Author's notes: Thanks to IMissPadfoot (user ID1133633). Additional thanks to Disco Inferno1,insomniastalker and ReAdErWrItErWhAtEvEr for your reviews – I'm glad y'all are still enjoying the story.

Chapter Eight: Join me?

Sean O'Brien sighed, and sitting down next to Morrigan, looked at his sister with a mixture of sorrow and shame, then began speaking.

"I think Grams is right, you should have the house," he stated. When she merely nodded, he continued. "I mean, you spent the most time there, and we all know you were her favourite."

Morrigan looked at her brother indignantly. If all he'd come here to do was complain about how she was closer to Mary than he or Felicia, he need not have bothered.

"I'm sorry I reacted so horribly towards you when Mr. Triville read Grams' will. I don't really blame you for her death, and I had no right to say those things," he offered in way of an apology.

Morrigan looked up from her drink at him through narrowed eyes.

"That still doesn't change the past, you know?" she countered.

"I know, Sis, and that's why I came here today. Mum and Dad said we need to be going home to Italy soon, Felicia is due back to school in a few weeks, and they've both got to return to work," he started to explain.

Morrigan's brow furrowed. "Oh, so that's why you've come here today? You're leaving soon, and think you'll never see me again, so Mum and Dad sent you to test the waters?"

"No, no, Morrie, it's not like that. Mum and Dad are hoping you'll come home with us, regardless of what you choose to do with Gram's house," insisted Sean. "I came because... well, I'm your brother, and I still love you."

"You love me, do you? Was it love that caused you to blame me for Lilith's death? Was it love that made you practically ignore me throughout our school life? Was it love when you said you wished I'd died instead of her?" questioned Morrigan, her eyes blazing with angry fire, and the volume of her voice rising dangerously.

"Morrie, what happened to Lilith effected us all. The family were never the same again, even when Felicia was born," Sean tried to justify.

"Ha," scoffed Morrigan. "That still doesn't excuse the way you've treated me. Don't you remember a time before all this happened? Before Felicia was born, and before we lost Lilith? The three of us were so close, even despite you being older."

"I remember, of course I do. I think about those days all the time," confessed Sean. "But it still hurts me to think of Lilith. I know it's no excuse, but I was young and didn't really understand what had happened. For some reason that pain and anger never left me, and I allowed it to break us apart."

"The pain never left you, Sean?" she questioned her brother. "How do you think I felt? Lilith was my twin! It was hard enough for me to lose her, but then to lose you too."

"And I'm eternally sorry for it, I really am. Grams passing made me realize you couldn't be to blame for everything that happened, and I want us to try and form a relationship again," he insisted, tears now forming in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I just don't know if we can. I know we all have to deal with Lilith's death in our own way, and maybe some day the pain of it will fade. However, I don't know if you and I can ever go back to how we were before," sighed Morrigan sadly.

"Don't say that, Morrie. Don't write us off. Come back to Italy with us? We'll talk more, and become closer again, I know we can," begged Sean.

"I don't know. I was never happy there, and I have nothing to go back to in Italy," insisted Morrigan.

"What about your family? What about me? You can get a job back home, and maybe sell Gram's house so you have some money to start you off? Why would you stay here? You only liked England because of Grams. Now that she's gone, what do you have apart from an old house full of bitter memories? If you stay here, in that house, you'll never be able to accept losing Lilith," he protested, sounding more desperate with every plea.

"If I go back to Italy with you, Mum, Dad and Felicia, the same problems will start again, Sean," Morrigan said, sadly. "Seeing me will be a constant reminder of Lilith, and eventually you'll start to hate me again. If I stay here, maybe all of us will have a chance to start over, and then with time, we can think about rebuilding our own relationship."

"Does that mean you've already decided? You're going to live in Grams' house and build a new life over here?" questioned Sean in disbelief.

"I guess so," sighed Morrigan. "It's a starting place. At least over here, I'll be away from the past. I'll be able to make new friends, people who don't like me just because of you. I'll be able to come to peace with Lilith's death, like I never could back home."

"But that house? It's where she died," protested Sean, now sounding more angry.

"It's also where she and I were born, Sean. Grams said in her letter to me that you and Felicia would never appreciate the magic of that house, and I think she's right. All you remember is the bad times, and Lilith dying. For me, it's where I can hear her laugh most clearly. It's where I can still picture her face and smell the scent of her hair. It's the only place where I feel like she hasn't left me forever," confessed Morrigan, hot tears stinging her eyes.

"I understand," sighed Sean in a resigned voice. "But promise me, you'll try to rebuild the closeness we once had. Don't just run away from the past, accept it. Forgive me for how I treated you during all those years since Lilith died. Keep in touch, write and visit as often as you can."

"I'll try, Sean," promised Morrigan. "But I have to put myself first from now on."

"I know you do, Morrie, and I hope it works out how you hope for. Mum and Dad said they'll visit you tomorrow, so I'll leave it for you to tell them you're staying. Remember, I'm sorry, and I really do love you," he said honestly, kissing her forehead.

"I love you too, Sean," she replied, and embraced him for the first time in years.

Wiping away the tears from his eyes, Sean swept out of the Leaky Cauldron, and as he did brushed past a hooded figure who was approaching Morrigan.

Leaning her head on the table, Morrigan allowed her feelings of grief, tiredness and regret to wash over her.

She was glad she and Sean had been able to finally start talking about the past, but knew life would still be hard for some time to come.

As she contemplated ordering another drink, and maybe some food, she felt a light tap on her shoulder.

Turning, and expecting to find that Sean had returned, Morrigan's eyes danced with happiness when she saw Draco looking back at her.

"Just the person I wanted to see," she said with a warm smile.

"I've been here for a while, sitting over in the corner. I saw you talking to that guy who just left, and didn't want to disturb anything," replied Draco, returning the smile.

"Well, I'm very glad you're here now, because I need someone to drink with," she grinned, patting the seat besides her. "Join me?"

"I'd love to," he beamed back.

"So, where have you been all day?" asked Morrigan, after she'd ordered them both a butter beer and some lunch. "I knocked on your door earlier, but there was no reply."

"I needed a walk to clear my head. I've been thinking a lot about what you said about my parents," Draco explained. "How about you? Please don't tell me you've been drinking since you got up?"

Morrigan laughed, and shook her black hair. "No, I've been brooding in my room mostly. And anyway, I think I've decided to stop drinking as much. All it does is muddle up my head and make me feel sick," she answered.

For the first time in years, Morrigan felt as though a weight had been lifted from her, and she no longer felt so dependant on alcohol to numb the pain she'd been living with. If nothing else, her talk with Sean had made her realize it was about time she left the past behind her and started moving on with her life. "So tell me, what have you decided to do about your parents?"

To be continued ...