Cécile glanced at her watch, wondering why on earth Francis was so late today.

She had already finished her book, and was now reduced to people-watching in plain sight. Which of course was utterly awful if she didn't have anyone to gossip with while she did so, a fact she had repeatedly texted Francis about but to no avail. Her brother seemed to have left his phone at home today.

A delighted yell of her name brought her attention towards the children's play park.

Halldór had spotted her and was skipping over, smiling brightly as he waved eagerly to get her attention.

"Cécile!" he laughed as he stopped by her feet, a bright and warm smile on his face as his cheeks almost glowed red.

"Hello Halldór," she greeted him in return with a smile of her own. "Did your dad bring you out today to play?" she inquired, glancing around for the familiar figure of Erik.

"No," Halldór shook his head. "Mom did."

Cécile froze for a moment, suddenly more aware of the look a woman was sending her from a few metres away.

"Oh?" she managed to utter. "That's nice," she added and mustered a sweet smile, hoping neither of them would notice her nervousness.

"And tonight I'm staying with Uncle Preben!" Halldór smiled, clearly excited about his weekend plans.

"Oh, is this the uncle who has a daughter?" Cécile asked, hoping Halldór's mother would stop staring at her soon.

"Yes," Halldór nodded.

"Well I almost envy you then," she joked and ruffled his hair like she had seen Erik do so any times before. "I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with them."

"Yeah," Halldór giggled. "Wanna see how great I am at the swings?" he asked.

"Well..." Cécile mulled the question over, not sure she dared go with him in fear his mother might do something.
However, Halldór was oh so very difficult to say no to.

"Sure," she said with a smile. "I'd love to."

Halldór smiled in delight and offered his hand for her to hold, almost dragging her across to the little play park.

Cécile took a seat next to the swing-sets and sighed lightly as she watched Halldór scramble onto the swing with some difficulty. She really could watch him play all day, he was too precious to be let out of sight for even a moment.

"Cécile?" a woman asked, voice chillingly cold as she walked over to the bench.

"Yes, that's me," Cécile smiled as sweetly and warmly as she could, extending her hand towards Halldór's mother.

"Natalia," she replied and shook her hand firmly. "Pleasure to meet you. Mind if I take a seat?"

"No, not at all," Cécile lied.

"Thank you."

Natalia sat almost uncomfortably close to her on the bench, her gaze focused on Halldór who was now doing his best at getting the swing to move.

"You're different than what I imagined," Natalia said and Cécile flinched.

"How so?" she replied.

"I imagined you taller..." Natalia hummed.

"Sorry for breaking the illusion of being a tall ballet dancer," Cécile frowned.

"Not disappointed," Natalia elaborated. "Just surprised. Halldór speaks very kindly of you."

"Oh," Cécile blushed. "Thank you..." unable to return the compliment. Halldór hardly spoke of his mother at all.

"No need to look so scared," Natalia chuckled. "I don't bite."

"Oh, well... It's just I thought maybe..." Cécile sighed. "Okay. Never mind. I'm sorry," she turned to face Natalia properly and offered an earnest smile. "I just got a little nervous. Seeing as you're his mother and well..."

"Halldór doesn't speak much of me?" Natalia finished and Cécile nodded in reply, glad she didn't have to say those words herself.

"Well I'm sure Erik has told you he doesn't see me very often..."

"He has mentioned that," Cécile nodded.

"Has he said much else?"

"That you were better suited as friends..."

"Well he's right about that. Nothing else?"

"Not really," Cécile shrugged. "I don't see why it matters. If you're happy, Halldór is happy and Erik is happy; I don't think I need to know more about what lies in the past, do I?"

"Heh," Natalia smirked. "I like you," she added and turned her gaze momentarily towards her son. "So I'll apologise for scaring you."

"No lasting trauma here," Cécile laughed. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. People grow and drift apart. It happens. If I'm honest I'm a little glad because it means I get to spend time with Erik and Halldór..."

"Good," Natalia smiled genuinely. "Suits me just fine."

"Good," Cécile replied with a smile of her own.

They sat watching Halldór play for a few minutes before Cécile's curiosity got the better of her.

"Can I ask what you do for a living? Erik said you were often busy..."

