'What am I doing here?' Arrow asked himself as he made his way into Muggle London.  He'd stopped by Addie's flat before, but she'd always invited him, or he was just meeting her on the street so they could go somewhere, but here he was on his own.  Inviting himself to her place.  He'd never done this with any other girl he'd decided to date longer than a couple weeks.  There were always meeting places and her coming to him... he'd never been the one to go out of his way to pop by her place.

Arrow entered the building and made his way to Addie's flat.  Once reaching her door he didn't knock.  Truthfully he was wondering what this meant, could he like her more than all the other girls there were, was he beginning to feel the need to settle down.   Shifting the bag he'd brought with him to his off hand, he took a deep breath and knocked.

He took of his hat for a moment and ran his hand through his hair and put it back on.  Heck, he'd even changed what his usual attire was and was wearing color[1] voluntarily.  He'd worn colors before, but usually dark blues and greys.  And here he was at Addie's front door in a green shirt.  What was wrong with this picture?

He looked down at the bag he carried.   He'd brought a couple things with him, wondering the whole time if he should of just left them at his place, but for some reason, a box of macarons and a bottle of wine had found their way to Addie's place with him. 

On second thought, maybe he should just set them down on some unsuspecting person's doorstep....

1.	I added some macarons and wine to his polyvore set

Huddled up in her bedroom, crying at the photographs[1] that lay on the floor below her, Addie was an emotional train wreck. She'd cussed and cried, furious and frustrated at the events from the previous evening[2]. This turn of events, fate as it were, was cruelly laughing at this situation. She was heavy laden, her heart heavy burdened by the revelation of her dead - undead - fiancé returning to England. Luckily for Addie, this was a weekend off and for that, she was beyond grateful. This was unfair, unjust, but wasn't life like that already? More so, what did he think was doing? Was Matty intending to break her all over again? Who knew!

Addie didn't hear the knock on her flat, however, Marmalade did. The dog began barking excitedly, scraping her paws against the entrance. Someone was on the other side and the pet was wanting to find out who. The barking continued for some time and it soon made Addie realise that yes, someone was here, and yes, they were wanting in. Scrambling, she shoved the pictures, the ring into the box and pushed it into her closet, burying it halfway before moving to the door. "SHUT UP, Marm!" came her shrill voice, causing the pup to whimper. Addie joined her pup in that echo, feeling ashamed by it; reaching downward, she pet the dog and smiled weakly. "Sorry, girlie," came her mumble and soon opened the door.

Please don't be . . . .

The first thing Arrow Thatcher would see is his lady friend, all blotchy faced and a look of both surprise and curiousness there. "Ah-.....hallo." A sheepish grin. "Th-this is a nice surprise." Marmy barked as she moved to Arrow's feet, sniffing the shoes before nudging him in an affectionate manner. "What brings you here? Did I miss something?"

1.	polyvore set
2.	[May 6th] Like Ghosts, They Haunts Me

Just as he was about to knock again, he heard her yell at her dog.  He'd only seen the dog a couple times, but it seemed like a good companion.  Then again, he'd never heard her yell at anything, briefly he wondered if she was alright.  Then the door opened.

She looked like... well... like someone had died.  And even as he said the words, "You alright?" he wanted to hang himself for asking.  Obviously she wasn't alright, it looked like she had been crying for some time, but he didn't know why.  He hoped it wasn't something that he did or didn't do. 

He noticed that her dog was up against his leg and he smiled.  One of his rare true smiles, not the ever-present smirk he always seemed to have.  "Hey girl, you'll tell me, do I have to go and kill someone for upsetting your owner?" he asked as he ignored Addie and knelt down to the dog's level.

He looked back to Addie as he stood up, "Um... I brought you something... I hope that you'll enjoy both things." he said as he held out first the box of macarons and then revealed the bottle of wine in his other hand. 

"You alright?"

No. She wasn't.

"Hey girl, you'll tell me, do I have to go and kill someone for upsetting your owner?"

