The last of the cuts...
Daisy strode up the path, determination in her steps even though the rain was pouring down. She smirked as she reached the door and knocked loudly. The door flew open as Nilsson stood there, slightly shocked, dressed in a pair of jeans and no shirt. Daisy's breath hitched slightly as she took it his chiseled chest. Her eyes traveled up, meeting his shocked, yet pleased ice blue eyes.
"What are you doing here, Daisy?" he asked.
"Something I should have done a long time ago," she said smiling as she stepped up to him and grabbed his face, pulling him down to meet her as she pressed her lips to his. He froze in shock for a moment, then smiled and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
He pulled back and looked down at her, searching her face for some sort of answer.
"Why?" he asked softly.
"Because… it was always meant to be, don't you see?" she asked. She grinned as he laughed then reached down and swiftly picked her up, easily lifting her into his arms, much like he had all those years ago when she was injured. Daisy giggled as he kicked the door shut and strode through the living room to a staircase, pausing at the bottom to kiss her again. He then ran up the stairs, glancing down at her. Once at the top he started kissing her again, walking into a large room with a sturdy but comfy bed. Gently he put Daisy's feet back on the ground as she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her brain was firing off a mile a minute, hardly believing this was happening. That she was here, kissing Lucas passionately as he was tugging off her soaked shirt and then tangling his fingers in her wild red hair.
"Daisy," he murmured as he moved to kissing down her neck to her collarbone.
"Lucas," she breathed, relishing the feel of it on her tongue. "Lucas…" She stepped back, moving towards the bed, an impish grin on her face. Suddenly, she stepped on something, tripping and falling back…
Daisy woke with a start as she landed on the ground in her dark bedroom, groaning in pain. She sat up, rubbing her head and a bit stunned at the dream. It was the second dream she had had about her former coach, and they were continuing to get steamier. She breathed heavily, feeling her flushed cheeks. Suddenly her door burst open as all three of her brothers ran in, flipping on the lights.
"What's wrong? We heard a thump!" Remus shouted. They stood in silence, staring at Daisy askew on the floor.
"I… I fell out of bed," she stated dumbly, looking up at them. "I just… I had a weird dream…" Jamie stepped forward and helped her up. "I'm fine."
"What on earth were you dreaming about?" Alan asked, taking in her tangled comforter and bedsheets.
"It's nothing," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She was going to have to talk to Lucy tomorrow. This was getting out of hand.
Daisy sat across from her cousin, grateful that she had agreed to meet on short notice.
"I already ordered for you," Lucy said, motioning towards the cocktail in front of Daisy. She grabbed in and gulped down half of it before speaking. Lucy sat staring at her cousin with impatience.
"Fine… I've been having dreams…" Daisy said. Lucy leaned forward.
"Pray tell, what about?" she asked, seeming half concerned and half amused.
"Nilsson," Daisy whispered, her cheeks turning pink. Lucy's eyes widened as a wicked grin spread across her face.
"Please tell me you're having dirty dreams about that tall drink of water," she said. Daisy stared at her cousin.
"Quiet, Lucy," she said, glancing around at the other tables around them.
"Merlin, you are!" she exclaimed in glee.
"So… it doesn't mean anything, they are just dreams," Daisy said.
"If it doesn't mean anything then why did you call me out suddenly to discuss it?" she asked.
"I don't know… it's just… gah, I can't believe this," she said, burying her face in her arms on the table. Lucy giggled.
"You know it's perfectly fine to have naughty dreams," she said, sipping on her drink.
"Not about your former coach," Daisy moaned, her voice muffled.
"Maybe you just need a good shag," Lucy mused. "It has been ages, you know." Daisy looked up at her.
"Lucy… I just got out of a nearly five year relationship with a man I was engaged to only a handful of months ago," she said, scowling. Lucy shrugged.
"Probably even more good reason. Daisy, your whole life you've been so obsessed with quidditch that you never got around to having a normal dating life. You've only been with two men," she said. "I'm simply suggesting that you are young and maybe it wouldn't hurt to get out there and do what other young women do."
