Maybe it's All for The Best
Chapter 3: Home
"Good morning passengers and welcome to JFK International Airport. This is the first boarding call for flight QF637 to Heathrow on gate 2. Just repeating this is the first boarding call for flight QF637 to Heathrow on gate 2" the nasally voice said loudly over the speaker.
I stood up and stretched. "That's me" I said lightly. Nate pouted and blinked his big, blue eyes sadly.
"Why do you have to leave me?" He whined, wrapping his arms around my waist. I pressed my lips to his lightly and looked up into his eyes.
"Because I have to visit my familyyyy" I answered in the same tone, dragging out my words to about twenty more syllables than there should have been. "I haven't seen them in three years, it's about time I went home"
Three years... The words floated through my mind. I still couldn't believe how long it had actually been since I'd seen anyone from my family. Part of me was shocked... and part of me felt guilty. Three years was a long time... I'd missed so much.
"Well shouldn't I be going home with you? I mean I am your fiancé and I've never met them before" He pulled me close and kissed my head. He played with the rock on my finger.
"Not just yet. Trust me, my family is a tad traditional... I need to go butter them up before I bring you home" I smiled at him. He flicked some hair out of his eyes.
"I didn't think you even liked your family... you never talk to them or anything" He shrugged.
"Of course I do!" I exclaimed. "It's just hard to see them and keep in contact with them because they live so far away" I shrugged. And also because they're wizards and don't have telephones or normal ways of sending letters I added in my head. I kissed him softly again. "One month and then I'm home" I smiled. "You're shooting a movie anyway... which is another reason why you can't come... You won't even know I'm gone!" I reminded him.
"I could have taken the time off for you" He sighed.
I heard a camera click somewhere behind us and I rolled my eyes. Honestly, could the paparazzi just leave us alone for two seconds!
"It's fine Nate. One month and then I'll be home. My sisters will probably come with me to meet you... and my parents" I kissed him again as the same nasally voice spoke loudly over the speaker again.
"Good morning passengers and welcome to JFK International Airport. This is the second boarding call for flight QF637 to Heathrow on gate 2. Just repeating this is the second boarding call for flight QF637 to Heathrow on gate 2"
"I better go" I kissed him once more, pulled away from him and picked up my bags.
"Call me when you get to London" He said as I started to walk away.
"Of course" I nodded and waved over my shoulder. I placed my ticket on the counter and smiled at the girl.
"I love you!" Nate yelled out.
"Love you too!" I yelled back with a laugh. I smiled at the girl who was just staring at me.
"You're Riley Vanderbilt" she said in a quick voice.
"Yeah, I am" I laughed. She glanced behind me.
"That's Nathanial Carter" She blinked. I laughed again.
"It sure is" I turned my head and smiled. He blew me a kiss and I caught it. "Would you like my autograph?" I asked her.
She nodded her head vigorously and thrust some paper across the bench top. I scrawled a quick note to her and kissed the paper. She ripped my ticket and wished me a good flight. I waved once more at Nate as I walked down the tunnel toward the plane.
I sat in my seat and pulled the ring off my finger. It was so big, so heavy. Personally not what I would have chosen for myself but Nate was known for being slightly ostentatious at times. I tucked it into my purse and looked out of the window.
My stomach flipped from excitement as the engines started to whir. I watched the tarmac pull away through the little window beside me. I would be home for the first time in 3 years in just 8 short hours. I wriggled with excitement. I was going home.
"VANDERBILT! OVER HERE!"
"RILEY!" I heard people yelling my name. I turned and saw them. My face cracked into an uncontrollable smile. Three years I'd been away from my family. God it was so good to see them.
"I'm home!" I exclaimed, racing over to my Mum, Dad, sisters and best friend. I dropped my bags and jumped on the first person I could grab. It happened to be Ginny and we stood hugging for what felt like forever.
All at once they started talking.
"Three years!"
"Look what you've done to your hair! You're almost BLONDE!"
"You're taller!"
"You're skinnier, don't they feed you in New York!"
"Get off my sister and let me see her!" Avery yelled and everyone let me go. "RILEY!" She yelled, holding out her arms to me.
"AVERY!" I laughed and fell into them.
"Look at you baby girl! You're all grown up!" She laughed and held me tightly. "Three years" she breathed.
"It's been that long huh?" I laughed. "How time flies... How's the shop doing?" I asked about the shop she co-owned with Fred and George.
"Brilliantly. Fred sends his love and he's completely annoyed he couldn't come pick you up by the way, but he'll see you tonight" she brushed some hair off my face. "I can't believe how light your hair is" She laughed.
