Hey!

Enjoy!

Harry's head was throbbing. In that uncomfortably, but not overly painful way that heads throb when you're hung over. He sat up, and looked around wearily. He was in one of the guest bedrooms, he glanced in the mirror that hung from the wardrobe. His trousers were still on, thank god, as was his blazer, his shirt was fully undone, and he had no idea where his tie was. He looked down, and the girl who had been sleeping beside him woke up.

"Oh hey, Harry," she grinned "Great party,"

"Yeah..." he stood on shaking legs and shook his head "Um...we didn't uh..." he massaged his forehead, irritated at himself. Man, he had gotten himself into a state last night. He wasn't normally, oh and he worried whether Poppy had seen him in this state. He could barely remember anything...maybe something about planting flowers and getting a hug from his dad.

"Don't worry," she rolled her eyes "I tried, but you just kept talking about Poppy." She seemed angry at this fact, and Harry didn't understand why. "I'm out of here," and she strode from the room. Harry stumbled out, keeping one hand placed flat against the wall and slowly made his way downstairs. Nearly everything was clear and perfect, he imagined Natasha was the only one to have passed out.

"Harry?" came a tired voice. Harry spun, and his eyes widened when he saw her. Mara, still beautiful in her green dress, just waking up from her slumber on the purple velvet sofa. "Why is your shirt open?" She laughed to herself "I bet the girls were going crazy for your six pack,"

Harry smiled worriedly, and headed towards her "Mara, why are you still here? What happened-"

"Oh." She stood, but stumbled, and Harry caught her elbows, frowning in concern "Yeah, I dumped Jerome, he was being..." she shook her head "A total jerk, I told him to drop it, that we were in a public area but he just can't help himself and he thinks he knows it all-"

"You dumped Jerome?" Harry whispered "But you love him-"

"I don't know how I feel Harry," she cried, pulling her hair out of her face "And then he left with Poppy-"

"Poppy left?" he whispered "Damn. Do you know why?"

"She was crying." Mara thought hard "You know Harry I don't remember, I had quite a lot to drink,"

"Right." He whispered "I'll uh, I'll take you home." He buttoned up his shirt, and jumped when Bertrum appeared before him. "Oh hey, Betrum." The old butler nodded "I was just about to call you. Could you arrange a limo, back to Mara's house, I imagine her parents are worried."

"Of course Master Harold. And may I say you're speech last night was quite impressive."

"Yeah?" Harry half smiled "I can't remember much of it," he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly

"No. I can't imagine you do." Bertrum smiled "I've organised for Poppy flowers to be grown along the stairwell."

"What?" Harry frowned "Sure Bertrum, just get the limo."

Line Break

"Okay," Harry tried, taking a gentle sip of water as he sat opposite Mara in the limousine. She fiddled with the ends of her dress "So Jerome began asking about your mother, and her..." he nodded "And you decided not to tell him, but he wouldn't drop it..." He ran a hand through his brown curls "Then what?"

"I don't know." She sighed, massaging her temples "We've been having problems. There's the strain...he's worried about Poppy, about you, and I'm starting to resent how he doesn't take much seriously. Which is why I didn't tell him about my mother. He wouldn't understand."

"Mara," Harry whispered, his green eyes were disappointed. He loved Jerome and Mara together, it made him happy to see a couple as perfect as theirs. "You should tell him. Give him a chance to understand at least." The limo stopped, and Harry took her arm, leading her out. They headed up the drive. "Jerome's a good guy, you know that,"

"He was flirting Harry," she groaned "Throughout the night, even before we started fighting he was flirting with all the beautiful girls there. Shannon, Nathasha, and it was obvious they weren't interested. Too busy thinking about hooking up with some crazy rich guy, he was still...ugh. He acts this way in high social situations, flirting, it really irritates me. But I don't wanna sound like one of those girlfriends."

Harry walked her up the drive, and knocked on the door. He didn't ask if Mara had a key, and he doubted she'd find it anyway. "All I know is that I've shipped jara for as long as I can remember," Mara smiled sadly "So you two better fix this, because if you don't, I will." He warned. The door opened and Mara's mother appeared

"Oh Harry!" She gushed "I knew that Jack shouldn't have worried, you always look after our girl," she smiled, hugging Mara tightly. Harry laughed

"Sorry Mrs J, she just fell asleep, I wanted to make sure she got home alright," he stuffed his hands into his pockets bashfully "She may have a headache."

"Shut up, Harry," Mara murmured with a small smile. Harry laughed, wishing her mother goodbye, and heading back to the limo, he slid in, groaning at the wonderfulness that the darkness brought to soothe his headache.

"Sir, there are many investors who would like to talk to you," Bertrum called, rolling down the separating wall. Harry half smiled

"Did you see it, Betrum? How he hugged me?"

Bertrum smiled sadly. Poor old Bertrum, who had worked with the family for at last 70 years. How Harold had needed a father when he was young, but all he had was servants and maids. He had tried to be a father, but Harry was so hell-bent on earning a particular type of lover from his father, he ignored everything else. "Yes I did, young Master. He seemed ecstatic, you're speech was truly heart-felt. I think that's what separated it."

