Konrad just couldn't believe what he was hearing. Of course, he understood that Rose missed her family, but he couldn't believe that this was her way of telling him that she wanted them to break up. That was what she was thinking about, wasn't it? After all that time, silly arguments, they had just one important step to their happy ending... and now she was telling him that she wanted to leave. Just like that.

He was about to open his mouth to say something, but he decided that it was better not to say anything. Whatever she wished to do, it was his job to shut up and respect that, right? Not knowing what to do or how to react, he only stuffed his hands in the pockets of his coat, and bent his head down, kind of burying his chin in the scarf that was wrapped around his neck. "Why don't you just say it, then?" You know, it would've been much easier if she'd just turn around and leave, if that's what she wanted to do.

Rose stared at him. Did he just expect her say that they wouldn't be together anymore? Oh, gosh. "Say what? That we have broken up? No, I won't since I still haven't worked out a solution for the problem..and, even if I do decide to move..couldn't we just try working on a long distance relationship?"

Rose still couldn't believe how weird his reaction was. She'd expected something like 'I'm sure we can work something out, Rose. Don't worry' but definitely not 'Yeah. Why don't you just say that we are over.' She just shook her head and looked at her hands, wondering why everything was suddenly going wrong..

A long distance relationship? Oh, of course they could try that. There'd only be an ocean between them, and he didn't even know when or if she was ever going to come back. However, he didn't say any of this out loud, because it would just lead to another argument, since Rose seemed pretty annoyed after his last statement. "I thought -"

Konrad stopped all of a sudden, realizing that he was about to say something stupid that may annoy her even more. "Fine," he finally spoke, but still refused to meet her eyes. "Tell me when or if you're moving, and we'll do whatever you want to do." As in, they'll try the long distance thing if she wanted, or they'll just break up, also if she wanted that. He was just too tired of all this drama to make a decision.

Of course, he still loved her, even more than he ever did, but it's not like he could just move there with her. Klaus could always move anywhere with him, but he still had a home and a job. He couldn't just leave everything. Besides, her family didn't even like him. Maybe that was just meant to be, eh?

Rose raised an eyebrow when he didn't seem to want to continue. "What? What do you want to say?" Um. WHAT? She stared at her fiance. What on earth did he mean when he said she could do what she wanted? "Are you kidding me, Konrad? What is that supposed to mean? I can't believe you're so indifferent to--to--whatever is happening. I honestly expected you to say that everything would work out fine..instead you are just expecting me to break up with you. Is that what you want!?"

Honestly. He was supposed her fiance! Didn't he care? Didn't he care about their relationship at all? She leaned back against the bench refusing to look at him. She had enough problems to deal with and..now, she had one more. Great.

"Indifferent?" He couldn't help not asking. "No," Konrad said, slowly shaking his head, and finally looking at her. Well, now she was the one that didn't want to look at him. "And I don't expect you to break up with me, nor do I want that to happen." With that, he stopped for a while to choose his words, since Rose looked more than annoyed.

"What did you want me to say, Rose? 'No, don't leave, stay here for me'? Well, that's what I've been thinking about since you've told me you're leaving." He looked away again. "But then you would've told me that I'm too selfish to ask you that. That's why I said that I'll do whatever you think it's best." Or she could just keep yelling at him, or pout all day long.

Rose felt extremely annoyed with him..or with everything for that matter. "Well, that's good..because I don't want that to happen either." Rose still refused to look at him. She still wasn't really happy with the way he said that she could do whatever she liked..and he would be okay with it. That was just...mean.

"I never would have said that you were selfish. You know me better than that.." Rose looked down at her hands, wondering where this was actually going. Was he really expecting her to break it off with him? Because, she really didn't want that to happen. She loved him.

Konrad let out a sigh, but he didn't have the slightest idea about what could possibly happen next. When she said that she wouldn't have thought he was selfish for even thinking about that, he tried to smile, even if the attempt failed. "Alright. Miss Wallace, would you please" ignore your parents and tell them to leave you alone and "stay here for me?" There. He said it, but he was going to take every word back if she dared to tell him now that he was selfish for asking.