"Now there's no way anyone can get us confused, hey Riles?" Roe grinned from beside her. I laughed, remembering our appearance was the cause of me being taken by death eaters all those years ago. I pulled away from Avery to hug her.
"No way. Not now" I shook my head.
"I can't believe how grown up my babies are!" Mum wailed and threw her arms around the three of us girls. I laughed. I was so happy to be home.
"So where are we off too?" I shouldered my handbag and linked arms with Ginny.
"The Burrow of course" Ginny laughed. "Mum will have a fit if you don't come and see her straight away. Hermione's waiting for you there as well" She explained as we walked.
"What about everyone else?" I cocked my head to the side.
"They'll be coming for your dinner tonight" Avery nodded.
"Dinner?" I raised my eyebrows and turned around to look at her, walking backwards through the airport.
"Oh yeah, huge feast in honour of your return" Dad nodded seriously. "Your mother and Molly have been planning it since you wrote and said you were coming home"
Home. There was that word again. I smiled.
"Wow, really?" I laughed "I feel so honoured!" I twirled around to face the front again. At least it would be easy to tell everyone about my engagement in one hit.
"Excuse me?" Someone said, reaching out for me. I stopped and turned. Two, muggle teenage girls stood smiling at me expectantly. "Are you Riley Vanderbilt?"
"Yes, that's me" I smiled, holding my hands out for the things they wanted me to sign. "Are you girls waiting for someone or going somewhere?" I made small talk with them as I signed the Vogue and napkin for them.
"Waiting for someone. Our cousin. She's going to DIE knowing she missed you... You're like... our favourite model ever!" The blonde giggled nervously.
"Can we get a photo?" the brunette grinned broadly.
"Of course" I nodded. They both pulled out phones and handed them to each other. I stood and posed for two photos. "Anyway, I better get going. I'm here to spend time with the family" I nodded to the surprised faces of my family.
"Oh sorry!" They both chorused.
"Not a problem. Have a lovely day" I smiled, waved and then walked away. All in a day's work for me.
"Shit Riles, how do they know you?" Roe raised an eyebrow at me.
"Oh... I'm kind of famous in the muggle world" I shrugged. Mum and Dad exchanged a look.
"So the modelling thing actually took off then?" Roe sounded shocked. "I didn't think it would go anywhere!" She laughed.
"Roe, I give you the fashion magazines that Riley's in all the time!" Ginny laughed, shaking her head. "Of course it went somewhere"
I laughed. "What do you think I do in New York? Work in a coffee shop?" I elbowed her in the side.
"No, I just... well I didn't know you were famous ok?" She stuck her tongue out at me. I laughed and stuck my tongue out in return.
"This way girls, we're apparating" Dad guided us toward the Wizard Apparition Zone. "You do remember how to apparate don't you Riley?" He mocked me.
"Daaad!" I exclaimed, hugging his side.
"Just teasing you, muggle" he kissed my head affectionately.
"So who's at the burrow?" I asked as we walked. The zone was WAAAAY away from people. I guess it had to be so there'd be no risk of being seen.
"Well Mum and Hermione of course... Fred and George are finishing early today so they might be there already..." Ginny bit her lip, listing off everyone in her head. "Dad, Sirius and Moody will be at the ministry till late... Fleur will be over with Baby Victoire as well... don't stare at her stomach though, she's HUGE again" She mimed having a pregnant belly and I laughed.
"Draco and Charlie are on the Dragon reserve... I can't remember if Ron and Harry had training tonight or not so they might be there too..." She bit her lip and said something else but I stopped listening. Her saying Harry's name reminded me that I would have to see him again. I hadn't seen him since the night he broke up with me and I told him I never wanted to see him again.
In my defence, he said it first but I was the one to actually stick to it. That was probably the main reason why I loved New York a little more than I should, because it was away from him.
I know it shouldn't matter now. I mean, we were older, more mature, and I'd definitely moved on with my life (Hello Nathanial, my completely gorgeous fiance!) but the thought of seeing him after the way we left things made butterflies erupt in my stomach. He broke my heart. He's the reason why I don't put all my love in someone, the reason why I don't trust completely.
It was going to be strange and awkward but I could do this. It was my job to fake a smile, even when I felt like crap. This would be a piece of cake.
Plea's Note:
Here it is. Numero the third. Hope you enjoy it. Never fear... Harry will be making an appearance very very soon :)
Let me know what you think! xo Plea