Wilton Wickwood paced the short length of store front along Diagon Alley as he waited nervously for Anna to arrive.

It had been three weeks since they had arrived at the Brownstone and set up the house to their liking, Anna to her exacting standards which he loved, and he the one room that he was allowed to keep in his own particular way, filled with curiosities of their trips, and journeys to find wand materials.

The coolness of October had given way to a cold November and Wilton had never been so happy for the muffler that Anna had insisted he wear when he was going out that morning.  He pulled it against his throat to keep the chill winds out as he continued to pace in front of the restaurant.

The crowds were not overly thick on this day, but many families with younger children were about the Alley doing the usual business of buying goods for the general running of the house.  It had been so long since he and Anna had been settled into a real home of their own that he had forgotten how such routine daily activities were just that to the people around him, chores that needed to be done, not unique adventurous events that provided change from the monotony of home life.

The clock on the tower of the square struck half past the hour, and Anna wasn't exactly late, since really when he had floo'ed to her it had been quite late in the morning and he hadn't exactly set a time to meet, nor had he checked with Anna's schedule since she had been asked to come to the hospital to arrange her office and schedules ahead of her actual start

The last few weeks Wilton had been spending his time between locations in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley and the area just outside the Alley trying to find the ideal location to establish, or re-establish the family wand business.  Since his cousin had disappeared a few months before, the business had been boarded up, and the contents of the store had been moved to Gringotts as was the request in the will.  It was going to be a long road to rebuild the business, but it was something that Wilton felt was long overdue for he and Anna.  It was time that they started that family they had always dreamed of, and sent off a little blue eyed, blond little girl to Hogwarts with many new friends on the Hogwarts Express.  Oh how he now longed to have that experience he had heard so much about from Vivienne and Adam, and what he had heard from Moira of her own experiences.

It seemed so long ago that he was a Hogwarts student, back in the quiet days after the first fall of the Dark Lord, back before the second war, and back before he knew that he and Anna were destined.  Now he could scarcely think of life without his wonderful wife.

The papers he had in his cloak were nearly burning a hole in his pocket as he waited for Anna.  The location was perfect and was also far enough away from Ollivander that he would not be horning in on the others territory.  Not that anyone who requested a Wickwood wand would ever be disappointed by the fit.  Wickwood wands were custom made, not like Ollivander with his vast stock of pre-made wands waiting for their owners who may never walk through the door.

He was roused from his pondering as he saw the blond hair flash through the crowd, and the sight of healer robes warmed him greatly.  Wilton waved his arm, although he was sure at this distance it was a futile attempt to get her attention, but he refrained from calling out to her down the alley.  After all why call attention to himself and to Anna?

It had been one of those days that she had been dreading since they first decided to move back to London.  The owl had arrived at work shortly after she had made plans to meet Wilton, followed shortly after by a visit from Adam.  Usually visits from her uncle were considered pleasant experiences, this had been tense for them both.  Neither had been exactly sure what to say and a good portion of the visit was spent in relative silence.

It had only been a matter of time before her past caught up with and her immediate family resurfaced.  She had spent weeks preparing herself for any possible situation.  Yet, this was not what she had expected and she had been so lost in her thoughts she had found herself running uncharacteristically late.  Of course it seemed Murphy’s Law that the streets should be crowded, slowing her process through Diagon Alley.

She was still dressed in her healer’s robes, having left in a hurry when her mind finally managed to refocus on the present.  She was grateful for the reprieve from work, as she wasn’t entirely sure she could truly focus her mind on those she was supposed to be helping.  Talking about a new location for the shop would be a welcome distraction.

She smiled as up ahead she saw him waiting despite her mood, wearing the muffler she had reminded him to take before he left the brownstone that morning.  She was starting to wonder when exactly it was their dream of starting a family of their own might become a reality.  She was growing impatient, which she knew wouldn’t help things in the slightest.

“I hope you haven’t been waiting long, dear,” she said when she was close enough, brushing her lips over his for a quick kiss.  “I think I’d forgotten how chilly it can be in the fall…”

Wilton smiled as his blond goddess approached.  “I hope you haven’t been waiting long, dear,” she said with a quick kiss.  “I think I’d forgotten how chilly it can be in the fall…”

"Ah but the fall is the perfect time to start new things!" Wilton smiled thinking of the new shop premises.  "You starting anew at St. Mungos and me with the shop and hopefully soon we will have a son or daughter that we will spend time with!"

Wilton had been deeply concerned with the idea of both of them beginning new projects along with the beginning of their family dream.  It just seemed that there was never a right time for them, either family called, or worse yet, their careers called.  Being recalled by the family to London, along with the Administrator position for Anna had been a boon as they would be settled and not travelling continually.

He had never voiced his specific opinion that he wanted a daughter.  They had always agreed that it didn't matter as long as the child was healthy.  But secretly he had always hoped to see a miniature of his wife, and maybe just maybe she would be a little like her father.

"They have a table waiting for us, if you have the time, otherwise I can cancel the reservation and we can just grab some take-away? I know that you are needed at the hospital at the oddest times."  When she had arrived still in healer robes he knew it would be a long evening, and she would be exhausted by the time she returned.  He would have a bath run and a light supper ready even if he had fallen asleep reading while waiting for her.

"But I did want to tell you I found a spot just off Diagon Alley for the shop.  It is a bit on the small side, but unlike Ollivander's I don't need a large stockroom for wands, just space for the blanks and my workshop."  Wilton took her hand in his, it was warm and he always loved that about Anna.  Her hands were as warm as her heart.  "Should we?"  Wilton prepared to open the door.

Upon first meeting Wilton it hadn’t taken long for Anna to fall completely for her husband despite her reservations at beginning a new relationship with anyone.  Fate of course had other plans and they had been quite happy together throughout the years.  Her smile likely would seem forced to him when he mentioned a future child.  How she wished she could tell him some sort of good news in regards to that, but it seemed they were going to have to wait a bit longer to make that dream a reality as she still was not pregnant.

"They have a table waiting for us, if you have the time, otherwise I can cancel the reservation and we can just grab some take-away? I know that you are needed at the hospital at the oddest times."

“We can stay,” she told.  “I…I took the remainder of the day off, but I can explain all that inside.”

Part of her would have simply liked to forget that the entire morning even happened, but she couldn’t keep secrets from her husband.  She had to make a decision how to proceed and she needed Wilton’s council.  He was her best friend, her confidant, and her rock as she always tried to be his.  His hand found hers and she relaxed a bit at the touch.

“Yes,” she said in response to his question.  “Perhaps after we eat you can show me where the new shop will be.”  It would be a nice distraction from the turmoil in her mind.