"Mum, it's been fun," Aly said, turning to face her mother.

"Aly, you stayed for a month. How much fun did you have?" Joy asked, getting out of the car.

"A lot. More than I've ever had."

Joy grinned at her daughter and walked around to the back to get Aly's trunk. They had just pulled into the Boyles' driveway. Aly smiled at the sight of that familiar house.

"Let's go, then. Don't be surprised if they knock you all down; I told you they were coming," Joy warned. Aly rolled her eyes and to her surprise, the door was already open.

"Aly! How much did you pack?!" Joy groaned, struggling under the heavy weight.

"It's school, Mum. I need clothes," Aly said over her shoulder.

"Aly!" Mrs. Boyle exclaimed, putting down the rang she was using to clean the dishes. "So good to see you!"

"You too, Mrs. B."

"Kids! Aly's here!" Mrs. Boyle called.

A split second later, Aly heard thumping as the others sprinted down the stairs. Aly grinned as Amanda came into the kitchen first, grinning like an idiot. She grabbed Aly.

"Aly! I missed you so much!"

"Amanda, it was only a month," Aly laughed.

"Yeah, it seemed pretty long to me. Ever heard of mail? Do you ever answer?" Char's voice said behind Amanda. Amanda stepped back from their embrace and grinned. Aly gulped at the sight of Char; he had still gotten taller and she found his voice to be deep and...hot?

She noticed a stud in his ear and raised an eyebrow.

"An earring?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Yep!" Char said cheerfully.

"I'm surprised I even approved," Mrs. Boyle muttered, turning to the sink.

"Hm," Aly said, walking over to him, looking at it. "I would've preferred it be a pale pink color..."

Char frowned at her.

"But it'll do. I like it," Aly finished.

Char rolled his eyes and reached down to hug her. "Welcome back. I missed you."

"I missed you, too," Aly said, grinning. She looked over Char's shoulder and grinned at Hayden as he walked in.

"Hayden!" she exclaimed happily. She looked up at Char.

"We'll talk later," he murmured.

"Hey, Aly," he said warmly, hugging her. "I'm glad you're back. It's been so quiet."

Aly slapped his arm while Joy and Mrs. Boyle laughed.

Then she smiled at Damien, who was leisurely sipping lemonade.

"Hello, Damien," she said brightly.

Damien nodded and continued drinking. Aly raised an eyebrow and walked over to the cupboard to get a straw. She walked over to Damien and put the straw in the lemonade and sipped, watching for Damien's reaction, which was hilarious.

After she finished the whole thing, and smiled brightly at him.

"Well, hello to you, too!"

The whole kitchen burst into laughter, with Mr. Boyle's deep voice after he walked into the kitchen. Aly looked at her friends appraisingly and then turned to her mother.

"Bye, Mum," she mumbled. "I'll miss you. Don't forget to write."

"I will. Don't get lost anywhere," Joy said, hugging her. Aly glared at her playfully, and then waved to Joy as she walked to the car. Mrs. Boyle shut the door and turned around to smile at Aly

"Want some lemonade?"

"Sure!"

--

"I'm assuming you read the Daily Prophet?" Char asked as they sat on the bed in his room. Aly looked up from her lemonade slowly, and continued sipping, to Char's annoyance. After she finished, she grinned and set the lemonade down on the desk next to Char's bed.

"Yeah," she finally said. "I did."

"And?"

Aly sighed and looked down at the bed. "It's not fair. He never even did anything."

"Aly, he threatened your life," Char protested immediately.

"Yeah, but he was never going to do anything. He's not a murderer, or something. He was being blackmailed, Char," Aly said, looking up at him slowly. "John threatened to kill him if he didn't get what he needed from me."

"Oh, so that means he did nothing?"

"Exactly."

"That makes no sense. He could've killed you."

"No, I could've," Aly shot back defensively. "Remember that Baroreceptors technique? If Madam Pomfrey hadn't revived him in time, he'd be dead."

"Better for us, then."

"Don't say that!" Aly said harshly, her green eyes flashing. "Adam is still my friend no matter what, and I plan to help him."

"Oh, really?" Char said angrily. "And how will you do that?"

"I-I don't know," Aly said, her voice faltering. "But I will do something."

"Good luck with that," Char said bleakly. "I can't believe you're willing to forgive him after what he said to you."

"It's hard," Aly admitted, "But I'll do it. He's suffering, Char. He doesn't know where Bella or the others are! They're on the run! He doesn't know if they're alive or dead and he's on constant watch twenty four seven. You read his statement. He can't live with what he's done."

Char glared at her, and then turned away. "Sounds like you like him more than me."

Aly smiled slightly. "Is that what you think? That I like him more than you?"

"Sure sounds like that," Char muttered, looking away. Aly smiled and moved closer to him, throwing an arm around his shoulder.

"You are completely absurd," Aly chuckled. "Char, I love you! And I love Adam too, just not like that. He's my friend and he needs me."

Char looked at her.

"That really is a lot of nonsense, though," she added. Char shrugged and sighed with defeat.

"Did a whole summer change us, Aly?" Char sighed, leaning his head on her lap.

"Not me," Aly said, smiling slightly. "She shrugged. "I just think the world is changing us." She started stroking his hair and grinned.

Char smiled. "Now that makes sense."

"But you have changed, though. You've still grown and your voice is deeper. And...kinda sexy?" She played with a strand of his hair, watching it glint in the light.

"It sounds sexy?" Char grinned, looking up at her.

"Yeah, it does," admitted Aly. She was pleased to see Char grinning. He sat up and kissed Aly's forehead lightly before laying on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"I miss the Fortescues' Ice Cream Owner," Char sighed. "I always got the triple dark chocolate scoop with chocolate shavings with hot fudge."

"Hm, that sounds healthy," Aly smiled. "You must've been working out a lot to maintain that skinny figure of yours."

Char frowned and sat up, turning to her.

"Well, we talked," he sighed. "Guess we'd better go socialize with the others."

"That was talking?" asked Aly, crossing her arms. "I call it friendly arguing. Talking can also include snogging, you know."

"Whatever you say, blabbermouth," Char grinned as he got out of the bed, standing up. "I'm going to poke fun at Damien. Want to help?"

Aly nodded and grinned as they walked out of the room.