Saturday, 14 December, 10:10 PDT

Drew blinked a few times as she looked at the red numbers on her alarm clock on her nightstand. She ran her hand over the empty side of the bed. She whimpered as she shut her eyes. 'So this is what it feels like,' she thought to herself.

She looked up to the ceiling before slowly getting out of bed. She opened the curtains slightly, allowing some sunlight into the room. She headed for the en suite bathroom, pausing as she saw the evening gown that she had worn the night before. She blew out a breath as she picked up the dress, her strapless bra, and her knickers before making her way to the bathroom to shower.

She placed the soiled clothing into the wizarding hamper before looking into the mirror. "Life goes on, Drew," she said to her reflection. She stepped into the shower.

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 10:25 PDT

Drew had stayed in the shower twice as long as normal. The flowing water washed away the tears that stained her cheeks. She took a few moments to towel off as she stood under the wizarding drying machine. She wrapped the towel around her and stepped out of the bathroom.

She got dressed quickly. She put on an old pair of blue jersey shorts and an old Wellesley School grey gym shirt. She blew out a breath as she picked up the photo of the one-year-old boy blowing out the candles in the frame on her desk. She smiled and nodded. He was her why.

"It's going to be alright, Drew," she said aloud as she placed the frame back down. She headed for the door.

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 10:30 PDT

"Morning," Drew said, her voice wavering slightly as she could smell the breakfast even before seeing him.

"Morning," he said, smiling as she headed towards the kitchen where Phillip was. "Coffee's up."

"You're here," she said as she poured herself a cup from the carafe.

He smiled at her, "I didn't have anywhere else to be."

She laughed nervously as she took a seat at the kitchen island, "I thought I'd be getting that morning after phone call."

He laughed as he plated the second set of over-medium eggs. "Either way, I would have heard your voice."

Drew blushed as she took a sip of her coffee. "Everything smells amazing."

"I hope you don't mind," he said shrugging, "I made some breakfast.

"I used the rice in your rice cooker to make Spam fried rice," he said as he brought the plate full of rice to the island along with the two plates of eggs.

"You can cook?" she asked smiling.

"Haha," he smiled back, "Dad and I used to take turns on the weekend cooking meals."

"Would have saved us all those brunches at Zippy's," she laughed.

"Em, the company was amazing," he smiled. "Shall we tuck in?"

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 11:15 PDT

Phillip stood up to stretch as Drew brought their dishes to the sink. Phillip blew out a breath as he tapped his pants pocket. The pair had reminisced about their formative years at Wellesley and their college years at the University of Hawai'i.

Phillip stood next to her as he offered to rinse. She rolled her eyes at him.

"You looked damn sexy last night," he said.

"You were always the charmer, you know that?" she laughed as she handed him a soapy coffee mug.

"You made your basketball uniform look sensual," he said raising his eyebrows.

"I'm not so sure about your fashion sense," she said. He laughed as he rinsed the dishware that she had placed into the sink compartment in front of him.

She looked up at him as he placed the rinsed dishes into the rack next to the sink. She blew out a breath.

"So," she began slowly as she finished washing the last plate. "How was the London fashion show on Sunday?"

Phil was slightly surprised. "It was an event, as always."

"You and Lisa seemed," she shrugged, "close."

Phil canted his head at her, studying her face. He smiled.

o-o-o

Sunday, 8 December, 18:35 GMT

Phillip straightened his black necktie and dusted himself off as he stepped out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron. He nodded at the barkeep before heading to the Muggle exit. He headed east on the roadway as he looked at his Rolex. A short fifteen-minute walk and he would end up at the fashion show venue.

He smiled to himself; 'beats having to pay the exorbitant parking fees at the carpark', he thought to himself. He walked towards the crowd of onlookers at the main entrance of the building. He pulled out the invitation and his driver's license as he walked towards the reception area at the security gate.

The woman at the table scanned the barcode on the invitation and verified his identity. She smiled at him as she handed him his lanyard with his credentials.

"Go right in, Mr. Martinez," she said as Phillip put the lanyard around his neck.

"Thank you," Phillip said as he walked onto the red carpet. He heard his name called as he walked toward the entrance. He waved to the crowd, before entering the venue.

He showed one of the attendants his lanyard. The attendant asked him to follow him to his seat. Phillip smiled to himself as he took his seat in the first row, midway down the catwalk. He nodded his head at the young man across the stage in the seat that had always been reserved for him.

Caldwell Thompson adjusted his black bowtie as he nodded back at Phillip. The lights dimmed as the emcee welcomed the guests. 'This was going to be an interesting evening,' Phil thought to himself.

o-o-o

Sunday, 8 December, 20:30 GMT

"Thank you all for coming," the emcee said as the audience continued to applaud. The fashion models took their last bows before exiting the raised stage. "Have a safe trip home!"