A soft, genuine giggle left her lips...a giggle that gave indication that not all was bad. That there was some good to be had as well. Watching Arrow be affectionate with Marmy warmed her soul, giving a sense of hopefulness versus the hopelessness she'd felt a while back. Hm. As he stood back up and presented her with his gifts, Addie smiled, crinkling her nose at the simple offerings. "What's this? Bartering me with macarons and wine? You make it almost seem like you're trying to get somewhere fast, Mister Thatcher," she remarked with a chuckle.

"So. You and I....and Marmalade probably should head inside, don't you think? After all, it's going to look a bit awkward if we sit out here and consume your offerings, yanno? Shoo....in, in, in." Gesturing with her hands to make him go in, Addie gave a command of 'Marmy, go~' to the pup who instantly followed the request, panting and zooming around the room. Grand. Excited puppers. Shaking her head once the door closed, Addie eyed Arrow closely.

"Thank you."

Arrow nodded at Addie's suggestion that they go inside and watched her dog run excitedly through the place. Almost made him want one, but he was never home long enough to take care of one properly.  "You know, if I keep doing these things," he said as he ignored her hand motions for him to go into her place first and gestured for her to go in first, "I do believe that you are an influence on me m'dear." he told her.

Whether it was a good influence or not was yet to be determined by him, for although he enjoyed being around her, there was something that well, he wasn't sure about. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't being his usual snarky self all the time anymore, or he was surprising himself by only spending his time with one woman... and a pretty one at that... it was unusual for him.

He was slightly curious as to why she said thanks to him, and it showed briefly on his face as they entered into her flat, but rather than come out and ask her about it, like he normally would of, he was content to let her tell him in his own time. "So, who do I have to kill for making you upset...." he leaned in closer to her ear and whispered, ".... I know people..." He straightened back up and winked with a smirk.

Damn him for that whispering and likewise for her giggling, blushing as it occurred.

Playfully swatting Arrow, Addie kept all eyes on him and that stupid smirk while they stood there. "No need to kill anyone, love. Rest assured, I've got it all under control, mor' or less." Rubbing her eyes, Addie smiled genuinely to the tall Irish bloke, a warm feeling stirring inside of her body once again. "As for influences, so what if I am affecting you? You have the ability to stop coming by the flat just as much as you have the ability to stop bringing me macarons. I'll tell you something though - stop doing one of these things and you just might get jinxed."

A wink and she was moving into the kitchen area, placing the macarons she'd snagged from his hands onto the island counter before opening the cabinet to grab two wine glasses. Letting out a yip, the pup was back at Arrow's feet, dropping her toy rope at his feet and soon nudging him for attention. Looking at her pet, Addie laughed at the sight. "Have you no shame, Lady Marmalade? Truly?" was the quip while bringing the necessary tools for opening the wine and the like.

"I seriously doubt he came here just to see you."

Arrow, feeling rather playful at the moment, decided to go along with what Addie just said.  "On the contrary, I find I am in need of company of the furry kind and have made my journey here to give my undivided attention to the lovely Lady Marmalade, your company m'dear is just a bonus." he winked and then moved past her to stand closer to where the dog was. He picked up her toy and dangled it just out of reach.

 

Marmy barked animatedly at Arrow, leaping upward before clutching the rope and tugged it downward, playfully growling at Thatcher. Clearly, the pup was prepared to fight him over this toy. Addie, however, simply folded her arms and watched the pair go at it before turning around with an amused head shake. Pulling out the wine corker out of the drawer beside her, she listened to the persistent growl while opening the bottle of wine that Arrow had brought. "Looks like I should keep you around for w-a-l-k-ies, Arrow Thatcher. Maybe she can whip you into shape all the same," Addie finally mused, grinning at her jab right as the cork came out the bottle.

"I take it you'd like a glass for your hard earned work?"

Arrow chuckled at the dog who finally grabbed the rope and started a game of tug-o-war.  He playfully pulled back on the rope before letting the dog have it.  Turning to Addie he noticed that she'd already opened the wine.  He could use a drink.  He'd been waiting to drink that wine since he'd bought it two days ago and it was just taunting him sitting on his counter.

