Chapter 4

Alex stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She was crazy, Alex decided resolutely, for even thinking about going to the wedding. She would be crazy not to go. It was her brother's wedding after all. She sighed and ran her hands through her insanely pink hair. Alex looked at the crumpled bit of parchment the invitation was on and re-read it for the one hundredth time. It was a week away, and it would be at the Burrow.

Alex sadly smiled as she thought of the Weasley's cozy little home. It was the only place she had ever truly called home, even though it had never really been hers. Home was where you left your heart. Alex felt her chest constrict as the pain welled in her core. She had left her heart there a long time ago, and now she was facing the ultimate reality of returning to the one place she swore she'd never go back to. Her wounds were still cut so deep inside, even if she were to go to the wedding, what would she do? What could she even say to anyone? Pressing her lips together, Alex summoned all the energy she could muster and forced herself to look at her reflection in the mirror again.

"I'm not in love with him anymore." She said to the mirror. "I'm going to go and I'm going to have a wonderful time." Alex nodded her head and walked out of her bathroom proudly.

"I can do this." She said aloud to herself. "I'm a pillar of strength and I will not let my emotions affect my actions."

Alex turned the corner into her living room and stopped. David was coming in through her front door, whistling to himself.

"Do I need to start locking that damn door?" She asked angrily, placing her hands on her hips.

David smiled at her. "I missed you too. I thought after our rough night you'd like some breakfast." He held up a peace offering of doughnuts and Alex dropped her arms in defeat.

"Doughnuts. My only weakness." She mumbled happily, grabbing the box from him and darting into the kitchen.

"Couldn't help but notice you were talking to yourself again love." David said as he followed. "Have you been listening to self help tapes again?"

Alex glared at him. She knew he was teasing, but it was too early in the morning to feel pleasant.

"I've decided to go to the wedding and I was giving myself a pep talk so I can't talk myself out of it." She said through a mouth full of jelly doughnut.

David stared at his feet for a moment before looking up at her.

"Can I come with you?" He asked quietly.

Alex stopped chewing the bite that was in her mouth and stared at him wide eyed. She hadn't even thought of bringing David! Bringing him would definitely bring about a few questions. But if she did bring him….

"I- uh I haven't thought about that actually." She said truthfully.

He nodded. "I know you don't want to talk about your past, but I feel like if maybe I could go with you and meet your family…." He trailed off hopefully.

Alex pressed her lips together. I could always erase his memory afterwards, she thought to herself. "I have to think about it. I haven't seen my brother in over a year and we didn't exactly part ways on the best of terms. I'm not sure I want this to be the time you meet them. You understand? The first time I go back, I don't know what it's going to be like."

David nodded. "I understand love. I want you to do what you feel is best."

Alex bit her bottom lip and pondered the possibilities. "There are a lot of things that you may not understand about my family David."

David ruffled a bit, trying not to look angry. "In my defense I didn't know you had much of a family at all until last night."

Alex sighed. "I'm sorry David. I have a problem about sharing and I know that. When I moved here it was the first time I had ever moved away from my brother. We'd never been apart before, and when I left I wasn't very happy with him. I'm actually still quite angry with him come to think about it." Alex crossed her arms and looked up into David's eyes sadly. "The point is, I'm still trying to work through this and I don't know how to use words to express it. That's why I started singing."

David pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair lovingly. "When you're ready, I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you."

Alex held back a wave of tears she felt welling up inside of her. Openly lying about who she was never bothered her, but now, being held by David like this, crying because she finally told an ounce of truth made her feel like the biggest liar ever. How was she going to explain to him about where she came from? Would he still hold her like this? Would she care?

Alex paced nervously across her living room, wearing a path in her carpet.

"You're going to be just fine you know." David said reassuringly as he sat cross legged on her couch. She had called him to come as a backup plan to use force as necessary to get her to go to the wedding.

She bit her thumb nail in deep concentration, trying to let David's words seep in.

"I can go with you if you want-"

"NO!" She snapped, her eyes wide. Alex took a deep breath. "No, it's better to go alone. I'm nervous enough as it is."

David frowned and leaned back. "Well you look great, and I don't see why you're so nervous, I've seen you get on stage in front of a crowd ready to demolish the building and you rocked it."

Alex smiled. "A crowd of strangers is significantly different than people you've grown up with." She took another deep breath and tried to clear her mind.

She did happen to look quite foxy. Alex was wearing a short black dress that had shreds of fabric hanging down at random for a skirt effect. It was strappy, tight and it made her hair look ten times more pink than it actually was. Her shoes were equally as strappy, with three inch heels.

"You definitely look like a singer in a punk band." David laughed. He stood up and hugged her closely, kissing the back of her neck lovingly. "Just have a good time. Reconcile with your brother, and if you can't just make the best of it."

"Wise words, but they are easier said than done." Alex frowned. "I just don't even know what to say. It's his wedding day, and I-" Emotions choked in her throat and she held back another set of tears.

David kissed her forehead and looked at her closely. "You're sure you don't want me to go with you?"

Alex smiled and nodded. "Positive. I don't think you're ready for that yet."

David stared at her strangely. "Once you meet my mother you'll understand that I can put up with just about anything." He said jokingly.

Alex pressed her lips together. "Aren't you an only child?"

David smiled and nodded. "I was quite the rebel growing up; pretty sure that's why my mum never wanted anymore."

Alex nodded. Trying to avoid any more family talk, she looked at her wrist watch.

"Are you taking the train there?" David asked after a moment. "You never did say where the wedding was."

Alex's eyes widened as she realized she had only ever been to the Burrow by limited means of transportation, a flying car, floo and apparation. All three of which were highly unexplainable to her muggle boyfriend.

"Uh- yes, the train. I think I'll do that." She smiled nervously.

"It's the day of the wedding and you're only just now thinking about how to get there?" He asked with a sideways smile. "You're impossible."

"Don't worry, I'll get there. I'm a big girl, I can handle this." She said more confidently. David squeezed her hand one last time and headed for the door.

"Alright, but if you need me I'll be at home. Just in case-"

Alex shooed him out the door. "I'll be fine." She said again.

As the door shut behind him, David chuckled softly to himself. That girl was a piece of work. He turned back to the door when a loud 'pop' sound caught his attention. He shrugged it off and wandered down the hallway and out of the building.