"Oh so he didn't tell you?" Natalia smiled wickedly, and for a moment Cécile wondered if that had been a bad move.

"No. Should he have?"

"Nah," Natalia shrugged. "He never saw my line of work as something to brag about. Well, not something to flaunt if probably the better wording of it."

"See, now I'm even more curious," Cécile pushed her glasses a little upwards.

"Well since I know you're a ballerina I supposed it's just fair you get to know what I do..." Natalia chuckled and opened up her purse.
"I'll give you a clue. I often travel and I seldom sleep in the same place for long..."

Cécile looked perplexed for a moment until Natalia pulled out a silver pin from her purse and handed it to her.

"A pilot?"

"Correct," Natalia smiled brightly. "Ten points for not assuming stewardess."

"Oh wow. That's so exciting," Cécile admired the winged pin before handing it back. "That explain why Halldór likes pretending he's an air-plane I suppose?"

"Heh, maybe," Natalia stifled a laugh.

"So you fly commercial airplanes then? Since you said you travelled a lot..."

"Yes," Natalia nodded. "Started off with the air-force, but now it's all civilian airplanes. It's a fantastic opportunity to see the world, although it's mostly hotels."

"Favourite country then?" Cécile asked with a grin.

"Can I choose my home country?" Natalia smirked.

"No. Besides that one," Cécile laughed.

"Hmm..." Natalia thought about the question for a moment.

"Iceland. Where Halldór was born and Erik and I got married," she concluded.
"It's got gorgeous nature and few people. Very quiet and serene."

"Solid reasons," Cécile laughed.

"And you?" Natalia leant against the back of the bench and crossed her arms.

"Suppose I'm not allowed to say my home country either?" Cécile mused.

"That would be cheating," Natalia smirked.

"Fine. I love Italy and France. But big cities in general are always exciting. Bonus points if the food is also good."

"So New York and those things?"

"Yes," Cécile nodded. "I've got several cities on my list, but not got around to seeing them all yet."

"Well, if you have a few days off I can probably get you a good deal."

"You can?"

"Of course. The job comes with perks," Natalia winked at her.

"Hmm. I don't think I can turn such an offer down," Cécile tapped her chin and smiled.

"Excellent," Natalia smiled and pulled out a business card from her purse. "Here, give me a call or something if you figure out a date to travel. I'll even let you bring Erik if he promises to behave."

"Oh," Cécile blushed and Natalia's smile widened into a full on wicked grin.

"You're cute," she said and laughed. "I can see why Erik fell for you like a ton of bricks."

"Thank you," Cécile replied. "You're gorgeous yourself," she added and much to her surprise a blush appeared on Natalia's cheeks too.
"And clearly no one tells you that enough," Cécile added with a smile.

"Oh no. They call me something else," Natalia laughed. "Or rather, someone right now calls me something else."

Cécile looked confused.
"I'm sorry, I don't follow..."

"Erik isn't the only one who found himself a new partner," Natalia smiled.

"Oohhh," Cécile nodded as she finally caught on. "Congratulations then," she added.

"Thank you."

"Can I interest you in coffee?" Cécile asked. "I was supposed to meet my brother, but he's really late and I need a little treat."

"Hm," Natalia seemed to mull the suggestion over. "I suppose the invitation includes Halldór too..."

"Of course," Cécile laughed. "He's too sweet not to be included."

"Then I can't say no," Natalia smiled, standing up and clapping her hands together to get Halldór's attention.

Cécile was pleased to see that Halldór was as energetic and happy around his mother as he was with his father. No animosity or contempt.

It was as they both had said. They worked better as friends than as wife and husband.

Cécile led the way to the café, enquiring about Natalia's job as they walked – curious about how she coped with long flights. Asking about everything from how she took off to how she landed – it was so far from her own profession and she had no qualms about admitting she knew nothing about flying at all.

"It's a lot of reading involved," Natalia sighed. "You have to know and prepare for almost everything under the sun. If an accident happen we all need to read and learn from it."

"Sounds exhausting," Cécile frowned a little, taking a hesitant sip of hot tea.

"It is. But it's also fun, I wouldn't give it up for anything else."

"I can understand that sentiment," Cécile laughed softly.

