High Street
 

For T/Wesley!
 

Wes has his hands stuffed in his pockets as he walked towards High Street to meet Tal. Part of him wondered if this was a bad idea, staying so close to her despite how he felt about her.

He sighed, his breath visible in the frosty morning as his dark purple eyes looked around, he could totally do this. He could just be her friend, her best friend, and help her get over what she was going through right now..

Despite Tor saying that he should tell her about his feelings, he just couldn't do that to her right now..

Though he hoped what he had planned for today would be all right...

Warmth flooded through his chest despite the frigid air around him as his dark eyes landed on Tallyn and he ruffled his dark brown hair a bit a bit before taking a breath and stepping closer to her.

"Hey, you. " He said with a warm smile, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long?"

It didn't take all to long before Tal's blue eyes fixed upon a very familiar face and she smiled softly in spite of herself. There he was. The best friend.

Thank Merlin he hadn't taken long to find her out here in the cold. Slipping her glove covered hands into the pocket of her fluffy fleece lined coat, cheeks rosy from the cool breeze she watched as he drew closer to her through the crowd. "Hey, yourself," she teased grinning at him. "Nope. Not really, just a few moments."

"So why exactly are we here, Wes?" Tal questioned her fellow lion while bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet in an attempt to warm up just a bit. He did have some sort of plans for the day, right?

Wes smiled warmly at her as she smiled. Merlin she was beautiful, everything about her was, but her smile could light up the whole room. At least it could to him.

Sigh.

"Oh good, I wouldn't want you to freeze out here. That would be bad. " He said with a joking smile as he gently poked his side.

"Welllllll, I thought it would be kinda cool for you to meet Phe? My mom had the day off and she's going to bring him by! Does that sound fun to you?" He asked her with a grin.

If Tal wasn't already smiling she would be now. Even on her most down of days Wes had always managed to make her smile and feel better. It was just one of the many things she liked about her friend. His ability to make people happy. She supposed that's what friends were for though.

"A frozen me wouldn't be very good. I doubt you'd fancy carrying me around," she joked right back laughing softly, playfully pushing his hand away.

All bouncing stopped and she stared at Wes. At first her expression shower nothing but then suddenly a bright smile formed on her lips. "Phe? Yes! I've been wanting to meet him since you told me about him!" She was so ready to meet the baby...or well toddler really but yeah she was ready!

She was running late. The thing with her brother had overrun, and Sam frowned as she checked her watch and anxiously scurried along the street. She'd been planning to pop into the loo to change her top to something a little cooler, even run a brush through her hair, before meeting with the Gryffindor, but she didn't have time now. Not in these shoes. Hopefully Astrea wouldn't mind her as she was.

All that time worrying about a change of outfit, and it was irrelevant. Ah well. She did have some make up on at least. A carefully crafted line of eyeliner that had taken too many attempts to count, and the briefest lick of mascara so that she didn't risk ruining the former. Her nails were painted with the mood-changing polish that Astrea had gifted her. In hindsight, that might not have been the best of ideas.

The nerves came as she spotted her friend, ahem, date, and Sam slowed her pace. Her stomach knotted, not for the first time today, and she took a moment to catch her breath. She was completely overdressed, that was for sure, and the Ravenclaw shoved her spare hand awkwardly into her jacket pocket. Well, Dora's jacket pocket, since it was her wardrobe it'd been borrowed from. The other was holding a small terracotta pot, barely bigger than her fist. The surface was covered in moist soil, and the smallest of green shoots had started to peek through.

She swallowed slowly, before crossing the street and closing the gap between them. "Sorreh I'm late," she announced her arrival with a crooked grin. "I brought yeh a present though." She held out the pot.

Present then hug? Was that the right way to start a date?

She didn't know.

For Ern/Katy!
 

