10.30am

Felix still hadn't been to bed. He'd been at work from dusk until dawn, and now was his equivalent of a night after work. He tended to sleep from around 1pm until 6pm - managing to last on very little sleep was his forte. It was also helped by the fact that - since his shifts at work lasted all through the dark, so often at least twelve hours - he was only expected to work three or four nights a week. Being the Head Astronomer for the Ministry had its advantages.

He stifled a yawn as he opened the door to the little coffee shop that he had frequented during the school holidays, on meetings with friends. He and Akiva had spent many-a-day passing the hours with endless chatter, and often with books spread across one of the larger tables as they studied for exams, strong coffee in hand.

Standing in front of the counter, he rubbed the sides of his stubbled mouth slightly as he perused the menu. This little coffee shop offered all sorts of goodies. He placed his order with the little old lady behind the counter who had come to know him so well, then went back outside to sit at a table. It was a lovely spring morning, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and though it was cold, it was fresh. The delight of the cold air was met with the warmth of the morning sun shining down on the little patio area, and Felix took a moment to bask lazily in it, loosening the scarf around his neck a little.

The little old woman with the bright smile came out, backside first and carrying a large tray. The little bell above the door jingled as she pushed it open with her rump and shuffled over to the table that Felix had chosen.

"Two cream delights, a cinnamon slice and a vanilla slice." The lady took the two large mugs and the two generous helpings of cake off the tray and placed them on the table. "You're eating a lot more than normal, Felix! Are you growing?" Felix laughed as he moved one of the mugs over to the seat next to him along with the cinnamon slice. It had been a while since Felix and Akiva had been here together, though for Felix it was an almost-weekly habit. He shook his head. "Akiva's meeting me." He grinned, knowing that Maude would be pleased. Sure enough she clapped her hands together with delight. "Well now, that is a nice surprise! You two kids have fun." He smiled and nodded, looking down the street to keep an eye out for one of his oldest friends, absent-mindedly plucking the cherry from the top of the swirl of cream in the mug and popping it into his mouth.

When Akiva had received an owl from Felix to meet in Diagon, Akiva could not possibly say no.  They didn’t get to interact much, particularly considering Felix worked all evening, and Akiva wasn’t spending much time out at night at all anymore, not that she did before either.  But, regardless of all of that, she wasn’t working until noon and getting a message from Felix to meet him in the morning – Akiva could do that. 

She had woken up at six o’clock anyway, feeling ill, and spent most of her morning on the bathroom floor somewhere between crying and praying that she would feel better.  She assured Dree she would be fine, that she didn’t need him to stay, though he did linger far longer than usual.  No such luck, at least for an hour, and after Akiva brushed her teeth, then had some toast and orange juice (it just helped for some reason), she took a shower and got dressed. 

She was still feeling unsettled, so she grabbed a water bottle from the counter and a few crackers, shoving them into her purse before she headed to the floo.  She wasn’t going to apparate – it was really messing with her body recently.  According to the book she was currently looking at, it said that sort of thing would be fairly persistent throughout the whole pregnancy experience.  That was going to be fun. 

But, she didn’t focus on it as her stomach flipped in her abdomen, walking out of the fireplace at the coffee shop.  The tottering old woman, a person Akiva got to know very well years ago, when she and Felix frequented this establishment smiled at her.   “Akiva! How lovely to see you, Felix is just across the seating area…” Maude greeted, walking up to clasp her hands – looking shocked as she felt the left hand – glancing down, her running eyes widened considerably.  “Congratulations! Oh, how wonderful! “ she seemed to be regarding her with a critical eye: “Do I know the lucky man?”

Kiv shook her head with a playful smile – she was hinting at something Akiva definitely had to squish, much to her dismay at the old woman’s hopeful gaze.  “No, no.  I doubt you would.  My fiancé isn’t from England,” he technically was, to some degree, but not in the sense that he went to Hogwarts and all of that.  It was much easier to say that than try to explain.  “We’ll catch up later?” she smiled hopefully, patting the woman on the arm. 