"Have a one night stand?" Daisy asked dubiously.
"Doesn't have to be that… you could always just… go out. Go to a club. Dance. Get a bit drunk. Let loose. Snog someone on the dance floor," Lucy said.
"And I'm just supposed to do this on my own?" Daisy asked.
"Of course not. I'll go. We'll get all the girls together. Sarah, Dominique, Victoire, Molly. It'll be fun," Lucy said, smiling. Daisy rolled her eyes.
"Fine… I suppose I'll give it a try…"
Daisy stared at herself in her full-length mirror.
"This is a horrible idea," she moaned.
"Is not. Shut it," Lucy replied from the bathroom. Daisy turned around, inspecting her outfit from all angles. She was in a black sequined mini dress with a plunging neckline and tiny straps. It was backless. Her red hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, with her curls cascading down her back.
She hadn't been out so much as for coffee in the last few months. Going from being a recluse to a night out partying was a massive jump and Daisy was already feeling nervous.
"Would you relax? Tonight is about fun! Besides, all of us save Dominique are married, so it's not likely we'll get too wild. It's a good stepping off point," Lucy said, coming out of the bathroom.
"How did you convince Kelly to let you go out?" Daisy asked, looking at her cousin. Lucy snorted.
"There was no convincing. I simply told him that I was going out with my cousins and not to wait up," she said matter-of-factly. Daisy chuckled. There was something to be said about the women in her family - namely that none of them took no for an answer.
Daisy had to admit the shots had loosened her up. She laughed as Dominique dragged her out into the middle of the dance floor with the other girls following. Daisy stood there giggling a moment before she slowly started moving in time with the music. Soon enough she tossed all caution to the wind and was full out moving with the beat. Dominique and Lucy looked at each other, their eyes wide. They hadn't realized Daisy could dance like that. They grinned as they looked around, catching more than a few guys taking notice of her.
Daisy closed her eyes, moving around and not paying any attention. The song shifted into something with a more latin beat and Daisy started moving her hips in time with the beat, looking at her cousins, grinning devilishly as they cheered. She took a few steps back and ran into a large, hard body behind her. She tried to look over her shoulder but immediately, large hands were on her hips and the body was moving in time with her. She laughed and continued dancing, not really caring who was behind her. And not noticing the shared looks of shock on her cousins, who were trying to signal her. One of the hands grabbed hers and spun her around as Daisy shrieked with laughter. She was then pulled in chest to chest with the stranger. Then she looked up and nearly froze to see her old nemesis - Chase Hardwick.
"Fancy meeting you here, Wood. Blowing off steam from the breakup," he said, leering down at her. Daisy stopped moving, her limbs stiff as Hardwick continued moving. "Come on, love, where's that fire you had a second ago?" He tried to spin her again, but another hand grabbed her free one, pulling her up to another tall, strong body.
"She doesn't want to dance with you, Hardwick," a familiar voice said. Daisy lifted her eyes, shocked to see none other than Nilsson. She looked back at Hardwick who was scowling, then shifted back into another leer.
"Well I guess we know who's been biding his time," he shouted over the music before stalking off. Daisy looked up at her white knight.
"Thank you," she stuttered, suddenly aware of how close they were.
"We don't have to… if you want to go back to dancing with your friends… just thought you could use some help," he said, a faint blush apparent in the strobe lights. Daisy shook her head.
"It's fine… let's dance," she found herself saying. Nilsson smiled and spun her again, showing a sense of rhythm and command on the dance floor that Daisy wasn't expecting. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucy and Dominique grinning madly as the two moved around the dance floor. She smiled as she found herself relaxing and getting more into.
Daisy rolled her eyes as she was dragged into the pub by her old teammates. She had only left the flat to go buy more books from Flourish and Blotts - she was bored re-reading all the books she currently owned - and now Kelly, Bray and Cunningham were forcing her to join them for "just one drink." She rolled her eyes knowing it was never just one drink with this lot.
