She laughed oh-so-softly, "I never said Minister for England, though" Sienna said, and winked again. Of courseee, all friendly like. Yet, she never answered his question about the voting. Ha! Sneaky.

Yes, shame she couldn't be there. Everyone went to the wedding, and she had to live through every single comment to at least know what happened during the wedding, the reception and the rest. "As much a great time as a wedding can be, right?" except not every wedding was Cooper's and not every wedding was Belle's.

Wow. "That's amazing...Italy is...sort of nice" let's keep it at that, "Well, not just sort but it should be a great place to retire yup, maybe, no one ever knew what the future held for either one of them. Except, maybe, a seer.

Sienna liked to think so as well, and her parents were still together and happy...so, yes, it could happen. But, yikes, what was now with the marriage thing? How come every time someone mentioned Brennan the conversation ended up in marriage...weird. She frowned and looked back at her desk, "Ummm, so, I think I should get back to work...and you still have a letter to finish?" she said, shrugging a bit.

Clackclackclack.

A pair of impatient and maybe a little hyper feet were making their way down the hallway; the door to the journalist's area opened with a BANG.

There stood Mona Quigley, wearing a lush black coat over her black blouse and tailored pencil skirt, high leopard-print pumps on her feet. In one arm she held what looked like several pounds of parchment, a magazine or two peeking out. Slung over her other arm was her large dark green crocodile handbag, and in the hand of that arm was a large cup of very strong coffee, certainly not her first that day. Her face was aglow, freshly cut hair windswept, a goofy and ecstatic smile on her face, her pupils maaaybe a touch dilated. Mona was in her element.

"PETS!!! Can you beeeliieeve it!?" she squeaked. "Elections are always fun, but THIS?! The senior undersecretary running against the Minister." She guffawed. "We are going to make a killing A KILLING I TELL YOU!!!"

She click-clacked happily to her office...nay, she pranced.

Nathan, engrossed in bloody layouts (and grumbling inwardly to himself), nearly jumped out of his skin as the door opened with an almighty crash. Blowing a wayward strand of hair out of his face, he looked up to see Cruella De Ville Numero Deux dressed, quite aptly given the nickname, like some sort of animal loathing er...woman, just asking for a can of red paint to be hoyed over her by muggle animal rights protesters. That smile come grimace permanently fixed to her face gave her the look of someone who had either had too much botox, or had been prescribed one too many happy potions by the local healer. He gave her a small smile despite his utter... fear of her.

Pets? That uncontrollable eyebrow raised as he looked at her. His stomach churned a little when she mentioned the elections and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked over at his partner in Taylor crime, Enrico, who had been locked in deep conversation with a young photographer only moments ago, and gave him a look as if to say 'eeeeek!'. Pfft.. and then a second later she was gone - thank Merlin. At least she hadn't said anything adverse about Reagan's campaign... yet.

She just walked back into the office from another story. She had to go home and change, she didn't think a blushing pink cocktail dress would go over well with the hounds of hell she worked for. She had changed into a red knit dress and black pumps. Her hair was pulled into a tight pony tail. The ends were dyed yellow, JoJo wanted to test something on her that was the end result. Sure she could change it, but she didn't she thought it was cute and JoJo was so proud of himself.

Her heart stuttered as hell hound number 2 breezed into the office. She looked like a queen of the jungle, or huntress of the jungle. She chose to simply ignore her so she wouldn't ruin her day. She spotted Nathan and she instantly brightened. She walked over to him sitting on his desk. "Hello my love," S he said crossing her legs and letting a pump dangle from her foot.

Nathan's face immediately brightened when he saw his sexy little woman walking towards him. He leaned up and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Hello my sweet.” He replied. She was a sight for newsprint induced sore eyes. And she always looked lovely in red.