Wes grinned as she joked back to him and pushed his hand away, "I'd gladly carry you around.." He said with a warm smile, before teasing her again.. "I'd get all strong and buff and then the girls wouldn't be able to stay away.. so really.. " He dark purple eyes were twinkling.. "A frozen you would be doing me a favor. " He chuckled softly as he nudged her gently.

He carefully gauged her reaction about Phe and he smiled a bit at her response! Especially the smile that formed on her face.

"Great! He and My mom will meet us here pretty soon. " Wes checked his watch and nodded.. "Oh ahh.. also., be prepared for the purple eye convention.. " He said with a half grin.

Carry her around?

Tallyn laughed shaking her head. "You don't need to carry me around you're already fit...as for girls well I'm surprised they don't all already follow you around..." He was smart, funny, good-looking and he could cook. All the girls must be crazy not to see it. She saw it... "You don't need myself Wes, you'll find the perfect girl."

She was finally going to get to meet little Phoenix! This was really exciting for her and all she really could think about right them was if the baby looked like his big brother or not. Not that it mattered but she was curious.

Tal smiled. "Great! Are they staying for a bit?" If so they should decide where to go so the little guy didn't get to cold being outside. "I don't have a problem with that...I like your eyes..." she answered softly letting hers meet the purple eyes in question. She was just as much interested in his eyes now as she had been the day she met him.

Ahhh, Wes could listen to the sound of her laugh all day, he really could. He scoffed slightly as she spoke and he shook his head, "Follow me around? They would have to notice I exist first. " He pointed out as he shook his head, only to still fully at her next words..

Truth was.. he did need her. Terribly. Because she was his perfect girl.

He managed a half a smile at her, "I'll always need you Tal. Never doubt that. " Was all he managed to get out. This was harder than it had been.. he was so tempted to just blurt or his feelings and let the chips fall where they may..

But he has barely gotten his mouth open when..

"Wes!" Andrina had spotted her son and was slowly making her way over to him, her hand holding onto a smaller person who was almost too excited for his own good! She pushed her black hair out of her face, her bright purple eyes looking down at the toddler that was dragging her along..

"All right Phe.. go see Wes! " She said as she let go of the little boys hand and laughed as her little monster started to run at full tilt towards his older brother!

Phe was excited to see Wessy! He had gotten a new toy broomstick and he wanted to show him! The small boy with his messy black hair charged towards his brother. His winter clothes making him look slightly like a charging blue marshmallow!

His light lilac eyes were wide with excitement as he hurled himself into his older Brothers arms!

"Wessy! Wessy!!" Hugggggsssssssssssss

He turned his head and looked at the girl next to his brother, his little head tilting as he studied her.. He leaned his head on Wes's shoulder, still looking at the girl..

Wes grinned as he saw his mother and then managed to catch the hurdling child coming towards him.. "Hey buddy, how are you? " He asked as he hugged Phe tightly and smiled at him and his mom..

"Tal, this is my Mother Andrina Black, and my little brother Phoenix! " He said with a smile.

Not only did she tilt her head at him but she also arched an eyebrow at his reply. "Any girl that doesn't take notice to you needs to have their eyes checked." Seriously.

Huh? What was happening? Tallyn took in the expression on his face and the way he stilled at her words. Had she said something wrong? Aaww he needed her. A bright smile formed on her lips as she grabbed his arm and tugged him closer for a hug. "I know, Wes. I need you too...I'm sure you already know that though." She'd proved it enough by always turning to him when she needed cheering up.

Letting him go and stepping back from the hug Tal smiled at him. Now what was it he was going to say? It looked like he was about to say something but was interrupted. Her head turned at the shout of her friends name and her eyes landed on a women with dark hair matching Wes'. That had to be his mother and the little boy in blue barreling towards them had to be Phoenix.