"Don't look so excited, rookie," Cunningham said, grinning. A small smile graced her face as she shook her head.
"Besides, you look like you need a drink," Bray commented. Daisy looked down at her t-shirt and jeans.
"I don't look that bad," she said, frowning slightly.
"Let's just say, you've looked better," Kelly commented. Daisy narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don't forget you're married to my cousin and best friend," she said, trying to appear menacing.
"You have lost your edge. Come on. Let's get some firewhisky in you. That should help get that pixie spark back!" Cunningham shouted as he ran off to the bar.
"On a serious note, how have you been?" Bray asked. Daisy sighed.
"To be honest, I have been better. But… playing helps. Da's got us on a strict training schedule," she said. "It's… different. He doesn't quite have the finesse that Nilsson has, but I suppose after I get used to it, things'll get better."
"At least by now he's finally embraced you're more mischievous side," Kelly said, grinning. Daisy smiled.
"Thank Merlin," she replied. "Though if it's not him yelling at me, it's Wills trying to convince me that we should get married in the spring." She rolled her eyes.
"He always did have a soft spot for you," Bray commented. Daisy laughed - the first time in a long time that anything close to resembling her old self had appeared.
"Jamie says he's been planning our wedding since I joined the League," she said. "But can you imagine? Me and Wills? That has disaster written all over it."
Bray and Kelly laughed as Cunningham returned with a tray of shots. Daisy's eyes widened.
"Should have just bought the whole bottle," she said, looking at her former teammate. His eyes widened.
"Why didn't I think of that!" he said as he started to turn and go back to the bar. Daisy grabbed his arm and spun him back to the table.
"Later," she said.
"That's the spirit!" Kelly shouted. They all picked up a shot glass. "To our Pixie… may we get her properly pissed tonight in the hopes it'll mend her broken heart." Daisy rolled her eyes again - she felt she would be doing that a lot tonight - and snorted.
"How does getting properly pissed mend a broken heart?" she asked.
"Doesn't mend it, but it helps," Cunningham replied. They all downed their shots.
"Now, look Pixie, even though we aren't on the same team anymore, we're still your mates. And we're here for you. So if you want to yell or cry or whatever, we'll listen," Kelly said, uncharacteristically serious. Daisy laughed.
"We'll see which one of those I get to first," she said, picking up a shot glass and quickly downing it.
"There's the Pixie we've come to love!" Bray shouted.
About an hour later, Cunningham returned with a full bottle of firewhisky and clean shot glasses as the table of empty ones disappeared.
"So… there was no discussion. He just said he took the job and that was it?" Bray asked, leaning on the table with his chin in his hand. Daisy shrugged as she commandeered the bottle and immediately poured another round of shots.
"Looking back, you know, I can't blame him. Things weren't right since he got hurt, and it put us in a tough spot. He felt by taking me to America, he'd be holding me back. But he couldn't stay here," she said thoughtfully. "It was a very calm, logical ending to our love affair."
"Even pissed, she's extraordinarily kind. I would be screaming my bloody head off about it," Kelly said. Daisy looked at him.
"Isn't that a nightly occurrence at your place?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. Cunningham and Bray burst out laughing as Kelly blushed.
"Don't make me bloody regret marrying your cousin, rookie," he warned, though there was a definite twinkle in his eye. Daisy chuckled.
"You knew what you were getting into and if you didn't, you should have," she said, holding her glass up. They did the shots.
"So how was playing at the World Cup?" Bray asked. Daisy grinned.
"Amazing."
A few more hours later, the bottle was done and they were halfway through the second, but Daisy was weaving and had to lean against the table to keep her barings.
"You fuckin' lot got me drunk!" she wailed, as her former teammates started laughing.
"But it's gotten you to talk. And laugh. Besides being drunk, how do you feel?" Kelly asked. Daisy looked at him and grinned.
"Better," she said.