He looked at her curiously. There was something different about her appearance - it was there on the tip of tongue. but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. His forehead crinkled slightly as he tried to work out what it was - sometimes he wished he was more observant. But then she turned to the side and it hit him. Yellow hair? Chuckling slightly he asked. “What have you done to your hair, love?” He quite liked it to be honest. He had always liked quirky styles and fashions on a woman. An avid Weird Sisters fan, Nathan's first ever girlfriend had a shock of bright pink hair. All she ever wore was different shades of pink. It was quite nauseating thinking back on it but he liked it at the time. “Turn around then. Lets have a proper look.” He said with a smirk while he did a twirly motion with his finger.

Sergio slowly walked over to his desk, his grey fedora tipped low over his face. He had had a very eventful evening reconnecting with his old Quidditch mates. Unfortunately the thought that he would need to go to work didn't cross his mind as he and the boys went from club to club.

It was his assistant who dragged him out of bed, just two hours after he had gotten into it. He glanced at a clock, noting he was almost an hour late. He simply shrugged that off and sat down. He pulled out a thermos and gingerly sipped the contents, a secret potion his assistant whipped up to cure his "headache". He hopped he could just sit and sleep at his desk without being disturbed.

She smiled at him as his face brightened. She was happy to see him as well. She giggled and blushed when he kissed her cheek. "Hello my lover," She said as her eyes brightened as she looked at her husband. he had left that morning before she and the children were up which was saying something. Dillon and Jo usually liked to start their screaming match at each other around 5 am. "Why did you leave so early?" She asked him. She hated waking up to an empty bed.

She wanted to smile as he tied to work out what was different about her. She could sneak a hippogriff past him. She looked at him. "You son did this actually," She pointed out to him. "JoJo and Dillon have been in Paris' lab or something and he created this new potion he wanted me to try on my hair. Well all it did was dye the ends yellow." She told him. He seemed to get a kick out it she didn't know if that was the intended result or just a happy coincident. Either way she was happy to a the guinea pig for her son. It was a easy fix but she wanted to keep it. She nodded her head and hopped off his desk and did a twirl for him. Her long hair swirled around her small frame. The black and yellow of her hair gave her a slight feline look. She twirled back till she was facing him. "Do you like it?" She asked sheepishly.

Nathan shrugged. “I just needed some air, you know?” Or rather, to get away from shouting, screeching children for a little while. Nathan adored his family more than anything in the world, but he still needed his alone time once in a while. The older twins had been playing up more than ever of late and Nathan was about to snap. He hated being 'Angry Dad', it wasn't who he was and reminded him of his own father. The thought that he could be anything like him frightened him to death. “I took a stroll in the park. Cleared my head before coming here.” He explained.

He chuckled. “Well the boy could make a fortune in the muggle hair care industry.” Then he frowned – that was far too much like being a hairdresser - no son of his would wind up as a hairdresser thank you very much! “You're a very brave lady trying out any of their creations.” He laughed lightly. Nathan would have had a hissy fit if his hair ended up like that in an experiment gone wrong. He was rather precious about his hair.

He watched her do her delicate little twirl, her hair swirling slow motion like a model in a hair ad. She had beautiful hair. “Mia-ow.” He said but didn't know why. Looking puzzled, he shook his head and then smiled as he looked at her. “I adore it.” He said softly, standing up to stroke it with his hand and examine more closely. “Are you going to leave it like that?”

She nodded as she tried to keep from poking out her bottom lip. She really hated waiting up in the morning and Nathan not being there beside her. She used to climb on top of him to go to sleep to keep him from getting up in the morning and leaving without her. Hmm, she might start doing that again. "I understand," She said softly. Nathan needed his alone time, well they all needed some time alone. She went to the spa and took herself to lunch to be alone, so she didn't begrudge Nathan at all. "Oh alright. Did you get yourself a good cup of coffee then?" She asked as she brushed a stubborn stand of dark hair out of his face. Her hand brushing against his cheek.

