Continuing on with things that wouldn't be... this is the original last book that I had intended to write from Daisy's point of view, and it is completely different. In the series, she ends up with Wills, but I had initially intended for her to end up with Coach Nilsson. Truth be told, I think the way I went was better. This was before I figured out the big bad. And it's a bit more... non-magical realistic. And darker in that sense. Which is why I ended up not going with it.

I split it up into two chapters because I had about 25 pages written.

Here we go...

Daisy took a deep breath as she leaned over the railing on the balcony, champagne glass in hand. While she appreciated her brothers and their eagerness to celebrate all things with parties, she couldn't keep up with it sometimes. Even after four years of after parties and extravagant birthday parties, she still wasn't used to it.

"Thought I'd find you here, Pix," Jamie said. She looked over her shoulder at her older brother and smiled. "How does it feel to be the top seeker in the League?" She chuckled.

"Not so bad," she said, though she looked back down at the street. Not before he saw the sadness sneak in.

"Still thinking about Kingfisher?" he asked, stepping up next to her. She sighed.

"We were together almost four years. Engaged. He was the love of my life, or at least I thought so. Thought it took awhile to get over those," she said wearily. "But I suppose in the end… it worked out the way it should."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Jamie asked softly. Daisy shrugged.

"I kept things from him. And now that we know the danger is real… I don't want him anywhere near. That injury last year may have just saved his life," she said, still looking at the street.

"I still don't understand why you wouldn't tell him," Jamie said.

"I don't judge how you live your life, so don't judge mine," Daisy said harshly. Jamie studied her a moment before putting and arm around her shoulder and pulling her to his side.

"Sorry… I wasn't judging you," he said softly.

"I know… just… sometimes it's hard. I had hoped we'd be married by now. I had promised myself I'd tell him everything on our wedding night. Surely by then I would have… there would have been a connection," she said, tears silently falling down her cheeks. "It killed me that I didn't feel it since that night, but surely… if he was my husband… it would have been there."

"I don't know how you managed to get through the last few years pretending it was there," Jamie said. "Must not have been easy."

"It wasn't… but I made do," Daisy said. The two stood silently a few moments before Daisy stood up and wiped her cheeks. She looked at her brother. "Look at us… we're supposed to be celebrating, not rehashing my latest failed romance," she said with a smile. She glanced into the flat and smiled at the sight of her cousin Lucy, her arm wrapped around her new husband, the Arrows' captain Ryan Kelly. Daisy was surprised the two had waited as long as they did, but supposed with everything that had been going on with the family the last few years, Lucy's mind had been on other things.

And now with their worst fears confirmed, the two decided they needed to tie the knot before it was too late.

"You ready to start with Puddlemere?" Jamie asked, hoping to distract his sister with a happier topic.

"Is one ever actually ready to go back to the tyrant?" she asked, an eyebrow raised and a slight smile on her face. Jamie nudged her shoulder.

"And here I thought you were excited to be back on the same team as your older brothers," he scoffed.

"Da finally got his wish," she said. "We were all on the national team this summer and now he's finally got all of us on Puddlemere."

"I didn't think Nilsson was going to let you there for a moment," Jamie said. Daisy nodded, thinking to her serious coach.

"Didn't either. But he did make a promise to me that first season - someday I was going to get better offers and he was going to advise me to take them," she said, taking a sip. "Suppose I can finally afford my own place now." Jamie looked down at her, eyes wide.

"Really? But you've only just moved back in," he said. Daisy laughed loudly.

"You seriously don't want me to leave," she said. "Why? So you three can keep an eye on me?"

"No… you don't need anyone to keep an eye on you. To be honest, it's been some of the best times in memory with you here," Jamie said, his voice getting soft. Daisy looked up and him and slid an arm around his waist.

"Getting all sentimental on me, are ya," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Don't worry. I've no plan to leave anytime soon. It's us Woods against the world, you know."

"Soon to be more Woods against the world… Remus is ring shopping," he said.

"Took him long enough," she replied.

"There are my ruddy cousins! Get in here!" Kelly shouted as he popped out from the flat. Daisy and Jamie turned to look at him and grinned.

"As far as I'm aware, you're still a Kelly," Daisy replied.

"Oh, so I've got to take the Weasley name, is it? Fine. I'm henceforth Ryan Weasley. Now get your arses in here," he retorted.