But... before he gave her some time to think of an answer, he unexpectedly leaned over and kissed her, while his cold and slightly shaking hands were on her cheeks so she wouldn't try to escape, and kept it for a few long moments. Enough so she could have time to think.

Lights sighed and brushed her curly blonde hair off her face with one hand. The other was keeping a tight hold on her three-year-old daughter Bellissa's, who was skipping beside her mother singing nonsense and completely oblivious to Lights' predicament. Lights looked around, trying to peer into every nook and cranny, looking for Bellissa's twin brother. "Ezekiel!" she called worriedly. "Ezekiel Lennox, come here now!" Please, thought Lights desperately, don't have slipped down Knockturn Alley or somewhere ...

At that moment, a previously frantic Ethan came out of Quality Quiddich Supplies, carrying a child who looked quite like him, but with his mom's green eyes and blonde hair. "Got him, Lights! He was looking at the brooms," called Ethan as he walked over towards the other half of his family.

"Thank Merlin!" Lights gently flicked the end of Ezekiel's nose. "You're going to be a Quidditch player then?" She smiled at Ethan. "Let's hope he doesn't have my balance on a broom." She bent down and picked up Bellissa. She was still singing. "Okay, sweetie, that's really nice," said Lights gently. "But can we tone it down a little?" At least she can carry a tune, thought Lights. Ethan's DNA, definitely. Bellissa looked so much like Ethan - brown eyes with hair to match that, however hard Lights tried, she could never smooth out properly. Doomed to be forever slightly scraggly. Bellissa stopped singing and leant her head against Lights' shoulder. "Hey, it isn't time for a nap yet," laughed her mum. But Bellissa was already asleep. "Great," sighed Lights. "Now she won't sleep tonight." But she was smiling.

Ethan smiled at Bellissa for a few seconds, then faced Lights. "Your turn to stay up. I had him..." he gestured towards Ezekiel, who was tugging Ethan's ear, "..last time." He turned his head towards the child in his arms, still pulling relentlessly on his father's ear and saying "Mine!", and said "Hey Ezekiel, you want to learn to fly a broom?" Ethan turned to face back towards Quality Quidditch Supplies and pointed at the display in the window. The three-year-old followed his dad's pointing hand to the window and nodded vigorously. Ethan then leaned towards Lights and whispered, "I think we should get him a toy broom."

Lights thought about all the reasons why not - the kids were hyper enough, there were breakable things lying around in their flat, someone would get hurt, what would they tell the Muggles if they saw a little boy float two feet in the air on a wooden stick - but she realised they were logical answers, not good ones. So she smiled. "Okay, but you're responsible for the broom. And for heaven's sake, don't ever let him near the neighbour's cats on that thing." Lights sighed. "I'm going to regret this at some point ..."
Bellissa woke up, and for no apparent reason, pointed at Lights' hair. It promptly turned purple.

As Lights' hair turned purple at Bella's point, Ethan laughed and said, "Well would you look at that!" before turning off and walking into Quality Quidditch Supplies with Ezekiel, who started bouncing as they crossed the threshold. About 10 minutes later, they walked out, Ezeiel holding a small broomstick, and Ethan's free hand clutched around something small. He walked back towards Lights, who's hair was still purple, and then realized what had happened with her hair. "Wait," he said, his jaw dropping slightly, "Did Belle do that?!"

"It would seem so," said Lights, grinning, secretly relieved it was apparent she hadn't produced a Squib or anything. Not that she thought she would have, but still. Bellissa tugged on her mother's purple hair. "Ow! No, Belle, don't do that." Lights gently detangled Bellissa's little hand from her hair, then slipped her wand from her pocket. She tapped her head and her hair returned to its normal blonde. "Although purple might suit me," mused Lights. She squatted down to Ezekiel's height. "What've you got there, Zek?"
"A broom," answered Ezekiel proudly. Lights grinned happily.