She saw the frown on his face and she choose to ignore it. She had her say with Lucas and she wasn't going to say anything about the other boys. Nathan wasn't going to budge and she didn't like to get in between him and his sons. Just like he backed off when it came to her and girls. "Yes he could be a excellent potion maker for the haircare industry," She said pointedly. Just because he made potions for haircare product didn't make him a certain way. She shrugged. "Well I was happy to, and besides anything they did I could fix. Its not like one of Paris' things that tend to be permanent." She pointed out. "Or explosive," Which was painful. "And I'm not that fussed about my hair like some people are their mirrors are," She added with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. It tickled her pink to see Nathan and his mirror fussing over his hair in the morning.

She giggled when he meowed at her. She guessed she sort of did look cat like with her black hair and yellow tips. She looked up at him as he stroked her hair. "I don't want to hurt JoJo's feelings I think I will leave it like this for awhile and seeing as how you like it as well," She said, her voice going soft at the end of her sentence.

Nathan's lips quirked slightly as he noticed the bottom lip starting to protrude. That could face could make even a man with no conscious cave in. He stood up and wrapped his arms around her. “Come this weekend I'll make you breakfast in bed. No need to rush anywhere.” He kissed the top of her head, getting a whiff of that hair potion for the first time. He made a face. Ew. What the devil? If Dillon was going to make a career out of haircare potions, he really needed to work on making them smell better. A lot better. He let go of Egypt and backed away a couple of paces, subtly wiping his mouth with his hand. Ew. Blinking his eyes to keep them from watering, he gave her rather a sheepish smile, not wanting to tell her that her usual natural sweet summer fruity scent was being masked by the smell of... er.. manure. Ahem.

He nodded to her question. “Ah..nothing but tea for me first thing.” He pointed out to her. Twas the only way to start the day. Extra strong with two sugars and a nice helping of milk. Yum. “And a bacon buttie from the local caff.” He said with a smirk. A creature of habit, Nathan was. “Were the boys alright this morning?” He asked her. He felt a wee bit bad just going off and leaving them, though he didn't do it often these days.

He raised an eyebrow at her dig about his hair. “Hmph.” He said, crossing his arms in a fake strop. “You know fine well this is natural.” He pouted and deliberately let his hair fall across his face right after she brushed it away from his face. He smiled as she gazed his cheek softly with her hand. “Just ask my mirror.” He said with amusement in his voice and a glint in his green eyes knowing that his heated debates with Mrs Mirror made her giggle into the duvet in the mornings.

He grinned and winked as she giggled at his cat sound compliment..? Odd. Anyway, he did like her hair like that even though it smelled funny.. and had taken him a good five minutes to notice. “I do like it.” He said echoing her soft tone. "But er... " He gave her another sheepish look. "Maybe you should wash it... when we get home..?" He suggested with a shrug of the shoulders.

He glanced over at his fellow workers, then at his watch, and back at Egypt. “What say we get out of here for a while.” He suggested, looking her up and down with a cheeky smirk on his face. “It's break time and I've been here for hours.” His eyes could do with a proper break. “Ice cream, Lady Greenwood?” He asked. "My treat." The fresh air may very well help with that farm yard smell. Heh!

She tried not to pout, but Nathan could read her almost as good as she could read him. She slid her arms around his waist as he hugged her. She laid her head over his heart. It was the only part of his body she could reach when he was standing. He was almost 6 feet tall and she was only 4 foot 9. "Breakfast in bed sounds about right," She smiled. She almost fell face first into the floor when Nathan let got of her so abruptly. "Whats wrong?" she asked steadying herself on Nathan's desk. She saw the face he was pulling. What happened? "Nathan?" She said.

She pulled a face. She hated tea. She was a coffee drinker, some of the best coffee was grown in Africa. They didn't drink tea. She shook her head. "You and your bacon butties," She smiled. Nathan was a total creature of habit. She had her coffee with hazelnut and hornbeam. It was the only way to have it. She looked at him as he asked about the boys. "Well, they set of one of Paris' chocolate bombs and it was everywhere. They even had it in their ears, but other than that the morning went off without a hitch. Got them off to daycare." She told him.