"Mission accomplished," Bray shouted as he held his glass up. Daisy clinked hers against his and downed it.
"Bugger… think I should head home. I'm going to have a nasty hangover tomorrow," she said.
"Rookie, it's raining cats and dogs outside and you're far too drunk to apparate," Cunningham said, surprisingly quite sober despite the amount of alcohol the four had consumed. "Let us help you home." Daisy pushed off the table, testing her balance. She wasn't weaving as much. She then waved them off.
"It's fine. You stay here and finish the bottle. I can get myself home just fine. We're only down the street from the flat," she said, feeling a bit more sober. They studied her a moment, not wanting to let her wander off on her own. Daisy rolled her eyes. "I already have three older brothers. I do not need more."
"Well then, if you think you're okay. Get home safe. Send a patronus or something to let us know you got there," Kelly said. Daisy nodded and smiled.
"Thank you for tonight. Really. I needed this," she said. She grabbed her purse and made her way out of the crowded pub. Standing on the doorstep, she looked out, noticing that it was really coming down. Holding her wand up, she conjured an umbrella and took a step out. Making her way down the street, it didn't take long for her shoes and the bottoms of her jeans to get soaked.
"Bugger," she muttered. She continued trudging along, ignoring the few other people she came along. It was late, but not too late. Plus with the rain, most had probably hunkered down in the various pubs until it subsided a bit.
But being outside had helped clear her head a bit from the firewhisky-induced haze, even if she were gradually getting soaked. And she had to admit that she had enjoyed the carefree night out with the lads. Smiling to herself, Daisy sighed, thinking that maybe she was finally starting to move forward. She put her umbrella away, just enjoying the feeling of the fall rain on her skin. The warm weather was still holding out, it seemed.
"Who let the pixie out alone?" a voice said from behind her. Daisy frowned as she stopped and turned around, seeing Hardwick leaning up against a closed shop corner. Daisy rolled her eyes. She must have been so wrapped up in her thoughts she missed him as she strolled passed.
"Haven't we gotten passed this old rivalry, Hardwick?" she groaned as she crossed her arms in front of her. He pushed off the building, walking towards her.
"Let bygones be bygones?" he asked, smiling. Granted on Hardwick it looked positively menacing. But Daisy was long passed being scared or intimidated by him.
"My cousin is playing on your team now," she said. Hardwick rolled his eyes.
"Apparently you can't beat the prankster out of someone," he muttered. Daisy's eyes turned cold.
"You so much as lay one finger on James-"
"Relax, rookie, I haven't touched him," Hardwick said. Daisy bristled.
"Why must everyone insist on still calling me that?" she muttered. She looked at the seeker and huffed. "Well, if that's all, I've got to get home." She started to turn.
"In the spirit of laying to rest our old rivalry, why don't you come have a drink with me," he said, stepping closer to her.
"Hardwick, I'm already three sheets to the wind. I just want to go home and pass out," she said, blinking as she tried to focus on him. She was starting to feel a bit sick. Mentally, she reminded herself to punch Kelly, Cunningham and Bray the next time she saw them.
"What harm could one drink do?" he said as he closed the space between them and slid an arm around her waist, attempting to corral her back down the street. Daisy pushed his arm off.
"No," she said, looking up at him in disgust. "I'm going home." She started to turn, but Hardwick grabbed her arm, hard. "Let me go, you troll." She tried to pull out of his grip, but in her drunken state it was a bit too difficult.
"Come on, Wood. You can't deny there's been a certain sexual tension between us since that first season. Now that Kingfisher is out of the equation, we're free to explore that," he said. Daisy snorted.
"Sexual tension, my ass," she said. "You mean you've been sore about losing out on that blasted bet since my first season. News flash, you never had a chance." She finally managed to yank her arm free just to have Hardwick turn to face, getting uncomfortably close.
"Come on, love, you know you've secretly enjoyed all that flirting on the pitch," he said, grinning.