“Of course, dearie,” the old woman nodded enthusiastically as she walked away and Akiva made her way over to the table where Felix was standing – their usual order on the table.  Akiva was not sure her stomach could handle it.  It was sweet though, and she walked behind him, putting her arms around his neck from the back, “hullo you,” she smiled, giving a brief squeeze, “just finish the graveyard shift?”

Felix felt the arms around his neck and grinned. She'd snuck up on him. Wouldn't have been the first time, and he was certainly sure it wouldn't be the last. "A graveyard shift I have grown so fond of." he replied, a joking tone to his voice. He took her hand from his shoulder and pressed his lips against the tips of her fingers. She smelled so familiar. Whenever he saw Akiva, it was like his whole past - the majority of his childhood - came flooding back to him. They had, in essence, grown up together, and Felix felt that he was a better man for having Akiva as a friend. She had always kept him in check, always made sure he didn't do anything that he would later regret - though on several occasions, he had done them anyway, and lo-and-behold, he'd regretted.

He lifted her hand up and led her around his chair towards her own, as though they were in some sort of dance. His eyes followed her face, absolutely enchanted by just how good she looked. He stayed silent for a moment as she took her seat, watching her intently. "So, not long until the wedding now, little worm." He winked at her, knowing that in the time they'd not seen eachother, she would have become accustomed to not hearing her little pet-name, and would have probably come to enjoy it. Felix couldn't help himself though - it was just a natural reflex now. Akiva had always loved books, which had led Felix to begin calling her 'Bookworm' back in school. Over the years, however, it had shortened until eventually he just started calling her 'Worm'. She'd always tolerated it, though. Her ability to overlook Felix's annoying habits and still want to spend time with him was worthy of martyrdom, in his opinion.

He pushed the cinnamon slice and large foaming mug in her direction. "Eat up - I don't want you wasting away before the big day!" He grinned and picked up his own vanilla slice with the grace and poise of a grindylow, and pushed one end into his mouth greedily.

Felix was a comfortable presence in her life.  When she had few friends, had been a complete geek in school, Felix was one of the few people from the past who she kept consistent contact with, and one of the ones that conjured a plethora of positive memories.  She placed a kiss on his cheek, and moved around the front of the chair, across the table, and took her seat.  She felt much more comfortable sitting, particularly when she was wearing a cotton dress – everything else rubbed her wrong.  She hoped that by the wedding she’d be able to tolerate tighter drawn clothes – her dress required it. 

Blushing a little, Akiva laughed at him – a frequent and prized activity of hers.  She didn’t laugh at most people without feeling terribly, but knowing Felix – feeling like he was one of the people she could actually laugh at, she shook her head.  “You’re more of a girl than I am sometimes, you know that?” she teased playfully, looking at the mugs and snacks on the table.  She didn’t even blink when he called her worm – a relic of their childhood and a teasingly cute nickname – bookworm – that just never went away.  It was truer now than it was then, too. 

“It’s definitely coming up fast,” she admitted, a half laugh tinged with some anxiety.  “Every day, I cross off another day on the calendar and wow,” she shook her head, realizing how fast it really was coming up.  And when he moved the drink and snack toward her, Akiva inwardly panicked.  She wasn’t sure she was feeling up to it quite yet, but took a small sip of the drink Felix bought, just to make him feel better.  Besides, she could test herself.  She could do this.  “I’m not wasting away,” she added, lowering the cup to the table.

She shifted in her seat from side to side, looking at him.  “You, however, can do with some more calories,” she broke her slice in half and put it on the plate with the rest of his, “I’m guessing you haven’t been feeding yourself very well – her look was one that meant ‘do not lie to me.’ “and I’m sure no one’s been cooking for you either.” 

He liked it when she laughed. It was infectious - he began to laugh too, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in an oh-so-Marren way. He was able to overlook the comment about him being a girl simply because Akiva was glowing. That, and the fact that women had mood changes more often than he changed his undies, and after staying with Charlotte so much, he had gauged when it was right to contest something, and when he should just button his mouth, grin and bear it.

