'How can you have forgotten I asked you several times!' Hux moved the receiver away from his ear as his brother had a tendency to yell.

'I'm sorry, I've just been a little busy building a book empire!' He retorted.

'Well they are dying to see you so I'm dropping them off in ten minutes.'

'Wait!'

'Bye!'

Hux groaned as the receiver went dead. Sometimes his brother could be so obnoxious. He had promised to have his niece and nephews for the day, but that was way back when the day had seemed so far off in the future. Now it was here, he was a little unsure about what to do with three young unruly children. Then he remembered Rose's offer. The store was just around the corner from his flat. He checked the bookshops webpage on his phone and sure enough they were having a craft session that day. Excellent.

And you get to see Rose again.

A little voice whispered in his ear. He shook it away. That was not the reason he was going. It was to entertain his niece and nephews. Like any good Uncle would.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. He answered it and there was his brother Bill, complete with messy shoulder length hair and dishevelled clothes. Hux tried hard not to frown at his doppelgängers unkempt appearance. How could twins be so different from one another?

'Hello bro!' Bill said cheerfully as he went in for a hug. Hux stilled then gently patted his brothers back as he enveloped him.

'Come out little monsters!' Bill called out and three heads suddenly appeared down the side of the doorway.

'Hello, Dom, Louis and Vic,' Hux smiled them.

'Hello Uncle Arm and a Leg!' They said in unison.

Hux smiled thinly at the familiar greeting. He had rather hoped they would be getting tired of that one.

'Come in,' he offered and the three children scrambled past him.

'Be good!' Bill called down the hall.

'How's Fleur?' Hux enquired, politely.

'Oh wonderful, as beautiful as ever. She sends you her love. She wants to know if you're interested in her offer to set you up?'

'No, thank you.'

'You planning on staying a bachelor forever?'

'Perhaps.'

'You want to get started, man! Best thing in the world having a family.'

There was a sound of something smashing in the background and the children all fell silent. Hux looked pointedly at his brother and Bill scrunched up his face.

'And on that note, see you later brother!' He announced before bounding down the steps and getting into his car.

Hux sighed and went into his flat to survey the damage. One vase and a mug. Sigh.

Milli looked at him pleadingly as Louis pulled on her tail.

Don't worry baby, daddy will protect you!

'Right, who's up for an outing?' he said as another horrible shattering sound echoed off the walls.

Rose loved craft days. It always meant the store was busy with the sounds of laughter and fun and a whole lot of glittery, gluey mess.

Finn and Rey set up the table and set out the supplies. Rose went into her office to make some photocopies of children's colouring in pages she had found online.

At 9am, everyone bundled into the small store and the mayhem began. Rose was helping a toddler stick sequins to a picture when she spotted the man she had seen outside of First Editions a few days previously. What was his name again? Arm something? He was followed by three children.

Oh, he had a family. Why did that make her feel disappointed?

'Hello again!' She called from her crouched position. He smiled warmly when his eyes settled on her. She came towards him.

'I'm glad you stopped by. We small business owners got to stick together.'

The man smiled a little and nodded down at her.

He reached out a hand towards her. Was he going to touch her cheek? Rose froze. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She felt his finger and thumb gently nip at her hot cheek. He put out his finger and Rose looked down to see a heart shaped sequin balanced on his finger tip. It must have been stuck to her cheek. Excellent.

'hazards of the job!' she joked.

he smiled at her and put the little sequin in his pocket.

'it's nice to see you again, Rose.'

she liked the way he said her name.

'it's nice to see you again too...Armitage.'

Armitage! That was his name!

she mentally congratulated herself.

'And who have you brought?' She asked smiling broadly at the three children gathered around his legs.

'This is Dom, Vic and Louis. My niece and nephews.'

Ahhh, his niece and nephew, so not his children.

'Well good morning to all of you! I hope you enjoy getting messy! Go find a seat.'

The children bounced over to the table and Finn and Rey helped get them started.

Rose looked up at Armitage.

'So you've been lumbered with babysitting duty?'

'Indeed.'

'Well that's what we're here for, to provide distractionary tasks and sugar laden treats.'

he chuckled and Rose felt pleased she had made him laugh.

'This is a lovely store.'

Rose beamed with pride at the compliment.

'Thank You! It was originally my sister's idea, when we were little she always used to talk about owning a store like this. Her name is Paige.'

'Is your sister here?'

'No. She died. When I was still very young. Car crash.'

Armitage's mouth opened in shock.

'I'm so sorry,' he said quietly.

Rose shook her head and smiled.

'It's okay, it was a long time ago, and she's always with me,' Rose touched the crescent moon necklace around her neck. It's counterpart was buried with her beloved sister.

'That's a beautiful necklace,' Hux said.

Rose looked down at it and smiled.

'Yes, it's very special. Our parents gave us one each. They told us it meant we would always have a piece of each other, no matter where we went.'

When Rose looked up, Armitage was gazing down at her intently. The look on his face sort of resembled admiration. Her cheeks reddened.

'Rose? Can you come over here please?' Rey shouted.

'Duty calls!' Rose exclaimed rather too loudly and headed over to Rey.

'Who is that?' Rey asked quietly.

'That's Armitage, we met the other day.'

'You met the other day? And you never thought to mention it?'

'I didn't know if I would ever see him again, he owns a bookshop in the area. We met while checking out the new competition.'

Rose glanced over at Armitage who was putting his hands in and out of his pockets and glancing at the floor awkwardly.

Adorable.

'You like him!' Rey hissed.

'No I don't!'

'Yes you do, you can't see the look on your face right now. You look like a love sick puppy.'

'I do not like him like that and keep your voice down.'

Finn came over pretending to need some more glue.

'So who's the guy you're in love with?' Finn asked.

Rose groaned.

'I am not in love with him. We just met. His name is Armitage. He owns a bookstore.'

'Armitage what?' Rey demanded.

'I don't know! I didn't think to ask for his life story. Would you two cool it?'

'Shall I ask him?' Finn said.

'For the love of God, no! Look would you both just do your jobs please?'

Rose walked back over to Armitage. Who actually looked pleased to see her return. It sent a little thrill through her.

'Sorry about that, do you ever get the feeling that you're the only grown up in the room?'

'All the time.'

Rose giggled.

'I'm so glad it's not just me.'

'No, you're in good company,' he replied looked down at her warmly.

He had lovely green eyes...

'So erm, do you have a plan?' Rose asked.

'What?' he looked confused.

'A plan of action, First Editions opens soon. We have to be ready.'

'Oh yes, Erm….I hadn't really thought about it.'

'I've asked my friend Beaumont Kin to write something for me.'

'The journalist from the Times?'

'Yes. We're old friends, well actually we used to go out.'

Why did she tell him that?

'You and stuffy Beaumont?' Armitage asked raising his eyebrows at her.

'Yes, is there a problem?'

'It's just he isn't at all what I pictured for you, what I mean to say is you're so...and he's so...and I'm going to stop talking now.'

Rose stifled a giggle.

'I think there was supposed to be a compliment in there somewhere for me.'

'There was but it sort of got away from me.'

'Well thank you anyway,' Rose said with a smirk.

'Will you have dinner with me tonight?' Armitage blurted out.

Rose looked at him. She bit her lip. She thought of GeneralGrievance, why did she feel like saying yes was sort of like cheating on him? Bu then didn't she deserve to have a little fun? It didn't have to mean anything. They could just be two friends hanging out.

Liar.

'I'd love to,' she replied with a blush.