, "They both have British representation."
Everyone laughed. "Okay," Aston said, nodding, "Shouldn't be too hard to convince him. I'm doing the dinner anyway. I'll make him feel bad for not going if he tries to talk himself out of it."
"Good," Junior said. "So, it's a plan, then."
"Yup," Marco said. "Sounds good."
"Alright, then," Junior said as he looked up at the clear night sky again. "I'll let you get to enjoying the rest of your beach day."
"Hey, can't beat beachfront property," Aston said, laughing. "Goodnight, mate."
Junior ended the call. He looked at his mobile for a moment and then smiled to himself as he went back into the house for the night.
o-o-o
Sunday, 17 November, 24:00 GMT, present day
Aston looked at his mobile screen as he placed the leftover grilled steak into the refrigerator. Marco had flooed home almost half an hour ago. The Half-blood Squib looked at the clock on the screen. He blew out a breath as he answered it.
"Hey, wassup, Phil?" Aston said.
"Hey yourself," Phillip said. "Did I catch you at a bad time?"
"For me or for you?" Aston laughed. "It's like midnight there, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep," Phil said, as he sat up in bed.
"You wanna come over and hang out?" Aston asked as he started to pull out the leftovers he had just finished placing in the refrigerator.
"Sure," Phil said as he got out of bed. "Let me just change and I'll floo there in like five minutes."
"Shoots," Aston said as he began to reheat the chopped steak in the microwave. "See you then."
o-o-o
Sunday, 17 November, 14:15 HST, present day
"Hey," Aston said, nodding at his old friend as the Pureblood Squib exited the fireplace. "You don't have to substitute teach tomorrow, do you?"
"I don't think I'd be here if I had to," Phillip laughed.
Aston handed him a bottle of Heineken as Phillip joined him at the kitchen island. "Late night munchies for you or an afternoon snack for me."
"You had this already?" Phillip said as he picked up a paper plate and chopsticks.
"Leftovers from lunch today," Aston said as he started to pile on his own plate. "Chopped steak, Nalo greens, bacon-wrapped mushrooms, and pork belly with white rice, of course."
They sat down around the island as they started to eat. Aston turned the living room television on to an English football match replay. He raised his green bottle, "Cheers, mate."
"Cheers," Phillip said as he started to tuck in.
o-o-o
Sunday, 17 November, 14:40 HST, present day
Phillip let out a loud belch as he finished the food on his plate. "Excuse me," he said. Aston just laughed.
"So, what's on your mind, Phil?" Aston asked as he offered to take his empty plate. Phillip nodded at him. The former athlete stood up and headed for the couch. Aston followed with two new bottles.
"Thanks," Phil said as he took the beer. Both he and Aston sat on the couch watching the action on the television screen. Phil shrugged, "I've got two black-tie affairs to attend in December."
"That's usually in your element, Phil," Aston said looking at his old friend, wondering what the second event was.
Phil rolled his eyes. "Well, thanks to my former agent not canceling all of the events he lined up for me, I'm stuck going to Lisa's London Fashion Week kickoff and a hospital fundraising event. All in the same week."
"Hmmm," Aston said nodding. "So, Lisa, huh? You thinking of getting back together with her?"
"You know, Draco said almost the same thing. You guys are like on the same wavelength or something."
"Ooh, a science term," Aston laughed. "I thought science was never your forte."
"Haha," Phillip said laughing.
"Well, maybe you'll get lucky at the fashion show," Aston shrugged. "I mean, there'll be some eligible models on hand for the taking. It would be like old times."
"Very funny," Phillip said. "I'm not interested in that scene anymore."
"Okay," Aston said raising his hands. "So, what's this second gala that you have to attend?"
"There's this hospital in L.A., San Agustin General Hospital," Phillip started as he watched Aston go to the refrigerator to pick up two more bottles of beer. "They have a formal dinner event on Friday the thirteenth of December to fundraise for a cancer ward."
"Wait," Aston feigned ignorance, "I think our restaurant's doing that gig."
"Seriously?" Phil said.
"Yeah."
"What are the odds?" Phillip said. "I was thinking of not going."
"Aw come on mate," Aston said as he smirked at him. "You can't let those cancer patients down. Besides, you'll be missing out on a great spread.
"What would Drew say to that?" Aston canted an eyebrow up.
"You're not trying to get me back for that blind date I set you up with her back in the day?" Phillip smirked as Aston laughed.
"Ha," Aston smiled and canted his eyebrow. "So, we can count on you for a positive dinner review while helping the cause, right?"
Phillip nodded and smiled at his oldest friend as he took the new bottle of beer from him. He placed his feet up on the coffee table. He settled into the sofa as Aston took a seat next to his friend. They clinked bottlenecks together before watching the rest of the English football match.