Here's the next update and for once I don't have to apologize for it being that delayed! I hope you love it!
Chapter Sixteen
"I'm assuming you want something to drink," Adair said to her brother, who was sitting on the barstool in her immaculate kitchen.
"Normally, I'd say it's not safe to make assumptions, but this time you are correct. And do you remember when you lived with me? You owe me quite a lot of Firewhiskey."
"Say no more," Adair said, smiling. She waved her wand and two tumblers floated down from a cabinet as well as the bottle of amber liquid from the nearby bar cart. It poured itself and Adair pushed the glass toward Oliver.
"Where's Katie?" she asked.
"At home," Oliver said, looking down into his glass. "I wanted to talk to you alone."
"That sounds ominous."
"It's not." He looked up at her. "I just wanted to apologize."
"That's new," Adair said, still trying to smile.
"Don't joke. I shouldn't have talked to Mum about what you had going on. That wasn't my place," Oliver said. "It's my fault she did what she did."
Adair gave a short laugh. "Don't think you have that much power, Oliver." She took a drink of the burning liquid. "She would've found out regardless and the results would have been the same."
"I don't think so," he said. "I was pissed at you for staying behind. You know how I feel about that whole situation. Normally, I wouldn't have shared your business."
"It's really okay, Oliver." Adair shrugged. "I'm not surprised at all."
"That's the saddest part."
"Maybe, but it is what it is."
Oliver was silent for a while, his head in his hands. Adair just continued to drink the Firewhiskey.
"I need to apologize for standing aside and watching for most of your life. She was terrible to you. She is terrible to you and I never did anything about it."
Adair sighed. "What were you going to do?"
The siblings were not normally so vulnerable with each other. They had their moments and they were very close, but there were certain topics that they had always stayed away from. Their mother was one of them because they had had such different experiences with her.
"It's not your fault that she is the way she is," Adair continued. "You doing something would just be more conflict and drama."
"So what are you going to do?"
"What am I going to do?" Adair paused to take another drink. "I'm going to let it lie. I don't see her that often. There's no point in a confrontation. She's always the victim. Nothing is ever her fault where I'm concerned so it would be a waste of my time and energy."
Oliver remained silent once more. Over the years, he had begun to realize how isolated his sister must be. There had always been some disconnect between their mother, and therefore their father as well, and Adair so from a very young age, Adair had known she had no one to turn to.
Oliver felt awful because he didn't understand what it was like to be Adair for a long time. His parents seemed to love and support him. They never punished him for his mistakes.
Even after they were grown, he could point to the punishments of his sister. They were no longer so blatant and obvious. It was more insidious; the removal of affection, the silent treatment.
"You don't need them anymore," he said.
"I know." Adair refilled their tumblers. "I appreciate what you came here to say and I love you for it, but let's be done." She gave her brother another smile. "What are you and Katie going to do in the off-season?" she asked.
Oliver launched into their plans for Katie taking some time off of work and traveling around. It was different to travel when the players weren't on a tight itinerary for matches and press conferences.
He was in the midst of telling Adair about their plans for a week on a yacht in the Mediterranean when there was a knock at her door.
"Are you expecting someone?" Oliver asked.
Adair shook her head. "Not that I was aware of. Stay there," she said, putting her tumbler down and heading for the door.
When she pulled it open, Charlie was there. Adair was immediately shaking her head.
"Can I come in?" he asked anyways.
"No," she said quietly. "It's not a good time. Oliver is-"
"What in the bloody hell are you doing here?" Oliver demanded coming into the foyer and seeing Charlie.
Adair swiped her hand over her face, not in the least surprised that her brother couldn't follow the simple instructions to remain in the kitchen.
"Have you been seeing him?" Oliver demanded.
Adair shook her head again. "Once since he's been out of the hospital."
"Oliver-" Charlie began.
"Save it," Oliver growled. He looked Charlie up and down, still in protector mode after his and Adair's conversation as well as the run in with Colt in the United States. "To think, at one point you were what I wanted for her." Oliver shook his head.
Charlie's cheeks flushed scarlet and he looked away from the shorter man.
"There's so much more I could say to you," Oliver continued.
"Let's not," Adair said quietly.
"Quit protecting these people who do nothing but hurt you, Adair," Oliver said sternly, turning to look evenly at his sister.