Her thoughts were confirmed by the kid shouting 'Wessy' and Wes picking him up. A small teasing grin formed on her lips cause she'd be teasing him about this later. "Hello, it's nice to finally get to meet you," Tal smiled in greeting towards Andrina. "Hi, Phoenix your big brother has told me lots about you." Aaww he was adorable with that messy hair and bright eyes. She couldn't help but look back and forth between the two boys several times.

Katy did take his hand, since it was a date and that was what one did. She sort of found hand-holding distasteful sometimes. Sweaty and then you only had one hand. At least Oliver was clean and smelled nice and he was NOT sweaty.

So it wasn't terrible.

"You're supposed to plan something. That's how dates work. Don't you know that?"

Not sweaty at aaaaaaall. He was happy to have her hand in his and gave hers a squeeze. Oliver did know that usually there were plans for dates..

"I just thought it would be fun to wander around. Plus i wasn't sure your stance on sweets today." Because it seemed that some occasions it was okay and on others it wasn't. But there were sweet shops and joke shops and tea and food and all sorts of things they could get up to. "Are you hungry?" Because what if he planned for a meal and she wasn't hungry? This is where a plan would be a pain.

Was she really that late? Yikes. At least she was here now.

Clearly Sam had been wrong about the present coming first, and she returned the Gryffindor's tight hug with a grin. Her cheek caught the softness of the younger girl's scarf, and she gave a murmured sound of happiness on a her shoulder. Soooo sooooft. It was distracting; she barely noticed Ast gushing over her looking beautiful until she started picking out individual items.

"You do?" A flush of colour came to her cheeks, and her nails settled on a shade of pale pink. "I feel a little overdressed, realleh. And you look super cute and cosy..." Like, how awesome was Ast's dress? And that cute hat. She looked just perfectly dressed for going to snuggle with a hot drink in front of the Three Broomsticks' log fire. And was Ast touching her hair? "Yeah, I didn't have time to brush it..." she admitted. Maybe it wasn't as bad a thing as she thought.

"It's not just a pot," Sam said with a laugh. "See, there's an ickle shoot in there. It's kinda the wrong season for 'em, but I did a weather charm to 'elp it along a bit." She beamed, wondering if she should reveal exactly what it was, or let it be a surprise for later. She really rather liked the idea of the latter. "Oh, yeh didn't need teh get me anyfink. Jus' looking forward teh spendin' the afternoon with you."

Speaking of which... "Did you have somewhere in mind?"

So no plans, but that was fine. At least there were no plans because Oliver understood how very complicated Katy was and respected it. Or that's how she chose to interpret, and not at all that she was difficult.

"Wandering is a plan, then. And you tried to act like you had no plan. How silly." Katy glanced up and down the street before tugging generally northward. "I'm allowed a moderate amount of sweets, although she'll know. Somehow. And I'm starving."

Oliver felt a grin slowly grow across his face. The kind of grin that only appeared when Katy was as particular as he was used to her being. It didn't bother him at all, he actually liked it. It meant there was never a chance for them to be doing nothing.

"Well as long as it's a plan you're content with." Wandering and window shopping could be fun. Plus people watching was always a hoot, older students were so full of drama. "Well we could add food and a moderate amount of sweets into the wandering." He suggested as the Slytherin was tugged down the street.

Andrina smiled down at the girl as she spoke, Wes has told her about Tallyn of course and she had to admit she had been curious about her. "It's nice to meet as well Tallyn. " Andrina said with a warm smile as she looked at Wes and Phe. "He has missed you so much Wes. " She said with a smile, "Also your dad said he wanted to be here, but I got the day off instead of him.. he's going to try and make it next time. " Thomas had been very upset at missing the chance to see his oldest son and the girl in his life..

Hopefully next time!

Phe kept peering over at the girl as she spoke to him and the little boy slowly raised his head and smiled at her. "Hai! Wessy talks about you..Talllllll. " He said with a grin, his words fast and slightly slurred together. "She's so prettttyyyy Wessy! " Phe said as he tugged on Wes's ear to get him to look fully at him.