"I would, love." He stood up and walked over to where she was standing. "I've been doing very hard work and deserve a reward." he said with a small smile.  His eyes were on hers as he said it.

"Sounds like a pupperooni wore you out versus let you obtain some sense of justice. That means more like a good bottle of warm milk and a blankie, eh?" Addie taunted lightly as she patted Arrow's chest. The dog whined briefly at the loss of competition but soon began gnawing away at it before abandoning the rope mere moments later. Naturally as Addie began to hand over Arrow his glass of wine. Tripping, the contents splashed at her top, beginning to stain lightly. Addie glared downward.

"Ohmygod, Marmalade Blake. Go lay down. NOW," she snapped; the pup knew the tone and soon scamped over to her crimson pillow, flopping onto it, gazing pitifully. Addie mumbled under her breath, not thinking of magic and instead,  began moving to the bedroom, knowing the wash room was nearby. In the bedroom, off to the side closest to the bathroom.

As she disappeared into it for a moment, Marmy whined towards Arrow and soon moved to him cautiously, giving a soft nudge to his leg. No playing this time. She was wanting him to notice that Addie needed him likely and he needed to follow....

Truthfully, Arrow was at a loss.  Sure, she'd lost her temper before, but nothing like this. Something was definitely up. He was debating going after her to make sure she was okay, but that sweet dog of hers made his decision for him.  She walked over to him slowly and nudged his knee as if conveying to him that he needed to follow her.

He got up and slowly made his was towards the direction Addie had went.  He'd never actually left the living area of her flat.  Not that he wasn't curious how the rest of her flat looked, but he seemed to be keeping to some kind of code with Addie.  Like he didn't want to make any mistakes that could wind up making him lose her.  Yes, Arrow was most likely falling for her, something he still hadn't sat down and thought to much about.  He would probably freak out a bit if he did too much thinking about it.

"Addie," he began as he reached the hallway , "Everything okay love?" he asked as he neared the first doorway.  Hesitating, he knocked.  The door opened on its own with the movement and he saw that she wasn't in there.  'So this is her bedroom,' he thought to himself as he cautiously opened the door all the way and went inside. Some part of him was wondering what he was doing, he'd never entered her bedroom before, never even thought about it Which was weird, normally he'd be thinking about a girls' bedroom after a week or two.  But Addie was different.

He stepped inside and was about to call out for her again when Marmalade, clearly tired of being left alone, came rushing into the room with her toy.  She stopped in front of him and dropped the toy, wanting to play.  Arrow chuckled, this dog was something  "Not now pup, where's your girl?" he asked the dog.  Marmalade ignored his question and picked up the toy only to throw it in the air and it fell down by Addie's bed and rolled underneath slightly.

Now if Arrow had been paying any attention to himself during all this, he would of remembered what he'd had in his pocket  He would of realized that it was no longer there and he would of been back in the living room searching for it. Instead, he found himself standing by Addie's bed and looking at the pup who clearly wanted her toy, but couldn't quite get under the bed enough to grab it 

"Alright girl, calm down, I'll get it for you." he told the dog as he knelt down and with one hand on the bed, used the other to reach under the bed for the toy.  He didn't feel the toy first, he felt a box.  Marmalade was busy trying to get under his arm so that she could 'help' him find her toy and so when he tried to move the box out of the way to see if the toy was behind it, she pushed him so his movement went too fast and the box slid out from under the bed.

Marmalade, thinking this was a new toy, ran over to it and accidentally knocked it over.  Arrow, having found her toy, tossed it out into the hallway where she couldn't do any damage to whatever was in the box.  He knew he should clean it up before Addie caught him in her room, but as he sat down next to the box he couldn't help but wonder who the man was in the pictures. He knew he should put it all back, but he couldn't help but look. He just hoped Addie wouldn't be mad that he was doing so.[1]

1.	I hope it's okay.  I wrote it at 1 in the morning so I wasn't sure.

Arrow wasn't half wrong about Addie being one perptual hot mess at the moment. Tugging the top off, she grabbed the nearest tee - a 'Puffle and Proud' one, complete with a grinning badger that gave the ever popular peace sign - and tugged it over her head. Likewise, Addie was completely oblivious to what was occurring right on the other side of the bathroom door. As far as she knew, Arrow and Marmy were in the kitchen, waiting for her to come back. "You got it. It's just wine....she's excited to see him just like you.....breathe....." she mumbled quietly.

