Maybe it's All for the Best
Chapter 16: Dislike
"Honey pie, we're home!" Harry yelled out to Roe as he pushed the door open. He shot me a sneaky grin and I groaned softly under my breath.
"Snookie bear!" Roe ran out from the kitchen and flew into Harry's arms. Nate shot me a surprised look and I just shrugged. It was a few exaggerated seconds of hugging before Roe kissed Harry on the cheek and turned to face us. "Hi! You must be Nathanial!" She smiled and held out her hand.
"I am... and you are...?" Nate took her hand.
"Rosalie, but you can call me Roe" She nodded.
"DADDY!" Teddy exclaimed, running from the living room and into Harry's legs. Harry scooped him up and walked away from us.
"You guys have a kid?" Nate raised on eyebrow, his grip tightening around me.
"No, he's not mine. He's Harry's adoptive son, Theodore. Teddy" She nodded again. "Anyway, come into the living room and settle down" She bustled away from us.
"He adopted?" Nate hissed at me. "Who is this guy, the freakin' Pope?"
I rolled my eyes and followed my sister. "Mum and Dad not here yet, Roe?" I asked, seeing the living room empty.
"No not yet. They called to say they'd be here soon though" She smiled and winked. I suppressed a laugh. Obviously she'd spoken to Hermione this afternoon about what words supplemented magical words.
"Babe... Did that picture just move?" Nate blinked at a row of pictures on the mantle. My stomach spazmed and I led him away from them.
"No? Moving pictures?" I laughed. "You sure your brain came with you off the set?" I kissed his cheek lightly. He shook himself and I glanced at Harry, nodding at the pictures. He understood and surreptitiously cast a freezing charm from his pocket. The pictures ceased to move.
"So what made you adopt, Harry? You're so young and you have a lovely girlfriend right there" Nate sat lazily on the couch, his arm still wrapped firmly around my waist.
"This girlfriend doesn't want children yet" Roe said, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"His father was a good friend of my fathers, but he died. I promised I'd look after Teddy" Harry explained, wiping Teddy's mouth. He glanced at me and I pulled my lips into a smile. He turned away without changing his expression. My stomach gave a clench.
"That's very noble of you" Nate lifted a shoulder. "I really don't know how I'd cope with a kid right now" Nate put his arm around my shoulders. Harry's eyes flickered to mine again. "Hope you're not getting ideas babe" He kissed my temple. I let my gaze drop from Harry's.
"None at all" I shook my head. "No kids for me yet" I laughed.
"Yet? You can't have kids" Nate let out a laugh as well. "It'll ruin your gorgeous figure" He kissed my jaw line and I shivered.
A knock at the door cut off a response and I jumped to my feet. "I'll get it" I smiled, straightening my shirt and walking out. Someone walked in as I got to the hall and I almost walked into them.
"Hey Bab– Riley?" Sarah stumbled into me and I steadied her. She pulled her shoulder from my fingers quickly. "What are you doing here?" She scowled.
"Having dinner..." I smirked. "So you should go" I looked pointedly toward the door.
"Oh. Nice try" She rolled her eyes and pushed past me. I tried to trip her but she only stumbled. "Harry! There you are..." She entered the living room. I followed behind her and pulled a face at Roe. "Hello there" Her voice turned into a purr when she spotted Nate.
Nate stood and extended his hand. "Hi. I'm Nate... Riley's– "
"Fiance" She finished. "Riley you didn't tell me how gorgeous he is! In real life I mean, your movies just don't do you justice" She winked and shook his hand. I narrowed my eyes and stepped to wrap my arms around Nate's torso.
"Well thank you" Nate grinned cheesily and winked back. "You must be Riley's sister?"
"No actually I'm Harry's – "
"Babysitter" Roe interrupted Sarah quickly. "Well she's Teddy's babysitter because my snookums doesn't need a baby sitter, except for me maybe" Roe giggled and ran her fingers through Harry's hair. Harry's face blushed red and Roe stood. "I bet you're here about the short change we gave you the other day... If you come with me I'll fix that up for you" Roe crossed the room in a couple of strides with her long legs and clutched Sarah's arm in her hand and dragged the shorter girl from the room.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing as I caught Harry's eye. He had a torn look on his face; half amusement, half guilt. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my face neutral.
Roe came back a second later, Fred and Avery behind him. "This is our sister"
"Avery!" I smiled and jumped up to hug my sister and Fred. "Nate, this is my eldest sister Avery and her partner Fred... Guys, this is my fiancé Nathanial Carter" I introduced them to Nate. Nate stood and shot Avery his most charming smile.
"Pleased to meet you... I can see where Riley gets her amazing looks from" he took her hand a kissed it. Fred cocked an eyebrow and held his hand out to shake.
"We've heard so much about you" A smile broke out on Fred's face.
"I can't really say I've heard a lot about you, but it's nice to finally meet Riley's family" Nate smiled. "I was beginning to think she didn't have any"
I blushed as all eyes fell on me. This was going to be a very long night.