"It's a very liberating feeling... flying is very... free in it's own way," Natalia sighed happily. "There are so many regulations to follow and you can't really sit back and relax, but it's still very much a fantastic experience to know you're flying."

"Mhm," Cécile nodded. "Maybe not comparable, but I feel the same about dancing. It required focus, but it never stops making me feel happy."

"Cécile dances like an angel," Halldór whispered before taking a large bite of the cookie on his plate.

"Thank you," Cécile blushed, smiling sweetly at him. "You're really good too," she added.

Halldór mumbled a thanks as his whole face went red as a beetroot.

"He gets that from his dad," Natalia smiled, although Cécile knew that to be a lie – Natalia blushed just as easily and badly as Erik.
Poor Halldór was doomed from the start.

Cécile's phone buzzed and she apologised before taking a look.

"Ah. My brother finally gives a sign of life," she sighed.

"I think this might be a new record for 'late'," Natalia smirked.

"Oh no. He's taken longer before," Cécile frowned. "He always apologies. But I swear he would forget his own head at home if it wasn't attached to his shoulders."

"Somehow I don't doubt it," Natalia replied, hiding a smile behind her hand.

"Thank you for the lovely company. I'm glad I met you," Cécile smiled earnestly as she stood up.

"Pleasure is all mine," Natalia replied as she followed suit.

"Hopefully we can meet up again?"

"Yes..." Natalia looked at Halldór. "There is a high probability of that happening."

"Heh, yes." Cécile chuckled. "That's very true."
She stepped up and hugged the taller woman before Natalia could even protest.
Cécile realised too late that Natalia was perhaps not the 'hugging' type – but to her delight Natalia returned the hug.

"I'm not worried about leaving my son in your care," Natalia whispered in her ear before they stepped apart.
"Don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like that cheap flight," she winked as she handed Cécile her business card, and Cécile smiled from ear to ear.

"I will keep that in mind," she added, fumbling with the card till she could find a piece of paper to write her own number on. "Next time you're in town we should do this again."

"Yes," Natalia nodded. "That would be nice."

Cécile waved at them both, almost upset Francis decided to finally show up.

He was, as always, incredibly apologetic.
He promised her new shoes, new dress, hell – he even spoke of a new car if she'd only forgive him.
She settled for letting him buy her some new make-up and a good bottle of champagne.

"So you met his ex?" Francis almost choked on his food. "How was she?"

"Gorgeous," Cécile sighed dreamily. "Utterly beautiful," she added.

"Good to know," Francis laughed. "Was she nice?"

"Yes. Bit cold at first, but very lovely once we spoke a little. I'm so happy I met her."

"And she's okay with you adopting her son?"

"I'm not adopting Halldór," Cécile hissed. "But... she said she didn't mind me caring for him. So that's good, right?"

"I can hear the wedding bells already," Francis sniffled. "Oh my dear little sister. I can't wait to walk you down the aisle!"

"Don't you dare start," she frowned. "I'm not marrying Erik."

"Not yet you are. But I'm sure you will," Francis smiled and took a slow sip of his wine. "You just got a blessing from his ex-wife, what more could you ask for?"

"Maybe making it official that we're dating first?"

"Details, details. Just pirouette your way into it all!"

"That's not how that works and you know it," Cécile sighed. "You're awful," she shook her head and laughed. "But I am glad I met her."

"That's all I need to know," Francis winked.

"Stop that or I'm un-forgiving you for being late."

"Okay, okay," Francis frowned. "I'm happy for you, I really am."

"Good," Cécile huffed. "She was lovely. Don't go spreading any misinformation."

"Not even if it's just about you marrying Erik?"

"Especially that," she glared and dug her high heel into his shin. "You might scare him off."

"Doubtful," Francis said as he rubbed his sore leg.

"Well, just inn case, don't jinx it."

"Fine..." Francis sighed.

"Why where you late?" she asked, hoping to turn the conversation away from herself.
To her joy Francis had a good reason. Somewhat at least.

A few sketchbooks later she had definitively forgiven him.
It wasn't every day her brother got to design a several outfits for the runway.
And with the added promise that she was invited to the event; Francis was once more in his sister's good books.