Calla opened the door to her new place. Juniper hadn't arrived yet it seemed. Calla flicked her wand and boxes and trunks flew in. The cottage was perfect. It was seculded and had wonderful views. Not to mention she could start floo'ing into work now.

As boxes landed in the appropriate rooms she opened them and again with her wand things flew into the right place. Cupboards and cabinets filled with the typical suspects... pots, pans, flatware, cups. In the living room she used her wand to 'regular size' things out of a box. The furniture was rustic, and extremely comfortable.

Lastly she wizzed everything into place in her bathroom and bedroom. The only bare space in the house was Juniper's room. Calla was tired from all the flicking of her wrist and she went to lay down on the couch. Soon she fell asleep.

Days later.....

June had yet to show up, but thankfully she had paid rent ahead of time. Calla was busy picking up the house. Gavin would be there any minute. She was glad to have the fiasco with Ryan and the love potion behind them. She poured herself of butterbeer to help relax. She had everything ready to go as far as dinner went, and it wouldn't take long to make when they decided they were hungry.

She looked around realizing everthing was done and sat down. She picked a magazine and flipped through it, every few minutes she glanced at her watch. She couldn't help it, she was nervous. She deeply drank her butterbeer.

Apparating to the address he had been given, Gavin approached the property, using the charms Calla had told him so he could get in. Thankfully Ryan hadn't been given that bit of information. Absently thinking of the man and his deeds, he shook his head and pushed on happy to forget it.

He took a deep breath as he walked up to the front door,his nerves threatening to return as he held the flowers he had purchased casually behind his back. They had so easily reminded him of Calla that he couldn't have picked anything else up as a sort of housewarming. Lifting a hand up he knocked on the door and stood back awaiting an answer.

Calla was startled at the sound of the knock on the door, and spilled butterbeer down the front of her shirt. Frustrated she stood up and used her wand to dry off. Glancing around the room she made sure everything was in order.

Happy with the room she walked over to the door and swung it open. "Hi" She smiled and stood there staring at him for a moment. "OH, I'm sorry." She blushed for having such bad manners, "Come in."

She shut the door behind him as he entered the living room. The room was rustic, with brown furniture and wood and stone accents through the entire room. The room was welcoming and warm, it didn't have much color but it didn't need to. The point of the room wasn't stimulation, but relaxation.

She followed him into the room. She stepped close to him, "You look nice" and put a small kiss on his lips. Pulling away she smiled again, "Do you want something to drink? Water, tea, butterbeer, firewhiskey?"

"Hi," Gavin echoed, smiling as they met and brushing off Calla's appology. "Its alright," he replied stepping inside the cottage at her permission walking out of the entryway and into the living room as she closed the door. His eyes glancing around the room before slowly turning back to his host as she came up behind him.

"So do you," he replied returning the kiss just as soft, glad that things appeared so normal from the crazyness they had both been through. " Water will be fine," Gavin answered as he pulled the flowers and vase from behind him. "These are for you," he replied even though it was quite obvious and he felt just a little sheepish for feeling the need to say so.

She blushed, “Thanks, for both. I mean thanks for the compli… oh you know what I mean” She kissed him again, in thanks for the flowers. “They’re beautiful.” She placed them on the large coffee table in the middle of the room. They were really the only color in the room. “They brighten up the room huh?”

Coming back to him she said, “Well the water is in the kitchen, I’ll get you a glass.” She grabbed his hand in hopes that he would follow her. Now that they were alone together with the awful Ryan mess behind them she didn’t want to be apart.

Releasing his hand as they reached the kitchen she got him some ice water. “Here ya go hon” Handing him the water she was glad he was there. He was glad she found someone, she felt herself falling for him. Having never been in love she questioned if it was too soon. Grabbing a cold butterbeer she decided she didn’t care.

"I have things ready for dinner if you're hungry. If not we can wait. It won't take but 30 minutes to finish making it when you give me the word" She gave him another smile. She could definatley get use to this, him and her... us.

In the back of her mind she couldn't help but worry about the fact thats he had given Ryan the address to the cottage. She couldn't believe she was slipped a love potion. It was horrible. It took days before she felt like herself again. She was embarrased to show her face around the Ministry, yes it was a potion that made her act out - but the people who saw her in the atrium didn't know what.

"You're certainly welcome," Gavin replied chuckling ever so softly as she stammered before kissing him once more, a smile upon his lips. He couldn't help watching as Calla went to place them on the coffee table. "A little," he agreed with a nodd as she came back beside him.

"Alright," he replied following her and her unspoken wish and walking behind her as they both moved into the kitchen with his hand held in willing captivity of her own. He hadn't exactly realised how much he was starting to feel towards the woman until he saw her acting all lovingly towards her enemy and not being able to not wish it was himself instead. "Thanks," Gavin added accepting the glass with a smile and taking a sip as he listened to her talk about their dinner.