She tried to keep a straight face and she saw his mock offense. She stifled a giggle. "Yes it is all natural. I believe you," She told him nodded her head and trying to keep the smirk on her face. She loved his hair, but not as much as he did. Nathan took his hair more serious than any other man Egypt knew. "Oh posh you know that mirror doesn't answer me. She won't even show me my reflection." Egypt said. "If I didn't know any better I would be jealous of her." She said with a raised eyebrow. Egypt had to go and get a mirror of her own because Nathan's mirrors had told the other mirrors in the house not to show Egypt her reflection. She found it funny that Nathan and his mirror argued in the mornings over his hair.

She grinned. "Well then I may leave it for a while. I hardly ever dye my hair so it will be a nice change." She announced. Her sister Tommy and her daughter Paris were the adventurous ones with their hair color. Her little nose wrinkled. "I smell?" She asked him. Well that was great. She was walking around smelling funny. "Yes lets get out of here. We can floo home real fast and I can wash my hair and then we can go to lunch." She said pulling her cloak on and grabbing her purse. If she knew she had smelled funny she wouldn't have came to work today. She didn't like leaving the house looking less than her best. She took his hand as they walked over to the fireplaces. "How about a bacon cheeseburger and a pint?" She asked him with a smirk. She pinched some floo powder from the pot and threw it into the fireplace. "Last one home buys!" She stepped into the fireplace. "Uptown court," And then she vanished.

Nathan tried his very very bestest not to make a face as she snuggled up to him. Oh Merlin. He held his breath and started to turn a little red. He looked at her when she asked what was wrong. Nathan was about as subtle as an earthquake it seemed. “Nothing, nothing.” He said with a shake of the head. Was it worse not telling her she smelled like a farm? Oh crap. He bit his bottom lip as he pondered this.

He laughed heartily at the antics of his boys. Setting off chocolate bombs was a very small hitch in the Greenwood household.

“It is!” He protested. But she was right. Egypt was always right and Nathan could hold no secrets from her no matter how embarrassing they were. He was an utter scruff bag, but his hair was his crowning glory. He didn't really bother about the rest of himself as long as the hair fell 'naturally' in the right direction. He chuckled. “Jealous of a mirror?” He said sarcastically. He thought it was funny that his mirror had decided not to allow Egypt to see her own reflection. He had a horrible moment of thinking that his wife had been turned into a vampire. “You know there's nothing going on between me and Miriam.” He smirked and winked at her as he perched on the edge of his cluttered desk.

He couldn't help the smile and small chuckle as she crinkled her wee nose, realising that she.. well.. stank. He nodded. “Sorry to say so. I dread to think what Dillon put in that hair stuff.” He muttered. And then she was gone faster than he could reply to her offer. Shaking his head slightly, he followed her into the fireplace. “Uptown Court.” He said clearly. Looked like lunch was on him...

*pretends this isn't a month late*
 

She presumed it was the journalists desks because the tables were cluttered, paper-ridden and messy. It looked like the auror headquarters. Except slighter more organised....or so it appeared. She wasn't even sure if she was allowed this far into the offices but everybody seemed so busy they didn't even notice. Alexa walked further into the room and frowned. How was she supposed to find Egypt? It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Nathan had his head down studying, well... layouts just for a change, when someone came into the office, walking past his desk which was, very wisely he thought, nearest the door for a quick getaway should Getti or Mona come a-prowling among the common folk.

His eyes filled with surprise when he saw who it was before his lips curled into his usual smile. Standing up, he casually approached the woman who was looking incredibly lost. His mind flitted to the last time he spoke to Alexa and what had followed with Warren. His placed his hand tenderly on her shoulder for a moment, then decided to keep this is light hearted as possible. “I know you miss me, love, but you didn't need to come all the way over town just to see my face.” He smirked and winked at her and then added with a puzzled look. “...What are you doing here, love?” Who, in their right mind, would choose to come to these offices?