"So Nathanial, what do you do in New York?" Mum asked, passing the bowl of mash potatoes to Nate. Nate glanced at me as he took the bowl. His expression was purely 'how does she not know who I am?'
"I'm an actor" He answered. "You might have seen some of my movies... Star Trek was my most recent on" He glanced around at my family and saw them all staring blankly at him. "I model as well, sometimes" Nate mumbled.
"That's how we met" I jumped in before he could get cranky.
"What were you modelling?" Fred asked with a grin. I shot him a look and Avery placed a hand on his arm. Roe however, grinned too.
"We were modelling jeans" I answered before she could say something. "It was a billboard ad for Levi's"
"Levi's?" Roe raised her eyebrow.
"How do you not know what Levi's are?" Nate asked, glancing at me again.
"Roe really isn't one for brand names" I shook my head and gave her a pointed look. She did know what Levi's were, she just took great delight in stressing me out.
"Excuse me for not being a model" She rolled her eyes. "More carrots, sweetie pie?" She cooed at Harry and stared adoringly (and possibly a little psychotically) at Harry.
"That would be lovely snookie bear" He grinned back. Fred snorted and both my parents hid a grin. My stomach turned.
"I always knew you'd end up in my family Harry" Mum said "I just didn't think it would be with Rosalie"
"What about that poor boy you used to torment? Deacon?" Dad asked her, an amused smile on his face. I cleared my throat and stared at him pointedly. Nate gave me a confused look and I shook my head.
"Oh Draco? I guess I like my snookums better" Her smile widened as she tried not to laugh. I struggled not to yell at them and ate some more mash potato.
"Babe... more? Really?" He said in a not so low voice. He was glancing at the mash on my fork. I smiled guiltily at him and dropped my fork. He smiled and kissed my temple again, a satisfied look on his face.
I could see Dad clenching his jaw and Mums eyes widening. This was so not going well.
"This place is nice, Harry..." Nate continued. "What business are you in?"
"I'm in law enforcement, training to be an au-agent" He corrected himself and glanced at me. I shook my head. Someone was going to slip up tonight. I could feel it.
"An agent? Really? This place seems a little more expensive than that... and you have a kid" Nate waved his hand and sat back in his chair lazily. Harry watched him with indifference. "What business is your family in?"
"Law enforcement" Harry answered, folding his hands in front of him. "Both my mother and father were top agents here in London"
"Were? Are they retired now?" Nate asked with a yawn.
"No. They died when I was a kid... I didn't know them" Harry shook his head. "I grew up with my aunt and uncle in Surrey"
"I have no idea where that is" Nate drummed his fingers on the table. "I'm a Brooklyn boy myself. Grew up just near the bridge and made it big in acting when I was 17. It's been my life ever since"
"I have no idea where that is either" Harry murmured, pushing his plate away from him. "What's for dessert babe?" He asked Roe. I could tell he was clenching his jaw by the little tick in his temple.
"Uhm... Well if Riley wants to come and help me I'll get something ready..." She kissed his head and stood. "Riley"
"I'll help" Avery stood and gathered hers and Fred's plates. I grabbed mine and Nate's and followed them to the kitchen. I knew what was coming. They both didn't like him. I could tell.
"So... what do you think?" I asked with force cheer when the door swung shut behind me.
"What do I think?" Roe asked, her back still to me. "Hey A.V... wanna head this question... It's too dangerous for me to answer" She sighed. I heard the water start.
"Well... he's a little..."
"He's a moron!" Roe answered anyway. "He's an arrogant, self-absorbed asshole!" She turned around and waved her hands in the air. "He's done nothing but talk about himself all night, he's baiting Harry for some twisted reason... he's..."
"I think what our eloquent sister is trying to say is she doesn't like him" Avery cut her off before she could say anything else.
"He's just trying too hard" I bit my lip. "He wants you guys to like him so bad... and he's not used to no one knowing who he is... this is..."
"Don't make excuses... he's about a psycho as Sarah" Roe rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of which, she actually showed up?" Avery snorted and waved her wand. Ice cream Sundays started assembling themselves in front of us.
"She's totally pissed... Poor Harry... I kind of feel sorry for him" I sighed, welcoming the change of subject.
"Yeah but I had some fun escorting her out" Roe grinned impishly, all annoyance gone from her face for a second. "Don't change the subject though" It returned. "He's nuts, Riles... possessive, demanding..."
"And there is NO way you need to lose weight" Avery rolled her eyes. She picked up two Sundays and pushed her way out of the door.
"You seriously don't like him?" I asked Roe, my heart crushing a tiny bit.
"No, babe. I don't. I don't think he's good enough for you" She shook her head slowly. "Remember the feeling you had about Draco when you first found out that we were together?" She asked after a few seconds of silence.
I nodded.