Without another word he went for the door, knocking into Charlie hard as he did so.
Oliver didn't even bother to look back when Charlie doubled over with a groan, clutching at the point where the dragon's spiked tail had collided with the trunk of his body.
"Bloody hell." Adair went to him and helped him to straighten back up, though he was panting. "Are you alright?"
Charlie looked down into her concerned face and he could've cried for all of the things that had led him to that interaction with Oliver.
"I should just go. I'm sorry," he said, reaching for the door, though that had him sucking his teeth in pain.
"You're here. Just sit down for a while. I can get you a potion for the pain," Adair offered.
Charlie glanced into the kitchen as he hobbled to the living room. "Firewhiskey will probably work just as well."
Adair nodded and once he was settled, she went into the kitchen and came back with a fresh tumbler for him.
"Thank you," he said, after he took a long drink.
Adair sat in an armchair across from him without a word.
"So your family doesn't like me and mine doesn't like you," Charlie said.
"And only one of those is warranted," Adair said more shortly than she had intended. She was feeling a bit raw after her conversation with Oliver. She shook her head. "That wasn't fair," she corrected herself. She lapsed into silence once more.
"No, it was." Charlie closed his eyes. "None of my business of course, but what were you two talking about?" Oliver had clearly been in a mood and he could see the same thing at the fringes of Adair's control.
"My mother," she replied. "She didn't like that I stayed behind for part of the North American tour."
"I don't think anybody did besides me," Charlie replied. He still wasn't looking at her. "And I'm sorry for that. You probably shouldn't have stayed."
"What are you doing here?" Adair asked. She was losing her grip on her control.
"I told you I wanted to spend time with you while I was still in England. You ignored my letters."
It was true. He had written to her several times and she hadn't written back.
"The season isn't over yet. I still have practice and matches."
"But you have time for your brother."
"Are you serious?" Adair looked at him incredulously. "What exactly do you think I owe you, Charlie?"
"Nothing." He set his empty tumbler on the end table next to him. "I just want to spend time with you, Adair. And you keep letting me in so maybe you want the same thing?" he asked hopefully.
"I don't know what I want," she replied. She hunched over, elbows on her knees and face in her hands. Eventually, she straightened back up. "That's not true." She looked at him. "I do know. I want a simple life." Her voice broke as she spoke and any semblance of control went out the window. "I want to be able to do my job in peace. I want to be surrounded by people who want what's best for me. I want to be able to be myself." Tears were rolling down her cheeks by that point and it was all too much.
Everyone around her wanted her to be someone else. The amazing Quidditch player who was a credit to her family. The party girl who was fun for her fans to keep track of. The girlfriend who was attractive and a stepping stone for a Quidditch career. A traditional woman who wanted a family and a home.
She had lost who she truly was before she was even able to discover it for herself.
Charlie got up carefully and bit back a groan when he knelt in front of her. Since they had broken up, he had begun to realize the pressure that came at Adair from all sides. He hadn't understood at first that it was more than just the pressure to play Quidditch well.
He rested his huge hands on her knees. "I hate that I ever fell into the same category as all of the other people in your life; that I didn't allow you to be yourself. I know now, at least to some degree, what you've been through with your fans and your family, Adair. I don't want to be that for you."
He pulled her hands away from her face and swiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "I want to be a safe place for you. If you let me, I would shelter you from everything I could. You've had to be so strong for so long and I only added to you feeling like that was necessary, I'm sure."
Finally, she met his stare with her own.
"Give me another chance," he whispered. "Just one more. I won't let you down again."
Every bit of Adair's being wanted to cave to him. She had felt safe with him, or the safest she ever had.
She pulled her hands free of his and wiped at her eyes. "We're not just jumping back in where we left off," she said.
"Okay," Charlie said, astonished that she was even considering what he was suggesting. It had been nearly a year since the World Cup and he had never thought he would win her over. "Whatever you want."
"Well," Adair said uncertainly. "I guess we can go on that date you wanted. Nothing crazy though."
Charlie nodded. "I'll figure everything out. Tomorrow night?"
"Sure. I have practice until six."
"I'll be back here at eight."
ooooOoooo
Throughout the rest of the summer, Adair and Charlie went out about once a week. The English team didn't make the Quidditch playoffs, but they still had matches until the beginning of August. It was a good excuse for her to take her time with her Charlie, as she was still wary of him.