He pushed some more of the slice into his mouth as she talked about the speed with which the wedding was approaching. It was all rather exciting - Felix hadn't been to a good wedding since Jason's. Before that had been Samia St.James', and the one before that had been Eddie and Quincy's. He thought it would be nice if (just for once) he could go to a wedding without it ending in divorce. Then it dawned on him -- maybe he was the bad luck charm? He was the common denominator afterall. His mouth opened slightly as this thought took over his short attention-spanned brain, the mushed up vanilla slice not knowing whether it was coming or going.

“You, however, can do with some more calories,”

Felix was snapped out of his own thoughts as Akiva put half of her slice on his plate. He swallowed his mouthful and looked down at it curiously while Akiva predicted (rather accurately) that he probably hadn't been eating as well as he should have, and that nobody was cooking for him. He grinned and looked back up at her as she watched him with a stern expression. "Well, what can I say? I love chinese takeouts, and I can't put onto me mam all the time, much as though I adore her cooking." Talking about home and his parents brought out the Irish in him a little more than usual. He knew she was referring to Charlotte, but why was it her job to cook for him? He had a kitchen - he just preferred not to use it if he didn't have to.

 Akiva shook her head.  As much as she classified Dree and herself as take-out fiends, they definitely ate home cooked food more often and didn’t base their livelihood off of it – particularly now that she had to monitor what she was eating.  She wanted to be healthy, of course, and despite the desire for muffins every now and again, she was doing a good job of the whole thing. 

“You need a house elf,” Akiva pointed out, “It would do you well.  Don’t you know some purebloods who might know where to get one?” Of course he did, Akiva knew he did, but she was trying her best to be… supportive.  She just knew that Felix deserved better than that – he was a nice guy.  He kept odd hours, to be sure, but he deserved someone who loved him and was going to settle down with him one day – even if he didn’t want that now, he was the type that would grow into it – she could just tell. 

Shifting in her seat, she broke off a tiny piece of the slice and put it to her lips, the smell entering her nose and not eliciting a lurch.  She was happy enough for that and chewed slowly, savoring it.  She didn’t feel sick yet, and that emboldened her to take a larger sip of the steamy, delicious drink – much better. 

“And I’m sure, if your mother knew your eating habits, she’d be more than willing to send you home with baskets of food,” she grinned, having met his mother on a few occasions.  She was a lovely woman, Felix could probably bother her all he wanted and she would never bat an eye at it.  “Have you been up to anything exciting though?  Discover new life forms or chart a new celestial object?”

“You need a house elf,”

He laughed. "Ach, who doesn't? Though I'll admit, they're not much to look at. Maybe I could just hire a pretty lady to come and do my cooking and cleaning for me." He paused and narrowed one eye. "You're good at cooking-- right?" He grinned, knowing fine well that Akiva would rather chew off her own arm than act as Felix's live-in slave. However, just in case she dared to show the tiniest bit of consideration towards the offer, he had his pro-argument ready: he wasn't a fussy eater, and since his house was normally messy anyway, any tidying would be an improvement. Therefore minimum work would be needed, and he would pay decently. He was, in essence, the best possible employer. If said lady wanted to be eyed-up all the time.

He shook his head and chuckled to himself. "You know, you always try to be subtle but you never quite manage it. Not all purebloods have house elves, y'know." He gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow, as though reprimanding her for judging a potion by its bottle. He knew she was hinting at Charlotte, so Felix felt it necessary to argue (albeit passively) that Charlotte's family hadn't owned a house elf. They'd owned several.

As Akiva carried on, Felix mimicked her by picking up his drink and taking a long gulp. The liquid was warm and frothy, perfect for a fresh, crisp morning like this. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin as he nodded. "Mum always says I need fattening up. I'm worried she's planning on cooking me and feeding me to my dad - times are hard, they need to cut down on their grocery shopping." He winked and licked his lips, ensuring he'd gotten all the foam. He grinned as she asked about work.