It was worse than Auror HQ...it had the frightening air of an labour camp...then again it was just a feeling. Either Egypt wasn't here or she was incredibly inept at finding people. Alexa also had the feeling she wasn't meant to be here, the glances she was getting were bordering unfriendly. When someone placed a hand on her shoulder she gulped expecting the worse...along the lines of a burly tall security guard asking her to leave. She turned slowly and smirked. The figure infront of her was anything but burly. Rolling her eyes at his sarcastic greeting she shrugged light heartedly, "I was looking for your wife actually" She smiled softly and looked around the office, "But I did miss you..don't think I can convince you to come back?" She asked futiley. Nathan wasn't exactly stubborn..but the type that didn't give up. "Well if I knew you'd be so welcoming..." She trailed off with a shrug, "Seeing as you two never visit I thought I'd make the effort."

"Alexa," Egypt said happily as she stepped out of the fireplace. She smoothed down her skirt and walked down the rows of desks. She had been a bad friend by not visiting Alexa after she left the Ministry and she felt bad about that. Alexa had always been a good friend to her. Her and Warren, even though he tended to scare her with his mere presence. She topped by her desk and laid down her slim red briefcase and she made her way over to Alexa and hugged her tightly. "I've missed you." She told the taller, stronger woman honestly. "What brings you by?" She questioned as she pulled back from the hug with a smile on her face.

She didn't need to turn to recognise the voice, "Egypt!" The woman was small but her smile had the ability to brighten even the most dismal of dispositions. And she was also very strong. Taking a big breath as she pulled back she rolled her eyes, "Sure you have, so much so I haven't seen you for a millenium" Not that she'd tried. Alexa had been extremely lax with just about everything. "A innocent visit" She smiled and shrugged. The things going on her life was really depressing. She didn't want to ruin the atmosphere.

She giggled at Alexa was happy to see her, as she was happy to see her friend. "I have been remiss in coming to see you, please forgive me?" She asked. the last thing Egypt Greenwood would ever want to do is make someone feel unloved. She loved everyone she encountered, and Alexa held a special place in her heart. And after her sisters she would call Alexa her best friend. She folded her arms and looked at Alexa. Alexa never did things just on the fly. She wasn't that sort of person. She was analytical and methodical. Things had a reason and there was a reason for things with Alexa. So her just dropping by just to drop by wasn't the reason she was here, and Egypt knew it. "Come on Alexa this is me." She motioned for her to sit down at the chair by her desk. She sat at her chair. "I saw Warren the other week and he didn't look good. So what is going on with you two?" She asked her softly as she gazed at her friend.

Alexa seemed surprisingly jumpy for a woman in her line of work where staying calm and being aware of your surroundings was essential. She usually was all of those things and it became obvious to Nathan that Alexa was not here just for a social chat. He shook his head at her question. “Much as I loved my job..” he said sarcastically, “...this is much more me, I think.”

Looking around the office for Egypt, he scratched the back of his head. “Haven't seen her for a while.” He frowned thoughtfully. “Maybe she's hiding in the brea...”


And speak of the devil. “Ah ha!” He exclaimed triumphantly. “There you go.” He smiled at his wife as she made her way towards them. “Well.. I shall leave you two ladies to it.” He retreated back to his desk to allow Lexy and Egypt to talk.

Alexa dismissed her ,smiling, "Love, of course. I was joking.." When Egypt crossed her arms it usually meant to upcoming of either her honest and rather raw opinion or the fact that she knew her too well. "I know.." She whispered weakly, the smile fading. Taking the seat across from Egypt she smiled softly at Nathan and bit her lip as Egypt mentioned Warren. Gulping she sighed, "I suppose you deserve to know..both of you" How was she supposed to say this? "I'm leaving England in July.." It was so close..less than a month before she left. She considered telling them there was business she had to finish but that wouldn't hold with either of them. Sitting forward on her chair, she frowned "My father's...murderer was released and I was offered a position in the country he's now in..." She trailed off not really wanting to get into the nitty-gritty details, "We got into a disagreement and I don't know...we'd been rocky for weeks. I asked Warren to..." It sounded so irrational retelling it now, "Move on..I might not come back" Somehow that didn't scare her as much as the fact that she hadn't seen Warren in weeks.

