Nathan was kind of grateful for the proper hug from Alexa. The small gesture was made him feel a little better, knowing that there were people out there who supported him. He hated that she was seeing him when he looked such a state mind you.. it wasn't often that Nathan was brought down by things. He had a pretty optimistic outlook on life. Her words made it obvious that he did look a wreck to the onlooker. “She... she's distraught.” He replied honestly. “The twins were three months early. They need constant attention from the healers and Egypt has hardly seen them.” Nathan seemed to have seen more of them because it was easier for him to get along to the paediatrics ward where the premature babies were looked after.

He didn't want to pile this onto Alexa. She had her own issues at the moment. The last few days at work spent in the Auror HQ had told him that. “The job's... good.” He said with a weak smile. To be honest, he hadn't had an awful lot to do yet.. and he was only just getting acquainted with the other staff. He had taken a few days off to be with Egypt and the twins which, frankly, went down like a lead balloon with old Getti his new manager.

He popped a spoonful of chocolate ice cream in his mouth. Merlin, even to the depressed it tasted good. He looked up at Alexa from his ice cream.. he didn't want this to all be about him.. “Hows Warren? You two.. ok... at the moment?” He asked her knowing that the last time he had seen them together they had duelled furiously during that training session which resulted in Warren throwing a paddy.

Of all the people Alexa knew, it was always Nathan she had assumed could deal with anything that was thrown his way, today that ideal was shattered. Worry crossed her face as she sat down, Egypt wasn't the type of person to take these things lightly. Biting her lip, she exhaled slowly, vowing to visit her this evening, "And how are the twins?" Magic could only do so much in terms of keeping them alive and three months early was hardly healthly.

Watching him skirt around the topic of work, either for her sake or for his own, Alexa slumped in her seat, "Missing Nicoli already?" She mused meekly, it was hardly appropriate to smile, not that she could manage it. "Journalism all it's cracked up to be?" She asked gently. On top of everything with the children and Egypt, it wasn't exactly prioritised at the moment. Watching him take some ice cream, she glanced at her own cone and signed, all appetite had left her. Scoffing slightly at the change of topic, she shrugged, "He's better now" Warren could heal, those little angels couldn't. Surely pocket sized, she sighed. "Ok?" She asked looking up at him, "Oh..yeah. We always patch it up" She told him, waving her hand dismissively. "How have the other kids taken it?" She could just imagine how Paris would've taken this.

Nathan looked down at the table. “The twins are doing good given how early they were... but there's always a risk with such premature children.” He sighed. “I initially wanted them to be transferred to the muggle hospital so they could have the best of both worlds, but the staff said that the moving of them in itself may prove too traumatic.” Nathan, in all honesty, had never felt so useless in all his life.. all he could do was stand back and watch what was going on around him.

He smiled slightly and looked up at her. Humour was what was needed her.. what Nathan needed... and he was grateful that she realised that. “Yeah.. he's a breath of fresh air compared to the new boss.” He shook his head. “She makes Cruella De Ville look like Florence Nightingale.” He chuckled lightly and then shook his head, his eyes moving down to his ice cream once again. “Not really.” He replied. “It's far from the glamorous occupation you'd think it'd be...”

He gave her a tired smile on the subject of Warren. “You two.. you're too alike, that's your problem” He spooned some more chocolate ice cream into his mouth. “I.. I haven't told them yet. They're away from home.. it would be an unnecessary stress for them.” He explained. “Do you think I should.. t-tell them, I mean?” Female advice was what was required here.

Alexa sighed, taking his hand. Nathan didn't take standing back and doing nothing very well, "You've just got to let them do their jobs. They're your children, their resilient. You'll make it through this just like anything else"
At the hint of a smile, she squeezed his hand, and look lick of the cone. The rocky-road and....yumm. "Cruella?" Smirking at his description, she noticed the fall in his tone and sighed, it seemed there was quite a lot on his plate. "Oh, I think Nicoli would have you back anyday" The young Head of Dep. had always appeared to her like a really cheerful, laid back kind of guy.

Watching the tired expression on his face, Alexa smirked. She found it humorous everyone seemed to be getting exhausted by their....how to say...constant fighting? That worked as well as anything. "Aww love, if were alike we would've had the same idea in our heads a decade ago." But she was being hypocritical now. She'd never wanted to get married before, but when Warren had finally said it, just three words, but he'd said it. Then..the usual white-dress dreaming had come into play.