"I'm fine for now so we can wait a little before you start or whenever...you're the chef," he answered smiling back so glad to see the expression grace her face again. He had been worried since the love potion incident as he watched her recover from the effects.

“Well, I’m not exactly hungry at this moment and since you’re ok I say we wait a bit. You sure you don’t want a butterbeer?” She gave him a small wink.

She just looked at him, he was really amazing. Calla was still in awe of him helping her through the love potion ordeal – that must have been hard for him. She couldn’t imagine seeing him cuddle up with another woman. She would surely be upset if he had. Potion or not.

“You know Gavin I don’t think I ever thanked you for helping me through that whole mess.” She figured he knew what she was referring to – she rather not put it into words. She walked to him making sure to emphases her next point, “Thank you, really. I can't explain to you how much it meant to have you there with me the whole time.” She looked deep into his eyes, “I’ve never met anyone like you”

"Oh I'm sure," Gavin confirmed his head remembering the pain it had been the night of that ordeal and his attempt to sooth himself andhis mixture of emotions with more then a drink or two. There was a valid reason he usually didn't drink much.

"Its ok...just seeing you back to normal is thanks enough," he admitted, smiling as she walked closer to him. "You're welcome," he added slipping his arms around her and looking down to meet her eyes as she stared into his. "I could say the same of you," Gavin mused, the man knowing he would be hardpressed to find a woman he had dated previously that matched the woman before him.

She felt safe when she was close to him, her heart melted when he slipped his arms around her. She slipped her arms around him and broke the gaze from his eyes. Closing her eyes she placed her head on his chest. She rested there for a moment, maybe two, before lifting her head and meeting his gaze once more.

The words she wanted to say didn’t surface. She had never said them before, well not to a man. She wasn’t sure that this was the right time, but then again, how do you know when it’s the right time. This thought was interupted by her stomach growling.

“You know, on second thought, I think I will start dinner. I’m a little hungrier than I thought.” She giggled.

She pulled from his arms with a smile and stared the cooking. “So, do you talk to your parents often?” They had only toughed on the subject of his parents, and she wasn’t sure how close they were.

He relaxed even more as she added her arms to him, his nerves seeming to have abated seeing as she was returning his gestures. Gavin couldn't help feeling as Calla leaned her head against his chest, just close enough to his own that he could properly smell the sweet shampoo she used to wash her hair.

He chuckled echoing her giggles as he heard her stomach growl, his own happily obediant seeing as he had wanted the time before dinner. "Alright...sounds good to me," he replied loosing his hold of her so she could move away. He followed her seeing as it made talking easier as well as him available to help with anything, leaning slightly on the island that separated them.

"Occasionally," he offered, seeing as often seemed a little much and not quite the word he would have used describing it himself. "Moreso now that I'm back in the country instead of traveling," he added having already been told seeing as he was closer he didn't have the excuse.

She got the water boiling on the stove, and dropped the noodles in. She got the sauce in a pot and put the shrimp and veggies in a pan with a little oil. In the kitchen was where she belonged. She hummed a bit as she prepared the meal. Periodically she reached for her butterbeer and took a sip.

Every few minutes she looked over her shoulder just to see him, every time smiling and turning back to her work.

“Well that’s nice. I bet your parents like seeing you” She winked at him, who wouldn’t like seeing him? She wondered if his mom insisted he visit more often, it was a very mom thing to request.

Her own mom had requested she stop by more often, and she tried. It was just hard to see her in that state. Attempting to be upbeat, “Yea I went to see mom earlier today. She’s…” She paused looking at him for a moment; she was searching for the right word or phrase. “…adjusting.” She shrugged.

Realizing everything was doing its thing, and all she had to do was wait she turned and leaned against the counter top. “So, what’s it like being an only child?”

Gavin let the silence linger through the moments letting her cook as he absently watched her and occasionaly sipped on his water. Smiling as he caught the tidbits of her humming and realising another interesting quality of the woman before him as he took in sight of her cooking.

"Yes...definantly mom," he replied catching her wink with a playful eyebrow. Though he supposed most mothers were like that with their children especially after they've left the nest. Gavin listened as Calla spoke of her own visit, gently nodding in understanding knowing it had to be rough to go through.

"Quiet... " he answered thinking of the first word that popped into his brain about his childhood. "But then again it was a nice change from being around the rest of the kids in the neighborhood and in school," he added seeing as it wasn't like he hated being an only child. He was tempted to turn it around to her but realised the last time her brother was brought up she saddened so he refrained.

She smiled, “Yea mom’s can be insistent.” Realizing everything was done she put her beverage on the counter, strained the noodles and got plates down. “I’m not sure how much you want, so I’ll let you make your own plate” She walked over to him, handing him the plate and giving him a small kiss.