"It's called strategy, Harwick. And I have to scrub the stink of it off me after every game," she said glaring up at him. "You must be daft if you think there's any truth do it." This only caused his grin to widened as he grabbed both her upper arms and pulled him close to him.
"You know you're tempted," he said, edging closer to her face. Daisy leaned back and tried to fight him off.
"Merlin, no," she scoffed. "Let go of me, Hardwick, or so help me I will hex you." Her eyes flashed red.
"There's the spark," he said, leaning down and attempting to kiss her.
"No!" Daisy shouted, pushing him off. Hardwick just laughed and grabbed her again.
"Come on, just a kiss," he crooned. Daisy grimaced, feeling his hot breath on her cheek. It stank of firewhisky. His hand grabbed her ass.
"Get off me!" she shouted. She pushed him away and pulled her arm back to punch. He dodged and the rain-slicked street - plus her inebriation - caused her to slip. Hardwick caught her, wrapping his arms around her.
"Not this time, rookie," he said. Daisy stomped on his foot and Hardwick howled in pain as she extracted herself from his arms. She backed up, breathing heavily. Hardwick looked up at her and then clenched his jaw as he lunged for her. Before Daisy could react, he grabbed her and dragged her into a nearby alley, Daisy kicking and screaming the whole way.
"You fuckin' bastard!" she shouted. Hardwick backhanded her, hard. It was enough to stun her into silence.
"That's more like it," he muttered. Daisy couldn't speak or move for a few moments. She wasn't even sure how much time had passed. She had a vague recollection of his hot kisses against her neck, causing her stomach to turn. Just as she felt Hardwick start pulling at her jeans, the fight came back. She started pushing against him, tears streaming down her face.
"No, no," she whimpered. He shoved her back against the wall of the alley, hard. She winced in pain as he went back to work. All she knew is she had to get away. Part of her thought that if maybe she just… let things play out, it would be over soon. No doubt Jamie would have felt something and be here in a moment. But something in her told her to fight back. Sensing an opening, she brought her knee up with all the force she could muster. It wasn't a lot, but enough to cause him to stumble back. Daisy took the opening and just as he started back for her, she disappeared.
Daisy didn't know what she was doing. Rushing down the path she had only seen in her dream, she stopped as soon as she got to the door, hesitating. Once standing there, the rain pouring down and soaking her through, she started second guessing herself. She lifted her hand to knock, her hand hovering over the door. Her breath came in shaky bursts as her heart pounded. This was crazy. What was she thinking coming here? She should turn around and go home. Have her brothers take care of Hardwick.
Before she could make a decision, the door suddenly pulled open, Nilsson standing there confused.
"Daisy… why are you here?" he asked. She froze, her hand still in the air as her eyes widened and the blood drained from her face. He was standing in a pair of plaid pajama pants but shirtless and barefoot. She gulped.
"I… I…," she stuttered. Her hair started turning purple then pink then back to purple then black while her eyes switched from green to red to gray to green again, unable to decide what color to settle on as her emotions ran crazy. She couldn't decide whether to collapse or to turn and run in the opposite direction. Especially as she was currently standing there in sopping wet jeans and a ripped t-shirt, her hair in wet curls around her.
Nilsson was equally stunned. He had dreamed of Daisy showing up on his doorstep, but not like this. She was heaving slightly, her eyes wide as her lips were slightly parted as though she wanted to say something but couldn't. It was then that he noticed her ripped shirt and the fact that her jeans were undone. Something very wrong had happened.
"Daisy?" he managed to ask, finding it hard to breathe himself. Daisy shook her head slightly as though she was attempting to clear her head. She slowly lowered her hand.
"I'm so sorry. I'm not sure why I came," she said, breathlessly, her eyes starting to tear up slightly. She was overwhelmed as her legs started to shake. Nilsson reached out and gently took her arm.