"That's the feeling I get for Nate"
"But my opinion of Draco changed" I reminded her. She shrugged apologetically.
"Draco saved your life. It turned out to be different... circumstances..." She stammered, closing her eyes and placing her hand on the bridge of her nose.
"Roe?" I asked, worried. "Roe what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Just a bit of a dizzy spell" She waved her hand and opened her eyes again. "I've been getting them on and off for a few days"
"Are you sure you're ok?" I bit my lip.
"Yeah. Fine" She smiled and grabbed three ice creams. "I don't like him Riles" She repeated and left the kitchen.
The ring on my finger had never weighed more than it did right now. All I really wanted to do was rip it off and throw it out the window. But I couldn't. Nate was my fiancé. He was my whole life back in New York. Being here was only temporary. After tonight, they never had to see him again. I could live with that.
I picked up the remaining ice creams and took them out to the table. My stomach dropped when I saw Fred and Dad standing over Nate, talking very seriously to him.
"Now what are you boys talking about?" I asked, interrupting their little chat.
"Oh you know the regular 'father-brother-in-law-to-be-warning-the-boyfriend-slash-fiance-that-he's-dead-if-he-hurts-you' speech" Fred replied without missing a beat. I shot him a glare and wrapped my arm around Nate.
"Did they scare you too much?" I pouted.
"Not enough to keep me away from you" He admitted. I kissed his head and smiled.
"Damn" Roe muttered a little loudly. I shot her a glare and she spooned some more ice cream in her mouth.
I scooped some of my own up and was about to put it in my mouth when I caught Nate's eye. He cocked one eyebrow and I put the spoon down. He smiled, winked and spooned some of his own into his mouth. I sighed and pushed the bowl away from me. I couldn't afford to put on any more weight. If it was noticeable to Nate, then it had to be bad.
I felt a tug on my shorts and looked down.
"Play?" Teddy asked, brandishing a deck of exploding snap cards.
"Maybe later, Ted" I smiled at him, trying to hide the deck box.
"Exploding Snap?" Nate asked, pulling the deck from Teddy's fingers. "What's this champ?"
Teddy looked at him with wide eyes. "Cards" He answered in a soft voice. "They go boom!"
"Really now?" Nate chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Kids have such great imaginations. I remember once I had to work with a bunch of kids of a movie. Best time I've ever had" He handed the deck back to Teddy. I breathed a sigh of relief out. Last think I needed was for him to find something out of the ordinary and question it. "So where do you and Fred live Anna-Leigh" Nate asked Avery.
"It's Avery" She corrected him. "We live further into London, closer to Tower Hill"
"Ohhh... I shot a movie around there once. We had to run along the Thames looking for a missing girl. It was awesome" He nodded.
"Totally Awesome" Fred smiled sarcastically. "Is there anything you don't do that isn't totally awesome?" He batted his eyelids at me.
"Snookie bear?" Roe asked Harry over the top of Nate's response. "I think Teddy may need to go to bed. It's way past his bed time" She nodded to the yawning child by our knees.
"You're right honey buns..." Harry responded. "I'll take him"
"No, let me. You finish your Sunday" I waved him back down and stood. I scooped Teddy up. "Say goodnight Ted"
"NIGHT!" Teddy yelled. Nate shot him a dirty look. He wasn't a kid person apparently. I walked into Teddy's room and dropped him on his bed. He giggled. "Eyeley, will you read me a story?" Teddy asked, his hair falling over his eyes. He looked so much like Lupin when his hair was brown.
"Aren't you really sleepy?" I asked him.
"Please?" He pouted. I sighed and nodded and he grabbed the book beside his bed. "This is my favourite"
"Really? Tales of Beedle the Bard?" I laughed. "This is my favourite too!" I smiled. I slid into the bed beside him and read him The Tale of Three Brothers. He was asleep before the second brother and I smiled.
"He really likes you, you know" Harry's voice from the door made me jump. I ran a hand through my hair and eased myself out of the bed.
"It's gonna be hard to leave him" I admitted, brushing some hair off Teddy's forehead. "To leave my family again" I sighed.
"Don't leave?" Harry suggested with a slight laugh. I smiled.
"I have too" I shrugged. "But I'll visit a lot"
"You sure he'll let you?" Harry cocked his head back out where Nate was sitting, probably awkwardly, with my family. "He seems a little controlling"
"He won't have a choice" I shook my head. "And he's not that bad"
"Of course he isn't"
"He's not!" I argued, crossing my arms. "He's just nervous about meeting you guys"
"I didn't think a guy like that would ever get nervous" Was all Harry said.
"Well he does, ok?" I sighed. I felt guilty about my tone. "Thanks for letting us stay here by the way... I just don't..."
"I know Riles. You don't want to tell him yet" Harry waved me quiet. "I just hope you're happy. That's all" He smiled and walked over to Teddy to tuck him in. I didn't say anything. The kick in my stomach was enough to make me walk from the room.
I was happy – enough.
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