She certainly was NOT thinking that her boyfriend was eyeing old memories about her (un)dead fiancee.

However, the small motivational speech went right out that proverbial window as she left the bathroom and right in gazing at Arrow who was rummaging a little bit. Or, perhaps a lot bit. Addie remained still, silent, stunned in horror. Her heart began racing all over the page for a moment until she cleared her throat. Loudly.

"UHM. HIIIIIII THERE?" she began shrilly before counting herself down from twenty and then gulped down the mess of emotions that were currently tearing away in her head and heart. "Woudya like to explain just a wee bit of what the bloody hell you're doing, mate?"

Arrow froze.  He had never been in this situation before and he surely did not want to be in it right now.  "... Addie, listen... " he began, but words were not coming to him like they usually were.  "Your dog's toy... rolled under your bed... " he put down the pictures he was holding and stood up to face her.  "She knocked it over, I was just picking it up." he tried to justify him looking at her private things...  very lamely.

He slowly backed away out of her room, almost tripping over the dog toy that was abandoned in the hallway.  "I didn't really look at any of it..." he knew he was digging a bigger hole for himself, but he couldn't help but try to fix whatever he did. Even though he had just been trying to pick up what Marmalade had knocked over, so it wasn't his fault.

He made it back into the living room and sat on the couch with his hands clasped in front of him. He was holding words back, he knew that it was just going to make things worse, but he couldn't help it.  "So, who's the bloke in the picture?" He mentally smacked himself, it really wasn't much of his business.

Addie and her anger became lessened as it became clear that she was more in shock that Arrow was now privvy to her past hurt. Listening and watching him go, Addie sighed in guilt while shuffling all the materials back into the decorated box before sliding it out of Marm's reach. Her heart pounded away as it stood there, glancing at her as though it had eyes.

She collected her thoughts, wondering what she should be saying. An apology was pending and formulating inside her head as she began walking down the hallway. This wasn't the end of the opportunities for the pair and certainly NOT the end of the possibilities of inquiry. Talk about double downs....

Entering the living room once again, Addie smiled weakly at Arrow as she gazed upon the man she loved now. "So, who's the bloke in the picture?" Oof. Double blow. She moved over to him and sat down on the couch, wiping her eyes of the wettened form they were currently. "Uh....m. That bloke? He was the guy I fell in love with seventh year. He sang his love for me on Valentine's Day the same year. This said....he, uh...."

A sniffle.

"Proposed to me the fall after we graduated. He went to work for the DIMC and well." Addie felt the tears beginning to form and fall all over again. "H-h-h-he disappeared. Th-the Ministry said he we-went missing in action."

If he hadn't already felt bad for invading her personal space, seeing the look on Addie's face as she appeared in the living room made him feel worse.  His eyes watched her as she slowly made her way towards him and sat down next to him on the couch.  Watching her wipe the tears from her eyes, he listened to her explain.

Contrary to every other time that he listened to some girl talk about a past love, which had been a few times, Arrow began to feel a pang of jealousy.  Something he had not felt in ... well.... ever.  He'd never cared enough about a girl to actually care who they saw last.  When she finished talking, he held back on the urge to comfort her, he needed to hear the rest of it.  Something deep in his gut was telling him that this wasn't the end of the story.

"Okay," he started, taking a breath to calm his nerves and the rising wave of jealousy, "so he proposed... and then disappeared." He turned to look at her on the couch, facing her with all seriousness in his eyes.  None of his regular playfulness was there when he asked, "That's not the end of the story is it?" he asked the question with a heavy heart.  Arrow Thatcher, never one to fall for one girl, was dreading the answer.  He'd finally found someone he could trust and he didn't want it to end.

Secretly he began hoping that this bloke from her past was dead....