The audience began to file out of the hall as several attendants started to assist the front row VIPs to the backstage after-party. Phillip smiled politely to the young woman who led their row to the post-event festivities.

As they entered the back room, the waitstaff handed out flutes filled with champagne. Phillip took in a breath before he took a sip from his glass. He noticed the tuxedo-clad gentleman head toward him.

"Long time no see, Phillip," the professional basketball player raised his glass to him.

"Yeah," Phillip said as he nodded, "it's been a while, Caldwell."

"So, how's rehab," Caldwell Thompson asked.

"Uh, it was good," Phillip said, "I got a clean bill of health as of September."

Caldwell canted an eyebrow at him, "So, which teams have you tried out for?"

Phillip laughed, "I'm taking a break from playing for a while."

"Wow," Caldwell said as took a sip from his glass, "I didn't think I could picture you doing that."

Phil shrugged, "I've come to realize that professional basketball is not the end all be all for me."

Caldwell nodded. He turned as his fashion model girlfriend took hold of his right hand. He smiled at her as he kissed her hand. Phillip smiled to himself as he noticed the shiny rock on her ring finger.

The couple turned to former Celtic. Lisa shrugged before she kissed Phillip on the cheek in greeting.

"It was a great show, tonight," Phillip said as he tanked the rest of his champagne.

He picked up another glass as a waiter came. Caldwell grabbed another glass as well.

"None for you, Lisa?" Phillip asked.

"Not tonight, Phil," Lisa smiled as she raised her water bottle.

"We're expecting," Caldwell said as he raised Lisa's left hand to show the engagement ring.

"We're engaged," Lisa said, looking hopeful at Phillip.

Phillip nodded and smiled. "Congratulations, you two," Phillip said, smiling genuinely at the pair as dance music blared in the background.

"If you'll excuse us, Phillip," Caldwell nodded at his fiancée's ex, "Lisa, shall we?"

Lisa nodded as Caldwell led her to the dancefloor. Phillip watched the couple dance. He grabbed another champagne flute.

o-o-o

Sunday, 8 December, 21:00 GMT

"Take me for a spin?" the fashion model canted an eyebrow at the former Celtic.

Phillip nodded as he took her hand and led her to the dancefloor. The slow number played as she pulled in closer to his chest.

"You looked amazing tonight," he said as he looked at her. "Caldwell's really lucky to have you."

"Thanks, Phil," she smiled. "I couldn't believe he finally asked."

"You make sure he treats you right, ok?" Phillip smiled back as she nodded. They continued to dance contentedly.

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 11:20 PDT

"I'm kinda wondering if he asked before or after they found out they were pregnant," Phillip shrugged as he smiled at her. He didn't notice her take a gulp. He continued, "It made me think, though. They found each other.

"I told myself," he said as he took in a breath. Drew averted his eye line, for a moment. She picked up the sudsy mug he had been using to drink his coffee. She turned to face him, holding the cup in her hands. He blew out a breath and continued, "If, given the chance, I was going to take it.

"Drew," he said as he touched her hands as he took a step forward. "I ask with heart in hand, will you marry me?"

Drew whimpered, dropping the ceramic mug. They both stooped down as they looked at the shards that littered the kitchen floor. She looked up into his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said as she stood up, "I can't."

Phillip watched her quickly head to her bedroom. Phillip trembled for a moment, stunned at her response. He looked at the shards on the floor again. He pulled his wand from his pants pocket and waved it over the broken pieces, casting Reparo. He looked at the cup. Dipped it into the soapy water and then rinsed it before putting it into the dish rack. He waved his wand again and cast Scourgify, cleaning the two-compartment sink as well as the coffee maker.

He blew out a breath as he looked at her closed bedroom door. He looked up to the ceiling before looking down at his wand. He shut his eyes and apparated.

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 11:25 PDT proposal

"Not fair, Phil," Drew said, as she sat on the edge of her bed, looking down at her old friend who was at her feet.

"Magic, Drew," Phillip said looking up at her, "Like I said, 'I'm still working on my landings.'"

"Phil," she said, wiping her cheeks, "There's a lot of things we need to talk about before we even entertain a marriage proposal.

"We haven't even gone on our first date yet," Drew said, gulping, "We don't even know if we're compatible."

Phillip smiled up at her, "I don't need to go on a date with you to know who you are, Drew. I feel like I've known you for a lifetime."

"Phil," Drew shook her head and said softly, "You shouldn't base a relationship on a one night stand."

"You think that that's what last night was to me?" he canted his head at her.