"You're shivering. Come in before you get sick," he said, leading her in. Daisy nodded as he led her in, shutting the door behind her. Daisy looked around the cozy home. He led her into a small living room decorated in varying shades of comforting blue. She looked around at the white walls and large stone fireplace as he placed her on the sofa. There were a few photos on the wall. One of three incredibly tall people -plus two short women - with the same shade of white blonde hair. She then saw the large photo over the fireplace - Mara.
Suddenly a heavy blanket fell around her shoulders. Daisy looked up into the ice blue eyes of her former coach and quickly looked away, pulling it around her, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"Is everything okay, Daisy?" he asked, sitting in a nearby armchair, leaning forward. He had put on a shirt. Daisy looked down, her hair falling forward to cover her now reddening face.
"I'm not sure why I came here… I just…," she said. Why did she come here? To him? Of all the places to apparate to in her hour of need.
"It's alright, Daisy. I've told you before, you can talk to me about anything. What happened?" he asked. Daisy looked up, staring at the fire. Her hair fell back from her face slightly and Nilsson froze. Slowly, he leaned further forward and brushed her hair back, noticing the forming bruise on her cheek. He then noted the other bruises down her neck.
"Daisy, tell me what happened now," he said, easily switching back into his coach persona.
"I went out with Cunningham, Bray and Kelly. They wanted to get me drunk and cheer me up," she said. "Which they did. But I knew I had had enough to drink so I left to go home."
She stopped as tears pricked at her eyes. She took a shuddering breath as she started to shake. Now that she was out of danger, the impact of everything that had just happened hit her.
"I ran into Hardwick while I was walking home," she said. Nilsson's eyes began to blaze. "He… wanted me to go for a drink. I refused. We had a bit of a back and forth. He tried to kiss me… but I…" Daisy stopped as the tears began flowing down her cheeks. She gasped trying to breathe. Nilsson was immediately on his feet and moved to sit on the other side of Daisy, pulling her into his arms. She began to sob.
"I pushed him away… tried to punch him but I slipped. He… grabbed hold of me and I stomped on his foot.. But I just… he got angry… he pulled me into an alley… and he..."
"Shh…," Nilsson murmured. "You did good." His mind was reeling. He wanted to kill Hardwick. And he was confused as to why Daisy would come to him when her brothers were much closer.
"I… I don't know why… but I just… I closed my eyes and thought of you… and when I opened them… I was here… I don't even know how I knew to come here…"
Nilsson rubbed her arm, a bit stunned that he was the first person she thought of. Her sobs quieted, but he could hear her still struggle to breathe. She was still shivering. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, hoping he could somehow cause her fear to subside simply by passing on his warmth to her. He leaned his cheek against the top of her head, then sat back on the sofa, pulling her with him, hoping she would be more comfortable.
They didn't speak and he just held her until eventually her shivering stopped and her struggled breathing died down, giving way to slow, smooth breaths. He looked down, noticing that she had fallen asleep. Nilsson took a deep breath, smoothing her hair away from her face. He studied her face, having never been this close to the rookie before. She had long, dark lashes that fanned across her smooth, porcelain skin. There was a small scar above her right eyebrow that he never noticed before, probably because she covered it up. It must be old - likely from a quidditch accident as a child - as it was faded. Her cheeks and chin had similar angles to her mother, but her nose was soft and rounded. Somehow the two very different features worked together.
He glanced up at the clock above the fireplace, noting that it was about 2 a.m. He needed to get word to her brothers and to his team. They would no doubt be wondering where she was and worried. Gently, he lifted her and stood, laying her gently on the sofa. He looked at her a moment, then decided she would be more comfortable in a bed. He reached down and picked her up, then carried her upstairs to his guest room. He laid her down on one side, then walked to the other, pulling the comforter and sheets down. He unwrapped her from the slightly damp blanket, picked her up again and then place her on the bed again. Gently, he tucked her in. He stepped back and watched as she settled in, her red curls splayed out across the pillow. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Without opening her eyes, Daisy knew that she wasn't in her bed at home. Something about the sheets felt off. She cautiously opened her eyes as her head started throbbing. She looked around the simply decorated room as the memories of the night before came rushing back. Drinking at the pub. Hardwick. Showing up at Nilsson's cottage. She carefully pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes as she felt the heat pool in her cheeks. She couldn't believe that she came there. Especially when she had been right down the street from home.