Licking her lips, she took the spoon from the little container and decided to use that. Taking a small spoonful, she ate it slowly, digesting what Nathan had said. In a way, she thought he was right. Not telling the children, but in the case of the older one's they would want to know, and yet on the other hand it was an unnecessary stress. "Nathan.." She sighed, "If it was me, I probably wouldn't say anything, but these are your kids. If you think it's better not to tell them, as you said it is in a way an unneccessary stress but if you think they should know then tell them. If the twins get out of hospital soon it doesnt make much difference either way. "

He looked at her as she squeezed his hand and nodded in response. Lexy was a rock. Always there and ready to listen when you needed her. “You're right, I know. But it's just frustrating. I've never felt so helpless.” He chuckled lightly as she smirked at his description of Getti. “You reckon?” He raised his eyebrows, appearing to brighten at the prospect of going back to the MLES. But he knew, in theory, he couldn't... not yet anyway. He needed to at least give the Daily Prophet more of a chance.

He smirked at her as she spoke of her relationship with Warren, a cheeky glint sparking in his green eyes once again. He knew it was wrong to be amused by the neverending drama of Warren and Alexa but he couldn't help it. He also knew that Alexa would take the humour in the affectionate way that it was intended. “You're like two positively charged ions, the same in spirit ...but constantly repelling each other.” He winked at her and chuckled. “So what was it this time?” He asked as ate a little more of his ice cream. The sugar was actually helping a little.

He listened to her advice on the twins. She was agreeing what he was saying which was good, and it made him feel a little better about not telling the children. But her last words made him shake his head a little. “And if they don't.. if they don't..” He gulped. “..don't make it.” He took a breath and placed his tub of ice cream on the table – what small appetite he had was now gone. ...Maybe he was being irrational here but there was always a small chance they may not survive. They were very premature. “I'll owl Paris and Willow tonight.” He said with a nod. They would never forgive their father if something bad did happen and he hadn't informed them of what had happened.

Alexa sighed, helpless seemed to be going around with her as well these days. She seemed to make things worse by trying to make things better. Her eyes snapped up to Nathan's as he chuckled, and she smiled lightly. Feeling a little better for the sound, "Yes, I'd love you back" She replied, her tone had started slightly joking but she had ended up extremely serious, except she was being selfish again.
Her expression fell, she was suprised to find humour in emerald irises. She attempted a laugh, cupping her cheek and watching him bemused. Any person she knew would be deathly bored by their constant drama, Egypt found it frustrating out of affection and she'd concluded Nathan seemed to find it amusing. Biting her lip, she rolled her eyes at his description. It was actually a very accurate account, not that she wanted to admit it. When he asked her what was wrong this time, she sighed not even wanting to start, "What isn't" She replied glumly. Sighing, she looked at him closely, "Nathan...if I told you something.." She stopped and gave up, "Never mind.." He had bigger fish to fry, but on the other hand...she had no idea if she was doing the right thing.
Her advice seemed to go down well, but she frowned and lifted her hand as he spoke, "Nathaniel...don't you dare" She warned evenly, "They will be fine, don't you dare even think about that" Negativity only brought more of itself...however uninvited it was. She watched the ice cream fall to the table, even it's small comfort now lost to worry and confusion..and she had no idea what to say to him. Taking his hand in her own, she sighed as he said he'd owl the girls. "I think your making the right decision" She said after a long pause, "For them at least"

Nathan looked her in the eyes as she said she'd love him back. He smiled slightly. He did miss the MLES, more than he ever thought he would... but it was the people rather than the job that he craved for. Nathan needed to be around people. He wasn't good at being alone, and so far, most of the other staff at the Daily Prophet had made Nathan feel a little alienated. He found he was isolating himself from them, rather than being his usual warm self. If it kept on like this, it would eventually drag him down... further. “It's alright. I just need to give it more of a chance.” He replied. The pay was better; the job was better suited to Nathan's skills – that had to count for something... right?