She gulped, shutting her eyes for a moment. Phillip raised her chin with his forefinger. She looked at him.

"And I'm not just asking because of that boy in the frame on your desk," he nodded at her.

"I was going to tell you about him, Phil," Drew said as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Phil smiled.

"Drew," he said, "I have to tell you a story. Because that's what English majors are good at."

Drew laughed in spite of herself. She looked up at him as he wiped her cheeks with his thumbs.

"There was this lad who had lost his mother a few years before his father decided to uproot the both of them to a suburb across the pond," he began as she chuckled. "He met his first day at school with trepidation. But he tried to play it cool.

"He rolled his eyes when he saw his schedule. He had an early morning science course; the school subject that was the bane of his scholarly existence," he smiled. "So, he entered the third-floor lab. He could have heard a pin drop as all of the students seemed to be interested in the new arrival.

"The veteran professor introduced him as the New York transplant," he said as he scanned her face. "The boy looked over the room, wanting so badly to appear as cool as he could muster.

"The young man locked eyes with the girl in the front row, a stack of books that went up to her chin," he said, smiling.

"It wasn't that high," she said. He laughed.

"His breath hitched in his chest for a moment as he glanced at her. Then he looked past her to the seats at the back of the classroom where the cool kids seem to gravitate. He headed to the back, thinking he had no chance," Phil said as he studied her face. He shrugged, "For what would the smartest girl in the class see in the dumb, American, jock transfer student, right?"

Drew shut her eyes and blew out a breath before looking up at him. Phil smiled back. "He's been chasing her ever since."

Phillip placed his wand on the floor as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the jewel box. Drew took in a deep breath as she watched him open the lid. The diamond glistened, even in the low light of the room.

"Someone once told me that you should tell someone how you really feel because life's too short," he said as he looked into her eyes. "I've been in love with you since Professor Kaiser's Year 10 Biology class, too.

"Help me write our happy ending, Drew," Phillip said as he knelt on one knee. "Marry me and I'll be the best-damned husband and father you could ever ask for."

He held his breath for what seemed like an eternity. 'What if she said, 'no,' again,' he thought to himself. She looked at him as she stood up.

She nodded down at him. "Yes," she said. Phil blew out a breath as he looked up at her, nodding his head as he quickly stood up.

"Really?" he asked. She nodded.

He almost fumbled the jewel box as he pulled the three-carat ring from the box. She offered her left hand. He carefully placed the ring on her ring finger.

"I'll marry you," Drew said. He swooped down to kiss her. They kissed each other passionately.

Her hands roamed the front of his chest. He pulled her gym shirt over her head before she undid the button and zipper on his pants. He kicked off his pants as he ran his hand in the inside band of her shorts and knickers.

They smirked at each other as she allowed him to pull her shorts and underwear off her body. They landed on the bed. She looked up at him as he took his tank top off. He smiled at her as he swooped down to kiss her again before entering her. She kept up with his rhythm.

"I love you, Phil," she said as she wrapped her legs around him.

"I love you more," he said, kissing her again as he trusted.

o-o-o

Saturday, 14 December, 11:55 PDT star crossed

Phillip, leaning against the headboard of the bed, took a deep breath as he interlaced his fingers on his right hand with hers. He kissed the nook of her neck. She smiled up at him as she leaned against his chest. Their hands settled on her midriff.

"I'm not really up on dating protocols," she giggled, "but, are couples supposed to have this much intimacy before their first date?"

Phillip laughed, "Well it's the new trend these days. Have a son, get engaged, have lots of sex, and then go on the first date."

She laughed, "You're incorrigible."

He leaned in for another kiss. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips on hers.

When they finally broke their lip lock, she smiled at him before leaning back against his chest. She pulled her left hand up to study the engagement ring he had slipped on her finger nearly an hour ago. She gently pulled her right hand from his and twirled the three-carat diamond ring before pulling it off her finger.

She canted her head as she read the inscription aloud. "Friday, 30 March, Star Crossed," she felt him take in a breath as he gently took the ring from her and replaced it on her ring finger.

"I was going to ask you that night at dinner," he said as she looked up at him. "Up to that point in my life, I'd never been so nervous before.

"Then, I had somehow mentioned Lisa… and everything went south from there," he shrugged. "The drive home was eerily silent. I've no idea why I was so angry when we got home.

"I threw the ring box at the hall closet," he blew out a breath. "I was going to retrieve it when I bumped into you coming out of the bathroom. And, then Grandfather and his men popped in. All hell broke loose.

"I almost killed you that night," he said as he studied her face.

"It wasn't your fault, Phil," Drew said softly.