It was an odd feeling for Daisy, going back into the Arrows locker room. She needed to clean out her locker and wanted to do it while no one else was around. It was common for folks to change teams - and even though she knew all along that eventually she would move to Puddlemere - it still didn't stop the bittersweetness of the moment.

She silently scolded herself for being sentimental. She would still see the blokes. They were all close after four seasons together. Hell, Kelly was quite literally family now. And there would always be the after parties at the flat. Even though Remus and Alan had been on Puddlemere for a season now, they still routinely held after parties for the Wanderers as well as Puddlemere. Daisy figured they'd extend the same invitation to the Arrows. Her father planned to continue inviting both teams to the annual summer picnic.

She pulled her bag open and started taking down photos. She stopped for a moment and looked at one she hadn't had the heart to take down, even though the breakup was months old. It was one of her and Kingfisher, arms wrapped around each other as they grinned at the camera and then he kissed her. She smiled sadly as the tears pricked her eyes. She reached out and gently touched the photo as the flood of memories came pouring in.

Shaking her head, she straightened her shoulders and went back to pulling the photos out and tossing them into her bag.

"Of course you'd wait to do this on your own," a voice said from behind her. Daisy turned and looked at her coach, leaning against the door frame.

"Didn't want the lads to cry and all," she said, laughing softly. She turned back to pulling things out and putting them in her bag. Nilsson watched her, amazed at how much she had changed over the years. She was still every bit the fiery pixie that had stolen the hearts of the whole team. But she had grown into herself. Now starting her fifth season, she was easily the top seeker and would be for years to come.

And there was something else different about her. Nilsson couldn't put his finger on it. He chalked it up to the recent changes. She and Kingfisher had broken up a few months ago - called off their engagement - and he had gone back to the U.S. Daisy had played first string on the Scottish National Team at the just ended World Cup. The Arrows had even gotten close to winning the last European Cup. And now she was leaving to go to Puddlemere - joining her brothers.

Nilsson watched as she reached up and pulled out a photo of the team after they had finally won the League Cup. She smiled softly as a tear slid down her cheek. He wanted nothing more than to run to her and wipe it away. He wanted to make sure she didn't cry again. Especially after he had witnessed the bloodshot eyes and constant swollen face in the aftermath of the breakup.

"Something wrong, Coach?" Daisy asked, bringing him out of his thoughts. He realized that he had been watching her in silence for a few minutes as his cheeks started turning pink.

"Nothing… just… thinking about the first day you started with us," he said, trying to push the thoughts that had just been running through his head away. Daisy laughed softly.

"I thought Hastings and Kelly were going to kill me," she said. He nodded.

"I worried one of them would try and what you would do to them if they did," he replied. Daisy returned to cleaning out her locker.

"It's not like I'm leaving forever," she said, glancing over her shoulder again. "I'm just going to Puddlemere. We'll still see each other." Nilsson cleared his throat and nodded.

"Of course," he said. He then stepped into the locker room and sat on the bench across from Daisy. How many times had he sat there over the last years - usually to ream her out. Daisy turned around to face him, sensing her coach had something to say.

"What is it?" she asked, tucking a strand of curly red hair behind her ear. She sat and studied her coach.

"I just… I wanted to thank you," he said. "For… everything. For giving me my life back. Showing me that I had something more to live for." Daisy shifted slightly on the bench, feeling the intensity of his ice blue eyes settling on her.

"Coach… you did that yourself," she said softly. "I just… helped… a bit."

"You did a lot more than you'll give yourself credit for," he said. "You became the heart of this team." Daisy chuckled softly.

"A lot good that did," she whispered as she smiled sadly. "Couldn't keep us all together."

"I think it's good that you're going to Puddlemere. You need… change," Nilsson said. "A fresh start. Another place to make your mark. But I won't lie… it won't be the same without you around."

"I think you'll do just fine without me. I hear you've got a good new seeker coming in," she said with a smile.

"I hear quidditch runs in her family," Nilsson replied with a smile.

"You know how those Weasley-Wood-Potters are… all sass. She'll be talking back to you in about five minutes of the first practice," Daisy replied. "Her mother is pretty headstrong. And I assume sales will go up with the Minister for Magic in the crowd nearly every game."

"I'm assuming she also picked up some of that from her mentor," he said, an eyebrow raised. Daisy grinned. "If I could handle the famous Pixie, I'm sure I can handle Rose Granger-Weasley."

"Just be glad you didn't get our other cousin," Daisy said, rolling her eyes. Nilsson laughed, an oddly comforting sound.