They hadn't done more than exchange a few kisses over the course of those months either, Charlie's health being the hindrance there.
Adair had never taken the physical aspect of a relationship so slow, but she was glad for it. Of course, they had already been intimate so that was different too, but having to hold off allowed a fog to lift from around her and she could actually perceive and process her emotions and feelings, which she had never given herself time to do in the past.
One night, as the sun went down, Charlie and Adair were sitting outside at a restaurant having an after dinner glass of chilled white wine.
"George is having a product launch party in a few weeks," Charlie said, setting his glass down on the table. "I'm sure he'll invite you on his own, but I was hoping you might go as my date."
Adair had been so relaxed, enjoying the warm evening air and the food and wine and company, but she froze when she mentioned his family.
"I don't think that's a good idea," she said, shaking her head.
"I know that you don't want to see them," Charlie said. "Or my mother, at least, but I want you to go with me."
"They don't like me," Adair said. "Even Ron and Ginny weren't very warm to me at the hospital." She took a drink. "It's not about me, it's really not. I don't want to cause any issues at George's big party. I'm sure he's worked so hard on whatever he's launching."
"He'll send you an invite too," Charlie said.
"That doesn't mean that he deserves to have his celebration ruined."
"I'll talk to Mum," Charlie said.
"Why?" Adair asked. "Why can't we just keep doing this?" she gestured between them.
"Because I want you to be a part of every single facet of my life and people will just have to get over that."
"We should deal with that when it's not someone else's event," Adair said. "We haven't been seeing each other for very long. It can wait."
Charlie sighed, but didn't say anything else.
ooooOoooo
Three days later, Adair was knocking at the door to Ginny and Harry's brownstone. She was rather nervous as she hadn't seen her best friend since Charlie had been in the hospital. She wasn't completely sure Ginny wasn't going to break up with her.
Her fears were somewhat alleviated when Ginny threw the door open and hugged Adair tightly. James was hanging onto his mother's leg.
"Look how big he is!" Adair exclaimed. She hadn't seen him since Louis' second birthday party almost a year before.
"We can hardly keep up with him," Ginny said with a laugh. "Come in, come in!" She picked James up and stepped out of the way so Adair could follow them into the kitchen.
The little boy looked up at his mother's friend shyly.
"I'm so glad you could make it," Ginny said, indicating that Adair should take a seat at the kitchen table. "Do you want anything to drink? I think I have some champagne and orange juice."
Adair shook her head. "I'm okay. Thank you," Adair was still a bit nervous.
Ginny raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Normally, Adair would've jumped on the offer of alcohol.
"So the season is over?"
"Unfortunately. No playoffs this year," Adair replied.
"Next year. I'm sure you can do it again next year."
"Are you ever going to come back?" Adair asked her friend.
Ginny gave a short laugh. "I don't think so. I think we're going to have another baby or two. I would like to write about it again, though."
Adair nodded. "I'd like that too. The Daily Prophet could use some help. Recently, they've only wanted to write about gossip rather than the sport itself."
"I've noticed," Ginny replied. "How was rehab?" She sat James back on his feet and he toddled away.
"Very funny," Adair said with a smile.
Ginny shook her head. "I asked you over to apologize and thank you. Obviously, while the world thought you had hit rock bottom, you were with my brother and when you weren't with him, you'd paid for him to have the best care possible."
Adair shook her head.
"Don't do that. Just accept the thanks. It's the least I can do. Especially when I was cold to you."
"You didn't know," Adair said.
"Didn't know what?" Ginny asked. "I know you. I know none of what happened to Charlie was your fault. I know you didn't deserve how we treated you. I know that you certainly didn't have to spend all of that money on him."
Adair stared at the tabletop.
"I told Mum what you did," Ginny said quietly.
"What?" Adair's head shot up to look at her friend. "Why?"
"Because she wasn't going to change her mind about you if I didn't. Because Charlie wants to be able to bring you around our family. While I'm well aware that that was awful from the get go, if that's what he wants, and what you want, then I want it to be possible."
"I wish you wouldn't have done that."
"Charlie wants you to come to George's party. I was there when he was talking to Mum about it. And she wasn't having it, so I spoke up."