Wes smiled at his mother, "Well I have missed him as well, just ask Tal here. " He said as he shot his best friend a smile before nodding as his mother spoke about his dad.. "Tell him that I missed him as well,, hopefully next time. " He said softly. His dad always seemed to be working, so really this wasn't new.. but still..

And here we go.. Wes tried to keep a straight face as Phe talked.. hopefully the boys speech was too fast for Tal to catch every word but..

Merlin..

Wes turned his full attention to Phe as he tugged on his ear. "Yes, she is very pretty. " He said with a smile.

Tallyn kept a small but warm smile on her lips. She was curious as to whether or not his family knew much about her or not. It was probably a safe guess that they did if his dad had wanted to come too...or he probably just wanted to see his soon.

Aaww this kid was so cute! Luckily for Wes she didn't have all to much experience with little kids so some of his speech wasn't understood. She managed to make out her name and Wes' as well as something that sounded like Wes talked about her often. "Oh, does he? Can you tell me what he says?" Tal asked softly giving Phe a warm smile, blue eyes shifting to glance at Wes curiously.

She nodded when somewhat questioned. "He does. All the time. I get updates on everything Phe does." And she enjoyed it. Tallyn tilted her head and laughed softly. "Was that what he said?" She asked still laughing a small blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Well thank you Phe, you're adorable."

Astrea was definitely cute. Especially with that giggle. Sam's face lit up at the sound. "Very cute," she confirmed with a nod. And huggable too. Ahem. "No. Was planning to tidy it up after me meeting wiff me bruvver, but I didn't have time." She gave the Gryffindor a crooked grin, glad it didn't reveal quite how much of a rush it'd been to get here.

So far, it all seemed to be a win. Her outfit. Her hair. The present.

...a present that her date was asking about. "A surprise," Sam said mysteriously. "So yes, I'm trusting you to raise it until it can at least be identified, and preferably, until it flowers." So there was a clue, she supposed. Flowers would arrive at some point, all going well. "It'll need to be kept somewhere warm over the winter, but I fink your dorm should be okay." And her charm would protect it for the rest of today, wherever they were headed.

What was that look? Sam looked sheepish under the Gryffindor's gaze, not really sure how to react. "Nah, I'm not." She hoped she was just the right amount of nice. Apparently it was bad to have too much of a good thing, although having grown up with not very much, she wasn't sure she could agree.

"Soun's like a plan. I'll take a cosy couch over chintzy chinaware any day." Had she used that right, chintzy? She wasn't sure. It'd been on her word-a-day calender that Dora bought her last week, and she hadn't found the definition the most helpful, truth be told. And had she known the Junia and boy-Sam were in Puddifoots, it'd be another valid reason in her book too. Boy-Sam already knew waaaay too much about this date, and she was quite alright not conducting it under his gaze. Or Junia's really.

"'opefully one of the tables by the fireplace is free," she said, slipping her arm through Astrea's and starting to lead the way to the pub. They were her absolute favourite. "Did you want food too?"

you can post Sam at the Three Broomsticks next if you want!
 

Phe was stil in Wes's arms but he was pulling back a bit to look fully at Tallyn. His wide lilac eyes looking at her and a smile pushed over his face.. "Yes! He.. says you are very pretty.. and he really really likes you.. " The boy said with a solemn nod.. "Are you going to be my sister? " The small boy asked as he held his arms out to her to be held..

Merlin..

With every word out of his little brothers mouth, Wes wanted to fall through the street.. he was trying not to fidget and keep a hold of his brother and not clap a hand over the little dudes mouth..

"Shhh Phe.. let's not ask her that.. " He whispered in the boys ear as he shot a look at his mother that clearly said HELP!

Andi was trying hard to hold back laughter as Phe spoke and Wes looked at her.. all she could do was shrug subtly.. If she did anything it might alert Tallyn as to the truth behind Phe's words..