"Your broom!" Ethan said to his son, ruffling his hair. "I got a snitch, too," he added, opening his palm to reveal the little golden ball. "It just hit me that I should get one for him. But, I think it might just be another way to break things. Or, for our son to break himself, his sister, or even worse: the broom!" Ethan laughed and pocketed the tiny Quidditch ball. When he's older. he thought, looking at his son. Ethan pictured Ezekiel becoming Ravenclaw Seeker, then Prefect, then Head Boy. Then, eventually, headmaster... He walked over and hugged his wife. "Look at these beautiful kids, Lights. Look at what we've done."

Lights smiled and hugged Ethan back, Bellissa slightly squashed between them. Ezekiel ran over and joined in the hug. Lights laughed and passed Bellissa to Ethan so she could pick Ezekiel up too. She knew she shouldn't carry around the kids anymore, but after their first two years full of constant surveillance and protection, it was hard not to want to keep them as close as possible. Lights kissed the top of Ezekiel's head, then Bellissa's, and then Ethan's cheek so he wouldn't feel left out.
"Okay," she said to Bellissa. "We got Zek a toy broom, now it's your turn. What would you like, sweetie?"
Bellissa didn't hesitate for a moment. "A book, a book!" she squealed, bouncing up and down in Ethan's arms.
Lights smiled proudly. "See who's the smart one?" she asked Ethan.

"Oh, oh! It's me isn't it?" Ethan joked, winking and turning up to Bella. "What kind of book do you want, Belle?" he asked. She thought for a second, then said, "Story!"
"Ok, we'll get you a story book," Ethan told little Bella Lennox. "Do you want to walk or do you want me to carry you?" Bellissa bit her lip and smiled toothily, and then clamped her arms tightly around Ethan's neck, saying, "Daddy!"
Ethan smiled to Lights and said, "I'll be right back. I'm taking her into the Third Hand Book Emporium. Try not to lose Ezekiel when I'm gone!" he said as he started off into the bookshop.

Lights smiled as her husband and daughter walked off in search of a good story book. "The Warlock's Hairy Heart is still banned from my bookshelves!" she reminded Ethan.
"Can I ride my broom now?" asked Ezekiel.
"Why don't we wait until we get back home?" suggested Lights. Somehow she didn't think the Diagon Alley shopkeepers would approve of a little boy riding around on a toy broom knocking over stuff.
Ezekiel pouted, his arms folded. "Now!" he insisted, trying to stamp his foot, but since he was still being held by Lights he kicked her hard instead. She bit her lip. Oh, she hated being the nasty parent, but it looked like that was her role today.
Lights carefully put Ezekiel back on the ground, hand on his shoulder. She squatted down to her son's height to look into his eyes, almost mirror images of hers. "Ezekiel," said Lights in her best diplomatic-but-firm voice. "We can't play with the broom here, but Mummy and Daddy don't have to go to work tomorrow, so we'll play with it tomorrow morning, okay?"
Ezekiel thought about it. Lights could practically see his mind working; play with his broom for a little bit now, or all morning tomorrow. Easy choice. "Tomorrow," he agreed.
Lights smiled, half in relief. "Good choice." She gave him a hug.

When Ethan walked out of the shop carrying Bella, who was holding an old but well-kept book, he saw that Ezekiel was very likely getting Lights' 'serious face'. Ethan like her serious face. It was funny. Until it was used against him, then it was scary. Approaching his wife, who smiled and hugged her son, Ethan said, "Got the book. The Tales of Beedle the Bard. The shopkeeper recommended it, so I bought it. It's in pretty good shape, too, for such an old book." Bella began to dance around, swinging the book above her head, saying, "Story, story!" and, unbeknownst to Ethan, print appeared across his face.