She walked back and placed noodles, sauce and shrimp and veggies on her plate. She placed her plate on the table and sat down.

Starting in on her food she responded to his comment on being the only child. “Quiet. Yes I thought it would be that.” Another giggle. “I had a lot of fun with my siblings.” She stopped short. He only knew about Merritt. Maybe he wouldn’t catch on to what she said.

She took a bite in order to think for a moment, “Me and Merritt had a blast growing up. Climbing trees and just being kids.” They were really found memories. Even Daphnia when they were younger was ok. “He was a good little brother, I did hear from him the other day though. He’s doing well. Settled into Romania and all.” She hoped she was to sweep over the ‘siblings’ comment fairly well.

"Alright," Gavin replied accepting the given plate and kiss with a smile, letting her take her portion first as she returned to the other side of the counter. Watching as she finished and sat down, he moved to fill his own plate and listened to Calla as she continued to speak.

Hearing the use of siblings he thought at first he heard her wrong but something about her continued tone made him curious. Especially when she stopped short but he let it stew in his wind for a little bit.

"I can imagine it being fun at times," he said in agreement as he added the sauce over the rest of the portions of the meal before moving to take his own seat at the table. He would have to admit there was at least a couple times growing up he had wondered what it would have been like to have a brother or even a sister. "Must be somewhat of a relief to know that...." Gavin mused as he twirled some pasta on his fork and took a bite seeing as Merritt was younger and it was his first real time away from home.

"What did you mean earlier?" he asked getting up the nerve to ask the question about her choice in number after he had swallowed.

She watched him get his plate ready, “It was fun, and I got to blame everything on him.” She giggled being the oldest she was able to get to mom first and tattle on him – even if she was the one that did wrong. As he sat down she took another bite of her dinner. Coughing a bit she reached for her butterbeer, “Oh that’s a tad bit spicier than I thought it was” Her eyes watered a little as she cleared her throat.

She straightened in her chair, diverting her eyes for a moment. It seemed he heard the slip up. She could simply brush it off, its not like he would press the matter when she said Daphnia was dead. She couldn’t share too much with him – their relationship wasn’t that far along.

She placed her fork beside her dish and pushed her hair behind her ears. “I assume you mean when I said siblings?” She exhaled and continued, “I had a twin sister, named Daphnia. She died when we were 16. It was the summer between our 5th and 6th years.” She stopped, closing her eyes. Remembering the event, it was horribly tragic – but honestly they should have been the signs.

Opening her eyes she remembered she was there with Gavin. “I know little about my mum’s family, she said it’s for our own good. Well, my sister decided to look into it further, and well.” She shrugged, trying to avoid speaking the ending into existence. “Well, let’s just say curiosity killed the cat.” Her mouth formed a weak grin.

“Anyway, sorry didn’t intend for that conversation to come up for… well a while.” Picking up her fork she twirled her pasta and put it in her mouth before she could say anything else.

Gavin looked back up as she coughed, watching to see if she was ok and relaxing when Calla revealed the reason and was able to talk. He took another bite of his food seeing her fiddle nervously almost wantin to show it was alright if he had overstepped somewhere.

He wished he hadn't pushed when he heard the truth about her other sibling, silently berating himself for his own curiosity. "Im sorry," he said seemin it somewhat in adequate like at the leaky concerning her parents. As she closed her eyes, he reached a hand over and rested it on her lower arm to show he was there if she needed...all he could really do.

"Its alright," Gavin assured her seeing her appology as unnecessary since it was his fault for questioning her own words. "It probably wouldn't have if had just let the use of the plural go," he mused quietly taking a sip from his glass as he slipped his arm away.

She shook her head, “Please don’t be sorry. If I didn’t want you to know about it I should have watched what I said.” She chuckled. She could only blame herself for miss-speaking. “It’s not your fault for being curious. And all you wanted was clarification on information I previously gave you.”

She felt his hand on her arm and smiled. His touch could bring her out of any dark valley. With her free hand she placed her hand on top of his, “Thanks”

As his arm slipped away she lowered her hand and resumed eating.

She took a couple bites and thought about her family. Her mother was dying and she knew nothing about that half of her heritage. She knew her mum, in her right mind, wouldn’t talk about her family… but she hadn’t been in her right mind for some time now. Calla’s mind wondered to the possibility of talking to her mum, and trying to get information out of her.

Calla realized there was a silence between her and Gavin. “Sorry, I was lost in thought.” She swallowed her last bite.

She smiled as she stared at him for a moment, “Well, there’s a couple things we could do.” She got up from her chair and rinsed her dishes. Turning back toward him she walked back over to the table, and stood right by him. “There’s a beautiful yard with a bit of a forest we could explore, we could go on the back porch and watch the sunset, or we could stay in and listen to music and talk.” Putting her hand on his shoulder she continued, “And don’t say it’s up to me – you have to decide.” She smirked and kissed his cheek.