"I hear James is giving the Falcons a run for their money," he said. Daisy sighed.

"I do not know what possessed him to sign with them, though I reckon it's only until Wills retires and a chaser spot opens on Puddlemere. Even then, I'm not sure if Dad will sign him," she replied.

"Not good enough for Wood?" Nilsson asked, perplexed.

"No… not sure if he can handle the combined mischief of Remus, Alan AND James. They were the worst in school," she said. "Merlin, we're all in our 20s now and STILL they're pranking whenever they get a chance." Nilsson chuckled.

"I do remember the first time we played the Falcons after James signed with them. He rigged glitter bombs in their lockers that exploded right before the game," he said. Daisy rolled her eyes.

"And who do you think he got the idea from?" she asked. "It's what Remus and Alan did to the Wanderers when they made first string."

Daisy stood on the balcony, the photo of her and John in her hand. A single tear slid down her cheek. She knew it was for the best. In the end, they weren't right for each other. The fact that she could never feel him - no connection had ever formed between them - should have been a sign. But it still hurt in a deeply visceral way. As though there was a knife being plunged into her gut. She closed her eyes and wiped the tear away, her hand then moving cautiously over her empty left ring finger. It had only been there for a short time and already she was constantly aware of its missing presence. She closed her eyes, going back to that day when he gave it to her.

Daisy sat in the stands of the family quidditch pitch, getting a moment away from the family party. She could still hear the shrieks and laughter of Teddy and Victoire's daughter as Uncle George chased her around the pool. She still couldn't quite believe that he was already a father. Lucy and Kelly were getting close to their wedding date. Molly had been married a year already and she and her husband were already talking about starting a family. It seemed everyone in her family was growing up and moving on with their lives.

Of course, she was as well. Her father had been mentioning her transfer deal all season. She hadn't yet made a decision yet - she wanted to wait to hear if she made the World Cup first string. She had played several of the qualifying matches, but was still nervous about whether she would play in the final tourney.

"There you are," a voice said from behind her. Daisy looked over and smiled as John walked up. "Escaping the chaos?" She nodded. He held out a cardigan, knowing she would getting chilly from the approaching night air. She accepted it, pulling it on. He held out a bottle of whisky in his other hand, causing her to chuckle.

"You know me all too well, Mr. Kingfisher," she said as he sat next to her.

"We have been living together the last two years. If I haven't mostly figured you out by now, then I'm not a good boyfriend," he said, handing her the bottle. She took a drink and handed it back. Daisy looked out to the field, taking in the hoops. "I'm still in awe of this place sometimes."

"It is a sight. Only my father could be so obsessed with quidditch that he built a pitch in the backyard for his future children," Daisy replied.

"He's probably counting on at least a few of his grandchildren following in your footsteps as well," John said. Daisy nodded silently. "He still talking about the deal?" She smiled and took the bottle.

"Please… that is one thing I would like to not talk about for once," she said, rolling her eyes. There was another shriek as both of them looked over, seeing George swing little Adelaide around.

"Higher! I want to fly higher!" she shrieked. Daisy smiled as she took a drink. John looked back at her, reaching over to take her hand.

"You think someday that could be our kids?" he asked softly. Daisy shrugged. It was only the second time he had brought up the idea of the two of them having children. The idea scared her, but she was starting to warm up to the idea a bit.

"Could be," she said, her eyes flashing. John took the bottle from her, placing it on the bleacher in front of them. He then cupped her cheek gently.

"Daisy… There's no one else I want to have children with," he said softly. He leaned in and kissed her softly. When Daisy opened her eyes, he had pulled something out of his pocket. She looked down at it and then back up at him, her breath hitching.

"John… is that…," she murmured as he slid the box open, revealing a simple white gold band with a single, round diamond. Immediately, Daisy's eyes watered as she gasped.

"Daisy Nymphadora Wood… will you marry me?" he asked. She grinned and grabbed his face, kissing him. "I take it that's a yes?" he asked. She nodded enthusiastically. He grinned as he gently slid the ring on her finger. It was a little loose. Daisy frowned slightly as she held her hand up, feeling the ring move around. "Easily fixed," John said. He pulled his wand out from his pocket and waved it over her hand, automatically resizing it. Once it fit, Daisy grinned and kissed him again.

"Are you lot teens again? What's this sneaking off to the pitch to snog?" Remus shouted. Daisy and John looked over, seeing her brothers walking up, a couple more bottles in hand.