Lights looked up at Ethan and grinned - and then gasped as inked words appeared on his face. Her eyes flicked to Bellissa, who was still dancing around with the book held high above her head. "Sweetie," said Lights gently. "Can you come here for a moment?" Bella turned and ran to her mother, holding out the book.
"Read me a story?" she asked, in that sweet little-girly voice she'd quickly learnt to use when she wanted something from someone.
"Tonight," promised Lights distractedly. "Can I have a look at the book?" Bella handed the worn book over, and Lights flicked through it. Unremarkable as far as she could tell. She looked up at Ethan's face. The printed words were still there, and Lights could even read what seemed to be an excerpt from The Tale of the Three Brothers. "Ethan, don't move." She swung the book above her head tentatively. The words didn't fade. She handed the book to Bella. "Can you do that?" Bella nodded enthusiastically and started swinging the book again. The words changed before Lights' eyes, becoming words from The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. "Merlin almightly ..." she whispered, looking from her husband to her daughter and back again.

"My face feels warm..." Ethan said quietly as Lights and Bella had their ordeal. "Can I move yet?" he asked, not really waiting for an answer. He looked at his wife and daughter for a bit, thoroughly enjoying seeing Lights so dumbstruck.
But something felt off. He looked again at Lights and Bella, taking a mental count. Wife, check. Daughter, check. Me, check... he thought, wondering what was wrong. He felt his pocket: the snitch was still there. Sk what was missing? Ethan took his mental count once again. Wife, daughter, me... "Oh no! Where's Ezekiel?!"
The toddler and the broomstick were both gone.

Lights was about to tell Ethan about his new makeover, when he realised her son was gone. Lights whirled around in a panic. "Not again!" she wailed. She began searching through every corner of the shops. "Ezekiel!" Then she spotted a little blonde head peeping out of a stack of cauldrons outside Slug and Jiggers. It was only as Lights was running to the spot that she thought the stack was too high for Ezekiel to look over ... She moved the cauldrons. Zek was hovering in the air on the toy broomstick. As soon as he saw Lights, he began to giggle hysterically, so hard the almost fell off the broom.
"Hide and seek!" he cried gleefully. Lights gave him a Look. Zek's smile faded and he cowered slightly under his mother's icy stare. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"You can't keep running off, Zek," sighed Lights, grabbing hold of the little broom and pulling it towards her. "You could get hurt." She wanted to hug Zek in relief, but knew she had to impress on him how dangerous it was to run off. Especially now ... She glanced around and flicked her wand at Ethan's face, so the print vanished. Between a daughter who was already performing magic and a son who was already displaying wayward tendencies, Lights had to laugh.

Ethan noticed Ezekiel's head a few moments after Lights did, so he let her take care if it. Which was probably a good idea, because Ethan would have given Zek something like a 'Good job flying, Zek!', and apparently that wasn't the way to parent a kid that was turning out to be much like the mischief maker his father was at that age. As Lights flicker her wand at Ethan's face, he felt a tingle around his cheeks and mouth. There must have been something there before. Pulling out his own wand, he said, "Accio Ezekiel," quietly, trying to snatch his son from Lights' stony gaze.

Zek zoomed away from Lights and over to the rest of the family so fast she was worried he'd fall off the broom. Then she realised the broom was still in her hand and it was Ethan who'd made their son fly. She looked at Ethan reproachfully from under her eyelashes, to let him know she didn't appreciate that. But she smiled resignedly and walked over to them. "I'm confiscating the broom until tomorrow," she told both her husband and son. You can play with it then." She glanced around for Bella and saw her peering into Fortescues. Lights sighed. She knew what was coming next ...
"Can we have ice-cream?" asked Bella, turning on the cute voice again.

As Ethan held Ezekiel, he leant down and whispered into his ear, "It's ok, Ezekiel, you get your broom tomorrow. Good flying!" Sure, Lights wouldn't have liked to hear Ethan complement their son's runaway flying, but that was why he didn't let her hear. Ezekiel smiled and hugged Ethan's leg. "I love you Daddy!" Ethan ruffled his hair and smiled. "I love you too, Zek," he said as Bella then asked for ice cream. "And there's the cute voice..." He turned to Lights. "This one's up to you. I've bought a broom, a snitch, and a book today. Ice cream is on you!" he smiled and kissed her briefly, with Ezekiel still attached to his leg, eyes closed and smiling satisfiedly.