Gavin nodded slightly in undersanding of his companion's words, letting the topic drop to avoid an continueing ackward and saddining feelings. They were here to enjoy the evening after all not dwell on the past especially tht which one had no control over.

"Its alright," Gavin said as he finished up his own plate, not having been truly bothered by the quiet... a definant plus after the crazy week they both had. "There's bound to be silence when theres good food around," he admitted having been trying for a way to compliment her work at cooking.

His head tilted in thought as she placed a hand on his shoulder, having to think over the options since Calla had called him on his usual option of letting her chose. "Well in that case I think exploring a bit might be in order," Gavin answered, smiling at the kiss on his check, about to get up to deal with his own dishes but her hand's placement stopping him.

Calla blushed, “Well thank you. I’m glad you liked it.” Running her hand through his hair she added, “If you’re nice I might just cook another meal for you some time” She gave him a wink.

Placing her hand back on his shoulder she smiled at his response. “OOH! Sounds good, I was hoping you’d pick that. I think there are some gnomes out there. The gardens are slightly over grown for lack of care.” She picked up his dishes, “You’re done right?” Obviously he was done, the plate was empty.

She made her way to the sink and rinsed off his dishes. She got her wand out and magic-ed all the food up.

“Well, the gardens are out the back door, which is actually on the other side of the living room. You ready?” She grinned.

"You're welcome," he replied, his eyes closing slightly as she ran a hand through her hair, the touch comforting but not a familiar one. "Hey," Gavin said making a face, "I'm always nice," he added teasingly as he opedn his eyes up to look at Calla as she moved her hand.

Gavin couldn't help laughing just a little as his face relaxed and he saw how excited she was about his choice of activity. "Well then I'm glad I made it," he replied before nodding to her question, quite finished with the plate in front of him.

He got back to his feet as Calla returned to the kitchen to deal with the plates and food, absently watching her with nothing left to do as he leaned slightly against the counter. "Uh huh," he said striaghtening up ready when she was. "After you," he offered his hand outstretched for her to lead at least till they were outside seeing as it was her home.

She giggled, she liked being able to tease him. Her and Merritt use to constantly pick on each other. None of it was ever taken seriously, it was all in jest.

She grabbed his hand and headed out of the kitchen.

She led the way through the living room to the back door. She stopped on the porch. “This is the porch, it’s pretty nice.” She looked from side to side. There was a hammock and a couple of other comfy chairs. “The view isn’t bad either” She motioned to the west, the sun was 3/4th the way through the sky. They didn’t have long before dark.

“Well down this way is the garden.” She led him down the stairs and on to the stone pavers. As they walked she saw the gnomes scampering around. “OHHH! There’s some!” She giggled, let loose of his hand and took off.

Reaching one she kicked it as far as she could. She turned back to Gavin, “Merritt and I use to have contest to see how far we could kick them. Of course I always won.” She smiled. She always won cause she told him her’s went further than it had – benefit of being a big sister, they believe everything you say.

His face brightened at her laughter, quite anamored with the growingly familiar sound, that and the sight of the smile on her face. Gavin let her take his hand and followed Calla's lead obediantly, closing the back door behind them as they stopped on the porch.

He bit back a laugh as she gave off the image of a tour guide, following her gaze to either side and agreeing with her opinion of the view. Gavin stepped down the steps to the level of the garden, laughing as his companion slipped her hand from his to go after one of the allusive troublesome creatures. The sight more then a bit amusing as the gnome flew through the air.

"Oh really," he said with a raised eyebrow as he moved to keep up. "Why do I believe that hidden Slytherin cunning is the reason for that," he mused his turn to tease her back. Spotting another, he debated for a moment before walking towards the gnome and trying his own attempt at the game.

She walked back over to him, meeting him on the path. Her face showed a sarcastic shock, “Me?” She pointed to herself with wide eyes, “Rig a game so that I would win?” She batted at him lightly, “I’m appalled you’d even suggest such a thing!” She giggled.

She watched him punt the gnome, “You need a running start. Like this…” And she was off again, running and then having her foot connect with the rear-end of the gnome he went sailing. She stopped and watched him fly to the end of the forest.

She made her way back to Gavin, “Yes, well maybe I did play with the truth a little bit when I and Merritt played. But it’s the job of an older sister.” She pled her case, ending it with a wink.

She looked around the garden and saw many of the gnomes were headed out toward the forest, “Look at ‘em go!”

She went to grab his hand when she saw a man gnome headed toward them at full speed, “Oh! He looks mad!! You want him?” She knew he had a better shot at it given the angle.