He chuckled lightly as she rolled her eyes at his description of her relationship with Waren. “It's not really funny.” He said and shook his head slightly. “But sometimes it better to laugh otherwise we'd all be frustrated as hell trying to get you two to see eye to eye.” He reached out and patted her hand affectionately. “It's a defence mechanism, I suppose.” He said with a shrug of the shoulders. He watched her closely as her shoulders slumped as he asked not so tactfully what was wrong this time. He cringed inwardly. “Alexa. You can talk to me about anything... you know that don't you, love?” He said gently, leaning forward slightly. She had let Nathan cry on her shoulder, so to speak, and he was more than happy to return the favour for his dear friend.

He frowned slightly. “I am sorry to put this on you.” He sighed. “Of course, they're in the best hands. I need to think positive... and keep Egypt positive.” He sighed inwardly. It was easier said than done. He nodded at her next words. The older kids had a right to know what was going on with their mother and siblings.

Alexa always found it irritating watching Nathan or Warren think, they looked so pensieve, and she could never quite pin point what they were thinking about. Surely after that much deliberation, he would've decided to come back to MLES, alas when he spoke Alexa resisted cringing. His answer was as so close to 'no' for the time being. Sighing, she shrugged, "I hope it goes well for you" She replied , but smiled. For his sake, she hoped he loved it.

The topic of conversation changed rather abruptly as he turned the tables onto her. She hated talking about herself, talking in itself had never really been a forte. Maybe that's why her life and decisions were balancing on a thread. "I'm sure it is hilarious" She replied dryly, afterall he was right. Better to laugh than rip out your hair trying to fix it, "I suppose. Not that it would hurt for me to learn to tell him, oh I know.." She replied softly, "But it's not fair..to burden you..it doesn't matter" And that was lying through her teeth. It was almost like Warren knew what she'd decided, and would he let her go? She knew well enough the answer was most likely going to be yes, but he'd suffer through it. Groaning inwardly, she shook her head, "Don't worry about it"

When Nathan apologised, Alexa shook her head positively aghast, "Please Nathan. Don't give me that, you should tell me. Don't apologise, Warren and I are happy to listen to moaning and groaning anytime" She winked at him smiling, "It beats listening to each other" Laughing grimly, she nodded, "You'll get through this...no matter what, and you know I'm here for you"

Jessi pulled off her scarf as she stepped into the ice cream parlor. She hadn't had ice cream in eons, and since Lily was doing good, she thought that she should come and get some.

She smiled as she licked her chocolate frog ice cream and saw an empty booth at the back wall. She walked over and slid onto it, taking another lick from her ice cream.

She looked around the parlor, seeing a few faces, but none were familiar. I need to make some new friends, she thought, smiling again.

Bounding into the parlour, Winter, one, almost crashed into a table, and two, almost squealed. He'd missed the cold taste of that sugar filled ice cream. And he was darn sure that it'd missed him too. Walking slight more calmly when he got in properly, he looked up at the board, the looked across at a woman on her own.

"Which do you recommend?" He asked her, rather loudly, but with enough decorum all the same. Pssht, Winter, with decorum. That wasn't really real.

Jessi watched as a man walked in, then up to the counter. He didn't look familiar either. Hmm. Oh well. She smiled to herself, then jumped slightly when the man address her, speaking rather loudly.

"Chocolate frog," she answered immediately. It was definitely her favorite, but she also liked butterbeer and treacle fudge... "Or Bertie Botts. That's good....most of the time. As long as you get an edible flavor," she shrugged. If she was feeling especially bored or adventurous she got that one.

Hmm. Looking up at the board, the wonderfully random twenty six year old sighed. There were always so many... Looking at all of them all over again, he sighed once more, and gave up. Wandering over to the woman's table, he smiled at her. "There seems too many... I think I'll give it a miss today.."

Then he blinked. Why did she care? "Ahh! I'm sorry, I'm doing it again. My sister said I was awful at my social skills. I'm Winter." Usually he just gave his name so they could yell at him if they got annoyed.

Jessi chuckled when he came over to the table she was at. She was about to say something when he started to seem...freaked out. Social skills? He was worried about his social skills? Jessi chuckled again and smiled.

"I'm Jessi Miller," she introduced herself, trying to hold back a real laugh. But she'd been so worried lately...she kind of needed to laugh. She lifted her ice cream and gave it a few licks, then frowned. That wasn't very polite..."Sorry," she said quietly, setting her ice cream down in front of her.