"No, we haven't discovered anything new, but--" he stopped himself just in time. This always happened - he'd be on the verge of releasing information that was confidential. Much as though he loved his job, sometimes he thought he wasn't cut out to be an Unspeakable, because he was very much speakable. He grinned sheepishly. "Well, we're working on stuff." He shrugged. Worm would know how it was - she worked at the Ministry, so she knew how anal they could be about stuff. Especially...unspeakable stuff. "What's new in the world of books? Anything I might be interested in?" It was great having a friend as the librarian - it meant that whenever they got new stock, Felix was always the first to know, so that he could take the book out. New books went like hot-pasties down there, and you had to be mean to get ahead. The employees of the Department of Mysteries were ferociously protective over their books. Watching a bunch of Unspeakables go for the same book was like watching a group of giants fight over a chicken drumstick; very ugly and a little bit comical.

“I don’t,” Akiva pointed out primly, accompanied by a smug smirk.  She was not the type who required someone else to do the things – least of all a house elf.  She figured she’d drive one of them crazy anyway; Akiva had very particular ways she liked to do things.   And then, of course, there was the suggestion that Akiva might work for him.  Well, that was ridiculous.  She could not help but laugh right at him, taking a sip of her drink as she shook her head. 

She raised her eyebrows at him over the rim of the cup.  “I don’t think you could adapt very well to my housekeeping,” Akiva grinned, “no messy piles, no clothes on the floor – it’d all be very organized.  Not very you, at all,” she commented.  “And now with my own house and lots of meals to cook… well, I suppose you could always stop over for leftovers,” she added with a bit of a laugh, “Though I’ll probably have to charge you… Food is also becoming a much demanded commodity,” she teased. 

Akiva did not mention that it was becoming increasingly in demand by her, when she wasn’t feeling sick, she pretty much ate whatever she could get her hands on.  He did not have to know that.  In the same way that he probably did not want her to know about his escapades with a particular pureblood.  “I have never met one that doesn’t,” Akiva pointed out, “but if you know any, I would be willing to retract my statement.”  She took another prim sip of her drink, making sure that her challenge was accurately stated.  She doubted he knew any without house elves – she’d be shocked if he did.  Akiva highly doubted she’d need to be shocked though. 

Ah, she should have known work was off limits for conversation.  Akiva was so used to easily talking about the things she did, considering books were public property and anyone could walk in and see what she was doing.  Felix’s career was so different than her own, and Akiva nodded with understanding.  “I hope your ‘stuff’ is going well then,” Akiva grinned with a bright laugh.

“As for my work,” she smiled, “the newest shipment had nothing of interest for you – unless you’ve suddenly taken an interest in the magic fertility rituals of tribes in Papua New Guinea,” she paused for a moment and pursed her lips, shaking her head vehemently.  “And knowing you, even if you were, I’d hide the book – for sure.”  His potential procreating at this point, well, though the baby would be beautiful, might have some… particular lifestyle challenges. 

Taking another sip, she smiled.  “There was a new journal though -  I didn’t get a chance to go through it – if you come in early  tomorrow, I might be able to hold it for you,” she grinned, conspirator.

“I don’t,”

Felix mimicked Akiva, before sucking in his cheeks as though to suggest she was being snobby. He grinned at her, his usual big and mischievous grin. This was how it tended to go: One of them would mention something, then the other would argue. Then the first person would poke fun at the second person. It was so streamlined it was almost rehearsed. Granted, usually it was Felix poking the fun, and he was getting rather good at it with practice.

“no messy piles, no clothes on the floor – it’d all be very organized.  Not very you, at all,”

Felix pulled a face. No - that was certainly not him. He thought for a moment. A smirk formed on his lips. "I could get used to it if someone was doing it for me." Charlotte was most definitely not going to be the one to tidy up after him. She had decided he should stay at hers rather than the other way round. She claimed it was because she didn't want to keep traipsing her wardrobe and bathroom cabinet to and from her apartment, but Felix got the sneaking suspicion it was to do with the growing pile of dirty underwear on the floor at the bottom of his bed.