"Well… I don't know too many teens that sneak off to propose," John shouted, grinning. All three stopped and gaped at the two.

"Are you serious?" Jamie asked. Daisy nodded and held her hand out.

"Well, now this does call for a celebration!"

Daisy was still looking at the photo as she walked over and sat at the table, picking up her glass of wine. She set the picture on the table as she took a drink and looked out over the street, hearing a few couples walk down the street laughing. Another tear slid down her cheek. She had to admit while she liked living with John, she missed the balcony at the place she shared with her brothers.

She closed her eyes, listening to the music wafting from inside. There had been many happy memories with John over the years. But even she had to admit that things had been sliding the last year or so they had been together. There was never one big thing, looking back. More like a hundred little threads that held their relationship together had started to fray.

But it was that last fight that had done it… Shortly before the World Cup matches started up.

"Daisy! What the hell is this?!" John said as he walked into the living room, tossing the Prophet on the coffee table. Daisy sat up, staring at the headline.

'Arrows star seeker to transfer to Puddlemere'

She took and deep breath and frowned. The talks had been going on for awhile, but she still hadn't decided yet. Some overzealous reporter must have seen drafts of the deal and jumped the gun.

"I thought you hadn't decided yet! I thought we were going to discuss this before you signed!" John shouted. Daisy looked up at him, still frowning.

"And I haven't. We haven't signed a damn thing yet," she said. "I don't know where this came from."

"If you're lying to me, Daisy-"

"Why would I lie to you?" she shouted, now standing as her hair flared bright orange. "What's this about?!" John stared at her.

"You didn't sign the deal?"

"No! I haven't decided if I want to stay with the Arrows or go to Puddlemere."

"I thought you said you'd consider looking into the American League," he said, his voice finally returning to a normal tone. Daisy stared at him before answering.

"We agreed we'd wait a few years before we did that," Daisy said. "Why are you suddenly changing things?" John took a deep breath.

"Daisy… I went to St. Mungo's today… it's still not healing right," he said. Daisy walked to him, taking his face in her hands.

"John, we knew it was going to take time. And Coach has said he'll keep you as long as we want to stay," she said softly. John shook his head.

"No, Daisy. It's… there's no way Coach is going to keep me longer with the way I've been playing," he said.

"We can fix this, John. I swore to you we would. We just need… more practice. More training-"

"Daisy that's not going to fix my arm! I'm a beater and my damn right arm won't work right! It hasn't nearly all year!" he shouted, moving away from her. "I'm lucky if I have another season left."

Daisy swallowed, watching him as he rubbed his arm. She stepped up behind him, wrapping her arms around him.

"It'll be okay," she said.

"No. It's not," he said. "I've been offered a coaching job." Daisy stepped back then moved around in front of him, looking up at him.

"That's… that's great, John. Where?" she asked.

"In Texas."

The silence was thick in the air as Daisy realized what this meant.

"Well… surely they can wait a year," she said, trying not to believe that he would consider going back to America this soon. John laughed.

"They aren't going to wait, Daisy. They want me to start next season," he said. Daisy nodded.

"So… you're going to take it?" she asked, looking up at him, her eyes tearing up.

"I don't think I have a choice. If I stay… what happens in one or two years when I do quit? How do I know I'll be able to get a position here?"

"But… I'm sure Dad could-"

"No, Daisy! I'm not going to work for your dad and I don't need his favors!" he shouted, causing Daisy to jump.

"Then what? I'm supposed to just… let you go to America? Or what? Transfer to the US League just when I'm about to sign with my dream team?" she asked, starting to raise her voice.

"I thought you didn't want to transfer?"

"I said I wasn't sure yet," she replied.

"What's so wrong with the US League? You could walk onto any team of your choice."

"It's… it's not here," she said. "My family is here. Everything I've ever known is here!"

"How do you think I've felt all these years?!" John shouted back. They both stared at each other before John laughed haggardly. "I must have been crazy to think this would ever work."

"You were the one who was convinced it would," Daisy said softly. "You got me to believe it could." John took Daisy's face in his hands, leaning his forehead against hers.

"Daisy… I love you… so much… but I'm not sure if that's enough right now," he whispered. "I can't ask you to leave… not now. It would be unfair. And you can't ask me to stay."

"Is this… is this really how it's going to end?" she asked, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"I promised that we would try," he said.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt me."

"I promised I would do my damnedest not to."