Marisa smiled to herself as she took in the little ice cream shop. She glanced around at the counter then at the tables positioned around the shop. After several moments she decided to get something since she was already inside.

After walking to the counter and retrieving a cone Marisa walked over to the table nearest the shop window. Setting while she eat and gazed out the window, Marisa enjoyed the moment.

Walking by the window of the ice cream shop Jake stopped and looked inside for a minute trying to make up his mind if he should go in or not. "why not" he said to himself as he moved away from the window and towards the door , he really felt like having something sweet. "Maybe strawberry ice cream" he thought as he made his way to the counter. He place his order and got his ice cream looking around he noticed a few people sitting around the shop but no on he knew. He sigh "new term, new friends" he told himself as he took a scoop of ice cream in his mouth. He looked around again and saw some kids talking at one table and a girl sitting by herself over by the window he was just standing in front of, he hadnt seen her around school before and he began to wonder if maybe she was new this term, she looked older then a first year. Shrugging his shoulder he made his way over to her. "Hey" he said when he got near her "Im Jake" . He looked out the window and smiled "did you see me standing there?" he asked her feeling a bit embaraced because he had stood there for a while before making his way in.

Marisa raised her eyes to the boy that walked over to her. She set looking at him for a moment until she realized she was just staring at him. "Um.. Hello," she said finally. Rather then slapping herself in the head like she intended, she reach down wiping her right hand on her jeans then extended her arm to him. "Yeah I seen you standing out there but I didn't think anything about it," she said eying the boy again.

Jake smiled and reached over and shook her hand "Hey" he said again. It had been a while since Jake talk to talk to anyone outside his group of friends and he wasnt really quite sure what to say to this girl. "so ummm you're new to Hogwarts I dont think Ive seen you around?" he asked her. Jake rolled his eyes internaly, what a stupid question he thought.

Marisa nodded, "Yeah. This will be my first time here. My name is Ma.." She paused for a moment debating with herself. Everyone at her old school, well her friends at least called her MJ then the others called Rissa. Only her mother used her first name even her father had called Rissa. "Rissa," she said after a few seconds.

Smilling he nodded "Nice to meet you Rissa, you'll like Hogwarts its not so bad it's my last year there" he told her "what year are you?". Jake pulled out a chair opposite from hers "you dont mind if I have a seat?" he asked her.

"Not so bad," Maria repeated in disbelief. Then before waiting for a comment she continued, "I am sure. But never the less I am here and will be a fourth year." She finished off her cone then took a napkin to her mouth and hands. Looking back up to the boy she asked, "And your name was?"

Jake took a spoonfull of ice cream in his mouth before answering her "Jake" he said "yeah Hogwarts is not bad, the teachers are all right and there is plenty of stuff to do" he shrugged "I like it". He took another spoonfull of ice cream and started to wonder what it would be like this term, he know it would be different since Amy was going to be there anymore. He gave himself a mental shake and was sure he looked silly lost in thought. "Have you met anyone yet, have any friends?" Jake asked her, he wasnt sure if what to think of her yet, she seem nice but guarded, then again who wouldnt be when you're new to a place.

Marisa gazed at the boy while he eat. When he answered her question she gave a small smile, "Nice to meet you Jake. Then as she set looking at him she noticed Jake seem to have drifted off in deep thought. She glanced around the room for a few moments until her eyes landed on him once more and he seemed to be back. "Um. No. Your the first person I have meet. And you said you was what. A seven year. Must be great to know this is your last year."

Jake nodded his head "I guess so, I cant say I wont miss it but I have my reasons to be happy Im almost done" he told her. He gave her a warm smile and felt his cheeks heat up bit and quickly took the last scoop of ice cream in his mouth and then grabbed a napkin and clean off him mouth. "well then you can consider yourself as having a friend at Hogwarts already" he told her giving her a warm smile "Im in Slytherin, do you know which house you're place in?"

Marisa pressed her lips together as she looked at Jake. When she notices his cheeks flood with a light color she thought to herself, a girl. Flashing a smile more to her self awareness then to his offer of being her friend, but that would have also made her smile, she said. “Thanks. Yeah. When my Aunt took me to see for admission they sorted me in Ravenclaw.” Then she mumbled slightly, “What even that means.” Shrugging she decided to see if her belief was correct, “So this girl of yours graduated huh?”