Felix listened to Akiva's (rather tongue-in-cheek) suggestion that she would take back her statement about purebloods having house elves. He raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a competition." He shrugged. "You'd probably win. I don't know any purebloods who don't have house elves." He grinned into his mug.

“There was a new journal though -  I didn’t get a chance to go through it – if you come in early  tomorrow, I might be able to hold it for you,”

Suddenly, Felix's interest was piqued. "Oh?" He placed the mug back down on it's saucer. "What's in it?" Akiva made it her business to know what kind of things interest Felix. Usually, she was very good at gauging what would make him read avidly and what would make him fall asleep. There had been one time, however, that she had it completely wrong, and he'd fallen asleep in his dinner. At work. Spaghetti bolognaise plastering his hair to the side of his head. He still blames that bloody journal.

“Felix,” Akiva started, reaching over to console him, “you know I always win.  You might as well not even bother trying.”  She smiled sweetly, too sweetly, at him before taking a sip of her drink.  Really, the man knew not to make deals or bets with her, she always won – whether it was fair or not.  The girl always won, and Felix was one of the people in her life she would hold to that standard no matter what.  She liked to be fair with Dree, it made their life more interesting – and if they did bet on anything, generally, the terms were agreeable to both parties, regardless of the outcome.  Here, she could not be so sure.  Rearranging Felix’s sock drawer did not sound like a party to Akiva. 

Shifting in her chair again, she grinned as he perked up at the suggestion of a new journal.  She had a pretty good gauge of what he liked by now and anything with astronomy generally ranked high on the list.  She didn’t read tabloids, so she couldn’t give him any new information on his prospective. 

“Well,” she started slowly, taking a piece of vanilla slice, just so she could annoy him a little more.  “one of the articles is the newest release from the researchers in Norway – you know, the ones at the northern tip,” it was a long running astronomy center with witches and wizards from all over the world working there.  They were studying astronomical behaviors and occurrences.  “I believe they’ve noted a celestial body that hasn’t been identified yet,” she told him, not wanting to give him much, considering she hadn’t read the article fully either. 

“Then,” she added a little more excitedly, “there are some new astrological charts that detail shifts in orbits – I haven’t read it yet,” she was honest, “but it looked fascinating.”  She stopped herself and slyly looked over the top of her drink, “maybe I’ll have to read it myself first…”

She was right - she did always win. It was almost unfair. Felix shrugged and nodded as though admitting that she had - once again - defeated him. He had been thwarted before they had even attempted a battle! Was he really that much of a soft touch now? Maybe Jason was right; perhaps Felix needed to man-up a little more, though he drew the line at demanding slippers from his 'woman' like Eddie did. Charlotte would probably castrate him. He always found it curious that Edward had managed to have so many children when he was quite clearly missing one testicle. It was never advised to treat a St.James girl like she was a slave.

His eyes widened slightly as Akiva helped herself to some of his vanilla slice. What the-- hadn't she just said he needed feeding up?! And now she was stealing his food! His attention (the span of which was very short), however, was turned back to the topic at hand as Akiva explained about a new celestial occurance that they had seemingly not noticed.

Felix folded his arms over his chest stubbornly and leaned back in his chair. "C'est impossible!" The lilt of his voice adapted to the French easily as he shook his head. Clearly the thought of his own team not knowing something that the Norwegians knew was unfathomable. But his interest was piqued now, and as she talked some more about the shift in orbit patterns, he grinned. "That was one of ours," he stated proudly, jabbing his thumb slightly into his chest. "I was wondering when they were going to publish it." Akiva suggested that she should read it first, and Felix chuckled. "I think if you only have one copy, it would be best to let me have it. Thornaby will be chomping at the bit to see his name in a journal. Finally." He shot a wink in Akiva's direction.

"So, how's life outside of the Ministry? I hope Dreogan is treating you well?" He raised one eyebrow suspiciously. Felix had no doubt that Dreogan would be the perfect fiancé, but the astronomer was very protective over Akiva and her well-being, even moreso than he was of his own!