"She wants what's best for him. That's not me on paper. And maybe off paper either."
"Just go to the party. We'll all have a great time. She won't bother you."
Adair didn't respond.
"Can I ask you something?" Ginny continued.
"I guess."
"What happened? What happened with you and Charlie last year?"
"You don't want to know," Adair said, glancing at James who was playing with blocks where they could see him in the living room. "For several different reasons, you don't."
"Before you were Charlie's girlfriend, you were my best friend," Ginny said.
"I know and it means the world that you would say that now," Adair said.
"I should've said it sooner," Ginny interrupted.
"But you're still his sister and there are certain things that maybe you shouldn't know."
"Tell me anyway. I can see you need to talk about it."
It had been so long since Adair had felt like she had a real friend. She felt herself crumbling like she had when Charlie had come back to her flat the second time. She had no control or resolve left and she wanted to be done with the load she was carrying.
"I was pregnant," she whispered. "At the World Cup."
The rest spilled from her and she thought it would never stop. She couldn't look at Ginny when she was through. Her chest was heaving; she was sobbing.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"
Adair was cut off by a tight hug from Ginny. Her best friend stroked her long, blonde hair as she continued to cry on her shoulder.
"You didn't do anything wrong," Ginny whispered.
When Adair had gathered herself somewhat, she pulled away, though she still couldn't look at Ginny. "I didn't want to tell you because of him," she said, nodding at James as he toddled back into the kitchen.
"It's not for everyone," Ginny said, watching her son as he meandered around the room. "And it's not always the right time." She took Adair's hand. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone. I'm sorry if I did anything that made you feel like you couldn't tell me."
Adair squeezed Ginny's hand and gave her a watery smile.
ooooOoooo
"Bloody hell!" Charlie exclaimed when Adair opened the door to her flat.
"That bad, huh?" Adair said with a smile. She stood before him in a slinky, low cut, black, satin dress. The straps criss-crossed across her back until they met the low cut in the back. She had her diamond jewelry on that she always wore to a nice event and her heels made her nearly as tall as Charlie.
"No, it's been a while since I've seen you all dressed up," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You look breathtaking," he said sincerely.
"You don't look too bad yourself," she said with a smile. "Do you feel okay?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Adair wished it were that easy.
"We'd better go. The product is going to be announced in exactly half an hour."
Adair nodded and they walked slowly out of her building to the spot where they could Apparate into Diagon Alley.
It was after dark, but there were still a few people who recognized Adair and called out to her. She signed a few receipts, but then had to pull herself away so they weren't late.
Charlie's warm hand rested on her exposed lower back as they made their way into the packed shop.
Ginny waved and the couple joined her and Harry, Neville, Ron and Hermione.
"You look stunning," Adair said, kissing her friend on the cheek. Ginny's emerald green dress complimented her eyes and hair beautifully.
"Don't stand anywhere near me," Ginny laughed, squeezing Adair's hand before their attention was called to the top of the stairs.
George came out and waved to everyone and the chatter quieted down.
"Thank you all so much for being here tonight!" His voice was magically magnified and it boomed around the shop. "I have an exciting announcement that I can't wait to share with you all!"
He looked off to the side and gestured for someone to join him.
"The announcement is that we're getting married!" George exclaimed as Angelina stepped out to join him. She was in a beautiful, white mermaid cut wedding gown.
There were exclamations of surprise all around them, but Charlie and Ginny were laughing.
"Did you know?" Adair asked them.
Ginny shook her head.
"I had no idea," Charlie said.
With a flick of his wand, George transformed the space so that there was room for several round tables and a dance floor.
"Take your seats so we can get the ceremony over with and get to the fun part!"
Everyone found their assigned seats and then they sat down. Lee Jordan officiated the ceremony and then the couple was walking around talking to everyone.
Adair caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sitting with Angelina's parents. They all still had surprised smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Adair glanced quickly away when Mrs. Weasley looked around the room.
Her attention was diverted to the happy couple as they came to their table. "Congratulations!" Adair hugged George and Angelina tightly. She had played Quidditch with both of them at Hogwarts and had always thought they were a good pair. "This was just too cool!"
Charlie shook his brother's hand and then hugged them both carefully. Adair found her hand on his back out of his concern. When they left, he sat down rather heavily. "I'm afraid I'm not going to be a great date for the reception." His hand was pressed to his side.