"Your family said the same thing. I wanted to stay at Hogwarts but your father talked me into leaving," he sighed. "I had to make things square with my Muggle duties. It was hard leaving you while you were in a coma.

"I threw myself into my work, concentrated on the playoff games," he shrugged. "When your father texted that you had awoken, I was elated.

"And then anxiety hit. I was so ashamed of what I had done to you," he said as Drew squeezed his hand.

"It was Thirteenth year all over again. I didn't know how to engage with you. So I focused on winning that championship.

"I looked at Saint Augustine's website," he laughed. "Some chap got the position. I also volunteered at Massachusetts General, in the kids' ward. I spoke with the Director. He said you turned down the job.

"I even went so far as to talk to some of your QMC mates when we were in Hawai'i for training camp. They hadn't a clue as to where you transferred to. I actually met up with Aston, as well.

"I found out he was from the Wizarding world," Phillip blew out a breath. "He said he didn't know where you were. He was probably keeping that information to himself."

Drew laughed. "Squibs are very good at keeping secrets, Phil."

Phillip smiled. "Getting injured before Christmas was a blessing in disguise. I got to go home to London to rehab.

"I went into stalker mode, though," he smiled at her. "You probably didn't even look at all of the texts and voicemails that I left."

"I listened and read all of them," Drew smiled back.

"I, uh, went over to the Chiswick house to talk to your dad about my Wizarding finances," he smiled, "Did you know your mum and dad moved?"

Drew laughed, "Yeah, they moved back to Malfoy Manor."

"Yeah, didn't know that at the time," Phillip shrugged, "Suffice it to say, I think Draco and Payton took pity on me. They invited me in for lunch that Saturday and every Saturday since."

"I wanted to choke Junior when he mentioned that at brunch the next day," she said as she leaned against him. "There was a feeling of trepidation that somehow my secret would get out."

"Junior was tactfully evasive," he smiled. "In fact, all of your bothers were. Then all three of them suggested wand training."

"Yeah, I wanted to kill them again," she looked into his face. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"

"They were pretty harsh that first Saturday," he shrugged. "I deserved it, especially what I did to you. They're very loyal and protective of you."

She kissed him on his cheek. He squeezed her hand. "They never once mentioned that we had a son."

Drew took in a deep breath. "Phillip Andrew Granger Martinez III," she looked up at him, "I named him after your mum and dad."

"You remembered my mum," he canted his head at her.

"Ana," she shrugged, "You mentioned her during one of our tutoring sessions in Twelfth year."

He smiled at her. "So we have a son. How … when?"

"He turned one on the eighth," she said.

He took in a deep breath, "I missed the first year of his life," he gulped. "I should have been holding your hand when you were giving birth. I should have been there for you."

"You were kinda there," she said, shrugging. "It was the night you got injured. You were in L.A. to play the Lakers. I had a ticket, but I gave it to Marco.

"I was afraid you would have sensed me up in the crowd," she took in a breath. "I pulled a shift. I started to hemorrhage. I blacked out.

"Marco told me a few days later when I woke up that you and I were in the same Emergency Room."

Phillip laughed as he hugged her tighter. He kissed her neck.

"Phillip Andrew," he said taking a breath, "That's a mouthful."

"Andy for short," she smiled.

"He doesn't know anything about me, does he," he said.

She shrugged. "We watch old basketball videos from Twelfth and Thirteenth year along with U.H. games and some Celtic ones."

He laughed. He held onto her left hand as he looked into her eyes. "Let's elope."

"Phil," she said as he held his breath. "I want to tell my family and our friends."

He nodded, "You're right. Besides, if it weren't for your brothers, I probably wouldn't have entertained going to the fundraiser dinner. If Junior hadn't talked me into keeping my invitation, I don't think we'd be here right now.

"Come to think of it, Aston also convinced me to attend last night's event."

Drew laughed, "Marco talked me into coming, too. We've got a bunch of schemers here. We'll have to thank them for that."

Phillip kissed her cheek and smiled. "I have to go see your director on Monday to do the donation transaction. Do you want to come with me?"

"Yeah, sure. I mean you did pay a million for the date."

"Ten million," he smiled.

"Wait, what?" she looked at him incredulously.

"I told Dr. Johansson I'd add another nine if he allowed me to chase after you."

"I'll talk to him, Phil," she said.

"Drew, it was for a good cause," he smiled and then added as she raised an eyebrow, "cancer ward for the kids."

She laughed and then nodded. She looked up at him before taking a breath. "There's Sunday brunch at Mum and Dad's tomorrow. Do you want to be my guest?"

"Do you think your parents wouldn't mind?"

"I think they'd say, 'Finally'," she smiled as he laughed.