 “Mmmmm,” Akiva tilted her head to the side, looking contemplative, but also searching his face and expression.  She was trying to be as sly and teasing as possible – like a sister would do to her brother.  “Maybe, I could potentially let you have it first…” she smirked.  “But it might cost you another slice – I’m suddenly hungry,” she pointed out with a wide grin, taking another piece and popping it in her mouth.  Her aching stomach had subsided and now she was going to have a good snack before going into work.

As soon as she swallowed, she smiled, “And now I have decided, post my vanilla slice, you can have the article – since one of our own is in it. It’s not for you though,” she confirmed with a prim smile.  She drank more of her drink and smiled to herself, looking smug indeed.  She was immune to his winks and expressions by now, just proud of herself. 

Of course, conversation turned away from work and Akiva smiled widely – just thinking of Dree and the wedding and everything – it made her so excited.  They were both so busy, it was like a blur.  Hopefully, after the wedding, they would actually get to enjoy themselves – after all, it’d only be six months of just the two of them anymore after that.  It was nerve wracking to think about – to understand that there was going to be so many major changes, but Akiva was excited and ready for everything.

She supposed feeling tentative was all part of it too, but she took a sip of her drink and sighed.  “Everything is going well.  We’ve been planning and trying to get everything squared away.”  She sighed, “I’m so excited,” she finally giggled, her eyes practically shining – she could feel the excitement welling in her.  “You know, this might sound really corny,” she blushed, playing with the handle on her cup.

“But, I really feel like this is exactly how it’s supposed to happen.  I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy and hopeful about anything.” 

Akiva was testing him. She took another piece of his cinammon slice, and Felix's eyes followed her hands as she greedily ate it. He blinked. He may not have had much time lately to prepare food for himself, but once the food was in front of him...he was quite ferrocious in his defence. But this was Akiva, his little worm. She and Charlotte were the only people he knew of that could get away with taking food from in front of his eyes.

Felix laughed and looked around, catching the eye of one of the younger members of staff. He lifted his hand and crooked his finger towards their table. "Another vanilla slice here, please." He wasn't risking having nothing left. He washungry!

"I suppose then," Felix carried on back to Akiva, "That I shall have to relinquish my vanilla slice in order to get the first look." He grinned and nudged the plate towards Akiva with the remnants of the first vanilla slice looking slightly subdued for not having been consumed yet.Akiva carried on, and Felix's eyes widened momentarily but danced with intrigue. "Your vanilla slice? I do believe it had been mine before you decided to be a thief!"

The conversation was averted from journals and work, and into the realm of the more personal goings on. Akiva seemed extremely happy with Dreogan, and Felix was unashamedly pleased. He wanted her to be happy, more than he even knew himself. She was his closest friend, she had been his confidant throughout school, and still often acted like his agony aunt. She gave him advice when he asked (and moreso when he didn't), and she helped him make tough decisions. She was always there for him when he needed her, and she never judged him. Even when Jason's lovelife had been spattered across the papers, she was the rock Felix leaned upon. Sometimes he wondered if maybe she was simply doing it out of politeness - that he was asking too much of her. But he knew Akiva enough to know that if she wasn't happy she would tell him.

His eyes crinkled with pleasure as she relayed how everything was going well. "I'm so pleased. And it doesn't sound corny at all! Maybe a little cheesy, but..." He winked as he prodded her forearm gently. He shook his head. "I wish I had that," he offered earnestly. Felix and Charlotte's relationship was exciting, up and down like a yoyo (though it tended to be more up than down), but Felix feared that Charlotte wouldn't want what he had to offer. Sure, she was clearly enjoying what was going on between them; they were having fun. But after the almost-maybe proposal of marriage on Christmas day, Felix's ego had been a little bruised. He painted a grin on his face once more and laughed, shaking his head to dismiss what he had just said as the young man arrived at the table with another plate and an identical slice as the first. Felix took the plate from him and thanked him for his troubles. Turning back to Akiva, he raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to help me finish this one now?"