She sighed as she opened her eyes, allowing the tears to freely flow down her cheeks. She had moved back into her brothers' flat the next day, leaving the ring on the coffee table. The following day she had walked into Coach's office, telling him she was going to accept the transfer deal.

Then she had to deal with a couple weeks of reporters hounding her about the broken engagement or the transfer. Thankfully things on that had finally died down, allowing her to process in relative peace.

Daisy was surprised to see Nilsson step out onto the balcony.

"Coach? What are you doing here this fine evening?" she asked, sitting up. She was in a pair of thin pajama pants and a t-shirt, a worn cardigan wrapped around her as she took in the cityview with a glass of wine. To be honest, she was not expecting her former coach to come barging out. She looked around the corner, wondering who had even let him in. As far as she knew, Remus was out having dinner with Laura, while Alan was on a date and Jamie was over at Lila's. Daisy herself was waiting for Toby to come over with takeout. A common occurrence since the breakup. She had taken to avoiding going out with all the press coverage.

"Sorry… I, ah, the wards… I just," he said, looking slightly frantic. Daisy untucked her feet from the chair, worry knitting her brow.

"Is something wrong?" she asked standing up as she sat her glass down. She had never seen Nilsson this out of it. He ran his fingers through his slightly messy hair. She had barely seen him since the season started outside of matches and the occasional party he had appeared at. He said he liked to check and see how she was doing since the transfer.

He breathed heavily, glancing at her glass of wine and then back up at her face.

"Seriously, you're starting to scare me," Daisy said, breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to frighten you," he said. He took a deep breath. "Daisy…" He stepped up to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and brushing his fingers across her cheek. "Daisy…"

Daisy froze, not sure how to react. Her skin tingled, and one part of her was screaming for him to kiss her. Again, the other part was telling her that he was her former coach and this couldn't be happening.

"All these years, Daisy… I've wanted to do this," he whispered. He then bent down. Daisy held her breath, feeling his breath on her lips. Just as his were about to touch hers, Daisy jerked awake. She sat up in her bed and looked around her dark room. She was breathing heavy as she touched her lips. Looking at the clock, it was only about 1 a.m. She had the next day off from practice, so threw the comforter off, deciding she wasn't going to get back to sleep anytime soon, so she might as well get something to help her sleep.

She didn't understand the dream. She had never really felt that attracted to her former coach so didn't understand where it would even come from. Maybe she was just feeling lonely. She padded down the hallway, coming into the living room. Waving her wand, a low light from the kitchen came on and she made her way to the cabinet, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a glass. She sat at the island and poured a sliver, chuckling slightly to herself. She was turning into her dad.

"Pix, what's wrong?" Jamie asked as he stepped into the kitchen, causing her to start.

"Nothing," she said with a weak smile. "Just… couldn't sleep."

"You want to talk about it?" he asked, frowning slightly. Daisy's cheeks flushed.

"Not particularly," she said. He walked over and sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her head.

"I know it was a rotten deal," he said softly, thinking it was related to John. "We all really thought it was going to work out."

"Same here," she said, a tear slipping out. "But none of us could predict the accident… or that it would affect us the way it did. Honestly, nothing was the same after that. Part of me thinks he always kind of blamed me… that I didn't have the connection with him and could warn him..."

Jamie sighed.

"I guess in the end, the Falcons got their revenge," he said. Daisy chuckled softly.

"And here I thought that rivalry died when they signed James," she said, rolling her eyes.

"He has gotten them to lighten up a bit. Save Hardwick. I'm certain he still doesn't know how to handle him and he's been there two seasons now," Jamie commented.

"Harry still feels conflicted. He always was a Puddlemere fan," Daisy mused.

"I suppose it's only a matter of time before our old Hogwarts team is mostly reassembled." Daisy looked at her brother.

"You really think Da will sign him? I mean… he's fair and all - only goes after the best and James is really coming into his own - but that'll make over half the team his family," Daisy said. "The press will have a heyday with that one. It was bad enough after he signed me."

"Yea, but it wasn't that bad. You've been one of the top seekers since you started. I think everyone knew you'd end up there eventually," he said.

"Suppose it's all moot anyway. Wills declared the other day that he'll never retire," Daisy said with a chuckle. "Right before he told me to start planning our wedding."

"He's 36 and still one of the top chasers. Pretty sure he'll play at least another five seasons," Jamie said. "And Dad's quite happy with the team he's assembled. Pretty sure the cup is ours this season."

"It's been yours nearly every year since you started," Daisy said rolling her eyes.

"Except the year it was yours."