She gave Nathan a quick peck on the cheeks and patted his cheek when she pulled back. "Thank you love." She watched him as he gave them some space.

"And why do you want to be in the same country as that horrible man?" She asked her slowly. "What are you planning to do?" She didn't want to think of what Alexa could do. She was a deadly foe for any person stupid enough to cross wands with her. "Revenge won't bring him back or help him rest any easier Alexa," she told her softly. She didn't want her friend risking her life over a man that didn't care about taking human life. "Please don't do this," she begged her gently as she looked at her. She couldn't bear it if she got that owl that Alexa had been murdered. It was break her heart.

Egypt's eyes were wide as sauces when Alexa was done talking. Warren and Alexa fought like cats and crups but they always made up, however long it took them and they were steady as rocks. She reached out her hand and laid it gently on Alexa's hands as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Alexa I'm so sorry." She said softly. She couldn't imagine what she would do if Nathan...she couldn't event think about it.

Alexa watched Nathan go and sighed as Egypt, ever the rational one, asked her why she was going. She leant against the desk and shrugged, "I can't sleep.. I keep thinking of all the other people he'll kill and get away with it for...he has to be put to justice" Guilt was also pushing her to go. Guilt that she'd never really grieved. Tears that had never fallen. She pulled herself together only to frown as Egypt asked her how she would go about it. The fear in her eyes made her hesitate to answer, "I .. won't kill him" She said quickly, paling at the idea. "He deserves it but I .. c-c-an't." She would never be able to look at herself without repulsion if she did. Jail was the only option. At the mention of revenge Alexa stiffened, her expression stoic. "I don't think it will either" She just wanted to let go. Move on. Let the past rest in peace. The woman she was now was a shadow of everything she had been. "I have to" Warren deserved someone better. The auror's stoic facade trembled and she chewed on her bottom lip as Egypt's soft hand laid across her's. "Egypt...please, don't cry.." But her best friend's tears were hard to ignore. "It'll be fine." She was sure. Was she? "How is Warren?" She whispered, looking at her friend desperately.

Nathan instinctively looked up from his work, his eyes were drawn back across to Lexy and Egypt. He bit his plump bottom lip when he noticed there were tears and could only assume that this must have something to do with Warren, and Nathan's last encounter with the couple.

Deciding now would be a good time to have a break - it was difficult not to watch what was going on and, even though Alexa was a dear friend to him, he felt like he was intruding on something very private just by being there, unintentionally eavesdropping. No doubt Egypt would fill him in on the details later.

He rose from his desk, not bothering with his jacket, he headed out onto Diagon Alley. He could use the air anyway.

Alexa! <3
 

"Why are you the one to do it?" She asked. She didn't want Alexa doing this. If someone had killed her father she sure as hell wouldn't hunt him down to just lock him up. She knew how hard it was to let go of the hurt someone else caused you. Her great-grandfather had a hard time getting over his years as a slave to the Riddle family when the British colonized Ghana. He became a bitter man for a long time, and it hurt the family. "If this is the path that you feel you have to take I will support you Alexa, even if I don't agree with you." She said slowly. "I just want you to be safe, and come back to us." It wouldn't be the same with her gone.

She shook her head and dried her face as best she could, but she couldn't stop the tears. She cared so much for Warren and Alexa and she only wanted them to be happy and they were always happier together. "I hate seeing you two in pain." she said softly. There didn't seem to be anything that she could do. "He was wandering down Diagon Alley looking crazed and lost. Nathan had to take him home." She told Alexa honestly. "He needs you Alexa. He isn't the same man without you. Its like hes become unplugged." She was pleading with Alexa not to go and leave Warren.