Harry frowned, moments and flashes coming back to him as they drove along smoothly "I remember someone interrupting..." he muttered

"Oh yes." Bertrum glared at the road ahead "Someone let a press member in by mistake. Damn those sneaky paparazzi, luckily you handled it perfectly. I think even better than your father could have handled it. I was very proud of you."

"Thanks Bertrum," he smiled, and then more flashes came back. Of him, and Poppy in the garden, talking about roses and the sorts. "Oh..." he whispered "That's why I asked you to plant Poppy's," he nodded "Bertrum, you shouldn't let me over do it at parties. Especially when there are high end guests around."

"And those young ladies. Natasha, Shannon."

"What about them?" Harry asked, straightening his jacket, and rubbing his eyes "They're just old family friends,"

"Oh young sir, if you don't mind me saying, it still astounds me of how naïve you are. Those women were all trying to seduce you-" He was cut off by Harry's loud laughter that boomed through the car. He glanced in the mirror and saw the teenager, doubled over with laughter, straining his seat belt, wiping tears of joy from his eyes. "Sir, I'm serious. Many of those women find you incredibly desirable, you're rich, not bad looking, powerful, funny. Why wouldn't they want you?"

"No offence, Bertrum." Harry scoffed, trying to wipe the smile from his face "But you're out of your mind. You know? I know who I am. I'm average, perfectly average. Expect in social status. But Jerome, it's people like Jerome who have girls fawning all over them. And David Beckham, Jenna loves him. If she doesn't...I don't know why she has so many posters of him."

Line Break

"I made breakfast," Poppy whispered as Jerome headed downstairs. He stopped on the second stair and scanned the situation. She had in fact made breakfast, scrambled egg, sizzling bacon, toast, buttered just the way he liked it and two glasses of orange juice "I thought you might need a pick me up."

He stared at her cautiously, and sat down, inhaling the heavenly scent of everything "And why exactly are you being so nice to me?" he asked, looking around "What? Is it poisoned? The orange juice spiked? Is there chilli-powder on the bacon, man, that is a Christmas I will never forget." He visibly shuddered and Poppy laughed

"No Jerome, this is for..." she shook her head "For being a brother, I guess. Last night, even when you were hurting, you took the time to talk to me. So, I figure you need more help. Here's some breakfast."

Jerome arched a delicate eyebrow, but he believed her. "Well...thank you, Poppy." He whispered, clearing his throat "How are things with you and Harry?"

"Technically, they're fine." Poppy sighed "I just have problems with all his big shot friends. And I think I sorta agreed to run Osborne Enterprises with him."

Jerome snickered "Thank god, I had a bad feeling I'd made that deal a while back. That gets me out of it," he took a bite of toast and Poppy sat opposite him. "Man Poops, do we have to go to school today?" he took a quick gulp of orange juice.

"If we don't, they'll be angry with us."

There was a loud knock on the door. Poppy and Jerome froze instinctively, and they both turned to the white door, not moving. Both not making a sound. Dead quiet, like mice. There was some shuffling, and a key was pushed into the lock. The siblings swallowed, waiting anxiously, and let out a sigh of relief. "Dudes, you realise I have a key right?" Harry exclaimed, literally falling into the house after tripping over the welcome mat. He stood and scanned the situation in front of him "Alright...I'm just here to make sure you both come to school today. Because if you don't, I will blame myself. Now hurry up, get changed, quickly, limo's waiting-"

"Harry," Jerome sighed "You don't have to do this, it's not your fault, Mara and I-"

"She told me." Harry sighed, flicking Jerome's head "Now go get changed!" Jerome grinned, heading up stairs. Poppy arched an eyebrow and Harry frowned at her "You alright Poppy? Never really got to say goodbye properly last night. Someone tells me you were crying. Wanna talk about it?" he was talking sadly, because he knew she wouldn't want too.

"I just had too much to drink," she lied with a harmless shrug.

Harry was being careful, he didn't want to end up single like Jerome by prying to much, so his voice was very gentle "Oh okay, it's just you barely finished your glass of wine. You're incredibly responsible." Poppy said nothing, blue eyes trained on the floor and Harry collapsed onto the sofa "Alright, go and get changed. I'll be waiting. Hurry!" She couldn't help but smile, and rushed upstairs.

Harry sighed, shaking his head. Standing and heading over the table, he took a mouthful of toast and drank from the untouched orange juice, smiling. He loved the Clarkes, like they were family. And years ago he and Jerome had spent endless months trying to hook Jerome's mum and Harry's dad up. But Norman Osborne was never going to move on, and Jerome's mother Cecilia...she was focused too much on her job really for a relationship. Harry supposed now that it was a good thing, he could hardly date Poppy if he was her step-brother.

The two of them came down at the same time, and he pushed them out the door and into the limo, unable to wipe the smile from his face.

Review?