Gingerly, she pulled the comforter off and made her way downstairs. Once on the first floor, she moved towards a small kitchen where she heard voices. She walked in, seeing Nilsson standing with a mug of coffee and her three brothers sitting around the small table. She stopped and stared at them.
"Thank Merlin you're alright," Jamie said, standing. He rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Coach sent word last night and we came over as soon as the sun was up." Daisy nodded numbly.
"I'm fine," she murmured. Jamie stepped away from her, studying her cheek.
"No, you're not. And Hardwick is going to have to answer for himself this time," he said. Daisy sighed.
"He was drunk," she said.
"Doesn't matter. The prick is going to face an inquiry. Dad'll make sure of that," Remus said, scowling.
"You didn't tell him yet, did you?" she asked, her face going pale.
"We had to tell him, Daisy," Nilsson said calmly. "This is more than a stupid bet. He attacked you on the street." Daisy stared at him and then looked at each of her brothers. She finally sighed and lost all fight.
"Very well," she said. "When can we go home? I need a shower and sleep. Possibly a large glass of whiskey. Especially if I'm to face the wrath of Dad."
"No one is angry at you, Daisy. You did nothing wrong," Alan said softly.
"I know… just not looking forward to more weeks of the press hounding me," she said, wrapping her arms around herself. The three brothers shared a look of concern while Nilsson quietly watched the small seeker. "Are you sure we have to… go forward with… the inquiry?" All four men looked at her. Nilsson's heart nearly broke seeing her so weak. This was not the Pixie they all knew and loved.
"Let's just get home and we can discuss it after you get some rest," Jamie said. "We don't have to do anything until you're ready." Daisy nodded.
"Let's go."
Daisy didn't realize she had been screaming until Jamie rushed into her room and gently shook her awake. She shot up and pushed away from him, breathing heavily as she looked around the dark room frantically.
"Daisy, it's okay. It was just a dream," he said softly. She nodded slowly as she looked at him.
"I just… I thought he was here," she whispered. She looked at the clock on her nightstand, noticing that it was only 7 p.m. "Have I been asleep this whole time?"
Jamie nodded.
"We, ehm, we gave you a calming draught in your tea. Seemed you were still a bit worked up," he said apologetically. Daisy nodded again, placing her hand to her cheek, trying to ward off the grogginess. "Are you hungry?" She looked up at him.
"I think I could do with a spot of something," she said. Jamie nodded and stepped back as she threw the comforter off and stood, walking around the bed.
"Mum dropped off some food early," he said, following her out of the room.
"Was Da with her?" she asked.
"Yea, but when we told them you were still sleeping, they left shortly after," he said. Daisy walked out into the living room, seeing Alan and Remus on the sofa watching something on the TV.
"Anything good on?" she asked halfheartedly.
"Some show about dancing," Alan said, grimacing slightly. "Not sure why we're even watching this."
"It's entertaining, that's why," Remus said, frowning at his brother. A hint of a smile flashed across Daisy's face before it quickly disappeared. She walked over and sat in an armchair, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them.
Part of her chided herself. Of all the things she had been through, she should be able to handle this. For Merlin's sake, she had survived the past four years carrying a secret that she hadn't even told John - the fact that she and Jamie supposedly carried the same ancient magic that her mother had been gifted with - were marked. She glanced at her brother in the kitchen, who was making up a plate of food for her. He had told Lila. Daisy had been jealous of the fact he was able to be so open with her. They really were a good match, despite everything. Daisy looked down at her right wrist, studying the small circled snake. She had been able to pass it off as a tattoo to John, who wondered when she had had time to get it. She knew her mother kept hers hidden and she supposed she could have done the same, but it never occurred to her.