"That's alright," Adair replied. "I've been to my share of fancy events and have danced enough for a lifetime."
Charlie pulled her against his side and pressed a kiss to her temple.
Ginny smiled at the pair of them.
After the meal was cleared away, the Weird Sisters came out.
"Bloody hell!" Adair exclaimed.
"The joke shop is a gold mine," Harry whispered to her.
"I guess."
"Come dance with me!" Ginny exclaimed, tugging on Adair's hand.
"Go, go," Charlie urged her when she looked back at him.
She needed little encouragement more than that and both women grabbed a flute of champagne from a floating tray as they made their way to the dance floor.
Adair had more fun that night than she had in such a long time. She stayed on the dance floor with Ginny nearly all night, laughing, jumping around, drinking and dancing horrendously.
Towards the end of the night, the Weird Sisters played a slow tune and Charlie tapped Adair on the shoulder. He was grinning just from watching her.
"I think I can handle this one," he said, holding his hands out.
Adair slipped easily into his embrace, one hand on her waist and the other holding her much smaller hand.
"You looked like you were having fun," he said.
"I really was," she said.
Charlie beamed down at her as they swayed around the dancefloor. Adair found her head resting on his firm chest. "I have a question," he said lowly.
"Mmm?" Adair murmured, not looking up.
"Have you ever thought about getting married?"
Adair took a minute to formulate a response.
"No," she finally said, before she looked up at him. "I never have. I was never the little girl that imagined what that day would look like," she admitted. "I have been," she searched for the word she wanted. "beholden to so many people in my life. I don't need another contract to bind me any tighter."
Charlie wasn't hurt exactly. He had expected as much and he knew they were still on unstable footing. He had genuinely just been curious to see what her answer would be.
Adair didn't ask him in turn.
ooooOoooo
Before the sun was up and the streets of London were busy, Adair had gone for a run. She and Charlie had planned for her to meet him at a cafe later in the morning for breakfast.
Her feet pounded on the sidewalk as she made her way through the hidden parts of the city that she tended to stick with to stay out of sight.
Since her talk with Charlie and the following talk with Ginny, she had felt lighter. The fear of getting vulnerable with anyone had lifted somewhat. She had forced herself to be honest with those who said they cared about her and it had been a relief.
Things in her life had become more enjoyable and she was no longer afraid to speak her mind for the most part.
After she ran home and showered, she went to the spot where she thought Charlie would be already. Adair tended to run a little behind, but when she arrived he was nowhere to be found.
She let the hostess seat her and she ordered a coffee while she waited.
A half an hour later, Charlie came hurrying, as best he could, to her table. "Sorry I'm late! I just came from a very interesting meeting." He kissed her cheek and sat across from her.
The waitress came immediately and took his order. They always tended to do that when they saw Charlie and they were very attentive afterward.
While Adair stuck with coffee, Charlie ordered a full, hearty breakfast.
"A meeting?" Adair asked.
"Yeah so, Hagrid is retiring. Something about wanting to travel more with Madame Maxime. Before they put out a job listing, they offered it to me."
"Wait, what?" Adair asked.
Charlie had spoken so fast she wasn't sure she had heard him correctly.
"Hagrid is retiring. I've been offered the Care of Magical Creatures teaching job," he said more slowly.
"Oh. Wow." Adair tried to process the information.
"What do you think?" Charlie asked.
"What do you think? They didn't ask me to teach," Adair said, trying to smile.
"I think it sounds like a good opportunity," Charlie said. "My healers don't think I can go back to the sanctuary just yet, if ever, and I need to do something. I can't just live at the Burrow anymore."
"Are you trying to move in with me?" Adair asked uncertainly.
"I don't know. Maybe?" Charlie reached over the table and took her hand. "I know this is a lot," he said. "But I need to know if you think I should take the job."
"I don't know, Charlie. I can't make that decision for you. I've said that over and over again."
Her heart was hammering in her chest at everything he had just told her. Him living in England, possibly with her, would change everything when she felt like she had just gotten her feet under her.
Adair looked at him. "It's up to you."
What do you think!? Does he take the job? Do they live together? Give me all thoughts, ideas, constructive criticism etc etc. I live for your reviews and headcanons!
Happy reading,
Avonmora