"How are you feeling?" Alan asked suddenly, abandoning his argument with Remus, who appeared smug that he had won as the TV was still on the dancing show.
"Tired," she said. Alan nodded.
Daisy stared at Lucas, shocked into silence. What was it with the New Year's Ball and confessions?
She walked over to an armchair and sat, her skirt billowing around her. She looked up at her former coach who seemed to be regretting his recent outburst. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, instead intently studying the fire.
"So… you've loved me this entire time?" she asked, finally finding her voice. Lucas brought himself to meet her eyes.
"Yes," he said softly. "Since that first season. Though I never intended to let you know."
"What about Julia?"
"Part of me knew that would never last. She… sensed there was someone else. That's why we broke up. I wouldn't tell her," he said. Daisy nodded and looked to the floor. "I'm so sorry, Daisy. You weren't supposed to find out. I was… I had let you go. I knew that we could never be together."
"Why… why could we never be together?" she asked softly, looking back up at him
"Well… I knew that you didn't have feelings for me. And I was your coach," he said.
"But you're not my coach anymore. And… it's not necessarily true that I didn't have feelings for you," she said softly. "That I don't."
Lucas stared at her a moment, stunned into silence. He wasn't sure how to react to her confession.
"Daisy… are you saying…"
"Daisy! Coach! There you are! They're about to do the countdown. Get out here," Jamie said as he bounded into the room. Both of them looked at the large keeper, who had bright red cheeks and a lopsided grin on his face. He looked back and forth between the two. "Did I miss something?"
Daisy stood, and smiled.
"No. We were just coming," she said. She stepped towards her brother and looped her arm through his. She looked at Nilsson. "Coming Coach?"
They made their way back to the ballroom, joining the large group of Puddlemere and Arrows players. Iris and Oliver were not far off. Daisy took a champagne flute from Remus, glancing over at Nilsson.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6…"
Their eyes met as Daisy's thoughts began to whirl. She went through everything he had just said. Part of her didn't know how to react. The other part was screaming that she knew what to do.
"5, 4, 3, 2,..."
Just as everyone shouted Happy New Year, Daisy found herself moving of her own accord. Her feet took her over to Nilsson, standing right in front of him as their eyes were locked. Almost without thinking, she reached up, gently grabbed his head and pulled him down to her, their lips meeting.
Lucas was beyond shock, but found himself kissing her back as he brought his hands to her waist.
Remus, Alan and Jamie looked over and saw the two, all three freezing.
"What are you looking at?" Lucy shouted before she too saw Nilsson and Daisy. Immediately she started laughing in glee. "Ryan! You own me 10 galleons!"
When Daisy broke the kiss, they both just stared at each other a few moments before Daisy starte to grin. Lucas laughed softly. Both of them were unaware of the many stares they were getting.
"Daisy? Nilsson?" she heard her father say. Daisy's eyes widened as she turned to face Oliver Wood, who looked somewhere between confused and angry. "Just what's going on here?"
"Um, well…" Daisy started.
"I should explain…" Nilsson fumbled.
"I believe that Daisy just gave Nilsson a New Years' kiss," Remus said, grinning.
"I know that, I want to know what's going on beyond that," Oliver said, smacking his grown son in the back of the head. Nilsson straightened and fixed his tie.
"If it would be alright, Wood. I'd like your permission to date your daughter," Lucas said formally, causing Daisy's face to go bright red as her hair turned a violent purple. Oliver was shocked into silence as the triplets started laughing. "I'm not her coach anymore and… it seems like she is open to the idea." He glanced down at her, Daisy silently nodding her head yes. She looked back to her father who was glaring at Nilsson.
"To date… my daughter?" he said. He blinked a few times. "Well, I think you should be asking her, not me. She never did listen to me much anyway." Daisy's eyes widened even more as she looked back up at Nilsson, a grin breaking out.
"So… will you?" Lucas asked.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, jumping back into his arms. For the first time in awhile, she felt alive.